FIDE World Cup Open Sochi 2021

[Amit R]

What a superb showing by GM Krasenkow at this age, eliminating Alekseenko , a 2700 GM, and then taking Pragg to the tiebreak, before finally losing it.

Kudos!

[Wayne Komer]

FIDE World Cup Open Sochi 2021

July 20, 2021

Round Three

Tie-Breaks

Results

Wojtaszek-Matlakov 2-0
Vakhidov-Ponkratov 2-0
Bacrot-Amin 1.5-0.5
Tomashevsky-Idani 0.5-1.5
Vidit-Adhiban 3.5-2.5
Grandelius-Xiong 0.5-1.5
Abdusattorov-Giri 2-0
Martirosyan-Mamedyarov 1.5-0.5
MVL-Paravyan 4-3
Pragg-Krasenkow 2-0
Artemiev-Gelfand 2-0
Cheparinov-Svidler 0.5-1.5
Shankland-Areshenko 1.5-0.5

Wow! Tomashevsky, Grandelius, Giri, Mamedyarov, Krasenkow and Gelfand all go down to defeat.

Shankland tweets: Through to round 4 after a wild match with Areshchenko. Honestly he played better than me and I had one foot out the door both in regulation and the playoff, but I was resourceful when it counted and you can't have a good tournament without some luck. Jumabayev next!

Selected Games

(Games 1 and 2 25+10, Games 3 and 4 10+10, Games 5 and 6 5+3)

Game 1, July 20
Matlakov, Maxim – Wojtaszek, Radoslaw
E10 Queen’s Pawn game

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Nbd2 O-O 6.Bg2 dxc4 7.O-O b5 8.Ne5 Nd5 9.b3 cxb3 10.Nxb3 Bb7 11.Bd2 Bxd2 12.Qxd2 Nd7 13.Nxd7 Qxd7 14.Nc5 Qc8 15.Qa5 Bc6 16.Rac1 Ne7 17.e4 Rd8 18.Rfd1 a6 19.Rd3 Ra7 20.Rcd1 h6 21.h4 Qb8 22.d5 exd5 23.exd5 Be8 24.Qe1 Nf5 25.Qe5 Qb6 26.Ne4 Nd6 27.Rd4 Bd7 28.Qf4 Nxe4 29.Rxe4 Qd6 30.Qe3 Raa8 31.Rc1 Re8 32.Rxe8+ Rxe8 33.Qa7 Rc8 34.Qe3 a5 35.Be4 b4 36.Qb3 Qb6 37.h5 a4 38.Qc4 b3 39.axb3 axb3 40.Bb1 b2 41.Rd1 Re8 42.Qc2 Kf8 43.Qh7 Re2 44.Rf1 Bh3 45.d6 cxd6 0-1

Game 2, July 20
Wojtaszek, Radoslaw – Matlakov, Maxim
A40 Queen’s Pawn KID

1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d6 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.d5 Ne5 6.Nxe5 Bxe5 7.e4 e6 8.Bd3 Nf6 9.O-O Nh5 10.g3 Bg7 11.Re1 O-O 12.Be2 Nf6 13.Bg5 h6 14.Be3 exd5 15.exd5 Bh3 16.Qd2 Kh7 17.Bd4 Qd7 18.Qf4 Bf5 19.f3 g5 20.Qd2 Rae8 21.Bd3 Kg8 22.Bf1 Bg6 23.Rxe8 Rxe8 24.Re1 Rxe1 25.Qxe1 Qf5 26.Qf2 a6 27.Kg2 h5 28.h3 Nd7 29.Bxg7 Kxg7 30.Qd4+ f6 31.f4 gxf4 32.gxf4 Nc5 33.Qd2 Kf8 34.Kg3 a5 35.b3 Ke7 36.Be2 Kd8 37.Bf3 Be8 38.Bg2 Qg6+ 39.Kh2 Bd7 40.Ne2 h4 41.Qe3 Qb1 42.Qd4 Ke7 43.Qe3+ Kf7 44.Nd4 Qxa2 45.f5 Qb2 46.Qf4 Nxb3 47.Nf3 Qf2 48.Ng5+ 1-0

Game 1, July 20
Vakhidov, Jakhongir – Ponkratov, Pavel
A28 English, Four Knights, Nimzowitsch variation

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.e4 Bb4 5.d3 d6 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 O-O 8.g3 Nd7 9.Bg2 a6 10.a4 Nc5 11.Nh4 Na5 12.Be3 Bd7 13.O-O b5 14.axb5 axb5 15.cxb5 Bxb5 16.c4 Bd7 17.Nf5 Kh8 18.f4 exf4 19.Rxf4 Nc6 20.Rxa8 Qxa8 21.d4 Qa3 22.Bc1 Qd3 23.Qh5 Bxf5 24.exf5 Nxd4 25.Bf1 Qc3 26.f6 g6 27.Qh6 Nce6 28.Rf2 Nf5 29.Qd2 Qxd2 30.Bxd2 h5 31.Bd3 Nfd4 32.Be4 Rb8 33.Kg2 Kg8 34.h3 Nc5 35.Bxg6 fxg6 36.f7+ Kg7 37.f8=Q+ Rxf8 38.Bh6+ Kxh6 39.Rxf8 Kg7 40.Rf1 Nd7 41.Ra1 Kf6 42.Ra7 Ne6 0-1

Game 2, July 20
Ponkratov, Pavel – Vakhidov, Jakhongir
B01 Scandinavian Defence

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.d4 g6 4.Nc3 Qd8 5.Bf4 Bg7 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.h3 Be6 8.Qd2 Nf6 9.O-O-O c6 10.Bh6 Bxh6 11.Qxh6 Qa5 12.a3 Nbd7 13.Ng5 Bd5 14.Kb1 b5 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.c3 f6 17.Ne6 Kf7 18.Re1 Rag8 19.Qd2 N7b6 20.Nf4 Rb8 21.Nxd5 Nxd5 22.h4 Rhd8 23.h5 g5 24.Qc2 Kg7 25.Bd3 Kh8 26.Be4 Qc7 27.Bxd5 Rxd5 28.Re6 Rbd8 29.Rhe1 R8d7 30.h6 Kg8 31.Qe4 f5 32.Qe3 f4 33.Qe4 Qd8 34.Rg6+ Kh8 35.Rg7 1-0

Game 2, July 20
Bacrot, Etienne – Amin, Bassem
E60 KID/Neo-Grunfeld

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.d4 O-O 5.c4 c6 6.Nc3 d5 7.Qb3 dxc4 8.Qxc4 Bf5 9.O-O Nbd7 10.Qb3 Qb6 11.Qa3 a5 12.Qxe7 Qb4 13.Qe3 Rfe8 14.Qd2 Nb6 15.e3 Nc4 16.Qe2 a4 17.Nh4 Be6 18.Qc2 Nd5 19.Ne4 b6 20.Bd2 Qxb2 21.Qxc4 Nxe3 22.Qc1 Qxc1 23.Rfxc1 Nxg2 24.Nxg2 Bxa2 25.Nd6 Re6 26.Nxf7 Bb3 27.Ne5 c5 28.Nf4 Ree8 29.Nd7 Ra6 30.dxc5 Bxa1 31.Rxa1 bxc5 32.Bc3 Rd8 33.Nxc5 Rc6 34.Bb4 Rd1+ 35.Rxd1 Bxd1 36.Nd5 Kf7 37.Kf1 Bf3 38.Nc3 Rb6 39.Nd3 Kg8 40.Nxa4 Ra6 41.Nac5 Ra1+ 42.Ne1 Rb1 43.Bd2 Rd1 44.Be3 h5 45.Nb3 Bd5 46.Nd2 Ra1 47.Ke2 Ra2 48.h4 Bc4+ 49.Kf3 Bd5+ 50.Kf4 Kf7 51.Nef3 Ra4+ 52.Ke5 Ra5 53.Ng5+ Ke7 54.Kd4 Bb7 55.Nc4 Rd5+ 56.Kc3 Ba6 57.Bd4 Rd8 58.Ne5 Rc8+ 59.Kd2 Kf6 60.Nc6+ 1-0

