Superbet Chess Classic 2021

[Hans Jung]

Fab Fabi kept the home fans entertained two hours after the other games finished and made them happy when Deac got a draw.

[Wayne Komer]

Superbet Chess Classic 2021

June 14, 2021

Round Nine

Round 9, June 14
MVL – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
C47 Four Knights, Scotch variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Bb4 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Bd3 d5 8.exd5 cxd5 9.O-O O-O 10.Bg5 c6 11.Qf3 Bd6 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.Qxf6 gxf6 14.Ne2 c5 15.Rad1 Bg4 16.h3 Bxe2 17.Bxe2 d4 18.Bc4 Rab8 19.b3 Bc7 20.Rd3 Ba5 21.Rf3 Kg7 22.Rg3+ Kh8 23.Rf3 Kg7 24.Rg3+ Kh8 25.Rf3 Kg7 1/2-1/2

Round 9, June 14
Giri, Anish – Grischuk, Alexander
C54 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 a6 8.Nbd2 Ba7 9.O-O Qe7 10.b4 Be6 11.a4 O-O 12.b5 Nb8 13.d4 axb5 14.Bxe6 Qxe6 15.Bxf6 Qxf6 16.axb5 Nd7 17.Nc4 Qe6 18.Qd3 exd4 19.cxd4 Bb6 20.h3 Rae8 21.Rfe1 d5 22.exd5 Qxd5 23.Ne3 Qe4 24.Qc4 Nf6 25.Ng4 Qf5 26.Nxf6+ Qxf6 27.Qd5 Rb8 28.Re5 Rbd8 29.Qe4 Qg6 30.Qxb7 Rxd4 31.Nxd4 Bxd4 32.Ree1 Bxa1 33.Rxa1 Qd6 34.Rc1 Re8 35.Qc6 Qxc6 36.Rxc6 Re5 37.Rxc7 Rxb5 38.Rc8+ Kh7 39.Rc7 Kg8 40.Rc8+ Kh7 41.Rc7 Kg8 42.Rc8+ 1/2-1/2

Round 9, June 14
Aronian, Levon – Radjabov, Teimour
C67 Ruy Lopez, open Berlin Defence, l’Hermet variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.dxe5 Nxb5 7.a4 Nbd4 8.Nxd4 Nxd4 9.Qxd4 d5 10.exd6 Qxd6 11.Qe4+ Qe6 12.Qd4 Qd6 13.Qe4+ Qe6 14.Qd4 Qd6 1/2-1/2

Round 9, June 14
Lupulescu, Constantin – So, Wesley
E32 Nimzo-Indian, Classical variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 O-O 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 d5 7.Nf3 dxc4 8.Qxc4 b6 9.Bg5 Ba6 10.Qa4 h6 11.Bh4 c5 12.dxc5 bxc5 13.Rd1 Qb6 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.e3 Bxf1 16.Kxf1 Nc6 17.g3 Qb7 18.Kg2 Ne5 19.Qf4 Kg7 20.e4 Nxf3 21.Qxf3 Qxb2 22.Rd7 Rfd8 23.Rhd1 Rxd7 24.Rxd7 Qe5 25.Qg4+ Kf8 26.Qe2 Rb8 27.Rxa7 f5 28.Qh5 Qxe4+ 29.f3 Rb2+ 30.Kh3 Rxh2+ 31.Kxh2 Qe2+ 32.Kg1 Qe1+ 33.Kg2 Qe2+ 34.Kg1 Qe1+ 35.Kg2 Qe2+ 36.Kg1 1/2-1/2

Round 9, June 14
Caruana, Fabiano – Deac, Bogdan-Daniel
A07 Reti, King’s Indian Attack

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.O-O Be7 5.d3 Nc6 6.Nbd2 e5 7.e4 d4 8.Nc4 Nd7 9.a4 O-O 10.b3 Re8 11.h4 Bb4 12.Bg5 f6 13.Bd2 Rb8 14.h5 a6 15.a5 Nf8 16.Nh4 b5 17.axb6 cxb6 18.Bxb4 Nxb4 19.Qd2 Nc6 20.Nf5 g6 21.Nh4 b5 22.Na5 Nxa5 23.Rxa5 Rb6 24.Raa1 Qe7 25.hxg6 hxg6 26.f4 Qh7 27.fxe5 fxe5 28.Rf2 Qg7 29.c3 dxc3 30.Qxc3 Ne6 31.Nf3 Rd6 32.Rc1 Bd7 33.Nxe5 Nd4 34.Nxd7 Qxd7 35.b4 Qg4 36.Re1 Rd7 37.Re3 Qg5 38.Qc1 Kg7 39.Bh3 Rde7 40.Kg2 Rh8 41.Re1 Qh5 42.Rh1 Qe5 43.Qb2 Nc6 44.Rc1 Qxb2 45.Rxb2 Ne5 46.Rd1 Rd8 47.d4 Nc6 48.d5 Rd6 49.Rf1 Ne5 50.Be6 Rc7 51.Ra1 Rc4 52.Rba2 Rxe4 53.Rxa6 Rxa6 54.Rxa6 Rxb4 55.Kf2 Ra4 56.Rb6 Ra2+ 57.Kf1 Nc4 58.Rxb5 Kf6 59.Ke1 Nd6 60.Rb3 Ke5 61.Kd1 Rg2 62.g4 Ne4 63.Ke1 Rh2 64.Ra3 Rb2 65.Bf7 g5 66.Be6 Nf6 67.Ra5 Rb4 68.Ke2 Nxg4 69.Bxg4 Rxg4 70.Kf3 Rd4 71.Kg3 Rxd5 72.Rxd5+ Kxd5 73.Kg4 Ke4 74.Kxg5 1/2-1/2

