[Event "Tbilisi FIDE World Cup"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.09.03"] [Round "1.14"] [White "Sambuev, Bator"] [Black "Wei, Yi"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E20"] [WhiteElo "2529"] [BlackElo "2748"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "47"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:40:51"] [BlackClock "0:04:35"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Bb4 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 dxc4 7. O-O {This position is usually reached via the Nimzo-Indian move order in the Romanishin line: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.g3 (Nf3) d5.} Nc6 8. a3 Be7 ({Here is a game by the Ukranian legend himself:} 8... Bxc3 9. bxc3 Na5 10. Rb1 b6 11. Ne5 Bb7 12. Bxb7 Nxb7 13. Nxc4 c5 14. Qd3 {with approximate equality, Romanishin,O (2595)-Pachman,L (2485) Moscow 1977}) 9. e4 Na5 10. Be3 {For the sacrificed pawn White has a strong center and the possibility to attack on the kingside.} Rb8 {If you open your Megabase you will see that Black has scored a fantastic 75% from the four games played so far. However, Sambuev, who is a brave attacker, did not fear the statistics but liked the position instead.} 11. Qe2 b5 12. Rad1 Bb7 $146 ({At the previous World Cup Karjakin won an important game after} 12... a6 13. d5 Qe8 14. Rfe1 Nb3 15. Bf4 Rb7 16. h3 Nc5 {although nothing was clear at this stage of the game Onischuk,A (2662)-Karjakin,S (2762) Baku 2015}) (12... c6 {ws also tested. After} 13. Ne5 Bb7 14. f4 Qc7 15. g4 Nb3 16. g5 Nd7 17. Nxd7 Qxd7 18. f5 exf5 19. Rxf5 Rbd8 {Black held the fort and went on to win in Santiago,Y (2335)-Mekhitarian,K (2487) Campinas 2011}) 13. Ne5 {Getting ready.} ({The central break was still possible} 13. d5 $5 {for example} exd5 14. e5 Ne8 15. e6 $5 fxe6 16. Bxa7 Ra8 17. Qxe6+ {with initiative.}) 13... a6 14. g4 {This is how White attacks in these positions. The important kingside defender is removed.} Ne8 {Inaccurate.} ({Wei could (should) have traded an attacking piece instead with} 14... Nd7 $5 15. f4 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Qc8) 15. d5 exd5 16. Nxd5 Nd6 (16... Bd6 $5 17. f4 {is compensation for White though playable.}) 17. g5 Bxd5 ({From a hindsight Black probably feels bad for not giving the material back with} 17... Bxg5 $5 18. Bxg5 Qxg5 19. Nd7 Rbe8 $1 {with the point} 20. Nxc7 Bxe4) 18. Rxd5 c6 ({Here} 18... Bxg5 19. Bxg5 Qxg5 {is bad due to} 20. Nc6) 19. Rdd1 Qc7 20. Qh5 {Sambuev achieved a lot in his kingside preparation and Wei has to be extremely careful.} g6 $2 { That is not careful enough!} ({One interesting idea was to trade some stuff with} 20... c3 21. bxc3 ({However} 21. Bf4 $1 {ruins Black's plans and gives White strong and probably decisive attack after} cxb2 ({Or} 21... Ndc4 22. Rd7 $1) 22. Rd3) 21... Ndc4) (20... Rfd8 {wuld be answered in a similar way} 21. Bf4 $1) ({The best defense is the computer move} 20... Rbd8 {when now} 21. Bf4 {is not as great due to} ({However} 21. Ng4 {keeps great attacking prospects for White.}) 21... Ndb7 $5) 21. Qh6 $1 {The queen looks angry here.} Nxe4 { Apparently, Wei was counting on this forcing continuation but it has a flaw.} ( 21... c5 {would be met with} 22. Bf4) ({The kingside weaknesses are obvious in the line} 21... Rfd8 22. Bf4 Bf8 23. Qh3 Bg7 24. Ng4) 22. Nd7 $1 (22. Bxe4 Qxe5 {would win for Black.}) 22... Nd6 ({After} 22... Rbd8 {White can win with either} 23. Bd4 ({or the immediate} 23. Bb6) 23... f6 24. Bb6) 23. Bh3 $1 {A great move! It is all about the attack. I suspect this is what Black missed. The bishop takes under control the vital f5 square.} (23. Nf6+ $2 {would be huge disappointment after} Bxf6 24. gxf6 Nf5 $1 {This is why the bishop came to h3 in the game!}) ({Black would be also fine after} 23. Nxf8 $6 Bxf8) 23... Rfd8 24. Rd4 $1 {There is no way out.} (24. Nf6+ {would have won material but would not be as good after} Bxf6 25. gxf6 Ne8 26. Bf4) (24. Rd4 {A possible finish would have been} Rxd7 25. Rh4 f5 26. Qxh7+ Kf8 27. Qxg6 Nf7 28. Rh7 { and White mates soon.}) 1-0 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.05"] [Round "1.1"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Cawdery, Daniel"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A16"] [WhiteElo "2799"] [BlackElo "2449"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "77"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. cxd5 Nxd5 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Nb6 6. d3 Bg7 7. Be3 Nc6 8. Bxc6+ bxc6 9. Qd2 h6 10. Rc1 Be6 11. Nf3 Bh3 12. Rg1 Bg4 13. Nh4 Nd5 14. Na4 Nxe3 15. fxe3 O-O 16. b3 Qd6 17. Qc2 Rad8 18. Qc5 Qe6 19. Ng2 g5 20. Qxc6 Qe5 21. Qc3 Qd6 22. Qc4 Be6 23. Qc5 Qa6 24. Qb4 Rb8 25. Qd2 Qd6 26. Nc5 Bd5 27. Qc2 f5 28. Kf2 Kh8 29. Rgf1 f4 30. gxf4 gxf4 31. e4 f3 32. exf3 Qxh2 33. Ke1 Bd4 34. Qd2 Bg8 35. Nd7 {Cawdery had played an excellent game until this moment.} Rbd8 $2 {This loses prosaically.} ({Instead} 35... Qg3+ $1 {would have been excellent for Black. After} 36. Kd1 Rxf3 37. Rxf3 Qxf3+ 38. Qe2 Qxe2+ 39. Kxe2 Rd8 $1 {Now White can hardly grab the pawn as} (39... Rb7 40. Nh4) ({Or} 39... Rc8 40. Nh4 {when White is clearly better.}) 40. Rxc7 $6 (40. Nc5 {might be betetr instead although Black is fine after} Bf7) 40... Be6 41. Nc5 Bg4+ 42. Kd2 Rf8 {provides huge initiative for the second player thanks to the active pieces and the outside passer.}) 36. Nxf8 Rxf8 37. Rc6 {There is nothing to play for.} Kh7 (37... Qg3+ 38. Kd1 Rxf3 39. Rxh6+) 38. Kd1 Bf7 39. Nf4 1-0 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.05"] [Round "1.1"] [White "Eljanov, Pavel"] [Black "Lenderman, Aleksandr"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "E32"] [WhiteElo "2734"] [BlackElo "2565"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "114"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 d5 7. Bg5 dxc4 8. Qxc4 b6 9. Rc1 Ba6 10. Qa4 Qd7 11. Qxd7 Nbxd7 12. Bxf6 Nxf6 13. e3 Bxf1 14. Kxf1 Rfc8 15. Rc6 Nd5 16. Nf3 Ne7 17. Rc2 f6 18. Ke2 Kf7 19. Rhc1 c6 20. Ne1 Ke8 21. Nd3 Kd7 22. g4 g5 23. h4 h6 24. Rh1 Rh8 25. e4 Ng6 26. h5 Ne7 27. Ke3 Rhf8 28. f3 a5 29. Rhc1 Ra7 30. Rc3 Rg8 31. b3 Rf8 32. Nb2 Re8 33. Nc4 Ra6 34. Kf2 Rd8 35. Rd3 Ke8 36. e5 f5 37. Nd6+ Kf8 38. d5 cxd5 39. Rc7 b5 40. Nxb5 Rc6 41. Nd4 Rxc7 42. Nxe6+ Kf7 43. Nxc7 d4 44. Nb5 Rd5 45. e6+ Kf6 46. Nxd4 Rd6 47. b4 axb4 48. axb4 f4 49. b5 Ke5 50. Rd2 Kf6 51. Ke1 Nd5 52. Re2 Ne3 53. e7 Kf7 54. Rd2 $4 {Inexplicable!} (54. Rxe3 {would be equal after} fxe3 55. Nf5 Rd3 56. b6 Rb3 57. b7 Rb2 58. Kd1 Ke8 ({Or} 58... e2+)) 54... Rxd4 55. Rb2 Rd7 56. b6 Rb7 57. Ke2 Nd5 {[Dejan Bojkov]} 0-1 [Event "Tbilisi"] [Site "Tbilisi"] [Date "2017.09.03"] [Round "1.1"] [White "Eljanov, Pavel"] [Black "Lenderman, Aleksandr"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2734"] [BlackElo "2565"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "114"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e6 {[%emt 0: 00:00]} 3. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bb4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 4. Qc2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:20]} 5. a3 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Bxc3+ {[%emt 0:00:07]} 6. Qxc3 { [%emt 0:00:03]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 7. Bg5 {[%emt 0:00:36]} dxc4 {[%emt 0:00: 00]} 8. Qxc4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} b6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 9. Rc1 {[%emt 0:00:43]} Ba6 { [%emt 0:01:18]} 10. Qa4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Qd7 {[%emt 0:03:27]} 11. Qxd7 {[%emt 0:00:31]} Nbxd7 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 12. Bxf6 {[%emt 0:00:24]} Nxf6 {[%emt 0:00:00] } 13. e3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Bxf1 {[%emt 0:00:42]} 14. Kxf1 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Rfc8 {[%emt 0:14:15] I am not sure if White has any advantage, but these are the positions in which Pavel is an extremely dangerous opponent. Look how he able to slowly convert this equal looking position into a completely favourable one. } 15. Rc6 $1 {[%emt 0:13:31] Buying time. Black will have to lose some moves to kick the rook out from c6, meanwhile White will finish his development.} Nd5 {[%emt 0:00:34]} 16. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Ne7 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 17. Rc2 {[%emt 0:00:36]} f6 {[%emt 0:08:51]} (17... c5 18. dxc5 Rxc5 19. Rxc5 bxc5 20. Nd2 $14 ) 18. Ke2 {[%emt 0:00:36]} Kf7 {[%emt 0:00:33]} 19. Rhc1 {[%emt 0:12:37]} c6 { [%emt 0:00:27]} 20. Ne1 $1 {[%emt 0:04:53] First the knight goes to d3 where it is very well located.} Ke8 {[%emt 0:01:08]} 21. Nd3 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Kd7 { [%emt 0:00:18]} 22. g4 $1 {[%emt 0:00:47] Clamping move. Daniel King speaks about it at length in his Powerplay 5 DVD. Basically one g-pawn controls three of Black's pawns on the kingside.} g5 {[%emt 0:07:13]} 23. h4 {[%emt 0:09:14]} h6 {[%emt 0:06:06]} 24. Rh1 {[%emt 0:08:28]} Rh8 {[%emt 0:01:17]} 25. e4 { [%emt 0:04:15]} Ng6 {[%emt 0:07:53]} 26. h5 {[%emt 0:00:00] Now the h6 weakness is fixed forever.} Ne7 {[%emt 0:00:26]} 27. Ke3 {[%emt 0:00:38]} Rhf8 {[%emt 0:01:57]} 28. f3 {[%emt 0:01:50]} a5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 29. Rhc1 {[%emt 0: 03:17]} Ra7 {[%emt 0:10:49]} 30. Rc3 {[%emt 0:02:30]} Rg8 {[%emt 0:01:40]} 31. b3 {[%emt 0:05:07]} Rf8 {[%emt 0:06:10]} 32. Nb2 {[%emt 0:00:45]} Re8 {[%emt 0: 01:42]} 33. Nc4 {[%emt 0:01:58]} Ra6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 34. Kf2 {[%emt 0:03:24]} Rd8 {[%emt 0:01:22]} 35. Rd3 {[%emt 0:08:23]} Ke8 {[%emt 0:04:04]} 36. e5 $1 { [%emt 0:10:46] Giving up the d5 square, but getting the d6 in return.} f5 { [%emt 0:01:01]} 37. Nd6+ {[%emt 0:00:05]} Kf8 {[%emt 0:04:42]} 38. d5 $1 { [%emt 0:02:46] Brilliant breakthrough by Pavel. The e-pawn cannot take it as then gxf5 is better for White. Nxd5 loses the c6 pawn ad gxf5 also looks strong.} cxd5 {[%emt 0:01:30]} 39. Rc7 $1 {[%emt 0:00:09] The rook enters the position and threatens all kind of things.} b5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 40. Nxb5 { [%emt 0:00:00]} Rc6 $6 {[%emt 0:05:00]} (40... fxg4 41. fxg4 Nc6 $11) 41. Nd4 $1 {[%emt 0:07:52]} Rxc7 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 42. Nxe6+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kf7 { [%emt 0:00:50]} 43. Nxc7 {[%emt 0:00:38] White has not only recovered the pawn, but also gained an extra one.} d4 {[%emt 0:00:41]} 44. Nb5 {[%emt 0:01:05]} Rd5 {[%emt 0:02:35]} 45. e6+ {[%emt 0:05:34]} Kf6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 46. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:02:06]} Rd6 {[%emt 0:10:34] Lenderman had to play this grudgingly as he had miscalculated.} (46... Nc6 {was his earlier intention.} 47. Nxc6 Rxd3 48. e7 Kf7 49. Ne5+ $18 {And this was the check that he had missed.}) 47. b4 {[%emt 0: 09:07]} axb4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 48. axb4 $18 {[%emt 0:00:00] White is just two pawns up.} f4 {[%emt 0:01:01]} 49. b5 {[%emt 0:01:26]} Ke5 {[%emt 0:02:17]} 50. Rd2 {[%emt 0:04:56]} Kf6 {[%emt 0:03:04]} 51. Ke1 {[%emt 0:02:41]} Nd5 {[%emt 0:00:48]} 52. Re2 $2 {[%emt 0:01:27]} (52. Kd1 $18) 52... Ne3 $1 {[%emt 0:01: 01] The knight on d4 cannot move as Rd1-f1 is a mate.} 53. e7 {[%emt 0:06:01]} Kf7 {[%emt 0:00:13]} (53... Rxd4 54. Rxe3 $18) (53... Kxe7 54. Nf5+ $18) 54. Rd2 $4 {[%emt 0:01:05] The final mistake of the game.} (54. Rxe3 $1 fxe3 55. Nf5 $14 {There is not a chance that Black will be able to win this.}) (54. Rb2 {Lenderman also thought that this move was holding for White. But it doesn't as after} Rxd4 $1 55. b6 Rb4 $1 $19 {is an important resource that was missed by Alex.}) 54... Rxd4 {[%emt 0:00:34]} 55. Rb2 {[%emt 0:03:01]} Rd7 {[%emt 0: 00:21]} 56. b6 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Rb7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 57. Ke2 {[%emt 0:00:18]} Nd5 {[%emt 0:01:04] A heartbreaking loss for Eljanov and a happy end for Lenderman.} 0-1 [Event "FIDE World Cup 2017"] [Site "Tbilisi"] [Date "2017.09.02"] [Round "1.1"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Mollah Abdullah, Al Rakib"] [Result "*"] [WhiteElo "2781"] [BlackElo "2454"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "77"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 2. g3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} b6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 3. Bg2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bb7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 4. O-O {[%emt 0:00:00]} g6 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 5. c4 {[%emt 0:00:26]} Bg7 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 6. d4 {[%emt 0: 00:05]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:15]} 7. d5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Ne4 {[%emt 0:02:17]} 8. Nfd2 {[%emt 0:00:26]} Nxd2 {[%emt 0:10:51]} 9. Qxd2 {[%emt 0:01:30]} c6 {[%emt 0:04:59]} 10. Nc3 {[%emt 0:04:09]} cxd5 {[%emt 0:01:32]} 11. cxd5 {[%emt 0:00: 06]} d6 {[%emt 0:02:26]} 12. b3 {[%emt 0:04:10]} b5 {[%emt 0:08:02]} 13. Bb2 { [%emt 0:10:04]} Qb6 {[%emt 0:01:27]} 14. Ne4 {[%emt 0:06:51]} (14. a4 b4 15. Nb5 Bxb2 16. Qxb2 a6 17. Nd4 $16) 14... Bxb2 {[%emt 0:02:11]} 15. Qxb2 {[%emt 0:00:24]} Nd7 {[%emt 0:08:28]} 16. Rad1 {[%emt 0:01:11]} Rfe8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 17. h4 {[%emt 0:09:25]} Ne5 {[%emt 0:07:21]} 18. h5 {[%emt 0:02:10]} Bc8 { [%emt 0:01:30]} 19. Rd4 {[%emt 0:07:28]} Bg4 {[%emt 0:05:37]} 20. hxg6 {[%emt 0:08:55]} hxg6 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 21. f4 {[%emt 0:03:00]} Bxe2 $5 {[%emt 0:00:00] } 22. fxe5 {[%emt 0:01:07]} dxe5 {[%emt 0:07:09]} 23. Qxe2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qxd4+ {[%emt 0:00:09]} 24. Kh2 {[%emt 0:07:13] White should have the edge here, but with the material imbalance, it is difficult for both sides to play.} f6 { [%emt 0:13:40]} 25. Qxb5 $2 {[%emt 0:18:23]} (25. d6 $1 $16) 25... Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:42]} 26. Nf2 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Rh8+ {[%emt 0:00:36]} (26... Rac8 $1 $15) 27. Kg1 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Rad8 {[%emt 0:02:37]} 28. Rd1 {[%emt 0:04:22]} Qe3 { [%emt 0:00:15]} (28... Qb6 $11) 29. Qd3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Qb6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 30. Rc1 {[%emt 0:00:38]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:01:33]} 31. Rc6 {[%emt 0:01:00]} Rxc6 $6 {[%emt 0:00:33] This turns out to be the key mistake. The pawn on c6 is very strong.} 32. dxc6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Rd8 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 33. Qc3 {[%emt 0:01:38] } Qd4 {[%emt 0:03:06]} 34. Qxd4 {[%emt 0:00:28]} exd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 35. Nd3 {[%emt 0:01:50]} f5 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 36. Nc5 {[%emt 0:03:27]} Kf6 {[%emt 0:00: 37]} 37. c7 {[%emt 0:00:22]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:00:40]} 38. Na6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} d3 { [%emt 0:00:12]} 39. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:06]} * [Event "FIDE World Cup 2017"] [Site "Tbilisi"] [Date "2017.09.02"] [Round "1.1"] [White "Yeoh, Li Tian"] [Black "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2478"] [BlackElo "2794"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "132"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 2. c3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} d5 {[%emt 0: 00:00]} 3. exd5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qxd5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 4. d4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} g6 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 5. Nf3 {[%emt 0:01:20]} Bg7 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 6. Be2 {[%emt 0:01:55]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:02:14]} 7. cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:13]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 8. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Qd6 {[%emt 0:00:39]} 9. O-O {[%emt 0:01:57]} O-O { [%emt 0:03:15]} 10. Qb3 {[%emt 0:04:43]} Na6 {[%emt 0:01:23]} 11. Rd1 {[%emt 0: 00:00]} b6 {[%emt 0:05:57]} 12. Ne5 {[%emt 0:09:29]} Nc7 {[%emt 0:07:58]} 13. Nc4 {[%emt 0:15:00]} Qd8 {[%emt 0:01:37]} 14. Bf4 {[%emt 0:00:18]} Ncd5 {[%emt 0:00:58]} 15. Nxd5 {[%emt 0:00:31]} Nxd5 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 16. Be5 {[%emt 0:00: 15]} Be6 {[%emt 0:00:38]} 17. Qa3 {[%emt 0:02:23]} Bh6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 18. Ne3 {[%emt 0:07:50]} a5 {[%emt 0:05:22]} 19. Bf3 {[%emt 0:09:37]} Ra7 {[%emt 0:02: 54]} 20. Bxd5 {[%emt 0:02:41]} Bxd5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 21. Nf5 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Bg5 {[%emt 0:02:13]} 22. Qg3 {[%emt 0:00:54]} Bf6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 23. Bxf6 { [%emt 0:08:07]} exf6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 24. Ne3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Rd7 {[%emt 0:00: 18] The opening phase of the game was very comfortable for Black and Anand gained a very comfortable position. But there is no easy way to breakthrough. He tries to slowly and steadily expand on the kingside.} 25. Rd2 {[%emt 0:06: 00]} Re8 {[%emt 0:01:09]} 26. b3 {[%emt 0:00:40]} h5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 27. Rad1 {[%emt 0:02:54]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:01:09]} 28. Qf4 {[%emt 0:03:05]} Re4 {[%emt 0:04: 23]} 29. Nxd5 $2 {[%emt 0:03:56] Why to just give up your queen?} (29. Qg3 { And according to Anand, White should not have too many issues here. But it is clear that Black is pushing.}) 29... Rxf4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 30. Nxf4 {[%emt 0: 00:07] Well now we are playing for just two results. Anand shows good technique and converts this into a full point.} Rc7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 31. d5 { [%emt 0:01:23]} Qd6 {[%emt 0:00:27]} 32. Ne2 {[%emt 0:00:27]} b5 {[%emt 0:01: 45]} 33. h3 {[%emt 0:03:21]} h4 {[%emt 0:03:27]} 34. Kh1 {[%emt 0:04:43]} Kg7 { [%emt 0:03:59]} 35. Ng1 {[%emt 0:00:31]} g5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 36. Nf3 {[%emt 0: 00:18]} Rc5 {[%emt 0:01:19]} 37. Kg1 {[%emt 0:02:18]} Kg6 {[%emt 0:01:44]} 38. Rd4 {[%emt 0:01:44]} f5 {[%emt 0:01:04]} 39. Nh2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} f6 {[%emt 0: 02:44]} 40. Nf1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rc2 {[%emt 0:03:12]} 41. a4 {[%emt 0:09:48]} Rc5 {[%emt 0:13:56]} 42. axb5 {[%emt 0:01:31]} Rxb5 {[%emt 0:00:29]} 43. R1d3 { [%emt 0:07:37]} Rc5 {[%emt 0:09:30]} 44. Ne3 {[%emt 0:00:45]} Rc1+ {[%emt 0:00: 18]} 45. Rd1 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Rxd1+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} 46. Rxd1 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Kf7 $5 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 47. Nxf5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qb4 {[%emt 0:02:03]} 48. Nd4 {[%emt 0:01:09]} Qb7 {[%emt 0:01:44]} 49. d6 {[%emt 0:05:46]} Qd5 {[%emt 0:01: 21]} 50. f3 {[%emt 0:02:03]} Qxd6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 51. Rd3 {[%emt 0:00:12]} f5 {[%emt 0:01:32]} 52. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:26]} Kf6 {[%emt 0:00:55]} 53. Ke2 {[%emt 0:00:25]} Qh2 {[%emt 0:02:20]} 54. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:32]} Qd6 {[%emt 0:01:30]} 55. Ke2 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Qe5+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} 56. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:21]} Qc5 { [%emt 0:00:54]} 57. Kf1 {[%emt 0:00:16]} Qc1+ {[%emt 0:02:48]} 58. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:13]} Qb1 {[%emt 0:01:15]} 59. Rc3 {[%emt 0:00:30]} f4 {[%emt 0:00:32]} 60. Ne2 {[%emt 0:00:28]} Ke7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 61. Rc7+ {[%emt 0:00:22]} Kd6 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 62. Rc3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Qd1 {[%emt 0:00:06] Zugzwang!} 63. Rc1 { [%emt 0:06:54]} Qxb3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 64. Ke1 {[%emt 0:00:15]} a4 {[%emt 0:00: 15]} 65. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:48]} a3 {[%emt 0:00:21]} 66. Kd2 {[%emt 0:00:47]} a2 { [%emt 0:00:13] A nice win for Anand.} 0-1 [Event "FIDE World Cup 2017"] [Site "Tbilisi"] [Date "2017.09.03"] [Round "1.1"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Cawdery, Daniel"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2802"] [BlackElo "2449"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "77"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. c4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 2. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:26]} 3. cxd5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nxd5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 4. g3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} g6 {[%emt 0:00:56]} 5. Bg2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nb6 {[%emt 0:00:44]} 6. d3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Bg7 {[%emt 0:00:54]} 7. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:40]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 8. Bxc6+ {[%emt 0:01:16]} (8. Qd2 Nd4 9. Nf3 Nf5 $5) 8... bxc6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 9. Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:16]} h6 {[%emt 0:01:24]} 10. Rc1 {[%emt 0:02:18]} Be6 {[%emt 0: 13:40]} 11. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bh3 {[%emt 0:01:56]} 12. Rg1 {[%emt 0:03:45]} Bg4 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 13. Nh4 {[%emt 0:02:49]} Nd5 {[%emt 0:19:37]} 14. Na4 { [%emt 0:00:13]} Nxe3 {[%emt 0:14:10]} 15. fxe3 {[%emt 0:00:30]} O-O {[%emt 0: 02:33]} 16. b3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qd6 {[%emt 0:02:45]} 17. Qc2 {[%emt 0:00:39]} Rad8 {[%emt 0:07:56]} 18. Qc5 {[%emt 0:07:14]} Qe6 {[%emt 0:00:43]} 19. Ng2 { [%emt 0:01:43]} g5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 20. Qxc6 {[%emt 0:04:09]} Qe5 {[%emt 0:04: 13]} 21. Qc3 {[%emt 0:03:39]} Qd6 {[%emt 0:05:23]} 22. Qc4 {[%emt 0:03:28]} Be6 {[%emt 0:02:44]} 23. Qc5 {[%emt 0:03:01]} Qa6 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 24. Qb4 {[%emt 0:04:42]} Rb8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 25. Qd2 {[%emt 0:01:04]} Qd6 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 26. Nc5 {[%emt 0:04:29]} Bd5 {[%emt 0:00:42]} 27. Qc2 {[%emt 0:09:27]} f5 { [%emt 0:01:04]} 28. Kf2 {[%emt 0:05:44]} Kh8 {[%emt 0:03:44]} 29. Rgf1 {[%emt 0:02:47]} f4 {[%emt 0:01:07]} 30. gxf4 {[%emt 0:01:09]} gxf4 {[%emt 0:00:39]} 31. e4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} f3 {[%emt 0:03:29]} 32. exf3 {[%emt 0:00:22]} Qxh2 { [%emt 0:00:00]} 33. Ke1 {[%emt 0:02:25]} Bd4 {[%emt 0:02:02]} 34. Qd2 $6 { [%emt 0:06:20]} (34. Ne3 $1 Qxc2 (34... Qg3+ 35. Qf2 $16) 35. Rxc2 Bxe3 36. exd5 $16) 34... Bg8 {[%emt 0:01:49]} 35. Nd7 {[%emt 0:18:31]} Rbd8 $2 {[%emt 0: 01:03] The critical mistake of the game.} (35... Qg3+ 36. Kd1 Rxf3 $1 37. Kc2 ( 37. Rxf3 Qxf3+ 38. Qe2 Qxe2+ 39. Kxe2 Rd8 $11) 37... Rd8 38. Rxf3 Qxf3 39. Nh4 {Levon thought this position was risk free for him, but turns out that after} Qh5 $17 {Black is better.}) 36. Nxf8 {[%emt 0:01:14] Now White is just winning. } Rxf8 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 37. Rc6 {[%emt 0:00:48]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:01:15]} 38. Kd1 { [%emt 0:00:00]} Bf7 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 39. Nf4 {[%emt 0:01:32]} 1-0 [Event "FIDE World Cup 2017"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.04"] [Round "1.2"] [White "Wei, Yi"] [Black "Sambuev, Bator"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C19"] [WhiteElo "2753"] [BlackElo "2522"] [PlyCount "91"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. a4 Qc7 8. Nf3 b6 (8... Bd7 9. Bd3 Bc6 10. O-O Nd7 11. Ba3 h6 12. Re1 b6 13. Nd2 Bxa4 14. dxc5 bxc5 {Fischer,R-Petrosian,T Herceg Novi 1970}) 9. Bb5+ Bd7 10. Bd3 Nbc6 11. O-O h6 (11... c4 12. Be2 f6 13. Ba3 fxe5 14. dxe5 Nxe5 15. Re1 N7c6 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. f4 Nc6 18. Bg4 {Fischer,R-Darga,K Berlin-West 1960}) 12. Re1 O-O 13. h4 ( 13. Ba3 Na5 14. dxc5 bxc5 15. Qd2 Rab8 16. Qe3 Rfc8 17. Bc1 Nc4 18. Bxc4 dxc4 19. Nd2 Bc6 {Acs,P (2599)-Szabo,G (2562) Hungary 2016}) 13... c4 $146 (13... Na5 14. Nh2 cxd4 15. cxd4 Nf5 16. Ng4 Nc4 17. Nf6+ gxf6 18. Qg4+ Kh7 19. Qh5 Kg8 20. Bxf5 exf5 21. exf6 Rfe8 22. Bxh6 {1-0 Vovk,Y (2539)-Bobula,M (2393) Slovakia 2010}) 14. Bf1 f6 15. h5 fxe5 16. dxe5 Rf7 17. Ba3 Raf8 18. Bd6 Qd8 19. Be2 Rf5 20. Nh4 Rf4 ({Giving up an exchange with} 20... Rxf2 {was interesting here and on the next move.}) 21. Bg4 R8f7 22. f3 d4 23. Ng6 Nd5 24. Nxf4 Rxf4 25. cxd4 Rxd4 26. Qe2 {This is a much better version for White to win the exchange.} Qg5 27. Qf2 Rd2 28. Re2 Rd4 29. Ree1 Rd2 30. Re2 Rd4 31. Qe1 (31. a5 $5) 31... g6 32. Re4 gxh5 33. Bh3 Rd2 34. Kh1 Rxc2 35. f4 $5 {After allowing his opponent back in the game, Wei Yi needs to gamble a bit.} Qg6 $6 ( 35... Nxf4 36. Qe3 Ne2 {was entirely possible.}) 36. f5 $1 exf5 37. Qd1 $1 { Wei's tactical vision prevails in this game.} fxe4 ({A better try was} 37... Nc3 38. Qxc2 Nxe4 39. Qxc4+ Kh7) 38. Qxd5+ $1 ({Much better than} 38. Qxc2 Bxh3 39. gxh3 Qf5) 38... Kg7 39. Rg1 Be8 40. Rf1 h4 41. Bf8+ Kh8 42. Ba3 Kg7 43. Rf6 e3 44. Rxg6+ Bxg6 45. Qd7+ Kh8 46. Bf8 1-0 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.04"] [Round "1.2"] [White "Fedoseev, Vladimir"] [Black "Bacallao Alonso, Yusnel"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B13"] [WhiteElo "2731"] [BlackElo "2573"] [PlyCount "69"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 Qc7 6. h3 Nf6 7. Nf3 g6 8. Na3 (8. O-O Bg7 9. Re1 O-O 10. Na3 Bf5 11. Bf1 a6 12. Nc2 Bxc2 13. Qxc2 b5 14. a4 Qb7 {Artemiev,V (2682)-Rozum,I (2606) Sochi 2017}) 8... a6 9. Qe2 $146 (9. Nc2 Bf5 10. Bxf5 gxf5 11. g3 e6 12. Bf4 Bd6 13. Bxd6 Qxd6 14. Qe2 Ne4 15. O-O-O O-O-O {Lavrentyev,Y (2311)-Boeken,M (2425) corr. 2012}) 9... Bf5 10. Bxf5 gxf5 11. Nc2 e6 12. Ne3 Ne4 13. Nd2 h5 14. O-O Bd6 $6 (14... O-O-O {is fine for Black without allowing complications.}) 15. Nxd5 $1 exd5 16. f3 O-O-O 17. fxe4 fxe4 18. Rf5 $1 {The computer already likes White here because modern-day computers also sac an exchange like Fedoseev!} Qd7 19. Rxd5 $1 Bh2+ 20. Kxh2 Qxd5 21. Nc4 {White's knight and bishop will be super strong against Black's weakened king's position.} Kb8 22. Bf4+ Ka7 23. a4 Ne7 24. Rf1 Ng6 $2 ({It was time for} 24... f5) 25. Bc7 Rdg8 26. Ne3 Qd7 $6 27. Qc4 $1 {Because of the killing threat 28.Qc5+ and 29.Nc4 Black has to give up f7.} Nh4 28. Rxf7 Rxg2+ 29. Nxg2 Nf3+ 30. Kg3 Qc8 31. Kf2 Rg8 32. Nf4 Ng5 33. Qc5+ Ka8 34. Nd5 e3+ 35. Ke2 1-0 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.09.04"] [Round "2.8"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Khusenkhojaev, Muhammad"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C54"] [WhiteElo "2804"] [BlackElo "2455"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "65"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:55:31"] [BlackClock "0:04:25"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. c3 d6 7. a4 h6 8. Re1 O-O 9. h3 Ba7 10. Nbd2 Ne7 ({Instead} 10... Be6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. b4 Qe8 13. Nf1 Nh5 14. Be3 {is what the big guys are discussing these days, Karjakin,S (2773) -So,W (2810) Saint Louis 2017}) 11. Bb3 Ng6 12. d4 Re8 13. a5 c6 $146 (13... Be6 {is again possible. For example} 14. Bc2 Bd7 15. Nf1 Nh5 16. Ne3 Nhf4 17. Nf5 exd4 18. cxd4 Ne6 19. Be3 Nef8 20. Qd3 Qf6 21. Nh2 Ne7 22. Ng3 Nc6 23. Rad1 Nb4 24. Qd2 Nxc2 25. Qxc2 Rac8 26. Nf3 {1/2-1/2 (26) Klinova,M (2384)-Houska,J (2342) Gothenburg 2005}) 14. Bc2 Be6 15. Nf1 Qc7 16. Ng3 Rad8 17. Be3 Qb8 18. Qc1 Qc8 {Blunder of the day. This move allows a very typical (for this line) sacrifice.} 19. Bxh6 $1 Bxh3 ({The bishop is invincible:} 19... gxh6 20. Qxh6 { The threat Ng3-f5 is unstoppable. After} Qc7 (20... Nh7 $2 21. Nh5 {and mate on the next move.}) 21. Nf5 Bxf5 22. exf5 {White regains the material with interest and wins easily.}) 20. Bg5 Bg4 21. Bxf6 Bxf3 ({Black is also doomed after} 21... gxf6 22. Qh6 {when one of the the white knights will land on f5 or h5 killing spots very soon.}) 22. Nf5 $1 {With decisive attack which Vachier-Lagrave converted quickly.} Nf4 (22... gxf6 23. Qh6) 23. dxe5 (23. Qe3 {would do the job as well.}) 23... dxe5 24. Bxe5 Ne2+ 25. Rxe2 Rxe5 (25... Bxe2 26. Qg5) 26. gxf3 Qxf5 27. exf5 Rxe2 28. Qg5 Rd5 29. Be4 Bxf2+ 30. Kf1 Be3 31. Kxe2 Bxg5 32. Bxd5 cxd5 33. Rd1 {[Dejan Bojkov]} 1-0 [Event "Tbilisi"] [Site "Tbilisi"] [Date "2017.09.04"] [Round "1.2"] [White "Harikrishna, P."] [Black "Gonzalez Vidal, Yuri"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2741"] [BlackElo "2547"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 3. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 4. Ba4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 5. O-O {[%emt 0:00:00]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 6. Re1 { [%emt 0:00:04]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:27]} 7. Bb3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:24]} 8. c3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:39]} 9. h3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Nb8 {[%emt 0:00:48]} 10. d4 {[%emt 0:00:59]} Nbd7 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 11. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:00: 09]} Bb7 {[%emt 0:02:26]} 12. Bc2 {[%emt 0:00:21]} Re8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 13. Nf1 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Bf8 {[%emt 0:00:28]} 14. Ng3 {[%emt 0:02:19]} g6 {[%emt 0:01: 14]} 15. b3 {[%emt 0:00:45]} Bg7 {[%emt 0:02:22]} 16. d5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rc8 { [%emt 0:02:06]} 17. c4 {[%emt 0:01:16]} c6 {[%emt 0:03:34] This is all very well known and 74 games have already played in this position.} 18. Bg5 {[%emt 0:00:37]} h6 {[%emt 0:05:10]} 19. Bd2 $5 $146 {[%emt 0:00:10] This is Harikrishna's novelty. Earlier Be3 has been played. Harikrishna had the position with Black against Gashimov when the Azeri player had gone Be3. The idea of this move is to provoke a5. Once that is played the queenside structure is not so solid for Black and he cannot hold his position together for long and hence has to clarify the situation on the queenside.} (19. Be3 Nb6 {Gashimov-Harikrishna, 2008.}) 19... a5 {[%emt 0:03:02]} (19... Nb6 20. Ba5 $16 ) 20. Be3 {[%emt 0:02:07] After provoking a5, Hari moves the bishop to e3.} Ba6 {[%emt 0:14:14]} (20... Nb6 21. Rb1) 21. Qd2 {[%emt 0:11:37]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:00: 00]} (21... bxc4 22. bxc4 Bxc4 23. dxc6 Rxc6 24. Ba4 $14) 22. dxc6 {[%emt 0:00: 00]} Rxc6 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 23. cxb5 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Bxb5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 24. Rac1 {[%emt 0:00:46]} Bf8 {[%emt 0:10:56]} 25. a4 {[%emt 0:16:41]} Ba6 {[%emt 0:00:28]} 26. b4 $1 {[%emt 0:00:08] A very nice pawn sacrifice by Harikrishna.} axb4 {[%emt 0:07:36]} 27. Bb3 {[%emt 0:00:24]} Rxc1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 28. Rxc1 { [%emt 0:01:19]} d5 {[%emt 0:10:47]} (28... Qe7 29. Rc7 $36) 29. Bxd5 {[%emt 0: 06:51]} Qe7 {[%emt 0:10:56]} (29... Nxd5 30. Qxd5 $14 (30. exd5 f5 $17)) 30. Bb3 {[%emt 0:03:14]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:01:03]} 31. Rxc8 {[%emt 0:09:18]} Bxc8 { [%emt 0:00:02]} 32. Qd3 $6 {[%emt 0:00:56]} (32. a5 $16) 32... Bb7 $2 {[%emt 0: 05:37]} (32... Nc5 $1 33. Bxc5 Qxc5 34. Bxf7 Qc3 $1 $11 {It was not so easy to find these moves that give up the f7 pawn, but if Gonzalez would have found it he would have qualified to the next round.}) 33. a5 {[%emt 0:09:47]} (33. Qb5 $1 $16) 33... Kg8 {[%emt 0:01:15]} 34. a6 {[%emt 0:07:00]} Ba8 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 35. a7 {[%emt 0:00:51] The a-pawn single handedly wins the game.} Qe8 {[%emt 0: 01:00]} 36. Qc4 {[%emt 0:01:53]} Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:49]} 37. Qc7 {[%emt 0:03:28] Black is completely tied up.} Kh7 {[%emt 0:01:25]} 38. Ba4 {[%emt 0:03:23]} Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:40]} 39. Nd2 {[%emt 0:06:52]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 40. Bc6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:00:45]} 41. Bb7 {[%emt 0:02:42] Next up is Qc6, and the a-pawn just queens.} 1-0 [Event "FIDE World Cup 2017"] [Site "Tbilisi"] [Date "2017.09.04"] [Round "1.2"] [White "Wei, Yi"] [Black "Sambuev, Bator"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2748"] [BlackElo "2529"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "91"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 2. d4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} d5 {[%emt 0: 00:00]} 3. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Bb4 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 4. e5 {[%emt 0:00:14]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 5. a3 {[%emt 0:00:21]} Bxc3+ {[%emt 0:00:15]} 6. bxc3 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Ne7 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 7. a4 {[%emt 0:00:55]} Qc7 {[%emt 0:03:32]} 8. Nf3 {[%emt 0:01:46]} b6 {[%emt 0:05:04]} 9. Bb5+ {[%emt 0:00:15]} Bd7 {[%emt 0: 01:08]} 10. Bd3 {[%emt 0:00:25]} Nbc6 {[%emt 0:00:54]} 11. O-O {[%emt 0:00:54]} h6 {[%emt 0:04:45]} 12. Re1 {[%emt 0:09:13]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:00]} 13. h4 { [%emt 0:11:41]} c4 {[%emt 0:02:12]} 14. Bf1 {[%emt 0:00:35]} f6 {[%emt 0:00:45] } 15. h5 {[%emt 0:09:28]} fxe5 {[%emt 0:07:43]} 16. dxe5 {[%emt 0:13:11]} Rf7 { [%emt 0:02:05]} 17. Ba3 {[%emt 0:01:25]} Raf8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 18. Bd6 {[%emt 0:00:27]} Qd8 {[%emt 0:00:19] Sambuev's play has been natural and he already threatens sacrificing an exchange on f3.} 19. Be2 {[%emt 0:02:47]} Rf5 {[%emt 0:07:19] The h5 pawn is hanging now.} 20. Nh4 {[%emt 0:04:24]} Rf4 {[%emt 0:00: 39]} (20... Rxf2 {Taking the pawn was a good idea.} 21. Bf3 R2xf3 $1 {Perhaps Sambuev didn't like the resulting positions.} 22. Nxf3 Rf4 $11) 21. Bg4 {[%emt 0:00:28]} R8f7 {[%emt 0:05:44]} (21... Rxf2 22. Nf3 Rf4 $5 $13) 22. f3 $16 { [%emt 0:01:46] White is now for choice.} d4 {[%emt 0:04:25]} 23. Ng6 $1 {[%emt 0:04:48]} Nd5 {[%emt 0:02:35]} 24. Nxf4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Rxf4 {[%emt 0:00:43]} 25. cxd4 {[%emt 0:04:22]} Rxd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 26. Qe2 {[%emt 0:07:56]} Qg5 { [%emt 0:04:26]} 27. Qf2 {[%emt 0:02:16]} Rd2 {[%emt 0:11:10]} 28. Re2 {[%emt 0: 00:10]} Rd4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 29. Ree1 {[%emt 0:06:24]} Rd2 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 30. Re2 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Rd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 31. Qe1 {[%emt 0:06:44]} g6 $1 { [%emt 0:03:39] A very nice move by Bator, trying to get in the move h6-h5.} 32. Re4 $6 {[%emt 0:04:24]} (32. hxg6 h5 33. Bh3 Nf4 $13) (32. Kh1 $1 {A prophylactic move taking away the king from the g-file.} gxh5 33. Bh3 Nf4 {No more a double attack because of whites last move} 34. Re4 Rxe4 35. Qxe4 Qg3 ( 35... Kh8 36. Rd1 $16) 36. Rg1 $16) 32... gxh5 {[%emt 0:03:19]} 33. Bh3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Rd2 {[%emt 0:05:35]} 34. Kh1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rxc2 {[%emt 0:01:38]} 35. f4 $6 {[%emt 0:02:23]} (35. Ba3 c3 36. Bc1 Qg6 37. Qd1 Rf2) (35. Qd1 Rd2 36. Qe1 (36. Qg1 c3) 36... c3 $17) 35... Qg6 {[%emt 0:03:55]} (35... Nxf4 $1 36. Qe3 Nxh3 37. Qxh3) 36. f5 $1 {[%emt 0:00:30] A beautiful idea!} exf5 { [%emt 0:00:13] The queen's path to the e4 rook is now blocked.} 37. Qd1 $1 { [%emt 0:00:17]} fxe4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 38. Qxd5+ {[%emt 0:00:35]} Kg7 {[%emt 0: 01:33]} (38... Kh7 39. Rg1 Bxh3 40. gxh3 Qe8 41. Qxe4+) 39. Rg1 {[%emt 0:02:39] } (39. Bf8+ {Would have been a justice to the move f5} Kxf8 40. Rf1+ Bf5 41. Rxf5+ Qxf5 42. Bxf5 $18) 39... Be8 {[%emt 0:03:17]} 40. Rf1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} h4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 41. Bf8+ {[%emt 0:03:35]} Kh8 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 42. Ba3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Kg7 {[%emt 0:01:55]} 43. Rf6 {[%emt 0:00:14]} e3 {[%emt 0:10:04]} 44. Rxg6+ {[%emt 0:00:19]} Bxg6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 45. Qd7+ {[%emt 0:00:26]} Kh8 { [%emt 0:00:00]} 46. Bf8 {[%emt 0:00:10] Wei Yi remains alive in the World Cup 2017 with this win.} 1-0 [Event "FIDE World Cup 2017"] [Site "Tbilisi"] [Date "2017.09.04"] [Round "1.2"] [White "Sethuraman, S P."] [Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2617"] [BlackElo "2694"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "115"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 3. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 4. Ba4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 5. O-O {[%emt 0:00:08]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 6. Re1 { [%emt 0:00:36]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 7. Bb3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:10] } 8. c3 {[%emt 0:01:45]} d6 {[%emt 0:02:01]} 9. h3 {[%emt 0:00:23]} a5 $5 { [%emt 0:00:22] This is quite rare.} 10. d4 {[%emt 0:07:15]} a4 {[%emt 0:01:03]} 11. Bc2 {[%emt 0:00:39]} Bd7 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 12. Na3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rb8 { [%emt 0:05:22]} 13. d5 {[%emt 0:01:54]} Na7 {[%emt 0:05:48]} 14. Be3 {[%emt 0: 05:42]} c5 {[%emt 0:03:42]} 15. Nxe5 $1 {[%emt 0:05:15] This was already something that Sethu found on the board, it wasn't prepared. In fact he was out of book right from move 10 onwards.} dxe5 {[%emt 0:00:56]} 16. d6 {[%emt 0: 00:04]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:00:32]} 17. f4 $1 {[%emt 0:10:39]} Ne8 {[%emt 0:17:25]} 18. dxe7 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Qxe7 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 19. fxe5 {[%emt 0:07:50]} Bc6 { [%emt 0:02:42]} 20. Qh5 {[%emt 0:08:17]} (20. Qd2 Qxe5 21. Qf2 $16) 20... Nc7 { [%emt 0:00:59]} 21. Nb1 $1 {[%emt 0:01:35] Bringing the knight into play.} Be8 {[%emt 0:07:04]} 22. Nd2 {[%emt 0:00:39]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 23. Nf3 {[%emt 0:02:32]} Ne6 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 24. Rad1 {[%emt 0:04:42]} Rd8 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 25. Rd5 {[%emt 0:03:03]} a3 {[%emt 0:12:52]} 26. bxa3 {[%emt 0:03:42]} Ra8 { [%emt 0:06:15]} 27. Bc1 {[%emt 0:07:27]} Na5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 28. Ng5 {[%emt 0: 06:55]} h6 {[%emt 0:10:17]} 29. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nc4 {[%emt 0:06:34]} 30. Qg4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Nxa3 {[%emt 0:01:19]} 31. Bd1 {[%emt 0:01:58]} Nb1 {[%emt 0:04:05]} 32. Nh4 $1 {[%emt 0:00:46]} h5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 33. Qg3 {[%emt 0:02: 56]} Nxc3 {[%emt 0:02:55] Black has gobbled more than he can digest.} 34. Nf5 $1 {[%emt 0:00:43]} Nxd5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 35. exd5 $1 {[%emt 0:00:35]} (35. Nxe7+ Nxe7 $16 {is not the best for White.}) 35... Qd7 {[%emt 0:00:24]} 36. Bh6 $5 {[%emt 0:01:14]} (36. dxe6 fxe6 $16) (36. Bxh5 $18) 36... Kh7 {[%emt 0:01: 26]} 37. Bxg7 {[%emt 0:03:07]} Rg8 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 38. Bc2 {[%emt 0:01:05]} Rxa2 {[%emt 0:01:32]} 39. Nh6+ $2 {[%emt 0:02:49]} (39. Be4 $1 $18 {would have finished the game.}) (39. Qe3 $1 $18 Rxg7 40. Qh6+ Kg8 41. Nxg7 Nxg7 42. Qh7+ Kf8 43. Qh8+ Ke7 44. Qxg7 $18) 39... Rxc2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 40. Nxg8 {[%emt 0: 00:00]} Kxg8 {[%emt 0:01:20] White is still better, but things are not as clear as before.