Aimchess US Rapid 2021

**Hans Jung** · Saturday, 28th August, 2021, 10:28 AM

Good to see Eric Hansen get a chance.

**Wayne Komer** · Saturday, 28th August, 2021, 04:42 PM

Aimchess US Rapid 2021

August 28, 2021

Preliminaries

Day One

Surya Ganguly and Tania Sachdev are one of the commentating teams in English

Results

Round 1, August 28

Dominquez-Duda 1-0
Mamedyarov-MVL 0.5-0.5
Artemiev-Hansen 1-0
Giri-Naroditsky 0.5-0.5
Liang-Firouzja 0.5-0.5
Aronian-Le 1-0
Van Foreest-Vidit 0-1
Carlsen-So 1-0

Round 2, August 28

Duda-So 0-1
Vidit-Carlsen 0.5-0.5
Le-Van Foreest 0.5-0.5
Firouzja-Aronian 0.5-0.5
Naroditsky-Liang 0-1
Hansen-Giri 0.5-0.5
MVL-Artemiev 0-1
Dominguez-Mamedyarov 0-1

Round 3, August 28

Mamedyarov-Duda 0.5-0.5
Artemiev-Dominguez 0.5-0.5
Giri-MVL 0.5-0.5
Liang-Hansen 0-1
Aronian-Naroditsky 0.5-0.5
Van Foreest-Firouzja 0.5-0.5
Carlsen-Le 1-0
So-Vidit 1-0

Round 4, August 28

Duda-Vidit 0.5-0.5
Le-So 0.5-0.5
Firouzja-Carlsen 1-0
Naroditsky-Van Foreest 1-0
Hansen-Aronian 0-1
MVL-Liang 1-0
Dominguez-Giri 0.5-0.5
Mamedyarov-Artemiev 0.5-0.5

Round 5, August 28

Artemiev-Duda 0.5-0.5
Giri-Mamedyarov 0.5-0.5
Liang-Dominguez 0-1
Aronian-MVL 1-0
Van Foreest-Hansen 1-0
Carlsen-Naroditsky 1-0
So-Firouzja 0.5-0.5
Vidit-Le 0-1

Selected Games

Round 1, August 28
Artemiev, Vladislav – Hansen, Eric
A07 Reti, King’s Indian Attack, Pachman System

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.O-O e5 5.d3 Ne7 6.e4 O-O 7.a4 Nbc6 8.c3 a5 9.Na3 h6 10.Nb5 Be6 11.Re1 Qd7 12.d4 exd4 13.Nfxd4 Bg4 14.Bf3 Bxf3 15.Nxf3 Rad8 16.Bf4 dxe4 17.Qxd7 Rxd7 18.Rxe4 Nd5 19.Bd2 Rfd8 20.Rae1 f5 21.R4e2 Kf7 22.h4 Nb6 23.b3 Nd5 24.Kg2 b6 25.Kh3 Nf6 26.Bf4 Nd5 27.Be5 Nxe5 28.Nxe5+ Bxe5 29.Rxe5 Nf6 30.Nd4 Ne4 31.Nc6 Rf8 32.f3 Nf2+ 33.Kg2 Nd3 34.Re7+ Rxe7 35.Rxe7+ Kf6 36.Rxc7 Re8 37.Nd4 Re1 38.Rc6+ Kf7 39.h5 gxh5 40.Rxb6 Rc1 41.Rxh6 Rxc3 42.Rxh5 Kg6 43.Rxf5 Nc5 44.Rd5 Kf6 45.g4 Nd3 46.Kg3 1-0

Round 1, August 28
Carlsen, Magnus – So, Wesley
E00 Queen’s Pawn game

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Bf4 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bg3 c5 6.e4 Nf6 7.Nd2 Nc6 8.e5 Nd7 9.Ngf3 cxd4 10.Bc4 Be7 11.O-O O-O 12.Rc1 Nc5 13.a3 a5 14.Nb3 b6 15.Nbxd4 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 Bb7 17.Nb5 Ne4 18.Nd6 Qb8 19.Qd4 b5 20.Bxb5 Nxg3 21.hxg3 Bd5 22.Bc6 Bxd6 23.exd6 Ra6 24.Bxd5 Rxd6 25.Rc5 Rxd5 26.Rxd5 exd5 27.Qxd5 Qxb2 28.Qxa5 g6 29.Qb4 Qf6 30.a4 Rc8 31.a5 h5 32.Qa4 Rc6 33.Qa1 Kg7 34.Rb1 Qxa1 35.Rxa1 Ra6 36.f3 Kf6 37.Kf2 Ke5 38.Ke3 Kd5 39.Kf4 f6 40.g4 hxg4 41.Kxg4 Ke5 42.f4+ Ke6 43.Ra2 Ke7 44.Kf3 Kd6 45.Ke4 Ke6 46.Ra1 Kd6 47.f5 gxf5+ 48.Kxf5 Ke7 49.Kg6 Ke6 50.Re1+ Kd7 51.g4 Kd8 52.Kf7 Rd6 53.Re4 Rc6 54.Rd4+ Kc8 55.Rf4 1-0

Surya points out that Carlsen managed to get a completely new position against So by move 5!

Round 2, August 28
Duda, Jan-Krzysztof-So, Wesley
C48 Four Knights, Rubinstein Counter-Gambit

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Nd4 5.O-O c6 6.Bc4 d6 7.h3 b5 8.Bd3 Nxf3+ 9.Qxf3 g5 10.Be2 g4 11.hxg4 Bxg4 12.Qe3 b4 13.Bxg4 Nxg4 14.Qh3 Nf6 15.Ne2 Nxe4 16.d4 Qd7 17.Qf3 f5 18.a3 bxa3 19.Rd1 Bg7 20.Qxa3 exd4 21.f3 Nc5 22.Nxd4 O-O 23.Bf4 Rfd8 24.Rd2 Ne6 25.Nxe6 Qxe6 26.c3 d5 27.Qa6 d4 28.Re2 Qd5 29.Kh2 d3 30.Re7 Re8 31.Rae1 Rxe7 32.Rxe7 Bf6 33.Re1 d2 34.Rd1 Be5 35.Qa4 Qb5 36.Qa2+ Kh8 0-1

Wesley So bounces straight back, while it's been a 0/2 start for the World Cup winner!

Round 2, August 28
Hansen, Eric – Giri, Anish
C88 Ruy Lopez, Closed

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.h3 Bb7 9.d3 d5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nbd2 Nd4 12.Nxd4 exd4 13.a4 Bb4 14.axb5 axb5 15.Rxa8 Bxa8 16.Qg4 Nf6 17.Qf5 c5 18.Re5 g6 19.Qg5 Nd7 20.Qxd8 Rxd8 21.Re2 Nb6 22.Ne4 Bxe4 23.Rxe4 c4 24.Bg5 Ra8 25.dxc4 bxc4 26.Bxc4 Nxc4 27.Rxd4 Ra1+ 28.Kh2 Bd6+ 29.f4 Ne3 30.Rxd6 Nf1+ 31.Kg1 Ng3+ 32.Kh2 Nf1+ 33.Kg1 Ng3+ 34.Kh2 Nf1+ 1/2-1/2

Eric Hansen gets on the scoreboard on his #ChessChamps debut with a draw against Anish Giri!

Round 2, August 28
Dominguez, Leinier – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
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.Rd1+ Ke8 10.Nc3 Be7 11.g4 Nh4 12.Nxh4 Bxh4 13.Kg2 f6 14.exf6 Bxf6 15.f3 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Be6 17.Bf4 Rc8 18.Be5 Kf7 19.Kg3 Rhd8 20.Rd4 Rd5 21.f4 g6 22.Rxd5 Bxd5 23.Kh4 h6 24.a3 Re8 25.Re1 b5 26.Re3 c5 27.Rh3 g5+ 28.Kh5 Rxe5 29.fxe5 Kg7 30.e6 Be4 0-1

Ouch! Mamedyarov catches Dominguez in a mating net!