Game 2, July 20
Idani, Pouya – Tomashevsky, Evgeny
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 O-O 6.O-O d6 7.Re1 a6 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bh4 g5 11.Bg3 Nh5 12.Nxe5 Nxg3 13.Nxc6 Qd7 14.Nd4 Bxd4 15.cxd4 Nf5 16.exf5 Qxf5 17.Nc3 Rb8 18.b3 Bb7 19.Re3 Qf6 20.Ne2 Bd5 21.Rc1 c6 22.Ng3 Rb4 23.Qg4 Be6 24.Qe2 Bd5 25.Ne4 Qg6 26.Nc3 Be6 27.Qf3 Rc8 28.Ne2 Bd5 29.Qh3 Rf8 30.f4 Rbb8 31.fxg5 hxg5 32.Rg3 Qg7 33.Qf5 f6 34.h4 Qh7 35.Qg4 Rb7 36.hxg5 fxg5 37.Qxg5+ Rg7 38.Qxg7+ Qxg7 39.Rxg7+ Kxg7 40.Nc3 Rf4 41.Ne2 Rg4 42.g3 Rg6 43.Kf2 Rh6 44.Ke3 Kf6 45.Nf4 Rh2 46.Nxd5+ cxd5 47.Rc6 1-0

Game 3, July 20
Adhiban, B. – Vidit, Santosh
A13 English, Neo-Catalan

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 d4 5.e3 Nc6 6.O-O e5 7.d3 Bc5 8.exd4 Bxd4 9.Nc3 O-O 10.Nd5 Nxd5 11.Nxd4 Nxd4 12.cxd5 c6 13.Be3 cxd5 14.Bxd4 exd4 15.Qb3 Be6 16.Qxb7 Qd6 17.Qb3 Rfb8 18.Qc2 a5 19.Rac1 a4 20.Rfe1 h6 21.h4 Qb4 22.Re2 a3 23.bxa3 Qxa3 24.Qd2 Rc8 25.Rce1 Qc3 26.Kh2 Bg4 27.Bxd5 Bxe2 28.Qxc3 dxc3 29.Bxa8 c2 30.Rc1 Rxa8 31.Rxc2 Bxd3 32.Rd2 Bc4 0-1

Game 4, July 20
Vidit, Santosh – Adhiban, B.
A35 English, symmetrical, Four Knights System

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.g3 g6 5.Bg2 d6 6.O-O Bg7 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bd7 9.Nb3 a5 10.a4 O-O 11.c5 Be6 12.Bg5 h6 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Rc1 Nb4 15.Nd4 Bg4 16.h3 dxc5 17.Nb3 Bf5 18.Nxc5 b6 19.N5e4 Bg7 20.e3 Rc8 21.Qe2 Qd3 22.Qf3 Qc4 23.Rcd1 Nd3 24.b3 Qxb3 25.Nd5 Rfe8 26.Nd2 Qa3 27.e4 Be6 28.Nb1 Qxa4 29.Nxb6 Ne5 30.Qe3 Nc4 31.Nxa4 Nxe3 32.fxe3 Bb3 33.Nb6 Rb8 34.Nd7 Bxd1 35.Nxb8 Be2 36.Nc6 Bxf1 37.Bxf1 a4 38.Bb5 Ra8 39.Nxe7+ Kf8 40.Nd5 a3 41.Nxa3 Rxa3 42.Kf2 h5 43.Kf3 Ra1 44.h4 Be5 45.Kf2 Kg7 46.Bc6 Rc1 47.Bd7 f6 48.Nf4 Kh6 49.Nd3 Rd1 50.Nxe5 fxe5 51.Be6 g5 52.hxg5+ Kxg5 53.Kf3 Rf1+ 54.Kg2 Rf6 55.Bd7 Rf8 56.Be6 Rb8 57.Bf5 Rb2+ 58.Kf3 h4 59.gxh4+ Kxh4 60.Be6 Rb8 61.Bd7 Rg8 62.Bf5 Rg3+ 63.Kf2 Rg8 64.Kf3 Kg5 65.Be6 Rg7 66.Ke2 Kf6 67.Bf5 Ra7 68.Kf3 Ra2 69.Bc8 Rb2 70.Bd7 Ke7 71.Bc6 Rc2 72.Bd5 Kd6 73.Bb3 Rb2 74.Bd5 Kc5 75.Kg4 Re2 76.Kf3 Rb2 77.Be6 Rb6 78.Bd5 Rb8 79.Ke2 Kb4 80.Kd3 Rc8 81.Be6 Rc7 82.Bd5 Ka3 83.Be6 Kb2 84.Kd2 Rc2+ 85.Kd3 Kc1 86.Bb3 Rc5 87.Ba4 Kb2 88.Be8 Rc3+ 89.Kd2 Rc7 90.Bb5 Rc8 91.Kd3 Kb3 92.Kd2 Rd8+ 93.Ke2 Kc3 94.Bc6 Rd2+ 95.Kf3 Rd6 96.Bd5 Kd2 97.Kg4 Kxe3 98.Kf5 Kd4 99.Bb7 Rd8 0-1

Game 6, July 20
Adhiban, B. – Vidit, Santosh
A06 Reti, Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.b3 d5 4.Bb2 c5 5.e3 Nc6 6.cxd5 exd5 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bb4+ 9.Bc3 a5 10.a3 Bd6 11.Nd2 O-O 12.Be2 Re8 13.O-O Nxd4 14.Bxd4 Bf5 15.Nf3 Rc8 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.Qxd5 b6 18.Qd4 Qh6 19.Qh4 Qg6 20.Nd4 Be4 21.Bf3 Bc5 22.Bxe4 Rxe4 23.Qh3 Rd8 24.Nf3 h6 25.Rfd1 Rxd1+ 26.Rxd1 Bxa3 27.Rd8+ Kh7 28.Qc8 Qf6 29.Qc2 Qxd8 30.Qxe4+ Kg8 31.Nd4 Bc5 32.g4 g6 33.Kg2 Qd7 34.h3 b5 35.Qa8+ Kg7 36.Qxa5 Bxd4 37.exd4 Qd5+ 38.Kh2 Qxb3 39.Qc7 Qd5 40.Qc3 Kf6 41.Kg3 Ke6 42.Qe3+ Kd7 43.Qxh6 Qxd4 44.h4 b4 45.Kf3 b3 46.Qc1 b2 47.Qc2 Qb4 48.Qd3+ Ke7 49.Qb1 Qc3+ 50.Kg2 Qc1 51.Qe4+ Kf8 0-1

Game 1, July 20
Grandelius, Nils – Xiong, Jeffery
B10 Caro-Kann Defence

1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Ne5 g6 6.Bb5+ Nbd7 7.O-O Bg7 8.Re1 O-O 9.Nf3 Ne4 10.c3 Ndf6 11.Nbd2 Nd6 12.Bf1 b6 13.Ne5 Bb7 14.Ndf3 Nfe4 15.Nd3 Rc8 16.Nfe5 Nf5 17.g3 e6 18.Bg2 Re8 19.Ng4 f6 20.Ne3 Nfd6 21.Nf1 Nc4 22.Ne3 Ncd6 23.Nf1 Nc4 24.Ne3 Na5 25.Ng4 Qd7 26.f3 Nd6 27.Bh6 Bh8 28.Bf4 Nf7 29.Nh6+ Nxh6 30.Bxh6 Nc4 31.Bh3 Nd6 32.Qd2 Qf7 33.Bf4 Nf5 34.Bxf5 exf5 35.h4 a5 36.Rxe8+ Rxe8 37.Re1 Ba6 38.Kf2 Bg7 39.Rxe8+ Qxe8 40.Qe3 Qd7 41.b3 Bf8 42.a4 Kf7 43.Ke1 h6 44.Qe2 Qc6 45.Kd2 b5 46.axb5 Bxb5 47.Qe3 g5 48.hxg5 hxg5 49.Bxg5 Bxd3 50.Qxd3 fxg5 51.Qxf5+ Ke8 52.Kc2 Be7 53.f4 gxf4 54.gxf4 Kd8 55.c4 a4 56.Qxd5+ Qxd5 57.cxd5 a3 58.Kb1 Bd6 59.Ka2 Ke7 60.f5 Kf6 61.b4 Bxb4 0-1