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov wins the Superbet Chess Classic by a full point ahead of Aronian, Grischuk & So! Caruana is fighting to get back to 50% in the remaining game against Deac

Final Standings

1 Mamedyarov 6
2-4 Aronian, Grischuk, So 5
5-6 Giri, Radjabov 4.5
7-8 Deac, Caruana 4
9-10 Lupulescu, MVL 3.5

Reminder: Paris Rapid & Blitz 2021 starts in Paris on June 16.

https://forum.chesstalk.com/forum/ch...021#post213604

Mark on your event calendar:

2021 Croatia Grand Chess Tour July 5-12
2021 Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz August 9-16
2021 Sinquefield Cup August 16-28

[Wayne Komer]

Superbet Chess Classic 2021

June 13, 2021

Round Eight

Round 8, June 13
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Giri, Anish
D85 Grunfeld, Modern Exchange variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5 8.Rb1 O-O 9.Be2 cxd4 10.cxd4 Qa5+ 11.Bd2 Qxa2 12.O-O Bg4 13.Rxb7 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Bxd4 15.e5 Na6 16.Rxe7 Rad8 17.e6 fxe6 18.Qe1 Nc5 19.Bc3 Nd3 20.Bxd4 Nxe1 21.Rg7+ Kh8 22.Rd7+ Kg8 23.Rg7+ Kh8 24.Rd7+ Kg8 25.Rg7+ 1/2-1/2

Round 8, June 13
Grischuk, Alexander – Caruana, Fabiano
C78 Ruy Lopez, Moeller Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Bc5 6.c3 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.d4 Bb6 9.a4 Bg4 10.axb5 axb5 11.Rxa8 Qxa8 12.h3 Bh5 13.Re1 h6 14.g4 Bg6 15.Be3 exd4 16.cxd4 O-O 17.d5 Bxe3 18.Rxe3 Na5 19.Bc2 Nc4 20.Re1 Nxb2 21.Qd4 Nc4 22.Bd3 Qa4 23.Bxc4 bxc4 24.Nc3 Qc2 25.Qd2 Qb3 26.Nd4 Qa3 27.Ndb5 Qa5 28.Nd4 Re8 29.f3 Nd7 30.Kg2 Ne5 31.Rb1 Ra8 32.Kg3 Nd3 33.Nde2 Qc5 34.Nf4 Ne5 35.Qf2 Qa5 36.Qd4 Kh7 37.Nfe2 f6 38.f4 c5 39.dxc6 Nxc6 40.Qxd6 Rc8 41.Rb7 Qd8 42.Rd7 Qf8 43.Qxf8 Rxf8 44.Rc7 Be8 45.Rc8 Kg8 46.Nd5 Bd7 47.Rc7 Rd8 48.Kf2 Be8 49.Ng3 Nd4 50.Rxc4 Nb5 51.Nf5 Kf8 52.h4 Bd7 53.Nfe3 Nd6 54.Rd4 Bc6 55.Rb4 h5 56.Nc3 hxg4 57.Nxg4 Bxe4 58.Nxe4 Nxe4+ 59.Rxe4 f5 60.Re5 fxg4 61.Kg3 Kf7 62.Kxg4 Rd1 63.Rf5+ Kg8 64.Re5 Kf7 65.Rf5+ Kg8 66.Re5 Kf7 1/2-1/2

Position after Black’s 55….h5



Caruana finds 55...h5!, and today, unlike yesterday, a pawn sac may save him!

Round 8, June 13
So, Wesley – MVL
A34 English, symmetrical, Three Knights System

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nb4 6.Bc4 Nd3+ 7.Ke2 Nf4+ 8.Kf1 Ne6 9.h4 Nd4 10.Nb5 Ndc6 11.d4 a6 12.d5 axb5 13.Bxb5 e6 14.Qe2 Be7 15.dxc6 Nxc6 16.Rh3 O-O 17.Rg3 Bxh4 18.Nxh4 Qxh4 19.Rh3 Qf6 20.Qh5 h6 21.Rg3 Kh7 22.Bxc6 bxc6 23.Kg1 Ra4 24.e5 Qh4 25.Qxh4 Rxh4 26.Rc3 Re4 27.Rxc5 Re1+ 28.Kh2 Rd8 29.Bg5 Rxa1 30.Bxd8 Rxa2 31.Rxc6 Bb7 32.Rc7 Bd5 33.Rxf7 Rxb2 34.Bf6 Rb7 35.Rxb7 Bxb7 36.Bd8 Bd5 37.Bc7 Bb7 38.Bd8 Bd5 39.Bc7 Bb7 40.Bd8 1/2-1/2