} 41. Bf6+ {[%emt 0:02:41]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 42. Qd3+ { [%emt 0:01:11]} Kh6 {[%emt 0:02:45]} 43. Qe3+ {[%emt 0:09:37]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:00: 49]} 44. Qe4+ {[%emt 0:00:19]} Kh6 {[%emt 0:00:28]} 45. Qxc2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} ( 45. g4 $1 Ra2 46. Qf5 $1 $18) 45... Qxd5 {[%emt 0:00:04] Black has managed to fight back to some extent.} 46. Rd1 $6 {[%emt 0:00:28]} (46. Rf1 $18) 46... Qc4 {[%emt 0:03:31]} 47. Qd2+ {[%emt 0:08:03]} Kg6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 48. Qf2 {[%emt 0:00:34]} Qf4 {[%emt 0:01:06]} 49. Qc2+ {[%emt 0:00:17]} Kh6 {[%emt 0:01:17]} 50. Rd6 {[%emt 0:04:35] The game has become quite complicated and it is simply amazing that Sethu is able to keep his calm and bring home the full point.} b4 {[%emt 0:04:41]} (50... Qe3+ 51. Kh1 Qe1+ 52. Kh2 h4 53. Qf5 Qg3+ 54. Kg1 Qe1+ 55. Qf1 Qxf1+ 56. Kxf1 Kh5 $14) 51. h4 {[%emt 0:00:28]} Qg4 {[%emt 0:05:35]} 52. Rb6 {[%emt 0:02:49]} Qg3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 53. Rb8 {[%emt 0:02:46]} Nd4 { [%emt 0:00:19]} 54. Qe4 {[%emt 0:00:48]} Qg8 {[%emt 0:02:10]} 55. Qf4+ {[%emt 0:01:09]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 56. Qe4+ {[%emt 0:00:01]} Kh6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 57. Bg5+ {[%emt 0:00:37]} Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 58. Qa8 {[%emt 0:00:08] A nice move to finish off the game.} 1-0 [Event "FIDE World Cup 2017"] [Site "Tbilisi"] [Date "2017.09.04"] [Round "1.2"] [White "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Black "Yeoh, Li Tian"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2794"] [BlackElo "2478"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "142"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} c6 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 2. d4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} d5 {[%emt 0: 00:00]} 3. e5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bf5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 4. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} e6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 5. Be2 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Nd7 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 6. O-O {[%emt 0: 00:00]} Bg6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 7. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:03:08]} Nh6 {[%emt 0:00:47]} 8. c3 {[%emt 0:01:20]} Be7 {[%emt 0:01:19]} 9. Nb3 {[%emt 0:01:13]} O-O {[%emt 0: 00:00]} 10. Bd3 {[%emt 0:04:54]} c5 {[%emt 0:13:49]} 11. Bxg6 {[%emt 0:00:38]} hxg6 {[%emt 0:00:30]} 12. h3 {[%emt 0:01:15]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:09:23]} 13. g4 { [%emt 0:00:40]} c4 {[%emt 0:00:58]} 14. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:00:12]} f6 {[%emt 0:00: 00]} 15. exf6 {[%emt 0:04:58]} Bxf6 {[%emt 0:02:56]} 16. Re1 {[%emt 0:04:15]} Rc6 {[%emt 0:01:36]} 17. Nf1 {[%emt 0:06:44]} Nf7 {[%emt 0:02:32]} 18. Bf4 { [%emt 0:02:02]} Re8 {[%emt 0:07:41]} 19. Re3 {[%emt 0:03:08]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00: 00]} 20. Qc2 {[%emt 0:04:23]} g5 {[%emt 0:01:24]} 21. Bg3 {[%emt 0:02:20]} b5 { [%emt 0:02:36]} 22. Rae1 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Nf8 {[%emt 0:00:29]} 23. R3e2 {[%emt 0:04:09]} (23. Ne5 Nxe5 24. Bxe5 $14) 23... b4 {[%emt 0:03:42]} 24. Qa4 {[%emt 0:05:49]} Qb6 {[%emt 0:00:37]} 25. Ne3 {[%emt 0:04:48]} Rd8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 26. Rc1 {[%emt 0:01:19]} Qb7 {[%emt 0:01:14]} 27. Qd1 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Rdc8 { [%emt 0:01:15]} 28. cxb4 {[%emt 0:02:14]} Bxb4 {[%emt 0:00:47]} 29. b3 $6 { [%emt 0:00:30] Now Black gets a passed pawn on the c-file.} Ba3 {[%emt 0:00:00] } 30. Rb1 {[%emt 0:00:49]} c3 {[%emt 0:03:06]} 31. Qd3 {[%emt 0:00:41]} Qa6 { [%emt 0:02:00]} 32. Qxa6 {[%emt 0:00:16]} Rxa6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 33. Rc2 {[%emt 0:00:39]} Nd7 {[%emt 0:02:21]} 34. Ne1 {[%emt 0:08:51]} Bd6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 35. Rbc1 {[%emt 0:01:43]} Rac6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 36. Nd3 $6 {[%emt 0:06:05]} ( 36. Bxd6 Nxd6 37. Nd1 Nb5 38. Nf3 (38. a4 Nxd4) 38... e5 39. dxe5 d4 40. a4 d3 41. axb5 dxc2 42. bxc6 cxd1=Q+ 43. Rxd1 Rxc6 44. Rc1) 36... Ba3 {[%emt 0:00:00] } 37. Re1 {[%emt 0:01:07]} a5 {[%emt 0:00:36]} 38. Ree2 {[%emt 0:01:36]} Kf8 { [%emt 0:03:41]} 39. f3 $6 {[%emt 0:03:49]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 40. Rc1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Ba3 {[%emt 0:01:05]} 41. Rcc2 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Nd6 {[%emt 0:00:00] Anand,V (2794)-Yeoh,L (2478) Tbilisi 2017 playchess.com [ChessBase]} 42. Bxd6+ {[%emt 0:01:13]} (42. Ne5 Nxe5 43. Bxe5 Nb5 44. Nd1 Kf7 45. Kf1 Bb4) 42... Bxd6 {[%emt 0:01:42]} 43. Re1 {[%emt 0:04:27]} Bb8 {[%emt 0:09:00]} 44. Rcc1 {[%emt 0:06:40]} Kf7 {[%emt 0:05:40]} 45. Nc2 {[%emt 0:00:23]} Nf8 {[%emt 0:01:49]} 46. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:32]} Ng6 {[%emt 0:00:24]} 47. a3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rh8 { [%emt 0:01:42]} 48. Kg2 {[%emt 0:01:41]} Nh4+ {[%emt 0:02:15]} 49. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Ng6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 50. Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Nf4+ {[%emt 0:01:54]} 51. Nxf4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Bxf4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 52. Rb1 {[%emt 0:00:18]} e5 $1 {[%emt 0:05:17] This is when Yeoh started to believe that he could win the game.} 53. dxe5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Rxh3 $1 {[%emt 0:00:24]} 54. Rh1 {[%emt 0:02: 06]} (54. Kxh3 Rh6+ 55. Kg2 Rh2+ 56. Kg1 Rxc2 $19 {And it's curtains for White. The c-pawn is just too strong.}) 54... Rxh1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 55. Rxh1 {[%emt 0: 00:07]} Bxe5 $6 {[%emt 0:00:22]} (55... Rb6 $1 56. Rb1 (56. b4 axb4 57. axb4 Ra6 $19) 56... Bxe5 $19) 56. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Rb6 {[%emt 0:01:06]} 57. b4 { [%emt 0:00:10] The worst in some way is over for Anand and he managed to hold the draw.} axb4 {[%emt 0:01:23]} 58. axb4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Bd6 {[%emt 0:01:23]} 59. Ke2 {[%emt 0:02:44]} Bxb4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 60. Kd3 {[%emt 0:00:13]} Be7 { [%emt 0:00:20]} 61. Kxc3 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Bf6+ {[%emt 0:00:07]} 62. Kd2 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Rb3 {[%emt 0:00:21]} 63. Ke2 {[%emt 0:01:33]} Ke6 {[%emt 0:00:36]} 64. Rd1 {[%emt 0:01:06]} Ke5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 65. Ne1 {[%emt 0:01:27]} Rb2+ { [%emt 0:01:12]} 66. Rd2 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Rb8 {[%emt 0:00:29]} 67. Nd3+ {[%emt 0:00:34]} Kd6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 68. Ra2 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Rh8 {[%emt 0:01:07]} 69. Ra6+ {[%emt 0:00:24]} Kc7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 70. Nb4 {[%emt 0:00:23]} Rd8 { [%emt 0:01:57]} 71. Ra5 {[%emt 0:00:27]} Kb6 {[%emt 0:01:31]} 1/2-1/2 [Event "FIDE World Cup 2017"] [Site "Tbilisi"] [Date "2017.09.04"] [Round "1.2"] [White "Karthikeyan, Murali"] [Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"] [Result "*"] [ECO "B77"] [WhiteElo "2574"] [BlackElo "2717"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "89"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [EventCountry "GEO"] [Source "ChessBase"] [TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"] 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 3. Nc3 {[%emt 0:02:38]} g6 {[%emt 0:01:13] Vallejo Pons goes for the accelerated Dragon.} 4. d4 {[%emt 0:02:32]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:34]} 5. Nxd4 { [%emt 0:00:09]} Bg7 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 6. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:53]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00: 40]} 7. Bc4 {[%emt 0:06:06]} O-O {[%emt 0:01:36]} 8. Bb3 {[%emt 0:00:20]} d6 { [%emt 0:01:08]} 9. f3 {[%emt 0:00:58]} Qa5 $5 {[%emt 0:01:07] Usually Black makes the move Qa5 without the insertion of d6.} 10. Qd2 {[%emt 0:04:08]} Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:49]} 11. Bxd4 {[%emt 0:00:18]} Be6 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 12. O-O-O { [%emt 0:08:37] We have now transposed to a popular line of the Dragon.} b5 { [%emt 0:04:07]} 13. Kb1 {[%emt 0:03:37]} b4 {[%emt 0:02:16]} 14. Nd5 {[%emt 0: 04:03]} Bxd5 {[%emt 0:16:23]} 15. exd5 {[%emt 0:08:46]} Qb5 {[%emt 0:05:00]} 16. Qd3 {[%emt 0:09:33]} (16. Rhe1 {is the other main move here.}) 16... Qxd3 { [%emt 0:11:58]} 17. Rxd3 {[%emt 0:00:23] Vallejo feels that these exchanges should bring him closer to the half point that he needs to qualify. But White is surely slightly better.} Nd7 {[%emt 0:02:03]} 18. f4 {[%emt 0:11:37]} (18. Re1 $14) 18... Nc5 $6 {[%emt 0:22:00] This is the move that gives Karthikeyan his chances.} (18... Bxd4 19. Rxd4 a5 20. Re1 Nc5 $1 21. Rxe7 $6 Rfe8 $1 $15) 19. Bxc5 $1 {[%emt 0:00:57]} dxc5 {[%emt 0:01:41]} 20. Re3 {[%emt 0:08:17] In this opposite coloured bishop + rook endgame, White holds the trumps because he has more space and he can roll his pawns on the kingside, while Black's pawns on the queenside are pretty stagnant.} Bf6 {[%emt 0:06:01]} 21. g4 { [%emt 0:03:25]} g5 {[%emt 0:02:12]} 22. fxg5 {[%emt 0:01:23]} Bxg5 {[%emt 0:00: 03]} 23. Re4 {[%emt 0:01:17]} Rae8 {[%emt 0:07:03]} 24. h4 {[%emt 0:06:59]} Bf6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 25. g5 {[%emt 0:01:53]} Bd4 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 26. Rhe1 {[%emt 0:01:49]} e6 $2 {[%emt 0:01:05]} (26... Bf2 $1 27. R1e2 Bg3 $14 {And Black should be able to hold this.}) 27. dxe6 {[%emt 0:00:40]} fxe6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 28. Rxe6 {[%emt 0:00:38]} Rxe6 {[%emt 0:00:34]} 29. Rxe6 {[%emt 0:00:33]} Kg7 { [%emt 0:01:40]} 30. Re7+ {[%emt 0:01:47]} Kg6 {[%emt 0:01:26]} 31. Bc4 {[%emt 0:02:04] White is a pawn up. True his king is somewhat trapped and low in space, yet it is a very pleasant position for White to play.} a5 {[%emt 0:07: 32]} 32. Bd3+ {[%emt 0:01:04]} (32. a4 $1 $18) 32... Kh5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 33. Rxh7+ {[%emt 0:00:08]} Kg4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 34. g6 {[%emt 0:00:50]} Rh8 {[%emt 0:01:48]} 35. Rc7 {[%emt 0:04:34]} Kxh4 {[%emt 0:01:40]} 36. c3 {[%emt 0:00:10] dissolving the back rank problems once and for all.} bxc3 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 37. bxc3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Bxc3 {[%emt 0:00:38]} 38. Bc4 {[%emt 0:00:35] The g-pawn cannot be stopped now.} Rb8+ {[%emt 0:03:00]} 39. Kc2 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Be5 { [%emt 0:00:14]} 40. Rh7+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kg5 {[%emt 0:00:52]} 41. g7 {[%emt 0: 00:39]} Bxg7 {[%emt 0:05:51]} 42. Rxg7+ {[%emt 0:00:14]} Kf6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 43. Ra7 {[%emt 0:01:27]} Ke5 {[%emt 0:01:35]} 44. Rxa5 {[%emt 0:00:30]} Rb4 { [%emt 0:01:55]} 45. Kc3 {[%emt 0:00:43] A great game under pressure by Karthikeyan, who equalized the scores and took the game into the tiebreaks.} * [Event "Tbilisi"] [Site "Tbilisi"] [Date "2017.09.04"] [Round "1.2"] [White "Harikrishna, P."] [Black "Gonzalez Vidal, Yuri"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C95"] [WhiteElo "2741"] [BlackElo "2547"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [EventCountry "GEO"] [Source "ChessBase"] [TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"] 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 3. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 4. Ba4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 5. O-O {[%emt 0:00:00]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 6. Re1 { [%emt 0:00:04]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:27]} 7. Bb3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:24]} 8. c3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:39]} 9. h3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Nb8 {[%emt 0:00:48]} 10. d4 {[%emt 0:00:59]} Nbd7 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 11. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:00: 09]} Bb7 {[%emt 0:02:26]} 12. Bc2 {[%emt 0:00:21]} Re8 {[%emt 0:00:31]} 13. Nf1 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Bf8 {[%emt 0:00:28]} 14. Ng3 {[%emt 0:02:19]} g6 {[%emt 0:01: 14]} 15. b3 {[%emt 0:00:45]} Bg7 {[%emt 0:02:22]} 16. d5 {[%emt 0:02:54]} Rc8 { [%emt 0:02:06]} 17. c4 {[%emt 0:01:16]} c6 {[%emt 0:03:34] This is all very well known and 74 games have already played in this position.} 18. Bg5 {[%emt 0:00:37]} h6 {[%emt 0:05:10]} 19. Bd2 $5 $146 {[%emt 0:00:10] This is Harikrishna's novelty. Earlier Be3 has been played. Harikrishna had the position with Black against Gashimov when the Azeri player had gone Be3.} a5 { [%emt 0:03:02]} 20. Be3 {[%emt 0:02:07] After provoking a5, Hari moves the bishop to e3.} Ba6 {[%emt 0:14:14]} 21. Qd2 {[%emt 0:11:37]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:13: 41]} (21... bxc4 22. bxc4 Bxc4 23. dxc6 Rxc6 24. Ba4 $14) 22. dxc6 {[%emt 0:10: 34]} Rxc6 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 23. cxb5 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Bxb5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 24. Rac1 {[%emt 0:00:46]} Bf8 {[%emt 0:10:56]} 25. a4 {[%emt 0:16:41]} Ba6 {[%emt 0:00:28]} 26. b4 $1 {[%emt 0:00:08] a very nice pawn sacrifice by Harikrishna.} axb4 {[%emt 0:07:36]} 27. Bb3 {[%emt 0:00:24]} Rxc1 {[%emt 0:02:49]} 28. Rxc1 { [%emt 0:01:19]} d5 {[%emt 0:10:47]} (28... Qe7 29. Rc7 $36) 29. Bxd5 {[%emt 0: 06:51]} Qe7 {[%emt 0:10:56]} (29... Nxd5 30. Qxd5 $14 (30. exd5 f5 $17)) 30. Bb3 {[%emt 0:03:14]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:01:03]} 31. Rxc8 {[%emt 0:09:18]} Bxc8 { [%emt 0:00:02]} 32. Qd3 $6 {[%emt 0:00:56]} (32. a5 $16) 32... Bb7 $2 {[%emt 0: 05:37]} (32... Nc5 $1 33. Bxc5 Qxc5 34. Bxf7 Qc3 $1 $11 {It was not so easy to find these moves that give up the f7 pawn, but if Gonzalez would have found it he would have qualified to the next round.}) 33. a5 {[%emt 0:09:47]} (33. Qb5 $1 $16) 33... Kg8 {[%emt 0:01:15]} 34. a6 {[%emt 0:07:00]} Ba8 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 35. a7 {[%emt 0:00:51] The a-pawn single handedly wins the game.} Qe8 {[%emt 0: 01:00]} 36. Qc4 {[%emt 0:01:53]} Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:49]} 37. Qc7 {[%emt 0:03:28] Black is completely tied up.} Kh7 {[%emt 0:01:25]} 38. Ba4 {[%emt 0:03:23]} Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:40]} 39. Nd2 {[%emt 0:06:52]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 40. Bc6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:00:45]} 41. Bb7 {[%emt 0:02:42] Next up is Qc6, and the a-pawn just queens.} 1-0 [Event "Tbilisi"] [Site "Tbilisi"] [Date "2017.09.04"] [Round "1.2"] [White "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Black "Yeoh, Li Tian"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B12"] [WhiteElo "2794"] [BlackElo "2478"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "142"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [EventCountry "GEO"] [Source "ChessBase"] [TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"] 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} c6 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 2. d4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} d5 {[%emt 0: 00:08]} 3. e5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bf5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 4. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} e6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 5. Be2 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Nd7 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 6. O-O {[%emt 0: 00:11]} Bg6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 7. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:03:08]} Nh6 {[%emt 0:00:47]} 8. c3 {[%emt 0:01:20]} Be7 {[%emt 0:01:19]} 9. Nb3 {[%emt 0:01:13]} O-O {[%emt 0: 01:13]} 10. Bd3 {[%emt 0:04:54]} c5 {[%emt 0:13:49]} 11. Bxg6 {[%emt 0:00:38]} hxg6 {[%emt 0:00:30]} 12. h3 {[%emt 0:01:15]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:09:23]} 13. g4 { [%emt 0:00:40]} c4 {[%emt 0:00:58]} 14. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:00:12]} f6 {[%emt 0:00: 22]} 15. exf6 {[%emt 0:04:58]} Bxf6 {[%emt 0:02:56]} 16. Re1 {[%emt 0:04:15]} Rc6 {[%emt 0:01:36]} 17. Nf1 {[%emt 0:06:44]} Nf7 {[%emt 0:02:32]} 18. Bf4 { [%emt 0:02:02]} Re8 {[%emt 0:07:41]} 19. Re3 {[%emt 0:03:08]} Be7 {[%emt 0:19: 39]} 20. Qc2 {[%emt 0:04:23]} g5 {[%emt 0:01:24]} 21. Bg3 {[%emt 0:02:20]} b5 { [%emt 0:02:36]} 22. Rae1 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Nf8 {[%emt 0:00:29]} 23. R3e2 {[%emt 0:04:09]} (23. Ne5 Nxe5 24. Bxe5 $14) 23... b4 {[%emt 0:03:42]} 24. Qa4 {[%emt 0:05:49]} Qb6 {[%emt 0:00:37]} 25. Ne3 {[%emt 0:04:48]} Rd8 {[%emt 0:00:24]} 26. Rc1 {[%emt 0:01:19]} Qb7 {[%emt 0:01:14]} 27. Qd1 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Rdc8 { [%emt 0:01:15]} 28. cxb4 {[%emt 0:02:14]} Bxb4 {[%emt 0:00:47]} 29. b3 $6 { [%emt 0:00:30] Now Black gets a passed pawn on the c-file.} Ba3 {[%emt 0:02:48] } 30. Rb1 {[%emt 0:00:49]} c3 {[%emt 0:03:06]} 31. Qd3 {[%emt 0:00:41]} Qa6 { [%emt 0:02:00]} 32. Qxa6 {[%emt 0:00:16]} Rxa6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 33. Rc2 {[%emt 0:00:39]} Nd7 {[%emt 0:02:21]} 34. Ne1 {[%emt 0:08:51]} Bd6 {[%emt 0:06:47]} 35. Rbc1 {[%emt 0:01:43]} Rac6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 36. Nd3 $6 {[%emt 0:06:05]} ( 36. Bxd6 Nxd6 37. Nd1 Nb5 38. Nf3 (38. a4 Nxd4) 38... e5 39. dxe5 d4 40. a4 d3 41. axb5 dxc2 42. bxc6 cxd1=Q+ 43. Rxd1 Rxc6 44. Rc1) 36... Ba3 {[%emt 0:05:54] } 37. Re1 {[%emt 0:01:07]} a5 {[%emt 0:00:36]} 38. Ree2 {[%emt 0:01:36]} Kf8 { [%emt 0:03:41]} 39. f3 $6 {[%emt 0:03:49]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 40. Rc1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Ba3 {[%emt 0:01:05]} 41. Rcc2 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Nd6 {[%emt 0:06:40] Anand,V (2794)-Yeoh,L (2478) Tbilisi 2017 playchess.com [ChessBase]} 42. Bxd6+ {[%emt 0:01:13]} (42. Ne5 Nxe5 43. Bxe5 Nb5 44. Nd1 Kf7 45. Kf1 Bb4) 42... Bxd6 {[%emt 0:01:42]} 43. Re1 {[%emt 0:04:27]} Bb8 {[%emt 0:09:00]} 44. Rcc1 {[%emt 0:06:40]} Kf7 {[%emt 0:05:40]} 45. Nc2 {[%emt 0:00:23]} Nf8 {[%emt 0:01:49]} 46. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:32]} Ng6 {[%emt 0:00:24]} 47. a3 {[%emt 0:00:22]} Rh8 { [%emt 0:01:42]} 48. Kg2 {[%emt 0:01:41]} Nh4+ {[%emt 0:02:15]} 49. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Ng6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 50. Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Nf4+ {[%emt 0:01:54]} 51. Nxf4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Bxf4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 52. Rb1 {[%emt 0:00:18]} e5 $1 {[%emt 0:05:17] This is when Yeoh started to believe that he could win the game.} 53. dxe5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Rxh3 $1 {[%emt 0:00:24]} 54. Rh1 {[%emt 0:02: 06]} (54. Kxh3 Rh6+ 55. Kg2 Rh2+ 56. Kg1 Rxc2 $19 {And it's curtains for White. The c-pawn is just too strong.}) 54... Rxh1 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 55. Rxh1 {[%emt 0: 00:07]} Bxe5 $6 {[%emt 0:00:22]} (55... Rb6 $1 56. Rb1 (56. b4 axb4 57. axb4 Ra6 $19) 56... Bxe5 $19) 56. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Rb6 {[%emt 0:01:06]} 57. b4 { [%emt 0:00:10] The worst in some way is over for Anand and he managed to hold the draw.} axb4 {[%emt 0:01:23]} 58. axb4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Bd6 {[%emt 0:01:23]} 59. Ke2 {[%emt 0:02:44]} Bxb4 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 60. Kd3 {[%emt 0:00:13]} Be7 { [%emt 0:00:20]} 61. Kxc3 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Bf6+ {[%emt 0:00:07]} 62. Kd2 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Rb3 {[%emt 0:00:21]} 63. Ke2 {[%emt 0:01:33]} Ke6 {[%emt 0:00:36]} 64. Rd1 {[%emt 0:01:06]} Ke5 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 65. Ne1 {[%emt 0:01:27]} Rb2+ { [%emt 0:01:12]} 66. Rd2 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Rb8 {[%emt 0:00:29]} 67. Nd3+ {[%emt 0:00:34]} Kd6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 68. Ra2 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Rh8 {[%emt 0:01:07]} 69. Ra6+ {[%emt 0:00:24]} Kc7 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 70. Nb4 {[%emt 0:00:23]} Rd8 { [%emt 0:01:57]} 71. Ra5 {[%emt 0:00:27]} Kb6 {[%emt 0:01:31]} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Tbilisi"] [Site "Tbilisi"] [Date "2017.09.04"] [Round "1.2"] [White "Sethuraman, S P."] [Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"] [Result "*"] [ECO "C92"] [WhiteElo "2617"] [BlackElo "2694"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "115"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [EventCountry "GEO"] [Source "ChessBase"] [TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"] 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 3. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 4. Ba4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 5. O-O {[%emt 0:00:08]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 6. Re1 { [%emt 0:00:36]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 7. Bb3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:10] } 8. c3 {[%emt 0:01:45]} d6 {[%emt 0:02:01]} 9. h3 {[%emt 0:00:23]} a5 $5 { [%emt 0:00:22][%cal Ga6a5] This is quite rare.} 10. d4 {[%emt 0:07:15]} a4 { [%emt 0:01:03]} 11. Bc2 {[%emt 0:00:39]} Bd7 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 12. Na3 {[%emt 0: 11:47]} Rb8 {[%emt 0:05:22]} 13. d5 {[%emt 0:01:54]} Na7 {[%emt 0:05:48]} 14. Be3 {[%emt 0:05:42]} c5 {[%emt 0:03:42]} 15. Nxe5 $1 {[%emt 0:05:15] This was already something that Sethu found on the board, it wasn't prepared. In fact he was out of book right from move 10 onwards.} dxe5 {[%emt 0:00:56]} 16. d6 { [%emt 0:00:04]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:00:32]} 17. f4 $1 {[%emt 0:10:39][%cal Gf2f4]} Ne8 {[%emt 0:17:25]} 18. dxe7 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Qxe7 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 19. fxe5 { [%emt 0:07:50]} Bc6 {[%emt 0:02:42]} 20. Qh5 {[%emt 0:08:17]} (20. Qd2 Qxe5 21. Qf2 $16) 20... Nc7 {[%emt 0:00:59]} 21. Nb1 $1 {[%emt 0:01:35] Bringing the knight into play.} Be8 {[%emt 0:07:04]} 22. Nd2 {[%emt 0:00:39]} Nc6 {[%emt 0: 01:12]} 23. Nf3 {[%emt 0:02:32]} Ne6 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 24. Rad1 {[%emt 0:04:42]} Rd8 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 25. Rd5 {[%emt 0:03:03]} a3 {[%emt 0:12:52]} 26. bxa3 { [%emt 0:03:42]} Ra8 {[%emt 0:06:15]} 27. Bc1 {[%emt 0:07:27]} Na5 {[%emt 0:03: 31]} 28. Ng5 {[%emt 0:06:55]} h6 {[%emt 0:10:17]} 29. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nc4 {[%emt 0:06:34]} 30. Qg4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Nxa3 {[%emt 0:01:19]} 31. Bd1 {[%emt 0:01:58]} Nb1 {[%emt 0:04:05]} 32. Nh4 $1 {[%emt 0:00:46]} h5 {[%emt 0:02:12]} 33. Qg3 {[%emt 0:02:56]} Nxc3 {[%emt 0:02:55] Black has gobbled more than he can digest.} 34. Nf5 $1 {[%emt 0:00:43]} Nxd5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 35. exd5 $1 { [%emt 0:00:35]} (35. Nxe7+ Nxe7 $16 {is not the best for White.}) 35... Qd7 { [%emt 0:00:24]} 36. Bh6 $5 {[%emt 0:01:14]} (36. dxe6 fxe6 $16) (36. Bxh5 $18) 36... Kh7 {[%emt 0:01:26]} 37. Bxg7 {[%emt 0:03:07]} Rg8 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 38. Bc2 {[%emt 0:01:05]} Rxa2 {[%emt 0:01:32]} 39. Nh6+ $2 {[%emt 0:02:49]} (39. Be4 $1 $18 {would have finished the game.}) (39. Qe3 $1 $18 Rxg7 40. Qh6+ Kg8 41. Nxg7 Nxg7 42. Qh7+ Kf8 43. Qh8+ Ke7 44. Qxg7 $18) 39... Rxc2 {[%emt 0:00: 37]} 40. Nxg8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kxg8 {[%emt 0:01:20] White is still better, but things are not as clear as before.} 41. Bf6+ {[%emt 0:02:41]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:02: 18]} 42. Qd3+ {[%emt 0:01:11]} Kh6 {[%emt 0:02:45]} 43. Qe3+ {[%emt 0:09:37]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:00:49]} 44. Qe4+ {[%emt 0:00:19]} Kh6 {[%emt 0:00:28]} 45. Qxc2 { [%emt 0:00:05]} (45. g4 $1 Ra2 46. Qf5 $1 $18) 45... Qxd5 {[%emt 0:00:04] Black has managed to fight back to some extent.} 46. Rd1 $6 {[%emt 0:00:28]} ( 46. Rf1 $18) 46... Qc4 {[%emt 0:03:31]} 47. Qd2+ {[%emt 0:08:03]} Kg6 {[%emt 0: 02:49]} 48. Qf2 {[%emt 0:00:34]} Qf4 {[%emt 0:01:06]} 49. Qc2+ {[%emt 0:00:17]} Kh6 {[%emt 0:01:17]} 50. Rd6 {[%emt 0:04:35] The game has become quite complicated and it is simply amazing that Sethu is able to keep his calm and bring home the full point.} b4 {[%emt 0:04:41]} (50... Qe3+ 51. Kh1 Qe1+ 52. Kh2 h4 53. Qf5 Qg3+ 54. Kg1 Qe1+ 55. Qf1 Qxf1+ 56. Kxf1 Kh5 $14) 51. h4 {[%emt 0:00:28]} Qg4 {[%emt 0:05:35]} 52. Rb6 {[%emt 0:02:49]} Qg3 {[%emt 0:06:29]} 53. Rb8 {[%emt 0:02:46]} Nd4 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 54. Qe4 {[%emt 0:00:48]} Qg8 { [%emt 0:02:10]} 55. Qf4+ {[%emt 0:01:09]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 56. Qe4+ {[%emt 0:00:01]} Kh6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 57. Bg5+ {[%emt 0:00:37]} Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 58. Qa8 {[%emt 0:00:08] A nice move to finish off the game.} * [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.05"] [Round "1.8"] [White "Jobava, Baadur"] [Black "Salgado Lopez, Ivan"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "2687"] [BlackElo "2627"] [PlyCount "75"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6 4. c3 d5 5. Qc2 a5 6. a4 Bc5 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O h6 9. h3 (9. Na3 Re8 10. h3 Be6 11. Re1 Qd7 12. Bf1 Rad8 13. Nb5 Bb6 14. Be3 Bxe3 15. Rxe3 Qe7 {Jobava,B (2713)-Matlakov,M (2714) Minsk 2017}) 9... Be6 10. Re1 dxe4 $146 (10... Qd7 11. Nbd2 Bxh3 12. gxh3 Qxh3 13. d4 exd4 14. cxd4 Bxd4 15. Nxd4 Nxd4 16. Qd3 Nxe2+ 17. Qxe2 Ng4 18. Nf1 dxe4 {Boskovic,D (2433) -Kastanieda,G (2406) playchess.com INT 2005}) 11. dxe4 Qe7 12. Na3 Rad8 13. Bb5 Nd7 14. Be3 Bxe3 15. Rxe3 f6 16. Bc4 Bxc4 17. Nxc4 Qe6 18. Na3 Ne7 19. Rd1 Nc5 20. b4 Rxd1+ 21. Qxd1 axb4 22. cxb4 Na6 23. b5 Nc5 24. Qc2 b6 25. a5 Ra8 26. Nc4 bxa5 $6 (26... Qd7 $1) 27. Ncxe5 $1 Nd7 28. Nxd7 Qxd7 29. Qc4+ Kh7 (29... Kh8 30. e5 {is also good for White.}) 30. e5 {Threatening Qe4+} Qd5 $6 (30... f5) 31. Qxc7 Qd1+ 32. Re1 Qd8 33. Qxd8 Rxd8 34. exf6 Nd5 35. Rd1 a4 36. f7 a3 37. Ne5 a2 38. Nd7 1-0 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.05"] [Round "1.7"] [White "Salgado Lopez, Ivan"] [Black "Jobava, Baadur"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B07"] [WhiteElo "2627"] [BlackElo "2687"] [PlyCount "82"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e5 4. dxe5 dxe5 5. Qxd8+ Kxd8 6. Bc4 Ke8 7. Nf3 Bd6 8. Be3 (8. Bg5 Nbd7 9. Nd2 c6 10. Bb3 Bc7 11. O-O Nc5 12. Be3 Ne6 13. f3 Ke7 14. Rfd1 Rd8 {Shomoev,A (2550)-Najer,E (2682) Sochi 2017}) 8... a6 9. a3 h6 10. h3 Ke7 $146 (10... b5 11. Bb3 Bb7 12. Nd2 Nbd7 13. f3 c6 14. O-O-O Ke7 15. Nf1 Bc5 16. Ba2 g6 {Sayafarova,A (1745)-Fominykh,M (2282) Moscow 2013}) 11. O-O-O Be6 12. Nd2 Nbd7 13. Bxe6 Kxe6 14. Nc4 Rac8 15. f3 Bc5 16. Bxc5 Nxc5 17. Na5 Rb8 18. Rd2 Ke7 $6 ({Jobava had seen} 18... Rhd8 19. b4 Rxd2 20. Kxd2 Rd8+ 21. Ke3 b6 22. Nc6 Rd6 23. Nb8 {but missed} Rd8 $1 {when it's equal.}) 19. Rhd1 Ne6 20. Nc4 {Simply winning a pawn.} Rbd8 21. Nxe5 Rxd2 22. Rxd2 h5 23. h4 c6 24. Na4 Rg8 $1 {A good plan. Black needs some activity.} 25. Nb6 g5 26. hxg5 Rxg5 27. Nd3 h4 28. Nc4 Nh5 29. Ne3 Ng3 30. Kd1 Rh5 31. Ke1 h3 32. gxh3 Rxh3 33. Rg2 Nd4 34. Nf2 Nxf3+ 35. Kd1 Rh2 36. Rxh2 $2 {Throwing away the win.} (36. Rxg3 $1 Rxf2 37. Ng4 $1 {was strong, e.g.} Rd2+ 38. Kc1 Nh2 $1 39. Rb3 $1) 36... Nxh2 37. Nc4 Kd7 38. Kd2 Nf3+ 39. Ke3 Nh4 40. Ng4 f5 41. exf5 Ngxf5+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.05"] [Round "1.6"] [White "Tari, Aryan"] [Black "Howell, David W L"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D37"] [WhiteElo "2591"] [BlackElo "2702"] [PlyCount "59"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 dxc4 7. Ne5 Qd6 (7... c5 8. dxc5 Qxd1+ 9. Nxd1 Bxc5 10. O-O Nc6 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Be3 Bb6 13. Nxc4 Ba6 {Malakhov,V (2693)-Leko,P (2709) Germany 2016}) 8. O-O c5 $146 (8... Qa6 9. a4 Nc6 10. Nb5 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Rd8 12. Qc2 Nd5 13. Qxc4 c6 14. Nd6 Qxc4 15. Nxc4 b6 16. Bd2 Ba6 17. Rfc1 {½-½ Efimenko,Z (2647)-Kravtsiv,M (2623) Lvov 2015}) 9. Bf4 Qa6 10. dxc5 Nbd7 {Howell's last few moves are not the best, and Tari shows why...} 11. b4 $1 Rd8 ({Because} 11... cxb3 12. axb3 {traps the queen, Black is already in dire straits.}) 12. Qc2 g5 $6 {And this makes it worse.} ({ Black had to try} 12... Nxe5 13. Bxe5 Ng4) 13. Nxd7 gxf4 14. Ne5 Nd5 15. Rad1 f6 (15... Nxb4 16. Rxd8+ Bxd8 17. Qd2 Nd5 18. Nxd5 exd5 19. Bxd5) 16. Nxd5 exd5 17. Bxd5+ Rxd5 18. Rxd5 fxe5 19. Rxe5 Qf6 20. Qxc4+ Kg7 21. Qe4 Bf8 22. Rd1 Bg4 23. Qxb7+ Kg8 24. Rdd5 fxg3 25. hxg3 Rd8 26. Rg5+ Kh8 27. Rxg4 Re8 28. Rf4 Qe6 29. Qf7 Qxe2 30. Rd7 1-0 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.05"] [Round "1.3"] [White "Wei, Yi"] [Black "Sambuev, Bator"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A13"] [WhiteElo "2753"] [BlackElo "2522"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "77"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. d4 c6 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 b5 6. Ne5 {After losing to Sambuev in the same type of position at round one Wei is determined to give the Canadian GM some of his own "medicine."} Bb7 7. O-O a6 8. Nc3 Bb4 9. a4 Ne7 10. Ne4 (10. h4 {is another way to play this line-} Nd7 11. Ne4 O-O 12. h5 {as in Maze,S (2559)-Zhigalko,S (2680) Aix les Bains 2011}) 10... Nd7 $4 $146 {A horrible blunder! And a novelty which will not attract any followers!} ({White was also clearly better in the only predecessor after:} 10... O-O 11. Bd2 c5 12. dxc5 Bxd2 13. Qxd2 Qxd2 14. Nxd2 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 {Bruzon Batista,L (2691) -Vera Gonzalez Quevedo,R (2482) Guarenas 2012}) 11. Bd2 $1 {The bishop on b4 is blocked and without it Black's position falls appart.} Bxd2 (11... f5 { would weaken another key pawn:} 12. Ng5 (12. Bxb4 {is not bad neither.}) 12... Bxd2 13. Nxe6 {and White wins.}) 12. Nd6+ {This is why the bishop was needed.} Kf8 13. Nexf7 ({There was an alternative solution-} 13. Nxb7 Qc7 14. Qxd2 Qxb7 15. Nxd7+ Qxd7 16. axb5 {and White wins.}) 13... Qc7 14. Qxd2 Nc8 15. Qf4 {It is over. White regained the pawn and kept a decisive attack for free. He soon won material and the game.} Nf6 (15... Rg8 16. Ng5+ Ke7 17. Qf7+ Kxd6 18. Qxe6# ) 16. Nxc8 Qxf4 17. gxf4 Rxc8 18. Nxh8 Nd5 19. axb5 cxb5 20. f5 Re8 21. Rfc1 exf5 22. Bxd5 Bxd5 23. Rxa6 Rxe2 24. Rd6 Bf3 25. Ra1 b4 26. d5 c3 27. bxc3 b3 28. Rd7 Re8 29. Rf7+ Kg8 30. Re7 Rd8 31. c4 Be4 32. Rb7 Bc2 33. Nf7 Rf8 34. Ng5 Rc8 35. Raa7 f4 36. Rxg7+ Kh8 37. Rxh7+ Bxh7 38. Rxh7+ Kg8 39. Rb7 {[Dejan Bojkov]} 1-0 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.05"] [Round "1.4"] [White "Sevian, Samuel"] [Black "Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B12"] [WhiteElo "2620"] [BlackElo "2687"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "70"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 c5 6. Be3 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Ne7 8. c4 Nbc6 9. Qa4 a6 10. Nc3 {This looks most challenging for Black.} ({Than} 10. Na3 Qa5+ 11. Qxa5 Nxa5 12. O-O dxc4 13. Nxf5 Nxf5 14. Bb6 Bxa3 15. bxa3 Nc6 16. f4 g5 17. Bxc4 gxf4 18. Rae1 Ne3 19. Rxf4 Nxc4 20. Rxc4 Rg8 {with equality, Leko, P (2734)-Le,Q (2681) Dortmund 2010}) 10... dxc4 11. O-O-O Qa5 12. Qxa5 Nxa5 13. Nxf5 Nxf5 14. Bb6 Nc6 15. f4 Rc8 16. Bxc4 Bb4 17. Bb3 Ba5 18. Bf2 h5 19. Kb1 Bxc3 20. bxc3 b5 $146 ({White had the advantage in the predecessing game:} 20... Na5 21. Bb6 Nxb3 22. axb3 O-O 23. Rd3 (23. c4 $5) 23... Rc6 24. Bd8 Rc8 25. Rhd1 Ne3 26. Rxe3 Rfxd8 27. Red3 Rxd3 28. Rxd3 Rc7 29. Kc2 Kf8 30. c4 {1/ 2-1/2 (30) Markgraf,A (2463)-Heinig,W (2328) Saarbruecken 2009}) 21. Bb6 O-O 22. Rd7 Rb8 23. Bf2 Na5 24. h3 Rfc8 {Here comes the run of the day.} (24... h4 {seemed mandatory. For example:} 25. Bc2 Ng3 26. Bxg3 hxg3 27. Rd3 Rfc8 28. Rxg3 b4 {with counterplay.}) 25. g4 $1 Nh6 26. g5 (26. Bd1 $5) 26... Nf5 (26... Nxb3 $1 {was a must!} 27. axb3 (27. gxh6 Nc5) 27... Nf5 {where White is somewhat better but Black should hold.}) 27. g6 $1 Nxb3 ({Or} 27... fxg6 28. Bxe6+ Kh8 29. Ba7 Ra8 30. Rg1 {and White wins.}) 28. gxf7+ {In four moves the pawn made fantastic run and Sevian wins.} Kf8 29. axb3 Nh6 ({Perhaps Nisipeanu missed the tricky idea} 29... Rxc3 30. Be1 $1 Rxb3+ 31. Ka2) 30. Ba7 Ra8 31. Bd4 Rc6 32. Rg1 Nxf7 33. Rg6 Rd8 34. Rb7 Nh8 35. Rgxg7 a5 {[Dejan Bojkov]} 1-0 [Event "Tbilisi"] [Site "Tbilisi"] [Date "2017.09.04"] [Round "1.2"] [White "Wei, Yi"] [Black "Sambuev, Bator"] [Result "*"] [WhiteElo "2748"] [BlackElo "2529"] [Annotator "ChessBase"] [PlyCount "91"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 2. d4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} d5 {[%emt 0: 00:05]} 3. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Bb4 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 4. e5 {[%emt 0:00:14]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 5. a3 {[%emt 0:00:21]} Bxc3+ {[%emt 0:00:15]} 6. bxc3 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Ne7 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 7. a4 {[%emt 0:00:55]} Qc7 {[%emt 0:03:32]} 8. Nf3 {[%emt 0:01:46]} b6 {[%emt 0:05:04]} 9. Bb5+ {[%emt 0:00:15]} Bd7 {[%emt 0: 01:08]} 10. Bd3 {[%emt 0:00:25]} Nbc6 {[%emt 0:00:54]} 11. O-O {[%emt 0:00:54]} h6 {[%emt 0:04:45]} 12. Re1 {[%emt 0:09:13]} O-O {[%emt 0:01:26]} 13. h4 { [%emt 0:11:41]} c4 {[%emt 0:02:12]} (13... f5 {0-1 (28) Van den Berg,A (2200) -Keene,R (2445) Amsterdam 1973}) 14. Bf1 {[%emt 0:00:35]} f6 {[%emt 0:00:45]} 15. h5 {[%emt 0:09:28]} (15. exf6 Rxf6 16. g3 Raf8 17. Bg2 Be8) 15... fxe5 { [%emt 0:07:43]} 16. dxe5 {[%emt 0:13:11]} Rf7 {[%emt 0:02:05]} 17. Ba3 {[%emt 0:01:25]} Raf8 {[%emt 0:00:46]} 18. Bd6 {[%emt 0:00:27]} Qd8 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 19. Be2 {[%emt 0:02:47]} Rf5 {[%emt 0:07:19]} 20. Nh4 {[%emt 0:04:24]} Rf4 { [%emt 0:00:39]} (20... Rxf2 21. Nf3 Rxe2 22. Qxe2 Rf4) 21. Bg4 {[%emt 0:00:28]} R8f7 {[%emt 0:05:44]} (21... Rxf2 22. Nf3 Rf4 23. Bxe6+ Bxe6 24. Kxf2 Nf5) 22. f3 {[%emt 0:01:46]} d4 {[%emt 0:04:25]} 23. Ng6 {[%emt 0:04:48]} Nd5 {[%emt 0: 02:35]} 24. Nxf4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Rxf4 {[%emt 0:00:43]} 25. cxd4 {[%emt 0:04: 22]} Rxd4 {[%emt 0:00:43]} 26. Qe2 {[%emt 0:07:56]} Qg5 {[%emt 0:04:26]} 27. Qf2 {[%emt 0:02:16]} Rd2 {[%emt 0:11:10]} 28. Re2 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Rd4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 29. Ree1 {[%emt 0:06:24]} Rd2 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 30. Re2 {[%emt 0:00: 07]} Rd4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 31. Qe1 {[%emt 0:06:44]} (31. a5 $1 b5 (31... c3 32. axb6 axb6 33. g3) 32. Bc5 Rf4 33. Rae1 $16) 31... g6 {[%emt 0:03:39]} (31... Nf4 32. Re4 Rxe4 33. Qxe4 Nd4 34. Kf2 Nf5 35. Rh1 Bc6 36. Qxc6 Nd3+ 37. Kg1 ( 37. cxd3 Qe3+ 38. Kf1 Ng3#) 37... Qc1+ 38. Kh2 Qf4+ 39. Kg1 Qc1+ $11) 32. Re4 { [%emt 0:04:24]} (32. Ba3 $1 gxh5 33. Bc1 Qg6 34. Bh3) 32... gxh5 {[%emt 0:03: 19]} 33. Bh3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Rd2 {[%emt 0:05:35]} 34. Kh1 {[%emt 0:04:47]} Rxc2 {[%emt 0:01:38]} 35. f4 {[%emt 0:02:23]} Qg6 {[%emt 0:03:55]} (35... Nxf4 36. Qe3 Nd5 37. Qf3) 36. f5 {[%emt 0:00:30]} exf5 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 37. Qd1 { [%emt 0:00:17]} fxe4 $2 {[%emt 0:06:12]} (37... Nc3 38. Qxc2 Nxe4 39. Qxc4+ Kg7 40. Re1 Be8) 38. Qxd5+ {[%emt 0:00:35]} (38. Qxc2 Bxh3 39. gxh3 Kh7 $132) 38... Kg7 {[%emt 0:01:33]} 39. Rg1 {[%emt 0:02:39]} (39. Bf8+ Kxf8 (39... Kh8 40. Qxd7 Nxe5 41. Bg7+ Qxg7 42. Qe8+ Kh7 43. Bf5+ Ng6 44. Rd1) 40. Rf1+ Bf5 41. Rxf5+) 39... Be8 {[%emt 0:03:17]} 40. Rf1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} h4 {[%emt 0:06:21]} (40... e3 41. Rf8 Bf7 42. e6 e2 43. Rxf7+ Qxf7 44. exf7 e1=Q+ 45. Kh2 Ne7 46. Qf3 $18) 41. Bf8+ {[%emt 0:03:35]} Kh8 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 42. Ba3 {[%emt 0:00:02] } Kg7 {[%emt 0:01:55]} 43. Rf6 {[%emt 0:00:14]} e3 {[%emt 0:10:04]} (43... Qg5 44. Bf8+ Kh8 (44... Kh7 45. Bf5+) 45. Rxh6+) 44. Rxg6+ {[%emt 0:00:19]} Bxg6 { [%emt 0:00:08]} 45. Qd7+ {[%emt 0:00:26]} Kh8 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 46. Bf8 {[%emt 0:00:10]} * [Event "FIDE World Cup 2017"] [Site "Tbilisi"] [Date "2017.09.04"] [Round "1.2"] [White "Hou, Yifan"] [Black "Piorun, Kacper"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2670"] [BlackElo "2644"] [Annotator "ChessBase"] [PlyCount "83"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e6 {[%emt 0:00:21]} 2. d4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} d5 {[%emt 0: 00:07]} 3. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 4. e5 {[%emt 0:00:59]} Nfd7 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 5. f4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:50]} 6. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 7. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:17]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:31]} 8. Qd2 {[%emt 0:04:35]} b6 {[%emt 0:01:34]} 9. Nd1 {[%emt 0:08:13]} a5 {[%emt 0: 00:53]} 10. c3 {[%emt 0:01:56]} a4 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 11. Bd3 {[%emt 0:10:06]} Ba6 {[%emt 0:00:47]} 12. Bxa6 {[%emt 0:00:24]} Rxa6 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 13. O-O { [%emt 0:00:58]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:03:43]} (13... b5 {0-1 (48) Brkic,A (2584)-Ragger, M (2696) Gjakova 2016}) (13... Ra8 14. f5 exf5 15. Qc2 g6 16. Bh6 Re8 17. Ne3 Nf8 18. g4 f4 19. Nf5 Ne6 20. Nd6 Bxd6 21. exd6 Nc6 22. Rae1 Qxd6 23. Ne5 cxd4 {0-1 (23) Pirrot,D (2373)-Bluebaum,M (2530) Bad Wiessee 2014}) 14. Bf2 {[%emt 0:01:21]} b5 {[%emt 0:08:46]} 15. f5 {[%emt 0:08:23]} Kh8 {[%emt 0:25:00]} ( 15... exf5 16. Ne3) 16. Qe2 {[%emt 0:15:40]} Qb6 {[%emt 0:23:56]} 17. Ne3 { [%emt 0:02:45]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:09:24]} 18. cxd4 {[%emt 0:04:52]} Nxd4 {[%emt 0: 01:44]} 19. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:03:05]} Qxd4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 20. Qxb5 {[%emt 0:00: 18]} Nb8 {[%emt 0:01:46]} 21. Nc2 {[%emt 0:24:23]} Qxe5 {[%emt 0:06:41]} 22. fxe6 {[%emt 0:04:33]} Qxe6 {[%emt 0:03:48]} (22... fxe6 23. Bg3 $18) 23. Rad1 { [%emt 0:03:09]} Rd8 {[%emt 0:01:10]} (23... Qc6 24. Nd4 Qxb5 25. Nxb5 Bf6 26. Rxd5 Bxb2 27. Bc5 Rg8 28. Rxf7 $14) 24. Nd4 {[%emt 0:02:12]} Qg6 {[%emt 0:05: 25]} (24... Qd7 25. Qxd7 Rxd7 26. Rc1) 25. Rfe1 {[%emt 0:01:37]} Qf6 {[%emt 0: 02:33]} 26. Qb7 {[%emt 0:02:31]} Bf8 {[%emt 0:02:20]} (26... Bc5 27. Qxd5 Ra5 28. Qf3 $14) 27. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Qf5 {[%emt 0:00:35]} (27... h6 28. Rxd5 ( 28. Bd4 Qf5 29. Ne5) 28... Rxd5 29. Qxd5) 28. Re5 {[%emt 0:00:59]} Qc8 {[%emt 0:00:46]} 29. Qxf7 {[%emt 0:00:16]} Rf6 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 30. Qh5 {[%emt 0:00: 09]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 31. Rexd5 {[%emt 0:00:50]} (31. Re2) 31... Rxd5 { [%emt 0:00:05]} 32. Rxd5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nb4 {[%emt 0:00:36]} 33. Rd1 {[%emt 0:00:25]} Qc2 {[%emt 0:00:41]} 34. Rf1 {[%emt 0:00:45]} Nxa2 {[%emt 0:00:48]} ( 34... Nd3 35. Qb5 Nxf2 36. Rxf2 Qb1+ 37. Rf1 Qxa2 $11) 35. Bd4 {[%emt 0:00:27]} Rf5 {[%emt 0:00:27]} 36. Qe8 {[%emt 0:00:56]} Nb4 {[%emt 0:00:47]} (36... Nc1) 37. g4 {[%emt 0:00:38]} Rf4 {[%emt 0:00:28]} 38. Bxg7+ {[%emt 0:00:23]} (38. Ne5 Rxf1+ 39. Kxf1 Qc1+ 40. Kg2 Qf4 41. Bc5 Qe4+ 42. Kh3 $18) 38... Kxg7 { [%emt 0:00:32]} 39. Qe5+ {[%emt 0:00:01]} Rf6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 40. Nd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qg6 {[%emt 0:00:53]} 41. g5 {[%emt 0:06:56]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:18:39]} 42. Kh1 {[%emt 0:07:37]} 1-0 [Event "Tbilisi FIDE World Cup"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.09.06"] [Round "10.10"] [White "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Black "Kovalyov, Anton"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B90"] [WhiteElo "2794"] [BlackElo "2649"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "85"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:33:01"] [BlackClock "0:35:53"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Be3 {A surprise for Kovalyov.