Game 1, July 20
Giri, Anish – Abdusattorov, Nodirbek
C09 French, Tarrasch, open variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.Ngf3 Nc6 5.exd5 exd5 6.Bb5 Qe7+ 7.Be2 Qc7 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.Nb3 Bb6 10.O-O Nge7 11.Nfd4 O-O 12.Be3 a6 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Bxb6 Qxb6 15.Qd4 Qxd4 16.Nxd4 Rb8 17.Nb3 Bf5 18.Rfc1 a5 19.Rab1 a4 20.Nc5 Ra8 21.Bd3 Ra5 22.Bxf5 Nxf5 23.Nd7 Re8 24.c4 d4 25.b4 axb3 26.axb3 Ra2 27.Nc5 Ree2 28.Nd3 Nd6 29.Ra1 Ne4 30.Rxa2 Rxa2 31.Re1 f5 32.g4 Ng5 33.Kg2 fxg4 34.Kg3 Nf3 35.Re7 Rd2 36.Nf4 d3 37.Re3 h5 38.Nxh5 Rd1 39.Kxg4 Nxh2+ 40.Kf4 d2 41.Rd3 Nf1 0-1

Game 2, July 20
Abdusattorov, Nodirbek – Giri, Anish
A55 Old Indian, main line

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.e4 e5 5.Nf3 Be7 6.Be2 O-O 7.O-O c6 8.d5 Nc5 9.Qc2 a5 10.Be3 Qc7 11.a3 Ng4 12.Bxc5 dxc5 13.Ne1 Nf6 14.Nd3 Bd7 15.b3 cxd5 16.cxd5 b5 17.Nb2 c4 18.bxc4 b4 19.axb4 axb4 20.Nca4 Ra5 21.Bd1 Rfa8 22.Qd3 Bc5 23.Bb3 h6 24.Qc2 Qa7 25.h3 Bd4 26.Ra2 Ra6 27.Rfa1 Rc8 28.Nc3 Ra3 29.Nd3 Nxe4 30.Nxe4 Bxa1 31.c5 Rxa2 32.Qxa2 Qxa2 33.Bxa2 Ra8 34.Bc4 Bf5 35.f3 Bd4+ 36.Kf1 Kf8 37.d6 Bxe4 38.fxe4 Rd8 39.Ke2 Bxc5 40.Nxc5 Rxd6 41.Nd3 f6 42.Bd5 Rb6 43.Kd2 Ke7 44.Kc2 Kd6 45.Kb3 Rb8 46.h4 f5 47.h5 f4 48.Ne1 Ke7 49.Nf3 Kf6 50.Bc4 Rb7 51.Bd5 Rb6 52.Bc4 Rb8 53.Bd5 Rb5 54.Bc4 Ra5 55.Kxb4 Ra1 56.Kc5 Rh1 57.Kd6 Rxh5 58.Bd5 g6 59.Bc6 Kg7 60.Bd7 Kf6 61.Bc6 Rh1 62.Nxe5 Rd1+ 63.Bd5 h5 64.Nd7+ Kg7 65.e5 Re1 66.e6 g5 67.e7 g4 68.Ne5 1-0

(to be continued)

[Wayne Komer]

FIDE World Cup Open Sochi 2021

July 20, 2021

Round Three

Tie-Breaks (continued)

Game 1, July 20
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Martirosyan, Haik
A22 English Opening

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.e3 Bb4 4.Nge2 c6 5.d4 exd4 6.Qxd4 O-O 7.a3 Be7 8.g4 d6 9.g5 Nfd7 10.f4 Nc5 11.Qd1 a5 12.Nd4 a4 13.h4 Re8 14.Bg2 Nbd7 15.O-O Bf8 16.Qe2 Qb6 17.Rb1 Nb3 18.Nc2 Ndc5 19.Kh2 Be6 20.e4 Qa6 21.Ne3 Na5 22.f5 Bxc4 23.Nxc4 Nxc4 24.Rd1 d5 25.Bf4 Rad8 26.Rd4 Nb3 27.Rd3 d4 28.Rbd1 Bd6 29.Bxd6 Nxd6 30.Qc2 Qc4 31.Qf2 dxc3 32.Rxc3 Nxe4 33.Rxd8 Rxd8 34.Qf4 Qd4 35.Qxe4 Qxe4 36.Bxe4 Rd4 37.Bc2 Na5 38.Kh3 Kf8 39.f6 gxf6 40.gxf6 Rf4 41.Kg3 Rxf6 42.Bxa4 b5 43.Bc2 h6 44.b4 Nb7 45.a4 bxa4 46.Bxa4 Nd8 47.b5 cxb5 48.Bxb5 Ne6 49.Bd7 Nd4 50.Bg4 Kg7 51.Rc4 Nc6 52.Re4 Rd6 53.Bh5 Rd3+ 54.Kg2 Rd5 55.Bf3 Ne5 56.Re2 Ra5 57.Be4 Ra3 58.Bf5 Kf6 59.Rf2 Re3 60.Bb1+ Kg7 61.Bf5 Rc3 62.Re2 Nc4 63.Rf2 Ne3+ 64.Kh2 Rc4 65.Kg3 Rc3 66.Kh2 Rc5 67.Bh3 Kg6 68.Rf3 Re5 69.Kg3 f5 70.Bf1 Kf6 71.Bh3 Nd5 72.Ra3 Re3+ 73.Rxe3 Nxe3 74.Kf3 Nd5 75.Bf1 Ke5 76.Bc4 Nb4 77.Bb5 Nc2 78.Be8 Nd4+ 79.Ke3 f4+ 80.Kf2 Nf5 81.h5 Nd4 82.Bg6 Kf6 83.Be8 Kg5 84.Bg6 Kg4 85.Be8 Nc2 86.Bg6 Nb4 87.Be8 Nd3+ 88.Ke2 Ne5 89.Kf2 f3 90.Ke3 Kg3 91.Ke4 Nc4 0-1

Game 1, July 20
MVL – Paravyan, David
B22 Sicilian, Pelikan variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Nd5 Nxd5 8.exd5 Ne7 9.c4 Ng6 10.Qa4 Bd7 11.Qb4 Bf5 12.h4 a6 13.Nc3 Be7 14.h5 Nf4 15.Qa4+ b5 16.cxb5 O-O 17.Bxf4 axb5 18.Qb4 exf4 19.Qxf4 Bd7 20.Be2 b4 21.Qxb4 Rb8 22.Nb5 Bf6 23.a4 Re8 24.Kf1 Qe7 25.Re1 Be5 26.g3 Qf6 27.Kg2 Red8 28.b3 Bxb5 29.Bxb5 Bc3 30.Qc4 Bxe1 31.Rxe1 Rdc8 32.Bc6 Qb2 33.Re3 Qd2 34.Qf4 Qc2 35.b4 h6 36.b5 Qc5 37.Re4 Rd8 38.Qe3 Qc2 39.a5 Qd1 40.a6 f5 41.Re7 f4 42.Qf3 Qa1 43.a7 Rbc8 44.b6 fxg3 45.Qxg3 1-0

Game 2, July 20
Paravyan, David – MVL
B67 Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Defence

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6 8.O-O-O Bd7 9.Nxc6 Bxc6 10.Bd3 Be7 11.Kb1 b5 12.f3 Nd7 13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.Rhe1 Nc5 15.Bf1 Rd8 16.b4 Nb7 17.Nd5 Qd7 18.Qc3 Kf8 19.Qa3 Rb8 20.Qxa6 Nd8 21.Nc3 h5 22.Rd2 Rh6 23.Red1 e5 24.g3 Qc7 25.Qa5 Qxa5 26.bxa5 b4 27.Nd5 Ne6 28.Nb6 Nd4 29.Rxd4 exd4 30.Rxd4 Rb7 31.Rc4 Be8 32.Rc8 Re6 33.a6 Ra7 34.Rb8 1-0

Game 7, July 20
Armageddon
MVL – Paravyan, David
B23 Sicilian, Closed

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.f4 Bg7 6.Nf3 d5 7.Qe2 dxe4 8.Nxe4 Nf6 9.Nxc5 Qd6 10.d4 Nd7 11.Ne4 Qe6 12.O-O O-O 13.Re1 Bb7 14.c3 a5 15.Ne5 Bxe5 16.fxe5 c5 17.Nxc5 Nxc5 18.dxc5 Rfd8 19.Be3 Qxe5 20.Qf2 Qc7 21.Bd4 f6 22.c6 Qxc6 23.Rxe7 Re8 24.Rxb7 Qxb7 25.Qxf6 Re7 26.Qh8+ Kf7 27.Rf1+ Ke6 28.Re1+ Kd5 29.Rxe7 Qxe7 30.Qxa8+ Kc4 31.Qa6+ 1-0