Round 8, June 13
Deac, Bogdan-Daniel – Aronian, Levon
B51 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 a6 6.Be2 Ngf6 7.O-O e6 8.Rd1 Be7 9.Nc3 Qc7 10.a4 O-O 11.a5 Rd8 12.Be3 Ng4 13.Bg5 Ngf6 14.Qc4 Qxc4 15.Bxc4 b5 16.axb6 Nxb6 17.Be2 Bb7 18.Nd2 Rd7 19.Bd3 Rc7 20.f3 d5 21.Be3 dxe4 22.Ndxe4 Nfd5 23.Bd4 f6 24.b3 Kf7 25.Nxd5 Nxd5 26.Bc4 a5 27.c3 g5 28.Ra4 f5 29.Ng3 Bc5 30.Bxc5 Rxc5 31.Bxd5 Bxd5 32.c4 Bc6 33.Ra3 a4 34.Rda1 Rg8 35.bxa4 g4 36.f4 Rxc4 37.Ne2 Rb8 38.R3a2 Bd5 39.a5 Rcb4 40.Rd2 Rb2 41.Rad1 Rxd2 42.Rxd2 Ra8 43.Nc3 Rxa5 44.Kf2 Bc6 45.Nd1 Ra4 46.g3 Ra1 47.Nb2 Rh1 48.Nd3 Rxh2+ 49.Ke3 Rxd2 50.Kxd2 Ke7 51.Ne5 Kd6 52.Ke3 Kd5 53.Kd3 Be8 54.Ke3 h5 55.Nd3 Kc4 56.Ne5+ Kc3 57.Nd3 h4 58.gxh4 g3 59.Ne5 Bh5 60.Nd7 e5 61.Nxe5 Kc2 62.Nd3 Kd1 0-1

Round 8, June 13
Radjabov, Teimour – Lupulescu, Constantin
B67 Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 Bd7 7.Qd2 a6 8.O-O-O e6 9.f4 b5 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Kb1 Qb6 12.Nce2 b4 13.f5 Nxd4 14.Nxd4 e5 15.Nf3 h5 16.Bc4 Rc8 17.Qd5 Rh7 18.Nd2 Bc6 19.Qd3 a5 20.Bd5 Bb5 21.Bc4 Bc6 22.Bd5 Bb5 23.Bc4 Bd7 24.Rhe1 a4 25.Nf1 Bh6 26.b3 Ke7 27.Qe2 h4 28.Rd3 axb3 29.cxb3 Bb5 30.Bxb5 Qxb5 31.Nd2 Bxd2 32.Qxd2 Qb6 33.Rd1 Rc6 34.g4 hxg3 35.hxg3 Rg7 36.Qe2 Rg8 37.g4 Qc5 38.Rd5 Qc3 39.R5d3 Qc5 40.Rd5 Qc3 41.R5d3 Qc5 1/2-1/2

At one point, Radjabov let his clock run down to only 4 seconds and when he moved the whole broadcasting team back in St. Louis cheered.

Olimpiu G. Urcan (tweet) - Win, lose, or draw, you've got to respect the players who use every goddamn second in a classical game. That's hard work.

Standings after Round Eight

1 Mamedyarov 5.5
2-4 Aronian, Grischuk, So 4.5
5-6 Giri Radjabov 4
7-8 Deac, Caruana 3.5
9-10 Lupulescu, MVL 3

[Hans Jung]

In rd 8 Shak forces a draw to at least tie for first in the tournament.

[Hans Jung]

The older I get the more interesting I find endgames. Giri - MVL looked superficially to be headed to a bishops of opposite colour ending ( so assumption draw) but Giri found the entertaining Be8 and Bxf7 and all of a sudden with the sacrificed bishop more passed pawns then he needed and a nice win.
Fabulous Fabi - Shak was humorous (or I found it so) in the bizarre pawn play that just ended up winning the endgame for Shak.
Grischuk's Nd4 was too relaxed and then Bc5 was all Levon needed to find his way to the king (on which he had his eye all the time)
This tournament might end up being the Shaks.

[Wayne Komer]

Superbet Chess Classic 2021

June 12, 2021

Round Seven

Round 7, June 12
Caruana, Fabiano – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Nc3 Nd4 6.Ba4 c6 7.O-O d6 8.Nxd4 Bxd4 9.h3 g5 10.Ne2 Bb6 11.c3 Rg8 12.d4 Nxe4 13.Bc2 d5 14.Bxe4 dxe4 15.dxe5 Qxd1 16.Rxd1 g4 17.h4 g3 18.Nd4 Bd8 19.fxg3 Rxg3 20.Re1 Rg4 21.Bg5 Bxg5 22.hxg5 Ke7 23.Rad1 Bd7 24.e6 fxe6 25.g6 hxg6 26.Nb3 e5 27.Na5 Be6 28.Rd2 Rb8 29.b4 Kf6 30.a4 Rg3 31.Rxe4 Bd5 32.Rh4 Rxc3 33.Rh7 b6 34.Nxc6 Bxc6 35.Rc7 Rc1+ 36.Kf2 Rf8 37.b5 Ke6+ 38.Kg3 Rc3+ 39.Kh2 Rh8+ 40.Kg1 Rh1+ 41.Kxh1 Bxg2+ 42.Rxg2 Rxc7 43.Rxg6+ Kd5 44.a5 Kc5 45.axb6 axb6 46.Re6 Kxb5 47.Rxe5+ Rc5 48.Re1 Rg5 0-1

Mamedyarov's 9...g5!? was a trademark move, but 10.Nd5!? might have boosted Caruana's chances of beating and catching the leader!