Round 2, August 28
Vidit, Santosh – Carlsen, Magnus
A81 Dutch Defense

1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.c4 Bg7 5.Nc3 d6 6.Nf3 O-O 7.O-O a5 8.d5 Na6 9.Be3 Bd7 10.Rc1 c5 11.Qd2 Nc7 12.a4 Nce8 13.b3 Qb6 14.Rb1 Qb4 15.Qc1 Ng4 16.Bd2 Qb6 17.h3 Ne5 18.Ng5 Nc7 19.f4 Nf7 20.Nxf7 Rxf7 21.e4 Re8 22.Re1 e5 23.dxe6 Nxe6 24.exf5 gxf5 25.Nd5 Qd8 26.Bc3 Bc6 27.Kf2 Bd4+ 28.Bxd4 Nxd4 29.Qc3 Kg7 30.Rxe8 Qxe8 31.Re1 Qd8 32.Ne3 Qf6 33.Nc2 Nxc2 34.Qxc2 Qd4+ 35.Kf1 h5 36.h4 Qf6 37.Qd2 Bxg2+ 38.Kxg2 Re7 39.Qxa5 Qb2+ 40.Kf1 Rxe1+ 41.Qxe1 Qxb3 42.Qe7+ Kg8 43.Qe8+ Kg7 44.Qe7+ Kg8 45.Qg5+ Kh8 46.Qxh5+ Kg7 47.Qg5+ Kh8 48.Qh6+ Kg8 49.Qe6+ Kh8 50.Qf6+ Kg8 51.Qxf5 Qf3+ 52.Ke1 Qxg3+ 53.Kd2 Qf2+ 54.Kc3 Qe1+ 55.Kc2 Qe2+ 56.Kc3 Qe1+ 57.Kc2 Qe2+ 58.Kc3 Qe1+ 1/2-1/2

Vidit let a great chance to beat Carlsen slip with 36.Bxc6 (after 35…h5).

Round 2, August 28
MVL – Artemiev, Vladislav
B12 Caro-Kann, Advance variation

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 c5 6.Be3 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Ne7 8.Nd2 Nbc6 9.N2f3 Bg4 10.O-O g6 11.Nxc6 Nxc6 12.c4 dxc4 13.Qa4 Qa5 14.Qxc4 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 Nxe5 16.Qe4 Bg7 17.Qxb7 Nxf3+ 18.Qxf3 O-O 19.Rad1 Rad8 20.Qb7 Rb8 21.Qxa7 Qxa7 22.Bxa7 Rxb2 23.Bd4 Rxa2 24.Bxg7 Kxg7 25.Ra1 Rd2 26.Rfd1 Rd5 27.g3 Rfd8 28.Rdc1 Rd2 29.Rc3 g5 30.h3 h5 31.Rac1 R8d4 32.R3c2 Rxc2 33.Rxc2 f5 34.Kg2 Kf6 35.Rc8 h4 36.gxh4 gxh4 37.Rf8+ Kg7 38.Re8 Kf7 39.Ra8 Ke7 40.Rh8 Kd6 41.Ra8 Rb4 42.Ra6+ Kd5 43.Kf3 Rb3+ 44.Kg2 Rb4 45.Kf3 e5 46.Rh6 e4+ 47.Kg2 Rb2 48.Rh5 Ke5 49.Rh8 Ra2 50.Rb8 Kf4 51.Rb3 Rd2 52.Ra3 Ke5 53.Ra5+ Rd5 54.Ra8 f4 55.Ra3 Rd2 56.Kf1 Rd3 57.Ra5+ Rd5 58.Ra8 Rb5 59.Re8+ Kd4 60.Rd8+ Rd5 61.Ra8 f3 62.Ra3 Rb5 63.Kg1 Rc5 64.Ra1 Kd3 65.Ra3+ Rc3 66.Ra1 Kd2 67.Ra2+ Rc2 68.Ra3 Rc1+ 69.Kh2 Rc3 70.Ra4 Kd3 71.Ra1 Kd2 72.Ra4 e3 73.fxe3 Kxe3 74.Ra1 Rd3 75.Kg1 Rd2 76.Ra3+ Ke2 77.Ra1 Rb2 78.Rc1 Rb3 79.Rc2+ Ke3 80.Ra2 Rb1+ 81.Kh2 Rd1 82.Ra3+ Rd3 83.Ra1 Ke2 84.Kg1 f2+ 85.Kg2 Rg3+ 0-1

MVL could have drawn the ending with 80.Rc1, whereas 80.Ra2 lost him the game

(to be continued)

**Wayne Komer** · Saturday, 28th August, 2021, 04:43 PM

Aimchess US Rapid 2021

August 28, 2021

Preliminaries

Day One (continued)

Round 3, August 28
Liang, Awonder – Hansen, Eric
E32 Nimzo-Indian, Classical variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 O-O 5.e4 d6 6.e5 Nfd7 7.exd6 cxd6 8.Nf3 Nf6 9.Bd3 d5 10.cxd5 exd5 11.O-O h6 12.Ne5 Be6 13.Qb3 Qb6 14.Na4 Qa5 15.a3 Bd6 16.Bf4 Nh5 17.Be3 Bxe5 18.Nc5 Bd6 19.Qxb7 Qc7 20.Qxa8 Bxc5 21.Rfc1 Nd7 22.Qxf8+ Kxf8 23.b4 Nf4 24.Bf1 Bf5 25.bxc5 g5 26.Ra2 Qa5 27.h4 Qa4 28.g3 Ne6 29.Bg2 Qb3 30.Rd2 Nb8 31.c6 Na6 32.Bf3 Nac7 33.g4 Bg6 34.Kg2 Kg7 35.Rdd1 a5 36.Ra1 Be4 37.Bxe4 dxe4 38.Rab1 Qd5 39.Rdc1 gxh4 40.Kh3 Qd6 41.Rb7 Ng5+ 42.Kg2 h3+ 43.Kf1 Nf3 44.Ra7 Qxa3 45.Rd1 Qa4 0-1

Round 4, August 28
Firouzja, Alireza – Carlsen, Magnus
B01 Scandinavian Defence

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bf5 6.Ne5 c6 7.Bc4 e6 8.g4 Bg6 9.h4 Nbd7 10.Nxd7 Nxd7 11.h5 Be4 12.O-O Bd5 13.Nxd5 cxd5 14.Bd3 Bd6 15.Qf3 O-O-O 16.Be3 g6 17.h6 Rhf8 18.a3 f5 19.c4 e5 20.b4 Qc7 21.c5 Be7 22.Bb5 e4 23.Qh3 f4 24.Bd2 Bg5 25.c6 Nf6 26.cxb7+ Qxb7 27.Rac1+ Kb8 28.Bc6 Qe7 29.Rc5 e3 30.fxe3 fxe3 31.Be1 Ne4 32.Qh2+ Kc8 33.Bd7+ Kxd7 34.Rc7+ Ke6 35.Qe5# 1-0

Magnus plays till mate

Round 4, August 28
Hansen, Eric – Aronian, Levon
C53 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 O-O 6.O-O d5 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.Re1 Bg4 9.h3 Bh5 10.Nbd2 Nb6 11.Bb5 Bd6 12.Ne4 f5 13.Ng3 Bxf3 14.Qxf3 Qd7 15.d4 Nxd4 16.cxd4 Qxb5 17.dxe5 Bxe5 18.a4 Qc5 19.a5 Nc4 20.Qb3 Rae8 21.Be3 Qd5 22.Bxa7 Bxb2 23.Red1 Qf7 24.Ra4 f4 25.Nf1 Re4 26.f3 Ne3 27.Qxf7+ Kxf7 28.Nxe3 Rxa4 0-1

For a while Eric Hansen was winning against Levon Aronian, but he cracked and blundered under time pressure!

Position after 25…Re4

What should Eric play here?

Someone asks in Chat where Eric was born and it takes a while before the correct answer of Irvine, California is given.

Round 4, August 28
Naroditsky, Daniel – Van Foreest, Jorden
D32 QGD, Tarrasch Defence

1.Nf3 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 c5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.d4 Nc6 7.Be2 Bd6 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.O-O O-O 10.b3 a6 11.Bb2 Ba7 12.Rc1 Bg4 13.Nd4 Bxd4 14.Bxg4 Be5 15.Bf3 Qd6 16.g3 Rad8 17.Bg2 d4 18.Ne4 Nxe4 19.Bxe4 Qh6 20.Qf3 Rd6 21.Bxc6 bxc6 22.exd4 Bxd4 23.Bxd4 Rxd4 24.Rxc6 Rd6 25.Rxd6 Qxd6 26.Rd1 Qa3 27.Qe2 g6 28.Kg2 h5 29.h4 a5 30.Rd5 Qb4 31.Qd2 Re8 32.Qxb4 axb4 33.Kf3 Kg7 34.Rd4 Ra8 35.Rd2 Kf6 36.Ke3 Ke5 37.Kd3 Rd8+ 38.Kc2 Rc8+ 39.Kb2 f6 40.Rc2 Rb8 41.Rc4 Kd5 42.a4 bxa3+ 43.Kxa3 Re8 44.Kb2 g5 45.Kc3 Re2 46.Rd4+ Kc6 47.Rd2 Re4 48.Kd3 Rb4 49.Kc3 Re4 50.hxg5 fxg5 51.Kd3 Rb4 52.Rc2+ Kd5 53.Kc3 Re4 54.Ra2 Rg4 55.Ra5+ Kd6 56.Ra6+ Kd5 57.Rg6 Ke5 58.b4 Kf5 59.Rg8 h4 60.gxh4 gxh4 61.Rh8 Ke5 62.b5 Kd6 63.b6 Kc6 64.Rh6+ Kb7 65.Kd3 Ra4 66.f3 Rb4 67.Ke3 Rxb6 68.Rxb6+ Kxb6 69.Kf4 Kc5 70.Kg4 1-0