} ({White players also try} 8. f4 {at once. Here is a recent example:} g6 9. Be2 Nbd7 10. O-O Rc8 11. f5 {with double-edged play in Gharamian,T (2626)-Rodshtein,M (2698) Chartres 2017}) 8... h5 {Played more or less instantly.} 9. Be2 Nbd7 10. O-O Rc8 11. Qd2 $146 {A novelty which will definitely attract followers. White's plan is Rf1-d1, Be2-f3, then somehow transfer the knigth from b3 to d5 (usually via c1-d3-b4.) Black is actively opposing it with queenside play.} ({A predecessor saw Black suffering after:} 11. a4 Nb6 12. Nd2 d5 13. Bxb6 Qxb6 14. exd5 Nxd5 15. Nxd5 Bxd5 16. Bxh5 Qxb2 ( {However} 16... Be6 {seems like an important improvement.}) 17. Nf3 {Yu,Y (2675)-Chu,W (2257) China 2013}) 11... b5 12. Rfd1 Nb6 13. Bxb6 {It is all about the d5 square.} ({The other way to play the position was} 13. Na5 Qc7 14. Bf3 {although Black looks OK after} b4) 13... Qxb6 14. a4 {It is always useful to weaken the queenside before jumping on d5.} b4 15. Nd5 {I strongly suspect that Anand was still in his home preparation.} Nxd5 ({In case of} 15... Bxd5 16. exd5 Ne4 17. Qe1 $1 {Is strong with the idea} Rxc2 18. Nd4 $1 {at once.} ({ Or after the preliminary} 18. a5 Qa7 19. Nd4 $1 {In both cases White has huge initiative for a pawn.})) 16. exd5 Bd7 {The best defense.} ({Anand would have played similarly after} 16... Bf5 17. a5 Qb7 18. Qe3 $1 {For example} Bxc2 ( 18... Rxc2 $2 {loses on the spot to} 19. Nd4 $1) (18... Be7 {is probably most stubborn, although White is clearly better after} 19. Qb6) 19. Rdc1 { Surprising as it may seem, Black is defensless. The pin along the c-file combined with the kingside fatigue leaves him no chances:} Be7 (19... Bf5 20. Nd4 $1 Bd7 21. Nc6 $1 Bxc6 22. dxc6 Rxc6 23. Bf3 Rxc1+ 24. Rxc1 Qb8 25. Qb6 $1 {and White wins.}) 20. Qb6 $1 Qxb6 21. axb6 O-O 22. Bxa6 {nd the bishop is gone.}) 17. a5 Qb7 18. Qe3 $1 {Anand breaks open the queenside while Kovalyov is still unprepared.} Be7 ({There is no time for pawn munching-} 18... Rxc2 19. Qb6) 19. Qb6 Qxb6 20. axb6 Rb8 21. Rxa6 ({Black seems to hold after} 21. Bxa6 Rxb6 22. Bd3 Rb8 23. Na5 Bd8) 21... Bd8 22. b7 Ke7 23. Nc5 $2 {"If this would work it would be the game of the year" (Kovalyov). Alas, it is not.} ({Up to here Anand played a great game and now a simple solution like:} 23. Rda1 $1 Rxb7 24. Ra8 $5 {This seems a bit more precise than} ({The immediate} 24. Ra7 Rc7) 24... Rc7 25. R1a7 Rf8 26. Na5 Rxa7 27. Nc6+ Bxc6 28. Rxa7+ Bd7 29. Bb5 { would have led to a position where Black is fighting for survival without even a hint of loss for White involved.}) 23... dxc5 ({Not much of a choice for Black as} 23... Bf5 24. Bd3 Bxd3 25. Nxd3 Rxb7 26. Ra4 {would be goodbye for the b4 pawn sooner or later.}) 24. d6+ Kf6 {The king needs not to obstruct the rooks.} (24... Ke6 25. Bc4+ Kf5 26. Bd5 {would transpose to the game.}) (24... Ke8 $2 {would lose to} 25. Bf3 {followed by Ra6-a1.}) 25. Bf3 Kf5 $1 {Very strong. Kovalyov opens the road for his dark-squared bishop and threatens to shut the white bishop with e5-e4.} 26. Bd5 (26. Ra8 {is not fast enough due to} Bf6 27. Rxb8 Rxb8 28. Ra1 e4 $1) 26... e4 (26... Bg5 $5) 27. Re1 ({One additional point behind the e5-e4 advance is revealed in the line} 27. Ra8 Bf6 28. Rda1 Be5 29. Rxb8 Rxb8 30. Ra8 Bxd6 {Perhaps this is what Anand missed?!}) 27... Bf6 ({There was an alternative} 27... Re8 $5 28. Bxf7 Rxb7 29. Bxe8 Bxe8 {when Black is clearly better.}) 28. Bxe4+ Kg5 29. Ra5 (29. h4+ $5 {was a chance intending} Kxh4 ({However the cool} 29... Kh6 {leaves Black in control.} ) 30. Ra5 Kg5 31. Rxc5+ Kh6 32. Ra1) 29... Bxb2 30. Rxc5+ Kf6 31. Re3 {Last chance-activity!} g6 $1 {And again-very cool defense by Kovalyov. This move takes away the f5 square from the white bishop and safeguards the king.} (31... Rhe8 {would only help White. After} 32. Rc4 (32. Rf3+ Ke6) 32... Bc3 33. Rf3+ Ke6 34. Bf5+ Kd5 35. Rcxc3 bxc3 36. Bxd7 Re1+ 37. Kh2 Kxd6 38. Bc8 {White does not risk to lose.}) ({It is also inpractical to enter the complications after} 31... Bd4 32. Rf3+ Ke6 33. Rc4 Bc3 34. Bf5+ Kd5 35. Rcxc3 bxc3 36. Bxd7 Rxb7 37. Rd3+ {where White has reasonable chances to survive.}) 32. Rf3+ Ke6 33. Rd3 Rhd8 34. Ra5 f5 {Black consolidated and is now converting the extra material.} 35. Bf3 Bc3 {This bishop is the star of Black's position. Defends the queenside, supports the potential passer on b4 and is always ready to come take the d6 pawn- what more do you need from a piece?} 36. h4 Kf6 (36... f4 { at once was also good.}) 37. g3 (37. Ra8 Be5 {should not change much.}) 37... f4 $1 {The fastest. Withouth the bishop Anand cannot defend his pawns.} 38. Be4 (38. gxf4 Bf5 {followed by Bf5xc2 would be curtains.}) 38... Bf5 39. Bxf5 gxf5 40. Rb5 Ke6 41. Kf1 Rd7 42. gxf4 Rbxb7 43. Re3+ {A shocker for the former World Champion!} 0-1 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.09.06"] [Round "10.1"] [White "Dreev, Aleksey"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D38"] [WhiteElo "2648"] [BlackElo "2827"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "64"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:01:59"] [BlackClock "0:40:52"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Qb3 c5 8. cxd5 exd5 9. a3 Bxc3+ 10. Qxc3 c4 (10... Nd7 11. g3 O-O 12. Bg2 b6 13. O-O Bb7 14. Rfc1 Qe7 15. dxc5 bxc5 16. b4 d4 {Wang,Y (2723)-Yu,Y (2721) Shenzhen 2016}) 11. b3 Be6 12. Ne5 $146 (12. e3 O-O 13. Be2 Rc8 14. O-O Nc6 15. a4 cxb3 16. a5 Qd8 17. a6 b6 18. Qxb3 Qd6 19. Rfb1 Rc7 {Skrondal,I (2277)-Hammer,J (2628) Sandefjord 2017}) 12... O-O 13. e3 Nc6 14. Be2 Nxe5 15. dxe5 Qg6 16. O-O d4 17. exd4 cxb3 18. Bf3 Rac8 19. Qe3 Qg5 20. Rab1 Qxe3 21. fxe3 {Move of the day:} Rfd8 $3 {A fantastic concept of supporting the b3 passer no matter what!} ( 21... Bc4 22. Rfe1 b5 23. Bd1 {is just equal.}) ({Dreev would be also happy to see the black bishop locked on the rim after} 21... Rc3 22. d5 Bd7 23. Bd1 Ba4 24. Rf4 b5 25. Kf2) 22. Bxb7 ({Here} 22. d5 {does not work due to} Bxd5 23. Bxd5 Rxd5 24. Rxb3 b6 {and White drops a pawn.}) (22. Bd1 {is not good anymore either. After} Rc3 23. Kf2 b5 {the black pawns are unstoppable.}) 22... Rc3 23. d5 Bd7 (23... Bxd5 $2 24. Rfd1) 24. Rf4 {With the idea Rf4-b4!} a5 $1 25. Kf2 { This makes things easier for the world champion.} ({Only future analysis will prove if Black was winning after} 25. d6) ({Or after} 25. Ba6) 25... Rb8 26. Bc6 (26. Ba6 b2 {should also win for Black.}) 26... Bxc6 27. dxc6 Rxc6 {The b-passer survived and wins the game thanks to the rook support.} 28. Rd4 Rc2+ 29. Kf3 b2 30. Rdd1 Rb5 31. a4 Rxe5 32. Rd8+ Kh7 {[Dejan Bojkov]} 0-1 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.09.06"] [Round "10.24"] [White "Navara, David"] [Black "Cheparinov, Ivan"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A18"] [WhiteElo "2720"] [BlackElo "2695"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "63"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:28:07"] [BlackClock "0:06:57"] 1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. e4 d5 4. e5 d4 5. exf6 dxc3 6. bxc3 Qxf6 7. Nf3 e5 8. d4 Nc6 (8... exd4 9. Bg5 Qe6+ 10. Be2 Be7 11. cxd4 Bxg5 12. Nxg5 Qg6 13. f4 O-O 14. O-O Nc6 {Nepomniachtchi,I (2751)-Harikrishna,P (2750) Moscow 2017}) 9. Bg5 Qg6 10. d5 Nb8 11. h4 h6 12. h5 Qd6 13. Be3 Nd7 14. Qa4 Qa3 $146 (14... c6 15. Rd1 Be7 16. Bd3 Qc7 17. O-O O-O 18. Rfe1 cxd5 19. cxd5 Bd6 20. Nh4 Nf6 { Nakamura,H (2787)-Caruana,F (2795) Saint Louis 2016}) 15. Qb3 a5 16. Qc2 Qd6 17. Bd3 Be7 18. Rd1 a4 19. O-O O-O 20. Rfe1 b6 21. Bh7+ Kh8 22. Bf5 Qf6 23. g4 Qd6 24. Bc1 a3 25. Bxd7 Bxd7 26. Nxe5 Ba4 27. Qf5 Bxd1 28. Nxf7+ Rxf7 29. Qxf7 Bh4 30. g5 {White sacrificed a piece for an attack. Navara said at the press-conference that he did not play well this game and that he was fighting for survival.} Ba4 $2 {Blunder of the day. This came as a very pleasant surprise for the Czech GM.} ({On} 30... Bxg5 31. Bxg5 hxg5 {Navara was planning } 32. h6 $1 ({Worse is} 32. Rxd1 Rf8 33. Qe6 Qf4 34. Rf1 Qxc4) 32... Qxh6 33. Rxd1 {with equality.}) 31. Re7 Bxf2+ $2 {Cheparinov was very low on time and committed another blunder.} ({Instead} 31... Rg8 $1 {would have given him chances for survival. For example} 32. Bf4 Qd8 33. Be5 Qf8 34. Qxf8 Rxf8 35. Bxg7+ ({Or} 35. Rxg7 Rf5 $1 36. Bd4 $2 Bxf2+ $1 {where Black wins.}) 35... Kg8 36. Bxf8 Kxf8 37. Rxc7 Bxg5 {White has extra material, but the bishops should count for something.}) 32. Kh1 (32. Kh1 {Cheparinov resigned due to the mate threats:} Rg8 33. Bf4 Qd8 34. Be5 Qf8 35. Re6 $1 Qxf7 36. Rxh6# {[Dejan Bojkov] }) 1-0 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.06"] [Round "2.1"] [White "Fedoseev, Vladimir3"] [Black "Inarkiev, Ernesto"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B34"] [WhiteElo "2731"] [BlackElo "2702"] [PlyCount "73"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Be2 O-O 8. Nb3 d6 9. g4 a6 {Fedoseev didn't like this move and thought he was better after this.} (9... Be6 10. g5 Nd7 11. h4 Nb6 12. f4 Nc4 13. Bxc4 Bxc4 14. Qf3 Nb4 15. Rh2 Qc7 {Tomczak,J (2585)-Moranda,W (2588) Poland 2015}) 10. h4 $146 ( 10. g5 Nd7 11. Qd2 b5 12. h4 Bb7 13. h5 Rc8 14. f4 Na5 15. hxg6 hxg6 {Wu,C (2377)-Escalante Ramirez,B (2302) Khanty-Mansiysk 2016}) 10... b5 11. h5 b4 12. Nd5 e6 (12... Nxe4 $6 13. hxg6 fxg6 14. Qd3) 13. Nb6 Rb8 14. Nxc8 Qxc8 (14... Rxc8 $5 15. Bxa6 Rb8) 15. Qxd6 e5 16. O-O-O a5 17. hxg6 hxg6 18. g5 Rd8 19. Qc5 Nd7 20. Qd5 Nb6 21. Qb5 Nd5 22. Qa4 {An important queen maneuver according to Fedoseev.} Nxe3 23. fxe3 Qc7 24. Bc4 Nd4 25. Nxa5 Ra8 26. exd4 Qxc4 27. Nxc4 Rxa4 28. dxe5 Re8 29. Kb1 Bxe5 30. Nb6 Ra7 31. Nd5 Kg7 32. Rh3 Ra4 33. Rdh1 Rd8 34. Rh7+ Kg8 35. Ne7+ Kf8 36. Nc6 Re8 37. Rh8+ 1-0 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.06"] [Round "2.1"] [White "Hou, Yifan"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2652"] [BlackElo "2799"] [PlyCount "39"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. Re1 d6 7. c3 Ne7 (7... a6 8. Bb3 Re8 9. h3 h6 10. Nbd2 Be6 11. Nf1 Bxb3 12. Qxb3 d5 13. Be3 Bf8 14. Rad1 Na5 {So,W (2812)-Carlsen,M (2832) Paris 2017}) 8. Nbd2 Bb6 9. Bb3 c6 10. Nf1 Ng6 11. Ng3 h6 12. h3 d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. d4 exd4 15. Nxd4 Be6 16. Nxe6 $146 (16. Bc2 Ndf4 17. Nxe6 Qxd1 18. Rxd1 Nxe6 19. Nf5 Rad8 20. Be3 Bxe3 21. Nxe3 {Brkic,A (2597)-Wagner,D (2485) Bad Gleichenberg 2014}) 16... fxe6 17. Rxe6 Rxf2 18. Kh1 Nh4 19. Qg4 Qf8 20. Qxh4 {Draw agreed.} (20. Qxh4 Rf1+ 21. Kh2 Bg1+ 22. Kh1 Bb6+) ({But what about} 20. Bxh6 Rxg2 21. Bxd5 cxd5 22. Bf4 Qc5 23. Re3 Qf8 24. Ree1 Rf2 25. Nh5 Ng2 26. Re5 Nxf4 27. Rf5 Nxh5 28. Rxf8+ Raxf8 29. Qxh5) 1/2-1/2 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.06"] [Round "2.1"] [White "Kramnik, Vladimir"] [Black "Demchenko, Anton"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2803"] [BlackElo "2645"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. b3 Bg7 4. Bb2 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. d4 Nbd7 (6... c5 {might be a much more interesting choice.}) 7. O-O Re8 {Black is playing not very actively. Re8 already doesn't seem so good.} 8. a4 Rb8 9. c4 {White gains more space.} e5 10. dxe5 Ng4 (10... dxe5 11. Nxe5 $16) 11. a5 dxe5 12. h3 Nh6 13. e4 {White's position is already preferable.} f6 14. b4 Nf8 15. Nc3 Be6 16. Qe2 Qc8 17. Kh2 Nf7 18. Rfd1 c6 19. Bc1 $1 {The bishop will stand well on e3.} f5 20. Be3 b6 21. axb6 axb6 22. Rac1 {Defending the knight against threats like f4 and also preparing Nd5.} Qc7 (22... Qb7 23. b5 $16) 23. Nd5 cxd5 24. cxd5 Qe7 25. dxe6 Nxe6 26. exf5 gxf5 27. Qb5 {Kramnik is very good at such positions. He calculates the tactics accurately and does not let his initiative go.} f4 28. gxf4 exf4 29. Rd7 Qf6 30. Bd2 Rbc8 31. Rxc8 Rxc8 32. Qxb6 {Winning a pawn. Now this position might seem wild, but if you look carefully, there is absolutely nothing that Black can do. White pieces are perfectly posted and the exposed nature of Black's king gives Kramnik a winning advantage.} Rc2 33. Qb7 Bf8 34. Qe4 Qg6 35. Qd5 Qf6 36. h4 Bg7 37. Bh3 Nf8 38. Rb7 h6 39. Bg4 Rb2 40. Bh5 Ng6 41. Bxg6 Qxg6 42. Rb8+ Bf8 (42... Kh7 43. h5 Qf6 44. Qe4+ $18) 43. Ne5 Rxd2 44. Rxf8+ 1-0 [Event "FIDE World Cup 2017"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.06"] [Round "2.1"] [White "Hou, Yifan"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2670"] [BlackElo "2802"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "39"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 3. Bc4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 4. O-O {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 5. d3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:07]} 6. Re1 {[%emt 0:00:19]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:52]} 7. c3 {[%emt 0:00:19]} Ne7 {[%emt 0:00:49]} 8. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:03:48]} Bb6 {[%emt 0:01:41]} 9. Bb3 {[%emt 0:00:24]} c6 {[%emt 0: 01:25]} 10. Nf1 {[%emt 0:05:42]} Ng6 {[%emt 0:00:51]} 11. Ng3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} h6 {[%emt 0:01:28]} 12. h3 {[%emt 0:01:10]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 13. exd5 { [%emt 0:01:06]} Nxd5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 14. d4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} exd4 {[%emt 0:00: 29]} 15. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Be6 $5 {[%emt 0:04:22] A very weird move. The bishop can be taken, but f2 becomes weak as the rook file is opened up. This has been seen before in two games.} 16. Nxe6 {[%emt 0:17:44] Hou Yifan is brave and picks up the challenge.} fxe6 {[%emt 0:01:28]} 17. Rxe6 {[%emt 0:00: 03]} Rxf2 {[%emt 0:00:47] This is obviously very risky and hence can be assumed that Hou Yifan had prepared it.} 18. Kh1 {[%emt 0:01:33]} Nh4 {[%emt 0: 00:22]} 19. Qg4 {[%emt 0:17:19]} Qf8 {[%emt 0:04:26]} (19... h5 {is the other serious option in the position.} 20. Qxh5 Qc7 21. Re5 g6 22. Qg5 Qf7 23. Be3 { It's a crazy line, but essentially White is better objectively.}) 20. Qxh4 $2 { [%emt 0:22:51] I would objectively call this a bad move, but perhaps practically not bad. White is better in this position if she takes on h6. But it also requires a lot of knowledge and something that Hou Yifan was perhaps not ready for.} (20. Bxh6 $1 Rxg2 21. Bxd5 cxd5 {The idea now is to give a check on h2 and get the queen into f2. Hence, it is important to block the f-file.} 22. Bf4 Qc5 (22... Qf7 23. Rae1 Bf2 24. Qxh4 Bxe1 25. Rxe1 Rxb2 26. Qg5 {This should be better for White.}) 23. Re3 Qf8 24. Ree1 $16) (20. Qxh4 Rf1+ 21. Kh2 Bg1+ 22. Kh1 Bd4+ 23. Kh2 Bg1+ $11 {That's how the game would have ended.}) 1/2-1/2 [Event "FIDE World Cup 2017"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.06"] [Round "2.1"] [White "Le, Quang Liem"] [Black "Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2739"] [BlackElo "2693"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "140"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 O-O 8. e3 Bf5 9. Qb3 Bxc3+ 10. Qxc3 (10. bxc3 Nbd7 11. Qxb7 Rb8 12. Qxa7 Ra8 13. Qb7 Rb8 14. Qc6 Rb2 $132) 10... Nbd7 11. Be2 c6 12. Nd2 Ne4 13. Bxd8 (13. Nxe4 Qxh4 14. Nd6 Be4 $13) 13... Nxc3 14. bxc3 Rfxd8 $11 15. f3 c5 16. Kf2 Rac8 17. Rhc1 Rc7 18. e4 {This might be a tad premature.} dxe4 19. fxe4 Bg6 20. Bf3 {Somewhere around this point Le Quang Liem offered a draw, but Vidit declined it. He felt that he was comfortable and there was absolutely no reason to not continue.} Ne5 21. Ke3 Nc6 22. Nb3 cxd4+ 23. cxd4 Re7 24. g4 f6 25. Re1 Bf7 26. Rad1 Nb4 { This configuration of bishop on f7 and the knight attacking the pawn on a2, puts White's position under great pressure.} 27. Rd2 Rc7 28. Kf2 Nxa2 29. d5 ( 29. Rxa2 Bxb3 30. Rxa7 Rxd4 $15) 29... Nc3 30. Nd4 Rc4 31. Re3 Be8 32. Bg2 Nb5 33. Nxb5 (33. Ne6 Rdc8 $17) 33... Bxb5 34. Bf1 (34. e5 $5 {According to Vidit this would have given White good chances to hold.} fxe5 35. Rxe5 Rxg4 36. d6 $13 {And White has strong counterplay.}) 34... Rc5 35. Bxb5 Rxb5 {This should be clear advantage to Black. However, Vidit's conversion was not very smooth.} 36. Rc3 Rd7 37. Ke3 Kf7 38. Rdc2 a5 39. Rc7 Ke7 40. Rc8 a4 41. Ra8 Rb4 42. Kd3 Rd8 43. Ra7 Kd6 44. Rc4 Rxc4 45. Kxc4 Ke5 46. Rxb7 Ra8 $1 47. Rb2 a3 48. Ra2 Kxe4 49. d6 Ke5 50. Kc5 (50. d7 Rd8 $1 51. Rxa3 Rxd7 {And this should be winning for Black as the white pawns are weak and the black king is cut off.}) 50... Rc8+ 51. Kb4 Kxd6 52. Rxa3 Rc7 53. Re3 Kd5 54. h3 g6 $1 {Creating a passed pawn.} 55. Re8 f5 56. Rg8 (56. Rh8 fxg4 57. hxg4 Rc4+ 58. Kb3 Rxg4 59. Rxh6 Ke4 $19) 56... Rc6 57. Kb5 Rf6 (57... fxg4 $1 58. hxg4 Rf6 $19) 58. gxf5 gxf5 59. Rd8+ Ke4 60. Re8+ Kf3 61. Kc4 Rd6 62. Kc5 Rd1 63. Rh8 f4 64. Rxh6 Kg3 65. Rg6+ Kxh3 66. Rf6 Kg3 67. Rg6+ Kf2 68. Kc4 f3 69. Kc3 Kf1 70. Kc2 Rd5 {A very powerful game by Vidit who beat a world class GM by making strong and consistent moves.} 0-1 [Event "FIDE World Cup 2017"] [Site "Tbilisi"] [Date "2017.09.06"] [Round "2.1"] [White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Grachev, Boris"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2804"] [BlackElo "2654"] [Annotator "TA"] [PlyCount "79"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. e5 Nfd7 5. e6 (5. d4 e6 6. dxc5 Nc6 7. Bf4 Bxc5 8. Bd3 h6 9. Bg3 g5 10. h3 a6 11. Qd2 b5 12. a3 Bb7 13. O-O Qe7 14. Ne2 Rg8 15. c3 h5 16. Ned4 h4 17. Bh2 {1-0 (34) Mozharov,M (2555)-Najer,E (2646) Moscow 2014}) 5... fxe6 6. Bb5 {[#] Black must now prevent Ng5. B29: Sicilian: 2 Nf3 Nf6 (Nimzowitsch Variation)} Nc6 (6... a6 $142 7. Bxd7+ Bxd7) 7. O-O g6 $146 ({Find the theoretical novelty and annotate with similar games:} 7... Qc7 8. Re1 Nd4 9. Nxd4 cxd4 10. Ne2 e5 11. c3 Qb6 12. Qb3 {1-0 (22) Peuraniemi,P (2474)-Krasevec, A (2292) ICCF corr 2000}) 8. Qe2 {The position is equal.} Bg7 9. Qxe6 Nb6 (9... Nde5 $1 $11 {keeps the balance.} 10. Qxd5 Qxd5 11. Nxd5 Nxf3+ 12. gxf3 Kf7) 10. Bxc6+ $16 bxc6 11. Qxc6+ Bd7 12. Qxc5 d4 13. Ne4 (13. Nxd4 Rc8 $17) 13... Rc8 14. Qa3 O-O 15. d3 ({Wrong is} 15. Qxa7 $2 Bc6 $19) 15... h6 16. Re1 Kh7 (16... Rf7 $16 17. Bd2 (17. Qxa7 Ra8 $11) 17... Rxc2) 17. c4 ({And not} 17. Qxa7 Rxf3 18. Bxh6 (18. gxf3 Ra8 $11) 18... Kxh6 $11) 17... dxc3 18. Nxc3 Bc6 19. Qxe7 ({White should play} 19. Rxe7 $18 Rc7 20. Rxc7 Qxc7 21. Ne4) 19... Bxf3 20. gxf3 Rc7 21. Qxd8 Rxd8 22. Bf4 Rf7 23. Be3 Bxc3 24. bxc3 Rxd3 25. Bd4 Nd5 26. Rad1 Rdxf3 27. c4 $36 {Black is under strong pressure.} Nb4 28. Rd2 R3f4 $2 (28... Rc7 $16 {keeps fighting.} 29. Re3 Rxe3 30. Bxe3 Kg7) 29. Re8 $18 g5 $2 (29... Rf8 30. Rxf8 Rxf8) 30. Be5 {White is clearly winning.} Rg4+ 31. Kf1 Nc6 32. Bb2 Rgf4 33. Rh8+ Kg6 34. Rd6+ Kf5 35. Rxc6 Kg4 {[#]} 36. h3+ $1 Kxh3 37. Rhxh6+ Kg4 38. Rhf6 Rb7 39. Be5 Kf3 40. Bxf4 {Precision: White = 68%, Black = 48%.} 1-0 [Event "FIDE World Cup 2017"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.06"] [Round "2.1"] [White "Adhiban, Baskaran"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B96"] [WhiteElo "2670"] [BlackElo "2741"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "55"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} d6 {[%emt 0: 00:03]} 3. d4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 4. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 5. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 6. Bg5 {[%emt 0:00:00] Adhiban goes for the sharpest line against the Sicilian Najdorf.} e6 { [%emt 0:00:04]} 7. f4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nbd7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} ({The last time that Adhiban and Nepo played each other the game continued} 7... h6 8. Bh4 Qb6 9. a3 Nbd7 10. Bc4 e5 11. fxe5 dxe5 12. Nf5 g6 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. Qxd5 Rh7 15. O-O-O gxf5 16. exf5 Be7 17. Bxe7 Kxe7 18. Rhf1 Qf6 19. Bb3 Rh8 20. Rf3 Re8 21. Ba4 Rd8 22. Rg3 b5 23. Qxa8 bxa4 24. Rc3 Nb6 25. Qa7+ Rd7 26. Rc7 Kd8 27. Rdxd7+ Nxd7 28. Rc3 Qd6 29. Qa8 Nc5 30. Qa7 Nd7 31. Rg3 Ke7 32. Rd3 Qc6 33. Rc3 Qxg2 34. Rxc8 Qh1+ 35. Kd2 Qxh2+ 36. Kc3 Qh3+ 37. Kb4 Qxf5 38. Qc7 e4 39. Qd8+ Kd6 40. Qc7+ Ke7 41. c4 e3 42. Qd8+ Kd6 43. Qc7+ Ke7 44. Qd8+ Kd6 45. Qc7+ {1/ 2-1/2 (45) Adhiban,B (2653)-Nepomniachtchi,I (2767) Wijk aan Zee 2017}) 8. Bc4 {[%emt 0:07:10] Adhiban played this move after some thought} b5 $6 {[%emt 0:04: 33][%cal Gc4e6] This is already a mistake.} (8... Qb6 9. Bxf6 Nxf6 10. Bb3) 9. Bxe6 $1 {[%emt 0:00:11] This has been played 66 times before, and it seems as if Black is in deep trouble. It is surprising that Nepo played something which essentially gives him a position with just two outcomes - draw or loss.} fxe6 { [%emt 0:00:18]} 10. Nxe6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Qb6 {[%emt 0:02:11]} 11. Nd5 $1 { [%emt 0:00:06]} Nxd5 {[%emt 0:00:50]} 12. Qxd5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nb8 $5 {[%emt 0:19:24] After the game I asked Nepo if he had prepared this and he said, no, he thought of this over the board. And this is the only move to stay in the game.} (12... Qe3+ $2 {is the other move that has been played here.} 13. Kf1 $18 {But after this, it seems that Black is utterly lost.}) 13. Nxf8 {[%emt 0: 28:34]} Rxf8 {[%emt 0:03:21]} 14. Qxa8 {[%emt 0:01:13]} Bb7 {[%emt 0:03:28]} ( 14... Qe3+ 15. Kf1 Rxf4+ 16. Bxf4 Qxf4+ {This position might look like a perpetual, but it is not because after} 17. Ke2 Bg4+ 18. Kd3 $18 {Black has no checks.}) (14... h6 15. O-O-O hxg5 16. Qd5 gxf4 17. Qh5+ $16) 15. Qxb8+ {[%emt 0:00:44]} Kf7 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 16. Qxf8+ {[%emt 0:00:29]} Kxf8 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 17. O-O-O {[%emt 0:01:00]} Bxe4 {[%emt 0:00:34] How do we assess this position? It seems as if White is surely better, but the bishop on e4 is very strong. White has to be accurate to break this configuration.} 18. Rd2 $6 { This move throws away all of White's advantage.} (18. Rhe1 {This was correct way to begin.} d5 19. Rd2 {The idea is to now transfer the bishop to d4 via h4-f2. White is surely better here.} b4 (19... Qa5 20. a3 b4 21. Bd8 $1 Qb5 22. Bc7 $1 bxa3 23. Bd6+ $16) 20. f5 (20. Bh4 Qa5) 20... a5 21. Be3 $16) 18... h6 19. Bh4 Qa5 $1 {Now it is not so easy to defend the a2 pawn.} 20. Re1 (20. a3 b4 $132) 20... Qxa2 21. Rxd6 Qa1+ 22. Kd2 Qa4 23. Rd8+ Kf7 24. b3 Qa5+ 25. Kd1 Qa1+ 26. Kd2 Qa5+ 27. Kd1 Qa1+ 28. Kd2 {A very interesting fight with theoretical interest as well as some nice variations.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.06"] [Round "2.1"] [White "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Black "Kovalyov, Anton"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B90"] [WhiteElo "2794"] [BlackElo "2649"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "86"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:08] It is always exciting to see Sicilian on the board.} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 3. d4 { [%emt 0:00:00]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 4. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00: 07]} 5. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:04] Of course, the Najdorf!} 6. h3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 7. Nb3 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Be6 {[%emt 0:03: 24]} 8. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:18]} h5 {[%emt 0:03:07]} 9. Be2 {[%emt 0:12:04]} Nbd7 { [%emt 0:02:49]} 10. O-O {[%emt 0:01:31] Short castle might not be the most exciting thing in the position, but as Anish says, in Najdorf, the most ambitious approach might not be the best one, as it is studied and analyzed extensively.} Rc8 {[%emt 0:03:19]} 11. Qd2 {[%emt 0:02:10] We are already in a fresh position.} b5 {[%emt 0:07:10]} 12. Rfd1 {[%emt 0:05:23]} Nb6 {[%emt 0:09: 00]} 13. Bxb6 {[%emt 0:09:45]} Qxb6 {[%emt 0:01:11]} 14. a4 {[%emt 0:00:28]} b4 {[%emt 0:04:33]} 15. Nd5 {[%emt 0:00:35]} Nxd5 {[%emt 0:05:50]} 16. exd5 { [%emt 0:01:15]} Bd7 {[%emt 0:00:46]} 17. a5 {[%emt 0:05:20] Anand has fixed the weakness on a6 and is clearly better now. Now because of the position itself, but because he has a key idea o the next move.} Qb7 {[%emt 0:09:13]} 18. Qe3 $1 {[%emt 0:03:40] This is the move that Kovalyov had missed. The queen comes to b6 and the a6 pawn is lost.} Be7 {[%emt 0:13:19]} (18... Rb8 { is just too slow and is met with} 19. f4 $16) 19. Qb6 $1 {[%emt 0:01:47] A very strong idea by Vishy attacking the a6 pawn.} Qxb6 {[%emt 0:00:38]} 20. axb6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Rb8 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 21. Rxa6 {[%emt 0:00:42]} Bd8 { [%emt 0:00:07] There is no real good way to defend the b6 pawn, but White should be better, because of superior development and co-ordination.} 22. b7 $5 {[%emt 0:20:04]} (22. Na5 Bxb6 (22... Rxb6 23. Ra8 $16) 23. Nc4 Bd4 24. Nxd6+ Ke7 25. Nc4 (25. Ne4 {Should give White some advantage especially because Bxb2 is met with d6+ cutting off the co-ordination.} Bxb2 (25... Rhc8 $14) 26. d6+ $16) 25... Rhc8 26. b3 Ra8 $44 {with very good compensation for the pawn.}) 22... Ke7 {[%emt 0:06:58][%cal Gb3c5]} 23. Nc5 $5 {[%emt 0:08:44] Anand is in an inspired mood and makes a very practical sacrifice. Objectively it might not be the best, but Vishy has seen that it poses good enough problems for his opponent to try it out.} (23. Rda1 Rxb7 24. Ra8 $14 {should give White a small edge, but nothing substantial.}) 23... dxc5 {[%emt 0:10:18] As Kovalyov said after the game, if Nc5 worked it could have been the game of the year, but fortunately it didn't!} 24. d6+ {[%emt 0:00:16]} Kf6 {[%emt 0:00:48]} (24... Ke6 25. Bc4+ Kf5 26. Bd5 $17 {Black seems all tied up, but White is not threatening anything concretely and the position should be interesting and unbalanced.}) 25. Bf3 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Kf5 $5 {[%emt 0:01:26] The king is taking part actively in the battle and threatening e4.} 26. Bd5 {[%emt 0:07:01] } (26. Ra8 Bf6 $15) 26... e4 {[%emt 0:00:34]} 27. Re1 {[%emt 0:00:24]} Bf6 { [%emt 0:05:04]} (27... Re8) 28. Bxe4+ {[%emt 0:01:47]} Kg5 {[%emt 0:00:11] Anton plays this position well and is not afraid of moving his king around the board.} 29. Ra5 {[%emt 0:04:50]} Bxb2 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 30. Rxc5+ {[%emt 0:00: 29]} Kf6 {[%emt 0:01:02]} 31. Re3 {[%emt 0:02:22]} g6 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 32. Rf3+ {[%emt 0:01:20]} Ke6 {[%emt 0:00:43]} (32... Kg7 33. Bd5 Bf6 34. Rc7 Rhd8 35. Re3 {is a lot of pressure on the position.}) 33. Rd3 {[%emt 0:01:39]} Rhd8 { [%emt 0:00:33]} 34. Ra5 {[%emt 0:00:18]} f5 {[%emt 0:02:41]} 35. Bf3 {[%emt 0: 00:11]} Bc3 $17 {[%emt 0:00:17] Overall Black has consolidated his extra piece and White is in trouble.} 36. h4 {[%emt 0:01:25]} Kf6 {[%emt 0:01:14]} 37. g3 { [%emt 0:01:47]} f4 $1 {[%emt 0:03:30] This key move seals the game in Black's favour. The idea is that you activate your light squared bishop.} 38. Be4 { [%emt 0:00:10]} Bf5 {[%emt 0:00:41]} 39. Bxf5 {[%emt 0:04:25]} gxf5 {[%emt 0: 00:20]} 40. Rb5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Ke6 {[%emt 0:01:37]} 41. Kf1 {[%emt 0:03:27]} Rd7 {[%emt 0:00:51]} 42. gxf4 {[%emt 0:01:02]} Rbxb7 {[%emt 0:00:48]} 43. Re3+ {[%emt 0:01:11]} Kf6 {[%emt 0:00:34] Anand has absolutely no compensation for the piece and rightly resigned.} 0-1 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.09.07"] [Round "11.12"] [White "Dubov, Daniil"] [Black "Karjakin, Sergey"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A29"] [WhiteElo "2666"] [BlackElo "2780"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "61"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:26:38"] [BlackClock "0:07:54"] 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Bc5 {"A very popular line of lately." (Dubov)} 7. O-O O-O 8. d3 ({Aronian's treatment of the line was cruel:} 8. Nxd5 Qxd5 9. Ng5 Qd8 10. Nxh7 Re8 11. Ng5 Qxg5 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. d4 {Aronian,L (2799)-Caruana,F (2807) Saint Louis 2017}) 8... Bb6 9. Nxd5 Qxd5 10. b4 e4 11. Ng5 Qd4 {Obviously this whole sequence of moves was known to both players. Now comes the novelty.} 12. Ba3 $146 {"I do not think that this novelty leads to an advantage if he plays correctly, but at least Black needs to remember a lot of stuff." (Dubov)} ({Remarkably, both predecessing games were played by Karjakin. Both against Nakamura, less than a month ago:} 12. Be3 Qxb4 13. Nxe4 Bxe3 ({Black also tried:} 13... Bg4 { although this seems less convincing-} 14. h3 Bh5 15. Rb1 Qe7 16. Qd2 Rad8 17. Nc3 {Nakamura,H (2792)-Karjakin,S (2773) Saint Louis 2017}) 14. fxe3 Qe7 15. Qd2 Ne5 16. Rac1 c6 {with approximate equality, Nakamura,H (2792)-Karjakin,S (2773) Saint Louis}) 12... e3 {Correct.} ({Whereas} 12... exd3 13. b5 Nb4 14. e3 Qc3 15. Bxb4 Qxb4 16. Qxd3 {favors White.}) 13. b5 exf2+ 14. Kh1 Ne5 { Correct again.} (14... Nb4 $2 {puts the knight in precarious situation. White can capitalize on that with:} 15. Qb3 Bc5 16. Nf3 Qd6 17. d4) 15. Bxf8 Kxf8 16. a4 a5 {It is essential to keep the dark-squared bishop alive. It should be added that both players played quite comfortably until this moment, practically blitzing their moves.} ({If} 16... h6 17. a5 hxg5 18. Ra4 Qd6 19. axb6 Qxb6 20. Qc1 {White is clearly better.}) 17. bxa6 Rxa6 18. a5 Ba7 {The first long thought for Karjakin (25 minutes), and a mistake according to Dubov. } (18... Rxa5 $1 {was the right way to play it is what the winner revealed in the after-game interview.}) (18... Bxa5 {is not as convincing instead and White is doing great after} 19. Ra4 Qe3 20. Nxh7+ Kg8 21. Re4 Qd2 22. Qxd2 Bxd2 23. Rxe5) 19. Qc1 $1 {"I thought this was clever. I only rememebered that the computer evaluation was better for me. From now on we played on our own". (Dubov) The queen is getting on active position with a tempo.} (19. Qb3 {also looks interesting.}) 19... Qd8 {Solid defense.} (19... h6 20. Qxc7 {loses instantly.}) (19... Qd6 {only helps White after} 20. Ne4) (19... c6 $5 {was the only other option, although White seems better after both:} 20. Nxh7+ ({Or } 20. Ne4 Ng4 21. Bh3 ({But not} 21. h3 Ne3 22. Rxf2 Nxg2 23. Kxg2 Qd7 $1 { with counterplay for Black.}) 21... Qe5 22. Qa3+ c5 (22... Kg8 23. Qd6) 23. Bxg4 Bxg4 24. Rxf2) 20... Kg8 21. Ng5 {The pawn on f2 is unpleasant, but if White manages to consolidate he would be clearly winning.}) 20. Qf4 {The queen is perfectly placed here.} h6 21. Ne4 Qe7 ({Worse is} 21... Bd4 22. Rac1 Rxa5 23. Nxf2 {without that pawn Black does not have any play.}) 22. Nc3 (22. Nxf2 $2 {is bad due to} Rf6 $1) ({However} 22. Rac1 $5 {deserves attention with the idea} Rxa5 23. Nxf2) 22... g5 $6 {Only this can be labelled as a mistake. The idea is correct, but the timing is not.} ({Apparently Karjakin disliked the endgame after} 22... c6 23. Ne4 ({Or} 23. Nd1 Ng4 24. d4 g5 25. Qd2 Qd6 {which is also not that clear.}) 23... Ng4 24. Bh3 g5 25. Qd6 h5 {but in the game he would get a much worse version of it!}) 23. Qc1 $1 {With the strong threat Nc3-d5!} Ng4 ({Even after} 23... c6 {there is} 24. Nd5 $1 (24. Ne4 {is not as convincing after} Ng4 25. h3 Ne3) 24... Qd6 25. Nb6 $1 {As mentioned earlier, this is Black's key piece and once that it disappears from the board all Black's counterplay is over. For example:} Bxb6 26. axb6 Rxa1 27. Qxa1 Ng4 28. Qh8+ Ke7 29. Qxc8 {and White wins.}) 24. Nd5 Qxe2 25. Qxc7 Rc6 {Dubov was more worried of the moves that kept the queens on the board as time-trouble was approaching.} ({Still, the computer analyzes reveals wins for White in both cases. After:} 25... Be6 26. Qxb7 Nxh2 ({Or} 26... Bxd5 27. Bxd5 Rf6 28. Qxa7) 27. Qe7+ Kg7 28. Qf6+ {It is White who mates first:} Kg8 (28... Kf8 29. Qh8#) ( 28... Kh7 29. Be4+) 29. Ne7+ Kf8 30. Ng6+ Ke8 31. Qe7#) ({And:} 25... Bf5 26. Qxb7 Nxh2 27. Qxa6 Nxf1 28. Qxh6+ {allows White a chance to defend against the checkmate just in time.}) 26. Qd8+ Qe8 {The endgame is lost according to both players.} ({However there was no alternative-} 26... Kg7 27. Ne7 Rc2 28. Qg8+ Kf6 29. Nxc8 {leaves Black no pieces.}) 27. Qxe8+ Kxe8 28. d4 $1 {"The most convincing win" (Dubov)} Kd8 ({Or the familiar bishop blockade theme after} 28... Bxd4 29. Ra4 Ba7 30. Nb6) 29. h3 Nf6 30. Nb6 Rc2 31. Nxc8 {Karjakin resigned due to the lines:} (31. Nxc8 Kxc8 (31... Rxc8 32. Rxf2) 32. Rac1 Rxc1 33. Rxc1+ Kb8 34. Rb1) 1-0 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.07"] [Round "2.2"] [White "Adams, Michael"] [Black "Rodshtein, Maxim"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C65"] [WhiteElo "2738"] [BlackElo "2695"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "126"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. O-O Bg4 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 O-O (8... Nd7 9. Nd2 Qe7 10. a4 Nf8 11. Nc4 f6 12. Bd2 Ne6 13. Rab1 O-O 14. b4 Bd6 {Inarkiev,E (2680)-Jakovenko,D (2713) Khanty-Mansiysk 2013}) 9. Nd2 Re8 10. Nc4 Nd7 11. Bd2 $146 (11. Qg3 f6 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Nxe3 Nf8 14. Nf5 Qd7 15. f4 Kh8 {Inarkiev,E (2680)-Jakovenko,D (2713) Khanty-Mansiysk 2013}) 11... Re6 12. g3 b5 13. Ne3 Bf8 14. a4 a6 15. Ra2 Nc5 16. axb5 axb5 17. Rfa1 Rxa2 18. Rxa2 Re8 19. Kg2 Ne6 20. Nf5 c5 21. Ra5 Qd7 22. Bc3 f6 23. b3 c6 24. h4 g6 25. Ne3 Bg7 26. Qg4 Rf8 27. Kg1 Qf7 28. Ra6 f5 29. exf5 gxf5 30. Qe2 Qb7 31. Ra2 Nd4 32. Bxd4 cxd4 33. Nf1 c5 34. Nd2 Bh6 35. Ra1 Qg7 36. Kh2 {Move of the day is the central break that Maxim Rodshtein delivered in his game to knock down Michael Adams.} e4 $1 37. Rf1 ({The tactical justification of the break was} 37. dxe4 d3) 37... e3 {Black took over the initiative and never let it go.} 38. Nf3 Kh8 39. fxe3 dxe3 40. Ng1 Rg8 41. Qf3 Qc3 42. Qe2 f4 43. g4 f3 $1 44. Nxf3 Rxg4 45. Kh3 Rg8 46. Rg1 Rf8 47. Rg4 Qf6 48. Ng5 Qf2 {This worked at the end.} ({Here Rodshtein missed a straight win with:} 48... Bxg5 $1 49. hxg5 (49. Rxg5 Qf2 50. Rg2 Rf3+ {would be similar to the main line.}) 49... Qf2 50. Rg2 Rf3+ 51. Kh2 Qh4+ 52. Kg1 Rh3 {and Black wins.}) 49. Rg2 Bxg5 $1 50. Rxf2 exf2 51. Qf1 Be3 52. b4 cxb4 53. Qa1+ Kg8 54. Qf1 h5 55. Kh2 Kh7 56. Kh3 Rf4 57. d4 Bxd4 58. Kg2 Kh8 59. Kh3 Rf6 60. Kh2 Rf8 61. Kh3 Rf4 62. Kg2 Rg4+ 63. Kh2 Be5+ { [Dejan Bojkov]} 0-1 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.07"] [Round "2.2"] [White "Cheparinov, Ivan"] [Black "Navara, David"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C45"] [WhiteElo "2695"] [BlackElo "2720"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "89"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nb3 Bb6 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 d6 9. f3 Be6 (9... g5 10. Bg3 a6 11. Qd2 Qe7 12. O-O-O Be6 13. h4 O-O-O 14. Kb1 Nd7 15. Bf2 Qf6 {Dominguez Perez,L (2752)-Andreikin,D (2736) Novi Sad 2016} ) 10. Bb5 O-O 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Qe2 $146 (12. Qd3 g5 13. Bg3 Nh5 14. O-O-O Qf6 15. Na4 Nxg3 16. hxg3 Bf2 17. g4 c5 18. Qc3 Qg7 {Brown,M (2252)-Fodor,T (2505) Bournemouth 2016}) 12... g5 13. Bf2 Bxb3 14. axb3 Nd5 15. Qd2 Nxc3 16. Qxc3 f5 17. Qc4+ Kg7 18. Qxc6 fxe4 19. Bxb6 axb6 20. Rxa8 Qxa8 21. Qxc7+ Kg8 22. O-O exf3 23. Qc4+ Kg7 24. Qc3+ Kg8 25. Rxf3 Rxf3 26. gxf3 Qd5 27. Kg2 b5 28. Kg3 Kf7 29. f4 Kg6 30. Qe3 Kf5 31. fxg5 hxg5 {Once again the blunder of the day came from the match Cheparinov-Navara. The Bulgarian grandmaster was pressing throughout the whole game, but when a chance to wrap up the game occurred he let it go.} 32. h3 $2 (32. Qf3+ $1 {would had won. The main line runs:} Qxf3+ 33. Kxf3 Ke5 (33... g4+ {does not help neither} 34. Ke3 Kg5 (34... Ke5 35. b4 Kd5 36. Kf4 {and wins.}) 35. b4 Kh4 36. c4 Kh3 37. Kf4 $1 {stopping all the counterplay.}) ({Or} 33... b4 34. c3 {creating a passer.}) 34. Kg4 Kf6 35. b4 d5 36. c3 Kg6 37. Kf3 Kf5 38. Ke3 Kg4 39. Kd4 Kh3 40. Kxd5 g4 41. c4 Kxh2 42. cxb5 g3 43. b6 g2 44. b7 g1=Q 45. b8=Q+ {and the queens are traded with checks- } Kh3 46. Qh8+) 32... Qc5 33. Qd3+ Kf6 34. Kf3 Qe5 {Luckily for him Cheparinov got another chance.} (34... b4 {would have prolonged the game at least.}) 35. Qc3 $1 {This time everything works.} Qxc3+ 36. bxc3 d5 (36... Ke5 37. Ke3 Kd5 38. Kd3 Ke5 39. c4 b4 40. c3) 37. Ke3 Ke5 38. Kd3 Kf4 39. Kd4 Kg3 40. Kxd5 Kxh3 41. c4 g4 42. c5 {The "c" pawn promotes with a check.} g3 43. c6 g2 44. c7 g1=Q 45. c8=Q+ 1-0 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.08"] [Round "2.4"] [White "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"] [Black "Onischuk, Alexander"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D35"] [WhiteElo "2745"] [BlackElo "2682"] [PlyCount "98"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Be7 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8. Nge2 Nh5 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. g4 Nhf6 11. Ng3 Nb6 (11... g6 12. g5 Ng8 13. h4 Nb6 14. a4 a5 15. h5 Qxg5 16. hxg6 fxg6 17. Qb3 Nd7 {Ivanisevic,I (2638)-Banusz,T (2585) Dubai 2015}) 12. g5 Ng8 13. h4 Be6 $146 (13... Qd6 14. Qc2 Ne7 15. Nh5 Kf8 16. Rg1 Ng6 17. O-O-O Nxh4 18. Rh1 Nf3 {Vavrak,P (2466)-Godena,M (2528) Olbia 2008}) 14. Nh5 g6 15. Ng7+ Kd7 16. Nxe6 Qxe6 17. a4 a5 18. h5 Ne7 19. Qf3 Nf5 20. Ne2 Rae8 21. b3 Nd6 22. Qh3 Qxh3 23. Rxh3 h6 24. hxg6 hxg5 25. Rxh8 Rxh8 26. g7 Rg8 27. Ng3 Ke7 28. Nh5 f5 29. Ke2 Nd7 30. Rh1 Kf7 31. f4 $2 ({It was time to play for a draw with e.g.} 31. Rg1 g4 32. f3 gxf3+ 33. Kxf3 Nf6 34. Nxf6 Kxf6 35. Kf4) 31... gxf4 32. exf4 Nf6 {White is inevitably going to lose the g-pawn now.} 33. Nxf6 Kxf6 34. Rh6+ Ke7 35. Rg6 Ne4 36. Bxe4 dxe4 37. d5 cxd5 38. Ke3 Kf7 39. Rb6 Rxg7 40. Rxb7+ Kg6 41. Rb5 Kh5 42. Rxd5 Rg3+ 43. Ke2 Kg4 44. Rxa5 Rxb3 45. Ra8 Kxf4 46. a5 Rb2+ 47. Kd1 Ra2 48. a6 Ke3 49. a7 f4 0-1 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.08"] [Round "2.3"] [White "Svidler, Peter"] [Black "Erdos, Viktor"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A20"] [WhiteElo "2751"] [BlackElo "2628"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 h6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. e4 (5. Qb3 a5 6. a3 Bxc3 7. Qxc3 Qe7 8. Nf3 d6 9. b3 O-O 10. Bb2 c5 11. d3 Nc6 12. e3 Nd4 13. Nd2 Bg4 {Hou,Y (2658) -Inarkiev,E (2732) Petropavlovsk Kamchatsky 2016}) 5... d6 6. Nge2 Nc6 7. h3 Bc5 8. a3 $146 (8. d3 O-O 9. Na4 Nd4 10. Nxc5 dxc5 11. O-O Qd6 12. Nxd4 cxd4 13. f4 Nd7 14. f5 f6 15. h4 a5 {Karlsson,L (2408)-Krantz,C (2226) Norrkoeping 2014}) 8... a6 9. d3 Nd4 10. b4 Ba7 11. Be3 O-O 12. O-O c6 13. Bxd4 exd4 14. Nb1 b5 15. Nd2 Be6 16. Rc1 Rc8 17. Nf4 Bd7 18. Nb3 c5 19. bxc5 bxc4 20. Rxc4 dxc5 21. e5 Nh7 22. Qc2 g5 23. Nh5 Be6 24. Nd2 f5 25. Ra4 a5 26. Nc4 Bb6 27. Rb1 Bc7 28. Rb7 f4 29. Qe2 Bd5 30. Bxd5+ Qxd5 31. Ra7 f3 {Very understandable, but this is what Svidler was hoping for.} (31... fxg3) 32. Qe1 Qd7 33. e6 $1 { Sacrificing a full rook for a strong attack.} Qxa4 34. e7 Qd7 $2 {Wrong square. } (34... Rf7 35. Rxc7 {and}) (34... Rfe8 35. Qe6+ Kh8 36. Ne5 {both lose but}) (34... Qc6 $1 {was playable. After} 35. exf8=Q+ Kxf8 {it's not clear at all what's going on.}) 35. Qe4 {Even stronger than taking the rook, which should also win.} Kh8 36. exf8=Q+ {Here Svidler placed his pawn on f8 and pushed the clock, something he said he hasn't done in his entire life or since he was seven. Erdos got two minutes extra on the clock.