Round 7, June 12
Aronian, Levon – Grischuk, Alexander
D40 QGD, Semi-Tarrasch

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c5 5.e3 Nc6 6.a3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 a6 8.O-O b5 9.Ba2 Bb7 10.d5 exd5 11.Nxd5 Be7 12.e4 O-O 13.Bf4 c4 14.Re1 Re8 15.Qd2 Bc5 16.Bg5 Be7 17.h4 h6 18.Bf4 Bc5 19.Bc7 Qc8 20.Nxf6+ gxf6 21.Qf4 Nd4 22.Nxd4 Bxd4 23.Rad1 Bc5 24.Bb1 Bf8 25.Re3 Bg7 26.Rg3 Kh8 27.e5 Qe6 28.Bf5 Qe7 29.Rd7 1-0

Levon Aronian bounces back to beat leader Alexander Grischuk - if Mamedyarov beats Caruana he'll have a full-point lead with 2 rounds to go:

Round 7, June 12
Radjabov, Teimour – So, Wesley
D39 QGD, Ragozin, Vienna variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.e4 h6 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.Bxc4 c5 9.e5 Qd8 10.O-O cxd4 11.Ne4 O-O 12.Qe2 Be7 13.Rad1 Qc7 14.Ng3 Bd7 15.Nh5 g6 16.Bd3 Bc6 17.Nxd4 Nd7 18.Rfe1 Nxe5 19.Qxe5 Qxe5 20.Rxe5 gxh5 21.Nxc6 bxc6 22.Rxh5 Kg7 23.Kf1 Rfd8 24.Ke2 Rd5 25.Rh3 Rad8 26.Rg3+ Kf8 27.Bc2 Re5+ 28.Re3 Rxe3+ 29.fxe3 Rxd1 30.Kxd1 Bf6 31.Be4 Bxb2 32.Bxc6 a5 33.a4 Be5 34.g3 Ke7 35.Ke2 Kf8 36.Kd1 Ke7 37.Ke2 Kf8 38.Kd1 1/2-1/2

Round 7, June 12
Giri, Anish – MVL
A34 English, symmetrical, Three Knights System

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.d4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 g6 7.e3 Bg7 8.Bb5+ Bd7 9.Bd3 O-O 10.O-O Qa5 11.Qb3 Qc7 12.Rb1 b6 13.Ba3 Nc6 14.dxc5 Be6 15.cxb6 axb6 16.Qxb6 Qxb6 17.Rxb6 Rxa3 18.Rxc6 Bd5 19.Rc5 Bxf3 20.gxf3 Bxc3 21.Bc4 Bb4 22.Rb5 Bd6 23.Rc1 Rfa8 24.f4 Kg7 25.Bb3 R8a5 26.Rd5 Rxd5 27.Bxd5 h6 28.h3 g5 29.fxg5 hxg5 30.Bb3 Ra5 31.a4 Rc5 32.Rb1 Kf6 33.Kg2 Bc7 34.Bd1 Rd5 35.Rc1 Bd6 36.Be2 Rc5 37.Ra1 Rc3 38.a5 Ra3 39.Rxa3 Bxa3 40.Kf3 e6 41.Bd3 Ke7 42.Kg4 Kf6 43.a6 Bc5 44.Bb5 Ba7 45.Be8 Ke7 46.Bxf7 Kxf7 47.Kxg5 Kg7 48.h4 e5 49.Kf5 Bb8 50.Ke4 1-0