Round 4, August 28
MVL – Liang, Awonder
B12 Caro-Kann, Advance variation

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Ne7 6.O-O Bg6 7.c3 Nd7 8.a4 Nf5 9.a5 a6 10.b4 f6 11.Bf4 fxe5 12.Nxe5 Nxe5 13.Bxe5 Bd6 14.Bxd6 Nxd6 15.Nd2 O-O 16.Bg4 Bf5 17.Qe2 Qg5 18.Bxf5 Qxf5 19.Rae1 Rae8 20.Nb3 Nb5 21.Qd2 e5 22.dxe5 Rxe5 23.Nd4 Nxd4 24.cxd4 Ree8 25.f3 Qg6 26.Re5 Rxe5 27.dxe5 Qf5 28.f4 g5 29.g3 h5 30.Qe2 gxf4 31.Rxf4 Qb1+ 32.Qf1 Qxf1+ 33.Kxf1 Re8 34.Rf5 Kg7 35.Rxh5 Kg6 36.g4 Rf8+ 37.Kg2 Rf4 38.Kg3 Rxb4 39.Rf5 d4 40.h4 Rb1 41.Rf6+ Kg7 42.Rd6 Rd1 43.Kf4 c5 44.h5 d3 45.h6+ Kf7 46.g5 Rf1+ 47.Ke4 Rg1 48.g6+ 1-0

Round 5, August 28
Aronian, Levon – MVL
E60 King’s Indian

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.g3 c6 5.Bg2 d5 6.Ne5 Ng4 7.cxd5 Nxe5 8.dxe5 Bxe5 9.Nc3 O-O 10.Bh6 Re8 11.O-O cxd5 12.Bxd5 Nc6 13.Qb3 e6 14.Bg2 Nd4 15.Qc4 Bd7 16.Rad1 Rc8 17.Qb4 Nf5 18.Bg5 Qxg5 19.Rxd7 Bxc3 20.bxc3 Re7 21.Rxb7 Rxb7 22.Qxb7 Rxc3 23.Qxa7 Qd2 24.Be4 Qd4 25.Qb8+ Kg7 26.Bxf5 exf5 27.e3 Qf6 28.Qb2 Rc4 29.Rb1 Qxb2 30.Rxb2 Rc1+ 31.Kg2 g5 32.Kf3 Rh1 33.a4 Ra1 34.Rb4 Ra2 35.h4 g4+ 36.Kg2 h5 37.Rf4 Kg6 38.Kf1 Kf6 39.e4 Kg6 40.exf5+ Kf6 41.Ke1 Ke5 42.f6 Ke6 43.Kd1 Rb2 44.Kc1 Re2 45.Kb1 Re5 46.Kb2 Kd6 47.Kc3 Kc5 48.Rb4 Kc6 49.Kd3 Rf5 50.Ke2 Re5+ 51.Kd3 Rf5 52.Ke3 Rf3+ 53.Ke2 Ra3 54.Rf4 Kd5 55.Kd2 Kc5 56.Kc2 Ra1 57.Kb2 Rf1 58.a5 Kd6 59.a6 Kc7 60.Rf5 Kb6 61.Kc3 Kxa6 62.Kd2 1-0

Round 5, August 28
Carlsen, Magnus – Naroditsky, Daniel
B12 Caro-Kann

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.dxc5 e6 5.Qg4 Nd7 6.Nf3 Nxc5 7.Be2 Ne7 8.O-O Nf5 9.c4 dxc4 10.Rd1 Bd7 11.Bxc4 Qb6 12.Nc3 Be7 13.Nd4 h5 14.Qe2 Nxd4 15.Rxd4 Bc6 16.Be3 a5 17.Rad1 O-O 18.Qxh5 Qxb2 19.Rg4 g6 20.Bh6 Be8 21.Nd5 exd5 22.Bxd5 Kh7 23.Qh3 Rh8 24.Bf8+ Kg8 25.Rxg6+ Kxf8 26.Qxh8# 1-0

Round 5, August 28
Van Foreest, Jorden – Hansen, Eric
C53 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 d5 7.Bb5 Ne4 8.cxd4 Bb6 9.Nc3 O-O 10.Be3 Ba5 11.Rc1 f5 12.exf6 Qxf6 13.O-O Bxc3 14.bxc3 Bg4 15.Be2 Nd6 16.h3 Bh5 17.Qb3 Bf7 18.Bg5 Qf5 19.Bh4 Rfe8 20.Rfe1 Na5 21.Qb4 Nc6 22.Qb2 b6 23.Ng5 h6 24.Bg4 Qg6 25.Nxf7 Qxf7 26.Bf3 Na5 27.Bg3 Nac4 28.Qc2 c6 29.Qa4 Nb5 30.Qb4 a5 31.Qb3 Nd2 32.Rxe8+ Rxe8 33.Qd1 Nxf3+ 34.gxf3 Na3 35.Kg2 Qg6 36.h4 Nc4 37.Rc2 Re3 38.Re2 Rxc3 39.Qe1 Ra3 40.Re8+ Kh7 41.Qe2 Rxa2 42.h5 Qxh5 43.Qd3+ g6 44.Qd1 Nd2 45.Qe2 Qxf3+ 46.Qxf3 Nxf3 47.Re7+ Kg8 48.Kxf3 c5 49.Re6 Ra3+ 50.Kf4 cxd4 51.Rxg6+ Kh7 52.Rxb6 d3 53.Rd6 Ra4+ 54.Ke3 Rd4 55.Kd2 h5 56.Be5 Re4 57.f4 a4 58.Kxd3 a3 59.Ra6 h4 60.Rxa3 Kg6 61.Ra8 Kf5 62.Rg8 Ra4 63.Rg5+ Ke6 64.Bd4 Ra3+ 65.Bc3 Ra4 66.f5+ Kd6 67.Rg6+ Kc5 68.f6 Rf4 69.Ke3 Rf1 70.Rg4 h3 71.Rh4 h2 72.Rxh2 1-0

Position after 42.h5

Jorden van Foreest went on to win, but it turns out 42...Qxg3+! was winning for Eric here! He played 42...Qxh5?

( 42...Qxg3+ 43.fxg3 Rxe2+ 44.Rxe2 a4 )

Round 5, August 28
Liang, Awonder – Dominguez, Leinier
A08 Reti, King’s Indian Attack

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.d3 d5 5.O-O e5 6.e4 d4 7.a4 Be7 8.Na3 Bg4 9.h3 Bh5 10.Qe1 Nd7 11.Nh2 O-O 12.h4 f6 13.Bh3 Kh8 14.Bg4 Bxg4 15.Nxg4 a6 16.Bd2 b6 17.Qe2 Rb8 18.Nh2 b5 19.axb5 axb5 20.h5 Qe8 21.Qg4 f5 22.exf5 Nf6 23.Qh3 Qxh5 24.Qg2 Qe8 25.Rae1 Qd7 26.g4 c4 27.Nf3 c3 28.Bc1 Bxa3 29.bxa3 Rbe8 30.g5 Nd5 31.Nh4 Nde7 32.Qh3 Kg8 33.f4 g6 34.fxe5 Nxf5 35.Nxf5 Rxf5 36.Rxf5 Qxf5 37.Qxf5 gxf5 38.Bf4 b4 39.axb4 Nxb4 40.Re2 Nd5 41.Bh2 Kf7 42.Kf2 Ke6 43.Kf3 Rg8 44.Bf4 Nxf4 45.Kxf4 h6 46.gxh6 Rg4+ 47.Kf3 Rh4 48.Kg3 Rxh6 49.Re1 Rg6+ 50.Kf3 Rg4 51.Re2 Rg1 52.Kf2 Rd1 53.Kf3 Rd2 54.Rxd2 cxd2 55.Ke2 f4 56.Kxd2 f3 57.Ke1 Kxe5 58.Kf1 Kf4 59.Kf2 Kg4 60.Kf1 Kg3 61.Kg1 f2+ 62.Kf1 Kf3 0-1

Levon Aronian was unable to play in the events in St. Louis for bureaucratic reasons, but he defeated Sinquefield Cup winner MVL to end on 4/5 after Day 1 of the #AimchessUSRapid!

Daniel Naroditsky, who said his main preparation was "watching copious amounts of Netflix and Amazon Prime": "I'm playing the King's Indian, trying to prove it can survive at this level!"