} Nxf8 37. Qxf3 Qe6 38. Rxc7 Rxc7 39. Qxf8+ Kh7 40. Nf6+ Kg6 41. Ne4 1-0 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.08"] [Round "2.5"] [White "Andreikin, Dmitry"] [Black "Matlakov, Maxim"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A06"] [WhiteElo "2706"] [BlackElo "2728"] [PlyCount "64"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. b3 Bf5 3. Bb2 e6 4. g3 Nf6 5. Bg2 h6 6. c4 c6 7. O-O Nbd7 8. d3 Bh7 9. Nbd2 Bd6 10. a3 (10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Be7 12. Nxf6+ Bxf6 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. d4 O-O 15. Qe2 Rfd8 {Torre,E (2494)-Atalik,S (2550) Tekirdag 2016}) 10... a5 11. e4 dxe4 12. Nxe4 $146 (12. dxe4 e5 13. Nh4 O-O 14. Nf5 Bc5 15. Qc2 Re8 16. Bc3 Bxf5 17. exf5 Qe7 {Foermes,A (2037)-Rosenberger,F (2090) Hofheim 2014}) 12... Be7 13. Nxf6+ Bxf6 14. d4 O-O 15. Re1 Nc5 16. Re3 a4 17. b4 Nb3 18. Ra2 Qb6 19. c5 Qc7 20. Bf1 Rad8 21. Bc4 e5 22. Bxb3 axb3 23. Qxb3 exd4 24. Re1 Qd7 25. Ba1 Rfe8 26. Rd1 Be4 27. Ne1 Bd5 28. Qb1 Qh3 29. f4 Bxa2 30. Qxa2 d3 31. Bxf6 gxf6 32. Nxd3 Rxd3 0-1 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.08"] [Round "2.5"] [White "Jobava, Baadur"] [Black "Yu, Yangyi"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A01"] [WhiteElo "2687"] [BlackElo "2744"] [PlyCount "83"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. b3 d5 2. Bb2 Nf6 (2... Bf5 3. e3 e6 4. h3 h6 5. Nc3 Bh7 6. d4 Nf6 7. Bd3 Bxd3 8. Qxd3 Nbd7 {Jobava,B (2710)-Yu Yangyi (2677) Wijk aan Zee NED 2014}) 3. e3 g6 4. c4 dxc4 (4... Bg7 5. cxd5 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. Qc2 Nxd5 8. Bxg7 Kxg7 9. e4 N5b6 10. d4 Re8 {Mamedyarov,S (2765)-Wang,Y (2720) Beijing 2014}) 5. Bxc4 Bg7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. O-O c5 8. Be2 b6 9. d3 Bb7 10. Nbd2 Nc6 11. a3 Nd5 $146 ( 11... Re8 12. Rc1 e5 13. Qc2 Nd5 14. Rfd1 Qe7 15. Qb1 Rad8 16. Nc4 f5 17. Bf1 f4 {1/2-1/2 (17) Stany,G (2381) -Thejkumar,M (2437) Goa 2015}) 12. Bxg7 Kxg7 13. Qc2 Qd7 14. Qb2+ f6 15. Rfd1 Rfd8 16. Rac1 Rac8 17. h3 e5 18. Ne4 Qe7 19. Re1 Rd7 20. Bf1 Qd8 21. Rcd1 Nde7 22. b4 cxb4 23. axb4 Nf5 24. Rc1 Qe7 25. b5 Na5 26. Rxc8 Bxc8 27. d4 Bb7 $2 (27... exd4 28. exd4 Qd8) 28. Nxf6 $1 Kxf6 ( 28... Qxf6 29. dxe5 Qe6 30. Ng5 {wins material.}) 29. dxe5+ Kf7 30. e6+ $1 Kxe6 (30... Qxe6 31. Ng5+) 31. e4 Ng7 32. Qa2+ Kd6 33. Rc1 $1 {A lovely silent move. The threat is 34.e5+.} Bxe4 $6 ({Best was} 33... Qd8 34. Qa3+ Ke6 35. h4 h6 36. Qe3 Ne8 37. Qxh6 Qf6 {but White keeps good chances.}) 34. Qd2+ Ke6 35. Ng5+ Kf5 36. g4+ Kf6 37. Nxe4+ Qxe4 38. Qxd7 Ne6 39. Bg2 Qd4 40. Qxh7 Nf4 41. Qh8+ Ke6 42. Re1+ 1-0 [Event "Tbilisi"] [Site "Tbilisi"] [Date "2017.09.09"] [Round "3.1"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Bu, Xiangzhi"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2827"] [BlackElo "2714"] [Annotator "TA"] [PlyCount "72"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Bb3 d6 7. c3 Be6 8. Re1 Qd7 9. Nbd2 Rab8 $146 {C55: Two Knights: 4 d3, 4 d4 exd4 5 e5 and Max Lange Attack} ({Predecessor:} 9... Rad8 10. Nf1 h6 11. h3 a6 12. Ng3 Rfe8 13. a4 Bf8 14. a5 Qc8 15. Ba4 Nd7 16. d4 exd4 17. cxd4 {1/2-1/2 (54) Lorenzini, M (2482) -Vajda,L (2612) Istanbul 2012}) 10. Bc2 d5 11. h3 h6 {White has an edge.} 12. exd5 $1 Nxd5 13. Nxe5 Nxe5 14. Rxe5 Bd6 15. Re1 ({White should try} 15. Re4 $14 ) 15... Bxh3 $1 $11 16. gxh3 Qxh3 17. Nf1 Rbe8 18. d4 {aiming for Be4.} f5 $1 { Hoping for ...Rxe1.} 19. Bb3 $1 c6 20. f4 $1 Kh7 {...Rf6! is the strong threat. } 21. Bxd5 (21. Re2 $1 $14 {is the one way to stay ahead.}) 21... cxd5 $17 22. Re3 (22. Re5 $142) 22... Rxe3 $1 23. Bxe3 {[#]} g5 $1 24. Kf2 $2 (24. fxg5 $17 f4 25. Qc2+ Rf5 26. Bc1) 24... gxf4 $19 25. Qf3 fxe3+ 26. Nxe3 Qh2+ 27. Kf1 Rg8 28. Qxf5+ {[#]} Rg6 $1 29. Ke1 h5 $2 (29... Kg7 $19 30. Qd7+ Kh8 31. Qd8+ Kh7 32. Qd7+ Rg7 33. Qf5+ Kh8) 30. Kd1 $2 (30. Rd1 $1 $11 {and White has nothing to worry.}) 30... Kh6 $40 {Black is out for blood.} 31. Nc2 $2 (31. Rc1) 31... h4 $2 (31... Bf4 32. Qf8+ Kg5 33. Qe7+ Kf5 34. Qf7+ Kg5 35. Qe7+ Kf5 36. Qf7+ Rf6 37. Qh7+ Kg4) 32. Ne1 h3 33. Nf3 $2 (33. Rc1 Qg3 34. Nd3) 33... Qg2 {( -> . ..Qf1+). Black is clearly winning.} 34. Ne1 Qg4+ 35. Qxg4 Rxg4 36. Nf3 {[#]} Rg1+ $1 {Precision: White = 33%, Black = 64%.} 0-1 [Event "FIDE World Cup 2017"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.09"] [Round "3.1"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Bu, Xiangzhi"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C55"] [WhiteElo "2822"] [BlackElo "2710"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "74"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Bb3 {Prophylaxis against 6...d5-d5.} ({In case of} 6. c3 d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Re1 Bg4 {White can hardly go for the e5 pawn as if} 9. h3 Bh5 10. g4 Bg6 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Rxe5 Nb6 $1 {Puts a question on the bishop on c4 and the pawn on d3.}) (6. Re1 {is the other prophylactical move.}) 6... d6 ({In comparison to the above-mentioned line} 6... d5 {is less effective. White goes} 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Re1 (8. h3 {is a calmer way to play the position.}) 8... Bg4 9. h3 Bh5 10. g4 Bg6 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Rxe5 {and his bishop and pawn on d3 are safe. True, Kasparov tried this as Black against Kramnik in Novgorod 1995, but Carlsen and Bu probably knew something more about the position.}) 7. c3 Be6 8. Re1 Qd7 9. Nbd2 Rab8 $146 {A novelty and a somewhat mysterious move, which prepares... d6-d5! The point is that after the trade on d5 Black often has problems with his e5 pawn. Bu wants to meet the Bb3-a4 idea with timely b7-b5, thus breaking the pin and safeguarding the pawn.} ({Previously only} 9... Rad8 {has been tested with slow positional battle after} 10. Nf1 h6 11. h3 a6 12. Ng3 Rfe8 ( 12... d5 $5) 13. a4 {Lorenzini,M (2482)-Vajda,L (2612) Istanbul 2012}) 10. Bc2 {A typical retreat to keep the tension.} d5 $5 {Here we go. Black sacrifices his central pawn like in the Marshall line of the Ruy Lopez.} 11. h3 {And the World Champion rejects the offer. With this move White covers the g4 spot and threatens Nf3-g5.} ({Apparently Carlsen disliked the black pieces getting too close to his king. After} 11. exd5 Bxd5 (11... Nxd5 {is also possible but a far inferior version of the game continuation for Black after} 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. Rxe5 Bd6 14. Re1) (11... Qxd5 12. Nc4 Nd7 13. Bb3 {looks awkward for Black. }) 12. Nxe5 (12. Nc4 $5) 12... Nxe5 13. Rxe5 Bd6 14. Re1 Ng4 {is probably the move that annoyed Carlsen, although} (14... Rfe8 {should give Black compensation for a pawn similar to the Marshall Gambit.}) 15. Nf1 {seems solid enough for White. Black however has compensation for a pawn after} Rbe8) (11. Ng5 Bg4 {gives nothing to White.}) 11... h6 (11... dxe4 {was also possible} 12. dxe4 h6 13. Qe2 {where White is a little better.}) 12. exd5 {Nor Carlsen snatches the pawn, but he misses an important detail.} Nxd5 13. Nxe5 Nxe5 14. Rxe5 Bd6 15. Re1 {This is inaccurate.} ({Trickier was} 15. Re4 $5 {when} Bxh3 { no longer works due to} ({Which means that Black has to search for compensation with} 15... Nf6 $5) ({Or} 15... f5) 16. gxh3 Qxh3 17. Nf3 Rbe8 18. Rh4 $1) 15... Bxh3 $1 {This detail! Black has either a guaranteed draw or a strong attack!} 16. gxh3 Qxh3 17. Nf1 {Carlsen decides to play for a win!} ({ A draw would be forced after} 17. Qf3 Bh2+ {is perpetual at once after} 18. Kh1 Bg3+ 19. Kg1 Rbe8 $5 {A winning attempt.} (19... Bh2+ {is perpetual at once after} 20. Kh1 Bg3+) 20. Re4 $1 ({Not} 20. Rxe8 $2 Rxe8 21. fxg3 Re3 {and Black wins.}) 20... Bh2+ {and perpetual.} ({Black cannot play for a win} 20... f5 $2 21. Qxg3)) 17... Rbe8 18. d4 {An inaccuracy according to Bu. The idea is Bc2-e4-g2 to cover the king.} (18. Bb3 c6 19. d4 {might transpose into the game.}) ({The Chinese grandmaster suggested instead} 18. Bd2 {This is also the computer's suggestion which claims equality. A possible line runs:} g5 19. Rxe8 Rxe8 20. d4 c6 21. c4 Nf6 22. Be3 Ng4 23. Bf5 Bh2+ 24. Kh1 Bd6+ {with perpetual. Of course, this is just a fragment of the possibilities for both the sides, although it is clear that Black has all the fun.}) 18... f5 $1 { This not only stops White's intentions but prepares a rook lift along the sixth rank.} 19. Bb3 ({Another exciting computer line runs} 19. f4 Bxf4 20. Bb3 Bh2+ 21. Nxh2 Qg3+ 22. Kf1 Qh3+ 23. Kf2 (23. Kg1 Qg3+) 23... Qxh2+ 24. Kf1 Qh1+ {with perpetual.}) 19... c6 20. f4 ({It is too late for} 20. Bd2 {For example} Kh7 21. Re2 Rf6 22. Ng3 Rg6 23. Qf1 Qh5 {and Black's attack seems crushing.}) 20... Kh7 {Rf8-f6-g6 is in the air.} 21. Bxd5 $2 {Unsurprisingly, Carlsen got low on time and had to make difficult decisions with less and less resources.} (21. Re2 $1 {was best instead with the idea to get rid of the queens after} Nxf4 22. Rh2) 21... cxd5 22. Re3 ({If} 22. Re5 {both} g5 ({And the simple} 22... Bxe5 23. dxe5 g5 24. Qxd5 gxf4 {provide Black huge attack for free.})) 22... Rxe3 23. Bxe3 g5 $1 {Very powerful play by Bu! Perhaps Carlsen underestimated this move. Now besides the rook, the f-pawns enter the attack. And a pawn may tip the attacking balance in Black's favor!} ({White would have evacuated his king after} 23... Rf6 24. Kf2 Qh4+ 25. Ke2) 24. Kf2 ({Here is a line where the f-pawn speaks for itself:} 24. fxg5 f4 25. Bf2 ({Or} 25. Qc2+ Rf5 26. Bxf4 (26. Bf2 f3 $1 27. Bh4 hxg5) 26... Bxf4) 25... f3) 24... gxf4 25. Qf3 {The most resilient.} ({White is getting mated after} 25. Bd2 Qh4+ 26. Ke2 f3+ $1 {For example:} 27. Kxf3 Rg8 28. Qc2 Qg4+ 29. Kf2 Bg3+ 30. Nxg3 Qxg3+ 31. Ke2 Qg2+ 32. Kd1 Qf3+ 33. Kc1 Rg1+) 25... fxe3+ 26. Nxe3 Qh2+ 27. Kf1 {Black regained the pawn and is in fact up in material. He also kept a huge attack and is obviously winning.} Rg8 ({Black avoids any complications possible after } 27... Qxb2 28. Re1 Qxc3 29. Qxd5) ({Right after the game Bu thought that the text move was a mistake and he suggested} 27... Bf4 {or}) (27... Rf6 {but ... Rg8 is fine.}) 28. Qxf5+ Rg6 29. Ke1 {Missed by Bu.} (29. Re1 {would not help neither after} Kg7 30. Qd7+ Kh8 31. Qd8+ Rg8 32. Qf6+ Rg7 33. a3 (33. Nxd5 Qg2# ) 33... Kg8 34. Ng4 Qh3+) 29... h5 {Bu slips a step away from the win. With 20 minutes on the clock against seconds for his opponent the Chinese GM loses his calm.} (29... Kg7 $1 {would had won. The position is very complicated and there are plenty of checks but Black can escape those-} 30. Qd7+ Kh8 31. Qd8+ Kh7 32. Qd7+ Rg7 33. Qf5+ Kh8 34. Rc1 (34. Rd1 Rg1+ 35. Nf1 Bg3+ 36. Qf2 Qxf2#) (34. Qc8+ Rg8 35. Qf5 Rg1+ 36. Nf1 Qxb2) 34... Rg1+ 35. Nf1 Qxb2 {and Black wins.}) 30. Kd1 {Played with five seconds on the clock!} ({Carlsen missed a chance to complicate matters with} 30. Rd1 $1 {Bringing the rook into the game. } Kh6 31. Rd2 Rg1+ 32. Nf1 Qf4 33. Qe6+ Rg6 34. Qe8 {Black is still much better, but not certainly winning.}) 30... Kh6 {Now it is practically over. Black combines the advance of the h-passer with the attack against the enemy king to wrap the game up.} 31. Nc2 h4 32. Ne1 h3 ({Still avoiding the small fish} 32... Qxb2) 33. Nf3 Qg2 34. Ne1 Qg4+ 35. Qxg4 Rxg4 36. Nf3 Rg1+ $1 {A neat finish of a brilliant game!} 37. Nxg1 h2 0-1 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.09"] [Round "3.1"] [White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B12"] [WhiteElo "2717"] [BlackElo "2810"] [PlyCount "60"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. g4 $5 {This is not known to be very good., but it's definitely very interesting.} Be4 (4... Bd7 {is an old recommendation here, and played the most.}) 5. f3 Bg6 6. h4 h5 7. e6 $5 {Played as early as 1941 by a player who held the reigning world champion to a draw with it.} Qd6 $1 {As Yasser Seirawan would say, "eyeballing the g3 square."} 8. exf7+ Bxf7 9. Be3 (9. g5 Qg3+ 10. Ke2 Nd7 11. Be3 Qc7 12. f4 Be6 13. Bh3 Bxh3 14. Rxh3 e6 15. Nf3 Ne7 {Hahn-Alekhine,A Krakow 1941}) 9... hxg4 10. fxg4 Nf6 11. Nc3 $146 (11. Nd2 Qg3+ 12. Bf2 Qxg4 13. Ngf3 Ne4 14. Rg1 Nxf2 15. Kxf2 Qf4 {Cenal Gutierrez, R (2267)-Vigil Alvarez,L Asturias 1999}) 11... Qe6 12. Kd2 $6 {Going for the brilliancy prize, but this is too much.} (12. Qe2 Nxg4 13. Bg5 {is quite playable.}) 12... Nxg4 13. Bg5 Nf2 {That was the problem.} 14. Qf3 Nxh1 15. Qxh1 Qd6 16. Bh3 e6 17. Rf1 Be7 18. Bf4 Qb4 19. Nge2 Nd7 {White simply doesn't have enough compensation.} 20. a3 Qxb2 21. Rb1 Qxa3 22. Rxb7 Qa6 23. Qb1 Rxh4 24. Bf1 {So now sees two pins on two knights, and nicely finishes the game.} Rxf4 $1 25. Nxf4 Qa5 {Pin one.} 26. Qe1 Bg5 {And pin number two.} 27. Qg3 Bh6 28. Bd3 O-O-O 29. Rb3 e5 30. dxe5 d4 0-1 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.09"] [Round "3.1"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A35"] [WhiteElo "2777"] [BlackElo "2693"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "75"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nc7 7. a3 g6 8. h4 (8. d3 Bg7 9. Be3 Ne6 10. h4 h6 11. O-O Bd7 12. Ne4 b6 13. b4 cxb4 14. d4 f5 15. Ned2 Nc7 {Svidler,P (2759)-Karjakin,S (2774) Almaty 2016}) 8... Bg4 $146 ( 8... h6 9. d3 Bg7 10. Be3 Ne6 11. O-O Qd7 12. Rc1 O-O 13. Na4 b6 14. b4 f5 { Svidler,P (2759)-Karjakin,S (2774) Almaty 2016}) 9. d3 Bg7 10. Be3 Nd4 11. Bxd4 cxd4 12. Ne4 O-O 13. O-O b6 14. Rc1 Qd7 15. Nh2 Bf5 16. Ng5 Nd5 17. Qb3 Rfd8 18. g4 Be6 19. Nxe6 Qxe6 20. Rc2 Be5 21. Nf3 Bg7 22. g5 Qf5 23. Rfc1 Nf4 24. Bf1 h6 25. Rc7 Nd5 26. Rb7 hxg5 27. hxg5 {Blunder of the day. Vidit missed a chance to practically decide the game. Instead of} Rdb8 {which led only to a draw,} ({The Indian GM could had won with the brilliant idea:} 27... Qg4+ 28. Kh1 (28. Bg2 {loses simply after} Nf4 29. Ne1 Nxe2+) 28... Be5 $3 {The threat is 29...Kg8-g7 and mate along the h-file. Black wins in all the lines:} 29. Bg2 (29. Nxe5 Qxg5 {regains the piece and wins at least a pawn.}) (29. Rc6 {would allow the attack on the h-file} Kg7 30. Bg2 Rh8+ 31. Kg1 Rh2) 29... Bd6 (29... Bb8 {would also do the job.}) 30. Qxd5 Qh5+ 31. Kg1 Bh2+ 32. Nxh2 Rxd5 33. Bxd5 Qxg5+) 28. Rxb8+ Rxb8 29. Bh3 $1 {Reducing the attacking potential of the black pieces.} Qxh3 30. Qxd5 Rc8 31. Rxc8+ Qxc8 32. Kg2 (32. Nxd4 $4 Qg4+) 32... Qg4+ 33. Kf1 Qh3+ 34. Kg1 Qg4+ 35. Kf1 Qh3+ 36. Kg1 Qg4+ 37. Kh2 Qf4+ 38. Kg2 {[Dejan Bojkov]} 1/2-1/2 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.09.09"] [Round "18.9"] [White "Grischuk, Alexander"] [Black "Navara, David"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D27"] [WhiteElo "2788"] [BlackElo "2720"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "140"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:01:49"] [BlackClock "0:09:45"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. dxc5 Qxd1 8. Rxd1 Bxc5 9. Be2 Nbd7 10. Nfd2 (10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Nc4 b6 12. b3 Bb7 13. Bb2 Bd5 14. Nfe5 b5 15. Nxd7 Nxd7 16. e4 Bxe4 17. Rxd7 bxc4 {Li,C (2720)-Wang,Y (2706) China 2017}) 10... b6 11. Nb3 Be7 12. f3 Nc5 13. Nd4 Bb7 $146 (13... Bd7 14. e4 O-O 15. Nc3 Rfc8 16. e5 Ne8 17. f4 Na4 18. Ne4 Ra7 19. Rb1 b5 {Stefanova,A (2527)-Matveeva,S (2482) Krasnoturinsk 2004}) 14. e4 O-O 15. Be3 b5 16. Nc3 g6 17. Rac1 e5 18. Nc2 Rfd8 19. Rxd8+ Rxd8 20. Rd1 Rc8 21. Rd2 Kg7 22. Kf1 b4 23. Nd1 a5 24. b3 a4 25. Bxc5 axb3 26. axb3 Bxc5 27. Nb2 Be7 28. Bc4 Rb8 29. Nd3 Nd7 30. Ncxb4 Nb6 31. Bb5 Nc8 32. Bc6 Bxb4 33. Nxb4 Ne7 34. Bxb7 Rxb7 35. Nd3 Rxb3 36. Nxe5 Rb5 37. Nc4 Rc5 38. Rc2 f5 39. Kf2 Kf6 40. Ke3 Nc6 41. Na3 Rxc2 42. Nxc2 Ne5 43. Kd4 Ke6 44. h4 fxe4 45. fxe4 g5 46. hxg5 Nf7 47. Ke3 Nxg5 48. Nd4+ Kf6 49. Kf4 h6 50. e5+ Kg6 51. Nf3 Ne6+ 52. Ke4 Nc7 53. Kf4 Nd5+ 54. Ke4 Nc7 55. Ne1 Ne6 56. Kd5 Nf4+ 57. Kd6 h5 58. e6 {Move of the day. The fortress that Navara created.} Nxe6 $1 59. Kxe6 Kg5 60. Ke5 Kg4 61. Nd3 ({If} 61. Kf6 h4 {and the pawns will be traded.}) 61... h4 62. Nf4 Kg5 {The kings stay in opposition and Grischuk cannot free the knight.} 63. Nd3 ({Or} 63. Ke4 Kg4 64. Ke3 Kg3) 63... Kg4 64. Ke4 (64. Kf6 Kg3 (64... h3 $4 65. Nf2+) 65. Ne1 h3) 64... Kg3 65. Nf4 Kg4 66. Ke5 Kg5 67. Ke4 Kg4 68. Ng6 h3 69. Ne5+ Kg3 70. gxh3 Kxh3 {[Dejan Bojkov]} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Tbilisi"] [Site "Tbilisi"] [Date "2017.09.08"] [Round "2.3"] [White "Sethuraman, S P."] [Black "Harikrishna, P."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C18"] [WhiteElo "2617"] [BlackElo "2741"] [Annotator "Prithu Gupta"] [PlyCount "115"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [EventCountry "GEO"] [Source "ChessBase"] [TimeControl "1500+10"] {Again!Again after two years in the same tournament in the same round we have the same Super Heroes of Indian chess playing against each other.The 1st question that comes to the mind of every viewer might be whether we are going to have a 2015 encore or wil Harikrishna take revenge.Well nothing was decided in two exciting classical games because of which we had thrilling tiebreaks with shorter time controls lined up!But an interesting question was whether we would see a Berlin endgame which bought Sethuraman success in 2015 or would it be a Catalan like in the previous game.} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e6 {[%emt 0:00: 01] No!It is a French Defense!It brought Harikrishna some succes in his latest games.} 2. d4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 3. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bb4 {[%emt 0:00:01] while this likely to be expected lately Hari has also lately tried} (3... Nf6 4. e5 (4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 gxf6 7. Nf3 (7. Qd2 b6 8. O-O-O Bb7 9. Nc3 c6 10. Nf3 Nd7 11. Qh6 Qc7 12. Qg7 Rf8 13. Qxh7 f5 14. Bc4 Nf6 15. Qh6 Ng4 16. Qd2 O-O-O 17. h3 Nf6 18. Ne5 Kb8 19. Rhe1 b5 20. Bb3 b4 21. Ne2 c5 22. Qe3 Ne4 23. f4 cxd4 24. Nxd4 Bc5 25. Nef3 Rg8 26. g4 fxg4 27. hxg4 Rxg4 28. Ne5 Rxd4 29. Rxd4 Rg3 30. Qxe4 Bxe4 31. Rdxe4 Rg1 32. Rxg1 Bxg1 33. Rxb4+ Bb6 34. a4 Ka8 35. Kb1 Qe7 36. Rc4 Bc7 37. Nd3 Bd6 38. a5 Kb8 39. Ba4 Qb7 40. Rc6 Bxf4 41. Nc5 Qe7 42. Na6+ Kb7 43. Nc5+ Kb8 44. Na6+ Kb7 45. Nc5+ {1/ 2-1/2 (45) Grandelius,N (2649)-Harikrishna,P (2763) Stavanger 2016 CBM 172 [Sagar Shah]})) (4. exd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. Qd2 O-O 7. O-O-O Nc6 8. h4 Bf5 9. Qf4 Bg6 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Nf3 Re8 12. Bd3 Bxd3 13. Rxd3 Nb4 14. Re3 Rxe3 15. fxe3 c6 16. g4 Qb8 17. Re1 Qxf4 18. exf4 Kf8 19. Kd2 Rd8 20. f5 Be7 21. Nd1 Bd6 22. c3 Bf4+ 23. Ne3 Na6 24. Kd3 f6 25. Ng2 Bg3 26. Re3 Re8 27. Ng1 Rxe3+ 28. Kxe3 Nc7 29. Kf3 Bd6 30. Ne2 Kf7 31. Ne3 b5 32. b3 Ke7 33. Nc1 c5 34. dxc5 Bxc5 35. Nc2 Kd6 36. Nd3 Bg1 37. Nd4 a5 38. Ne2 Bh2 39. Ne1 Be5 40. Nc2 Kc5 41. Ke3 Kd6 42. b4 axb4 43. cxb4 Bb2 44. Ned4 g6 45. fxg6 hxg6 46. Nf3 Ke7 47. Kd3 f5 48. gxf5 gxf5 49. Ne3 f4 50. Ng2 {1/2-1/2 (50) Short,N (2678)-Harikrishna,P (2737) Douglas 2015}) 4... Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Be7 7. Be3 O-O 8. Qd2 b6 9. Nd1 a5 10. c3 a4 11. Bd3 Ba6 12. O-O Nc6 13. Bxa6 Rxa6 14. f5 b5 15. fxe6 fxe6 16. Qe2 Qb6 17. Nf2 a3 18. b3 b4 19. dxc5 Bxc5 20. Bxc5 Nxc5 21. c4 Ne4 22. cxd5 exd5 23. e6 Ne7 24. Kh1 Nc3 25. Qd3 h6 26. Nd1 Qb5 27. Qxb5 Nxb5 28. Nf2 Rxe6 29. Nd3 Nc6 30. Rfc1 Nc3 31. Nxb4 Nxb4 32. Rxc3 Re2 33. Rc7 Ra8 34. Nd4 Rxa2 35. Rf1 Rd2 36. h3 a2 {0-1 (36) Giri,A (2790)-Harikrishna,P (2763) Stavanger 2016 CBM 172 [Marin,M]}) ({and} 3... dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. c3 Be7 8. Qc2 b6 9. Bb5+ Bd7 10. Bd3 c5 11. Be3 Qc7 12. O-O-O c4 13. Be2 b5 14. Ne5 Rb8 15. Bf4 Bd6 16. Kb1 b4 17. cxb4 Rxb4 18. Bd2 Ba4 19. Qc1 Bxd1 20. Bxd1 Rb8 21. Ba4+ Kf8 22. Nxc4 Nd5 23. Nxd6 Qxd6 24. Qc5 Ke7 25. Bg5+ f6 26. Qxa7+ Qc7 27. Qxc7+ Nxc7 28. Bf4 Rb7 29. Bxc7 Rxc7 30. Bb5 Rb8 31. a4 Rxb5 32. axb5 Rc4 33. Rd1 Kd6 34. Rd3 Rb4 35. Ra3 g5 36. Ra7 h5 37. Rb7 Rxd4 38. b6 Rb4 39. Rf7 Rxb6 40. Rxf6 Ke5 41. Rf8 Rb7 42. Kc2 Rc7+ 43. Kb1 Rb7 44. h3 h4 45. Rf3 Kd4 46. Kc2 Rc7+ 47. Kd2 Rb7 48. Rd3+ Ke4 49. b3 e5 50. Rc3 Rf7 51. Rc4+ Kd5 52. Ke2 Rb7 53. Rg4 Rxb3 54. Rxg5 Kd4 55. Rg4+ e4 56. f3 Rb2+ 57. Kf1 Rb1+ 58. Kf2 Rb2+ 59. Kg1 Rb1+ 60. Kh2 Re1 61. Rxh4 {1-0 (61) Nakamura,H (2787) -Harikrishna,P (2763) chess.com INT 2016}) 4. e5 {[%emt 0:00:50]} c5 {[%emt 0: 00:01]} 5. a3 {[%emt 0:00:23]} Bxc3+ {[%emt 0:00:03]} 6. bxc3 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Qa5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 7. Bd2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Qa4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 8. Qb1 $5 { [%emt 0:01:19] If the Mega Database is complete white has scored best results with move.But there have also been many sidelines except for 8.Qg4 and 8.Nf3. Despite having some followers they didnt pose black many problems.} (8. Qg4 { another main line}) (8. h4 $5 {is another interesting sideline.} Nc6 (8... Ne7 9. h5 h6 (9... b6 10. h6 gxh6 11. Nf3 (11. Bxh6 Ba6 12. Qd2 Bxf1 13. Kxf1 Nd7 14. Ne2 Rc8 15. Rc1 Qxa3 16. Kg1 Nf5 $132 {Gopal,G -L'Ami,A Jakarta 2015}) 11... Ba6 12. Bxa6 (12. Rh4 Bxf1 13. Kxf1 Nbc6 14. dxc5 Qb5+ 15. c4 dxc4 16. Qe2 Ng6 17. Re4 bxc5 18. Bxh6 Rd8 19. Qxc4 a6 20. Qxb5 axb5 21. Rb1 b4 22. Rc4 bxa3 23. Rxc5 $16 {Kosteniuk,A -Harika,D Sochi 2015}) 12... Nxa6 13. Bxh6 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Rc8 15. Qf3 Nc5 16. Bg7 Rg8 17. Rxh7 Nf5 18. Nxf5 exf5 19. Qxf5 Qe4+ 20. Qxe4 Nxe4 21. O-O-O Nxf2 22. Rxd5 Ne4 23. e6 fxe6 24. Re5 Nc5 25. Bf6 Rxg2 26. Reh5 Rg1+ 27. Kb2 Na4+ 28. Kb3 Nc5+ 29. Ka2 Rg6 30. Re7+ Kf8 31. Rxa7 Rg8 32. Rhh7 Ne4 33. Be5 {1-0 (33) Smirin,I (2644)-Berg,E (2549) Minsk 2014}) (9... Nbc6 10. h6 $1 gxh6 (10... cxd4 11. hxg7 Rg8 12. Ne2 $1 $146 Nf5 (12... Rxg7 13. Bh6 Rg4 14. cxd4 $16) 13. Bg5 Rxg7 14. Bf6 $16) (10... g6 11. Rb1 Qxa3 12. Nf3 $16) 11. Nf3 (11. Rb1 a6 12. Nf3 cxd4 13. cxd4 Nxd4 14. Bd3 Ndc6 15. Bxh6 Rg8 16. g3 Qxa3 17. Bxh7 Rg4 18. Bf4 Qc3+ 19. Bd2 Qc5 20. Bd3 Ng6 21. Kf1 b5 22. Nh2 Rc4 23. Ng4 Rxg4 24. Qxg4 Ncxe5 25. Qg5 Nxd3 26. cxd3 Qd4 27. Ke2 Bb7 28. Rbc1 Rc8 29. Rxc8+ Bxc8 30. Rc1 Bd7 31. Bc3 Qc5 32. Bf6 Qd6 33. Qh6 e5 34. Qg7 e4 35. dxe4 dxe4 36. Qg8+ Nf8 37. Bg7 b4 38. Ke1 b3 39. Rd1 Qb4+ 40. Rd2 b2 41. Bxb2 e3 42. fxe3 Qe4 43. Qh8 Bb5 44. Qe5+ Qxe5 45. Bxe5 Nd7 46. Bc3 Ke7 47. Kf2 Ke6 48. e4 Ne5 49. Rd5 Ng6 50. Rf5 Nf8 51. g4 Nd7 52. g5 Bc6 53. Ke3 Bb5 54. Kf4 Bc4 55. Ke3 Bb5 56. Bb4 Bc6 57. Kf4 Bb7 58. Ra5 f6 59. Bc3 fxg5+ 60. Rxg5 Nf8 61. Bb4 Nd7 62. Rg7 Bc8 63. Rg8 Bb7 64. Re8+ Kf6 65. e5+ Kg6 66. Re6+ {1-0 (66) Karjakin,S (2769)-Atabayev,M (2485) Baku 2016}) 11... cxd4 12. cxd4 ( 12. Bxh6 dxc3 (12... Nf5 13. cxd4 Nfxd4 14. Nxd4 Nxd4 15. Bd3 $14) 13. Rh4 Qa5 14. Bg7 Rg8 15. Rxh7 Qa4 $13) (12. Rh4 Ng6 13. Rxh6 dxc3 14. Bxc3 Bd7 15. g3 Rc8 16. Bd3 d4 17. Bd2 Ncxe5 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. Qe2 Nxd3+ 20. cxd3 Rc5 21. Bb4 Qc6 22. Bxc5 Qxc5 23. Kf1 Bc6 24. Rh5 Qd6 25. a4 Ke7 26. a5 a6 27. Rc1 Rg8 28. Rcc5 Rg6 29. Qd2 h6 30. Rc1 Rf6 31. Kg1 Kd7 32. Re1 Rf3 33. Kh2 Qa3 34. Rd1 Ba4 35. Rb1 Bc6 36. Rd1 Ba4 37. Rc1 Qxd3 38. Qb4 Rxf2+ 39. Kh3 Bc6 {0-1 (39) Almasi,Z (2689)-Kovalenko,I (2700) Bastia 2015}) 12... Nxd4 13. Bd3 Nec6 14. Rb1 Rg8 15. Kf1 Nxf3 16. gxf3 b6 17. Qe2 Nd4 18. Qe3 Ba6 19. Rc1 Nf5 20. Qe2 Bxd3 21. cxd3 Kd7 22. Bxh6 Rac8 23. Rxc8 Rxc8 24. Bd2 h6 25. Bb4 a5 26. Bd6 Rc1+ 27. Kg2 Nh4+ {0-1 (27) Sutovsky,E (2642)-Ivanchuk,V (2720) Ashdod 2015}) 10. Nf3 (10. Qg4 Nf5 (10... Kf8 11. Qf4 Qxc2 12. Rc1 Qf5 13. Qxf5 Nxf5 (13... exf5 14. Bd3 $44) 14. dxc5 $14) 11. Bd3 O-O (11... Rg8 12. Nf3 Nc6 13. O-O c4 14. Bxf5 exf5 15. Qg3 g5 16. Rfb1 b6 17. Ne1 Be6 18. f4 g4 19. Be3 Kf8 20. Bf2 Kg7 21. Qe3 Kh7 22. Bh4 Rac8 23. g3 Rb8 24. Qd2 Rb7 25. Ng2 Rd7 26. Ne3 Rg7 27. Kf2 Rg8 28. Qc1 Rg7 29. Qb2 Rg8 30. Qb5 Qxb5 31. Rxb5 Rc8 32. Rab1 Re8 33. Ke2 Rc8 34. Kd2 Re8 35. Rf1 Rg8 36. a4 Na5 37. Rxa5 bxa5 38. Rb1 Rc8 39. Rb5 a6 40. Rb6 Ra8 41. Bf6 Kg8 42. Rc6 Rb7 43. Rc5 Rb1 44. Nxd5 Bxd5 45. Rxd5 Rg1 46. Rc5 Rxg3 47. d5 Rg2+ 48. Ke3 Rxc2 49. d6 Rxc3+ 50. Ke2 Rd3 51. Rxc4 Rd5 52. Rc7 g3 53. d7 Kh7 54. Rc8 {1-0 (54) Morozevich,A (2683)-Korovin,M (2240) Kazan 2016}) 12. Qf4 c4 13. Be2 Qxc2 14. g4 Ne7 15. g5 Nf5 16. gxh6 Nxh6 17. Nf3 Kh8 18. Rg1 Qh7 19. O-O-O Nd7 20. Rde1 f6 21. Nh4 fxe5 22. Qg5 Re8 23. Ng6+ Kg8 24. Nxe5 Nxe5 25. Qxe5 Nf7 26. Qc7 e5 27. Rg6 Bf5 28. Reg1 Rac8 29. Qa5 Rcd8 30. Qxa7 Rd7 31. Rxg7+ Qxg7 32. Rxg7+ Kxg7 33. dxe5 Nxe5 34. Qd4 Kh7 35. Qf4 Nd3+ 36. Bxd3 Bxd3 37. Be3 Rg7 38. Qh6+ Kg8 39. Qd6 Be4 40. Kd2 Kh7 41. Qh6+ Kg8 42. Bd4 Rge7 43. f4 Bd3 44. Qh8+ Kf7 45. Qg7+ Ke6 46. Qe5+ Kd7 47. Qxd5+ Kc8 48. Be5 Rd8 49. Qb5 Re6 50. Ke3 Rc6 51. Qa5 Kd7 52. Qa7 Rh6 53. Qxb7+ Ke8 54. Qg7 Rh7 55. Qg8+ Kd7 56. Qd5+ {1-0 (56) Smirin,I (2652)-Shimanov,A (2630) Stockholm 2013}) (10. Rh4 c4 $1 11. Ne2 Nbc6 12. g4 Bd7 13. Ng3 f6 14. exf6 gxf6 15. Qc1 Qa5 16. Qb2 O-O-O $17 {1/2-1/2 (82) Nepomniachtchi,I (2710)-Arizmendi Martinez, J (2571) Legnica 2013}) 10... Nbc6 11. Rh4 (11. Rb1 c4 12. g3 b6 13. Bh3 Bd7 14. O-O O-O-O 15. Nh4 Rdg8 16. Ng2 Kb8 17. Re1 Bc8 18. Kh2 Ka8 19. Bf4 Rf8 20. Qc1 Rhg8 21. Re2 Rh8 22. Re1 Rh7 23. Bd2 Rhh8 24. Re2 Rh7 25. Kg1 Rhh8 26. Ra1 Rh7 27. Kh2 Rhh8 28. Ne3 Ng8 29. Ng2 Nge7 30. Bf4 Ng8 31. Bd2 Nge7 32. Bf4 Ng8 33. Bd2 {1/2-1/2 (33) Karjakin,S (2779)-Radjabov,T (2726) Shamkir 2016 CBM 173 [Sadorra,J]}) 11... c4 (11... Nf5 12. Rf4 cxd4 (12... c4 13. g4 Nfe7 14. Bg2 Nb8 $5 15. Nh2 b6 16. Kf1 Nbc6 17. Kg1 Bd7 18. Rf3 $36) 13. Bd3 Bd7 14. Qb1 Na5 15. Nxd4 Nxd4 16. cxd4 $14) 12. Rf4 (12. Rg4 Rg8 (12... Rh7 13. Rf4 Bd7 14. Nh4 $14) 13. Rf4 Bd7 14. Nh4 Nf5 15. Nxf5 exf5 16. g3 $13) (12. g3 Bd7 13. Bh3 O-O-O 14. Kf1 Rdf8 15. Kg2 Nf5 16. Bxf5 exf5 17. Ng1 Nd8 18. Ne2 Ne6 19. Qc1 Rfg8 20. Qb2 g5 21. hxg6 fxg6 22. Rxh6 Rxh6 23. Bxh6 Qc6 24. Rh1 f4 25. gxf4 g5 26. Bxg5 Nxg5 27. fxg5 Qg6 28. Ng3 Bf5 29. Qc1 Be4+ 30. f3 Bxc2 31. Qe3 {1-0 (31) Maze,S (2613)-Ider,B (2463) Caleta ENG 2017}) 12... Bd7 13. Nh4 (13. g3 Rf8 14. Bh3 O-O-O 15. Kf1 (15. Nh4 Rde8 16. Kf1 Nd8 17. Kg1 Rg8 18. Rf3 Ref8 19. Kh2 Ndc6 $11 {1-0 (59) Caruana,F (2727)-Bruno,F (2437) Perugia 2011}) 15... Nf5 16. Nh4 Nxh4 17. Rxh4 Ne7 18. Kg1 Qa6 19. Rg4 Rg8 20. Rf4 $14 {1-0 (68) Leko,P (2707)-Romanov,E (2573) Berlin 2015}) 13... Nf5 14. Nxf5 exf5 15. g4 fxg4 16. Be2 $40) (8... cxd4 9. Qg4 $1 (9. cxd4 Qxd4 10. Nf3 Qe4+ (10... Qb6 11. Bd3 Nc6 12. h5 f6 (12... Qc5) (12... Qc7) 13. h6 $1 g6 (13... Qc7 14. hxg7 Qxg7 15. Qe2 $16) 14. Bc3 Qc5 15. Bb2 $16) 11. Be3 Ne7 12. Bd3 Qa4 13. h5 b6 14. Rh4 $36) 9... Kf8 (9... Ne7 10. Qxg7 Rg8 11. Qxh7 dxc3 12. Bxc3 b6 (12... Nbc6 13. Nf3 b6 14. h5 $16) 13. Nf3 $16) 10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. cxd4 $14) 9. h5 (9. Nf3 Nge7 10. h5 h6 {transposation.}) 9... h6 (9... Nge7 {transposation}) (9... cxd4 10. Qg4 Kf8 11. h6 g6 12. Nf3 Qxc2 13. cxd4 f6 14. Be2 Qe4 15. Qg3 Nxd4 16. Nxd4 Qxd4 17. Bc3 Qb6 18. exf6 Kf7 19. O-O Nxh6 20. Rab1 Nf5 21. Qf4 Qd8 22. Be5 h5 23. Rfc1 Rh7 24. Rc7+ Kg8 25. Qg5 {1-0 (25) Kurnosov,I (2657) -Istratescu,A (2655) Abu Dhabi 2013}) 10. Nf3 c4 11. Nh4 (11. Rh4 Bd7 12. Rf4 f5 13. g4 Nge7 14. Nh4 fxg4 15. Be3 O-O-O 16. Kd2 Nf5 17. Ng6 Rhe8 18. Qxg4 Nce7 19. Bh3 Qb5 20. Qg1 Nxg6 21. Qxg6 Re7 22. Bxf5 exf5 23. Qd6 Rde8 24. a4 Qc6 25. Qxc6+ bxc6 26. Ke2 Be6 27. Bc1 Rb7 28. Ba3 Kd7 29. Rg1 Rg8 30. Ke3 Ke8 31. Rf3 a6 32. Rfg3 Kf7 33. Rg6 Rb6 34. a5 Rb5 35. Bb4 Rb7 36. Kf4 Bd7 37. R1g3 Ra7 38. Rd6 Re8 39. Rgg6 Re6 40. Rgxe6 Bxe6 41. Rxc6 Bd7 42. Rd6 Be6 43. Bc5 Ra8 44. f3 Rb8 45. Rxa6 Rb7 46. Ra8 g5+ 47. hxg6+ Kxg6 48. a6 Rb2 49. a7 Rxc2 50. Re8 {1-0 (50) Tomczak,J (2579)-Baumann,D (2108) Lazy 2015}) (11. g3 Bd7 12. Bh3 O-O-O $11) 11... Nge7 12. g4 Bd7 13. f4 O-O-O 14. Bh3 g6 15. hxg6 fxg6 16. Be3 Kc7 17. Kd2 h5 18. Qg1 Rdg8 19. Nf3 hxg4 20. Bxg4 Nf5 21. Bf2 Nce7 22. Rxh8 Rxh8 23. Bxf5 Nxf5 24. Qxg6 Rh3 25. Ng5 Rh2 26. Rf1 Nxd4 27. cxd4 c3+ 28. Ke3 a6 {1-0 (28) Macieja,B (2607)-Cebalo,M (2509) Budva 2009}) (8. Rb1 $5 c4 9. Qc1 (9. h4 Qxa3 10. h5 Qe7 (10... Qf8 $5 $146 11. Nf3 a5 12. Bc1 f6 $132) 11. h6 Nxh6 12. Bxh6 gxh6 13. Rxh6 a5 14. Nh3 a4 15. Qh5 a3 16. Ng5 a2 17. Ra1 Nc6 $15 {Fedorov,A -Ponfilenok,V St Petersburg 2012}) 9... Nc6 10. Nh3 (10. Nf3 Nge7 11. h4 (11. g3 b6 12. Bg2 Bd7 13. O-O h6 14. Re1 O-O-O 15. Re2 Nf5 16. h4 Rdg8 17. Ra1 Kb7 $11 {0-1 (62) De Firmian,N (2552)-Rustemov,A (2607) Copenhagen 2001 }) 11... b6 12. h5 h6 13. Be2 Bd7 14. Rh3 O-O-O 15. Kf1 f6 16. Bf4 Rh7 17. Bh2 Kb7 18. Qb2 Re8 19. Re1 Ka8 20. Bd1 f5 21. Bf4 b5 22. Nh4 Rb8 23. Be2 Qa6 24. Ra1 $14 {Ganguly,S -Kamble,V Nagpur 2008}) (10. Be2) (10. h4 b6 11. h5 Bd7 12. Nf3 O-O-O 13. Rh3 f6 14. Bf4 Rf8 15. Be2 Rf7 $13 {Yemelin,V -Akopian,V Moscow 2008}) 10... f6 11. f4 f5 12. Be2 b6 13. Bh5+ (13. O-O Nge7 (13... h6 14. Bh5+ Kf8 15. Nf2 (15. g4 Nge7 16. gxf5 Nxf5 17. Bg4 Nce7 $15) 15... Nge7 16. Nd1 Kg8 17. Bf3 $14) 14. Bh5+ g6 15. Bf3 O-O 16. Be1 $36 {[%cal Ge1h4,Gh4f6]}) 13... g6 14. Bf3 Bd7 15. Nf2 O-O-O 16. h4 h5 17. Nd1 Nh6 18. Ra1 Be8 19. Nb2 Qa6 $11 { Fedoseev,V -Andreikin,D Dortmund GER 2017}) (8. Bd3 c4 $1 9. Be2 Nc6 10. Nh3 Bd7 11. Nf4 O-O-O 12. Nh5 g6 13. Nf6 Nxf6 14. exf6 e5 15. dxe5 Nxe5 $132 { Polgar,J -Nikolic,P Moscow 2002}) (8. dxc5 Nd7 9. c4 $5 {was a new interesting way of playing the position.} (9. f4 Nxc5 10. Qg4 g6 11. Bd3 (11. Nf3 Qe4+ 12. Be2 b6 $17 {[%cal Gc8a6]}) 11... Bd7 12. Nf3 h6 (12... Bb5 $1 $146 13. Bxb5+ ( 13. O-O Ne7 14. Bxb5+ Qxb5 $17) 13... Qxb5 14. Nd4 Qa4 $15) 13. O-O Ne7 14. Nd4 $6 (14. Rfb1 $1 {could have been a better attempt.} Nxd3 (14... Nf5 15. Rb4 ( 15. Qh3 $5 {[%cal Gg2g4]} Ne4 16. g4 Nxd2 17. Nxd2 Ne7 $13) 15... Qc6 16. Nd4 Qc7 17. Nxf5 gxf5 (17... exf5 18. Qh4 $36) 18. Qg7 O-O-O 19. Qxf7 $14) 15. cxd3 Qa6 16. Ne1 h5 17. Qg5 Nf5 18. h3 h4 (18... Bb5 19. Qf6 O-O 20. g4 $40) 19. Nf3 Bb5 20. c4 $1 dxc4 21. Qf6 O-O 22. Nxh4 Nxh4 23. Qxh4 c3 24. Bxc3 $14) 14... Nf5 15. Nxf5 exf5 $11 {Laureles,R -Lewis,J LSS email 2013}) 9... Ne7 10. cxd5 Nxd5 (10... exd5 11. Nf3 Nxc5 12. Bb4 b6 13. c4 $1 Qc6 (13... Qxd1+ 14. Rxd1 dxc4 15. Bxc4 O-O 16. Ng5 $16 {[%csl Gc4,Rf7] gives white a very favourable endgame.}) 14. cxd5 Nxd5 15. Nd4 Qc7 16. Bb5+ Bd7 17. O-O $36) 11. c4 Qxd1+ 12. Rxd1 Ne7 13. Ne2 Nxc5 14. Be3 b6 15. Nc3 Bd7 16. f4 Bc6 $11 {Amonatov,F -Saravana,K Mumbai IND 2017.Black was able to draw the game without any diffuculties.}) (8. Nf3) 8... c4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} (8... a6 9. Nf3 $5 Ne7 (9... Nc6 10. Qb3 Qxb3 11. cxb3 Na5 12. Rb1 c4 13. bxc4 dxc4 14. Ng5 $14 {[%cal Gg5e4]}) (9... Nd7 10. Qb3 Qc6 11. a4 Ne7 12. Be2 Qc7 13. Ng5 Nc6 14. Be3 Na5 15. Qa3 h6 16. Nf3 b6 17. Nd2 Bb7 18. O-O Rc8 19. f4 O-O 20. f5 cxd4 21. cxd4 Qc3 22. f6 Qxa3 23. Rxa3 Rxc2 24. fxg7 Rb8 25. Bxh6 Nc4 26. Rg3 {1-0 (26) Boll, P-Carleton,J corr 1982}) 10. Qb3 Qxb3 (10... Qd7 11. dxc5 Qc7 12. Qb6 $36) ( 10... Qc6 11. a4 O-O 12. Be2 Nd7 13. O-O b6 14. Rfb1 c4 15. Qa3 Ng6 16. h4 h5 17. g3 f6 18. exf6 Nxf6 19. Ng5 e5 20. dxe5 Nxe5 21. Be3 $14) 11. cxb3 Nbc6 12. Rb1 Bd7 13. Bd3 f6 14. O-O O-O-O 15. Rfe1 fxe5 16. dxe5 h6 17. c4 d4 18. b4 b6 19. b5 axb5 20. cxb5 Na5 21. Bxa5 bxa5 22. Rec1 Kb7 23. Be4+ Kb6 24. Nd2 Nd5 25. Nc4+ {1-0 (25) Heinola,K-Bakker,R ICCF corr 1985}) 9. Nh3 {[%emt 0:00:27]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:10]} (9... Ne7 10. Nf4 Nbc6 11. Nh5 Rg8 12. g3 Bd7 (12... b6 13. Be2 Bd7 14. O-O O-O-O $11) 13. Bh3 O-O-O 14. O-O Rdf8 15. Qb2 Kb8 16. Rab1 b6 17. Rbe1 Nc8 18. f4 N8e7 19. Kh1 Kc7 20. g4 Nd8 21. Qc1 Qc6 22. f5 exf5 23. Bg5 fxg4 24. Bxe7 gxh3 25. Bxf8 Rxf8 26. Nxg7 Rg8 27. Rf6 Rxg7 28. Rxc6+ Nxc6 29. Qh6 Rg2 30. Qd6+ Kc8 31. Rg1 Rxc2 32. Rg8+ Nd8 33. Kg1 Rg2+ 34. Rxg2 hxg2 35. Qxd5 b5 36. Qa8+ {1-0 (36) Stellwagen,D (2631)-Sengupta,D (2435) Vlissingen 2007}) (9... f6 10. Be2 (10. f4 Nc6 (10... fxe5 11. fxe5 Ne7 12. Be2 O-O 13. Qb4 $14) 11. Be2 f5 12. O-O Nge7 13. Bh5+ $16 {1-0 (72) Bellin,R (2397) -Pert,N (2498) West Bromwich 2005}) (10. Nf4 fxe5 11. dxe5 (11. Nxe6 $6 Bxe6 12. Qxb7 Nf6 (12... Ne7 13. Qxa8 O-O 14. Qb7 Nbc6 15. Qb2 Rb8 $44) 13. dxe5 ( 13. Qxg7 Rf8 14. Bh6 (14. dxe5 Ne4 $17) 14... Nbd7 $19) (13. Qxa8 O-O 14. Qb7 Ne4 $17) 13... Ne4 14. Qxg7 Rf8 {black doesn't seem to have any problem.}) 11... Nc6 12. Be2 Nge7 (12... Nxe5 13. Nxe6 $1 Qd7 14. f4 Nc6 15. f5 Qe7 16. Bg5 $18) 13. Bg4 Nd8 14. O-O Nec6 15. Re1 $14 {1-0 (24) Blomqvist,E (2407) -Piorun,K (2499) Chotowa 2010}) 10... fxe5 11. dxe5 Nc6 12. f4 Nge7 13. Bh5+ g6 14. Bf3 Bd7 15. O-O O-O-O 16. Qb2 h6 17. Rfe1 Rdg8 18. Nf2 h5 19. Nh3 Nf5 20. Reb1 b6 21. Ng5 Rg7 22. Be1 Kc7 23. Bf2 Rb8 24. h3 Nh6 25. Qc1 Nf7 26. Bh4 Rf8 27. Qd2 Nxg5 28. Bxg5 Rgf7 29. Re1 Bc8 30. Kh2 Rd7 31. Bf6 Rdf7 32. g4 hxg4 33. hxg4 Rxf6 34. exf6 Rxf6 35. Kg3 Bd7 36. Re2 Qa5 37. Qe3 Rf7 38. a4 Re7 39. Rd2 Rf7 40. Rh2 Re7 41. Rd2 Rf7 42. Rdd1 Kc8 43. Rh1 Re7 44. Rh8+ Kc7 45. Qd2 Qc5 46. Rah1 Qd6 47. Rg8 e5 48. Qxd5 exf4+ 49. Kf2 Qxd5 50. Bxd5 Ne5 51. g5 Bxa4 52. Be4 Bc6 53. Re1 a5 54. Rf8 f3 55. Rf4 a4 56. Bxc6 Kxc6 57. Rxc4+ Nxc4 58. Rxe7 a3 59. Re1 Nd2 60. Ra1 Kd5 61. Rxa3 Ne4+ 62. Kxf3 Nxg5+ 63. Ke2 Kc4 64. Ke3 b5 65. Rb3 Nf7 66. Kd2 Nd6 67. Rb4+ Kd5 68. Kd3 Ke5 69. Rb1 g5 70. Re1+ Kf4 71. Re6 Nc4 72. Rf6+ Ke5 73. Rf8 g4 74. Ke2 Nd6 75. Rb8 Kf4 76. Rf8+ Ke5 77. Rd8 Ne4 78. Rc8 Kf4 79. c4 b4 80. c5 g3 81. Rf8+ Kg4 82. c6 {1-0 (82) Timman,J (2625)-Jacimovic,D (2438) Gothenburg 2005}) 10. Nf4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Bd7 { [%emt 0:00:19]} 11. Be2 {[%emt 0:00:02]} (11. Nh5 $5 {aims at weakening dark squares on the K-side which is very typical in these lines.} g6 12. Nf4 (12. Nf6+ Nxf6 13. exf6 O-O-O $15) (12. Ng3 f6 $1 13. f4 (13. exf6 Nxf6 14. Be2 O-O 15. O-O Qa5 16. Qe1 (16. Re1 $2 Nxd4 $1) 16... e5 $132) 13... O-O-O 14. Be2 h5 $132) 12... f6 $1 13. Nxe6 $1 (13. Be2 O-O-O $13) 13... Bxe6 14. Qxb7 Rb8 15. Qg7 Qxc2 16. Be2 $3 {is the move which is impossible for humans to f find but now we are living in the computer's era.} (16. Qxh8 Rb1+ 17. Rxb1 Qxb1+ 18. Ke2 fxe5 $17) (16. Rd1 Qe4+ 17. Be3 fxe5) 16... fxe5 (16... Rb2 17. Rd1 Qe4 (17... fxe5 18. O-O $18) 18. f3 Qh4+ 19. g3 $16) (16... Rb1+ 17. Rxb1 Qxb1+ 18. Bd1 Qe4+ 19. Be2 $11) 17. Qxh8 Rb1+ $11) (11. h4 $5 {planning to lift the rook and put it on g3 or play h5 and Rh4-Rg4.} O-O-O 12. g3 (12. Rh3 f6 $1 {shatters white's stability in the centre.}) 12... Nge7 13. Bh3 Kb8 14. O-O b6 15. Qd1 $14 {[%cal Gd1g4]}) 11... O-O-O {[%emt 0:00:13]} (11... Nge7 $5 {preparing to castle on the K-side.} 12. O-O (12. h4 $5 O-O (12... b6 {is Komodo's top choice.} 13. O-O O-O 14. g3 f6 $132) 13. Rh3 {was my intention but it is refuted by} f6 $1) (12. Qxb7 Rb8 13. Qc7 Qxc2 $19) 12... O-O 13. g3 Rad8 $5 ( 13... f6 {this typicsl breakthrough doesn't work over here.} 14. exf6 Rxf6 15. Qxb7 $16) 14. h4 h6 15. Qd1 (15. Qc1 f6 $1) 15... b6 16. Re1 Nf5 17. Bf1 $14 { [%cal Gd1g4]}) 12. O-O {[%emt 0:00:24]} f6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 13. Re1 {[%emt 0: 00:54]} (13. Bg4 $5 f5 14. Bd1 g5 (14... Nge7 15. h4 $1) 15. Nh5 h6 16. h3 Be8 17. f4 $13 {the position requires precise play from both sides.}) 13... fxe5 { [%emt 0:04:07]} 14. dxe5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nxe5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} (14... Nh6 15. Qc1 Rdf8 16. Bd1 Nf5 $132) 15. Bh5 {[%emt 0:00:50]} Nc6 $8 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 16. Bf7 $1 {[%emt 0:00:28] not hurrying to capture the pawn.} (16. Nxe6 Bxe6 17. Rxe6 Nf6 18. Bf3 Rhe8 $15) 16... Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:40]} 17. Nxe6 {[%emt 0:02:47]} Bxe6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 18. Bxe6+ {[%emt 0:00:02]} Kb8 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 19. f3 $14 {[%emt 0:00:06] I think white has a small but safe edge due to his 2 bishops.} Qa5 {[%emt 0:01:44]} (19... Ka8 $5 20. Bf4 d4 21. Qb2 dxc3 22. Qxc3 Nd4 23. Rab1 Nxc2 24. Qb2 b6 25. Rec1 $44 {the engine's evaluation of 0.00 is a bit depressing but white is very active in general and black's king is a bit weaker compared to it's white compatriot.}) 20. Qb2 $5 {[%emt 0:00:23] is a very natural human move.} (20. a4 $1 {intending Qb5 should be more precise.}) 20... Qc7 {[%emt 0:00:34]} (20... Rhe8 21. Bf4+ Ka8 22. Rab1 Re7 23. Bg3 $14 { white has to be precise in order to mantain a small endgame advantage.}) 21. Rab1 $16 {[%emt 0:00:43] now white has a major advantage and the rest is just a matter of technique as they say.} b6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 22. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:27] } Rhe8 {[%emt 0:02:14]} 23. Bf2 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Nh5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 24. Qb5 { [%emt 0:03:15]} Nf4 {[%emt 0:03:17]} 25. Bg3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} g5 {[%emt 0:01: 27]} (25... Ne5 26. Bxf4 Rxe6 27. Bg3 $18 {[%cal Gf3f4]}) 26. Bxf4 {[%emt 0:00: 50]} gxf4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 27. Bxd5 {[%emt 0:00:16]} Rxe1+ {[%emt 0:01:10]} 28. Rxe1 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Na5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 29. Be4 {[%emt 0:01:17]} (29. Re6 $18) 29... h6 {[%emt 0:01:25]} 30. Qf5 {[%emt 0:03:01]} Nb7 {[%emt 0:00:52]} 31. h4 {[%emt 0:01:48]} (31. Bxb7 Kxb7 32. h4 $16) 31... Qc5+ {[%emt 0:00:33]} 32. Kh2 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Qxf5 {[%emt 0:00:34]} 33. Bxf5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Nc5 { [%emt 0:01:23]} 34. Re7 $18 {[%emt 0:00:27]} Na4 {[%emt 0:03:08]} 35. Re4 { [%emt 0:00:11]} (35. Rh7 {should be more precise.} Rf8 (35... Nxc3 36. Rxh6 b5 37. Kh3 a5 38. h5 b4 39. axb4 axb4 (39... a4 40. Rc6 a3 41. Ra6 a2 42. h6 $18) 40. Rb6+ $18) 36. Bg6 Nxc3 37. Rxh6 b5 38. Rh7 a5 39. Rf7 $1 Rh8 40. Rxf4 $18) 35... b5 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 36. Rxf4 {[%emt 0:01:14]} Rf8 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 37. g4 {[%emt 0:00:21]} Nxc3 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 38. Rd4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} a5 {[%emt 0:00: 01]} 39. Rd6 {[%emt 0:01:43]} Kb7 {[%emt 0:00:39]} 40. Kg3 {[%emt 0:01:41]} ( 40. Rxh6 b4 41. axb4 a4 $132 {probably this was the reason why Sethuraman didn't play Rh6.The engine gives white a huge advantage in this position but being precise is very important becuase the passed P on a5 can be very dangerous.}) 40... a4 {[%emt 0:00:12] now black has many defensive resources} 41. Be6 {[%emt 0:01:08]} (41. Rxh6 b4 $1 42. axb4 a3 43. Rh7+ Kb6 44. Rh6+ Kb5 45. Bd7+ Kxb4 46. Ra6 Rd8 $13 {but black doesn't have an inferior position for sure.}) 41... Kc7 {[%emt 0:00:36]} 42. Rd7+ {[%emt 0:00:31]} Kc6 {[%emt 0:00: 01]} 43. Ra7 {[%emt 0:00:23]} Ne2+ {[%emt 0:00:08]} 44. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Nd4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 45. Bf5 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Nxf5 {[%emt 0:01:21]} (45... Kb6 $1 {both the players had used a lot of time till now and it is really difficult to find such moves there on the board while dealing with so much of pressure caused by the high stakes.} 46. Rd7 Nxf5 47. gxf5 b4 $1 48. axb4 a3 $132) 46. gxf5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Rxf5 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 47. Ra6+ {[%emt 0:00:30]} Kd5 {[%emt 0:00:26]} 48. c3 {[%emt 0:00:25]} h5 $1 {[%emt 0:00:13]} (48... Rh5 {also promises equality but h5 is a safer option preventing manouveres like Kg3-g4 in some situations.}) 49. Rg6 {[%emt 0:00:25]} Re5 {[%emt 0:01:41]} 50. f4 {[%emt 0:00:13]} Re4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 51. Rg5+ {[%emt 0:00:04]} Kd6 {[%emt 0:00:26]} 52. Rxh5 {[%emt 0:00:36]} Rxf4+ {[%emt 0:00:01]} 53. Ke3 {[%emt 0:00: 12]} Rg4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 54. Rxb5 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Rxh4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 55. Ra5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Rh3+ {[%emt 0:00:08]} 56. Kd4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Rh4+ { [%emt 0:00:02]} 57. Ke3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Rh3+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} 58. Ke4 {In all it was a very tense and exciting game inclding everything one would want to have:Good opening preparation,the art of gaining an advantage from an equal position and then tenaciously defending to save the game especially when you are in time pressure!} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Tbilisi"] [Site "Tbilisi"] [Date "2017.09.08"] [Round "2.4"] [White "Harikrishna, P."] [Black "Sethuraman, S P."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C54"] [WhiteElo "2741"] [BlackElo "2617"] [Annotator "Prithu Gupta"] [PlyCount "124"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [EventCountry "GEO"] [Source "ChessBase"] [TimeControl "1500+10"] {This was the 2nd game of the tiebreaks.After a very long exciting 1st game the players decided to play some simple chess.} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 { [%emt 0:00:01]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 3. Bc4 {[%emt 0: 00:00]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 4. c3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 5. d3 {[%emt 0:00:00] so we have a rock-solid Italian on the boad.} O-O {[%emt 0:00: 02]} (5... d6 {is another interesting move order.} 6. Bb3 a6 7. O-O Ba7 8. Re1 h6 {is a new interesting way of playing this position.} (8... O-O {transposes to the main line of the Italian.