Round 7, June 12
Lupulescu, Constantin – Deac, Bogdan-Daniel
A22 English Opening

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.e3 Nc6 4.a3 g6 5.d4 exd4 6.exd4 d5 7.Bg5 Be7 8.Nf3 O-O 9.Be2 Be6 10.cxd5 Bxd5 11.Nxd5 Nxd5 12.Bh6 Re8 13.O-O Bf6 14.Rc1 a6 15.Bc4 Qd6 16.Ba2 Bg7 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.Qb3 Nce7 19.Rfe1 Qb6 20.Qxb6 cxb6 21.Re5 Red8 22.g3 Rd7 23.Re2 f6 24.Bxd5 Nxd5 25.Rec2 g5 26.Kf1 Re8 27.Re2 Red8 28.Ne1 Kf7 29.Nc2 b5 30.Ne3 Ne7 31.Rd2 h5 32.Rcd1 Nc8 33.d5 Nd6 34.Rc2 Kg6 35.Rd4 Re8 36.h4 Ne4 37.Kg2 Nd6 38.Kf1 Rde7 39.Rc1 Ne4 40.Ng2 Nd6 41.Ne3 Rf7 42.Kg2 Re5 43.Kg1 Rd7 44.Kf1 Rde7 45.Kg2 Rd7 46.Kf1 Rde7 47.Kg2 gxh4 48.gxh4 Re4 49.Rcd1 f5 50.Kf3 Kf6 51.Ng2 Ke5 52.Rxe4+ fxe4+ 53.Ke2 Nc4 54.Ne3 Nxb2 55.d6 Rd7 56.Rd5+ Ke6 57.Rxh5 Kxd6 58.Rh8 Nc4 59.h5 Ke5 60.Re8+ Kf4 61.Rf8+ Kg5 62.Rf5+ Kh4 63.Nxc4 bxc4 64.Rc5 b5 65.a4 Rh7 66.axb5 axb5 67.Rxb5 Rxh5 68.Rb8 Rc5 69.Re8 c3 70.Rxe4+ Kh3 71.Kd1 c2+ 72.Kc1 Kg2 73.Re2 Kf3 74.Rxc2 Rxc2+ 75.Kxc2 Kxf2 1/2-1/2

Standings after Round Seven

1 Mamedyarov 5
2-3 Grischuk, So 4
4-7 Deac, Aronian, Giri, Radjabov 3.5
8 Caruana 3
9-10 Lupulescu, MVL 2.5

After beating world no. 2 Caruana today, Mamedyarov leads So and Grischuk by a full point going into the final two rounds of the Superbet Chess

[Hans Jung]

Did MVL miss a win?

[Hans Jung]

Even the great Aronian succumbs to the Shak's tactics.

[Wayne Komer]

Superbet Chess Classic 2021

June 11, 2021

Round Six

Round 6, June 11
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Aronian, Levon
D38 QGD, Ragozin variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Qa4+ Nc6 6.e3 O-O 7.Bd2 dxc4 8.Bxc4 Bd6 9.Qc2 e5 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Nxe5 Bxe5 12.f4 Bxc3 13.Bxc3 Ng4 14.Bd4 c5 15.Bxc5 Re8 16.O-O Nxe3 17.Bxe3 Rxe3 18.Rfe1 Rxe1+ 19.Rxe1 Bd7 20.Qb3 Qf6 21.Qxb7 Qd4+ 22.Kh1 Re8 23.Rxe8+ Bxe8 24.Bxf7+ Kf8 25.Bb3 Qc5 26.Qd5 Qc1+ 27.Bd1 Qxf4 28.Qc5+ Kg8 29.Qxa7 h5 30.h3 Bc6 31.Bb3+ Kh7 32.Qf7 Qc1+ 33.Kh2 Qc5 34.Qg8+ Kh6 35.Qe6+ g6 36.Qf6 Bd7 37.h4 Qc7+ 38.g3 Qc8 39.Qf4+ Kh7 40.Qf7+ 1-0

Levon Aronian finally resigns, but in truth the game was over a long time ago! Shakhriyar Mamedyarov moves up to +2

Round 6, June 11
So, Wesley – Giri, Anish
E49 Nimzo-Indian, Botvinnik System

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 dxc4 8.Bxc4 c5 9.Nf3 Qc7 10.Be2 b6 11.Bb2 cxd4 12.cxd4 Ba6 13.O-O Bxe2 14.Qxe2 Nbd7 15.e4 Rac8 16.Rfc1 Qb7 17.Re1 h6 18.Rab1 Rc7 19.Nd2 Rfc8 20.Nf1 Qc6 21.f3 Qc2 22.Qb5 Qc6 23.Qe2 Qc2 24.Ne3 Qxe2 25.Rxe2 Ne8 26.d5 Nc5 27.dxe6 Nxe6 28.Rd2 b5 29.Kf2 Rb7 30.h4 h5 31.Nd5 f6 32.Rbd1 a5 33.Bc3 Ra8 34.Rb2 Kf7 35.Be1 Ra6 36.Ne3 Nd6 37.Bxa5 Rxa5 38.Rxd6 Rxa3 39.Rd5 Nf4 40.Rdxb5 Rxb5 41.Rxb5 g6 42.Rb7+ Ke6 43.Rb6+ Kf7 44.Rc6 Ra2+ 45.Rc2 Rxc2+ 46.Nxc2 g5 47.hxg5 fxg5 48.Nd4 h4 49.g3 hxg3+ 50.Kxg3 Nd3 51.Nc6 Kg6 52.Ne7+ Kf6 53.Nd5+ Kg6 54.Ne3 Kf6 55.Ng4+ Ke6 56.Kg2 Nf4+ 57.Kf2 Nd3+ 58.Ke3 Nf4 59.Nh2 Ng2+ 60.Kf2 Nf4 61.Nf1 Nd3+ 62.Ke3 Nf4 63.Nd2 Ng2+ 64.Kd4 Nh4 65.Ke3 Ng2+ 66.Kf2 Nf4 67.Nc4 Nd3+ 68.Ke3 Nf4 69.Nb2 Ng2+ 70.Ke2 g4 71.fxg4 Ke5 72.Kf3 Nh4+ 73.Kg3 Ng6 74.Kf3 Nh4+ 75.Kg3 Ng6 76.g5 Kxe4 77.Kg4 Ne5+ 78.Kh5 Kf5 79.Kh6 Nf7+ 80.Kh5 Nxg5 81.Nc4 Ke4 82.Ne3 Kxe3 1/2-1/2