Some missed chances and Anish Giri ends Day 1 of the #AimchessUSRapid with 5 draws — not a result we've become accustomed to since he's been one of the most combative players over the course of the tour!

Levon Aronian is the sole leader after Day 1 of the #AimchessUSRapid, with Magnus Carlsen and Vladislav Artemiev half a point behind

Standings after Day 1

1 Aronian 4
2-3 Carlsen, Artemiev 3.5
4-7 Mamedyarov, So, Firouzja, Dominguez 3
8 Giri 2.5
9-13 Le, Naroditsky, Vidit, Van Foreest 2
14-16 Hansen, Liang, Duda 1.5

**Hans Jung** · Saturday, 28th August, 2021, 05:18 PM

I dont know what was more entertaining - Eric winning against Aronian until the final move blunder, Eric winning against Van Foreest until missing Qxg3+ (one immortal for the tactics books)!, or Magnus getting checkmated by Firoujza! Firoujza rules! Although I admit the position Magnus got in the Scando with the pawn chain I had before and won easily and Magnus should have won.
Lots of entertainment.

**Hans Jung** · Saturday, 28th August, 2021, 05:21 PM

Eric just needs to play more against these guys and get competitive. I know he can do it.

**Hans Jung** · Saturday, 28th August, 2021, 05:55 PM

Lots of long endgames (and this is 15 minute chess). I enjoyed Aronian over MVL and Naroditsky over Van Foreest. Rook and pawn endgames used to put me to sleep but not these!

**Hans Jung** · Saturday, 28th August, 2021, 06:50 PM

https://www.chessbomb.com/arena/2021...-Le_Quang_Liem Aronian! 3 minors for two rooks! and look at those pawns!

**Hans Jung** · Sunday, 29th August, 2021, 11:47 AM

Rd 6 Eric had a great game against Magnus - good opening, awesome middlegame chances, and was even winning until about move 30!

**Hans Jung** · Sunday, 29th August, 2021, 11:59 AM

Naroditsky plays a dream game against So! A feather in his cap.

Firoujza - Vidit - good sparring.

Aronian - look at those knights! - but the damage comes in the endgame. (All in rd 6)

**Hans Jung** · Sunday, 29th August, 2021, 12:49 PM

Rd7 Eric had another near miss against Wesley So. Exciting!

**Wayne Komer** · Sunday, 29th August, 2021, 04:39 PM

Aimchess US Rapid 2021

August 29, 2021

Preliminaries

Day Two

Results

Round Six

Duda-Le 1-0
Firouzja-Vidit 0-1
Naroditsky-So 1-0
Hansen-Carlsen 0-1
MVL-Van Foreest 1-0
Dominguez-Aronian 0-1
Mamedyarov-Liang 1-0
Artemiev-Giri 0.5-0.5

Round Seven

Giri-Duda 0.5-0.5
Liang-Artemiev 0-1
Aronian-Mamedyarov 0.5-0.5
Van Foreest-Dominguez 1-0
Carlsen-MVL 1-0
So-Hansen 1-0
Vidit-Naroditsky 0.5-0.5
Le-Firouzja 0-1

Round Eight

Duda-Firouzja 0.5-0.5
Naroditsky-Le 1-0
Hansen-Vidit 0.5-0.5
MVL-So 0.5-0.5
Dominguez-Carlsen 0.5-0.5
Mamedyarov-Van Foreest 1-0
Artemiev-Aronian 1-0
Giri-Liang 0.5-0.5

Round Nine

Liang-Duda 0-1
Aronian-Giri 0.5-0.5
Foreest-Artemiev 0-1
Carlsen-Mamedyarov 0.5-0.5
So-Dominguez 1-0
Vidit-MVL 0.5-0.5
Le-Hansen 1-0
Firouzja-Naroditsky 0.5-0.5

Round Ten

Duda-Naroditsky 1-0
Hansen-Firouzja 0-1
MVL-Le 1-0
Dominguez-Vidit 1-0
Mamedyarov-So 0.5-0.5
Artemiev-Carlsen 0.5-0.5
Giri-Van Foreest 1-0
Liang-Aronian 0-1

Selected Games

Round 6, August 29
Duda, Jan-Krzysztof – Le, Quang Liem
A07 Reti, King’s Indian Attack

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.Bg2 Bg4 4.h3 Bh5 5.d3 e6 6.Nbd2 Nf6 7.g4 Bg6 8.Nh4 Bc5 9.e3 Bb6 10.Qe2 Nfd7 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.a3 Na6 13.b4 Bc7 14.c4 Rc8 15.Bb2 Be5 16.d4 Bf6 17.O-O Nb6 18.c5 Na4 19.Bc1 e5 20.Qd3 O-O 21.g5 Bxg5 22.dxe5 Nc7 23.Qc2 b5 24.f4 Be7 25.Nf3 Ne6 26.Rd1 f5 27.Rb1 g5 28.Rb3 Rc7 29.Nd4 Nxd4 30.exd4 gxf4 31.Bxf4 Bg5 32.Rf1 Bxf4 33.Rxf4 Qg5 34.Qf2 Rcf7 35.h4 Qh6 36.Rbf3 g6 37.Rg3 Rg7 38.Rgf3 Kf7 39.Kf1 Ke6 40.Ke1 Ra8 41.Bh3 a5 42.bxa5 Rxa5 43.Kd1 Ra8 44.Qd2 Ke7 45.Kc2 Rf7 46.Qe1 Ke6 47.Qg3 Rh8 48.Bf1 Qg7 49.Rf2 Rh6 50.Qg5 Rh5 51.Qd8 Qf8 52.Qa5 Qb8 53.Qa6 Qb7 54.Qxb7 Rxb7 55.Be2 Rh6 56.Kb3 Rbh7 57.h5 Rxh5 58.Bxh5 Rxh5 59.Kb4 Rh1 60.Rg2 Kf7 61.Ka5 Rh3 62.Ka6 Rxa3 63.Kb7 b4 64.Rh4 Kg7 65.Rgh2 Kf7 66.Rh8 f4 67.Kxc6 Nc3 68.Kd6 Ne4+ 69.Kxd5 Nc3+ 70.Kc4 Ke6 71.Kxb4 1-0

Round 6, August 29
Firouzja, Alireza – Vidit, Santosh
C82 Ruy Lopez, open, Dilworth variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 9.c3 Bc5 10.Nbd2 O-O 11.Bc2 Nxf2 12.Rxf2 Bxf2+ 13.Kxf2 f6 14.Nf1 fxe5 15.Kg1 Bg4 16.Ne3 Be6 17.b3 d4 18.Qd3 g6 19.cxd4 Nxd4 20.Bb2 Nxf3+ 21.gxf3 Rxf3 22.Qe2 Qg5+ 23.Ng2 Raf8 24.h4 Qg3 25.Bxe5 Qg4 26.Re1 Bd5 27.Bd1 Qf5 28.Bd4 Rg3 29.Bc2 Qd7 0-1

Round 6, August 29
Naroditsky, Daniel – So, Wesley
C78 Ruy Lopez, Archangel variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.d3 d6 8.a4 Rb8 9.axb5 axb5 10.Be3 Bxe3 11.fxe3 O-O 12.Qe1 Qe7 13.Nh4 g6 14.Nc3 Nb4 15.Qg3 Kg7 16.Nf5+ Bxf5 17.Rxf5 Nd7 18.Raf1 f6 19.Nd5 Nxd5 20.Bxd5 Nb6 21.h4 c6 22.Bxc6 Qc7 23.Bxb5 Qxc2 24.h5 Qxb2 25.h6+ Kh8 26.Qg5 Qxb5 27.Rxf6 Rfe8 28.Rxg6 Nd7 29.Rg7 1-0

Round 6, August 29
Hansen, Eric – Carlsen, Magnus
C53 Giuoco Piano, Centre-holding variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Bb6 5.d4 Qe7 6.O-O Nf6 7.Re1 d6 8.h3 h6 9.a4 a6 10.Be3 g5 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.Bxb6 cxb6 13.Nbd2 g4 14.hxg4 Bxg4 15.Qb3 Qc7 16.Bd5 O-O-O 17.c4 Rhg8 18.Qc3 Nd4 19.a5 b5 20.Nxd4 exd4 21.Qb3 Nxd5 22.exd5 bxc4 23.Nxc4 Kb8 24.Rac1 Rge8 25.Nb6 Rxe1+ 26.Rxe1 Bf5 27.Qb4 d3 28.Qd4 Qd6 29.Rc1 h5 30.b4 Re8 31.Qc4 d2 32.Rf1 Bg4 33.Qd4 d1=Q 34.Rxd1 Bxd1 35.Qxd1 Qxb4 0-1

Position after Black’s 24…Rge8

What move should Eric play here?