}) 9. Nbd2 g5 $5 {is becoming very popular nowadays.Players usually play this when trying to play for a win against the Italian.It was Muzychuk Anna's idea and was even played by Nikita Vituigov.} ( 9... Ng4 10. Re2 Nf6 11. Nf1 O-O 12. Ng3 Ne7 13. h3 Ng6 14. a4 c5 15. a5 $1 Be6 16. Bxe6 fxe6 17. Be3 $36) (9... Nh5 10. Nf1 Qf6 11. g3 $1 $146 Bg4 12. Kg2 $14 {[%cal Gc1e3]}) 10. Nf1 g4 11. N3d2 h5 12. Nc4 {s the critical position of this line.} b5 (12... h4 13. Be3 h3 14. g3 d5 15. exd5 $1 $146 (15. Ncd2 d4 16. Bg5 Rh5 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. c4 Bd7 19. Ba4 Bc5 20. a3 Bf8 21. b4 Rg5 $17 {0-1 (61) Padmini,R (2427)-Muzychuk,A (2537) Gibraltar 2016}) 15... Qxd5 16. f3 $1 Qxf3 (16... gxf3 17. Qd2 $1 f2+ (17... Ng4 18. Nxe5 $3 f2+ (18... Bxe3+ 19. Rxe3 $18) 19. Qxf2 Qg2+ 20. Qxg2 hxg2 21. Nxg4 gxf1=Q+ 22. Kxf1 Bxg4 23. Bxa7+ $18) (17... Bxe3+ 18. Rxe3 Qc5 19. d4 $18) 18. Qxf2 Ng4 19. Nxe5 $3) 17. Qxf3 gxf3 18. Bxa7 Rxa7 19. Nxe5 Nxe5 20. Rxe5+ Kd8 21. Ne3 Re8 22. Rxe8+ Kxe8 23. Rf1 $16) 13. Nce3 Ne7 (13... h4 14. Nd5 g3 15. hxg3 Bg4 (15... hxg3 16. Nxg3 Ng4 17. Be3 Bxe3 18. Nxe3 Nxe3 19. Rxe3 Na5 20. Nf5 $1 Nxb3 21. Qxb3 (21. axb3 Bxf5 22. exf5 Kd7 23. Qg4 Qh4 24. Qxh4 Rxh4 25. g3 Rh5 26. f6 $13) 21... Be6 22. Qd1 $13) 16. Qc2 hxg3 17. Be3 $1 $16) 14. d4 Nxe4 (14... Bb7 15. Nd5 Nfxd5 16. exd5 f6 17. a4 Bxd5 18. Bxd5 Nxd5 19. axb5 axb5 20. Qb3 c6 21. c4 $1 $18) 15. Nd5 $1 Bb7 16. Rxe4 (16. Ng3 $1 Nxg3 (16... Bxd5 17. Bxd5 Nxd5 18. Nxe4 Kf8 19. Bg5 Qd7 20. a4 $1 $40) 17. Nf6+ $142 (17. Bg5 Bxd5 18. Bxd5 $16) 17... Kf8 18. fxg3 c5 19. Bg5 cxd4 20. Kh1 $1 $18) 16... Nxd5 17. Re2 Kf8 (17... f6 $1 $146 18. Ng3 Qd7 19. Ne4 O-O-O 20. Bxd5 Bxd5 21. Nxf6 Qe6 22. Nxd5 Qxd5 $11) 18. dxe5 dxe5 19. Rxe5 Bxf2+ 20. Kh1 Nf6 21. Qe2 g3 22. Bg5 (22. Nxg3 $18) 22... h4 23. h3 Qd7 24. Be6 $14 {Paehtz,E -Vitiugov,N Caleta ENG 2017}) 6. a4 { [%emt 0:00:15] [%mdl 4] recently this idea has been growing in popularity even among top grandmasters and White hs had very good results with it.} d5 $5 { [%emt 0:00:43]} (6... a5 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 Be7 9. Nbd2 d6 10. Bg3 Nh7 11. O-O Kh8 12. Qb3 Qe8 13. Rfe1 Bf6 14. Nf1 Ng5 15. Nxg5 Bxg5 16. Ne3 Ne7 17. d4 f6 18. f3 Rb8 19. Bf1 Bxe3+ 20. Rxe3 Bd7 21. Ree1 b5 22. axb5 Bxb5 23. Qa3 Bxf1 24. Rxf1 Qb5 25. Rf2 f5 26. Rd2 fxe4 27. fxe4 Ng6 28. h3 Ra8 29. Qa4 Rfb8 30. Kh2 exd4 31. cxd4 Qb4 32. Rc2 Qb7 33. Qd7 Qxe4 34. Rxc7 Qxd4 35. Rd1 Qxb2 36. Rxd6 Rd8 37. Qc6 {1-0 (37) Karjakin,S (2773)-Anand,V (2783) Saint Louis USA 2017}) (6... a6 7. O-O (7. b4 Ba7 (7... Be7 8. Qb3 d6 9. Na3 Bg4 10. Ng5 Bh5 11. Nc2 d5 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Bxd5 Bxg5 14. O-O Bxc1 (14... Be2 $11) 15. Raxc1 Qg5 16. Rce1 Rad8 17. Re3 Rd6 18. Rfe1 $16 {Tate,A-Sundararajan,K Pardubice 2016}) (7... Bb6 8. O-O (8. Bg5 d6 9. Nbd2 h6 10. Bh4 Be6 11. O-O Qe7 12. Re1 Ba7 13. a5 Nb8 14. d4 $16) (8. a5 Ba7 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bh4 d6 11. Nbd2 Be6 12. O-O Qe7 13. Qe2 Bxc4 (13... g5 14. Bg3 Nh5 $132) 14. Nxc4 Qe6 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Rab1 Nd8 17. b5 Bc5 18. b6 $14) 8... d6 (8... h6 9. Nbd2 (9. Na3 d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Qb3 Nf6 12. Re1 Bf5 13. a5 Ba7 14. Be3 Bxe3 15. Rxe3 Qd6 16. Rae1 Rae8 17. Nd2 Nh5 18. Ne4 $14 {1/2-1/2 (64) Tiviakov,S (2659)-Ernst,S (2554) Germany 2013})) (8... d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Qb3 Nf6 11. Ng5 Qe8 12. Nd2 h6 13. Nge4 Nh5 14. a5 Ba7 15. b5 axb5 16. Qxb5 $36) 9. Nbd2 (9. Bg5 h6 10. Bh4 g5 11. Bg3 Ne7 (11... Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 13. Nbd2 Bg6 14. a5 Ba7 15. Qa4 $14 {Van der Houwen,P -Parushev,A ICCF email 2005}) (11... g4 12. Nh4 Nh5 13. Nd2 Qg5 14. Bb3 Ba7 15. Re1 Qf6 16. Kh1 Ne7 17. Rf1 Qg5 18. Nc4 Kg7 19. d4 exd4 20. cxd4 f5 21. exf5 Nxf5 22. Nxf5+ Bxf5 23. Ne3 Nxg3+ 24. hxg3 Rae8 25. Rc1 c6 26. b5 Bd7 27. bxc6 bxc6 28. Bc2 h5 29. Rb1 Bc8 30. Kg1 Rxf2 31. Nf5+ Rxf5 32. Bxf5 Bxf5 33. Rb7+ Kg6 34. Rxa7 Qe3+ 35. Rf2 h4 36. Qd2 hxg3 37. Qxe3 Rxe3 38. Rf1 Re2 39. Kh1 Ra2 40. d5 Bd3 41. Rg1 cxd5 42. Rd7 Be4 43. Rxd6+ Kf5 44. Rxa6 d4 45. a5 d3 46. Ra7 Kf4 47. Rf7+ Ke3 {0-1 (47) Hayakawa,S (2358)-Cilloniz Razzeto,A (2441) ICCF email 2008}) 12. Nbd2 Ng6 13. Bb3 c6 14. Nc4 Bc7 15. Ne3 d5 16. Qc2 Be6 17. exd5 Nxd5 18. d4 e4 19. Qxe4 Nxc3 20. Qc2 Ne2+ 21. Qxe2 Bxb3 22. Nf5 Be6 23. Qc2 Kh7 24. Bxc7 Qxc7 25. Ne3 Qf4 26. Rad1 Rad8 27. b5 axb5 28. axb5 cxb5 29. d5 Rc8 30. Qb2 Bd7 31. d6 Rc6 32. Nd5 Qxd6 33. Nb6 Rxb6 34. Rxd6 Rxd6 35. h4 gxh4 36. Qb4 Rd5 37. Nxh4 Rg8 38. Nxg6 Rxg6 39. Qe7 Kg7 40. f3 Bh3 41. Rf2 Rdg5 42. g4 h5 43. Kh2 hxg4 44. fxg4 Kh7 {1-0 (44) Akopian,V (2675)-Ganguly,S (2668) Doha QAT 2016}) (9. a5 Ba7 10. Bg5 (10. Nbd2 Ne7 11. Bb3 (11. Re1 Ng6 12. Nf1 c6 13. Bb3 d5 14. Be3 Bxe3 15. Nxe3 (15. Rxe3 Bg4 $36) 15... dxe4 16. dxe4 Qxd1 17. Raxd1 Nxe4 18. Rc1 $44) 11... Ng6 12. Nc4 Be6 13. Be3 Bxe3 14. fxe3 h6 15. Ncd2 Qe7 16. Bxe6 Qxe6 17. c4 Nd7 18. Qc2 f5 $132 {1/2-1/2 (36) Krueger,H (2441)-Strautins,U (2451) ICCF email 2008}) 10... h6 11. Bh4 g5 12. Bg3 (12. Nxg5 hxg5 13. Bxg5 Kg7 14. Qf3 Rh8 15. Nd2 Qe7 16. Kh1 Bd7 17. b5 (17. Bd5 Kg6 $17) 17... axb5 18. Bxb5 Kg6 19. h4 Bc5 (19... Nd4 20. cxd4 Bxb5 21. Rab1 $16) 20. a6 bxa6 21. Rxa6 Rxa6 22. Bxa6 Kg7 23. Bc4 Nd8 24. Qg3 Kf8 25. Qf3 Kg7 $11) 12... Kg7 13. Nbd2 g4 14. Nh4 Nh5 15. Kh1 Qg5 16. Qe2 Ne7 17. Rae1 Bd7 18. Nb1 Ng6 19. Nxg6 fxg6 20. Qd2 Nxg3+ 21. fxg3 Qxd2 22. Nxd2 Rxf1+ 23. Rxf1 Rf8 24. Rxf8 Kxf8 25. Nb1 Ba4 26. Na3 Ke7 27. b5 axb5 28. Nxb5 Bb8 29. Na3 c6 30. a6 bxa6 31. Bxa6 Ba7 32. Bc8 h5 33. Bb7 Kd7 34. Ba6 Bf2 35. h3 gxh3 {0-1 (35) Tarnowski,R (1878)-Klapp,H (2300) GER email 2010}) (9. Bb3 h6 $5 10. Nbd2 Be6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. Nc4 (12. Ba3 Qe8 13. Nc4 Nd7 14. b5 Na5 15. Nxb6 Nxb6 16. c4 axb5 17. axb5 Nd7 18. Nd2 b6 19. Bb4 Qf7 20. Qe2 Qg6 21. Ra2 Nb7 22. Nb3 Ndc5 23. Nxc5 {1/2-1/2 (23) Jugl,P (2249)-Milde,L (2176) ICCF email 2014}) 12... Ba7 13. Be3 (13. Qb3 Qd7 14. h3 Nh5 15. Kh2 Rxf3 (15... b5 16. Na3 Ne7 17. Nc2 Ng6 18. axb5 axb5 19. Ra3 Bb6 $11 {[%cal Gh5f4]}) 16. gxf3 d5 17. exd5 exd5 18. b5 $1 $16) 13... Qe8 14. Bxa7 Rxa7 15. Nfd2 d5 16. Ne3 Ra8 17. Qb3 Ne7 18. d4 Qh5 $13) (9. Qb3 h6 10. Nbd2 Nh5 11. Qc2 (11. Bb2 Qf6 12. a5 Ba7 13. g3 Bh3 $36) 11... Qf6 12. Nb3 Bg4 13. Ne1 Qg6 14. Bd5 (14. a5 Ba7 15. Be3 $14) 14... Nf6 15. Be3 Ne7 16. Bc4 Bxe3 17. fxe3 c6 $17 {0-1 (47) Sprenger,F (1885)-Voetter,H (2201) GER email 2011}) 9... Ne7 $5 10. Bb3 (10. a5 Ba7 11. Bb3 (11. Re1 Ng6 12. Nf1 Be6 13. Ng3 Qd7 14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. d4 exd4 16. cxd4 Kh8 17. h3 d5 18. e5 Ng8 19. Be3 N8e7 20. Nh5 Nf5 21. g4 Nxe3 22. fxe3 Qe7 23. Rb1 b6 $13) 11... Ng6 12. Nc4 Bg4 $5 $146 13. h3 (13. Ne3 Be6 14. Re1 (14. h3 d5 15. Ng5 Qd7 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17. Ng4 Qc6 $132) 14... Qd7 15. Bxe6 fxe6 16. c4 d5 $11) (13. Be3 d5 14. exd5 (14. Ncd2 dxe4 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16. dxe4 Qf6 $15) 14... Nxd5 15. Rc1 Nh4 $40) 13... Be6 14. Be3 Bxe3 15. Nxe3 d5 $1) (10. Ba2 c6 11. Nc4 Bc7 12. Bg5 Ng6 13. Ne3 h6 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. g3 Bh3 16. Re1 Be6 17. Kg2 Rae8 18. a5 Qd8 19. Bxe6 Rxe6 20. Qc2 $14 {1-0 (34) Jobava,B (2698)-Ernst,T (2368) Sweden 2016}) 10... Ng6 11. Nc4 Ba7 12. Be3 Be6 (12... h6 13. Bxa7 Rxa7 14. Ne3 Ra8 15. Re1 Re8 16. g3 Be6 17. a5 c6 18. Bxe6 Rxe6 19. c4 d5 20. Qc2 Qd7 21. Nf5 Rd8 22. Kg2 Ne7 23. Rab1 Nxf5 24. exf5 Ree8 25. b5 cxb5 26. cxb5 axb5 27. Nxe5 Qxf5 28. Qc7 Nh7 29. d4 Ng5 30. h4 Ne6 31. Qxb7 Nxd4 32. Nc6 Nxc6 33. Qxc6 Rxe1 34. Rxe1 Qc8 35. Qxb5 d4 36. Rd1 d3 {1/2-1/2 (36) Jobava,B (2669)-Kasimdzhanov,R (2703) Almaty 2016}) (12... Bxe3 13. Nxe3 c6 14. Qc2 d5 15. a5 $14) 13. Bxa7 Rxa7 14. g3 $1 $14) 8. Bg5 d6 (8... h6 9. Bh4 d6 10. Nbd2 Qe7 11. O-O Be6 12. Re1 Bxc4 (12... g5 13. Bg3 Bxc4 14. Nxc4 $36 {[%cal Gc4e3]}) 13. Nxc4 Qe6 14. b5 Ne7 15. Qb3 Ng6 16. Bg3 Nh5 17. d4 exd4 18. cxd4 Rfe8 19. d5 $14 {Ponomariov,R -Karjakin,S Almaty 2016}) 9. Nbd2 Ne7 10. Nh4 Ng4 11. O-O Kh8 12. Qe2 h6 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Nf5 Bxf5 15. exf5 Qg5 $15) 7... d5 $5 {eems to be the most straightforward way to equalise.} 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. Re1 (9. b4 Be7 10. Re1 Bf6 11. Ng5 Nb6 12. Qh5 Bxg5 13. Bxg5 Qd6 $11) (9. a5 Bf5 10. Bg5 {transposation to the game.} (10. Re1 Nf6 11. Bg5 (11. Qc2 Qd7 $5 $146 12. Nbd2 (12. Bg5 Rad8 $1 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Nbd2 Bxd3 15. Qxd3 Qxd3 16. Bxd3 Rxd3 17. Ne4 Ba7 $11) 12... Ng4 13. Re2 Rad8 14. b4 (14. Ne1 Ba7 15. b4 Nf6 {black is okay.}) 14... Bxf2+ $1 15. Rxf2 Nxf2 16. Kxf2 Bxd3 $11) 11... e4 $1 $146 12. dxe4 Qxd1 13. Rxd1 Nxe4 14. Bh4 Rfe8 15. Bd5 Nd6 16. Bg3 Rad8 $132) (10. Nbd2 b5 $1 11. axb6 Nxb6 12. Nb3 Be7 13. Bxa6 (13. Rxa6 Nxc4 14. Rxa8 Qxa8 15. dxc4 Rd8 $17) (13. Na5 Nxa5 14. Rxa5 c5 $15) 13... Rxa6 14. Rxa6 Bxd3 15. Ra1 Bxf1 16. Qxd8 Rxd8 17. Kxf1 f6 $11 { [%cal Gg8f7] Alekseev,E -Predke,A Sochi 2016})) 9... Bg4 10. h3 Bh5 11. Nbd2 Nb6 12. Ba2 Qxd3 13. a5 Bxf3 14. Nxf3 Qxd1 15. Rxd1 Nc8 16. b4 Ba7 17. Re1 Nd6 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. Rxe5 Rfe8 20. Rxe8+ Rxe8 21. Kf1 Ne4 22. Bd5 c6 23. Bxe4 Rxe4 24. Bd2 Kf8 25. Re1 Rxe1+ 26. Bxe1 Ke7 27. Ke2 c5 28. Kd3 cxb4 29. cxb4 Kd6 30. Kc4 b5+ 31. axb6 Bxb6 32. b5 axb5+ 33. Kxb5 {1/2-1/2 (33) Anand,V (2786)-So,W (2812) Stavanger NOR 2017}) 7. exd5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Nxd5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 8. a5 {[%emt 0:00:25]} (8. O-O {is the main line.Despite having many top adaptors it didn't pose black that many problems.} Nb6 9. Bb5 Ne7 10. a5 (10. Nxe5 c6 11. Bc4 Bd6 12. Nf3 (12. a5 Nxc4 (12... Bxe5 13. axb6 Qxb6 14. Re1 Qc7 15. Qh5 Bd6 16. Nd2 Nd5 17. Ne4 Be6 18. d4 Rfe8 19. Nxd6 Qxd6 20. Bd3 $14 {Anton Guijarro,D -Howell,D Minsk BLR 2017}) 13. Nxc4 Bc7 14. Bg5 f6 15. Bh4 Nf5 16. Bg3 Nxg3 17. hxg3 Be6 $36 {I think that black has sufficient compensation for material defict.}) (12. Bf4 Nxc4 13. dxc4 Nf5 14. Nd3 Nh4 15. Bxd6 (15. Bg3 Ng6 16. Na3 Bf5 $44) 15... Qxd6 16. Na3 Qg6 $40) 12... Nxc4 13. dxc4 Bf5 14. b4 c5 15. bxc5 Bxc5 16. Ba3 b6 $1) 10... c6 $1 11. axb6 cxb5 12. Rxa7 Rxa7 13. bxa7 Bxa7 14. Nxe5 Bf5 15. Be3 (15. Re1 Bb8 16. Na3 b4 {transposes to Anand-So}) ( 15. Na3 b4 $1 16. cxb4 Bb8 17. d4 (17. Re1 Qd5 (17... Ng6 $5 $146 18. Nf3 (18. Nxg6 hxg6 19. g3 Qd6 $36) 18... Qxd3 19. Be3 Rd8 20. Qxd3 Rxd3 21. Nd4 Be4 22. f3 Be5 $11) 18. Nec4 Bxd3 19. Rxe7 Bxc4 20. Qxd5 Bxd5 21. Rd7 Bc6 22. Rd1 Ba4 23. Rd3 Bc7 24. b3 Bc6 25. f3 Rd8 26. Rxd8+ Bxd8 27. b5 Bd7 28. Kf2 Be7 29. Ke2 Bxa3 30. Bxa3 Bxb5+ {1/2-1/2 (30) Anand,V (2770)-So,W (2771) Saint Louis 2016}) 17... f6 18. Nec4 Qd7 19. Re1 Nc6 $44) 15... Bb8 16. d4 Re8 17. Re1 Nd5 18. Na3 Nxe3 19. fxe3 b4 20. cxb4 Bxe5 21. dxe5 Bd3 $1 22. Nb1 Rxe5 23. Nc3 h6 $44) 8... a6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 9. O-O {[%emt 0:00:09] This position can arise from many move orders.One possible move order was mentioned in the notes above.} Bf5 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 10. Bg5 $5 $146 {[%emt 0:02:12] In general this is a novelty but a harly unexpected one since it is the top choice of many engines and it is also a very natural human move.} Be7 {[%emt 0:01:46]} (10... Qd7 $5 {was another option.} 11. Nbd2 f6 12. Qb3 (12. Ne4 Be7 13. Bc1 Kh8 $11) (12. Be3 Be7 13. Qb3 Be6 (13... Rfd8 14. d4 $1) 14. d4 b5 $1 15. axb6 cxb6 16. Qc2 b5 $132) 12... Be6 13. Be3 b5 $1 14. axb6 Bxb6 15. d4 exd4 16. Nxd4 Nxd4 17. Bxd4 Bxd4 18. cxd4 Rab8 19. Qf3 Nb4 20. Qf5 Nd5 $11) 11. Bxe7 {[%emt 0:01:40]} Ndxe7 { [%emt 0:00:02]} 12. Nh4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} (12. Re1 Qd6 13. Nh4 (13. Qe2 Ng6 14. Nbd2 Nf4 15. Qe3 Nxd3 16. Bxd3 Qxd3 17. Qxd3 (17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. Qxe5 Qxd2 19. Qxf5 Rae8 $11) 17... Bxd3 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. Rxe5 Rfe8) 13... Be6 14. Nd2 Bxc4 15. Nxc4 Qd5 $11) 12... Be6 $11 {[%emt 0:00:57] black has managed to equalise easily but there is still a long fight ahead.} 13. Nd2 {[%emt 0:01:56]} (13. Bxe6 fxe6 14. Qb3 Qxd3 15. Qxe6+ Kh8 {black has no problems and might even be slightly better.}) 13... Nd5 {[%emt 0:01:21]} (13... Bxc4 14. Nxc4 Qd5 15. Re1 f6 16. Qc2 Rad8 $11 {should also be okay.}) 14. g3 {[%emt 0:01:12]} Nf4 $1 { [%emt 0:00:40] a very impressive move taking advantage of the misplaced N on h4.If not for Nf4 maybe white can claim some advantage.} ({for example} 14... Qd7 {is a very natural move} 15. Ne4 b6 16. axb6 cxb6 17. Rxa6 $16 {but this is a clearly better position for white where black was also forced to sacrifise a P.}) 15. Ndf3 {[%emt 0:01:45]} (15. Bxe6 Nxe6 $15 {now since black didn't have to take back woth the P he has a much better pawn structure.}) 15... Bxc4 {[%emt 0:01:56]} 16. dxc4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Ne6 {[%emt 0:00:18]} ( 16... Nd3 $1 {should have been more accurate.} 17. Qe2 f5 $1 18. Rad1 e4 $36) 17. Re1 {[%emt 0:02:11]} (17. Qe2 f6 18. b4 Qe8 19. c5 Rd8 20. Rad1 {with very interesting and complex play.}) 17... Qxd1 {[%emt 0:00:46]} 18. Raxd1 {[%emt 0: 00:01]} f6 {[%emt 0:01:55]} 19. b4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Rad8 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 20. Nd2 {[%emt 0:00:35]} Kf7 $15 {[%emt 0:02:32] now black has a small edge mainly because of the misplaced N on h4 and in some cases black may try to double his rooks on the d-file. although shattering white's stability on the Q-side might be a difficult task.} 21. Nb3 {[%emt 0:00:47]} (21. Ne4 g6 {[%cal Gf6f5]} 22. f3 f5 23. Nf2 Kf6) 21... Ne7 {[%emt 0:00:54]} 22. Kf1 {[%emt 0:01:06]} (22. Nf3 Rd6 $1 23. Rxd6 cxd6 24. Kg2 Rd8 {intending d5.}) 22... g5 $1 {[%emt 0:00:24]} 23. Ng2 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Nf5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 24. Rd5 {[%emt 0:00:59]} (24. Ke2 {trying to exchange rooks.} h5 $5 25. Ne3 (25. h4 $5 {might have been an interesting attempt to exchange white's bad N with it's superior black compatriot.} gxh4 26. Nxh4 (26. gxh4 Rxd1 27. Rxd1 Rg8 {[%cal Gf5h4]}) 26... Nxh4 27. gxh4 Ke7 28. Rxd8 Rxd8 29. Rg1 b6) (25. Rxd8 Rxd8 26. Rd1 Rxd1 27. Kxd1 g4 $1 $17) 25... Ne7 26. Rxd8 Rxd8 27. Rd1 Rxd1 28. Kxd1 f5 {the position might be equal but black is the only one who has a chance to play for a win.}) 24... Nd6 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 25. c5 {[%emt 0:02:18]} (25. Ne3 Nxc4 $1 {very nice tactical resource.}) (25. Nd2 {was probably the best try.} h5 26. h4 c6 27. Rd3 g4 $17 {still black continues to dominate white.}) 25... Nb5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 26. c4 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Nc3 {[%emt 0:01:34]} 27. Rxd8 {[%emt 0:00:56]} Rxd8 { [%emt 0:00:02]} 28. Ne3 {[%emt 0:00:55]} Rd3 {[%emt 0:00:46]} 29. Nc1 {[%emt 0: 00:39]} Rd2 $17 {[%emt 0:00:58]} 30. Ne2 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Na2 $1 {[%emt 0:00: 24][%csl Rb4] plating against the weakness on b4.} 31. Nd5 {[%emt 0:03:23]} ( 31. Rb1 Rxe2 $1 $19) 31... Rb2 $19 {[%emt 0:01:04] it is amazing to see how black used every bit of his minimal advantage to convert it into a winning endgame.} 32. f4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} gxf4 {[%emt 0:01:05]} 33. gxf4 {[%emt 0:00: 01]} Nxb4 {[%emt 0:00:41]} 34. fxe5 {[%emt 0:00:30]} Nd3 {[%emt 0:00:26]} 35. Rd1 {[%emt 0:02:37]} Nxe5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 36. Rc1 {[%emt 0:00:54]} c6 {[%emt 0:00:42]} 37. Ne3 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Nxc5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 38. Rd1 {[%emt 0:00: 29]} Rb3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 39. Nc2 {[%emt 0:00:24]} Nxc4 {[%emt 0:00:47]} 40. Rd8 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Ne3+ {[%emt 0:00:25]} 41. Nxe3 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Rxe3 { [%emt 0:00:02]} 42. Ng3 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Ra3 {[%emt 0:00:52]} 43. Rh8 {[%emt 0: 00:09]} Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 44. Re8 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Rxa5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 45. h4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Ra3 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 46. Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:30]} Rd3 {[%emt 0: 00:02]} 47. Re7+ {[%emt 0:00:09]} Kg6 {[%emt 0:02:10]} 48. h5+ {[%emt 0:00:17]} Kh6 {[%emt 0:00:31]} 49. Kh3 {[%emt 0:00:46]} Kg5 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 50. Rg7+ { [%emt 0:00:28]} Kf4 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 51. Kh4 {[%emt 0:00:26]} Rd7 {[%emt 0:00: 11]} 52. h6 {[%emt 0:00:10]} a5 {[%emt 0:00:34]} 53. Ne2+ {[%emt 0:00:10]} Ke5 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 54. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:32]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 55. Rg1 {[%emt 0: 00:05]} b4 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 56. Re1+ {[%emt 0:00:08]} Kd6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 57. Ne2 {[%emt 0:00:07]} b3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 58. Nd4 {[%emt 0:00:11]} a4 {[%emt 0: 00:09]} 59. Rc1 {[%emt 0:00:05]} b2 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 60. Rb1 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Rb7 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 61. Nc2 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Rb3 {[%emt 0:00:38]} 62. Kg4 { [%emt 0:00:01]} Ne4 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 0-1 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.09"] [Round "3.1"] [White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2717"] [BlackElo "2810"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "60"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. g4 {I am sure Wesley So was very happy to see this move being made by his opponent. Usually with black you have to be very solid. But if your opponent takes the game into an aggressive territory, then you too get your chances.} Be4 5. f3 {Provoking f3 is often quite useful.} Bg6 6. h4 h5 7. e6 {I have faced this line quite a few times and have had a 100% score with Black. I am unsure what Vallejo had in mind, because this is a fine position for the second player.} Qd6 $1 {Of course the key move which Wesley would know.} 8. exf7+ Bxf7 9. Be3 {is not played often. I think Vallejo just wanted a new position.} (9. Ne2 {is the main line.} Nd7 10. Bf4 e5 11. dxe5 Nxe5 $17 {Black goes back Qc7 followed by Bd6 and he is completely fine.}) 9... hxg4 (9... Qb4+ 10. Nd2 Qxb2 11. Rb1 $132) 10. fxg4 Nf6 11. Nc3 Qe6 $1 {Double attack on e3 and g4.} 12. Kd2 (12. Qe2 Nxg4 13. Bg5 Qxe2+ 14. Bxe2 $13) 12... Nxg4 13. Bg5 Nf2 {When you have said A, you must say B, even if it is bad.} 14. Qf3 Nxh1 15. Qxh1 Qd6 16. Bh3 e6 17. Rf1 Be7 18. Bf4 Qb4 $1 19. Nge2 Nd7 20. a3 Qxb2 21. Rb1 Qxa3 22. Rxb7 {Black is an exchange up and also has a few extra pawns. White has just scored a self goal here.} Qa6 23. Qb1 Rxh4 24. Bf1 Rxf4 $5 25. Nxf4 Qa5 26. Qe1 Bg5 27. Qg3 Bh6 28. Bd3 O-O-O $1 29. Rb3 e5 30. dxe5 d4 {Vallejo had had enough. It's not a good feeling to have both your knights pinned to your king.} 0-1 [Event "FIDE World Cup 2017"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.09"] [Round "3.1"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2777"] [BlackElo "2693"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "75"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nc7 7. a3 g6 8. h4 Bg4 9. d3 Bg7 10. Be3 Nd4 11. Bxd4 $6 cxd4 12. Ne4 O-O $15 {I already like Black's position.} 13. O-O b6 14. Rc1 Qd7 15. Nh2 Bf5 16. Ng5 Nd5 17. Qb3 Rfd8 18. g4 Be6 19. Nxe6 Qxe6 {Even though White has been able to win the crucial light squared bishop, he has had to weaken his kingside. I think it is a bit too much prize to pay for getting the bishop.} 20. Rc2 Be5 21. Nf3 Bg7 22. g5 Qf5 23. Rfc1 Nf4 24. Bf1 h6 $1 25. Rc7 Nd5 26. Rb7 hxg5 27. hxg5 {This is where Vidit had to think a bit and find a very powerful maoeuvre that would have ended the game.} Rdb8 $2 {This move does absolutely nothing good to Black's position.} (27... Be5 $19 {With the idea of putting the bishop on d6 would have be a clean way to win.} 28. Rc6 Bd6 $19) 28. Rxb8+ Rxb8 29. Bh3 $1 { This must be the move that Vidit missed.} Qxh3 30. Qxd5 Rc8 31. Rxc8+ Qxc8 { The worst is over for White and the game ended in a draw.} 32. Kg2 Qg4+ 33. Kf1 Qh3+ 34. Kg1 Qg4+ 35. Kf1 Qh3+ 36. Kg1 Qg4+ 37. Kh2 Qf4+ 38. Kg2 1/2-1/2 [Event "FIDE World Cup 2017"] [Site "Tbilisi"] [Date "2017.09.09"] [Round "3.1"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A35"] [WhiteElo "2771"] [BlackElo "2702"] [Annotator "Prithu Gupta"] [PlyCount "75"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [EventCountry "GEO"] [Source "ChessBase"] [TimeControl "300+3"] {So we have reached the 3rd round in the 2017 World Cup where two of the most promising and young Asian grandmasters of the current generation were pitted against each other.} 1. c4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00] This move might have been a bit unexpected because even though Ding Liren encountered 1...c5 while playing the English Opening he didn't go for Nf3 setups in his recent games although he played this in some games in the previous years.} (2. g3 {was the move Ding had been essaying recently.} Nc6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. Rb1 e6 6. a3 a5 $5 {was another interesting try.} (6... Nge7 7. b4 d6 8. Nf3 O-O 9. O-O b6 10. e3 (10. Qc2 $5 {has been played some times.} Bb7 11. e3 (11. d3 Nd4 $1 12. Nxd4 cxd4 $1 13. Bxb7 Rb8 14. Bg2 dxc3 $36) 11... Nf5 12. Ne2 Qc7 13. d3 Rac8 14. Bb2 Ne5 $132) 10... d5 11. bxc5 bxc5 12. Na4 Qd6 (12... dxc4 13. Qc2 e5 14. Ng5 $1 Qd3 15. Qxd3 cxd3 16. Bb2 $44 { [%csl Rc5]}) 13. d3 Ba6 14. Qc2 Rab8 $11 15. Rxb8 Rxb8 16. cxd5 Nxd5 17. e4 Nde7 18. Nxc5 $16 {Ding Liren -Svidler,P Moscow RUS 2017.Ding could have tried repeating this but it was very unlikely that this position would have arised again.}) 7. e4 Nge7 8. Nge2 O-O 9. O-O d6 10. d3 b6 11. Be3 Bb7 12. d4 a4 13. d5 Ne5 14. dxe6 fxe6 15. Nf4 $36 {and Ding was succesful in getting an excellent position out of the opening again.}) 2... Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 3. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} (3... e5 $5 {was a very offbeat but popular way of playing the position that was also used by some players against Ding.} 4. e3 f5 (4... Nf6 5. d4 e4 6. Ne5 h5 (6... g6 7. Be2 Bg7 8. O-O O-O 9. b3 Ne7 10. f3 d6 11. Ng4 Nxg4 12. fxg4 Nc6 13. Nxe4 f5 $132 {Ding,L -Vachier Lagrave,M Saint Louis 2012}) 7. Be2 Qc7 8. Rb1 a6 9. f4 cxd4 10. exd4 Bb4 11. a3 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 d6 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. h3 Qa5 15. O-O O-O 16. Be3 Bd7 17. Rb3 c5 18. Qd2 Rab8 19. Rfb1 Rxb3 20. Rxb3 Rc8 21. d5 Qd8 22. Qb2 $14 {Ding,L -Svidler,P Paris/St Petersburg 2013}) 5. d3 Nf6 6. Nd5 d6 7. Nxf6+ Qxf6 8. g3 g5 9. Bg2 Bg7 10. O-O O-O 11. Bd2 Be6 12. Bc3 g4 13. Nd2 h5 14. Rb1 $13 {Ding, L -Grischuk,A Beijing 2012}) 4. g3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} (4... g6 5. Bg2 d6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Bd7 8. Nxc6 bxc6 9. c5 d5 10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Bxe4 Bg7 13. O-O O-O 14. Qa4 {[%csl Rc6] Ding,L -Wang,Y Huaian 2016. And Ding went on to win the game easily.}) 5. cxd5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nxd5 { [%emt 0:00:00]} 6. Bg2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} (6... g6 7. Ne4 ( 7. h4 Bg7 8. h5 e6 (8... Nxc3 9. dxc3 Qxd1+ 10. Kxd1 O-O 11. h6 Bh8 12. Ng5 Bd7 13. Be3 b6 14. Kc2 Rac8 15. Rad1 Rfd8 16. Bd5 e6 17. Be4 Na5 18. g4 Nc4 19. Bf4 Be5 20. e3 Bxf4 21. exf4 f6 22. Nf3 $36 {[%cal Gb2b3,Gd1d2,Gh1d1] 1-0 (45) Ding,L (2660)-Gao,R (2417) Beijing 2012}) 9. h6 Bf6 10. Ne4 Be7 11. b4 cxb4 12. Bb2 O-O 13. Rc1 Bd7 14. Nc5 Rc8 15. O-O b6 16. Nxd7 Qxd7 17. e4 Nf6 18. Qe2 Ng4 19. Bh3 $16 {1-0 (28) Ding,L (2714)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2719) Biel 2013}) 7... Qb6 8. O-O Bg7 9. d3 Bf5 10. Nfd2 Bxe4 11. Nxe4 O-O 12. Bd2 Rac8 13. Rc1 $14 { Ding,L -Dominguez Perez,L Huaian 2016.Black will capture the pawn on b2 and white would go on to take the pawn on c5 intending Rb1 putting and using the open B-file and at the same time using his 2 bishops.}) (6... e6 7. O-O Be7 8. d4 O-O 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. Bg5 Qd7 12. Rc1 Bb6 13. Bd2 Qe7 14. Bc3 Rd8 15. e3 Bf5 16. Re1 Be4 17. Re2 Rd7 18. Rd2 Rad8 19. Qe2 Rd6 20. Rcd1 h6 21. h4 Qe6 22. Nd4 Nxd4 23. Bxd4 Ba5 24. Bc3 Bxc3 25. bxc3 Bxg2 26. Kxg2 Rc8 27. Qf3 Rxc3 28. Rxd5 Rxd5 29. Rxd5 Rc8 30. Ra5 Qb6 31. Re5 Kf8 32. Qf5 Re8 33. Rxe8+ Kxe8 34. Qe5+ Kf8 35. Qb8+ Ke7 36. Qe5+ Kf8 {1/2-1/2 (36) Ding,L (2755) -Anand,V (2770) Saint Louis 2016}) 7. a3 $5 {[%emt 0:00:00] is a very popular theoritical trend nowadays.} (7. O-O {this has been the main line.} e5 (7... g6 8. e3 $5 $146 {I think that this liitle move is a very practical way of coming up with the position.} Bg7 (8... Qd3 9. Na4 $1 b6 (9... e5 10. b3 $1 Be7 11. Bb2 f6 12. Ne1 $16) (9... e6 10. b4 $1 {the point!If not for b4 white might not have a major advantage.} Nxb4 (10... cxb4 11. Bb2 Rg8 12. Ne5 {is crushing. }) 11. Bb2 Rg8 12. Ne5 $18) (9... Ne6 10. b3 Bg7 11. Bb2 Bxb2 12. Nxb2 $16) 10. b4 $1 Nxb4 11. Ne5 Qd8 12. Bxa8 Nxa8 13. Nxf7 $1 {[%cal Gd1f3]}) 9. d4 $5 O-O ( 9... cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nxd4 (10... Bd7 11. Qb3 Qb8 12. Rd1 $36) 11. exd4 Qxd4 ( 11... Bxd4 12. Bh6 $16) 12. Qb3 Qb6 13. Bf4 (13. Qxb6 axb6 14. Bf4 Ne6 15. Be3 b5 (15... Bxc3 16. bxc3 Nc5 17. Rfb1 $14) 16. Rfd1 b4 17. Nd5 Bxb2 18. Rab1 Bc3 19. Nxb4 Bxb4 20. Rxb4 Rxa2 21. Bxb7 Bxb7 22. Rxb7 O-O $11) 13... Qxb3 14. axb3 Ne6 15. Be3 Bd4 16. Nd5 $44 {white has sufficient compensation.}) 10. dxc5 Ne6 11. Na4 Qa5 12. Bd2 Qa6 13. Qc2 Bd7 14. Rad1 $14 {[%cal Gd2c3]}) 8. d3 Be7 ( 8... f6 9. Be3 Be7 10. Rc1 O-O (10... Be6 11. Nd2 Qd7 12. Qa4 Nd4 13. Qxd7+ Kxd7 14. f4 $16) 11. Nd2 Bd7 12. Nd5 Ne6 13. Ne4 b6 $11) 9. Nd2 O-O (9... Bd7 10. Nc4 O-O (10... f6 11. f4 b5 (11... exf4 12. Bxf4 Be6 13. Qb3 $16) 12. Ne3 exf4 (12... Rb8 13. Ncd5 O-O 14. a4 $1 bxa4 (14... b4 15. Nc4 Nxd5 16. Bxd5+ Kh8 17. fxe5 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 fxe5 19. Rxf8+ Bxf8 $11) 15. Nxc7 Qxc7 16. Qxa4 Nd4 17. Qxa7 $14) (12... Rc8 13. a4 $1 {a very important move.} b4 14. Nb5 exf4 15. Nc4 $1 fxg3 (15... Nxb5 16. axb5 Nd4 17. Rxa7 fxg3 18. Bf4 gxh2+ 19. Kxh2 O-O 20. Nb6 Qxb6 21. Rxd7 Rfe8 22. e3 Ne6 23. Bd5 Kh8 24. Rb7 Nxf4 25. Rxb6 Nxd5 26. Re6 Nc7 27. Rc6 Nxb5 28. Rxc8 Rxc8 29. Qg4 Rd8 30. Qe6 Bd6+ 31. Kg2 Nc7 32. Qf7 h6 33. Rxf6 Rf8 34. Qxf8+ Bxf8 35. Rxf8+ Kh7 36. Rc8 {1-0 (36) Pauwels,C (2541)-Percze,J (2549) ICCF email 2008}) 16. Nbd6+ Bxd6 17. Nxd6+ Ke7 18. Nxc8+ Qxc8 19. hxg3 Nd4 20. Be3 Nce6 21. Rc1 $16 {1-0 (38) Malakhov,V (2705) -Timofeev,A (2650) Plovdiv 2012}) 13. Rxf4 O-O 14. Ned5 Ne6 (14... Bd6 15. Nxc7 Bxc7 16. Rf2 Rb8 17. a4 a6 18. axb5 axb5 19. Be3 Nd4 $132) 15. Rf2 Rb8 16. Bd2 Ne5 17. Rc1 Rf7 (17... Bc6 18. Nf4 Qd7 19. Ncd5 Bd6 20. e4 Bxd5 21. exd5 Nxf4 22. Bxf4 g5 23. Bxe5 Bxe5 24. b4 $36 {Edwards,K -Lombart,P LSS email 2012}) 18. Nxe7+ Qxe7 19. b4 c4 20. Nd5 Qd8 21. Bc3 Ng4 {1/2-1/2 (21) Karpov,A (2705) -Portisch,L (2635) Milan 1975}) 11. Bxc6 Bxc6 12. Nxe5 Be8 13. Be3 Ne6 (13... Bf6 14. Nf3 Ne6 15. Ne4 Bxb2 16. Rb1 $16) 14. Qb3 Bf6 15. Ng4 Bd4 16. Bxd4 cxd4 17. Ne4 Bc6 (17... Qa5 18. Qxb7 Rd8 19. b4 Qf5 20. f3 $16) 18. f4 $1 h5 19. Ne5 Bd5 20. Qa3 Re8 21. Rfc1 h4 22. Qd6 hxg3 23. hxg3 $14 {Kramer,H-Wiersma,T ICCF email1991}) 10. Nc4 f6 11. f4 exf4 (11... Be6 12. fxe5 fxe5 13. Rxf8+ Bxf8 14. Qa4 $16 {[%csl Re5,Gg2]}) 12. Bxf4 Ne6 (12... Be6 13. Qb3 Rb8 14. Qa4 g5 15. Bxc7 Qxc7 16. Bd5 Bxd5 17. Nxd5 Qd7 18. Nce3 $36 {Chytilek,R -Coleman,P ICCF corr 2000}) 13. Bd2 Rb8 14. Rc1 Bd7 15. Nd5 b5 16. Nxe7+ Qxe7 17. Ne3 Ned4 18. Nd5 Qxe2 19. Rxc5 Rfe8 20. Nf4 Qxd1 21. Rxd1 Re5 22. Rdc1 Kf7 23. Rxc6 Bxc6 24. Bxc6 g5 25. Bd5+ Ke8 26. Rc7 gxf4 27. Bf7+ Kf8 28. gxf4 Rf5 29. Bb4+ Kg7 30. Be6+ Kg6 31. Bxf5+ Kxf5 32. Rxh7 Rc8 33. Kf2 Rc2+ 34. Ke3 Kg6 35. Rh8 Rxb2 36. Kxd4 Rxb4+ 37. Kc5 Rxf4 38. d4 Rf2 39. d5 Rc2+ 40. Kxb5 Kf5 41. Re8 Rb2+ 42. Kc6 Rc2+ 43. Kd7 Rxh2 44. a4 Kg6 45. d6 Kf7 46. Kd8 Rd2 47. d7 Rc2 48. Re7+ Kf8 49. Re6 Kf7 50. Ra6 f5 51. Rxa7 Rc6 52. Ra8 f4 53. Rc8 Re6 54. Kc7 Re7 55. Kc6 Re6+ 56. Kd5 {1-0 (56) Kolar,J (2076)-Husemann,A (2005) LSS email 2012}) 7... g6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 8. h4 $5 {[%emt 0:00:00] was introduced by Salov Valery and later adapted by Giri,Caruana and Matlakov but now we even see Ding joining the party!It was played in some Correspondence games as well.} (8. O-O {was the main tabiya of this line.} Bg7 9. d3 O-O (9... Bd7 10. Be3 Ne6 11. Rc1 Rc8 12. Qd2 O-O 13. Bh6 b6 $11 {1/2-1/2 (62) Wang,Y (2720)-Nepomniachtchi,I (2714) Beijing 2014}) 10. Bd2 b6 11. Rb1 Bb7 12. b4 Nd4 $11) (8. b4 {was played in some games too.} cxb4 9. axb4 Bg7 (9... Nxb4 10. Ne5 Bg7 11. Qa4+ Nc6 (11... Kf8 12. Nxf7 $1 {[%cal Ga4b4]}) 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Bxc6+ Bd7 14. O-O Bxc6 15. Qxc6+ Qd7 16. Qxd7+ Kxd7 17. d4 $14) 10. Ba3 a6 11. O-O O-O 12. Rc1 Nb5 $15 ) 8... Bg4 $1 $146 {[%emt 0:00:00] deviating from the main paths but playing a very obvious move which is prophylactic to h5.} (8... Bg7 9. h5 O-O (9... Bg4 10. h6 Bf6 11. d3 O-O 12. O-O $14) 10. d3 Ne6 11. hxg6 hxg6 12. Be3 Ncd4 13. Rc1 Bd7 14. Ng5 Rc8 15. Kf1 Bc6 16. Nxe6 Nxe6 17. Bxc6 Rxc6 18. Kg2 Qd7 19. Bh6 g5 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21. Qa4 Rg8 22. Qe4 Kf8 23. Rh7 Nd4 24. e3 Nf5 25. Rch1 Qe6 26. Qxe6 Rxe6 27. Ne4 b6 28. b4 Nd6 29. Nc3 Re5 30. Rc1 Ke8 31. b5 Kd7 32. a4 Ke6 33. Kf3 Ne8 34. Rh6+ Kd7 35. Ne4 Nd6 36. Rxd6+ {1-0 (36) Salov,V (2665) -Kortschnoj,V (2610) Lyon 1991 CBM 026 [Ribli]}) (8... h6 {was the main line.} 9. d3 Bg7 10. Be3 (10. O-O Bd7 11. Be3 Ne6 12. Rb1 Rc8 13. Ne4 b6 14. b4 cxb4 15. axb4 Ncd4 $132 {Caruana,F -Karjakin,S Stavanger 2014}) 10... Ne6 11. Na4 ( 11. O-O O-O (11... Qd7 12. Rc1 O-O 13. Na4 b6 14. b4 f5 15. bxc5 f4 16. gxf4 b5 17. Nc3 Nxf4 18. Bxf4 Rxf4 19. Qb3+ $16) 12. Na4 Ncd4 13. Rc1 Qd6 14. Nd2 Bd7 15. Bxd4 Qxd4 $11) (11. Rc1 Bd7 12. h5 g5 13. O-O O-O 14. Nd2 Rc8 15. Qb3 Na5 16. Qd5 Bc6 17. Qxd8 Rfxd8 18. Bh3 b6 19. Kh2 Bd7 20. f4 gxf4 21. gxf4 Nd4 22. Bxd4 Bxd4 23. Bxd7 Rxd7 24. Rf3 Kh7 25. Rg3 f5 26. Nc4 Nxc4 27. dxc4 e5 28. e3 exf4 29. exf4 Re8 30. b3 Bxc3 31. Rcxc3 {1/2-1/2 (31) Ruggieri,O (2260) -Eeckhout,J (2096) ICCF email 2005}) 11... Bd7 12. Nxc5 Nxc5 13. Bxc5 Bxb2 14. O-O Bxa1 15. Qxa1 f6 16. Be3 Rc8 17. Rb1 b6 18. Qa2 Kf8 19. h5 g5 20. d4 Na5 21. d5 Nc4 22. Qb3 Kg7 23. Nd4 Qe8 24. Rc1 Ne5 25. Rxc8 Qxc8 26. Qb4 Re8 27. Qb1 Qc3 28. Nf3 Rh8 29. Nxe5 Qxe5 30. Qg6+ Kf8 31. Qd3 Bf5 32. Qa6 Qc7 33. Bf3 Kf7 34. g4 Bh7 35. Bd2 Rc8 36. a4 Qd7 37. Be3 Rc7 38. Kf1 Bc2 39. a5 Qa4 40. Bd2 f5 41. gxf5 Bxf5 {0-1 (41) Cvetnic,V (2363)-Mueller,G (2574) ICCF email 2009}) 9. d3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bg7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 10. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} ( 10. Nh2 {is a very provoking but passive move.} Be6 (10... Bf5 11. h5 c4 (11... gxh5 12. Nf3 Bg4 13. Ng5 O-O 14. Be4 $40) 12. dxc4 Bxc3+ 13. bxc3 Qxd1+ 14. Kxd1 Na5 15. Bf4 O-O-O+ 16. Ke1 Nxc4 17. Nf1 $14 {white has an edge due to his bishop pair}) 11. h5 c4 12. h6 Bf6 13. O-O cxd3 14. exd3 O-O $11 {/=+}) 10... Nd4 $1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 11. Bxd4 {[%emt 0:00:00] this is a very natural move to the human eye but I think that after this the bishop on g4 stands very active and this move even causes the e2 P to be temporarily backward.But at the same time it fixes a P on a dark square which is unfavourable for black's dark squared bishop.White's light squared bishop is will be very active and he will try to manouvere his N to c4 byNd2-Nc4} (11. Ng5 O-O 12. h5 $5 {is the most challenging continuation.} Bxh5 (12... gxh5 13. f3 Bf5 14. Rxh5 Bg6 15. Rh2 e6 16. f4 Nd5 17. Bxd4 cxd4 18. Nxd5 exd5 19. Qb3 h6 20. Nf3 Qd6 21. Nh4 $14) (12... h6 13. Nge4 Bxh5 14. Nxc5 (14. Rxh5 gxh5 15. Nxc5 Rb8 16. Nxb7 Qc8 17. Na5 Rxb2 $17) 14... Rb8 15. Qa4 b5 16. Qd1 Qd6 17. N3e4 $13) 13. Nxh7 $1 Re8 $1 14. Ng5 e6 15. Bf4 Nd5 $132) 11... cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 12. Ne4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:00]} 13. O-O {[%emt 0:00:00]} b6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 14. Rc1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qd7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 15. Nh2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} (15. Nfd2 { trying to bring his N to c4.} Ne6 16. Nc4 Rac8 17. Re1 Nc5 18. Nxc5 Rxc5 19. b4 Rcc8 20. a4 Bh6 21. Ra1 Bh3 $15 {[%csl Gh6] but black stands better.}) 15... Bf5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 16. Ng5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nd5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 17. Qb3 { [%emt 0:00:00]} (17. h5 gxh5 $1 {black doesn't have anything to worry about.He can bring his B to g6 or even push h4 in some situations.}) 17... Rfd8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 18. g4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} (18. Qxd5 $1 {could have been better.} Qxd5 19. Bxd5 Rxd5 20. Rc7 h6 21. Ne4 Bxe4 22. dxe4 Re5 23. Rd1 Rxe4 24. Kf1 $44 { [%cal Gh2f3]}) 18... Be6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 19. Nxe6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qxe6 { [%emt 0:00:00]} 20. Rc2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Be5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 21. Nf3 {[%emt 0: 00:00]} Bg7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 22. g5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qf5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 23. Rfc1 $2 {[%emt 0:00:00] if black is allowed to keep his N on f4 with the white N on f3 it can be very dangerous.} (23. Nh2 {was maybe the only move but still it is black who keeps an advantage.} e6 24. e4 dxe3 25. fxe3 Qe5 26. Rf3 Qd6 27. d4 Rac8 28. Rcf2 Rc1+ 29. Nf1 {[%csl Rf7] although the engine gives black a big plus I don't think that it will be that simple because of the weakness on f7.}) 23... Nf4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 24. Bf1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} h6 $1 {[%emt 0:00: 00] opening up the K-side.} 25. Rc7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nd5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} ( 25... hxg5 {could have been equally good.} 26. Rxe7 (26. hxg5 Rd5 27. Rxe7 Bf8 28. Re4 Qg4+ 29. Kh1 Qh5+ 30. Kg1 Rxg5+ $19) 26... Rac8 27. Rcc7 Rxc7 28. Rxc7 gxh4 $19) 26. Rb7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} hxg5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 27. hxg5 {[%emt 0:00: 00]} Rdb8 $2 {[%emt 0:00:00] loses a huge advantage.} (27... Qg4+ 28. Kh1 Be5 $3 {is a tough move to find on the board.} 29. Nxe5 (29. Rc2 Kg7 $19 {[%cal Gd8h8]}) 29... Qh5+ 30. Kg1 Qxg5+ $19 {[%cal Gg5c1]}) 28. Rxb8+ {[%emt 0:00:00] } Rxb8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 29. Bh3 $1 {[%emt 0:00:00] a very important and easy to miss resource.If not for Bh3 white is probably much worse as seen in the sample lines below.} (29. Qc4 Qg4+ 30. Kh1 Rd8 31. Qc6 (31. b4 e5 32. a4 e4 $1 33. dxe4 Nf4 $19) 31... Kh7 32. Rc4 Nf4 $19) (29. Rc2 Qg4+ 30. Kh2 Rd8 31. Qc4 e5 32. b4 e4 $1 $19) 29... Qxh3 {[%emt 0:00:50]} 30. Qxd5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:00:37]} 31. Rxc8+ {[%emt 0:00:57]} (31. Rc6 {could have been mor challenging.} Rxc6 32. Qxc6 Qg4+ 33. Kf1 Qh3+ 34. Ke1 {now white is the only one who has a chance to push.}) 31... Qxc8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 32. Kg2 {[%emt 0: 00:00]} Qg4+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} 33. Kf1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qh3+ {[%emt 0:00:05]} 34. Kg1 {[%emt 0:01:15]} Qg4+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} 35. Kf1 {[%emt 0:00:24]} Qh3+ { [%emt 0:00:00]} 36. Kg1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qg4+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} 37. Kh2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qf4+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} 38. Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.09"] [Round "3.1"] [White "Giri, Anish"] [Black "Sethuraman, S.P."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2772"] [BlackElo "2618"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "79"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. c3 d6 7. Re1 a6 8. a4 h6 9. Nbd2 Re8 10. h3 Be6 11. Bxe6 Rxe6 12. b4 Ba7 13. Bb2 {This is all pretty well known and now Anish makes his new move, which doesn't change the evaluation of the position, but takes his opponent out of his home preparation. } Qd7 (13... d5 14. Qc2 $14) 14. Nf1 Ree8 15. Ng3 b5 16. Qc2 (16. d4 {Would have been interesting, to break with d4 before Black goes for d5.}) 16... d5 $1 17. Bc1 {When you start making moves like Bc1, something surely has gone wrong. } Rad8 18. Bd2 dxe4 19. dxe4 Qe6 20. Rec1 Qc4 21. Be1 Bb6 22. Nd2 Qd3 23. Qxd3 Rxd3 24. Nf3 bxa4 $1 {This equalizing idea was nice executed by Sethu.} 25. Rxa4 a5 26. Kf1 (26. b5 Nd8 $1 {was perhaps stronger.} (26... Nb8 {was Sethu's idea.} 27. c4 Nbd7 28. Bxa5 Nc5 29. Bxb6 cxb6 (29... Nxa4 30. Bxc7 $14) 30. Ra7 Nfxe4 31. Nxe4 Nxe4 32. Re1 Nd6 $11) 27. c4 Nb7 $15) 26... axb4 27. cxb4 Nd4 28. Nxd4 Rxd4 {The position is just even.} 29. f3 g6 30. Ke2 Rdd8 31. Bd2 h5 32. Bg5 Rd6 33. Bxf6 Rxf6 34. Nf1 Rd6 35. Nd2 Red8 36. Ra2 Rb8 37. Rcc2 Bd4 38. Ra4 Bb6 39. Rca2 Rc6 40. Ra8 1/2-1/2 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.10"] [Round "3.2"] [White "Sethuraman, S.P."] [Black "Giri, Anish"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B92"] [WhiteElo "2618"] [BlackElo "2772"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "155"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Be3 Be6 9. Qd3 O-O 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Nd5 Bxd5 12. exd5 Rc8 13. c4 g6 (13... Ne8 14. Qd2 b6 15. Rac1 a5 16. Na1 g6 17. b4 Ng7 18. bxa5 bxa5 19. Bd3 Nc5 {Carlsen,M (2853)-Grischuk,A (2771) Saint Louis 2015}) 14. Rac1 Ne8 15. Qd2 $146 (15. Rfd1 b6 16. Qd2 Ng7 17. Na1 Nf5 18. b4 Nxe3 19. fxe3 f5 20. Nb3 Bg5 21. c5 f4 { Carlsen,M (2853)-Grischuk,A (2771) Saint Louis 2015}) 15... Ng7 16. Na5 {Giri sacrifices a pawn but will not really get compensation.} Nf5 17. Nxb7 Qc7 18. Na5 Nxe3 19. fxe3 Bg5 20. b4 Qb6 21. Rf3 f5 22. Nc6 f4 23. Qc2 $1 {This simple-looking move refutes everything.} fxe3 $6 {And this loses instantly.} 24. Rg3 Bh4 ({Also after} 24... Bf6 25. Rxg6+ {is possible.}) 25. Rxg6+ $1 Kh8 (25... hxg6 26. Qxg6+ Kh8 27. Qh5+ $1 Kg7 28. Qg4+) 26. Rxd6 Nf6 27. g3 Qc7 28. Re6 Bxg3 29. hxg3 Qg7 {In a mind-boggling game Sethuraman played brilliantly until he reached a winning position but the tenacious defense of Anish Giri prevented him to advance in the next stage of the tournament. Still, the Indian player had plenty of chances to wrap up the game. I will show two to our viewers. Instead of} 30. Bf3 (30. Kg2 {was fine but the flashy}) ({ Sethuraman could had won in a study-like way with:} 30. g4 $1 Nxg4 31. Rg6 $1 { The key move. White locks the g-file and safeguards the king.} ({Most likely both players calculated the lines after} 31. Bxg4 Qxg4+ 32. Qg2 Qh4 33. Nxe5 Rf2 34. Nf7+ Rxf7 35. Re4 Qh6 36. Qb2+ Rg7+ 37. Rg4 Rcg8 38. Rc2 Qh4 39. Rxg7 Qe1+ 40. Kh2 Qh4+ 41. Kg1 Rxg7+ 42. Rg2 Qe1+ 43. Kh2 Qh4+ {which would end in a draw.}) 31... hxg6 ({Or} 31... Qxg6 32. Qxg6 hxg6 33. Bxg4 {with an easy win in the endgame.}) 32. Bxg4 {is also completely winning.} Rf2 ({Or} 32... Qh6 33. Qh2) 33. Qe4 Rcf8 ({In case of} 33... Qh6 {White can be even greedy} 34. Qxe5+ Kh7 35. Bxc8 {as his queen is so nicely centralized.}) 34. Qxe3 {and wins.}) 30... e2 31. g4 Nxd5 32. Qxe2 Nf4 33. Qxe5 Nxe6 34. Qxe6 Rce8 35. Qd5 Rf4 36. Rf1 Re3 37. Qd8+ Rf8 38. Qd5 Rf4 39. Rf2 $2 (39. Kh2) 39... Re1+ $2 ({ Giri had more than eight minutes on the clock here, which should have been enough to find} 39... Rexf3 $1 40. Rxf3 Rxg4+ 41. Kf2 Qb2+ {and Black gives a perpetual in all lines.