Round 6, June 11
Grischuk, Alexander – Lupulescu, Constantin
B67 Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 Bd7 7.Qd2 a6 8.O-O-O e6 9.f4 b5 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Kb1 Qb6 12.Nxc6 Bxc6 13.f5 b4 14.Ne2 e5 15.Ng3 Qc5 16.b3 h5 17.h4 Bb5 18.Qe1 Rc8 19.Bxb5+ axb5 20.Qe2 Ra8 21.Rd5 Qa7 22.Qxb5+ Kd8 23.a4 bxa3 24.Rhd1 Be7 25.Qe2 Rc8 26.c4 Rg8 27.Nxh5 a2+ 28.Ka1 Rb8 29.R5d3 Qa3 30.Qc2 Rg4 31.c5 Rc8 32.Rc3 d5 33.Rxd5+ Ke8 34.g3 Qb4 35.Rc4 Qe1+ 36.Rd1 Qe3 37.Qd3 1-0

Grischuk has beaten Lupulescu to join Mamedyarov in the lead

Grischuk: "I think optimism is better than pessimism, but unfounded optimism is the worst!"

Round 6, June 11
MVL – Caruana, Fabiano
C78 Ruy Lopez, Moeller Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Bc5 6.c3 b5 7.Bc2 d5 8.a4 dxe4 9.axb5 Bg4 10.bxc6 exf3 11.gxf3 Bh3 12.Re1 O-O 13.Ra5 Qd6 14.b4 Bxf2+ 15.Kxf2 e4 16.Kg1 Rae8 17.Re3 Nh5 18.f4 Nxf4 19.Rg5 f5 20.d4 Bg4 21.Rxg4 fxg4 22.Qxg4 Nd3 23.Bxd3 exd3 24.Rxe8 Rxe8 25.Bf4 Qxc6 26.Be5 Qh6 27.Bf4 Qc6 28.Be5 Qh6 29.Bf4 Qc6 1/2-1/2

Round 6, June 11
Deac, Bogdan-Daniel – Radjabov, Teimour
C67 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence, open variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.Re1 Nd6 6.Nxe5 Be7 7.Bf1 Nxe5 8.Rxe5 O-O 9.d4 Bf6 10.Re1 Re8 11.Bf4 Rxe1 12.Qxe1 Ne8 13.c3 d5 14.Bd3 g6 15.Nd2 Ng7 16.Qe2 c6 17.Re1 Bf5 18.Nf3 Qd7 19.Be5 Re8 20.Qd2 Bxe5 21.Nxe5 Qd8 22.Bxf5 Nxf5 23.g3 f6 24.Nd3 Nd6 25.h4 Rxe1+ 26.Qxe1 Kf7 27.f3 Qe7 28.Kf2 Nf5 29.Qd2 Qd6 30.Qf4 Qxf4 31.Nxf4 g5 32.hxg5 fxg5 33.Nd3 h5 34.g4 hxg4 35.fxg4 Nd6 36.Ke2 Ke7 37.Ne5 Nc4 38.Nxc4 dxc4 39.Ke3 b5 40.Ke4 Ke6 41.a3 a5 42.Kf3 Kd5 43.Ke3 Kd6 44.Ke4 Ke6 45.Kf3 Kd5 46.Ke3 Kd6 47.Ke4 Ke6 1/2-1/2

Quite a long game, but Teimour Radjabov's 6th draw in a row wasn't any more interesting!

Standings after Round Six

1-2 Grischuk, Mamedyarov 4
3 So 3.5
4-6 Deac, Caruana, Radjabov 3
7-9 Giri, MVL, Aronian 2.5
10 Lupulescu 2

[Réjean Tremblay]

It took me a little while to realize why an immediate 32. Re8 doesn't work (I believe it is because Rg2+) wow - what a complex position.

I have the same reaction during few seconds (why not 32. Re8? ) and now i think after 32...Rxg2+ why not 33. Kh1!? but Black have 33...Rh2+!! The black rook dance on the second rank!