Round 6, August 29
MVL – Van Foreest, Jorden
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.Nbd2 Nd7 7.Nc4 f6 8.c3 O-O 9.d4 exd4 10.cxd4 Nb6 11.Qb3 Be6 12.dxc5 Nxc4 13.Qc3 Ne5 14.Nxe5 fxe5 15.Be3 Qh4 16.Qc2 Rad8 17.O-O Rd7 18.Rad1 Rfd8 19.Rxd7 Rxd7 20.b3 Bf7 21.h3 h6 22.Kh2 Qd8 23.Qc3 Bg6 24.Qxe5 Re7 25.Qg3 Bxe4 26.Bxh6 Qd3 27.Qxd3 Bxd3 28.Rd1 Bf5 29.Rd8+ Kf7 30.Be3 Re4 31.g4 Be6 32.Ra8 a6 33.Kg3 Bd5 34.Rb8 1-0

Round 6, August 29
Dominguez, Leinier - Aronian, Levon
C53 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 O-O 6.O-O d5 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.Re1 Bg4 9.Nbd2 Nb6 10.h3 Bh5 11.Bb3 Qxd3 12.Nxe5 Qf5 13.Nef3 Rad8 14.Qe2 Nd5 15.Ne4 Bxf3 16.Qxf3 Qxf3 17.gxf3 Bb6 18.a4 h6 19.Rd1 Nde7 20.Rxd8 Rxd8 21.Kf1 Kf8 22.Be3 Nf5 23.Bxb6 axb6 24.Rd1 Rxd1+ 25.Bxd1 Ne5 26.Ng3 Nh4 27.Ke2 Nhxf3 28.Ke3 Ng1 29.b3 Nxh3 30.f4 Ng6 31.Nh5 Ne7 32.Bg4 Nd5+ 33.Kf3 g6 34.Bxh3 gxh5 35.Bc8 Nxc3 36.Bxb7 Ke7 37.Ke3 Kd6 38.Kd4 Na2 39.Ke4 Nb4 40.Kf5 Nd5 41.Ba6 h4 42.Kg4 h3 43.Be2 h2 44.Bf3 Kc5 45.f5 Nf6+ 46.Kf4 Kb4 47.Ke5 Ng4+ 48.Kd5 Kxb3 0-1

Round 6, August 29
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Liang, Awonder
D47 QGD, Semi-Slav, Meran, Wade variation

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.e4 b4 10.Na4 a6 11.O-O c5 12.e5 Nd5 13.Re1 cxd4 14.Nxd4 g6 15.Qg4 Nc5 16.Bg5 Qd7 17.Nxc5 Bxc5 18.Nf3 h6 19.Bd2 Ne7 20.Be4 Bxe4 21.Qxe4 Qd5 22.Bxb4 Qxe4 23.Rxe4 Bxb4 24.Rxb4 Nd5 25.Rc4 Kd7 26.Rac1 Rhb8 27.R1c2 a5 28.Ne1 Nb4 29.Rd2+ Ke8 30.a3 Nd5 31.Nd3 Rb5 32.Rdc2 Rab8 33.Rc8+ Ke7 34.Rxb8 Rxb8 35.Kf1 g5 36.g3 Nb6 37.Ke2 Na4 38.Kd2 Kd8 39.Kc1 Rb3 40.Rd2 Kc7 41.Kc2 Rb5 42.Re2 Nc5 43.Nxc5 Rxc5+ 44.Kb3 Kb6 45.Re4 Rc1 46.Re3 Rh1 47.Rf3 Rxh2 48.Rxf7 Kb5 49.Kc3 h5 50.Kd3 h4 51.gxh4 gxh4 52.Ke2 Rh1 53.Re7 Rb1 54.Rxe6 Rxb2+ 55.Kf3 Kc4 56.Rh6 Kd5 57.Rxh4 Rb3+ 58.Kf4 Rxa3 59.Rh6 Ra1 60.Kf5 a4 61.f4 a3 62.Ra6 a2 63.e6 1-0

Round 7, August 29
Liang, Awonder – Artemiev, Vladislav
C72 Ruy Lopez, Moern Steinitz Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.O-O Bd7 6.c4 Nge7 7.Nc3 g6 8.d4 exd4 9.Nd5 Nxd5 10.cxd5 Ne5 11.Nxd4 Bg7 12.Bb3 Bb5 13.Re1 Qh4 14.Nxb5 axb5 15.h3 O-O 16.Qc2 Rfe8 17.Bd2 Re7 18.f4 Nf3+ 19.gxf3 Qg3+ 20.Kh1 Qxh3+ 21.Kg1 Qg3+ 22.Kh1 Qxf3+ 23.Kh2 Rae8 24.e5 Bxe5 25.Qe4 Bxf4+ 0-1

Round 7, August 29
Van Foreest, Jorden – Dominguez, Leinier
D27 QGA, Classical, Geller variation

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 c5 6.O-O a6 7.e4 b5 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.e5 Nd5 10.Nc3 cxd4 11.Nxd5 Qxd5 12.Re1 Nc6 13.Bd2 Nb4 14.Be4 Qd7 15.a4 d3 16.axb5 Nc2 17.Rxa6 Rxa6 18.bxa6 Bxa6 19.Rf1 Be7 20.Ng5 h6 21.Qf3 O-O 22.Nh7 Rc8 23.Nf6+ Bxf6 24.exf6 Qd8 25.Bc3 Nd4 26.Qg4 Qxf6 27.Bxd4 h5 28.Bxf6 hxg4 29.Bc3 f5 30.Ra1 1-0

Round 7, August 29
Carlsen, Magnus – MVL
D80 Grunfeld Defence

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.h4 c5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Na4 Nc6 7.e4 Nb6 8.d5 Ne5 9.h5 Nxa4 10.Qxa4+ Bd7 11.Qa3 Qb6 12.Qc3 Qb4 13.Qxb4 cxb4 14.f4 Ng4 15.hxg6 fxg6 16.e5 Bf5 17.Be2 Bg7 18.Bf3 O-O 19.Ne2 h5 20.Nd4 Bd7 21.Bd2 Rac8 22.Rc1 Rxc1+ 23.Bxc1 Rc8 24.Ke2 Rc4 25.Kd3 Rc5 26.Be3 Bh6 27.g3 Nxe3 28.Kxe3 a5 29.Be4 Kg7 30.Nb3 Rc8 31.Nxa5 Ra8 32.Nxb7 Rxa2 33.Nc5 Bg4 34.Nd3 g5 35.f5 h4 36.gxh4 gxh4+ 37.Kd4 1-0

Magnus Carlsen has caught Levon Aronian after his win over MVL!

(to be continued)

**Wayne Komer** · Sunday, 29th August, 2021, 04:40 PM

Aimchess US Rapid 2021

August 29, 2021

Preliminaries

Day Two (continued)

Round 7, August 29
So, Wesley – Hansen, Eric
C50 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.c3 a6 7.Re1 O-O 8.h3 h6 9.Bb3 Re8 10.Nbd2 Ba7 11.Nf1 Be6 12.Bc2 d5 13.exd5 Qxd5 14.Ng3 Rad8 15.Qe2 Bc8 16.Nh4 Ne7 17.Bd2 g5 18.Nf3 Ng6 19.Qf1 Nf4 20.Bxf4 gxf4 21.Ne4 Nxe4 22.dxe4 Qc5 23.Bb3 Kg7 24.Rad1 c6 25.Qe2 a5 26.Nh4 b5 27.a3 Qe7 28.Qh5 a4 29.Ba2 Qf6 30.Rf1 Rf8 31.Nf3 Bb8 32.c4 Rxd1 33.Rxd1 Be6 34.Ra1 Rd8 35.cxb5 Bxa2 36.Rxa2 Rd1+ 37.Kh2 cxb5 38.Nh4 Rd2 39.Ra1 Ba7 40.Rc1 Bxf2 41.Nf5+ Kh7 42.Rc7 Bg3+ 43.Kh1 Rxb2 44.Rxf7+ Kh8 45.Rd7 Rb1+ 46.Rd1 Rxd1+ 47.Qxd1 b4 48.axb4 a3 49.Qa1 1-0

Position after White’s 39.Ra1

What should Eric play here?