Game 1, July 20
Pragg – Krasenkow, Michal
A01 Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack, Modern variation

1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 d6 3.c4 g6 4.d4 Nd7 5.dxe5 dxe5 6.Nf3 Bg7 7.e3 Ne7 8.Be2 O-O 9.Qd2 c6 10.Nc3 Nc5 11.Rd1 Qb6 12.Ba3 Re8 13.b4 Ne6 14.O-O Rd8 15.Qc2 Bd7 16.Qb3 Nf5 17.Ne4 h5 18.Bb2 Qc7 19.c5 b6 20.Bc3 bxc5 21.bxc5 Rdb8 22.Qa3 a5 23.Bc4 f6 24.h3 Kh8 25.g4 hxg4 26.hxg4 Nh6 27.Rd6 Nxg4 28.Kg2 Nf8 29.Rh1+ Nh7 30.Nxf6 Bxf6 31.Rxf6 Nxf6 32.Bxe5 Qd8 33.Ng5 Bh3+ 34.Rxh3 Rb7 35.Qc3 1-0

Game 2, July 20
Krasenkow, Michal – Pragg
D02 Queen’s Pawn game

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 c5 4.c4 dxc4 5.Bg2 Nc6 6.Be3 Nd5 7.Nc3 Nxe3 8.fxe3 e6 9.O-O Be7 10.d5 exd5 11.Nxd5 Be6 12.e4 O-O 13.Qd2 Bd6 14.Rad1 Qb8 15.Nf4 Bxf4 16.gxf4 f6 17.Qe3 Qe8 18.Qxc5 Rd8 19.e5 b6 20.Rxd8 bxc5 21.Rxe8 Rxe8 22.Nh4 Nd4 23.f5 Bc8 24.e3 Nc2 25.e6 Nxe3 26.Bc6 Re7 27.Rf2 g6 28.Rd2 Kg7 29.Rd8 Bxe6 30.fxe6 Rxe6 31.Rd7+ Kh6 32.Ng2 Ng4 33.Bd5 Rb6 34.Bg8 Rxb2 35.Rxh7+ Kg5 36.h4+ Kf5 37.Bxc4 Ne5 38.Bd5 Rd2 39.Kf1 Ng4 40.Bb7 Ne5 41.Bc8+ Ke4 42.Rxa7 c4 43.Ne1 c3 44.Rc7 Rxa2 45.Rxc3 f5 46.Ng2 Nd3 47.Bb7+ Kd4 48.Rc8 Nc5 49.Bf3 Nd3 50.Rd8+ Kc3 51.Kg1 Ne5 52.Bd1 Rd2 53.Rc8+ Kd4 54.Rc1 Ke4 55.Ra1 Nf3+ 56.Bxf3+ Kxf3 57.Ra3+ Kg4 58.Ra6 Kh5 59.Rf6 Ra2 60.Kh2 Ra5 61.Rf8 f4 62.Rh8+ Kg4 63.Rh6 g5 64.h5 Ra2 65.Kg1 Kg3 66.Ne1 f3 67.Nxf3 Ra1+ 0-1

Game 1, July 20
Gelfand, Boris – Artemiev, Vladislav
D02 Queen’s Pawn game

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.g3 Bd6 5.Bg2 O-O 6.O-O Nc6 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bxf6 Qxf6 9.e3 dxc4 10.Nfd2 e5 11.d5 Na5 12.Qa4 b6 13.Na3 c3 14.Ne4 Qe7 15.Nxc3 Bd7 16.Qc2 Bxa3 17.bxa3 Qxa3 18.d6 Rac8 19.Nd5 Qxd6 20.Rfd1 Rfd8 21.Rac1 Qf8 22.Qe4 Be6 23.Qxe5 c6 24.Nf4 Bxa2 25.h4 Bb3 26.Rxd8 Rxd8 27.Be4 Qd6 28.Qf5 g6 29.Qg4 Bd1 30.Qh3 Qd2 31.Ra1 Qe1+ 32.Kg2 Nc4 33.Nd3 Qd2 34.Rxd1 Nxe3+ 35.Kh2 Nxd1 36.Bxg6 Nxf2 37.Bxf7+ Kg7 0-1

Game 2, July 20
Artemiev, Vladislav – Gelfand, Boris
D02 Queen’s Bishop game

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.Nbd2 Bg4 6.c3 e6 7.Qb3 Qc8 8.h3 Bh5 9.Be2 Be7 10.O-O O-O 11.Qd1 a6 12.a4 Rd8 13.a5 Qd7 14.Re1 Bg6 15.Nh4 Be4 16.Nhf3 cxd4 17.exd4 Bd6 18.Bxd6 Qxd6 19.Bf1 Qc7 20.b4 Bxf3 21.Qxf3 Ne7 22.Bd3 Nc8 23.Nb3 Nd6 24.Nc5 Re8 25.Re3 Re7 26.Rae1 b6 27.axb6 Qxb6 28.Qf4 Nde8 29.Qh4 Rea7 30.Nb3 Rc7 31.Ra1 h6 32.Bc2 Nd6 33.Qf4 Nc4 34.Re2 Rca7 35.Bd3 a5 36.Bxc4 axb4 37.Rxa7 Qxa7 38.Bd3 Qa3 39.Nc5 bxc3 40.Kh2 Qb4 41.Rc2 Ra1 42.Rxc3 Nh5 43.Qd6 g5 44.Qd8+ Kg7 45.Nxe6+ 1-0

Game 1, July 20
Svidler, Peter – Cheparinov, Ivan
C54 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 d6 6.O-O O-O 7.Re1 a5 8.Nbd2 Be6 9.Bxe6 fxe6 10.Nf1 a4 11.h3 Bb6 12.Be3 Bxe3 13.Rxe3 Qe8 14.Ng3 Kh8 15.d4 Ra5 16.b4 exd4 17.cxd4 Nxb4 18.Rb1 Na6 19.Rxb7 Rb5 20.Rxb5 Qxb5 21.Ra3 Nb4 22.Qxa4 Qxa4 23.Rxa4 Nd3 24.Rc4 d5 25.Rxc7 dxe4 26.Ng5 Nf4 27.N5xe4 Nxe4 28.Nxe4 h6 29.Rc4 Rb8 30.a4 Rb2 31.h4 Re2 32.Nc5 Ra2 33.g3 Ra1+ 34.Kh2 Nd5 35.Nxe6 Ra2 36.Kg1 1-0

Game 2, July 20
Areshchenko, Alexander – Shankland, Sam
B90 Sicilian, Najdorf, Byrne Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3 Be7 9.Qd2 O-O 10.O-O-O Nbd7 11.g4 b5 12.g5 Nh5 13.Kb1 Nb6 14.Na5 Rc8 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.exd5 Bxd5 17.Qxd5 Qxa5 18.c4 Nf4 19.Bxf4 exf4 20.cxb5 axb5 21.Qxb5 Qa7 22.h4 Rc5 23.Qa6 Qc7 24.Bd3 Rb8 25.Rc1 d5 26.Rxc5 Bxc5 27.Rc1 Qe5 28.Bb5 d4 29.Bd3 g6 30.Ka1 Bf8 31.Qc4 Qe3 32.h5 Rb4 33.Qc2 gxh5 34.Bxh7+ Kg7 35.Bd3 h4 36.g6 h3 37.gxf7 Rb6 38.Rh1 Rh6 39.a3 h2 40.Qg2+ Kf6 41.Be4 Kxf7 42.Ka2 d3 43.Rxh2 Rxh2 44.Qxh2 d2 45.Qh5+ Ke7 46.Qe5+ Kd8 47.Qd5+ Ke7 48.Qe5+ Kd8 49.Qb8+ Ke7 50.Qc7+ Kf6 51.Bc2 Kg5 52.Qf7 Qxf3 53.Qf5+ Kh4 54.Qxf8 Qd5+ 55.b3 d1=Q 56.Bxd1 Qd2+ 57.Kb1 Qxd1+ 58.Kb2 Qd2+ 59.Kb1 Qd3+ 60.Kb2 f3 61.Qh6+ Kg3 62.Qg5+ Kf2 63.a4 Ke1 64.Qg3+ Ke2 65.Qg4 Kd2 66.Qf4+ Kd1 67.a5 Qe2+ 68.Ka3 f2 69.Qd4+ Kc2 70.Qc5+ Kb1 71.Qf5+ Qc2 72.Qf6 Qc1+ 0-1

Round Four Pairings

Carlsen-Wojtaszek
Dubov-Esipenko
Ponkratov-Bacrot
Piorun-Sindarov
Grischuk-Korobov
Idani-Duda
Vidit-Xiong
Durarbayli-Abdusattorov
Kovalev-Fedoseev
Ivic-Andreikin
Harikrishna-Tabatabaei
Brkic-Martirosyan
MVL-Pragg
Artemiev-Karjakin
Vitiugov-Svidler
Shankland-Jumabayev

(16 matches)

Play resumes on Thursday, July 22

[Hans Jung]

Yes GM Krasenkov's result is note worthy. On the other end of the scale the youthful combatants Abdusattorov, Pragg, and Sindarov are showing they can play with the best and succeed.