[Kerry Liles]

Superbet Chess Classic 2021

June 7, 2021

Round Three

Round 3, June 7
Aronian, Levon – Caruana, Fabiano
D26 QGA, Classical variation

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 Nf6 4.Bxc4 e6 5.Nf3 c5 6.O-O Nc6 7.Nc3 a6 8.Ne5 Qc7 9.Nxc6 Qxc6 10.d5 exd5 11.Nxd5 b5 12.Nxf6+ Qxf6 13.Bd5 Rb8 14.e4 Be7 15.a4 O-O 16.axb5 Rxb5 17.Ra3 Rb6 18.Rf3 Qe5 19.Bd2 Rg6 20.Bc3 Qc7 21.Rg3 Bb7 22.Rxg6 hxg6 23.Bxb7 Qxb7 24.Qg4 c4 25.e5 Bb4 26.Bxb4 Qxb4 27.e6 Qxb2 28.Qxc4 Qf6 29.Qxa6 Qxe6 30.Qxe6 fxe6 31.Kh1 Kh8 32.Kg1 Kg8 33.Kh1 Kh8 34.Kg1 Kg8 1/2-1/2

It felt like Levon Aronian had a serious advantage for a while, but leader Fabiano Caruana holds a draw and again only the games with the Romanian players remain in progress

Round 3, June 7
Deac, Bogdan-Daniel – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
E04 Catalan, open

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 Nc6 6.Qa4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Nd5 8.Bxb4 Nxb4 9.O-O Rb8 10.Na3 O-O 11.Qb5 b6 12.Qxc4 Ba6 13.Nb5 Qe8 14.Rfc1 Nd5 15.e4 Na5 16.Nxc7 Nxc4 17.Nxe8 Rfxe8 18.exd5 exd5 19.b3 Nd6 20.Ne5 Bb7 21.Nc6 Bxc6 22.Rxc6 Nb5 23.Bxd5 Re7 24.Bc4 Nxd4 25.Rd6 Nf3+ 26.Kg2 Ne1+ 27.Kf1 Nf3 28.h3 g5 29.Rad1 Ne5 30.R6d5 h6 31.Ba6 Kg7 32.Kg2 Rbe8 33.a4 Rc7 34.a5 Re6 35.Re1 Kf6 36.axb6 axb6 37.Re4 Rc3 38.Rb5 Nd7 39.Rxe6+ Kxe6 40.Rb4 Kd6 41.Bc4 f6 42.Rb5 Ke7 43.f4 Rc2+ 44.Kf3 Rc3+ 45.Kg2 Rc2+ 46.Kf3 Rc3+ 47.Kg2 Rc2+ 48.Kf3 Rc3+ 1/2-1/2

Round 3, June 7
Grischuk, Alexander – So, Wesley
C67 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence, open variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.h3 Be7 10.Rd1+ Ke8 11.g4 Nh4 12.Nxh4 Bxh4 13.Nc3 h5 14.g5 f6 15.exf6 gxf6 16.Ne4 fxg5 17.Bxg5 Bxg5 18.Nxg5 Ke7 19.Re1+ Kf6 20.Ne4+ Kf7 21.Ng5+ Kf6 22.Ne4+ Kf7 23.Ng5+ Kf6 1/2-1/2

Round 3, June 7
Radjabov, Teimour – MVL
D85 Grunfeld, Modern Exchange variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5 8.Rb1 O-O 9.Be2 cxd4 10.cxd4 Qa5+ 11.Bd2 Qxa2 12.O-O Bg4 13.Rxb7 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Bxd4 15.e5 Na6 16.Rxe7 Rad8 17.e6 fxe6 18.Qe1 Nc5 19.Be3 Nd3 20.Bxd4 Nxe1 21.Rg7+ Kh8 22.Rd7+ Kg8 23.Rg7+ Kh8 24.Rd7+ Kg8 25.Rg7+ 1/2-1/2

Round 3, June 7
Lupulescu, Constantin – Giri, Anish
A28 English, Four Knights, Romanishin variation

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.e3 Bb4 5.Qc2 Bxc3 6.Qxc3 Qe7 7.d4 Ne4 8.Qd3 exd4 9.Nxd4 Nc5 10.Qd1 Nxd4 11.Qxd4 O-O 12.Be2 b6 13.O-O Bb7 14.f3 a5 15.Bd2 f5 16.Rad1 d6 17.b3 Rae8 18.Rf2 Rf6 19.Bd3 Qf7 20.Re2 Qh5 21.Be1 Be4 22.Bb1 Rg6 23.Bg3 Bxb1 24.Rxb1 Ne4 25.Rbe1 Nxg3 26.Qd5+ Kh8 27.hxg3 Rxg3 28.e4 Qxf3 29.Qf7 Rg8 30.exf5 Qc6 31.Rf2 Qc5 32.Re7 Qd4 33.Re8 Rxg2+ 34.Kxg2 Qg4+ 35.Kh2 Qh4+ 36.Kg2 Qg4+ 37.Kf1 Qh3+ 38.Ke1 Qc3+ 39.Rd2 1-0

Position after Black’s 31…Qc5?



31...Qc5? and the computer says 32.Re7! now would be winning for Lupulescu!

And he's played it! Lupulescu has completely turned the tables in a game where earlier he was on the verge of defeat...

33.Re8! and it's mate-in-10 for Lupulescu vs. Giri!

And it's over! Romanian no. 1 Constantin Lupulescu takes down Anish Giri

I don’t think it is a question of the Romanian Chess Federation feeding their players raw meat. Their advantage is being off chess for a year and hungry to play and having home field.