Round 7, August 29
Le, Quang Liem – Firouzja, Alireza
E10 Queen’s Pawn game

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.g3 Be7 6.Bg2 O-O 7.O-O dxc4 8.e4 Rb8 9.a4 a6 10.a5 b5 11.axb6 Nxb6 12.Qe2 Bb7 13.Rd1 Ne8 14.Be3 Bb4 15.d5 exd5 16.Bxb6 cxb6 17.Nxd5 Bxd5 18.exd5 Nd6 19.Rxa6 Re8 20.Qc2 Bc5 21.Raa1 Qf6 22.Re1 b5 23.b3 Ne4 24.Rxe4 Qxa1+ 25.Bf1 Rxe4 26.Qxe4 Qb2 27.Be2 cxb3 28.Ng5 Qc1+ 0-1

Round 8, August 29
Naroditsky, Daniel – Le, Quang Liem
A01 Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack, Classical variation

1.b3 d5 2.Bb2 Bf5 3.d3 Nf6 4.Nd2 e6 5.g3 h6 6.Bg2 Bh7 7.e4 a5 8.a3 a4 9.b4 c5 10.exd5 cxb4 11.dxe6 bxa3 12.Bxa3 Bxa3 13.Rxa3 Qe7 14.Nc4 Ra6 15.Ne2 b5 16.Qb1 Qc5 17.d4 Qxc4 18.Rc3 Qxe6 19.Qxb5+ Ke7 20.Re3 Ne4 21.Bxe4 Bxe4 22.d5 Qb6 23.Rxe4+ Kd6 24.Qxb6+ Rxb6 25.Nc3 a3 26.Kd2 Ra6 27.Ra1 Nd7 28.Ra4 Rxa4 29.Nxa4 Ne5 30.f4 Nc4+ 31.Kc3 Rc8 32.Kd4 Nb2 33.Nb6 Rxc2 34.Rxa3 Rd2+ 35.Ke4 Re2+ 36.Kf3 Rc2 37.Ra7 Rc7 38.Ra6 Rb7 39.Ke4 Kc5 40.Nc8 Rb4+ 41.Kf3 Kxd5 42.Ne7+ Kc4 43.Nf5 Rb3+ 44.Kg4 h5+ 45.Kh4 Nd3 46.Nxg7 Rb2 47.h3 Rh2 48.Nxh5 Nf2 49.g4 Rxh3+ 50.Kg5 Rh1 51.Ra7 Ne4+ 52.Kf5 Re1 53.Ra4+ Kd3 54.Ra3+ Kd4 55.Ra4+ Kd3 56.Ra6 Kd4 57.g5 Kc5 58.Ng7 Nd6+ 59.Kf6 Rf1 60.Rxd6 Kxd6 61.f5 Ra1 62.Kxf7 Ke5 63.f6 Ra6 64.Kg6 Kf4 65.Kh6 Ke5 66.Kg6 Kf4 67.Nh5+ Kg4 68.Kh6 Ra5 69.f7 Rxg5 70.Nf6+ Kf5 71.Nh7 Rg6+ 72.Kh5 1-0

Final Position

White wins in 15 moves

Round 8, August 29
Giri, Anish – Liang, Awonder
D19 QGD Slav, Dutch variation, main line

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.e3 e6 7.Bxc4 Bb4 8.O-O O-O 9.Qe2 Bg6 10.Ne5 Nbd7 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.Rd1 Qc7 13.g3 Rad8 14.Qc2 a5 15.Na2 Be7 16.Bd2 e5 17.Rac1 Kh8 18.Be1 exd4 19.exd4 Qb6 20.Rd3 c5 21.Re3 Bd6 22.d5 Ne5 23.b3 Bc7 24.Rd1 Nfg4 25.Rc3 f5 26.Bf1 f4 27.Bg2 Bd6 28.Nc1 c4 29.bxc4 Bc5 30.Rd2 Rde8 31.Be4 g5 32.d6 Bxd6 33.gxf4 Rxf4 34.Rh3+ Nh6 35.Re2 Ref8 36.Nd3 Nxd3 37.Qxd3 Bc5 38.Qg3 Re8 39.Qg2 Qe6 40.Bd3 Qd7 41.Rxe8+ Qxe8 42.Kf1 Qd7 43.Be2 Qf5 44.Rd3 Rd4 45.Rxd4 Bxd4 46.Qxb7 Ng4 47.Qb8+ Kh7 48.Qg3 Ne5 49.Bxa5 g4 50.Be1 Nf3 51.c5 Bxc5 52.Bxf3 gxf3 53.Kg1 Qe4 54.Qh3+ Kg6 55.Qf1 Bd6 56.Kh1 Bxh2 57.Kxh2 Qf4+ 58.Kh3 Kh5 59.Qb5+ g5 60.Qe8+ Kh6 61.Qh8+ Kg6 62.Qg8+ Kh6 63.Qe6+ Kh5 64.Qe8+ Kh6 65.Qh8+ Kg6 66.Qg8+ Kh6 67.Qh8+ 1/2-1/2

An 8th draw in 8 for Giri, but this game was crazy! Anish was winning, but then here 51...Be5! would have been a crusher for Awonder. Instead he played 51...Bxc5:

Round 8, August 29
Hansen, Eric – Vidit, Santosh
B33 Sicilian, Pelikan, Chelyabinsk variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bf4 e5 8.Bg5 a6 9.Na3 b5 10.Nd5 Be7 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.c3 Bg5 13.g3 Ne7 14.h4 Bh6 15.Nxe7 Qxe7 16.Bg2 O-O 17.Nc2 a5 18.O-O Be6 19.Re1 Rac8 20.Ne3 g6 21.Qd3 b4 22.cxb4 axb4 23.a4 bxa3 24.bxa3 Rc5 25.Red1 Ra8 26.a4 Rca5 27.Nf5 gxf5 28.exf5 d5 29.fxe6 fxe6 30.Qc2 e4 31.Rab1 Rxa4 32.Rb6 Ra2 33.Qc6 Rf8 34.Rf1 Bg7 35.Bh3 Kh8 36.Rb7 Qf6 37.Qxe6 Rxf2 38.Qxf6 R2xf6 39.Rxf6 Bxf6 40.Rd7 Be5 41.Rxd5 Bxg3 42.Rf5 Re8 43.Kf1 Bxh4 44.Rh5 Bf6 45.Bf5 Re7 46.Ke2 Kg8 47.Ke3 h6 48.Bxe4 Bg5+ 49.Kd3 Kg7 50.Rh1 Rd7+ 51.Kc4 Kf6 52.Rf1+ Ke5 53.Bg6 Rd4+ 54.Kc5 Rd8 55.Rf5+ Ke6 56.Rf3 Be7+ 57.Kc4 Bf6 58.Kc5 Rc8+ 59.Kb5 Rc1 60.Re3+ Be5 61.Rh3 Bf4 62.Kb4 Kf6 63.Bh5 Kg5 64.Kb3 Rc5 65.Bf3 Kf6 66.Kb4 Rc7 67.Kb3 Bg5 68.Be2 Ke5 69.Rc3 Rd7 70.Rd3 Rf7 71.Rf3 Rg7 72.Rh3 Kd4 73.Rd3+ Ke4 74.Rh3 Rd7 75.Kc4 Rd2 76.Bh5 Rc2+ 77.Kb3 Rc1 78.Kb2 Rc7 79.Kb3 Kf5 80.Rc3 Rb7+ 81.Kc2 Bf6 82.Rh3 Rb2+ 83.Kc1 Rg2 84.Kd1 Kg5 85.Ke1 Bd4 86.Bf3 Rb2 87.Be2 Rb6 88.Rh5+ Kg6 89.Rh3 Rb1+ 90.Kd2 Rb2+ 91.Ke1 Be5 92.Kd1 Rb4 93.Ke1 Bf6 94.Bd3+ Kg7 95.Rh5 Rb2 96.Kd1 Bg5 97.Bc2 Kf6 98.Rh3 1/2-1/2

Round 9, August 29
Liang, Awonder – Duda, Jan-Krzysztof
B11 Caro-Kann, Two Knights

1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.Be2 Nf6 5.e5 Nfd7 6.d4 e6 7.h3 Bf5 8.g4 Bg6 9.h4 h5 10.gxh5 Bxh5 11.Ng5 Bxe2 12.Qxe2 Bb4 13.Qf3 Qe7 14.Bd2 f6 15.exf6 gxf6 16.Nh3 Rxh4 17.Qg3 Qh7 18.O-O-O Na6 19.Rde1 O-O-O 20.Rxe6 Nc7 21.Re3 Rg8 22.Qf3 Rh8 23.Ne2 Bd6 24.a3 f5 25.Bb4 f4 26.Rc3 Bxb4 27.axb4 Nb5 28.Rd3 Qe4 29.Kd2 Nd6 30.b3 Kc7 31.Rh2 Nf8 32.Neg1 Ne6 33.Rg2 Qf5 34.Kc1 Nb5 35.c3 Kb6 36.Kd2 Ra8 37.Qe2 a5 38.Qe5 Qxe5 39.dxe5 axb4 40.cxb4 Rh5 41.Rg6 Rxe5 42.Nf3 Ra2+ 43.Kd1 Ree2 44.Nhg1 Rxf2 45.Ke1 Nec7 46.Nd2 Rh2 47.Ne2 Ra1+ 0-1