[Marc Andre Beaudry]

Mamedyarov and Giri both out, that is quite amazing. MVL barely made it. A lot of big names out already including Fabi.

[Erik Malmsten]

Yes GM Krasenkov's result is note worthy. On the other end of the scale the youthful combatants Abdusattorov, Pragg, and Sindarov are showing they can play with the best and succeed.

I'm used to seeing the top players online in the Magnus Carlsen (or Grand) Chess Tour but I tend to not realize how close the players above 2600 are. There are 38 players above 2700, and 202 players in the 2600s nipping at their toes. There are too many GMs to keep track of.

The 48 players above 2600 in the first round tended to mash the 'patzers' below 2400, 2-0. Of course, once you lose your first game, match is over. There were only two upsets in the first round:
Ravi Haria 2440 3-1 Vadim Zvjaginsev 2608
Abdelrah Hesham 2397 2.5-1.5 Ahmed Adly 2625
Five playoffs with players above 2450, and two below.

[Hans Jung]

I'm used to seeing the top players online in the Magnus Carlsen (or Grand) Chess Tour but I tend to not realize how close the players above 2600 are. There are 38 players above 2700, and 202 players in the 2600s nipping at their toes. There are too many GMs to keep track of.

The 48 players above 2600 in the first round tended to mash the 'patzers' below 2400, 2-0. Of course, once you lose your first game, match is over. There were only two upsets in the first round:
Ravi Haria 2440 3-1 Vadim Zvjaginsev 2608
Abdelrah Hesham 2397 2.5-1.5 Ahmed Adly 2625
Five playoffs with players above 2450, and two below.

I look at it as a warm up for the good players but there is also plenty of excitement due to upset possibilities and also watching nice finishes (and taking risks).

[Hans Jung]

Rd 4 Jumbalayev is practicing space grabbing but Sam Shankland is refusing to be buffaloed and the computer agrees.
I am keeping an eye on Xiong - Vidit.
The wild game is Bacrot Ponkratov.
The three youngsters Pragg, Abdu, and Sindarov have all made mistakes (according to the computer) costing them the initiative (or thwarting their initiative plans) but there is still a long way to go in their games.

[Hans Jung]

Jeffery Xiong fished for checkmate and didnt look for defence, classic HOPE chess. Not like Jeffery.

Sam Shankland fought hard. Good for Sam. I dont know what his opponent was doing. He exchanged his good pieces and couldnt make headway and lacked a plan. And how many times can you capitalize on the same pin? Apparently endlessly. Have a look.
https://www.chessbomb.com/arena/2021...-Shankland_Sam

[Hans Jung]

Bacrot brilliant game.

[Wayne Komer]

FIDE World Cup Open Sochi 2021

July 22, 2021

Round Four 1/16 Final

Results

Game One

Carlsen-Wojtaszek 0.5-0.5
Dubov-Esipenko 0.5-0.5
Ponkratov-Bacrot 0-1
Piorun-Sindarov 1-0
Grischuk-Korobov 0.5-0.5
Idani-Duda 0.5-0.5
Vidit-Xiong 1-0
Durarbayli-Abdusattorov 1-0
Kovalev-Fedoseev 0-1
Ivic-Andreikin 0.5-0.5
Harikrishna-Tabatabaei 0-1
Brkic-Martirosyan 0-1
MVL-Pragg 0.5-0.5
Artemiev-Karjakin 0.5-0.5
Vitiugov-Svidler 0.5-0.5
Shankland-Jumabayev 1-0

Selected Games

Game 1, July 22
Wojtaszek, Radoslaw – Carlsen, Magnus
E01 Catalan, Closed

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.O-O a5 7.Qc2 c6 8.Nbd2 b6 9.e4 Bb7 10.Rd1 Na6 11.e5 Nd7 12.cxd5 Nb4 13.Qb1 cxd5 14.Nf1 Ba6 15.Ne3 Rc8 16.a3 Nc6 17.b3 b5 18.h4 b4 19.a4 Be2 20.Rd2 Bxf3 21.Bxf3 f6 22.Bg4 f5 23.Nxf5 exf5 24.Bxf5 Bxh4 25.gxh4 Qxh4 26.Be6+ Kh8 27.Qd3 Ndxe5 28.dxe5 Nxe5 29.Qxd5 Nf3+ 30.Qxf3 Rxf3 31.Bxc8 Rf8 32.Bb7 Qf6 33.Rda2 Qf7 34.Bg2 Qxb3 35.Be3 Rd8 1/2-1/2

Laurent Fressinet is shocked as Magnus Carlsen offers a draw, his first of the #FIDEWorldCup!

Game 1, July 22
Esipenko, Andrey – Dubov, Daniil
C55 Two Knights Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Be7 5.O-O O-O 6.Nc3 d6 7.a3 h6 8.Re1 Re8 9.h3 Be6 10.Bxe6 fxe6 11.Ne2 a5 12.a4 Rf8 13.Ng3 Qe8 14.c3 Nd7 15.Be3 Qg6 16.Qb3 Rab8 17.d4 Kh7 18.Kh2 exd4 19.cxd4 d5 20.exd5 exd5 21.Qxd5 Bd6 22.Nh4 Qf7 23.Qxf7 Rxf7 24.Kg1 b5 25.Rec1 Bxg3 26.fxg3 Ne7 27.Bf4 Nd5 28.Bxc7 Rb7 29.Be5 bxa4 30.Rxa4 Rxb2 31.Rxa5 N7b6 32.Ra3 Re2 33.Rf3 Ra7 34.Rf2 Rxf2 35.Kxf2 Ra2+ 36.Kg1 Nd7 37.Re1 g5 38.Nf3 Kg6 39.Bd6 N7f6 40.g4 Rc2 41.Be5 Ra2 42.Kf1 Nc3 43.Bxf6 Kxf6 44.Re5 Ra1+ 45.Kf2 Ra2+ 46.Ke3 Rxg2 47.Kd3 Nd1 48.d5 Rg3 49.Re6+ Kf7 50.Ke2 Nc3+ 51.Kf2 Rxh3 52.Ne5+ Kg7 53.d6 Rh2+ 54.Kf3 Rd2 55.d7 Nb5 56.Rg6+ Kf8 57.Rxh6 Ke7 58.Rh7+ Ke6 59.Rh8 Kxe5 60.Re8+ Kf6 61.d8=Q+ Rxd8 62.Rxd8 Ke5 63.Rg8 Nd4+ 64.Ke3 Nc2+ 65.Kd2 Nd4 66.Kd3 Ne6 67.Ke3 Kf6 68.Ke4 Nc5+ 69.Kd5 Nd7 70.Kd6 Ne5 71.Rf8+ Nf7+ 72.Kd5 Kg7 73.Ra8 Nh6 74.Ra4 Kf6 75.Rb4 Kf7 76.Ke5 Kg6 77.Ke6 Kg7 78.Rc4 Kg6 79.Re4 Kg7 80.Kd5 Kf6 81.Kd4 Nf7 82.Ke3 Nh6 83.Ra4 Kg6 84.Kf3 Kf6 85.Ra6+ Kg7 86.Ke4 Nxg4 87.Kf5 Nh6+ 88.Kxg5 Nf7+ 89.Kf5 Nh6+ 90.Rxh6 Kxh6 1/2-1/2

Position after Black’s 85…Kg7



Andrey Esipenko knows he's let Daniil Dubov escape!