Standings after Round Three

1-2 Caruana, Deac 2
3-8 Aronian, Grischuk, So, Mamedyarov, Radjabov, Lupulescu 1.5
9-10 Giri, MVL 1

It took me a little while to realize why an immediate 32. Re8 doesn't work (I believe it is because Rg2+) wow - what a complex position.

[Hans Jung]

You cant miss tactics against the Shak. The end position is a horror show.

[Wayne Komer]

Superbet Chess Classic 2021

June 9, 2021

Round Five

Round 5, June 9
Deac, Bogdan-Daniel – So, Wesley
D24 QGA

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.e4 Bb4 6.Bxc4 Nxe4 7.O-O Nxc3 8.bxc3 Be7 9.Ne5 O-O 10.Qg4 Nc6 11.Re1 f5 12.Qf3 Nxe5 13.Rxe5 Kh8 14.Bf4 Bd6 15.Re2 Bxf4 16.Qxf4 Qd6 17.Qxd6 cxd6 18.Bxe6 Re8 19.Rae1 Bxe6 20.Rxe6 Rxe6 21.Rxe6 Rc8 22.Rxd6 Kg8 23.h4 Rxc3 24.Rd8+ Kf7 25.Rd7+ Kf6 26.Rxb7 Ra3 27.d5 Rxa2 28.d6 Rd2 29.Rxa7 Rxd6 30.g3 h5 31.Kg2 Re6 32.Ra8 Rd6 33.Rf8+ Kg6 34.Re8 Kf6 35.Rf8+ Kg6 36.Re8 Kf6 37.Rf8+ 1/2-1/2

Round 5, June 9
Radjabov, Teimour – Grischuk, Alexander
D37 QGD, Hastings variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 O-O 6.e3 Nbd7 7.c5 Nh5 8.Bd3 Nxf4 9.exf4 b6 10.b4 a5 11.a3 c6 12.O-O Ba6 13.Bxa6 Rxa6 14.Qe2 Qa8 15.b5 cxb5 16.Qxb5 Ra7 17.Ne5 Nxe5 18.cxb6 Nc4 19.bxa7 Qxa7 20.f5 Qxd4 21.Qd7 Nd2 22.Qxe7 Nxf1 23.fxe6 fxe6 24.Qxe6+ Kh8 25.Rxf1 Qxc3 26.Qxd5 Qxa3 27.g3 Qb4 28.Ra1 a4 29.Qc6 Qb2 30.Qxa4 Qxf2+ 31.Kh1 Qf3+ 32.Kg1 Qf2+ 33.Kh1 Qf3+ 34.Kg1 Qe3+ 35.Kh1 Qf3+ 1/2-1/2

Round 5, June 9
Lupulescu, Constantin – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
A06 Reti Opening

1.Nf3 d5 2.e3 e6 3.c4 Be7 4.b3 Bf6 5.Nc3 Ne7 6.Bb2 c5 7.Qc2 Nbc6 8.Na4 b6 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.cxd5 Qxd5 11.Nc3 Qh5 12.Ne4 Qg6 13.Nh4 Qh6 14.Nd6+ Kf8 15.Nxc8 Rxc8 16.g3 Rd8 17.Be2 Kg7 18.a3 Rd6 19.f4 Rhd8 20.Rd1 f5 21.Nf3 Nd5 22.O-O Kg8 23.Rb1 a5 24.Bb5 Nce7 25.Rfd1 Nf6 26.Bf1 Ng4 27.h3 Nf6 28.d3 Nc6 29.Re1 Qg7 30.Qf2 Kh8 31.Kh2 Rg8 32.Be2 Nd5 33.Bf1 e5 34.fxe5 Rg6 35.Nh4 Rxg3 36.d4 Qg5 37.Ng2 cxd4 38.exd4 Nxd4 0-1

Position after Black’s 35…Rxg3




Shakhriyar Mamedyarov crashes through and will join Wesley So and Alexander Grischuk in the lead going into tomorrow's rest day!

A couple of slips by Lupulescu in time trouble, and Mamedyarov unleashed a crushing attack to join the leaders!

If Lupulescu had played 36.Nxf5, how would Mamedyarov have finished off the game? Black to play & win! (Hint: 36…Rf3)

Standings after Round Five

1-3 So, Grischuk, Mamedyarov 3
4-7 Deac, Caruana, Radjabov, Aronian 2.5
8-10 Lupulescu, MVL, Giri 2

No play tomorrow – rest day.

[Hans Jung]

Finally a well played endgame. Oh those Russians!

[Pargat Perrer]

Wesley So: "I'd like to thank the Lord Jesus because I don't think I'd capable of beating guys like Caruana personally"

Ah, this may be further proof of my theory that God created the entire Universe just to bring about this current age, where he can watch movies and TV shows and sports events to his heart's content. It was a 13.8 billion year wait, but it was worth every second.

Of course, there may be billions of other planets with life forms that are also producing such shows and sporting events. Perhaps God and Jesus even have friendly bets on sports outcomes. Jesus obviously favored So over Caruana for this one game.