Round 9, August 29
Van Foreest, Jorden – Artemiev, Vladislav
C91 Ruy Lopez, Closed, Bogolyubov variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 O-O 9.d4 Bg4 10.Be3 exd4 11.cxd4 Na5 12.Nbd2 c5 13.Bc2 cxd4 14.Bxd4 Nc6 15.Be3 Rc8 16.h3 Bh5 17.g4 Bg6 18.Nd4 Nxd4 19.Bxd4 d5 20.Bb1 dxe4 21.Nxe4 Nxe4 22.Bxe4 Rc4 23.Bxg6 Rxd4 24.Qe2 Bb4 25.Bc2 Bxe1 26.Rxe1 Rd2 27.Qe4 Qh4 0-1

Round 9, August 29
Carlsen, Magnus – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
D02 Queen’s Bishop game

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4 Bf5 4.e3 e6 5.c4 Bb4+ 6.Nbd2 c5 7.cxd5 Qxd5 8.a3 Bxd2+ 9.Qxd2 Nc6 10.dxc5 Qxc5 11.b4 Qb6 12.Be2 O-O 13.O-O Rfd8 14.Qb2 Bd3 15.Rac1 Rd5 16.Bxd3 Rxd3 17.Ne5 Nxe5 18.Bxe5 Ne8 19.a4 Rd5 20.h3 Qa6 21.e4 Rdd8 22.Qb3 b5 23.a5 Qb7 24.Rc5 Rac8 25.Rxc8 Rxc8 26.Qe3 Rc4 27.Rd1 f6 28.Bd4 Qd7 29.Qd2 Nc7 30.Bxa7 Qxd2 31.Rxd2 Na6 32.Be3 Nxb4 33.Rd7 Rxe4 34.Rb7 h6 35.Rxb5 Nd5 36.a6 Ra4 37.a7 Nxe3 38.Rb8+ Kf7 39.a8=Q Rxa8 40.Rxa8 Nd5 41.Ra7+ Kg6 42.g3 h5 43.Kg2 f5 44.h4 Kf6 45.Kf3 e5 46.Ra6+ Kf7 47.Ke2 g6 48.Ra5 Ke6 49.Kd3 Nf6 50.Ra6+ Kf7 51.Ra7+ Kf8 52.f3 e4+ 53.Ke3 exf3 54.Kxf3 Nd5 55.Ke2 Ne7 56.Ke3 Nd5+ 57.Kd4 Nf6 58.Ke5 Ne4 59.Rd7 Kg8 60.g4 hxg4 61.h5 g3 62.h6 Kh8 63.Rg7 g5 64.Ra7 g2 65.Ra1 Kh7 66.Rg1 Kxh6 67.Kxf5 Ng3+ 68.Kg4 Nh5 69.Rxg2 Kg6 70.Kf3 Nf6 71.Rxg5+ Kxg5 1/2-1/2

Round 9, August 29
So, Wesley – Dominguez, Leinier
A37 English, symmetrical variation

1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.O-O Bg4 7.h3 Bxf3 8.Bxf3 e6 9.d3 Nge7 10.Bd2 O-O 11.a3 d5 12.cxd5 exd5 13.Rb1 Qd7 14.Bg2 Rad8 15.b4 c4 16.b5 Nd4 17.Bg5 h6 18.Bxe7 Qxe7 19.e3 Nf3+ 20.Bxf3 Bxc3 21.dxc4 dxc4 22.Qa4 Qc5 23.Rbc1 Rd3 24.Be4 Rxe3 25.fxe3 Qxe3+ 26.Kh2 Be5 27.Bf3 Qg5 28.Rg1 Bxg3+ 29.Kh1 Qh4 30.Bg2 Be5 31.Qc2 c3 32.Qe2 Qg3 33.Bf1 Qf4 34.Re1 Bd6 35.Rg4 Qf6 36.Bg2 Rc8 37.Rf1 Qe5 38.Qxe5 Bxe5 39.Be4 Rc5 40.a4 Kg7 41.Bc2 h5 42.Rg5 b6 43.Rd1 Kh6 44.Rg2 Rc4 45.Rf2 f5 46.Re2 Rc5 47.Rd7 h4 48.Rxa7 Kg5 49.Rb7 Kf4 50.Rxb6 Kf3 51.Bd1 Kf4 52.Rxg6 Rd5 53.Bb3 Rd3 54.Kg2 1-0

Round 9, August 29
Le, Quang Liem – Hansen, Eric
D27 QGA, Classical

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 dxc4 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 c5 6.O-O a6 7.Be2 cxd4 8.exd4 Be7 9.Ne5 O-O 10.Bf3 Nfd7 11.Nc3 Nxe5 12.dxe5 Nc6 13.Bxc6 bxc6 14.Qg4 Qc7 15.Re1 Kh8 16.Bg5 f6 17.Bf4 f5 18.Qh5 Bd7 19.Bg5 Bb4 20.Qh4 c5 21.Rad1 Qb7 22.Re3 Be8 23.Ne2 Bg6 24.Nf4 Qf7 25.Red3 Ra7 26.Rd8 c4 27.Nxg6+ Qxg6 28.Be7 1-0

Position after White’s 20. Qh4

What should Eric have played here?

Round 9, August 29
Firouzja, Alireza – Naroditsky, Daniel
C92 Ruy Lopez, Closed, Kholmov variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 O-O 9.h3 Be6 10.d4 Bxb3 11.axb3 exd4 12.cxd4 d5 13.e5 Ne4 14.Nc3 f5 15.exf6 Bxf6 16.Nxe4 dxe4 17.Rxe4 Qd5 18.Rf4 a5 19.Be3 Nb4 20.Rc1 c6 21.Nh2 Be7 22.Rxf8+ Rxf8 23.Nf3 Bd6 24.Bd2 Re8 25.Rc3 c5 26.Be3 Nc6 27.Rd3 Nb4 28.Rd2 c4 29.bxc4 bxc4 30.Re2 Nd3 31.b3 Nb4 32.bxc4 Qxc4 33.Qa4 Rc8 34.Qd7 Rf8 35.Re1 Qd5 36.Ne5 Nd3 37.Bh6 gxh6 38.Qg4+ Kh8 39.Nxd3 Rg8 40.Qe4 Qxe4 41.Rxe4 a4 42.Re6 Rd8 43.Ne5 1/2-1/2

(to be continued)

**Wayne Komer** · Sunday, 29th August, 2021, 04:42 PM

Aimchess US Rapid 2021

August 29, 2021

Preliminaries

Day Two (continued)

Round 10, August 29
Duda, Jan-Krzysztof – Naroditsky, Daniel
E81 King’s Indian, Samisch

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 O-O 6.Be3 c5 7.d5 e6 8.Qd2 exd5 9.cxd5 a6 10.a4 Re8 11.Be2 h5 12.h4 Nh7 13.g3 f5 14.Nh3 fxe4 15.Nxe4 Bf5 16.Nf4 Nf8 17.Ne6 Nxe6 18.dxe6 Bxe6 19.Nxd6 Re7 20.Bxc5 Nc6 21.Kf2 Rd7 22.Rad1 Nd4 23.Nxb7 Rxb7 24.Bxd4 Rd7 25.Qe3 Bxd4 26.Rxd4 Rxd4 27.Qxe6+ Kg7 28.Rc1 Qd6 29.Qxd6 Rxd6 30.Rc7+ Kf6 31.Bc4 Rd2+ 32.Ke3 Rxb2 33.Rc6+ Kg7 34.Bd5 Rf8 35.Rxa6 Rb4 36.Kd3 Rb1 37.Be4 Rf6 38.Rxf6 Kxf6 39.Kc4 Rc1+ 40.Kb4 Rg1 41.a5 Rg2 42.a6 Ra2 43.Kb5 Ke5 44.Bxg6 Kd6 45.Bxh5 Rb2+ 46.Kc4 Ra2 47.Kd4 Rxa6 48.Bg6 Ra4+ 49.Ke3 Ke5 50.f4+ Kf6 51.Bd3 Ra1 52.g4 Rh1 53.h5 Rh3+ 54.Ke4 Rg3 55.Be2 Rg1 56.Kf3 Rh1 57.g5+ Ke6 58.Bc4+ Ke7 59.Kg4 Kf8 60.h6 Rc1 61.Be6 Re1 62.Kf5 Rh1 63.Kf6 Rh4 64.f5 Rh3 65.Kg6 Rh4 66.Kh7 Ke7 67.g6 Kf6 68.g7 1-0

Round 10, August 29
Hansen, Eric – Firouzja, Alireza
C54 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 d6 6.h3 a6 7.a4 Ba7 8.O-O Qe7 9.b4 h6 10.Be3 Bxe3 11.fxe3 Be6 12.Nbd2 O-O 13.Qb3 Bxc4 14.Qxc4 g6 15.Rf2 Kg7 16.Raf1 Nh7 17.d4 Rae8 18.b5 axb5 19.axb5 Na5 20.Qb4 b6 21.c4 Ng5 22.Nxg5 hxg5 23.Qc3 f6 24.Ra1 Qe6 25.c5 dxc5 26.dxc5 Rd8 27.Raf1 Nb7 28.cxb6 cxb6 29.Qc4 Qd7 30.Qb4 Nd6 31.Nc4 Qxb5 32.Qxb5 Nxb5 33.Rb2 Nc3 34.Rxb6 Nxe4 35.Rb7+ Kh6 36.Rb6 g4 37.hxg4 Kg5 38.Rb4 Nc5 39.Rb5 Na4 40.Rc1 Rd3 41.Kf1 Rc8 42.Rb4 Nc3 43.Rc2 Nd5 44.Ra4 Rxe3 45.Rd2 Re4 46.Rxd5 Rcxc4 47.Rxc4 Rxc4 0-1

Position after Black’s 29…Qd7

What should Eric play here?