A bitter draw for Esipenko, a great escape for Dubov!

Game 1, July 22
Bacrot, Etienne – Ponkratov, Patel
C15 French, Winawer, Alekhine Gambit

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Ne2 dxe4 5.a3 Be7 6.Nxe4 Nf6 7.Qd3 Nc6 8.Be3 O-O 9.O-O-O Ng4 10.h4 f5 11.Ng5 h6 12.Nf3 Bd6 13.g3 Rb8 14.c4 b5 15.c5 Be7 16.Nf4 b4 17.a4 b3 18.Qc3 Nf6 19.Bb5 Ne4 20.Qxb3 Na5 21.Qa2 a6 22.Nxe6 Bxe6 23.Qxe6+ Kh8 24.Bd7 Rf6 25.Ne5 Rxb2 26.Kxb2 Qb8+ 27.Ka3 Rxe6 28.Bxe6 Qb6 29.Bf7 Qf6 30.Bg5 Nxg5 31.hxg5 Qxg5 32.Rb1 g6 33.Rb8+ Kh7 34.Rd1 Bf6 35.Bxg6+ Kg7 36.Bf7 Kh7 37.Bg8+ Kg7 38.Bd5 Kh7 39.Rg8 Bg7 40.Re8 Bxe5 41.Rxe5 Qg4 42.Rd3 f4 43.Kb4 fxg3 44.Re7+ 1-0

Etienne Bacrot takes the lead against Pavel Ponkratov:

Game 1, July 22
Sindarov, Javokhir – Piorun, Kacper
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.Nbd2 Be6 7.Nb3 Bxb3 8.axb3 O-O 9.O-O Re8 10.Nd2 Nd7 11.Nc4 Nf8 12.Kh1 f6 13.f4 exf4 14.Bxf4 Ne6 15.Bd2 Qd7 16.Qg4 Rad8 17.Na5 Nd4 18.Qd1 Rb8 19.b4 Bf8 20.Be3 Nb5 21.Nb3 Rbd8 22.Bc5 b6 23.Bxf8 Rxf8 24.c4 Nd6 25.Qc2 Rfe8 26.h3 h6 27.Rfe1 Nf7 28.Rad1 f5 29.c5 fxe4 30.dxe4 Qe7 31.Nd4 Ne5 32.Nf5 Qe6 33.Qc3 Kh7 34.Rf1 Rxd1 35.Rxd1 Qg6 36.Ra1 bxc5 37.bxc5 Nd7 38.Rxa7 Rxe4 39.g4 Re5 40.Rxc7 Rxc5 41.Qd4 Rd5 42.Qe4 Nc5 43.Qf3 Rd3 44.Qg2 Nd7 45.Qe4 Rxh3+ 46.Kg2 Rh4 47.Rxc6 Rxg4+ 48.Kf3 Qxc6 0-1

A tough day for the Uzbek prodigies, as 15-year-old Javokhir Sindarov also loses, to Kacper Piorun, who knocked Ragger & Van Foreest out in the previous rounds!

Game 1, July 22
Xiong, Jeffery – Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi
D02 Queen’s Bishop game

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 e6 5.Nbd2 Qb6 6.Rb1 Bd6 7.dxc5 Qxc5 8.Bd3 O-O 9.O-O Nbd7 10.b4 Qc7 11.Bxd6 Qxd6 12.c4 b6 13.cxd5 Qxd5 14.Qe2 Bb7 15.e4 Qh5 16.Nc4 Rfd8 17.Rbd1 Nf8 18.h3 Ng6 19.Qe3 Ba6 20.Nd6 Rxd6 21.Bxa6 Rxd1 22.Rxd1 Ne5 23.Be2 Nxf3+ 24.Bxf3 Qe5 25.Qc1 h6 26.Qc6 Rb8 27.a4 Kf8 28.a5 bxa5 29.bxa5 Ne8 30.a6 Qc7 31.Qa4 Qc5 32.Qa1 Nc7 33.Rd7 Kg8 34.e5 Rb4 35.Qd1 Nb5 36.Rb7 Nd4 37.Be4 g6 38.Qd2 Rc4 39.Bxg6 fxg6 40.Qxh6 Rc1+ 41.Kh2 Qxe5+ 42.f4 Nf3+ 43.Kg3 Qe1+ 44.Kg4 Ne5+ 45.Kg5 Nf7+ 46.Rxf7 Kxf7 47.Qh7+ Ke8 48.g4 Rc5+ 49.f5 exf5 0-1

Vidit Gujrathi's powerful counterattack after Jeffrey Xiong's daring 39.Bxg6.

If Vidit finds 41...Qxe5+! 42.f4 Nf3+! he'll take the lead against Xiong with the black pieces!

Vidit defeats Xiong - just as in the previous round, Jeffery will now have to try and come back from losing the 1st game!

Game 1, July 22
Abdusattorov, Nodirbek – Durarbayli, Vasif
D11 QGD Slav

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 Bg4 5.Ne5 Bf5 6.Qb3 Qb6 7.cxd5 Qxb3 8.axb3 Nxd5 9.Bg2 Nb4 10.O-O Nc2 11.Ra4 f6 12.e4 Bc8 13.Nf3 Be6 14.d5 cxd5 15.Ne1 Nxe1 16.Rxe1 Bd7 17.exd5 Bxa4 18.bxa4 e5 19.dxe6 Nc6 20.Nc3 Bb4 21.Rd1 Rd8 22.Nd5 O-O 23.Bf4 Rfe8 24.Bc7 Rc8 25.Bf3 Ne7 26.Bf4 Nxd5 27.Bxd5 Re7 28.Kf1 Rd8 29.g4 Kf8 30.Ke2 Ree8 31.g5 Ke7 32.Kf3 b6 33.Ke4 Bc5 34.Rd2 Rf8 35.gxf6+ gxf6 36.h4 Rg8 37.Bc7 Rc8 38.Bf4 Rg4 39.Kf3 h5 40.Bg3 Rxa4 41.b3 Rd4 42.Rxd4 Bxd4 43.Ke4 Bc5 44.Kf5 Bd6 0-1

One day you're beating Anish Giri, the next you're losing to Vasif Durarbayli — the #FIDEWorldCup remains tough to predict!

Game 1, July 22
Fedoseev, Vladimir – Kovalev, Vladislav
E16 Queen’s Indian, Petrosian variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Bxd2+ 7.Qxd2 O-O 8.O-O d6 9.Rd1 Qe7 10.Qe3 c5 11.Nc3 Nc6 12.Qd2 Nxd4 13.Nxd4 cxd4 14.Qxd4 Bxg2 15.Kxg2 Rfd8 16.e4 Qb7 17.f3 a6 18.a4 Rac8 19.Rd2 h6 20.Rad1 Rd7 21.b3 Rcd8 22.g4 Qc6 23.h4 Qc5 24.Ne2 Qa5 25.Qe3 Qc5 26.Nd4 Nh7 27.f4 e5 28.Nf5 Qxe3 29.Nxe3 exf4 30.Nd5 Re8 31.Nxb6 Rde7 32.Rxd6 Rxe4 33.Rd8 Nf8 34.Rxe8 Rxe8 35.c5 Re2+ 36.Kf1 Rc2 37.Rd8 g5 38.hxg5 hxg5 39.Nd7 Kg7 40.Rxf8 Rc1+ 41.Ke2 Rc2+ 42.Ke1 Rc1+ 43.Kd2 f3 44.Ke3 Rc3+ 45.Kf2 1-0