}) 40. Kh2 Qh6+ {The second moment arose. Both players just finished the time-trouble phase and White had enough time to chose wise his retreat square for the king.} 41. Kg2 (41. Kg3 $1 {would have been safer for the king. White wins, although the lines are quite complicated. Some sample lines:} Rg1+ ({Or} 41... Qf6 42. g5 Qf8 43. Re2 Rxe2 44. Bxe2) 42. Bg2 Rxf2 43. Kxf2 Qc1 44. Qd4+ Kg8 45. Bd5+ Kf8 46. Qh8#) 41... Qh4 42. Qd7 Rxc4 { And Giri somehow survived this chess thriller.} 43. Qc8+ Kg7 44. Qd7+ Kh8 45. Nd4 h5 46. Rf1 hxg4 47. Bxg4 Rxf1 48. Kxf1 Qf6+ 49. Nf3 $6 ({The last of many wins was} 49. Bf5 $1 Rc1+ (49... Qh4 50. Qe8+ Kg7 51. Qg6+ Kh8 52. Nf3 Rc1+ 53. Kg2 Qh1+ 54. Kg3) 50. Ke2 Qe5+ 51. Kd3 Qg3+ 52. Ke4 Qh4+ 53. Bg4) 49... Rxb4 50. Qc8+ Kg7 51. Qc7+ Kh6 52. Qh2+ Kg7 53. Qc7+ Kh6 54. Qc1+ Kg7 55. Qd1 Rxg4 56. Qd7+ Kf8 57. Qc8+ Ke7 58. Qxg4 Qa1+ 59. Kg2 Qxa2+ 60. Kg3 Qe6 61. Qg7+ Kd6 62. Qa7 Qg6+ 63. Kf4 Qf6+ 64. Ke3 Qc3+ ({Giri completely missed} 64... Qe7+ 65. Qxe7+ Kxe7 {here. :-)}) 65. Ke4 Qb4+ 66. Nd4 Qe1+ 67. Kd3 Qd1+ 68. Kc3 Qa1+ 69. Kc2 Qa2+ 70. Kd3 Qb1+ 71. Ke3 Qg1+ 72. Kd2 Qf2+ 73. Kc3 Qe1+ 74. Kb2 Qb4+ 75. Nb3 a5 76. Qa6+ Kc7 77. Qxa5+ Qxa5 78. Nxa5 1/2-1/2 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.10"] [Round "3.2"] [White "Dubov, Daniil"] [Black "Artemiev, Vladislav"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B96"] [WhiteElo "2666"] [BlackElo "2692"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 h6 8. Bh4 Be7 9. Qf3 Nbd7 10. O-O-O g5 (10... Qc7 11. Bd3 g5 12. fxg5 Ne5 13. Qe2 Nfg4 14. Nf3 hxg5 15. Bg3 Bd7 {Savchenko,B (2567)-Lu,S (2615) Olongapo City 2015}) 11. fxg5 hxg5 12. Bg3 Qc7 13. Bb5 $146 (13. Bd3 Ne5 14. Qe2 Nh5 15. Nf3 Nxg3 16. hxg3 Rxh1 17. Rxh1 Bf6 18. Rh5 Bd7 {Sukandar,I (2366)-Wirig,A (2510) Biel 2011}) 13... g4 14. Qe2 e5 15. Nf5 axb5 16. Nxb5 Qc6 17. Nbxd6+ Bxd6 18. Nxd6+ Kf8 19. a3 Ne8 20. Nf5 Ra4 21. Be1 Ndf6 22. Ng3 Nxe4 23. Rd8 Be6 $6 ({Very good for Black is} 23... f6) 24. Bb4+ $1 Rxb4 25. axb4 Nxg3 26. Qxe5 Ke7 27. Rhd1 Rxh2 28. b5 Ne2+ $2 ({With} 28... Qc4 29. R8d7+ (29. Qxg3 Rh5) 29... Kf8 30. Qxg3 Bf5 31. R7d2 Rh5 {Black keeps the better chances.}) 29. Kb1 {Now White is better...} Qc4 {...and winning after this.} (29... Qb6) 30. Rxe8+ $1 Kxe8 31. Qb8+ Bc8 32. Qxh2 Nc3+ (32... f6 33. Qh8+ Ke7 34. Rd8 Nc3+ 35. bxc3 Qxb5+ 36. Kc1 Bd7 37. Qf8+ Ke6 38. Qg8+ Ke7 39. Rb8) 33. bxc3 Qxb5+ 34. Kc1 Qg5+ 35. Rd2 Qa5 36. Rd4 Qg5+ 37. Kd1 Qf6 38. Qc7 Qf1+ 39. Kd2 Qxg2+ 40. Kc1 Qf1+ 41. Rd1 1-0 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.10"] [Round "3.2"] [White "Matlakov, Maxim"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D35"] [WhiteElo "2728"] [BlackElo "2799"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "61"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 c5 7. Rb1 Be7 8. Nf3 O-O 9. Bc4 Qc7 (9... Nc6 10. O-O b6 11. Be3 (11. d5 Na5 12. Bd3 c4 13. Bc2 exd5 14. exd5 Bb7 15. Re1 Bf6 (15... Re8 16. Ba4 Rf8 17. Bf4 Bd6 18. Bg5 f6 19. Be3 Bc7 20. Nd4 Qxd5 21. Qg4 f5 22. Qh3 f4 23. Bc1 {1/2-1/2 (23) Matlakov,M (2714)-Shimanov,A (2642) Minsk BLR 2017}) 16. d6 Re8 17. Rxe8+ Qxe8 18. Bf4 Rd8 19. Bf5 g6 20. d7 Qf8 21. Bh3 Be4 22. Rc1 Qc5 23. Qe2 Bf5 24. Rd1 Bxh3 25. gxh3 Kg7 26. Rd6 Bxc3 27. Ng5 Qf5 28. Qe7 h6 29. Ne6+ Kh7 30. Nxd8 Qxf4 31. Nxf7 { 1-0 Svidler,P (2749)-Hou Yifan (2666) Geneva SUI 2017}) 11... cxd4 12. cxd4 Bb7 13. Qe2 Rc8 14. Rfd1 Qc7 {Navara,D (2737)-Dominguez Perez,L (2739) Saint Louis 2017}) 10. Qe2 a6 11. a4 $146 (11. O-O b5 12. Bd3 Nd7 13. h4 e5 14. h5 h6 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 c4 17. Bc2 Qxe5 {Navara,D (2737)-Dominguez Perez,L (2739) Saint Louis 2017}) 11... cxd4 12. cxd4 Bd7 13. O-O Rc8 14. Bd3 Bxa4 15. d5 Nd7 ({Matlakov said that after} 15... exd5 16. exd5 Bb5 {"it should be a draw."}) 16. e5 exd5 $2 ({The only move was} 16... Nc5 {when} 17. d6 Qd7 18. Bxh7+ Kxh7 19. dxe7 Qd3 $1 {is equal.}) 17. e6 $1 Nf8 18. exf7+ Kxf7 19. Nd4 $2 ({Winning was} 19. Re1) 19... Bf6 $2 {Move of the day would be the neat sacrifice which allowed Matlakov a chance to play the tie-break tomorrow against Aronian.} ({ Here} 19... Kg8 $1 {is suddenly OK again for Black.}) 20. Bxh7 $1 {More or less deciding the game.} Qe5 ({White's attack is irresistible after} 20... Nxh7 21. Qe6+ Kf8 22. Ba3+ Be7 23. Rbc1 {wins material.} (23. Qxd5 Ke8 24. Bxe7 Kxe7 25. Rfe1+)) ({Beautiful is:} 20... g6 21. Bxg6+ $1 Kxg6 (21... Nxg6 22. Qe6+ Kg7 23. Nf5+ Kh7 24. Qxf6 {wins simply.}) 22. Qg4+ Kf7 (22... Kh7 23. Qf5+ Kg8 24. Qxf6 {is a win as well.}) 23. Nf5 $1 {Threatening the bishop on a4, thus winning a decisive tempo to conclude the kingside attack-} Bd7 24. Qh5+ Kg8 25. Nh6+ Kh8 26. Ng4+) 21. Rxb7+ Bd7 ({Or} 21... Ke8 {when White can even trade the queens with} 22. Qxe5+ ({Although} 22. Qd2 {is simplier}) 22... Bxe5 23. Ba3 Bxd4 24. Re1+ Kd8 25. Be7+ Ke8 26. Bb4+ Kd8 27. Ba5+ {and wins}) (21... Nd7 22. Qg4 {would be as in the game.}) 22. Qg4 $1 Qxd4 23. Rxd7+ Nxd7 24. Qxd7+ Be7 25. Re1 ({Even prettier was} 25. Bb2 $1 {with the point} Qxb2 26. Qxd5+ Ke8 27. Bg6+ Kf8 28. Qf7#) 25... Qe5 {Nice but insufficient.} (25... Re8 26. Qe6+ Kf8 27. Qg8#) 26. Bd2 $1 (26. Rxe5 $4 Rxc1+ 27. Re1 Rxe1#) 26... Rd8 {Black resigned due to the line:} (26... Qf6 27. Bb4 Re8 28. Qxd5+ Kf8 29. Qg8#) 27. Qg4 Qd6 28. Bb4 Qxb4 29. Qe6+ Ke8 30. Bg6+ Kf8 31. Qf7# 1-0 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.09.10"] [Round "19.7"] [White "Fedoseev, Vladimir"] [Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C48"] [WhiteElo "2731"] [BlackElo "2781"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "85"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:48:59"] [BlackClock "0:31:56"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 {The Four Knights opening has a very solid reputation. White does not hope for big advantage, but rather tries to play for a win without much risk.} Nd4 5. Bc4 Bc5 6. d3 c6 {Nakamura chooses a challenging continuation.} (6... d6 {is considered very solid. Here is a recent example:} 7. Na4 b5 8. Nxd4 bxc4 9. Nf5 Bxf5 10. exf5 cxd3 11. Nxc5 dxc5 12. Bg5 e4 13. cxd3 exd3 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. Qxd3 O-O 16. O-O Qxb2 17. Qc4 Qe5 18. Rac1 Qxf5 {1/2-1/2 (18) Ivanchuk,V (2710)-Cheparinov,I (2687) Varadero 2016 }) 7. Nxe5 {A principled capture.} ({The alternative} 7. Nxd4 {yielded White nothing after} Bxd4 8. O-O d6 9. Qf3 b5 10. Bb3 a5 {Maze,S (2614)-Fressinet,L (2651) Porticcio 2017}) 7... O-O ({After this game, it is very possible that Black players analyze deeper the consequences of the line} 7... d5 8. exd5 O-O 9. O-O cxd5 10. Bb3 Re8 {as in Bruzon Batista,L (2666)-Baryshpolets,A (2538) Merida 2015}) 8. Nxf7 Rxf7 9. Bxf7+ Kxf7 10. Be3 $146 {A novelty. Fedoseev won a bit of material and simply consolidates.} ({The only predecessor saw:} 10. O-O d6 11. Bg5 h6 ({But perhaps Nakamura was well prepared here and intended} 11... Bg4 $5 12. Bxf6 Qd7 13. Qd2 gxf6 14. Na4 $4 Nf3+ 15. gxf3 Bxf3) 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. Na4 {Koscielski,J (2318)-Friedel,M (2083) Essen 2004}) 10... Ne6 { Taken by surprise the American GM tries to play it safe. [According to Fedoseev White is much better now. - PD]} (10... d6 {is another save move until one see the line} 11. Na4 Ne6 12. Nxc5 Nxc5 13. e5 {None wants to be here without proper home preparation.}) ({Maybe best was to play for blockade with} 10... Qe7 $5 11. Na4 d6 12. Nxc5 dxc5) (10... a6 $6 {to keep the dark-squared bishop alive is not convincing at all due to} 11. e5 $1) 11. Bxc5 Nxc5 12. e5 {Now the white pawns seize the opportunity to grab space.} Ne8 13. d4 Ne6 14. O-O {White can be very happy with the opening outcome. Two pawns and a rook are usually equal to the light pieces in the middlegame and better than them in the endgame. But here the pawns are extremely valuable as they are central pawns. Add to that the fact that the black pieces are somewhat dominated, the knights do not have good outposts and the black king is kind of iffy and you will know why White is so happy.} (14. f4 {at once was also good.} ) 14... d6 15. f4 dxe5 16. fxe5+ {Fedoseev is playing for the maximum.} (16. dxe5 {would be also better for White after} Qxd1 17. Raxd1 g6 18. f5 ({But not } 18. g4 N6g7 {with blockade.}) 18... gxf5 19. Rxf5+ Ke7 20. Rdf1 {and the rooks are huge.}) 16... Kg8 17. d5 {Leaving Black no chance to consolidate. [Fedoseev felt that he might have had a stronger move here. - PD]} cxd5 18. Nxd5 N8c7 ({In case of} 18... Bd7 {play may develop this way:} 19. Qh5 (19. Qf3 $5) 19... N8c7 20. Qf7+ Kh8 21. Nxc7 Qxc7 22. Rad1 {Look how quickly the white pieces are entering the battlefield once that the game is opened. White is close to a win after} Qc5+ 23. Kh1 Bb5 24. Qxe6 Bxf1 25. Rxf1 h6 (25... Qxc2 26. Qf7) 26. c4) 19. c4 Bd7 20. Qg4 $1 {A clever move. The idea is to misplace the black knight from the ideal e6 spot. White threatens the simple Ra1-d1, so the next move is practically forced:} (20. Qh5 Qe8 {would be easier for Black to defend.}) (20. Qf3 Qe8 {is also easier for Black to defend.}) 20... Nf8 21. Qf3 Ng6 ({There is no} 21... Be6 22. Qxf8+ $1 Qxf8 23. Rxf8+ Rxf8 24. Nxc7 { and White wins.}) ({Black cannot allow the queen on f7 for sure-} 21... Nfe6 22. Qf7+ Kh8 23. Rad1 {and the dominating position of the white pieces will bring them dividents very soon.}) 22. Rad1 Ne6 23. h4 $1 {Another extremely aggressive and strong move.} ({The main point of the move is revealed in the line} 23. Qf7+ Kh8 24. Nf6 $2 Nxe5 {where Black wins.}) 23... Nxh4 (23... Qxh4 {loses on the spot} 24. Qf7+ Kh8 25. Qxd7) ({But maybe the passive defense} 23... Kh8 {was the most stubborn one.}) 24. Qf7+ Kh8 25. Nf6 {With the knight on h4 this is great.} Qb6+ {Nakamura keeps on finding the best moves.} (25... gxf6 {loses to} 26. Rxd7 Qg8 27. Qxf6+) 26. Rf2 {But now the bishop on d7 is oddly running out of squares.} Ba4 ({Black is getting checkmated after} 26... gxf6 27. Rxd7) 27. Rd6 {Fedoseev decided to liquidate into an endgame.} (27. Nd5 $1 {would be a strong alternative. For example} Qc5 (27... Qc6 28. b3 { traps the bishop.}) 28. Rdf1 $1 {The white pieces are ideally co-ordinated and he should win material. Say} Re8 29. b4 Qd4 30. b5) 27... Ng5 28. Qe7 Nf5 ( 28... Qc5 $2 29. Rd8+) (28... Ng6 {would lead to the game after} 29. Rxb6 Nxe7 30. Rxb7) 29. Rxb6 Nxe7 30. Rxb7 Ng6 31. Nh5 {As mentioned earlier, the rook and the pawns become even stronger in the endgame. The rook has more room to operate and each of the pawns can become a queen.} (31. Nd5 $5) 31... Ne6 32. Rff7 Be8 {Nakamura was very short on time and could not find the most stubborn defense.} ({That was the tricky} 32... Bd1 $1 {with the grand idea} 33. Nxg7 ( 33. Ng3 $5 {would retain winning chances though after} Nxe5 34. Rxa7 Rc8) 33... Nd8 $1 34. Rxa7 Nxf7 35. Rxa8+ Kxg7 {and I have no idea what should happen here...}) 33. Rxa7 Rd8 34. Rf1 $1 {The best position for the rook.} ({The pseudo-active} 34. Rfb7 {would allow Black serious counterplay after} Nxe5 35. Nxg7 Ng4 $1 {One thing to avoid being} 36. Nxe6 $4 Rd1#) 34... Kg8 35. Ng3 h5 36. Nf5 {Another solid central move.} (36. b4 $5 {at once was also good.}) (36. Nxh5 {on the other hand allows unnecessary complications after} Nxe5 37. Re1 Nxc4 38. Rxe6 Bxh5) 36... Kh7 ({The last chance was} 36... Nxe5 37. Re7 ({Or} 37. Re1 Ng4 38. b4) 37... Bf7 38. Ne3 Rd3 39. Nd5 Nxc4 40. Nb4 Rd2 41. Rfxf7 { altough it is unlikely that Black can survive here.}) 37. b4 h4 38. b5 Rd2 39. Nd6 {The bishop is trapped but Nakamura hopes his rook and knighs can save the day.} h3 40. gxh3 {A cold-blooded answer.} (40. Nxe8 Rxg2+ 41. Kh1 Nxe5 42. Ra3 {would also do.}) 40... Bd7 41. Rxd7 Ng5 42. Rf5 Nh4 ({Or} 42... Nxh3+ 43. Kf1 Ngf4 {and now the simple} 44. Rxf4 Nxf4 45. a4) 43. Rxg7+ $1 (43. Rxg7+ {Black is running out of pawns and threats after} Kxg7 44. Rxg5+ Kf8 45. Kf1) 1-0 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.09.12"] [Round "26.5"] [White "Dubov, Daniil"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E05"] [WhiteElo "2666"] [BlackElo "2802"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "71"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:15:40"] [BlackClock "0:23:23"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. d4 dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4 Bd7 9. Bg5 (9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bf4 Nbd7 11. Nc3 Bd6 12. a5 Bxf4 13. gxf4 Nd5 14. e3 Nxc3 15. Qxc3 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 c6 {Aronian,L (2793)-Kramnik,V (2808) Leuven 2017}) 9... Bc6 10. Rd1 a5 11. Na3 Na6 12. Nxc4 Nb4 13. Qc1 $146 (13. Qb3 Bd5 14. Nfe5 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 c6 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. e4 Be7 18. Rac1 Qc7 {Postny,E (2635)-Simonian,T (2425) Yerevan 2014}) 13... h6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Nfe5 Bd5 16. Qc3 b6 17. e4 Bb7 18. Ng4 Be7 19. Qb3 Qe8 20. d5 Bc5 21. d6 Qd8 22. e5 Bxg2 23. Kxg2 h5 24. Nge3 cxd6 25. Nxd6 Bxe3 26. Qxe3 Nc2 27. Qf3 Nxa1 28. Qxh5 f6 29. Rxa1 fxe5 30. Qxe5 Qf6 31. Qe3 Rad8 32. Rd1 Qe7 33. Qxb6 Rb8 34. Qc6 Qf6 { Aronian missed an excellent chance here.} ({Instead of this move} 34... Rxb2 $1 {was precise with the idea} 35. Ne4 (35. Rf1 Qf6 36. Ne4 Qf5 {would transpose.} ) 35... Qf7 36. Rf1 Qf5 37. Kg1 Qd5 {The queens will be traded and because of the presence of the a-pawns it should be a win for Black.}) 35. Rd2 Rxb2 36. Ne8 $1 {Move of the day which was probably missed by Aronian.} (36. Ne8 {They agreed to a draw due to the line:} Qe5 37. Rxb2 Qxb2 38. Qxe6+ Rf7 39. Nd6 Qxf2+ 40. Kh3 Qf1+ 41. Kg4 Qf3+ {[Dejan Bojkov]}) 1/2-1/2 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.09.12"] [Round "26.7"] [White "Rodshtein, Maxim"] [Black "Fedoseev, Vladimir"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "E16"] [WhiteElo "2695"] [BlackElo "2731"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "82"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:31:56"] [BlackClock "0:44:34"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Bb4+ 5. Nd2 O-O 6. Ngf3 b6 7. O-O Bb7 8. a3 Be7 9. b4 (9. cxd5 exd5 10. b4 a5 11. b5 c6 12. bxc6 Nxc6 13. e3 b5 14. Ne5 Bd6 15. Bb2 a4 {Wei,Y (2728)-Yu,Y (2749) Beijing 2017}) 9... c5 10. bxc5 bxc5 11. Rb1 Qc8 12. Bb2 Nbd7 13. dxc5 Nxc5 14. Qc2 Nfe4 $146 (14... Nce4 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16. Rfc1 dxc4 17. Ne5 Nd6 18. Bxb7 Qxb7 {Lputian,S (2590)-Yudasin,L (2625) Philadelphia 1994}) 15. Rfc1 f6 16. cxd5 Bxd5 17. Nd4 f5 18. Nxe4 fxe4 19. Qc3 Rf7 20. Qe3 Qd7 21. Ba1 Raf8 22. f4 e5 23. fxe5 Qg4 24. Rf1 h5 25. h3 Qg6 26. Kh2 h4 27. g4 Bg5 28. Qc3 Rxf1 29. Rxf1 Rxf1 30. Bxf1 Qf7 31. Nf5 Ne6 32. Kg1 g6 33. Nd6 Qf4 34. Bg2 Bd8 {In severe time-trouble Rodshtein chose the obvious, but wrong:} 35. Nc4 $2 {Move of the day. The punishment was severe and beautiful:} (35. e3 {was mandatory, when the game will most likely end in a draw after} Bb6 36. Kh1 Qf2 37. Qc8+ Nf8 38. Qc1 Bxe3 39. Qf1 Qxf1+ 40. Bxf1) 35... e3 $3 36. Bxd5 ({The alternative is not appealing} 36. Nxe3 Bb6 37. Bxd5 Bxe3+ 38. Kg2 Qf2+ 39. Kh1 Qg1#) 36... Qf2+ 37. Kh1 Qf1+ 38. Kh2 {So far was easy. Now comes the silent thunder.} Bg5 $3 {The decisive reinforcement of the position. Bg5-f4 mate can be stopped only at the price of a queen.} 39. Bxe6+ Kg7 40. Qxe3 ({Or} 40. Qd4 Bf4+ 41. Qxf4 Qxf4+ 42. Kg2 Qf2+ 43. Kh1 Qf1+ 44. Kh2 Qxe2+ {and Black mates quickly.} (44... Qxa1 {would be more than sufficient too.})) 40... Bxe3 41. Nxe3 Qxa1 {White cannot build a fortress.} ( 41... Qxa1 42. Nc4 Qe1) 0-1 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.12"] [Round "4.1"] [White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"] [Black "Giri, Anish"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C43"] [WhiteElo "2728"] [BlackElo "2772"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nxd7 Bxd7 7. O-O Bd6 8. Qh5 ({This looks similar to the more often played} 8. c4 c6 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Qh5 {e.g.} O-O 11. Qxd5 Bc6 12. Qh5 g6 13. Qh3 Bb4 14. Be3 Re8 15. Bxe4 Rxe4 { ½-½ Huebner,R (2599)-Jussupow,A (2636) Altenkirchen GER 1999}) (8. Nc3 {is also more popular than the text move.}) 8... Qf6 {A move that has been played by Kramnik, so Ivanchuk must have seen it before. Nonetheless he spent 38 minutes here on the clock.} (8... Nf6) 9. Be3 $5 {Only played once before.} (9. Qxd5 Bc6 10. Qc4 O-O-O 11. Be3 Rhe8 {and White's kingside looks vulnerable.}) ( {Normal is} 9. Nc3 Qxd4 10. Be3 Qe5 11. Qxe5+ Bxe5 12. Nxd5 Nf6 13. Bf4 Bxf4 14. Rfe1+ Kf8 {as in Lu,S (2619)-Wang,Y (2718) China 2016}) 9... O-O-O $146 { After 34 minutes. Now we're on unique territory.} (9... Bf5 10. f3 g6 11. Qh6 Bf8 12. Qf4 Bd6 13. Qh6 Bf8 14. Qf4 {½-½ Iordachescu,V (2564)-Landa,K (2570) Reggio Emilia 2006}) 10. Nc3 ({Here engines don't see a big problem with} 10. Qxd5) 10... Nxc3 11. bxc3 Qe6 12. Rfe1 f6 13. Bd2 Qg8 14. Rab1 Kb8 15. h3 b6 16. Ba6 g5 17. Qf3 $2 {An unfortunate square. Maybe Ivanchuk made the typical mistake of playing the second move in a line he had planned?} ({Better was} 17. c4 dxc4 {and only then} 18. Qf3 Bc8 19. Bxc8 Rxc8 20. a4 {when it's unclear.}) 17... g4 {Of course. Black opens lines towards the enemy king.} 18. hxg4 Bxg4 19. Qxf6 Rf8 20. Qh4 h5 $6 (20... Rf5 $1 {threatening 21. Rh5 was powerful. It's not easy to defend this for White, e.g.} 21. Be2 Bxe2 22. Rxe2 Qg6 {with a strong attack.}) 21. Bg5 Rh7 (21... Qg6 22. Bd3 Bf5 23. Bxf5 Qxf5 24. Re2 Kb7 {was still good for Black.}) 22. Re3 Bc8 23. Bxc8 Kxc8 24. Rbe1 Qg6 25. Be7 $1 Bxe7 26. Rxe7 Qxc2 27. Qg3 Rxe7 28. Rxe7 Qc1+ 29. Kh2 Qf4 30. f3 a5 31. Re5 Qf7 $6 (31... Qd2 32. Qg7 Rd8 33. Re7 Qxc3 34. f4 Rd6 {was equal.}) 32. Qh3+ Kb7 33. Rxh5 $6 (33. Qe6) 33... a4 $6 (33... Qf4+ 34. Qg3 Qd2 {And Black has the advantage again!}) 34. Rh7 Qf4+ $2 {But now it's not good.} (34... Qe8 {is fine.}) 35. Qg3 {The rook ending just wins for White.} a3 36. Qxf4 Rxf4 37. Re7 Rf6 38. Re3 Rh6+ 39. Kg1 Ka6 40. f4 c5 41. f5 1-0 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.12"] [Round "4.1"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Grischuk, Alexander"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2789"] [BlackElo "2783"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "112"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. a4 h6 8. Re1 O-O 9. h3 a5 {"I got surprised by Sasha's idea. It seems as Black is losing time, but it is important to stop the b2-b4 advance before going for Bc8-e6." (Vachier-Lagrave)} (9... Re8 10. Nbd2 Be6 11. Bxe6 Rxe6 12. b4 Ba7 13. Qc2 { Anand,V (2786)-So,W (2812) Leuven 2017}) ({Vachier-Lagrave already played in Tbilisi against the other possibility:} 9... Ba7 10. Nbd2 Ne7 ({Instead} 10... Be6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. b4 Qe8 13. Nf1 Nh5 14. Be3 {is what the big guys are discussing these days, Karjakin,S (2773) -So,W (2810) Saint Louis 2017}) 11. Bb3 Ng6 12. d4 Re8 13. a5 c6 $146 14. Bc2 Be6 15. Nf1 Qc7 16. Ng3 Rad8 17. Be3 Qb8 18. Qc1 Qc8 {which was already featured in our "Blunder of the Day." This move allows a very typical (for this line) sacrifice.} 19. Bxh6 $1 {and White soon won in Vachier-Lagrave,M (2804)-Khusenkhojaev,M (2455) Tbilisi FIDE World Cup 2017}) 10. Nbd2 Be6 11. Bb5 $146 {"I decided to try my luck in this opposite-colored bishop position." (Vachier-Lagrave)} ({Black is fine after} 11. Bxe6 fxe6 {followed by Qd8-e8-g6 and Nf6-h5-f4.}) 11... Na7 12. d4 Nxb5 { A must.} ({After} 12... exd4 13. cxd4 Bb4 {White will save the bishop with} 14. Bd3) 13. dxc5 Na7 14. b3 Re8 {Grischuk can be happy with the opening outcome. The position is approximately equal. Vachier-Lagrave now starts to squeeze something out of it.} 15. cxd6 Qxd6 16. Ba3 Qa6 {The queen is somewhat misplaced here but this is only temporary.} ({I really doubt that Black considered the computer's best choice} 16... c5) (16... Qd8 $6 {would allow} 17. Nxe5 Bxb3 ({Or} 17... Bxh3 18. Nxf7 $1 {with a tempo.}) 18. Qxb3 Rxe5 19. Rad1 {and White is clearly better.}) 17. b4 ({Here} 17. Nxe5 {is no longer good as after} Bxh3 18. Nxf7 Bg4 {as the knight is trapped.}) 17... axb4 18. cxb4 b5 19. Bb2 Nc6 {Brings the knight back into the battlefield.} ({Worse was } 19... Nd7 20. Nxe5 Nxe5 21. Bxe5 Nc6 22. axb5 Qxb5 23. Bxc7 {when White wins a pawn.}) 20. Nxe5 Nxb4 21. Re3 $5 {Playing for a win (or with fire). The rook is transferred for a kingside attack.} ({Objectively correct was} 21. axb5 Qxb5 22. Rxa8 Rxa8 {when everything disappears and the game should peter out in a draw.}) 21... bxa4 22. Rg3 Red8 $1 {Active prophylaxis against White's attacking intentions. Grischuk plays for a win despite the time deficit on his clock.} ({The passive prophylaxis} 22... Kh8 {would have allowed the queen shift} 23. Qf3 {and although the computer claims that Black's chances are somewhat higher after} Qd6 24. Ndc4 Qe7 {this is not a position which the human being wants to play. With the black pieces I mean.}) ({In case of the immediate} 22... Kh7 {White can change his mind and regain the pawn with} 23. Rga3) 23. Qf3 $1 {Nevertheless!} Kh7 (23... Rxd2 {is of course a blunder due to } 24. Qxf6) 24. Ndc4 {Going all in.} Nc2 {"I felt I should be lost here, although I could not see a clear win for him." (Vachier-Lagrave)} 25. Rxg7+ $1 {The long diagonal is cleared and the question is: can White break through?} ({ The moves cannot be transposed. If} 25. Nc6 {Grischuk may just defend with} Rg8 {leaving the majority of the white pieces hanging.}) 25... Kxg7 26. Nc6 $1 { Clears the long diagonal and keeps the black queen away.} Nd4 $1 {Grischuk blitzed this!} (26... Qxc6 $2 {would be a blunder. After the forcing} 27. Qxf6+ Kf8 28. Qh8+ Ke7 29. Bf6+ Kd7 {White has a choice of wins. The trivial one is} 30. Rd1+ ({But there is also the brilliant} 30. Ne5+ Kd6 31. Be7+ $1 Kxe7 32. Nxc6+ Kd7 33. Nxd8 Nxa1 34. Qd4+ $1 Kc8 35. Nxe6)) ({Another defensive idea was } 26... Rg8 {but after} 27. Qxf6+ Kh7 28. N4e5 {White has plenty of compensation for the exchange.}) 27. Nxd4 {The bishop should stay on the board. } (27. Bxd4 $2 {loses after} Rxd4 $1 28. Nxd4 Qxc4) 27... Bxc4 ({It is understandable that with less than two minutes on the clock Grischuk does not want to enter a line like this:} 27... Qxc4 28. Nc6 $1 Rg8 ({Suprisingly, the position is approximately balanced even after} 28... Qxc6 29. Qxf6+ Kf8 30. Qh8+ Ke7 31. Bf6+ Kd7 32. Rd1+ Kc8 33. Qxd8+ Kb7 34. Qd4 Bb3) 29. Ne7 Kh7 30. Nxg8 Nxg8 31. Qg3 {Here best is} Nf6 ({Instead} 31... f6 {allows} 32. Rc1 Qa2 33. Rxc7+ Bf7 34. e5 {with attack, which actually might also end in a draw after say} Re8 35. exf6 Qb1+ 36. Kh2 Qg6 37. Qf3) 32. Bxf6 Rg8 33. Qf3 Qb3 { and Black is a little better.}) ({In case of} 27... Rxd4 28. Bxd4 Bxc4 {White has a cute way to force a draw with} 29. Rxa4 $1 Qxa4 30. Qxf6+ Kf8 31. Bc5+ Kg8 32. Bd4 {and despite the extra rook Black cannot avoid the repetition.}) 28. e5 {Also played instantly. The computer does not approve it though.} ({ Instead it seems the fantastic resource:} 28. Nf5+ Kh7 29. Nxh6 $3 {With the key idea} Kxh6 $2 ({However Black does not have to accept the "gift" and can instead defend the knight with} 29... Rd6 $1 {Then after a possible} 30. e5 Qb5 31. exd6 Qxb2 32. Re1 Qd2 ({Or} 32... Kxh6 33. Qxa8 cxd6 34. Qxa4 {which is similar.}) 33. Rd1 Qxh6 34. Qxa8 cxd6 35. Qxa4 {the game should end in a draw.} ) 30. Bxf6 {and Black is helpless despite the free rook! For instance a move like} Qe6 {reveals the mating pattern that White can use:} ({Relatively best is } 30... Qd6 31. Qe3+ Kh7 32. Qg5 Qxf6 33. Qxf6 {although White should of course win here.}) 31. Qf4+ Kh7 32. Qh4+ Kg6 33. Qg5+ Kh7 34. Qg7#) 28... Rg8 { Bringing the rook into the defense and ambushing the white king.} ({However, this is not good enough for a win. The best move was:} 28... Nh7 29. e6 {Then} f6 $1 {with good winning chances. For example:} ({But not} 29... Bxe6 $2 30. Nxe6+ Kg8 31. Qg3+ Ng5 32. Nxd8 Rxd8 33. h4 {when White wins.}) 30. e7 ({Or} 30. Nf5+ Kh8 31. e7 Re8 {which might give White some practical chances.}) 30... Rg8 (30... Re8 31. Re1) 31. Re1 Qa5 32. Bc3 Qd5 {and Black was able to consolidate and should win the game.}) 29. Nf5+ ({Black's idea is revealed in the line} 29. exf6+ Kh7 30. Qe4+ Rg6 {and Black is better.}) 29... Kh7 (29... Kf8 $4 {would end the game abruptly after the "long" move} 30. Qa3+) ({There is another forcing and beautiful draw after} 29... Kh8 30. e6 $1 Qxe6 31. Nxh6 Bd5 (31... Rg6 32. Qxa8+) 32. Qxf6+ Qxf6 33. Bxf6+ Kh7 34. Nxg8 Rxg8 35. Rxa4 Rxg2+) 30. Ne7 Rab8 {Now it all ends peacefully!} ({The last winning attempt was} 30... Ne8 31. Nxg8 Kxg8 {True, in this case Black should be ready to place his king in font of a discovered check after} 32. Qg4+ Kh7 33. Qe4+ Kh8 34. e6+ f6 {Nothing is clear in this position yet, and still the impression is that White should have enough resources to keep the balance. Some lines:} 35. Bc3 $5 {With the idea} (35. e7 $5) ({Black defends after} 35. Qg6 Qxe6 36. Qxh6+ Kg8 37. Qg6+ Ng7) (35. Rc1 a3 36. Ba1 Bd3 37. Qf3 Kg8 38. Bxf6 Nxf6 39. Qxf6 Rf8 40. Qxh6 Qa5 41. Ra1 a2 42. e7 Re8 43. Qe6+ Kg7 44. Rxa2 {Just a fraction of all the possibilities for both the sides.}) 35... Rb8 36. Qg6 Qxe6 ({Or perpetual after} 36... Bxe6 37. Rxa4 Qxa4 38. Bxf6+ Nxf6 39. Qxf6+ Kh7 40. Qe7+ Kg6 41. Qxe6+ Kh7 ({Since} 41... Kh5 $4 42. Qf5+ Kh4 43. g3#) 42. Qe7+) 37. Re1 Be2 38. Qxh6+ Kg8 39. Qd2 {with probable draw.}) 31. exf6 Qb7 ({The obvious capture} 31... Rxb2 $2 {loses after} 32. Qe4+ Kh8 (32... Rg6 33. Nxg6 Qxf6 (33... fxg6 34. Qe7+ {is mate.}) 34. Nf4+ Kh8 35. Qxc4) 33. Qh4 $3 Kh7 34. Nxg8 Kxg8 35. Qxh6) 32. Qxb7 Rxb7 33. Nxg8 (33. Rxa4 $6 Rd8) 33... Rxb2 34. Rxa4 Kxg8 35. Rxc4 Rb6 36. Rxc7 Rxf6 {The smoke has cleared. White emerged up a pawn from the mess, but it is insufficient for a win as all the pawns are on the same flank.} 37. Rc5 Kg7 38. g4 Rf3 39. Kg2 Ra3 40. f3 Ra2+ 41. Kg3 Ra3 42. h4 Rb3 43. h5 Ra3 44. Kf4 Ra4+ 45. Kf5 Ra3 46. f4 Rf3 47. Rc6 Rf1 48. g5 hxg5 49. h6+ Kh7 50. Kxg5 Rg1+ 51. Kf5 Rh1 52. Ke5 Rxh6 53. Rxh6+ Kxh6 54. Kf6 Kh5 55. Kxf7 Kg4 56. Ke6 Kxf4 1/2-1/2 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.13"] [Round "4.2"] [White "Giri, Anish"] [Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E68"] [WhiteElo "2772"] [BlackElo "2728"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "98"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 d6 3. g3 g6 4. d4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. Bg2 Ngf6 7. O-O O-O 8. e4 a6 9. Qc2 exd4 10. Nxd4 Re8 11. Re1 ({Giri mixed up some things here. Later he said} 11. Rd1 {is the move, e.g.} Rb8 12. h3 c6 13. Bf4 Ne5 14. c5 Bf8 15. cxd6 Bxd6 16. Bxe5 Rxe5 17. Nf3 Qe7 {Kovalenko,I (2700)-Maze,S (2582) Berlin 2015}) 11... Ne5 12. b3 c5 13. Nf3 Nfg4 $146 (13... Nc6 14. Bf4 Bg4 15. h3 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 Nd4 17. Qd1 Qa5 18. Bd2 Nd7 19. Bg2 Ne5 {Donchenko,A (2498)-Shoker,S (2453) Metz 2014}) 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. Bb2 Nc6 16. Qd2 Qa5 17. Rad1 Bg4 18. f3 Be6 19. Nd5 Qxd2 20. Rxd2 Bxb2 21. Rxb2 Bxd5 22. cxd5 Nd4 23. f4 $6 (23. b4 { (Giri) still keeps an edge.}) 23... a5 $1 {Now White has no play, and the knight is stronger than the bishop.} 24. Kf2 f6 25. h4 Re7 26. g4 h6 27. Ke3 f5 {Black is clearly better...} 28. Kd3 fxg4 29. e5 Kg7 {...and now technically winning. A true disaster for Giri, who nonetheless manages to hang on for quite some time.} 30. Re4 Nf5 31. Kc4 Ra6 32. a3 h5 33. Ree2 Nd4 34. Re4 b5+ 35. Kc3 b4+ 36. Kc4 bxa3 37. Ra2 Rb7 38. Rxa3 Nf5 39. Kc3 Rab6 40. Bf1 g3 ({ The simplest is probably} 40... Nxh4) 41. Bh3 Nd4 42. Kd2 Nxb3+ 43. Kd3 Nd4 44. exd6 Rxd6 45. Kc4 {The blunder of the day would be Ivanchuk's move which forced a draw in a won position. Still, this was wise decision as the Ukranian legend advanced into the next round!} Rb4+ {If all the blunders were that effective...} ({Instead Black could had fought for the full point with} 45... Rdb6 {with the idea to meet} 46. Rxg3 (46. Kxc5 $2 {with} Nb3+ 47. Kc4 Rb4+ 48. Kd3 Nc5+) (46. Rxa5 {also drops material after} Nb3) 46... Rb4+ 47. Kxc5 Nb3+ 48. Rxb3 Rxb3 {should still be winning but Ivanchuk thought it was dangerous.}) 46. Kxc5 {Alas, there is no other way.} (46. Kd3 Rxd5 {would win easily for Black.}) ({As well as} 46. Kc3 Nb5+) 46... Rdb6 {The perpetual is unavoidable.} 47. Rxd4 ({Ivan Sokolov was surprised that Giri, in this match situation, did not try} 47. Rxg3 Nb3+ 48. Rxb3 Rxb3 49. Bf1 {although} R6b4 $1 {looks like a killer.}) 47... R6b5+ 48. Kc6 Rb6+ 49. Kc5 (49. Kc7 Rb7+ 50. Kc8 Rb8+ {and since the king needs to stick to the black rook it is perpetual.}) 49... R6b5+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.13"] [Round "4.2"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Dubov, Daniil"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D85"] [WhiteElo "2799"] [BlackElo "2666"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "195"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 {In the previous round of the World Cup Aronian used the Gruenfeld in an attempt to wrap up the match. It did not work well for him as Matlakov demonstrated excellent fighting qualities. Now the Armenian GM wants to check what does White have here.} 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 {The very main line. Thousands of games have been played here.} 8. Be3 (8. Rb1 {is the main line.}) 8... O-O 9. Be2 b6 ({Dubov has some negative experience in the line after} 9... Qa5 10. O-O Rd8 11. Qb3 Qb6 12. Qa3 Nd7 13. e5 {with advantage for White, Ponkratov,P (2590)-Dubov,D (2666) St Petersburg 2017}) 10. Qd2 cxd4 11. cxd4 Bb7 12. e5 Nc6 13. h4 Qd5 14. h5 Rfd8 15. Rc1 $146 {Although Aronian was taking his time, this novelty is hardly an over-the-board invention. It seems illogical-does not White pin his hopes on the kingside attack?} ({Well, in a predecessor he tried to attack but after:} 15. hxg6 hxg6 16. Rh4 Qa5 $1 17. Qxa5 Nxa5 {Black was even somewhat better in Cuenca Jimenez,J (2498)-Ftacnik,L (2551) Leiria 2017}) 15... Qa5 {The obvious move, which Aronian forgot about. Without the queens White will have no attack at all and the pawn strcuture will favour Black. Actually, is not he already better?} 16. h6 Bf8 17. e6 $1 {A fantastic concept! This is what Aronian had prepared. [Actually Aronian said afteward that he simply blundered Black's answer. - PD] He is trying to lock the opponent's bishop down. In order to implement this plan he is not shy of sacrificing a pawn or two! And remember this pawn, it has a bright future.} f6 {Best.} ({Black will hardly have enough compensation for the exchange after:} 17... fxe6 18. Bc4 Rd6 ({Or} 18... Rd5 19. Bxd5 Qxd5 20. O-O) 19. Bf4 Nxd4 20. Bxd6 Nxf3+ 21. gxf3 exd6 22. Bxe6+ Kh8 23. Qxa5 bxa5 {with clear edge for White.}) 18. O-O {Pawns do not count when pieces are not there.} Qxd2 19. Bxd2 {Aronian offered a tactical draw here.} Nxd4 (19... Rd6 {does not create a threat and White can play for instance} 20. Bf4) 20. Nxd4 Rxd4 21. Be3 {What does White have for the pawn? The c-file, yes, but more importantly, the bishop on f8 is locked. Is it worth its three pawns equivalent?} Rdd8 ({If I were Dubov I would have gone for the e6-pawn as soon as possible. The line} 21... Rd6 22. Rc7 (22. Bb5 Bd5) 22... Bd5 23. Rd1 { looks somewhat awkward for Black, but} Bxe6 24. Rxd6 exd6 25. Bf3 d5 26. Bd4 { leads to a position where White has compensation for the pawns. However the black-squared bishop is out. In case of a need Black may return the pawns and escape with a draw.}) 22. Bb5 {Urgently helping the most important pawn.} Bd5 23. Bd7 g5 $1 {Active defense by Dubov. The bishop needs out. [Aronian thought this was a mistake. "After this move I'm the one who's pressing." - PD]} ({But how about the obvious} 23... Bxa2 {Is not Black just up two pawns? He is but after say} 24. Ra1 (24. Rc2 Bd5 25. Ra1 a5) (24. Rc7 a5 25. Ra1 Bb3 26. Bxb6 a4 27. Bc5) 24... Bc4 25. Rfc1 b5 26. Ra6 g5 27. Bc5 {Black hardly has any moves. And White should be able to find a way to improve his position. Perhaps just throw the king into the game.}) 24. f4 $1 {Aronian is true to his active style. He was the one to decline a draw offer here.} (24. Rfd1 $5 {was also good with the idea} Bxa2 $2 ({Better is} 24... Bb7 25. Rc7 {with compensation for the pawn.}) 25. Rd2 Bb3 26. Rc3 {and the bishop is trapped.}) 24... Bxh6 ({ Avoiding the passive position after} 24... gxf4 25. Rxf4 Bxa2 ({Not} 25... Bxh6 $2 26. Rg4+ Kh8 (26... Bg7 27. Bh6) 27. Bxh6 {and White wins.}) 26. Ra4 {and the bishop is again locked on f8 (together with the king!)}) 25. fxg5 Bg7 ( 25... Bxg5 {would lead to an inferior version of the game after} 26. Bxg5 fxg5 27. Rf7 Bxa2 (27... Rxd7 $2 28. exd7 Kxf7 29. Rc8) 28. Rxe7 {as the black king is less active.}) ({However, an interesting try was} 25... fxg5 $5 {Looks odd, yeah, but the bishop came into life and Black may use it after} 26. Rf7 Bg7 27. Bxg5 Bd4+ 28. Kh1 Kh8 29. Bxe7 Rg8 {with an unclear position.}) 26. Bd4 fxg5 27. Bxg7 Kxg7 28. Rf7+ Kg6 29. Rxe7 {Remember the pawn on e6? She is the star now, ready to advance to e8.} Rf8 {It was time to look for a concrete solution of the problem.} (29... Bxa2 $5 {was an idea, although Black's king is in danger after} 30. Rf7 {The idea being Rc1-f1, g2-g4 and mate on f6.} h5 31. Rcf1 g4 32. Bc6 Bc4 (32... Bxe6 33. R7f6+ Kg7 34. Rxe6 {is less good.}) 33. R1f4 Bxe6 34. R4f6+ Kg5 35. Rxe6 {when it is still unclear, although Black should most likely survive.}) 30. Re1 Bxa2 {Dubov decided to grab a future queen. Who would not? But it seems as he underestimated White's next move.} ( 30... a6 $1 {was good prophylaxis against White's idea, when Black should survive after} 31. Ba4 Rac8 32. Ra7 b5 33. e7 Rfe8 34. Rxa6+ Kf7 35. Bxb5 Rxe7) 31. Bb5 $1 {With the obvious idea to move the e7 rook out of the way of the pawn and push it into a queen.} a6 ({Or a defense like} 31... h5 32. Rc7 a5 33. e7 Rfe8 34. Bxe8+ Rxe8 35. Rc6+ Kf7 36. Rxb6 Rxe7 37. Rf1+ Ke8 38. Ra6 {when White retains winning chances thank to the presence of many rooks on the board. }) 32. Bd3+ {Did I mention that the bishop also wants to attack?} Kf6 33. Rxh7 b5 (33... Bxe6 $2 34. Rh6+) ({The black king is not safe at all. Check this out } 33... Rfe8 $4 34. Rf7#) 34. Rh6+ {White repeats the moves to gain time on the clock.} Ke7 35. Rh7+ Kf6 36. e7 Rg8 37. Rh6+ Kf7 38. Rh7+ {Missing a nice win.} (38. Bh7 $1 {suddenly leaves the rook squareless. For example:} Rgc8 ( 38... Rh8 39. Bg6+ Kf6 40. Rxh8 Rxh8 41. e8=Q {would cost Black a whole rook.}) ({Or} 38... Rge8 39. Bg6+ Kg7 40. Bxe8 Rxe8 (40... Kxh6 41. Bc6) 41. Rxa6 { with a win.}) 39. Be4 Rab8 40. Rxa6 $1 {and since the promotion cannot be stopped, White would clear the pawns first.}) 38... Kf6 39. Be4 Rae8 40. Rh6+ Kf7 {The time control has been reached and Aronian has the time to find how to convert the advantage. He forces matters:} 41. Bc6 Bc4 42. Bxe8+ Rxe8 43. Rxa6 Rxe7 44. Rxe7+ Kxe7 45. Kf2 {The simplicity is deceptive. Some of these endgames are a draw, some won. Which one is this?} Kf7 {Black cannot keep both pawns alive.} ({He should also refrain from advancing} 45... g4 $2 {as White will get an additional idea to sacrifice his rook for that pawn and the bishop in the future. Here is an exemplary winning line in case that Black keeps both the pawns:} 46. Ke3 Bd5 47. g3 Bc4 48. Rb6 Kf7 49. Kf4 Be2 50. Kf5 Kg7 51. Rb7+ Kh6 52. Kf6 Bc4 53. Rd7 Be2 54. Rd2) 46. Rb6 Be6 47. Rxb5 {From here the annotations are based on the tablebase.} Kf6 48. Kf3 Bf5 49. Rc5 Bd3 50. Ke3 Bf5 51. Kd4 Bb1 52. Rc1 Bg6 53. Rc6+ Kg7 54. Ke5 {How complex this position is was revealed during the live transmission of the game. Neither commentator GM Ivan Sokolov knew, nor was super GM Vassily Ivanchuk sure about the evaluation. Actually they both guessed it should be a draw! Aronian could not find the winning plan either.} Bb1 55. Ra6 (55. g4 $1) 55... Bc2 56. Rd6 Kf7 57. Rf6+ Kg7 58. Rf2 Bb1 59. Rb2 Bd3 60. Rd2 Bb1 61. Ke6 ({The winning plan was connected with} 61. g4 $1 {Intuitively, Aronian did not want to push that pawn and turn it into a target. But it takes away important squares from the balck king. After} Kf7 62. Rd7+ Kg6 {White slowly takes away the squares along the b1-h7 diagonal from the bishop and finally the white king penetrates on f5:} 63. Rb7 Bd3 64. Rb3 Bc2 ({Or} 64... Be2 65. Rb6+ Kg7 66. Kf5) 65. Rb2 Bd3 66. Kd4 $1 {The bishop needs to leave the b1-h7 diagonal.} Bf1 67. Ke4 {followed by Rb2-b6+ and Ke4-f5xg5 with a win.}) 61... Be4 62. Re2 Bd3 63. Rd2 Be4 64. Ke5 Bb1 65. Rd4 Kf7 66. Ra4 Bc2 67. Ra5 Bb1 68. Rc5 Kg6 69. Rc1 Bd3 70. Rd1 Bc2 71. Rd2 Bb1 72. Ke6 Be4 73. g3 $2 {Now it's a draw!} (73. g4 $1) 73... Bb1 $2 ( 73... Bf5+) (73... Bf3 {and}) (73... Kh5 {draw here.}) 74. Rb2 $2 (74. g4) (74. Rd4) (74. Rd6 {and}) (74. Ke5 {win here.}) 74... Bd3 (74... Bf5+ {was the only move to draw here:} 75. Ke5 Bg4 76. Rb6+ Kh5 {and this setup is unbreakable.}) 75. Ke7 $2 {Going into the wrong direction. Now Dubov could have saved the game.} ({Here} 75. g4 $1 {was the only winning move.}) 75... Be4 $2 ({Both king moves} 75... Kf5 $1 {would have saved the day. For example and} 76. Rb3 Be4 77. Rb4 Bf3 {Black will keep the bishop on the d1-h5 diagonal and will always threaten to get in and snatch the g3-pawn.}) (75... Kh5 $1 {also draws here.}) ({Even} 75... Bf5 $1 {would draw according to the tablebases.}) 76. Rb6+ $2 ({Again} 76. g4 $1 {was the only winning move.}) 76... Kg7 $2 (76... Kf5 $1 {would still draw.}) ({Here} 76... Kh5 $2 {is insufficient because of} 77. Kf6) 77. Rb5 Kg6 78. Rb4 {Seeing all these mistakes, it should be noted that Aronian was very low on time, while Dubov either did not trust his drawing chances, or was careless.} (78. g4 $1 {again only move.}) 78... Bc2 $2 (78... Kf5 {again only drawing move.}) 79. Kf8 $2 (79. g4) (79. Ke6) (79. Rc4 { and}) (79. Rd4 {win here.}) 79... Kf6 $2 (79... Kh5 $1 {draws.}) 80. Kg8 {win.} Bd3 81. Rd4 Bc2 82. Rd2 $2 (82. Kh8) (82. g4 {and}) 82... Bb1 $2 (82... Be4 $1 {draws.}) 83. Rf2+ Kg6 84. Rb2 $2 Bd3 85. Rb6+ Kf5 86. Rb4 Kf6 $2 (86... Be2 { and}) (86... Be4 {draw.}) 87. Rd4 Bc2 88. Rd2 $2 {The same mistake as on move 82.} Bb1 $2 {Also copying the mistake.} 89. Rf2+ Kg6 {In six moves from now Aronian will play the only winning move here:} 90. g4 $1 {Now White is winning. } Be4 91. Rd2 Kf6 92. Rb2 $2 (92. Re2) (92. Rf2+) (92. Rd1 {and}) (92. Rd8 { were the four winning moves here.}) 92... Bd3 $2 ({The last moment Dubov could draw was here, with} 92... Ke5 $1) 93. Rb6+ Ke5 94. Kg7 Kf4 95. Rb4+ Be4 96. Rxe4+ $1 Kxe4 97. Kg6 Kf4 98. Kh5 {wins the pawn and promotion cannot be stopped.} 1-0 [Event "Tbilisi"] [Site "Tbilisi"] [Date "2017.09.13"] [Round "4.2"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Dubov, Daniil"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2802"] [BlackElo "2666"] [Annotator "Amruta Mokal"] [PlyCount "193"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8. Be3 O-O 9. Be2 b6 10. Qd2 cxd4 11. cxd4 Bb7 12. e5 Nc6 13. h4 Qd5 14. h5 Rfd8 15. Rc1 (15. hxg6 hxg6 16. Rh4 Qa5 17. Qxa5 Nxa5 18. e6 f6 19. Rg4 g5 20. Nh4 Bd5 21. Ng6 Bxe6 22. Re4 Rd6 23. Nxe7+ Kf7 24. d5 Bxd5 25. Nxd5 Rxd5 26. Rc1 $11 {1/2-1/2 (37) Cuenca Jimenez,J (2498)-Ftacnik,L (2551) Leiria 2017}) 15... Qa5 16. h6 Bf8 17. e6 (17. Qxa5 Nxa5 18. O-O Rac8 $11) 17... f6 (17... fxe6 { would take into a forcing variation which lands up in a better position for white} 18. Bc4 Rd6 19. Bf4 Nxd4 20. Qxa5 Nxf3+ 21. gxf3 bxa5 22. Bxd6 exd6 23. Bxe6+ Kh8 24. Rc7 Bxf3 25. Rh3 $16 {white's threats just dont stop and so black had no time to pin the e6 Bishop}) 18. O-O (18. Qxa5 Nxa5 19. Kd2 Bd5 { white loses a pawn}) 18... Qxd2 19. Bxd2 Nxd4 (19... Rac8 $1 {Not taking d4 would have been better as white's bishops get good play} 20. Rfd1 Na5 21. Be3 Bd5 $17 {a2-e6 weakness creates problems for white}) 20. Nxd4 Rxd4 21. Be3 Rdd8 22. Bb5 $1 Bd5 23. Bd7 {A beautiful Bishop} g5 (23... Bxa2 24. Ra1 Bd5 25. Rfd1 Bb7 26. Bf4 {and blacks pieces are completely passive}) 24. f4 (24. Rfd1 {was a possibility}) 24... Bxh6 (24... gxf4 25. Rxf4 Bxa2 26. Rg4+ Kh8 27. Ra4 $13) 25. fxg5 Bg7 (25... fxg5 26. Rfd1 Be4 27. Rc7 $44) 26. Bd4 fxg5 27. Bxg7 Kxg7 28. Rf7+ Kg6 29. Rxe7 Rf8 30. Re1 Bxa2 31. Bb5 $1 {Aronian thought for 14 minutes and found this move} a6 32. Bd3+ Kf6 33. Rxh7 b5 34. Rh6+ (34. e7 Rg8 35. Rf1+ Ke6 36. Be4 Rab8 (36... Rac8 37. Bf5+ $18) (36... Rae8 37. Bc6 $16) 37. Re1 Kf6 38. Rh6+ Kf7 39. Rxa6 $16) 34... Ke7 35. Rh7+ Kf6 36. e7 Rg8 37. Rh6+ Kf7 38. Rh7+ Kf6 39. Be4 Rae8 40. Rh6+ Kf7 41. Bc6 Bc4 42. Bxe8+ Rxe8 43. Rxa6 Rxe7 44. Rxe7+ Kxe7 45. Kf2 Kf7 46. Rb6 Be6 47. Rxb5 {The best theoritical endgame reached by far in World Cup Tbilisi. Definitely needs in depth study. White's should aim for: Kd4, Rb2, g4 when black would be having is Kg6, Bd3, g5. This is a winning position.