Round 10, August 29
MVL – Le, Quang Liem
C54 Giiuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 d6 6.O-O h6 7.Re1 O-O 8.Nbd2 Bb6 9.Bb3 Ne7 10.Nc4 c6 11.Nxb6 axb6 12.h3 Ng6 13.d4 b5 14.a3 Re8 15.Bc2 Be6 16.Be3 Qe7 17.Qd2 Nh5 18.Kh2 Rad8 19.a4 bxa4 20.Rxa4 Ra8 21.Rea1 Rxa4 22.Rxa4 Nf6 23.Ra7 Bc8 24.dxe5 Nxe5 25.Nxe5 Qxe5+ 26.Bf4 Nxe4 27.Qe3 Qe6 28.f3 g5 29.Bxe4 gxf4 30.Qxf4 d5 31.Bb1 Qe5 32.Qxe5 Rxe5 33.Ra8 Re8 34.Kg3 Kf8 35.Kf4 Ke7 36.Bf5 Bd7 37.Ra7 Rb8 38.g4 Be8 39.h4 f6 40.b4 Kd6 41.Ke3 c5 42.bxc5+ Kxc5 43.Ra5+ Kd6 44.Kd4 Bc6 45.Bg6 b5 46.Ra6 Rc8 47.f4 Kc7 48.Bf5 Rb8 49.Kc5 Be8 50.Rxf6 b4 51.cxb4 Rb5+ 52.Kd4 h5 53.g5 Rxb4+ 54.Ke5 Kd8 55.Rd6+ Ke7 56.Rxd5 Rb2 57.Rc5 Rh2 58.Rc7+ Kd8 59.Ra7 Rxh4 60.Kd6 1-0

Round 10, August 29
Dominguez, Leinier – Vidit, Santosh
C54 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.Nbd2 O-O 7.h3 Bb6 8.Bb3 Ne7 9.Nc4 Be6 10.Bc2 Bxc4 11.dxc4 Ng6 12.g3 Re8 13.Nh2 Nf8 14.Ng4 Ne6 15.Qf3 Nd7 16.h4 h5 17.Ne3 g6 18.Nd5 Bc5 19.b4 c6 20.bxc5 cxd5 21.cxd5 Nexc5 22.g4 hxg4 23.Qxg4 Nf6 24.Qf3 Nh5 25.Rg1 Nf4 26.Bxf4 exf4 27.Qxf4 Qa5 28.Kd2 Rac8 29.Rg3 Re5 30.Rag1 Kg7 31.h5 Rxh5 32.e5 Nd7 33.Bxg6 Qxd5+ 34.Bd3+ Kh8 35.Qg4 Qxa2+ 36.Bc2 Qd5+ 37.Kc1 Qxe5 38.Qg8+ Rxg8 39.Rxg8# 1-0

Round 10, August 29
Artemiev, Vladislav – Carlsen, Magnus
E60 King’s Indian

1.c4 g6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 O-O 5.Bg2 c5 6.Nc3 d5 7.dxc5 dxc4 8.O-O Qa5 9.Qd4 Nc6 10.Qxc4 Be6 11.Qh4 Qxc5 12.Be3 Qb4 13.Qxb4 Nxb4 14.Bc5 Nbd5 15.Nd4 Nxc3 16.bxc3 Nd5 17.Nxe6 fxe6 18.Rad1 Rac8 19.Bxa7 Rxc3 20.Bxd5 exd5 21.Rxd5 Ra8 22.Be3 Rxa2 23.Rb1 Rxe2 24.Rxb7 Bf6 25.Kf1 Rexe3 26.fxe3 Rxe3 27.Kf2 Ra3 28.Rbd7 h5 29.Rd3 Ra2+ 30.Rd2 Ra3 31.R7d3 Ra1 32.Rd1 Ra4 33.Re1 Bd4+ 34.Kf3 Bf6 35.Re4 Ra2 36.Re2 Ra4 37.Re4 Ra2 38.Re2 Ra4 39.Re4 1/2-1/2

Round 10, August 29
Giri, Anish – Van Foreest, Jorden
D38 QGD, Ragozin variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Qa4+ Nc6 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 Ne4 8.e3 O-O 9.Bd3 Nxc3 10.Qc2 Ne4 11.O-O Na5 12.Ne5 Nf6 13.cxd5 exd5 14.Bd2 c6 15.Rab1 Be6 16.a4 Rb8 17.Rb2 Nc4 18.Nxc4 dxc4 19.Bxc4 Bxc4 20.Qxc4 Qd5 21.Rc1 Qf5 22.f3 Rfd8 23.a5 h6 24.e4 Qd7 25.Bf4 Rbc8 26.Be5 Ne8 27.Rcb1 b5 28.axb6 axb6 29.Rxb6 Nd6 30.Qc5 Qe6 31.Bxd6 Rxd6 32.d5 Qd7 33.Rc1 f5 34.Rb7 Qxb7 35.Qxd6 fxe4 36.Qe6+ Kh8 37.dxc6 Qb6+ 38.Kh1 Rd8 39.Qxe4 Qc7 40.f4 Ra8 41.Qe5 Qxc6 42.Rxc6 1-0

The dream is over as after 9 draws, Anish Giri beats his compatriot Jorden van Foreest!

Round 10, August 29
Liang, Awonder – Aronian, Levon
C78 Ruy Lopez, Archangel variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.c3 d6 8.d4 Bb6 9.a4 Rb8 10.axb5 axb5 11.Qd3 O-O 12.Bg5 h6 13.Bh4 exd4 14.cxd4 g5 15.Bg3 Nh5 16.Kh1 Kg7 17.Nc3 f5 18.exf5 Bxf5 19.Qxb5 Nxd4 20.Nxd4 Bxd4 21.Qc4 c5 22.Nb5 Nxg3+ 23.fxg3 Be5 24.Qe2 Bg6 25.Bc4 Rxf1+ 26.Rxf1 Qd7 27.Nc3 Rf8 28.Rxf8 Kxf8 29.Bd3 Bxd3 30.Qxd3 Qf7 31.h3 Qf2 32.Kh2 c4 33.Ne4 Qf7 34.Qa3 Qd5 35.Qf3+ Ke7 36.Qf5 Kd8 37.Qf8+ Kc7 38.Nf6 Qe6 39.Ng4 Bxb2 40.Qf2 Be5 41.Qa7+ Kd8 42.Qb6+ Ke7 43.Qc7+ Kf8 44.Qd8+ Kg7 45.Qc7+ Kg6 46.Qc6 Bd4 47.Qf3 h5 48.Nf2 Qf5 0-1

A great day for World Cup winner Jan-Krzysztof Duda, who went from last place and winless yesterday, to score 4/5 today and move into the Top 8 qualification spots!

Artemiev leads Carlsen and Aronian by half a point after Day 2 of the #AimchessUSRapid, with MVL and Dominguez among the star names currently outside of the qualification spots!

Aronian is in the process of moving to USA, and says his flight is right after the #AimchessUSrapid!

Standings after Day Two

1 Artemiev 7.5
2-3 Carlsen, Aronian 7
4 Mamedyarov 6.5
5-6 So, Firouzja 6
7-8 Duda, Giri 5.5
9-10 Naroditsky, MVL 5
11-12 Domingue, Vidit 4.5
13-14 Le, Van Foreest 3
15-16 Hansen, Liang 2

**Hans Jung** · Sunday, 29th August, 2021, 05:40 PM

Aronian was the leader in day 1 and was replaced not by Magnus but Artemiev! (Artemiev also improved on his first day's score!)

Aimchess US Rapid 2021

Aimchess US Rapid 2021

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