Game 1, July 22
Tabatabaei, M. amin – Harikrishna, Pentala
D27 QGA, Classical

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 a6 6.O-O c5 7.Be2 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bd7 9.e4 Nc6 10.Nc3 Be7 11.Be3 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 Bc6 13.Qd3 O-O 14.Rfd1 Qb8 15.a4 Qf4 16.f3 Rad8 17.Qe3 Qxe3+ 18.Bxe3 Bb4 19.Na2 Be7 20.b3 Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Rc8 22.Rc1 Bd7 23.Rxc8+ Bxc8 24.b4 Bd7 25.a5 Ne8 26.Kf2 Nc7 27.Bc5 Bxc5+ 28.bxc5 Kf8 29.Nb4 Ke7 30.Ke3 Bb5 31.Bxb5 Nxb5 32.c6 bxc6 33.e5 Nc7 34.Kd4 Kd7 35.Kc5 f6 36.Nxc6 Nd5 37.exf6 gxf6 38.Nb8+ Kc7 39.Nxa6+ Kb7 40.Nb4 Ne3 41.a6+ Ka7 42.Kd6 e5 43.Ke6 Nxg2 44.Kxf6 Nh4 45.Nc6+ Kxa6 46.Nxe5 Ng2 47.Kg7 Kb6 48.Kxh7 Kc5 49.Kg6 Kd4 50.Kf6 Ke3 51.Kf5 Kd4 52.f4 Kd5 53.Ng6 Ne3+ 54.Kg5 Ke6 55.h4 Nc4 56.h5 Nd6 57.Ne5 1-0

Game 1, July 22
Martirosyan, Haik – Brkic, Ante
D38 QGD, Ragozin variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bf4 O-O 7.e3 c5 8.dxc5 Qa5 9.Be5 Ne4 10.a3 Bxc3+ 11.Bxc3 Nxc3 12.Qd2 Qxc5 13.Rc1 Nc6 14.Be2 Be6 15.Rxc3 Qb6 16.Rd3 Na5 17.Qb4 Qxb4+ 18.axb4 Nc4 19.Rb3 b6 20.b5 Rfc8 21.Rb4 Rc5 22.Nd4 Rac8 23.h3 Nd6 24.O-O Bd7 25.Bd3 Rc1 26.Ne2 Rxf1+ 27.Kxf1 Rc5 28.Nc3 Kf8 29.Ke1 Nc4 30.Bxc4 Rxc4 31.Rb3 Be6 32.Ra3 Rb4 33.Rxa7 Rxb2 34.Rb7 Rb3 35.Kd2 Rb2+ 36.Kc1 Rxf2 37.Rxb6 Ke7 38.Rc6 Kd8 39.b6 Bc8 40.Rc7 Be6 41.Ra7 Rf1+ 42.Kb2 Rf2+ 43.Ka3 Bc8 44.b7 Bxb7 45.Rxb7 Rxg2 46.Rxf7 Rg3 47.Nxd5 Ke8 48.Rb7 1-0

Game 1, July 22
Pragg – MVL
D94 Grunfeld

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.e3 O-O 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.Bc4 Nb6 8.Bb3 c5 9.O-O cxd4 10.exd4 Nc6 11.d5 Na5 12.h3 Qd6 13.Re1 Nxb3 14.axb3 Bd7 15.Be3 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Nxd5 17.Bh6 Nxc3 18.Qxd6 exd6 19.Bxf8 Kxf8 20.Nd4 a5 21.Rac1 Nd5 22.Red1 Ra6 23.Rd2 Nf6 24.Rc7 Ne4 25.Rd1 Nc5 26.Nf3 Be6 27.Nd4 Bd7 28.Nf3 Be6 29.Nd4 Bd7 1/2-1/2

Game 1, July 22
Jumabayev, Rinat – Shankland, Sam
A15 Reti, Bremen

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.c4 c5 5.d4 cxd4 6.Nxd4 O-O 7.Nc2 Nc6 8.Nc3 d6 9.O-O Bd7 10.b3 Qa5 11.Bd2 Rfc8 12.Rc1 Qd8 13.h3 a6 14.a4 h5 15.e4 Rab8 16.Rb1 Be8 17.Qe2 Nd7 18.Rfd1 Nc5 19.Be1 Na7 20.a5 Nd7 21.Nd5 Nc6 22.b4 e6 23.Nde3 Qe7 24.f4 b6 25.axb6 Nxb6 26.Qd3 Na4 27.Qa3 Na7 28.Nd4 Qc7 29.Bf2 Nc6 30.Ne2 Ne7 31.Rd2 Nb6 32.Rc1 Rd8 33.c5 dxc5 34.Rxd8 Rxd8 35.bxc5 Nbc8 36.Qxa6 Nc6 37.e5 Rd2 38.Be1 Rb2 39.Bf3 Bf8 40.Qa3 Qb8 41.Bf2 N8a7 42.Qd3 Nb4 43.Qd4 Rb3 44.Be4 Bc6 45.Nc3 Nb5 46.Nxb5 Qxb5 47.Bxc6 Nxc6 48.Qc4 Qb7 49.Qe4 Qb5 50.Qc4 Qb7 51.Qe4 Qb5 52.Nf1 Rb2 53.Qc4 Qb7 54.Rc2 Rb4 55.Qe2 h4 56.Qf3 Bh6 57.Be3 hxg3 58.Nxg3 Nxe5 59.Qxb7 Rxb7 60.Rc3 Nc6 61.Ne2 Kf8 62.Kf2 Ke8 63.Ra3 Kd7 64.Rd3+ Kc7 65.Nc3 Ne7 66.Kf3 Nf5 67.Bd2 Rb3 68.Ke2 Kc6 69.Ne4 Rxd3 70.Kxd3 Kd5 71.Bc1 Nh4 72.Nd6 f5 73.Ne8 Kxc5 74.Nc7 e5 75.Be3+ Kc6 76.Na6 Ng2 77.Nb4+ Kd7 78.Nd5 Nxe3 79.Nxe3 Bxf4 80.Nd5 Bg5 81.Nc3 Ke6 82.Ne2 e4+ 83.Kd4 Bf6+ 84.Ke3 Ke5 85.Nc3 f4+ 86.Kf2 Be7 0-1

Rinat Jumabayev overpressed and Sam Shankland got off to a great start by winning with Black in Round 4

[Hans Jung]

Rd 4 Game 2 MVL- Pragg Oi Vey! 16.Kd1 seriously? and then the queen sacrifice (Rxc5) Ouch!

[Hans Jung]

Sam Shankland goes forward. Last time it was a joy to see Jeffery Xiong go so far (this round he bowed out) and now Sam Shankland has made it to the final 16 and its a pleasure to see him perform.

Abdusattarov a big comeback and a tenacious and marvelous checkmating attack in the middle of the board in the endgame!

[Wayne Komer]

FIDE World Cup Open Sochi 2021

July 23, 2021

Round Four 1/16 Final

Game Two

Results

Wojtaszek-Carlsen 0.5-0.5
Esipenko-Dubov 0.5-0.5
Bacrot-Ponkratov 0-1
Sindarov-Piorun 0.5-0.5
Korobov-Grischuk 0.5-0.5
Duda-Idani 1-0
Xiong-Vidit 0-1
Abdussattorov-Durabayli 1-0
Fedoseev-Kovalev 1-0
Andreikin-Ivic 0.5-0.5
Tabatabaei-Harikrishna 0.5-0.5
Martirosyan-Brkic 0.5-0.5
Pragg-MVL 0-1
Karjakin-Artemiev 0.5-0.5
Svidler-Vitiugov 0.5-0.5
Jumabayev-Shankland 0.5-0.5

Going Home

Sindarov
Jumabayev
Idani
Xiong
Kovalev
Brkic
Pragg
Harikrishna

Going on to Tie-Breaks tomorrow

Wojtaszek-Carlsen
Esipenko-Dubov
Bacrot-Ponkratov
Korobov-Grischuk
Abdusattorov-Durabayli
Andreikin-Ivic
Karjakin-Artemiev
Svidler-Vitiugov

Selected Games

Game 2, July 23
Carlsen, Magnus – Wojtaszek, Radoslaw
B51 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.O-O a6 7.Ba4 e6 8.c4 Be7 9.Nc3 O-O 10.Qe2 Qc7 11.f4 Nb6 12.Bb3 e5 13.Nf5 Bxf5 14.exf5 Rfe8 15.g4 exf4 16.Bxf4 Bf8 17.Qg2 Nxc4 18.g5 Nh5 19.Nd5 Qc5+ 20.Kh1 b5 21.g6 Rab8 22.Rad1 Nxf4 23.Rxf4 Re5 24.Rh4 Rxf5 25.Bc2 Qf2 26.gxf7+ Kxf7 27.Bxf5 Qxh4 28.Rf1 Kg8 29.Rf4 Qe1+ 30.Rf1 Qe5 31.Qh3 Qxd5+ 32.Rf3 Qd1+ 33.Rf1 Qd5+ 34.Rf3 Qd1+ 1/2-1/2

Magnus was completely winning with 25.Rxh7!, but 25.Bc2 means it's still game on — is Wojtaszek's plan of going for complications against the World Champion working again?

It's turned round completely, with Wojtaszek rejecting a draw and playing on with Magnus down to under 2 minutes! If either player wins, the other is out:

Magnus Carlsen missed a great win, but Jan thinks he also "dodged a bullet" by surviving low on time in a tricky position against Radek Wojtaszek at the end! They play tiebreaks tomorrow

Game 2, July 23
Ponkratov, Pavel – Bacrot, Etienne
B68 Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6 8.O-O-O Bd7 9.f4 Be7 10.Nf3 b5 11.e5 b4 12.exf6 bxc3 13.Qxc3 gxf6 14.Bh4 Rg8 15.Kb1 Rb8 16.Bf2 f5 17.Nd4 Bf6 18.Bxa6 Rxg2 19.Rhg1 Rg6 20.Bc4 Qb6 21.Rg3 Ne7 22.Bb3 Qb4 23.Qd3 d5 24.Qe2 Qd6 25.Be3 Kf8 26.Qh5 Kg8 27.Nf3 Rb4 28.Ne5 Be8 29.Nxg6 hxg6 30.Qf3 Qb8 31.h4 Bxh4 32.Rh3 Bf6 33.Qf2 g5 34.fxg5 Bg7 35.Bc5 Rf4 36.Qh2 Ng6 37.c3 Qb5 38.Bd4 e5 39.Bf2 Bc6 40.Bc2 Bd7 41.Rhd3 Be6 42.Bb3 d4 43.cxd4 e4 44.Rc3 Bxb3 45.Rxb3 Qe2 46.Rb8+ Bf8 47.Rh1 1-0

Game 2, July 23
Idani, Pouya – Duda, Jan-Krzysztof
C42 Petrov, Classical Attack

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Bf5 7.O-O Be7 8.Re1 O-O 9.Nbd2 Nd6 10.Nf1 Bxd3 11.Qxd3 c6 12.Ng3 Na6 13.b3 Re8 14.Bd2 Nc7 15.c4 Bf6 16.Ba5 b6 17.Bc3 dxc4 18.bxc4 b5 19.Rxe8+ Ndxe8 20.cxb5 Nxb5 21.Rc1 Qd5 22.a4 Nxc3 23.Qxc3 Rc8 24.h3 g6 25.Qb4 Kg7 26.Ne2 Qe4 27.Nc3 Qf4 28.Re1 c5 29.Qb7 Qb8 30.Qa6 Nc7 31.Qd3 Rd8 32.Rb1 Qa8 33.Ne2 Ne6 34.d5 Qxd5 35.Qxd5 Rxd5 36.Rc1 Rd3 37.Ng3 Ra3 38.Rc4 Bc3 39.Ne4 Bb4 40.Ne5 f5 41.Nd6 Rxa4 42.Nb7 Ra1+ 43.Kh2 Rd1 44.Nc6 Be1 45.f4 Rd3 0-1

Game 2, July 23
Vidit, Santosh – Xiong, Jeffery
A46 Queen’s Pawn

1.d4 d6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 g6 4.g3 Bg7 5.Bg2 Bf5 6.Qb3 Qc8 7.Nc3 c6 8.O-O O-O 9.Re1 Bg4 10.e4 Bxf3 11.Bxf3 e5 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.c5 Na6 14.Be3 Nc7 15.Rad1 Ne6 16.Qc4 h5 17.Ne2 Rd8 18.Bg2 Ng4 19.Bc1 Rxd1 20.Rxd1 Qf8 21.f3 Nf6 22.b4 a5 23.a3 axb4 24.axb4 Ne8 25.f4 Qe7 26.Bh3 N8c7 27.f5 gxf5 28.Bxf5 Nb5 29.Bb2 Bf6 30.Qb3 Ned4 31.Nxd4 exd4 32.Qf3 Nc3 33.Rd2 Ra4 34.Qxh5 Rxb4 35.Kg2 Na4 36.Bc1 Kf8 37.Ra2 Qe5 38.Bf4 Qxc5 39.Qh6+ Ke7 40.e5 Qd5+ 41.Kh3 Bxe5 42.Re2 f6 43.Rxe5+ 1-0

Vidit scores another crushing win to make it through against Xiong

Game 2, July 23
Durarbayli, Vasif – Abdusattorov, Nodirbek
C41 Philidor, Exchange variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Be7 6.Bf4 O-O 7.Qd2 Nc6 8.O-O-O Nxd4 9.Qxd4 Be6 10.e5 Ng4 11.Bg3 Nxe5 12.Bxe5 dxe5 13.Qxe5 Bd6 14.Qd4 Qg5+ 15.Kb1 Be5 16.Qc5 b6 17.Qe3 Qxe3 18.fxe3 Rad8 19.Bd3 Bxc3 20.bxc3 Rd5 21.Kb2 g6 22.Rhf1 Re8 23.Rf4 Re5 24.Ra4 a5 25.e4 Rh5 26.h3 Rg5 27.Rd2 Bd7 28.Rd4 Bc6 29.Rf2 Re7 30.Bc4 Kg7 31.Bd5 Be8 32.Ba8 Rge5 33.Rd8 c6 34.Rc8 Rb5+ 35.Kc1 Rc5 36.Rd2 Rxe4 37.Rdd8 Re1+ 38.Kb2 Rce5 39.c4 c5 40.Rb8 Ba4 41.Bf3 Re6 42.Rd2 Rf6 43.Ka3 Be8 44.Rdd8 Re3+ 45.Kb2 Ba4 46.Rd2 h5 47.Rdd8 Rf4 48.Rd3 Re6 49.Kc3 h4 50.Rb7 Kh6 51.Rc7 Re1 52.Rb7 Rf6 53.Rd2 Kg5 54.Bd5 Be8 55.Rd3 Rf2 56.Bf3 Ba4 57.Rd5+ f5 58.Rxb6 Rxc2+ 59.Kd3 Kf4 0-1

Nodirbek Abdusattorov also hits back and now we're going to have at least 8 tiebreaks in the Open section tomorrow!

Game 2, July 23
Kovalev, Vladislav – Fedoseev, Vladimir
B23 Sicilian, Closed

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nc6 5.Qd2 g6 6.b3 Bh6 7.f4 Nf6 8.Bb2 e5 9.g3 O-O 10.O-O-O exf4 11.gxf4 Nh5 12.Nd5 Be6 13.Kb1 Bxd5 14.exd5 Ne5 15.Ne2 Qh4 16.Qb4 Ng4 17.h3 Ngf6 18.Qxb7 Ne4 19.Rg1 Bg7 20.Bxg7 Nxg7 21.Bg2 Nc5 22.Qb4 Rfe8 23.Nc3 a5 24.Qb6 Nf5 25.Nb5 Reb8 26.Qc6 Qd8 27.Nc7 Rc8 28.Nxa8 Rxc6 29.dxc6 Qxa8 30.Rge1 Kf8 31.Rd2 Qb8 32.Rde2 Ne6 33.Re4 Ne7 34.Rd1 d5 35.Ra4 Nxf4 0-1

Game 2, July 23
MVL – Pragg
B40 Sicilian, Anderssen variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.e5 Nd5 8.Ne4 Qc7 9.f4 Qb6 10.c4 Bb4+ 11.Ke2 f5 12.exf6 Nxf6 13.Be3 Qd8 14.Nd6+ Bxd6 15.Qxd6 Bb7 16.Kd1 c5 17.Qxc5 Be4 18.Be2 d6 19.Qd4 O-O 20.Kc1 Qc7 21.b3 e5 22.fxe5 dxe5 23.Qc5 Qb7 24.Kb2 Nd5 25.cxd5 Rfc8 26.Rac1 Rxc5 27.Rxc5 h6 28.d6 Bxg2 29.Rd1 Qe4 30.Bc4+ Kh8 31.d7 Qxe3 32.Rc8+ Kh7 33.d8=Q 1-0

[Hans Jung]

Another round of entertaining games!