} Kf6 48. Kf3 Bf5 49. Rc5 Bd3 50. Ke3 Bf5 51. Kd4 Bb1 52. Rc1 Bg6 53. Rc6+ Kg7 54. Ke5 Bb1 55. Ra6 Bc2 56. Rd6 Kf7 57. Rf6+ Kg7 58. Rf2 Bb1 59. Rb2 Bd3 60. Rd2 Bb1 61. Ke6 Be4 62. Re2 Bd3 63. Rd2 Be4 64. Ke5 Bb1 65. Rd4 Kf7 66. Ra4 Bc2 67. Ra5 Bb1 68. Rc5 Kg6 69. Rc1 Bd3 70. Rd1 Bc2 71. Rd2 Bb1 72. Ke6 Be4 73. g3 Bb1 74. Rb2 Bd3 75. Ke7 Be4 76. Rb6+ Kg7 77. Rb5 Kg6 78. Rb4 Bc2 79. Kf8 Kf6 80. Kg8 Bd3 81. Rd4 Bc2 82. Rd2 Bb1 83. Rf2+ Kg6 84. Rb2 Bd3 85. Rb6+ Kf5 86. Rb4 Kf6 87. Rd4 Bc2 88. Rd2 Bb1 89. Rf2+ Kg6 90. g4 $1 {Finally Aronian found out that the only way to win is g4} Be4 91. Rd2 Kf6 92. Rb2 Bd3 93. Rb6+ Ke5 94. Kg7 Kf4 95. Rb4+ Be4 96. Rxe4+ Kxe4 97. Kg6 1-0 [Event "Tbilisi FIDE World Cup"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.09.15"] [Round "32.4"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A13"] [WhiteElo "2802"] [BlackElo "2727"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "47"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:59:11"] [BlackClock "0:11:19"] 1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 dxc4 4. Qa4+ c6 ({In the short-after match interview the Armenian GM suggested instead the quick development with} 4... Nd7 {This is how Cheparinov played against him recently:} 5. Qxc4 c5 6. Nf3 Ngf6 7. O-O b6 8. Nd4 Ne5 9. Nc6 Nxc4 10. Nxd8 Nd5 11. Nc3 Kxd8 12. Nxd5 Bb7 13. Nc3 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 Be7 15. Rd1 Bf6 16. d4 Ke7 17. dxc5 Bxc3 18. bxc3 bxc5 19. Kf3 {1/2-1/ 2 (19) Aronian,L (2785)-Cheparinov,I (2689) Doha 2016}) 5. Qxc4 b5 6. Qc2 Bb7 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. Nc3 {A handful of games have been played in this line.} ({The majority of the players choose to castle outright:} 8. O-O Ngf6 9. d3 Be7 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. b3 c5 12. Bb2 Rc8 13. Rac1 Qb6 14. Qb1 Rfd8 15. Qa1 {1/2-1/2 Chatalbashev,B (2561)-Lupulescu,C (2592) Pleven 2010}) 8... Rc8 ({White was a bit better after} 8... a6 9. a4 Rc8 10. O-O Ngf6 11. Rd1 Qb6 12. d4 c5 13. axb5 axb5 14. Be3 {Artemiev,V (2671)-Bukavshin,I (2648) Sochi 2015}) ({Perhaps Black simply needs to proceed with the development} 8... Ngf6 {as} 9. Nd4 {is not really a threat due to} Qb6) 9. O-O a6 {Ivanchuk is consistently preparing the c6-c5 advance, but neglects the kingside development.} (9... Ngf6 {was the obvious choice and the line} 10. d4 ({Black can push that pawn only after} 10. a4 a6) 10... c5 $5 11. Nxb5 Qb6 12. Na3 cxd4 {demonstrates how Black may save a tempo on the a7-a6 move.}) 10. d4 {Ivanchuk sank into deep thought and played the next principled move after fourty-two minute of thought!} c5 {"I think he understood that it does not work, but since his whole set-up was designed for this advance he decided to go for it." (Aronian) The other options lead to comfortable advantage for White:} (10... Ngf6 11. Ne5 { "followed by Rf1-d1 and perhaps Bc1-g5" (Aronian)}) ({Further preparation will allow White chance to prepare too-} 10... Qb6 11. Ne5 Ngf6 12. Rd1 c5 13. Nxd7 Nxd7 14. d5 $1 {with big advantage.}) (10... Bd6 {invites} 11. Ne4) 11. d5 $1 { Naturally, Aronian is happy to open up the game.} exd5 ({Things will be even easier for White without the black bishop. For example:} 11... Bxd5 12. Nxd5 exd5 13. Rd1 Ngf6 14. e4 dxe4 15. Ne5 Qc7 16. Nxd7 Nxd7 17. Bf4 Qa7 18. Bh3 { and White wins.}) 12. Nh4 {Surprisingly, all this had been played before. Now Ivanchuk comes with a novelty, but hardly a good one.} Ndf6 $146 ({The predecessor saw:} 12... Ngf6 13. Bg5 ({However} 13. Rd1 $1 {would have been stronger with large advantage for White after} Be7 14. Nf5 O-O 15. Nxd5 Nxd5 16. Bxd5 Bxd5 17. Rxd5) 13... Qb6 14. e4 d4 15. Nd5 Bxd5 16. exd5 h6 17. Rfe1+ Kd8 {and Black suffering in Nguyen,T (2284)-Gvetadze,S (2411) Ekaterinburg 2007 }) 13. Rd1 g6 (13... b4 {would simply force White what he wants to do} 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. e4) ({The obvious defense} 13... Ne7 {blocks the kingside and White has big attack after} 14. Bg5 (14. Nxd5 $5) 14... Qb6 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. e4 $1 ( {Or advantage after} 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Bxd5 Bxd5 18. Rxd5)) 14. Nxd5 {Of course. The black king would be exposed.} Nxd5 15. e4 ({It is better to keep more pieces into the attack, although} 15. Bxd5 Bxd5 16. e4 {is also much better for White.}) 15... Bg7 16. exd5 Nf6 {Black is one move short to castle.} 17. Qe2+ {Keeps the rook behind the pawn.} (17. Re1+ Kf8 18. Be3 {is also big advantage for White.}) 17... Kf8 (17... Qe7 $2 {drops a piece after} 18. Qxe7+ Kxe7 19. d6+) 18. a4 {Making use of the fact that the black pieces are unprepared.} b4 ({Or else the queenside is desperately weak-} 18... bxa4 19. d6 Bxg2 20. Nxg2) 19. Be3 {White's play is very straightforward and easy. Simply attack the weaknesses.} Qd6 ({The pawn is invinsible} 19... Nxd5 20. Bxd5 Bxd5 21. Qxa6) ({If} 19... Kg8 20. d6 (20. Rac1 $5) 20... Bxg2 21. Nxg2 c4 22. Rac1 {and Black collapses.}) 20. Rac1 Nd7 ({The best chance was} 20... Kg8 21. Bf4 ( {Or the immediate} 21. b3 h6 22. Bf4 Qd7 23. Be5 {although White should be close to winning here as well.}) 21... Qd7 22. b3) 21. Nf3 $1 {A strong maneuver to unblock the d-pawn.} h6 22. Nd2 Kg8 23. Ne4 Qf8 24. d6 {Some people were shocked by Ivanchuk's decision to resign here.} (24. d6 {However, the discovered attack by the knight cannot be adequatly prevented:} Kh7 (24... Ba8 25. Nxc5) (24... Bxe4 {this saves the pawn only temporary} 25. Bxe4 Kh7 26. b3 a5 27. Qb5) 25. Ng5+ hxg5 26. Bxb7 {and White wins in all the lines.}) 1-0 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.15"] [Round "5.1"] [White "Svidler, Peter"] [Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A34"] [WhiteElo "2751"] [BlackElo "2789"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nb4 6. Bc4 Nd3+ 7. Ke2 Nf4+ ( 7... Nxc1+ 8. Rxc1 a6 9. d4 b5 10. Bd5 Ra7 11. dxc5 e6 12. c6 b4 13. Qd4 Rc7 14. Na4 exd5 15. exd5 Be7 {Giri, A (2773)-Harikrishna,P (2766) Wijk aan Zee 2017}) 8. Kf1 Ne6 9. h4 Nd4 10. d3 Nbc6 11. Nb5 Be6 $146 ({Predecessor:} 11... Nxb5 12. Bxb5 Bd7 13. Be3 e6 14. Rc1 Nb8 15. Qb3 Qb6 16. a4 Bxb5 17. Qxb5+ Nd7 {Wang,Y (2718)-Salem,A (2615) Abu Dhabi 2016}) 12. Bf4 Nxb5 13. Bxb5 Qb6 14. Ba4 Qa6 15. Rc1 b5 16. Bb3 Bxb3 17. Qxb3 e6 18. Be3 Na5 19. Qc3 b4 20. Qc2 Nb7 21. Qc4 Qxc4 22. Rxc4 Be7 23. Ke2 O-O 24. Nd2 Rfc8 25. Nb3 a5 26. a4 bxa3 27. bxa3 a4 28. Nd2 {Move of the day. The excellent pawn sacrifice that allowed Vachier-Lagrave to defend his difficult position.} Nd6 $1 {The ill-looking pawn sacrifices itself to open up the road for the bishop.} 29. Rxc5 Rcb8 {The threat is Nd6-b5.} 30. Rb1 $1 {The best move. Svidler sacrifices the h4 pawn in return, but keeps the more important one on a3 alive.} (30. Rc7 Bf8 {just strenghtens the threat Nd6-b5.}) (30. Ra1 Nb5 {is already better for Black.}) 30... Rxb1 31. Nxb1 Bxh4 {White is still better, but with careful defense Black saved the game.} 32. Rc6 Be7 33. Bc5 Nb5 34. Ke3 Kf8 35. Bxe7+ Kxe7 36. Rb6 Nd6 37. Nc3 (37. g4 $1) 37... h5 38. f4 f6 39. Nb5 Nxb5 40. Rxb5 h4 41. Rb7+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.16"] [Round "5.2"] [White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A13"] [WhiteElo "2727"] [BlackElo "2802"] [PlyCount "141"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. c4 Nf6 2. g3 e6 3. Bg2 d5 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Bd7 6. Qxc4 c5 7. Ne5 Qc8 8. d3 Nc6 9. Nxd7 Qxd7 10. Nd2 Nd4 11. Nf3 b5 12. Qc3 Nd5 13. Qd2 Be7 14. O-O O-O 15. Qd1 Nxf3+ 16. Bxf3 Rac8 17. a3 Bf6 18. e3 Rfd8 19. Qc2 Ne7 20. Be4 Nc6 21. Rd1 Be7 22. f4 f5 23. Bf3 Bf6 24. Rb1 Ne7 25. Be2 e5 26. fxe5 Bxe5 27. Bd2 Qd5 28. Be1 Kh8 29. Bf1 Qe6 30. Bf2 Nd5 31. Qb3 Qh6 32. Re1 a6 33. d4 $1 {As commenter Aman Hambleton said, "Passed pawns are also isolated pawns." This is not a clear position, but the opening favors the bishops and for the first time, Ivanchuk looks to have a position he can really work with.} cxd4 34. exd4 Bb8 35. Bg2 Nf6 36. Re6 f4 $1 {...Qh5 is also ok, but the direct approach gives the counterplay Aronian needs.} 37. Rbe1 fxg3 38. hxg3 Rf8 39. d5 Qh5 40. Bf3 Qh3 41. Bg2 Qh5 42. Bf3 Qh3 43. Bd1 $5 {Theoretically, this is bad, but Ivanchuk cannot accept a perpetual. Play continues!} Rcd8 (43... Ng8 $3 {This remarkable move, creating a serious threat of ...Rxf2! is quite hard to meet. It's amusing that the most dangerous response to Bd1 is another retreating move.}) 44. Qf3 h5 45. Qg2 Qxg2+ 46. Kxg2 Rxd5 47. Bc2 a5 48. R1e2 Bd6 49. Be3 Bc5 50. Bc1 g5 51. Ra6 Ng4 52. Rae6 Rf2+ 53. Rxf2 Bxf2 54. Be4 Rc5 55. Bd2 Bd4 56. b4 axb4 57. axb4 Re5 $1 {White wins the pawn on g5, but White can make no progress without trading the dark-square bishop for the knight when the opposite-color bishops drain the position of any fight.} 58. Rxe5 Nxe5 59. Bxg5 Kg7 60. Bd2 Nc4 61. Be1 Nd6 62. Bd3 Bf6 (62... Be5 63. Be2 Kg6 {was a very solid fortress recommended by Aman Hambleton.}) 63. Kf3 Bg5 64. Ke2 Kf6 65. Bc3+ Ke6 66. Kf3 Nc4 67. Be2 Kf5 68. Bd4 Ne5+ 69. Kg2 Nc6 70. Bc3 Be7 71. Bxb5 1/2-1/2 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.16"] [Round "5.2"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Svidler, Peter"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C53"] [WhiteElo "2804"] [BlackElo "2756"] [PlyCount "54"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O a6 7. a4 h6 8. Re1 O-O 9. h3 a5 10. Nbd2 Be6 11. Bb5 Ne7 12. d4 exd4 13. Nxd4 Bd7 14. Nf1 Re8 15. Ng3 Ng6 16. f4 Bxb5 17. axb5 Qd7 18. Kh2 Re7 19. Ndf5 Re6 20. Nd4 (20. Nxh6+ $5 gxh6 21. f5 Re5 22. fxg6 fxg6 {is not very clear.}) (20. Qd2 $3 Qxb5 21. Nxg7 $1 {It turns out there's just not a good response to this move after 20.Qd2!!} Kxg7 22. f5 {White will at least recover the piece with a big advantage.}) (20. Nxg7 Kxg7 21. f5 Re5 22. fxg6 fxg6 23. Qd2 Rh8 {is also not very clear.}) 20... Re7 21. b4 $6 {This sac may be ok, but the burden of proving it's correctness seems to be on White.} Bxd4 22. cxd4 Qxb5 23. f5 Nf8 24. Rxa5 Rxa5 25. bxa5 Qxa5 26. Bb2 $6 (26. Bd2 Qb5 27. Qc2 {is the computer's preference which also looks good for Black. Of course, Svidler cannot defend like a computer, but Vachier-Lagrave cannot attack like one either. Black should be for choice.}) 26... N8d7 27. Qc1 Re8 1/2-1/2 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.09.16"] [Round "33.3"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "Rapport, Richard"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E18"] [WhiteElo "2771"] [BlackElo "2675"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:49:26"] [BlackClock "0:30:32"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 {The Queen's Indian was to be expected in this game.} 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Ne4 8. Bd2 Bf6 9. Re1 {"I prepared very well for this game. Up to here was preparation." (Ding)} ({White can also save the bishop} 9. Be1 d5 10. Qc2 Nxc3 11. Bxc3 Nd7 12. cxd5 exd5 13. b4 c5 14. dxc5 bxc5 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Bh3 {as in Vitiugov,N (2724) -Inarkiev,E (2723) Moscow 2017}) 9... a6 $146 {"Very strange move" (Ding)} ({The only predecessor saw:} 9... d5 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Rc1 Nd7 12. Qc2 Re8 13. Bf4 Nxc3 14. bxc3 c5 15. dxc5 Nxc5 {Black could hardly complain here, but we do not know what did Ding prepare in this line Adamski,J (2415)-Kruszynski,W (2285) Polanica Zdroj 1979}) (9... Nxd2 {was the alternative} 10. Qxd2 d6) 10. Ne5 ({ "I realized he wants something like"} 10. Qc2 Nxd2 11. Qxd2 d6 {"and decided not to play that slow" (Ding)}) 10... Nxc3 (10... Nd6 {looks too passive after} 11. Bxb7 Nxb7 12. Bf4) 11. Bxc3 Bxg2 12. Kxg2 d6 {"After this move, his position is very passive." (Ding)} ({"Black should have played"} 12... c5 { (Ding)}) 13. Ng4 Be7 (13... Nd7 14. e4 {is better for White.}) 14. e4 b5 $1 { Rapport is trying to put up a good fight on the light squares. This is the only way to challenge White's center.} (14... d5 {is just bad due to} 15. exd5 exd5 16. Qf3 c6 17. cxd5 cxd5 18. Ne3) 15. Qe2 bxc4 16. d5 {Making sure that Black will have problems with the c7 pawn.} (16. Qxc4 Nd7 {is also good for White, but not as good as in the game.}) 16... Qc8 {This allows the next powerful move.} (16... e5 {is horrible from a positional point of view} 17. Qxc4) 17. e5 $1 {Not the first time the Chinese GM carries out a central break} exd5 (17... dxe5 {simply loses to} 18. Qxe5 f6 19. Qxe6+) ({Perhaps} 17... Qb7 18. Rad1 Nd7 {was the most tenacious. Although White has} 19. Kg1 $1 {and if} Nc5 20. Nf6+ $1 {with a strong attack.}) 18. exd6 cxd6 {The only move.} ({Both players probably saw the amazing line:} 18... Bxd6 19. Qf3 c6 20. Nh6+ $1 Kh8 ( 20... gxh6 21. Qf6 {is inevitable mate.}) 21. Qf6 $3 gxf6 22. Bxf6#) 19. Qxe7 { Once again White threatens Ng4-h6+!} d4 ({If} 19... Qxg4 {then White will first kick away the black queen and only then trap the rook.} 20. f3 (20. Qb7 { is not the way to do it after} Nd7 21. f3 Qf5 22. g4 Qc2+ {Black is fine.}) 20... Qf5 (20... Qc8 21. Qg5 f6 22. Qxd5+ {picks up the a8 rook.}) 21. g4 $1 Qc2+ 22. Re2 Qg6 23. Qb7) 20. Qe4 (20. Bxd4 {was more accurate with a large advantage for White after} Qxg4 21. Qxd6 Nc6 22. Bc3 $1 {White has the better minor piece and less pawn islands.}) 20... Qc6 $1 {A nice tactical resource from Rapport. "I missed this move. I thought I am winning instantly. Fortunately, it was still much better for me." (Ding)} (20... Nc6 21. Bxd4 {is simply an extra piece for White.}) 21. Bxd4 ({White's problem is that after} 21. Qxc6 Nxc6 22. Bd2 f5 {his knight would be trapped.}) 21... f5 22. Qxc6 Nxc6 23. Ne3 (23. Rac1 $5 fxg4 24. Rxc4 {is also a big advantage for White.}) 23... Nxd4 24. Rad1 {At the end of the day, Rapport regained the piece, but his pawn army makes an ugly impression.} f4 {Best again.} ({Passive defense cannot save Black.} 24... Nb5 25. Nxc4 Rad8 26. a4) (24... Nc6 25. Nxc4 d5 26. Rxd5 Nb4 27. Rd7 $1 {should be winning as well for the first player.}) 25. Rxd4 fxe3 26. Rxe3 Rab8 27. Re2 c3 ({Or} 27... d5 28. Rxd5) 28. bxc3 Rb6 29. Rb4 $1 {White is not only a pawn ahead, but he also has more active rooks and after this move-better pawns. The outcome of game is more or less determined.} Rxb4 ({ Forced as} 29... Rc6 30. Re7 Rf7 31. Rb8+ Rf8 32. Rbb7 {lets the fat piggies in the garden.}) 30. cxb4 Rb8 31. Rb2 {The rest is easy. Ding activates everything that he has and starts pushing his outside passer.} Kf7 32. Kf3 Ke6 33. Ke4 d5+ 34. Kd3 Kd6 35. a4 Rb7 36. f4 h5 37. b5 axb5 38. axb5 Kc5 39. Rc2+ $1 {A nice final touch.} Kxb5 (39... Kb6 {does not help neither} 40. Kd4 Rd7 41. Rc5) 40. Kd4 ({The pawn endgame was also won by force.} 40. Rb2+ Kc6 41. Rxb7 Kxb7 42. Kd4 Kc6 43. f5 Kd6 44. h3 Kc6 45. g4 hxg4 46. hxg4 Kd6 47. g5 Kc6 48. f6 gxf6 49. g6) 40... Rf7 41. Kxd5 {Rapport resigned as his king is too far away to help the pawns.} 1-0 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.09.16"] [Round "33.2"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Fedoseev, Vladimir"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "2792"] [BlackElo "2731"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "165"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:09:21"] [BlackClock "0:03:57"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Be7 7. O-O Nc6 8. Nbd2 Bf5 9. Re1 Nxd2 10. Qxd2 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 O-O 12. c3 Qd7 13. Bf4 a6 14. Re2 ( {Relevant:} 14. Re3 Rae8 15. Rae1 Bd8 16. Ng5 Bxg5 17. Bxg5 f6 18. Bf4 Re7 19. h3 Rfe8 20. g4 Rxe3 21. Rxe3 Rxe3 22. Qxe3 Ne7 23. f3 Kf7 24. b3 h5 25. Qd3 hxg4 26. hxg4 Ng6 27. Bg3 c6 28. Kf2 Qe6 29. Qb1 Nf8 30. Qd3 Ng6 31. Qb1 Nf8 32. Qd3 Ng6 33. Qb1 {1/2-1/2 (33) Eliseev,U (2606)-Bezgodov,A (2512) Sochi 2016 }) 14... Rae8 15. Rae1 Bd8 16. Nd2 Rxe2 17. Qxe2 a5 $146 {So played a lot of remarkable moves and maneuvers in this game. Here's the first impressive maneuver:} ({Predecessor:} 17... Be7 18. Nb3 Rb8 19. h3 h6 20. Qg4 Qxg4 21. hxg4 Bd6 22. Bxd6 cxd6 23. Nc1 Kf8 24. Kf1 b5 25. a3 Re8 26. Rxe8+ Kxe8 27. Nd3 {1/2-1/2 (27) Brkic,A (2569)-Jovanic,O (2477) Zadar 2016}) 18. Nb3 b6 19. Nc1 f6 20. a4 Ne7 21. Nd3 {The knight wants to proceed further to e6.} g5 22. Bc1 Ng6 23. b3 Be7 24. h4 $1 {Makes use of the weakening on the kingside.} gxh4 25. Nf4 Rf7 26. Qe6 Qxe6 27. Rxe6 Nxf4 28. Bxf4 Bd8 29. b4 $1 {Practically wins a pawn.} Kg7 ({Or else, White will get an outside passed pawn.} 29... axb4 30. cxb4) 30. bxa5 bxa5 31. Ra6 c6 32. Rxc6 Kg6 33. Rc5 Rd7 34. f3 Kf5 35. Bd2 Ke6 36. Rc6+ Kf5 37. Be1 Kg5 38. Rc5 f5 39. Kh2 Kh5 40. Bf2 Rd6 41. Be3 Bb6 42. Rb5 Bd8 43. Bf4 Rd7 44. Be5 Kg5 45. Rc5 f4 46. Rc6 Kf5 47. Ra6 Kg5 48. Kh3 Kf5 49. Rc6 Kg5 50. Re6 Be7 51. Rc6 Bd8 52. Bd6 Kf5 53. Kh2 Rg7 54. Be5 Rd7 55. Rd6 $1 {Although the computer dislikes this, I think White is winning the bishop endgame.} Rxd6 56. Bxd6 Kg5 57. Kg1 Kf5 58. Kf2 Kg5 59. Kf1 Kf5 60. Ba3 Ke6 61. Ke2 Kf5 62. Bc1 Kg5 63. Kf1 Bc7 64. Bd2 Bd8 65. Be1 {Why did So do this? It frees the king to march to d3 and play c4 without allowing Black to play ... h3! and invade with ...Kh4 to create counterplay. (Copeland)} Kf5 66. Ke2 Ke6 67. Kd3 Kd7 68. c4 Kc6 69. Bc3 $1 {The nice round-about maneuver that forces zugzwang.} Bb6 70. Bb2 Bd8 71. Bc1 Bc7 72. Bd2 h5 73. Bc3 Bb6 74. Bb2 Bc7 75. Ba3 Bd8 76. Bf8 Bg5 77. Bg7 Kd6 78. Be5+ Kc6 79. Kc3 Bh6 80. Bf6 Bf8 81. Kd3 h3 82. gxh3 Bd6 83. Be5 1-0 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.16"] [Round "5.2"] [White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Svidler, Peter"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2789"] [BlackElo "2751"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "54"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 3. Bc4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 4. c3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 5. d3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} d6 {[%emt 0:01:25]} 6. O-O {[%emt 0:00:29]} a6 {[%emt 0:02:51]} 7. a4 {[%emt 0:01:35]} h6 {[%emt 0:01:27]} 8. Re1 {[%emt 0:00:42]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:43]} 9. h3 {[%emt 0:01:01]} a5 {[%emt 0:01:02] } 10. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:00:27]} Be6 {[%emt 0:01:02]} 11. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Ne7 { [%emt 0:01:12]} 12. d4 {[%emt 0:00:15]} exd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 13. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Bd7 {[%emt 0:03:01]} 14. Nf1 {[%emt 0:03:02]} Re8 {[%emt 0:06:41]} 15. Ng3 {[%emt 0:01:07]} Ng6 {[%emt 0:10:19]} 16. f4 {[%emt 0:02:12]} Bxb5 { [%emt 0:11:25]} 17. axb5 {[%emt 0:00:18]} Qd7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 18. Kh2 {[%emt 0:01:16]} Re7 {[%emt 0:11:20]} (18... Bxd4 $5 19. cxd4 Qxb5 20. e5 $44 (20. f5 $44)) 19. Ndf5 {[%emt 0:12:15]} Re6 {[%emt 0:01:55]} (19... Bf2 $5 20. Nxe7+ Nxe7 21. Rf1 (21. Re2 Ng4+ 22. hxg4 Qxg4 $19) 21... Bxg3+ 22. Kxg3 Nxe4+ 23. Kh2 Qxb5 $17) 20. Nd4 {[%emt 0:02:23]} (20. Nxh6+ gxh6 21. f5 Re5 22. fxg6 fxg6 23. Bxh6 Bf2 24. Rf1 Bxg3+ 25. Kxg3 Nxe4+ $13) (20. Qd2 $1 $16 {Once this move is played, you realize the strength of it. White threatens to take on g7 and follow it up with f5 and pick up the pawn on h6.}) 20... Re7 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 21. b4 {[%emt 0:10:13]} (21. Ndf5 Bf2) 21... Bxd4 {[%emt 0:03:59]} 22. cxd4 { [%emt 0:00:35]} Qxb5 {[%emt 0:01:02]} 23. f5 {[%emt 0:10:31]} Nf8 {[%emt 0:07: 11]} 24. Rxa5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Rxa5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 25. bxa5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Qxa5 {[%emt 0:02:25] Black is a pawn up and Peter thought he might be better, but couldn't find moves that were easy make. Hence within 2-3 moves the players agreed to a draw.} 26. Bb2 {[%emt 0:01:20]} N8d7 {[%emt 0:02:00]} 27. Qc1 {[%emt 0:00:39]} Re8 (27... c5 28. e5 cxd4 29. exf6 Rxe1 30. Qc8+ $18 { This was Peter's calculation.}) (27... Re8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 28. Re2 {Black is better, but it is not so easy for him to find moves, and hence Svidler took the draw.}) 1/2-1/2 [Event "FIDE World Cup 2017"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.16"] [Round "5.2"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Fedoseev, Vladimir"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2810"] [BlackElo "2731"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "165"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 3. Nxe5 {[%emt 0:00:13]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 4. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nxe4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 5. d4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 6. Bd3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 7. O-O {[%emt 0:01:17]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 8. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:02:16] Wesley So saw Anish Giri playing this line and according to the American, if Anish plays something in the opening you can be sure that it's solid.} Bf5 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 9. Re1 {[%emt 0:06:56]} Nxd2 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 10. Qxd2 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Bxd3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 11. Qxd3 {[%emt 0:00:05] White has a small edge in this position thanks to the control of the e-file and some superior development.} O-O {[%emt 0:00:10]} 12. c3 {[%emt 0:09:38]} Qd7 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 13. Bf4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 14. Re2 {[%emt 0:06:42]} Rae8 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 15. Rae1 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Bd8 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 16. Nd2 { [%emt 0:05:37]} Rxe2 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 17. Qxe2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} a5 {[%emt 0:00: 08] Fedoseev was playing his moves extremely fast and it seemed as if he was very well prepared. As Wesley said after the game that he was thinking that a draw would most likely happen and he would have to prepare for the tiebreaks.} 18. Nb3 {[%emt 0:11:57]} (18. Nf3 f6 19. h4 {was another way to go.}) 18... b6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 19. Nc1 {[%emt 0:00:12]} f6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 20. a4 {[%emt 0: 05:13]} Ne7 {[%emt 0:06:21]} 21. Nd3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} g5 $6 {[%emt 0:01:08]} ( 21... Ng6 22. Bg3 Rf7 {would have been the best way to kill the game - shake hands and go back home.}) (21... Qxa4 22. Qe6+ Rf7 (22... Kh8 23. Bxc7 $16) 23. Bg3 $13) 22. Bc1 {[%emt 0:03:54]} Ng6 {[%emt 0:06:24]} 23. b3 {[%emt 0:10:23]} Be7 $6 {[%emt 0:01:05]} (23... Rf7 $11 {According to Wesley this would have helped Fedoseev draw the game very soon. Rook comes to e7 and pieces come off.} ) 24. h4 $1 {[%emt 0:03:47] Taking advantage of the knight being overloaded on g6.} gxh4 {[%emt 0:06:33]} 25. Nf4 {[%emt 0:00:04] So,W (2792)-Fedoseev,V (2731) Tbilisi 2017 playchess.com [ChessBase]} Rf7 {[%emt 0:22:48]} 26. Qe6 { [%emt 0:08:30] A good practical decision. After this point, only two results are possible - White wins or draw.} (26. Qh5) 26... Qxe6 {[%emt 0:01:43]} 27. Rxe6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Nxf4 {[%emt 0:01:32]} 28. Bxf4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Bd8 { [%emt 0:00:50]} 29. b4 $1 {[%emt 0:00:19] Black cannot take as White would get an outside a-passer. But if he doesn't the his a5 pawn would be weak.} Kg7 { [%emt 0:08:07]} (29... axb4 30. cxb4 $16) 30. bxa5 {[%emt 0:03:34]} bxa5 { [%emt 0:00:06]} 31. Ra6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} c6 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 32. Rxc6 {[%emt 0: 00:04] The material is even and effectively White is a pawn up because the h-pawns are doubled.} Kg6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 33. Rc5 {[%emt 0:03:18]} Rd7 {[%emt 0:05:58]} 34. f3 {[%emt 0:02:43]} Kf5 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 35. Bd2 {[%emt 0:02:16]} Ke6 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 36. Rc6+ {[%emt 0:00:43]} Kf5 {[%emt 0:02:29]} 37. Be1 { [%emt 0:02:32]} Kg5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 38. Rc5 {[%emt 0:02:45]} f5 {[%emt 0:04: 52]} 39. Kh2 {[%emt 0:01:19]} Kh5 {[%emt 0:07:31]} 40. Bf2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rd6 {[%emt 0:05:34]} 41. Be3 {[%emt 0:14:29]} Bb6 {[%emt 0:08:05]} 42. Rb5 {[%emt 0:00:21]} Bd8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 43. Bf4 {[%emt 0:03:51]} Rd7 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 44. Be5 {[%emt 0:02:07]} Kg5 {[%emt 0:01:03]} 45. Rc5 {[%emt 0:01:38]} f4 { [%emt 0:02:42] As Wesley said after the game, he was very happy to see his opponent pushing this pawn on dark square. It only meant that if the players ever went into a bishop endgame, it would be completely lost for Black.} 46. Rc6 {[%emt 0:01:39]} Kf5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 47. Ra6 {[%emt 0:01:20]} Kg5 {[%emt 0:00:52]} 48. Kh3 {[%emt 0:01:10]} Kf5 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 49. Rc6 {[%emt 0:03:42] } Kg5 {[%emt 0:01:09]} 50. Re6 {[%emt 0:01:34]} (50. Rc5 Kf5 51. Rb5 {This is some kind of zugzwang for Black.} h5 52. Bb8 Ke6 (52... Kg5 53. c4) 53. Bxf4 Ra7 54. Be5 $18) 50... Be7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 51. Rc6 {[%emt 0:02:01]} Bd8 { [%emt 0:00:09]} 52. Bd6 {[%emt 0:00:53]} Kf5 {[%emt 0:07:47]} 53. Kh2 {[%emt 0: 01:52]} Rg7 {[%emt 0:07:51]} 54. Be5 {[%emt 0:01:07]} Rd7 {[%emt 0:01:36]} 55. Rd6 {[%emt 0:01:53] Wesley makes a big decision here of exchanging rooks and it is quite possible that it was not the best timing.} Rxd6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 56. Bxd6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Kg5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 57. Kg1 {[%emt 0:00:59]} Kf5 { [%emt 0:00:40]} 58. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Kg5 {[%emt 0:01:28]} 59. Kf1 {[%emt 0: 00:02]} Kf5 {[%emt 0:04:26]} 60. Ba3 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Ke6 {[%emt 0:07:30]} 61. Ke2 {[%emt 0:00:16]} Kf5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 62. Bc1 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Kg5 {[%emt 0:01:14]} 63. Kf1 {[%emt 0:00:05]} (63. Kd3 h3 64. gxh3 Kh4 65. Bxf4 h5 66. c4 dxc4+ 67. Kxc4 Kxh3 $11) 63... Bc7 {[%emt 0:00:27]} 64. Bd2 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Bd8 {[%emt 0:00:28]} 65. Be1 {[%emt 0:00:00] Once the bishop comes to e1, the white king can move without any worries.} Kf5 {[%emt 0:00:46]} 66. Ke2 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Ke6 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 67. Kd3 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Kd7 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 68. c4 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Kc6 {[%emt 0:00:20]} (68... Ke6 $5) 69. Bc3 {[%emt 0: 00:12]} Bb6 {[%emt 0:04:11]} 70. Bb2 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Bd8 {[%emt 0:00:53]} 71. Bc1 {[%emt 0:01:02]} Bc7 {[%emt 0:00:45]} 72. Bd2 {[%emt 0:00:04] zugzwang.} h5 {[%emt 0:00:39]} 73. Bc3 {[%emt 0:00:13]} Bb6 {[%emt 0:01:16]} 74. Bb2 {[%emt 0:00:18]} Bc7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 75. Ba3 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Bd8 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 76. Bf8 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Bg5 {[%emt 0:03:34]} 77. Bg7 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Kd6 { [%emt 0:00:03]} 78. Be5+ {[%emt 0:00:06]} Kc6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 79. Kc3 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Bh6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 80. Bf6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Bf8 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 81. Kd3 {[%emt 0:00:08]} h3 {[%emt 0:00:58]} 82. gxh3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Bd6 { [%emt 0:00:10]} 83. Be5 {[%emt 0:01:33]} 1-0 [Event "FIDE World Cup 2017"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.16"] [Round "5.2"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "Rapport, Richard"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2777"] [BlackElo "2675"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] {One of the biggest mistakes, according to me, made by Rapport is that he didn't play for a win or even put the slightest of pressure on Ding Liren with the white pieces. Now Ding had the white pieces and he wasn't going to take it easy!} 1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:40]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:01:19]} e6 { [%emt 0:00:07]} 3. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:19]} b6 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 4. g3 {[%emt 0:00: 00]} Bb7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 5. Bg2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 6. O-O { [%emt 0:00:07]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:04]} 7. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Ne4 {[%emt 0:00: 00]} 8. Bd2 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Bf6 {[%emt 0:00:04] This is all well known and has been seen many times and now Ding Liren comes up with a move that has been played only once before.} 9. Re1 $5 {[%emt 0:00:09] According to the databases this move has been played only once before between Adamski and Kruszynski.} a6 {[%emt 0:11:43] This is a weird move, the main idea is to make a waiting move, threaten b5 in some instances and also play d6 followed by Nd7, without having to worry about Ng5 ideas.} (9... d6 {might have been Rapport's idea, but it leads to a minus position after} 10. Ng5 $1 Nxc3 11. Qc2 $16) 10. Ne5 $1 { [%emt 0:16:55] This is a good practical decision, White maintains slight pressure on the position.} (10. Rc1 {was also possible, but it leads to normal positions.}) (10. Qc2 Nxd2 11. Qxd2 d6 {Followed by Nd7 gives Black the bishop pair.}) 10... Nxc3 {[%emt 0:09:05]} 11. Bxc3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Bxg2 {[%emt 0:00: 21]} 12. Kxg2 {[%emt 0:00:03] White is better developed and has superior development. It is a slight edge, but still not so easy to extinguish.} d6 { [%emt 0:03:48]} 13. Ng4 {[%emt 0:01:57]} Be7 {[%emt 0:01:14]} 14. e4 {[%emt 0: 00:34]} b5 {[%emt 0:06:43] The problem with Rapport is that he can never play normal chess! He will always try to go for activity. In this position it could have been better to just finish development with Nd7, although after f4 Black is still worse. But now Ding plays very strong chess.} (14... Nd7) 15. Qe2 { [%emt 0:10:54]} bxc4 {[%emt 0:13:22]} 16. d5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} (16. Qxc4 {was also possible and perhaps not at all a bad idea, but Ding wanted more.}) 16... Qc8 {[%emt 0:05:33]} (16... e5 17. Ne3 $16) 17. e5 $1 {[%emt 0:21:52] The Chinese player made this move after 22 minutes of thought. He invested a lot of time in this idea and was able to calculate that he gets a good position in all lines.} (17. Qxc4 {was also possible.}) 17... exd5 {[%emt 0:04:22]} (17... Qb7 18. Rad1 $16) (17... dxe5 18. Qxe5 $18) 18. exd6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} cxd6 $1 { [%emt 0:09:38]} (18... Bxd6 {which looks the most natural is refuted by a very brilliant little queen move that was seen by Ding.} 19. Qf3 $3 Nd7 (19... Nc6 20. Bxg7 $1 $18) 20. Nh6+ $18) 19. Qxe7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} (19. Rad1 $16 {was also possible keeping all the advantages intact.}) 19... d4 {[%emt 0:01:09]} ( 19... Qxg4 20. Qb7 Nd7 {Looks normal but White is better after} 21. h3 Qf5 ( 21... Qg5 22. Qxd7 d4 $1 {And now White has to find the only move to hold the advantage.} 23. Bb4 $1 $18 (23. Bxd4 $2 Qd5+ $17)) 22. g4 {The knight is lost.} Qg5 (22... Nc5 23. Qxa8 $18 Qd7 24. Qxd5) 23. Qxd7 d4 24. Bb4 $16) 20. Qe4 $6 { [%emt 0:03:48]} (20. Bxd4 Qxg4 21. Qxd6 Nc6 $1 22. Bc3 $16 {Also gives White a very pleasant position.}) 20... Qc6 {[%emt 0:00:22] This move was missed by Ding. But luckily it spoils nothing. White still has many ways to keep his advantage.} (20... dxc3 21. Qxa8 cxb2 22. Rab1 c3 (22... Qxg4 23. Rxb2 Nd7 24. Re8) 23. Ne3) 21. Bxd4 {[%emt 0:03:36]} f5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} (21... Qxe4+ 22. Rxe4 f5 23. Re7 $1 Nc6 (23... Rf7 24. Re8+ Rf8 25. Rxf8+ Kxf8 26. Ne3 $18) 24. Rxg7+ Kh8 25. Rg8+ $1 Kxg8 26. Nh6# {A nice variation suggested by Surya Sekhar Ganguly on Twitter.}) 22. Qxc6 {[%emt 0:01:13]} Nxc6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 23. Ne3 {[%emt 0:02:33]} (23. Bxg7 {was also possible, but Ding decides to keep things simple.}) 23... Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 24. Rad1 {[%emt 0:00:06] White is a pawn down, but all of Black's pawns are weak and there are soon going to fall one by one.} f4 {[%emt 0:05:37] Ding,L (2771) -Rapport,R (2675) Tbilisi 2017 playchess.com [ChessBase]} 25. Rxd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} fxe3 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 26. Rxe3 {[%emt 0:00:02] Such positions are Ding Liren's forte. As he said after the game, the endgame might not be winning, but it is extremely unpleasant to play as Black here.} Rab8 {[%emt 0:21:00]} 27. Re2 {[%emt 0:00: 06]} c3 {[%emt 0:00:31]} (27... d5 28. Rxd5 $16) 28. bxc3 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Rb6 {[%emt 0:00:33]} 29. Rb4 $1 {[%emt 0:02:30]} Rxb4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 30. cxb4 { [%emt 0:00:04]} Rb8 {[%emt 0:00:30]} 31. Rb2 {[%emt 0:01:18]} Kf7 {[%emt 0:00: 20]} 32. Kf3 {[%emt 0:00:55]} Ke6 {[%emt 0:00:35]} 33. Ke4 {[%emt 0:00:19]} d5+ {[%emt 0:00:31]} 34. Kd3 {[%emt 0:01:15]} Kd6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 35. a4 {[%emt 0: 00:47]} Rb7 {[%emt 0:02:10]} 36. f4 {[%emt 0:01:05]} h5 {[%emt 0:01:32]} 37. b5 $1 {[%emt 0:04:34] This move shows good confidence in your calculation.} (37. Kd4 {was also possible.}) 37... axb5 {[%emt 0:00:32]} 38. axb5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Kc5 {[%emt 0:00:46]} 39. Rc2+ $1 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Kxb5 {[%emt 0:00:28]} 40. Kd4 {[%emt 0:00:00] White has given up the pawn, but cut off his opponent's king.} Rf7 {[%emt 0:00:35]} 41. Kxd5 {[%emt 0:00:55] It might be a case of premature resignation, but I was quite sure that White would have been able to convert his advantage.} 1-0 [Event "FIDE World Cup 2017"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.16"] [Round "5.2"] [White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2728"] [BlackElo "2799"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "137"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. c4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 2. g3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e6 {[%emt 0: 00:00]} 3. Bg2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 4. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} dxc4 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 5. Qa4+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bd7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 6. Qxc4 { [%emt 0:00:01]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 7. Ne5 {[%emt 0:01:03]} Qc8 {[%emt 0:00:04] } 8. d3 {[%emt 0:04:07]} (8. O-O) 8... Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:32]} 9. Nxd7 {[%emt 0: 00:00]} Qxd7 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 10. Nd2 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Nd4 {[%emt 0:08:46]} 11. Nf3 {[%emt 0:02:52]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 12. Qc3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Nd5 {[%emt 0: 00:00]} 13. Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:50]} 14. O-O {[%emt 0:00:42] According to Aronian, this position is slightly more pleasant for White as Black has to prove what has he got in return for giving his opponent the bishop pair.} O-O {[%emt 0:01:06]} 15. Qd1 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Nxf3+ {[%emt 0:00: 00]} 16. Bxf3 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Rac8 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 17. a3 {[%emt 0:02:58]} Bf6 {[%emt 0:03:43]} 18. e3 {[%emt 0:01:32]} Rfd8 {[%emt 0:02:11]} 19. Qc2 { [%emt 0:00:33]} Ne7 {[%emt 0:15:31]} 20. Be4 {[%emt 0:07:00]} (20. Rd1 Nc6 $11) 20... Nc6 {[%emt 0:04:51]} 21. Rd1 {[%emt 0:00:43]} Be7 {[%emt 0:02:32]} 22. f4 {[%emt 0:04:09]} f5 {[%emt 0:07:39]} 23. Bf3 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Bf6 {[%emt 0:00: 00] White has the bishop pair, but Black's space and active pieces, give White no hope for an advantage.} 24. Rb1 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Ne7 {[%emt 0:08:39]} 25. Be2 {[%emt 0:01:58]} e5 {[%emt 0:06:07]} 26. fxe5 {[%emt 0:00:52]} Bxe5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 27. Bd2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Qd5 {[%emt 0:05:07]} 28. Be1 {[%emt 0:00:00] } Kh8 {[%emt 0:04:28]} 29. Bf1 {[%emt 0:00:44] Ivanchuk is placing his pieces on the last rank. He is trying to make use of the spring theory, where he would like his pieces to get active all of a sudden, but I guess it is asking for too much out of them.} Qe6 {[%emt 0:04:30]} 30. Bf2 {[%emt 0:00:26]} Nd5 { [%emt 0:04:39]} 31. Qb3 {[%emt 0:00:53]} Qh6 {[%emt 0:01:27]} 32. Re1 {[%emt 0: 01:28]} a6 {[%emt 0:04:05]} 33. d4 {[%emt 0:05:57]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 34. exd4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Bb8 $11 {[%emt 0:00:54]} 35. Bg2 {[%emt 0:05:16]} Nf6 { [%emt 0:00:10]} 36. Re6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} f4 {[%emt 0:05:29] Ivanchuk,V (2727) -Aronian,L (2802) Tbilisi 2017 playchess.com [ChessBase]} 37. Rbe1 {[%emt 0:05: 47]} (37. d5 fxg3 38. hxg3 Qh5 $17) 37... fxg3 {[%emt 0:03:47]} 38. hxg3 { [%emt 0:00:01]} Rf8 {[%emt 0:01:51]} 39. d5 {[%emt 0:02:03]} Qh5 {[%emt 0:00: 38]} 40. Bf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qh3 {[%emt 0:00:51] Ivanchuk,V (2727) -Aronian,L (2802) Tbilisi 2017 playchess.com [ChessBase]} 41. Bd1 {[%emt 0:00:00] This is stretching it, but Black is happy with a draw, and white isn't. So the game has to continue.} Rcd8 $6 {[%emt 0:04:32]} (41... Ng4 $6 42. Bxg4 Qxg4 $11) ( 41... Ng8 $1 {The best move.} 42. Qe3 Rcd8 $17) 42. Qf3 {[%emt 0:02:35]} h5 { [%emt 0:05:26]} (42... Nxd5 43. Qg4 Qxg4 44. Bxg4 $13) 43. Qg2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qxg2+ {[%emt 0:01:21]} 44. Kxg2 {[%emt 0:01:08]} Rxd5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 45. Bc2 {[%emt 0:00:45]} a5 {[%emt 0:03:16]} 46. R1e2 {[%emt 0:01:38]} Bd6 {[%emt 0:04: 50]} 47. Be3 {[%emt 0:01:40]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:08:29]} 48. Bc1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} ( 48. Bf4 $14) 48... g5 {[%emt 0:03:50] As Levon said after the game, once he got in this move he was very confident about his chances to hold the game.} 49. Ra6 {[%emt 0:05:10]} Ng4 {[%emt 0:00:28]} 50. Rae6 {[%emt 0:02:47]} Rf2+ { [%emt 0:02:56]} 51. Rxf2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Bxf2 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 52. Be4 {[%emt 0:01:38]} Rc5 {[%emt 0:00:45]} 53. Bd2 {[%emt 0:00:16]} Bd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 54. b4 {[%emt 0:00:45]} axb4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 55. axb4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Re5 { [%emt 0:01:08]} 56. Rxe5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nxe5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 57. Bxg5 { [%emt 0:00:01] This endgame is ever so slightly better for Wite.But Ivanchuk played on until the end.} Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 58. Bd2 {[%emt 0:00:19]} Nc4 { [%emt 0:01:42]} 59. Be1 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Nd6 {[%emt 0:00:41]} 60. Bd3 {[%emt 0: 00:00]} Bf6 {[%emt 0:00:36]} 61. Kf3 {[%emt 0:00:21]} Bg5 {[%emt 0:00:27]} 62. Ke2 {[%emt 0:00:44]} Kf6 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 63. Bc3+ {[%emt 0:00:05]} Ke6 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 64. Kf3 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Nc4 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 65. Be2 {[%emt 0:00:00] } Kf5 {[%emt 0:01:01]} 66. Bd4 {[%emt 0:00:25]} Ne5+ {[%emt 0:00:20]} 67. Kg2 { [%emt 0:00:05]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 68. Bc3 {[%emt 0:00:19]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00: 14]} 69. Bxb5 {[%emt 0:00:08] A draw was agreed and Levon advanced to the next round.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "FIDE World Cup 2017"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.19"] [Round "6.1"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D85"] [WhiteElo "2799"] [BlackElo "2789"] [PlyCount "63"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8. Rb1 {First seen in the game Shamkovich-Georghiu, Cleveland 1975 this line really took off at elite level in the early 1990s. For a while it was kind of the main line in the Gruenfeld, but these days it's considered to be analysed till exhaustion, with 'draw' as the final verdict...} O-O 9. Be2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qxa2 {It is this pawn sacrifice that is typical for this variation.} 12. O-O Bg4 ({Other moves that have been tried here are} 12... b6) (12... a5) (12... Nd7 {and}) (12... Qe6) 13. Be3 (13. Bg5 h6 $1 {(introduced by Ivanchuk vs Gelfand in 1990!)} 14. Be3 (14. Bh4 g5 15. Bg3 Nc6 16. d5 Rad8 17. Rxb7 e6 18. Bc7 Bxf3 19. Bxf3 Rd7 20. dxc6 Rxd1 21. Rxd1 Qc2 22. Bd6 g4 23. Bxg4 Qxc6 24. Rc7 Qb6 25. Rd7 Rd8 26. Bc7 Rxd7 27. Bxb6 Rxd1+ 28. Bxd1 axb6 29. Kf1 {½-½ Kramnik,V (2772)-Anand,V (2788) Moscow RUS 2009})) 13... Nc6 14. d5 (14. Rxb7 Rab8 15. Rxb8 (15. Rc7 Rfc8 16. Rxc8+ Rxc8 17. h3 Bd7 18. Bb5 a6 19. Qa4 Qxa4 20. Bxa4 Ne5 21. Bxd7 Nxd7 22. Ra1 Ra8 {Fressinet,L (2687)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2789) Paris FRA 2016}) 15... Rxb8 16. h3 Bd7 17. d5 Ne5 18. Bf4 Nxf3+ 19. Bxf3 Rb4 20. Qc1 Rc4 {Carlsen,M (2862)-Vachier-Lagrave,M (2757) Wijk aan Zee NED 2015}) 14... Na5 ({After} 14... Ne5 15. Rxb7 a5 16. Rxe7 a4 17. Re1 a3 18. Nxe5 Bxe2 19. Rxe2 Qxe2 20. Qxe2 a2 21. Bd4 a1=Q+ 22. Bxa1 Rxa1+ 23. Qf1 Rxf1+ 24. Kxf1 {Black needed to work a bit for the draw in Karjakin,S (2772) -Caruana,F (2783) Shamkir 2014}) 15. Bg5 (15. Bc5 Bf6 16. e5 Bxe5 17. Rb4 Bxf3 18. Bxf3 Rae8 19. Bxa7 b5 20. Qe2 Qxe2 21. Bxe2 Nc4 22. Bc5 Nd6 23. Bxb5 Rb8 24. Bc6 Rxb4 25. Bxb4 Rb8 26. Bc5 Rb2 27. g3 Rc2 28. Ba7 Ra2 {½-½ Van Wely,L (2635)-Leko,P (2665) Tilburg 1998}) 15... b6 (15... Qa3 16. Bd2 Bc3 17. Bc1 Qd6 18. e5 Qc7 19. d6 exd6 20. exd6 Qd7 21. Bf4 Rfe8 22. h3 Bf5 23. Bb5 Nc6 24. Rc1 Bf6 25. Qd2 a6 26. Bxc6 bxc6 27. Nd4 Be4 28. Nb3 Bd5 29. Nc5 Qa7 30. Qa5 Bd4 31. d7 Red8 32. Bc7 Bxc5 33. Bxd8 Bd6 34. Bf6 Qxd7 35. Bb2 Rf8 36. Rfe1 {½-½ Kramnik,V (2751)-Kasparov,G (2812) Frankfurt 1999}) 16. Bxe7 Rfe8 17. d6 Nc6 18. Bb5 (18. Qc1 Qxe2 19. Qxc6 Rec8 20. Qd5 Be6 21. Qb7 Rcb8 22. Qc6 Rc8 23. Qa4 Qc2 {Bacrot,E (2710)-Svidler,P (2735) Marseilles FRA 2010}) 18... Nxe7 19. h3 (19. Bxe8 Rxe8 20. dxe7 Qa3 21. h3 Bxf3 22. Qxf3 Qxf3 23. gxf3 Rxe7 24. Rfd1 Be5 25. Kf1 Kg7 26. Ke2 {½-½ Gelfand,B (2723)-Van Wely,L (2647) Wijk aan Zee NED 2006}) 19... Bxf3 20. Qxf3 Qe6 21. Bxe8 Rxe8 22. dxe7 Qxe7 23. Rfd1 (23. Rfe1 Bd4 24. Rbd1 Qe5 25. Qd3 Bc5 26. Qa6 Re7 27. Re2 h5 {Karjakin,S (2762) -Svidler,P (2740) Nizhny Novgorod RUS 2013}) 23... Bf8 24. Rbc1 $6 $146 (24. Rd4 Qe6 25. Qb3 Qxb3 26. Rxb3 Bc5 27. Ra4 a5 28. Kf1 Bb4 29. Rbxb4 axb4 30. Rxb4 Re6 31. Ke2 Kf8 32. Ke3 Rc6 33. f4 {½-½ Shulman,Y (2617)-Svidler,P (2739) Ningbo 2011}) 24... Qxe4 25. Qc3 Qb4 ({"I could even put him under some pressure with for instance} 25... Bc5 {but it was a very strange experience to adapt to this because normally you just don't get a pawn for free and it's still probably equal but of course it was a bit of a strange game." - MVL}) 26. Qa1 Bc5 27. Qxa7 Qb2 28. Kh1 Bxf2 29. Qb7 Qe2 30. Rf1 Rf8 31. Qc6 Bc5 32. Rce1 1/2-1/2 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.19"] [Round "6.1"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2810"] [BlackElo "2777"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "94"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 {The Italian game is extremely popular in Tbilisi.} ({The last time these players met it was the Spanish game:} 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. Nbd2 Nc5 10. c3 Be7 11. Bc2 d4 12. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. cxd4 Qxd4 14. Nf3 Qxd1 15. Rxd1 O-O 16. Be3 {and a draw many moves later, So,W (2775)-Ding,L (2778) Shanghai 2016}) 3... Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 a5 ({So has some negative experience after} 7... a6 8. Bb3 Re8 9. h3 h6 10. Nbd2 Be6 11. Nf1 Bxb3 12. Qxb3 d5 {So,W (2812)-Carlsen, M (2832) Paris 2017. But who does not against this opponent?} 13. Be3 Bf8 14. Rad1 Na5 15. Qc2 c5 {So,W (2812)-Carlsen,M (2832) Paris 2017}) 8. Nbd2 Be6 9. Bb5 Qb8 $146 {A nice novelty. The queen comes out "a la Rubinstein."} ({ Previously} 9... Na7 {was tried} 10. Ba4 b5 11. d4 Bb6 12. Bc2 c6 13. a4 { Mayer,J (2057) -Pripoae,N (2343) corr. 2003}) 10. Nf1 Qa7 {The point behind Ding's play. The queen is active on the a7-g1 diagonal.} 11. Be3 Bxe3 12. Nxe3 Ne7 {Ding can be happy with his opening novelty. He managed to equalize.} 13. a4 ({Or} 13. Ba4 Ng6) 13... Ng6 14. Bc4 Bxc4 {"Ding offered a draw here. But I wanted to play a few more moves." (So)} 15. Nxc4 Qa6 16. g3 {To restrict the black knights.} Rfe8 17. Qb3 $1 {So is famous for squeezing chances literally from every single position. The queen trade is the best way to get something out of the position.} Nf8 18. Qb5 Qxb5 $6 {An inaccuracy.} ({Ding would have avoided many unpleasant moments if he had not traded the queens himself.} 18... Ne6 {For example} 19. Qxa6 Rxa6 20. b4 b6 21. bxa5 bxa5 22. Reb1 Nd7 {with equality.}) 19. axb5 b6 20. Ra3 {Now it is better for White. He has extra space and can mount pressure along the half-open file.} Ne6 21. Ne3 ({In case of the immediate} 21. Rea1 {Black can defend with} Nc5 {For example} (21... Rad8 $5) 22. b4 Nxd3 23. Nfd2 (23. bxa5 bxa5 24. Nfd2 Nc5) 23... Rab8 24. bxa5 bxa5 25. Rxa5 d5) 21... Nc5 22. c4 a4 23. Rea1 {I believe So should have tried to keep both knights alive.} ({In the line} 23. Nd2 g6 ({The queenside knight cannot leave his stand} 23... Ne6 24. Rea1 $1) ({Neither can the kingside one leave:} 23... Nfd7 24. Nd5 $1) ({If} 23... Kf8 $5 24. Rea1 Ra5 25. Nc2 (25. Kf1 $5) 25... Ng8 26. f3 {the play will be similar.}) 24. Rea1 Rac8 {White has a clear plan of taking the a-pawn. First he bring the king closer to defend his d3 one.} 25. Kf1 Kg7 26. Ke2 Ng8 {Next he sends the e3-knight to attack the a3 pawn.} 27. Nd5 f5 28. Nc3 {The knight on d2 would be the watchdog in these lines, not letting the black one jump on b3. Black's task would have been extremely difficult.}) 23... Nb3 $1 ({If} 23... Ra5 {the above-mentioned plan will work after} 24. Nd2 Kf8 25. Kf1 $5 Ke7 26. Ke2 Kd7 27. b4 axb3 28. Rxa5 bxa5 29. Rxa5 b2 30. Ra3 {and the b2 pawn is doomed.}) 24. Rd1 Rec8 25. Nd2 Nxd2 26. Rxd2 {It is still very unpleasant for Black, but not as much as with all the knights on the board.} Nd7 27. Rd1 Nc5 28. Nd5 Kf8 29. f4 {The wonderful knight on d5 supports the kingside expansion too.} ({Please note that in case of} 29. Rda1 Ra5 $1 {is mandatory} ({As} 29... Nb3 $2 {allows the cute trick} 30. Nxc7 $1)) 29... Ra5 ({Once again, the trick can be seen after} 29... f6 30. Rda1 Nb3 31. Nxc7 $1) 30. Nb4 Raa8 ({Here} 30... f6 {was possible, for example} 31. Nc6 Raa8 32. Kf2 Ke8 33. Ke3 Kd7) 31. Kf2 Ke8 32. Ke3 f6 33. f5 Kd7 $1 {"Very wise decision to keep his queenside pawns defended." (So) We have already seen what might happen on the c7 square if Black is not careful.} 34. g4 Rh8 35. h4 h6 $1 {Ding needs an open file on his own.} 36. Nd5 {Since both players are short of time, So does not hurry to force things yet.} ({ Indeed} 36. Rg1 Kc8 37. g5 hxg5 38. hxg5 Rh3+ 39. Kd2 Kb7 {yields White nothing.}) 36... Ra5 ({Black always has to watch out for the b-pawn advance.} 36... Kc8 37. b4 $1 Nb3 38. Nc3) 37. Rg1 Kc8 38. g5 {Now he decided to force it. More practical would have been to wait for two more moves and only then to decide when to open up.} (38. Ne7+ Kb7 39. Ng6 Re8 40. g5 h5 $1 {would have sealed the kingside (and the draw).}) 38... hxg5 39. hxg5 Rh3+ 40. Kd2 Nb3+ 41. Kc3 {So, So did take the practical decision not to pull the you-know-who by the tail and to get the half point.} ({So believed no. He saw the following lines:} 41. Rxb3 axb3 42. gxf6 gxf6 43. Rg7 {"Unfortunately Black has counter-attack here"} ({"If I play a passive move like"} 43. Kc3 Rh7 44. Nxf6 Rf7 45. Nd5 {"I would win also the b3 pawn, but it will be a draw as the b-pawns are doubled". (So)}) 43... Rh2+ 44. Kc3 Ra2 45. Rxc7+ Kb8 ({However, So's intuition did not fail him. After the correct} 45... Kd8 $1 46. Rc6 Raxb2 ({But not with the other rook, as White will get an additional chance to sacrifice his knight for the b2-pawn. For example} 46... Rhxb2 47. Rxd6+ Ke8 48. Re6+ Kf7 49. Rxf6+ Kg7 50. Rg6+ Kf7 51. Rxb6 Rb1 52. Rb7+ Kf8 53. Rb8+ Kg7 54. b6 b2 55. Kb3 Rc1 56. Nc3 b1=Q+ 57. Nxb1 Rxb1+ 58. Kxa2 {and White wins.}) 47. Rxd6+ Ke8 $1 {Yes, at this direction, away from the white king!} 48. Re6+ Kf7 49. Rxf6+ Kg7 {The game should end in a draw. Here is a sample line:} 50. Rxb6 Rb1 51. Kb4 b2 52. Rg6+ Kf7 53. Rf6+ Kg7 54. Rg6+ {Black cannot deviate from it:} Kh8 $4 ({Or} 54... Kf8 55. Rf6+ Ke8 56. Re6+ Kd7 57. Re7+ Kd8 58. Rg7 Rc1 59. Rg8+ Kd7 60. Rg7+ Ke8 61. Nc7+ Kd8 62. Ne6+ {with another perpetual check.}) 55. Nf6) 46. Rc6 Raxb2 47. Rxb6+ Kc8 {"which should be enough for a draw." (So) Actually, in this final position White has a fantastic win:} 48. Rxd6 Rb1 ({Or} 48... Rhc2+ 49. Kb4 Rb1 50. Kc5 $3 b2 51. Kb6 $1 {and White mates.}) 49. Kb4 $3 {Once again this move.} b2 50. Nb6+ Kc7 51. Rd7+ Kxb6 ({Or } 51... Kb8 52. Kc5 Ra1 53. Kc6 {and Black is getting checkmated again.}) 52. c5# $1) 41... Nd4 42. gxf6 Rh2 43. Nxb6+ (43. fxg7 $4 {would allow a study-like mate} Rc2+ 44. Kb4 c5+ 45. bxc6 Nxc6#) 43... cxb6 44. fxg7 Rc2+ 45. Kb4 Rxb2+ 46. Kc3 Rc2+ 47. Kb4 Rb2+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.20"] [Round "6.2"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2789"] [BlackElo "2799"] [PlyCount "37"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] [WhiteClock "1:22:06"] [BlackClock "1:37:50"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a3 O-O 9. Nc3 Bg4 10. Be3 Nd4 11. Bxd4 exd4 12. Nd5 Nxd5 (12... Nd7 13. h3 Bxf3 14. Qxf3 a5 15. c3 dxc3 16. bxc3 c6 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. d4 c5 {Naiditsch,A (2712)-Ponomariov,R (2699) Danzhou 2017}) 13. Bxd5 Rc8 14. h3 Bd7 15. Nxd4 c6 $146 (15... Bf6 16. c3 Bxd4 17. cxd4 Qf6 18. Qc2 c6 19. Bb3 Qxd4 20. Qc3 Qxc3 21. bxc3 c5 {Garcia Pantoja,R (2402)-Olivares Canelles,F (2296) Havana 2010}) 16. Bb3 Bf6 17. c3 Bxd4 18. cxd4 Qf6 19. Qd2 1/2-1/2 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.20"] [Round "6.2"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2810"] [BlackElo "2777"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "116"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] [WhiteClock "0:21:30"] [BlackClock "0:25:28"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 {After the difficult defense yesterday Ding wants to play for a win without much risk. The Catalan is the perfect weapon for his intentions.} O-O 6. b3 {A rare move.} b6 ({Granda Zuniga solved the opening problems differently:} 6... dxc4 7. bxc4 c5 8. O-O cxd4 9. Nxd4 Nfd7 10. Bb2 a6 11. Nc3 Qc7 12. Rc1 Nc5 13. e3 Nc6 14. Qe2 Bd7 15. Ne4 Na4 16. Ba1 e5 17. Nb5 axb5 18. cxb5 {1/2-1/2 (18) Iturrizaga Bonelli,E (2614)-Granda Zuniga,J (2639) Pamplona 2010}) 7. O-O Bb7 8. Nc3 Nbd7 9. Bb2 c5 10. Ne1 $1 $146 {A fighting novelty. The Catalan is known for the long diagonal, so why not use it?} ({Compare this to} 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 Bxd5 12. dxc5 Nxc5 13. Rc1 Bf6 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. Qd4 Qe7 16. Qe3 Qb7 17. Rfd1 Rac8 18. Ne1 {1/2-1/2 (18) Hernandez Guerrero,G (2506)-Gonzalez Zamora,J (2502) Mexico City 2016}) 10... cxd4 {So, on his turn, uses the moment when the white knight is gone.} 11. Qxd4 Bc5 {Tempting, but it does not equalize.} ({The computer suggests} 11... Nc5 {instead, although the position arising after} 12. cxd5 exd5 13. Rd1 {is not everyone's cup of tea. The isolani might become a weakness in the long run and the white knight from e1 can be transferred to f4 to prove that.}) 12. Qf4 Bb4 {In order to ease the pressure against the d5 spot.} 13. Nd3 Bxc3 14. Bxc3 Qc8 {This was So's idea. The exchanges on the long diagonal are inevitable but Ding finds a way to keep the pressure.} 15. Rfc1 $1 dxc4 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 17. Rxc4 Qb8 18. Qxb8 Rfxb8 19. Ne5 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Ne8 21. Nc6 {"I got the dream Catalan position" said the Chinese GM. Indeed, the knight on c6 is a monster (first proven by Botvinnik) and thanks to it White has good control of both the open files.} Rb7 22. Rd1 Kf8 23. e4 {The pieces look awesome, so it is time to improve the pawns.} (23. b4 $5) 23... Nf6 24. f4 b5 $1 {So opens some air for his rooks.} 25. Rcd4 g6 26. Ne5 ({The trades will relieve Black's position:} 26. Rd8+ Rxd8 27. Rxd8+ Kg7) (26. Kf3 $5 {with the idea to advance the g-pawn deserved attention though.}) 26... h6 $6 { Any pawn push is a potential weakness.} (26... Rc7 {was simpler and better instead.}) ({Or even} 26... Rc8 {although this seems less precise after} 27. Rd8+ Rxd8 28. Rxd8+ Kg7 29. Kf3 {with a somewhat better position for White.}) 27. Rc1 Ke8 28. Kf3 Nd7 29. Nd3 $1 {The knight is stepping on the black rooks' toes, so White keeps it.} a5 30. Rc6 {Both players were running low on time and White decided not to force matters.} (30. f5 $5 {to create a second weakness deserved attention, to which Black would have probably defended with} exf5 31. exf5 Ra6) 30... Ke7 31. a3 ({Once again} 31. f5 $1 {deserved serious attention. Moreover, Black would lack the above-mentioned Ra8-a6 resource now. After} exf5 32. exf5 gxf5 (32... Nf8 33. Nc5 $1 {looks grim for Black.}) 33. Rd5 a4 34. b4 Rg8 $1 35. Rxf5 Rg6 {Black can possibly defend, but his position remains very unpleasant.}) 31... Raa7 32. Ke3 Nb8 $1 {"This came as a surprise for me." (Ding)} ({Most likely the Chinese GM expected} 32... Rc7 33. Rdd6 Rxc6 34. Rxc6 {with good control of the situation.}) 33. Rc8 Nd7 34. Rc6 ({In case of} 34. Rh8 {Black can even ignore that pawn and go for counter play of his own with} Rc7 $1 35. Rxh6 Rc3) 34... Nb8 35. Rc8 Nd7 36. Nc5 Nb6 $6 {The last critical moment of the game.} (36... Nxc5 37. Rxc5 b4 38. a4 Rc7 39. Rdc4 {was still unpleasant for Black but objectively much better than what happened in the game.}) 37. Rc6 ({"There is no mate after"} 37. Rh8 $1 Rc7 38. Rdd8 Rxc5 { (Ding). However, if we prolong the line a bit} 39. e5 f5 40. Rb8 Rc8 41. Rbxc8 Nxc8 42. Rxc8 {we shall see that White keeps a large advantage without any risk. Will he win this is another question, but it is definitely nice playing such positions. First, So may not defend it and Ding can advance into the next round outright. Second, even if Back defends it he will have to spend an enourmous supply of energy and nerves, which would matter for the rapid match tomorrow.}) 37... Rc7 $1 {The knight trade is definitely an achievement for Black.} 38. Rxb6 Rxc5 39. e5 g5 {Trading pawns is always good for the defender. } (39... a4 40. b4 Rc3+ 41. Rd3 Rb3 $1 {would have held the draw as well, as} 42. Rxb5 $4 {even loses to} Rd7 $1 43. Rxb3 axb3 {and suddenly the b-pawn will queen.}) 40. Rd3 gxf4+ 41. gxf4 Rc2 42. h3 Ra2 {The same trading policy.} 43. b4 axb4 44. axb4 Rh2 45. Ke4 Rc7 46. Rxb5 Rc4+ 47. Rd4 Rc7 $1 ({Much better than} 47... Rxd4+ 48. Kxd4 Rxh3 49. Rb7+ {when the b-pawn would cause Black headache.}) 48. Rc5 {The last winning try.} ({Or} 48. Ra5 Rc3 {with equality.}) 48... Rxc5 49. bxc5 Rc2 50. f5 exf5+ 51. Kxf5 Rxc5 52. Rd6 Rc1 53. Rxh6 Rf1+ 54. Ke4 f6 ({Checks from far away would also split the point.} 54... Re1+) 55. exf6+ Rxf6 56. Rxf6 Kxf6 57. h4 Kg6 58. h5+ Kxh5 1/2-1/2 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.09.23"] [Round "45.1"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A18"] [WhiteElo "2802"] [BlackElo "2771"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "70"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:14:42"] [BlackClock "0:14:01"] 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4 d5 {The Flohr-Mikenas system is extremely popular at the high levels these days.} 4. cxd5 ({White can also go for the immediate} 4. e5 d4 5. exf6 dxc3 6. bxc3 Qxf6 7. d4 {when a popular continuation is} e5 8. Nf3 Nc6 9. Bg5 Qg6 10. d5 Nb8 11. h4 h6 12. h5 Qd6 13. Be3 {as in Nepomniachtchi,I (2732)-Aleksandrov,A (2565) Khanty Mansiysk 2017}) 4... exd5 5. e5 Ne4 6. Nf3 Bf5 7. Be2 d4 {A surprise for Aronian. According to my Megabase, just one over-the-board game featured this move.} ({He probably expected something like:} 7... Be7 8. O-O Nc6 9. d3 Nxc3 10. bxc3 O-O 11. d4 Qd7 12. Bd3 {as in Caruana,F (2808)-So,W (2812) Paris 2017}) 8. Nxe4 Bxe4 9. Bc4 {"I decided to play it save" (Aronian)} ({The above-mentioned over-the-board game saw} 9. d3 Bd5 10. O-O Nc6 11. a3 a5 12. Bf4 a4 13. Nd2 Be7 14. Bg3 O-O 15. Rc1 Qd7 16. Bg4 Be6 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. Qc2 Rfc8 19. Rce1 Na5 { and Black held his own, Topalov,V (2749) -Nakamura,H (2785) Paris 2017}) 9... Bd5 10. Qb3 Bxc4 11. Qxc4 Nc6 12. O-O Qd7 13. d3 Qe6 $146 ({There is an emial predecessor:} 13... O-O-O {which Aronian also mentioned at the brief post-game interview. The Armenian GM said it is also good for equality, for example} 14. Bd2 h6 15. b4 Qd5 16. Rfc1 Qxc4 17. Rxc4 Rd5 18. a4 g5 {Gierth,K (2226) -Krejcir,S (2078) ICCF email 2009}) 14. Qxe6+ fxe6 15. Ng5 Kd7 {Ding equalized easily the game. The knight on e4 is a strong piece, but the black bishop takes good care of it. While the white bishop does not have any great perspectives. Further on, both sides can not advance their pawn majorities. In fact it might be the other-way around, both sides want to attack the opponent's majorities!} 16. f4 Be7 17. Ne4 Raf8 18. Bd2 g5 {Sort of a minority attack.} 19. g3 (19. Nxg5 Bxg5 20. fxg5 Nxe5 {is not advisable for White.}) 19... Rhg8 20. Kh1 gxf4 21. gxf4 Rg6 {Thanks to the important g7-g5 move, Ding got enough space to operate with his rooks.} 22. Rac1 Rfg8 23. a3 ({The immediate} 23. b4 {was possible, but Aronian felt it is too early. For example} a6 (23... Rg2 24. b5 Nd8 25. Rc2 {should be also playable for Black.}) 24. Rc4 Rg2 25. Rfc1 R8g4 $5 {with the idea to meet} 26. a4 {with} Rxd2 27. Nxd2 Bxb4 28. Ne4 Rxf4 {and Black is doing fine.}) 23... a5 24. Rf3 {White can also use the kingside to shift some rooks on to the open files.} b6 25. Rh3 R8g7 26. Ng3 {Prepares the advance of the f-pawn.} Nd8 (26... Rf7 $5 {looks quite normal as well, but Ding is not afraid of the advance.}) 27. b4 (27. f5 {allows Black counter-play after} exf5 28. Nxf5 Rf7 29. Nxd4 Ne6 30. Nxe6 Kxe6 31. d4 (31. Rxc7 $4 Rf1#) 31... c5) 27... axb4 28. axb4 b5 ({Here} 28... Rf7 29. Ne2 c5 30. b5 {gives White something to play for.}) 29. Kg2 {Aronian decided he has time to bring the king into the center.} ({White's whole play was designed for} 29. f5 {and this was winning a pawn after} exf5 30. Nxf5 Rf7 31. Nxd4 {However, in his calculation the Armenian GM saw too much counter-play for his opponent after} Rg4 $1 32. Nxb5 Ne6 33. d4 c6 {Here White considered the exciting sacrifice} 34. Ra1 ({Retreating brings White nowhere after} 34. Na3 Nxd4 35. Nc4 Nf3 ({Or} 35... Ke6 {in both cases with equality.})) 34... cxb5 {but could not find anything. A sample line goes} 35. d5 Rf2 {(the simplest)} (35... Nd8 36. e6+ Nxe6 37. dxe6+ Kxe6 {should also be equal.}) 36. dxe6+ Kxe6 37. Be3 Re2 38. Rh6+ Kxe5 39. Rxh7 Bxb4 {and everything disappears from the board.}) 29... Nc6 {Forcing White to defend.} 30. Rb1 Rf7 31. Rh5 (31. Kf3 $2 Nxe5+) 31... Rg8 32. Rh6 ({Or} 32. Kf3 Ra8 33. Ke4 Ra2 {and Black may even take over the initiative.}) 32... Bf8 (32... Ra8 33. f5 $1) 33. Rh3 Be7 34. Rh6 Bf8 35. Rh3 Be7 1/2-1/2 [Event "Tbilisi"] [Site "Tbilisi"] [Date "2017.09.24"] [Round "7.2"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "*"] [WhiteElo "2771"] [BlackElo "2802"] [Annotator "ChessBase"] [PlyCount "149"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e6 {[%emt 0: 00:05]} 3. g3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 4. Bg2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 5. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:04]} 6. O-O {[%emt 0: 00:10]} (6. b3) 6... dxc4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 7. Qc2 {[%emt 0:00:10]} a6 {[%emt 0: 00:05]} 8. a4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} (8. Qxc4 b5 9. Qc2 Bb7) 8... Bd7 {[%emt 0:00:06] } 9. Qxc4 {[%emt 0:00:16]} (9. Ne5 Bc6) 9... Bc6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 10. Bg5 { [%emt 0:00:28]} a5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} (10... Bd5 11. Qc2 Be4 12. Qd1 c5 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. Nbd2 Bc6 15. Ne5 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Be7 17. Rc1 Nbd7 18. Nxd7 Qxd7 19. Nf3 Qxd1 20. Rfxd1 Rfc8 21. Ne5 h6 22. Bd2 Rd8 23. Nd3 Rdc8 24. f4 Kf8 25. Kf3 Nd7 26. Be3 Ke8 27. Bd4 Bf6 28. Bxf6 Nxf6 29. Ne5 {1-0 (46) Giri,A (2793)-Leko,P (2707) Baku 2015}) 11. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:53]} Na6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} (11... Ra6 12. e3 Rb6 13. Qe2 Nbd7 14. Rfd1 Bb4 (14... Bxf3 15. Bxf3 c6 16. Qc2 Ne8 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Na2 Nef6 19. Qc3 Ra8 20. Rd2 e5 21. dxe5 Qxe5 {½-½ (41) Nakamura,H (2793)-Aronian,L (2788) London 2015 CBM 170 [Sumets,A]}) 15. Ne5 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Qa8 17. e4 Qa6 {½-½ (69) Giri,A (2798)-Aronian,L (2792) Zuerich 2016}) 12. e3 {[%emt 0:08:53]} (12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. e4 Nb4 14. Rad1 g6 15. h4 Bg7 16. Rfe1 Qd7 17. b3 Rad8 18. Qe2 Qe7 19. Rd2 Bh6 20. Rdd1 Bg7 21. Rd2 Bh6 22. Rdd1 Bg7 23. Rd2 {½-½ (23) Eljanov,P (2765)-Aronian,L (2784) Stavanger 2016}) (12. Rfd1 Qd6 (12... Bd5) 13. e3 Qb4 {½-½ (41) Bagirov,V (2485)-King,D (2425) Jurmala 1985}) 12... Nb4 {[%emt 0:01:11]} 13. Rfd1 {[%emt 0:00:38]} Nd7 {[%emt 0:05:55] } (13... Bd5 14. Qe2 Ne4 15. Bxe7 Qxe7 {½-½ (50) Nogueiras Santiago,J (2550) -Beliavsky,A (2605) Novi Sad 1990}) (13... h6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 {½-½ (14) Yevseev,D (2513)-Pigusov,E (2572) Tula 2001}) 14. Bxe7 {[%emt 0:04:32]} Qxe7 { [%emt 0:00:03]} 15. e4 {[%emt 0:00:48]} Rfd8 {[%emt 0:00:35]} 16. Rd2 {[%emt 0: 07:14]} (16. d5 exd5 17. exd5 Nb6) 16... Nb6 {[%emt 0:04:19]} 17. Qe2 {[%emt 0: 11:39]} Be8 {[%emt 0:02:39]} 18. b3 {[%emt 0:00:45]} c5 {[%emt 0:02:25]} 19. Qe3 {[%emt 0:02:39]} (19. dxc5 Rxd2 20. Nxd2 Qxc5 21. Rc1 Rd8) 19... Rac8 { [%emt 0:03:56]} 20. Rc1 {[%emt 0:08:33]} c4 {[%emt 0:17:53]} (20... cxd4 21. Nxd4 $14) 21. d5 {[%emt 0:00:45]} Qc5 {[%emt 0:00:15]} (21... Nd7 22. d6) ( 21... Na8) 22. Qxc5 {[%emt 0:01:38]} Rxc5 {[%emt 0:03:13]} 23. dxe6 {[%emt 0: 00:01]} Rxd2 {[%emt 0:02:44]} 24. Nxd2 {[%emt 0:00:25]} fxe6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 25. Bf1 {[%emt 0:06:23]} cxb3 {[%emt 0:01:08]} 26. Nxb3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Rc7 { [%emt 0:01:02]} 27. Nxa5 {[%emt 0:01:27]} Nxa4 {[%emt 0:00:59]} 28. Na2 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Rxc1 {[%emt 0:01:20]} 29. Nxc1 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Nc5 {[%emt 0:00:47]} 30. Ncb3 $6 {[%emt 0:02:41]} (30. e5) (30. f3 b6 (30... b5 31. Kf2) 31. Nc4) 30... b6 {[%emt 0:04:16]} 31. Nxc5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} bxa5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 32. Bc4 {[%emt 0:18:39]} a4 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 33. Kf1 {[%emt 0:00:16]} a3 {[%emt 0: 00:40]} 34. Nb3 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Ba4 {[%emt 0:13:45]} 35. Nc1 {[%emt 0:01:01]} (35. Bxe6+ Kf8 36. Nc1 Bc2 37. f3 (37. Ke2 {transposes to the game}) 37... Bb1 38. Ke2 a2 39. Nxa2 (39. Nb3 Nc2 $19) 39... Bxa2 40. Bxa2 Nxa2 $17) 35... Bc2 { [%emt 0:03:14]} 36. Ke2 {[%emt 0:00:21]} Bxe4 {[%emt 0:02:18]} (36... Bb1 37. Kd2 a2 38. Bxe6+ Kf8 39. Nb3) 37. Bxe6+ {[%emt 0:00:05]} Kf8 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 38. Kd2 {[%emt 0:01:10]} Ke7 {[%emt 0:01:02]} 39. Bb3 {[%emt 0:13:12]} Nd5 { [%emt 0:05:27]} (39... Bb1 40. Kc3 $11 a2 41. Kb2) 40. Ne2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kd6 {[%emt 0:00:54]} 41. f3 {[%emt 0:04:48]} Bb1 {[%emt 0:00:54]} 42. Kc1 {[%emt 0: 00:44]} Bg6 {[%emt 0:05:04]} 43. Nd4 {[%emt 0:08:55]} Nc7 {[%emt 0:15:40]} 44. Ne2 {[%emt 0:14:31]} (44. Bc2 Kc5 45. Bxg6 hxg6 46. Nc2 Nb5 47. Kb1) 44... Kc5 {[%emt 0:08:25]} 45. Nf4 {[%emt 0:00:33]} Bf5 {[%emt 0:04:55]} 46. g4 {[%emt 0: 00:57]} Bd7 {[%emt 0:04:51]} 47. g5 {[%emt 0:03:53]} (47. Bg8 h6 48. h4) 47... Nb5 {[%emt 0:04:13]} 48. Bg8 {[%emt 0:01:35]} (48. Kb1 Nd4 49. Ka2) 48... Bf5 { [%emt 0:07:18]} 49. Nh5 {[%emt 0:01:06]} g6 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 50. Ng3 {[%emt 0: 08:10]} Bd3 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 51. Bxh7 {[%emt 0:00:33]} Nd4 {[%emt 0:02:16]} 52. Ne4+ {[%emt 0:00:08]} Kb4 {[%emt 0:00:29]} 53. Bg8 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nxf3 { [%emt 0:02:09]} (53... Nb3+ $1 54. Bxb3 Kxb3 55. Nd2+ Kb4 $1 (55... Kc3 56. Nb1+) 56. h4 (56. Ne4 Kc4 57. h4 Kd4 58. Nd2) 56... Kc5 57. Nb3+ Kc4 58. Nd2+ Kd4 59. Ne4 Ke3 60. Nc5 Bf5 61. Ne4 Kxf3 62. Nd2+ Kf4 $1 (62... Kg4 $2 63. Nc4 Kxh4 (63... a2 64. Ne5+ $11 Kxh4 65. Kb2) 64. Nxa3 Kxg5) 63. Nc4 a2 64. Kb2 Be6 65. Nd6 Kg3 $19) 54. Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:27]} Kc5 {[%emt 0:01:03]} 55. h3 {[%emt 0: 01:18]} Kd4 {[%emt 0:01:29]} (55... Nxg5 56. h4 Ne4 57. Ng4 Kd4) 56. Ba2 ({The computers prefer} 56. h4 Nxh4 57. Nd5 Nf3 58. Nb4 Nxg5 59. Nc2+ Bxc2 60. Kxc2 Ne4 61. Kb3 g5 62. Kxa3 g4 63. Be6 g3 64. Bh3 {but this is not a simple draw}) 56... Nxg5 {[%emt 0:01:29]} 57. h4 {[%emt 0:03:24]} Ne4 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 58. Nd7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Nc5 {[%emt 0:02:52]} (58... Nc3 $1 59. Bb3 Ne2+ 60. Kd2 Ng1) 59. Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Ke5 {[%emt 0:01:33]} (59... Ne4 $1 60. Ng4 (60. Nd7 Nc3) 60... Nc3 61. Bf7 Ne2+ 62. Kd2 Bc4 63. Ne3 Bxf7 64. Nc2+ Kc5 65. Kxe2 a2 66. Kd2 Bb3 67. Na1 Kc4 $19) 60. Nd5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Bf5 {[%emt 0:00:38]} ( 60... Na6 61. Kd2 Be4 62. Nc3 Nb4 63. Bb3 Bf5 {should also be a draw}) 61. Ne3 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Nd3+ {[%emt 0:00:25]} 62. Kc2 {[%emt 0:00:29]} Nb4+ {[%emt 0: 00:36]} 63. Kb3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Nxa2 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 64. Kxa2 {[%emt 0:00:04] } Ke4 {[%emt 0:00:31]} 65. Nc2 {[%emt 0:00:54]} Kf4 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 66. Nd4 { [%emt 0:00:35]} Kg4 {[%emt 0:00:44]} 67. Kxa3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Kxh4 {[%emt 0: 00:34]} 68. Kb2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Kg3 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 69. Kc3 {[%emt 0:00:33]} Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 70. Kd2 {[%emt 0:01:17]} Bg4 {[%emt 0:01:03]} 71. Nc2 { [%emt 0:00:45]} g5 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 72. Ne3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Be2 {[%emt 0:00: 19]} 73. Nd5 {[%emt 0:00:24]} Bg4 {[%emt 0:00:46]} (73... g4 74. Nf6 g3 75. Ne4+) 74. Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:39]} Bf5 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 75. Kd1 {[%emt 0:00:15]} * [Event "FIDE World Cup 2017"] [Site "Tbilisi"] [Date "2017.09.23"] [Round "7.1"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Result "*"] [ECO "A18"] [WhiteElo "2802"] [BlackElo "2771"] [Annotator "ChessBase"] [PlyCount "70"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. c4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:34]} 2. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 3. e4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} (3... c5 4. e5 Ng8 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Nxe5 8. Ndb5) 4. cxd5 {[%emt 0:00:11]} (4. e5 d4 5. exf6 dxc3 6. bxc3 Qxf6 7. d4 (7. Nf3 e5 8. Bd3 {1-0 (40) Aronian,L (2802) -Hou,Y (2603) Wijk aan Zee 2013}) 7... e5 8. Nf3) 4... exd5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 5. e5 { [%emt 0:00:09]} Ne4 {[%emt 0:01:01]} (5... d4 6. exf6 dxc3 7. Bb5+ c6 8. Qe2+ Be6 9. Bc4 Qxf6 10. dxc3 Be7 11. Bxe6 Qxe6 12. Qxe6 fxe6 {1-0 (80) Sjugirov,S (2673)-Shevchenko,K (2453) Moscow 2017}) 6. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} (6. Nxe4 dxe4 7. Qa4+ Nc6 8. Qxe4 Be6 {0-1 (29) Kuppe,W-Unzicker,W Oldenburg 1949} (8... Qd4) ) (6. d4 Nc6 (6... Bb4 7. Qa4+ Nc6 8. Bb5 Bd7 9. Nge2 O-O 10. O-O Bxc3 11. bxc3 a6 12. Bxc6 Bxc6 13. Qc2 f6 14. f3 Ng5 15. Bxg5 fxg5 {1-0 (57) Ding,L (2707) -Wei,Y (2530) Danzhou 2013}) 7. Bb5 Bb4 8. Nge2 O-O 9. O-O Nxc3 10. bxc3 Be7 11. Nf4 {1-0 (53) Aronian,L (2815)-Wojtaszek,R (2715) Dubai 2014}) 6... Bf5 { [%emt 0:00:10]} (6... Be7 7. d4 Bb4 8. Qc2 Nc6 9. Bd3 Bg4 10. Be3 Bxf3 11. gxf3 Ng5 12. O-O-O {1-0 (33) Aronian,L (2765)-Wiedenkeller,M (2453) Baku 2015}) ( 6... Nc6 7. Bb5 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Re1 Bf5 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. Nd4 Bd7 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Rxe4 c5 14. Nf3 {0-1 (41) Ding,L (2730)-Wang,Y (2711) Shenzhen 2014}) (6... Nxc3 7. dxc3 c5 8. Bg5 Qd7 9. Qd2 Qc6 10. Rd1 h6 11. Bh4 g5 12. Bg3 Be7 13. Qxd5 Qxd5 14. Rxd5 Be6 15. c4 {1-0 (54) Edouard,R (2628) -Karpov,A (2628) Cap d'Agde 2016}) 7. Be2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} (7. d4 Bb4) 7... d4 {[%emt 0:01:10]} (7... c5 8. d4 Nc6 9. O-O {½-½ (64) Aronian,L (2813)-Lysyj, I (2648) Tromsoe 2013}) (7... Be7 8. O-O Nc6 9. d3 Nxc3 10. bxc3 O-O 11. d4 Qd7 12. Bd3 {1-0 (45) Caruana,F (2808)-So,W (2812) Paris 2017}) 8. Nxe4 {[%emt 0:02:29]} Bxe4 { [%emt 0:00:06]} 9. Bc4 {[%emt 0:00:57]} (9. d3 Bd5 10. O-O Nc6 11. a3 a5 12. Bf4 a4 13. Nd2 Be7 14. Bg3 O-O 15. Rc1 Qd7 {½-½ (61) Topalov,V (2749) -Nakamura,H (2785) Paris 2017}) 9... Bd5 {[%emt 0:03:29]} 10. Qb3 {[%emt 0:01: 38]} Bxc4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 11. Qxc4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 12. O-O {[%emt 0:00:29]} Qd7 {[%emt 0:01:14]} 13. d3 {[%emt 0:14:23]} Qe6 {[%emt 0: 03:18]} 14. Qxe6+ {[%emt 0:08:00]} (14. Qa4 O-O-O (14... Rd8)) 14... fxe6 { [%emt 0:00:06]} 15. Ng5 {[%emt 0:01:03]} Kd7 {[%emt 0:06:11]} 16. f4 {[%emt 0: 00:09]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:53]} 17. Ne4 {[%emt 0:04:06]} Raf8 {[%emt 0:18:15]} ( 17... Nb4 18. a3 Nd5 (18... Nxd3 19. Rd1 Nc5 20. Nxc5+ (20. Rxd4+ Ke8) 20... Bxc5 21. Be3 $11)) 18. Bd2 {[%emt 0:02:43]} g5 {[%emt 0:02:21]} 19. g3 {[%emt 0:11:53]} (19. fxg5 Nxe5) 19... Rhg8 {[%emt 0:02:51]} 20. Kh1 {[%emt 0:03:37]} gxf4 {[%emt 0:08:52]} 21. gxf4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Rg6 {[%emt 0:07:45]} 22. Rac1 { [%emt 0:02:18]} Rfg8 {[%emt 0:02:43]} 23. a3 {[%emt 0:06:55]} a5 {[%emt 0:02: 37]} 24. Rf3 {[%emt 0:03:09]} b6 {[%emt 0:02:58]} 25. Rh3 {[%emt 0:02:44]} (25. Rg3) 25... R8g7 {[%emt 0:00:29]} 26. Ng3 {[%emt 0:02:12]} Nd8 {[%emt 0:06:16]} (26... a4 27. Rc4 b5 28. Rc1) 27. b4 {[%emt 0:04:45]} axb4 {[%emt 0:08:42]} 28. axb4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} b5 {[%emt 0:03:35]} 29. Kg2 {[%emt 0:06:54]} (29. f5 exf5 30. Nxf5 Rf7 31. Nxd4 Ne6 (31... c6) 32. Nxb5 Rg4 $132) 29... Nc6 {[%emt 0:00: 35]} 30. Rb1 {[%emt 0:02:19]} Rf7 {[%emt 0:02:01]} 31. Rh5 {[%emt 0:00:13]} Rg8 {[%emt 0:01:09]} 32. Rh6 {[%emt 0:08:46]} Bf8 {[%emt 0:01:58]} 33. Rh3 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:57]} 34. Rh6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Bf8 {[%emt 0:00:31]} 35. Rh3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:27]} * [Event "FIDE World Cup 2017"] [Site "Tbilisi"] [Date "2017.09.24"] [Round "7.2"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "*"] [ECO "E05"] [WhiteElo "2771"] [BlackElo "2802"] [Annotator "ChessBase"] [PlyCount "149"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e6 {[%emt 0: 00:05]} 3. g3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 4. Bg2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 5. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:04]} 6. O-O {[%emt 0: 00:10]} (6. b3) 6... dxc4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 7. Qc2 {[%emt 0:00:10]} a6 {[%emt 0: 00:05]} 8. a4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} (8. Qxc4 b5 9. Qc2 Bb7) 8... Bd7 {[%emt 0:00:06] } 9. Qxc4 {[%emt 0:00:16]} (9. Ne5 Bc6) 9... Bc6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 10. Bg5 { [%emt 0:00:28]} a5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} (10... Bd5 11. Qc2 Be4 12. Qd1 c5 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. Nbd2 Bc6 15. Ne5 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Be7 17. Rc1 Nbd7 18. Nxd7 Qxd7 19. Nf3 Qxd1 20. Rfxd1 Rfc8 21. Ne5 h6 22. Bd2 Rd8 23. Nd3 Rdc8 24. f4 Kf8 25. Kf3 Nd7 26. Be3 Ke8 27. Bd4 Bf6 28. Bxf6 Nxf6 29. Ne5 {1-0 (46) Giri,A (2793)-Leko,P (2707) Baku 2015}) 11. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:53]} Na6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} (11... Ra6 12. e3 Rb6 13. Qe2 Nbd7 14. Rfd1 Bb4 (14... Bxf3 15. Bxf3 c6 16. Qc2 Ne8 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Na2 Nef6 19. Qc3 Ra8 20. Rd2 e5 21. dxe5 Qxe5 {½-½ (41) Nakamura,H (2793)-Aronian,L (2788) London 2015 CBM 170 [Sumets,A]}) 15. Ne5 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Qa8 17. e4 Qa6 {½-½ (69) Giri,A (2798)-Aronian,L (2792) Zuerich 2016}) 12. e3 {[%emt 0:08:53]} (12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. e4 Nb4 14. Rad1 g6 15. h4 Bg7 16. Rfe1 Qd7 17. b3 Rad8 18. Qe2 Qe7 19. Rd2 Bh6 20. Rdd1 Bg7 21. Rd2 Bh6 22. Rdd1 Bg7 23. Rd2 {½-½ (23) Eljanov,P (2765)-Aronian,L (2784) Stavanger 2016}) (12. Rfd1 Qd6 (12... Bd5) 13. e3 Qb4 {½-½ (41) Bagirov,V (2485)-King,D (2425) Jurmala 1985}) 12... Nb4 {[%emt 0:01:11]} 13. Rfd1 {[%emt 0:00:38]} Nd7 {[%emt 0:05:55] } (13... Bd5 14. Qe2 Ne4 15. Bxe7 Qxe7 {½-½ (50) Nogueiras Santiago,J (2550) -Beliavsky,A (2605) Novi Sad 1990}) (13... h6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 {½-½ (14) Yevseev,D (2513)-Pigusov,E (2572) Tula 2001}) 14. Bxe7 {[%emt 0:04:32]} Qxe7 { [%emt 0:00:03]} 15. e4 {[%emt 0:00:48]} Rfd8 {[%emt 0:00:35]} 16. Rd2 {[%emt 0: 07:14]} (16. d5 exd5 17. exd5 Nb6) 16... Nb6 {[%emt 0:04:19]} 17. Qe2 {[%emt 0: 11:39]} Be8 {[%emt 0:02:39]} 18. b3 {[%emt 0:00:45]} c5 {[%emt 0:02:25]} 19. Qe3 {[%emt 0:02:39]} (19. dxc5 Rxd2 20. Nxd2 Qxc5 21. Rc1 Rd8) 19... Rac8 { [%emt 0:03:56]} 20. Rc1 {[%emt 0:08:33]} c4 {[%emt 0:17:53]} (20... cxd4 21. Nxd4 $14) 21. d5 {[%emt 0:00:45]} Qc5 {[%emt 0:00:15]} (21... Nd7 22. d6) ( 21... Na8) 22. Qxc5 {[%emt 0:01:38]} Rxc5 {[%emt 0:03:13]} 23. dxe6 {[%emt 0: 00:01]} Rxd2 {[%emt 0:02:44]} 24. Nxd2 {[%emt 0:00:25]} fxe6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 25. Bf1 {[%emt 0:06:23]} cxb3 {[%emt 0:01:08]} 26. Nxb3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Rc7 { [%emt 0:01:02]} 27. Nxa5 {[%emt 0:01:27]} Nxa4 {[%emt 0:00:59]} 28. Na2 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Rxc1 {[%emt 0:01:20]} 29. Nxc1 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Nc5 {[%emt 0:00:47]} 30. Ncb3 $6 {[%emt 0:02:41]} (30. e5) (30. f3 b6 (30... b5 31. Kf2) 31. Nc4) 30... b6 31. Nxc5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} bxa5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 32. Bc4 {[%emt 0:18: 39]} a4 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 33. Kf1 {[%emt 0:00:16]} a3 {[%emt 0:00:40]} 34. Nb3 { [%emt 0:00:10]} Ba4 {[%emt 0:13:45]} 35. Nc1 {[%emt 0:01:01]} (35. Bxe6+ Kf8 36. Nc1 Bc2 37. f3 (37. Ke2 {transposes to the game}) 37... Bb1 38. Ke2 a2 39. Nxa2 (39. Nb3 Nc2 $19) 39... Bxa2 40. Bxa2 Nxa2 $17) 35... Bc2 {[%emt 0:03:14]} 36. Ke2 {[%emt 0:00:21]} Bxe4 {[%emt 0:02:18]} 37. Bxe6+ {[%emt 0:00:05]} Kf8 { [%emt 0:00:06]} 38. Kd2 {[%emt 0:01:10]} Ke7 {[%emt 0:01:02]} 39. Bb3 {[%emt 0: 13:12]} Nd5 {[%emt 0:05:27]} (39... Bb1 40. Kc3 $11) 40. Ne2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kd6 {[%emt 0:00:54]} 41. f3 {[%emt 0:04:48]} Bb1 {[%emt 0:00:54]} 42. Kc1 { [%emt 0:00:44]} Bg6 {[%emt 0:05:04]} 43. Nd4 {[%emt 0:08:55]} Nc7 {[%emt 0:15: 40]} 44. Ne2 {[%emt 0:14:31]} (44. Bc2 Kc5 45. Bxg6 hxg6 46. Nc2 Nb5 47. Kb1) 44... Kc5 {[%emt 0:08:25]} 45. Nf4 {[%emt 0:00:33]} Bf5 {[%emt 0:04:55]} 46. g4 {[%emt 0:00:57]} Bd7 {[%emt 0:04:51]} 47. g5 {[%emt 0:03:53]} (47. Bg8 h6 48. h4) 47... Nb5 {[%emt 0:04:13]} 48. Bg8 {[%emt 0:01:35]} (48. Kb1 Nd4 49. Ka2) 48... Bf5 {[%emt 0:07:18]} 49. Nh5 {[%emt 0:01:06]} g6 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 50. Ng3 {[%emt 0:08:10]} Bd3 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 51. Bxh7 {[%emt 0:00:33]} Nd4 {[%emt 0: 02:16]} 52. Ne4+ {[%emt 0:00:08]} Kb4 {[%emt 0:00:29]} 53. Bg8 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nxf3 {[%emt 0:02:09]} (53... Nb3+ $1 54. Bxb3 Kxb3 55. Nd2+ Kb4 $1 (55... Kc3 56. Nb1+) 56. h4 (56. Ne4 Kc4 57. h4 Kd4 58. Nd2) 56... Kc5 57. Nb3+ Kc4 58. Nd2+ Kd4 59. Ne4 Ke3 60. Nc5 Bf5 61. Ne4 Kxf3 62. Nd2+ Kf4 $1 (62... Kg4 $2 63. Nc4 Kxh4 (63... a2 64. Ne5+ $11) 64. Nxa3 Kxg5) 63. Nc4 a2 64. Kb2 Be6 65. Nd6 Kg3 $19) 54. Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:27]} Kc5 {[%emt 0:01:03]} 55. h3 {[%emt 0:01:18]} Kd4 {[%emt 0:01:29]} (55... Nxg5 56. h4 Ne4 57. Ng4 Kd4) 56. Ba2 ({The computers prefer} 56. h4 Nxh4 57. Nd5 Nf3 58. Nb4 Nxg5 59. Nc2+ Bxc2 60. Kxc2 Ne4 61. Kb3 g5 62. Kxa3 g4 63. Be6 g3 64. Bh3 {but this is not a simple draw}) 56... Nxg5 {[%emt 0:01:29]} 57. h4 {[%emt 0:03:24]} Ne4 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 58. Nd7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Nc5 {[%emt 0:02:52]} (58... Nc3 $1 59. Bb3 Ne2+ 60. Kd2 Ng1) 59. Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Ke5 {[%emt 0:01:33]} (59... Ne4 $1 60. Ng4 (60. Nd7 Nc3) 60... Nc3 61. Bf7 Ne2+ 62. Kd2 Bc4 63. Ne3 Bxf7 64. Nc2+ Kc5 65. Kxe2 a2 66. Kd2 Bb3 67. Na1 Kc4 $19) 60. Nd5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Bf5 {[%emt 0:00:38]} ( 60... Na6 61. Kd2 Be4 62. Nc3 Nb4 63. Bb3 Bf5 {should also be a draw}) 61. Ne3 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Nd3+ {[%emt 0:00:25]} 62. Kc2 {[%emt 0:00:29]} Nb4+ {[%emt 0: 00:36]} 63. Kb3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Nxa2 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 64. Kxa2 {[%emt 0:00:04] } Ke4 {[%emt 0:00:31]} 65. Nc2 {[%emt 0:00:54]} Kf4 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 66. Nd4 { [%emt 0:00:35]} Kg4 {[%emt 0:00:44]} 67. Kxa3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Kxh4 {[%emt 0: 00:34]} 68. Kb2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Kg3 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 69. Kc3 {[%emt 0:00:33]} Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 70. Kd2 {[%emt 0:01:17]} Bg4 {[%emt 0:01:03]} 71. Nc2 { [%emt 0:00:45]} g5 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 72. Ne3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Be2 {[%emt 0:00: 19]} 73. Nd5 {[%emt 0:00:24]} Bg4 {[%emt 0:00:46]} 74. Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:39]} Bf5 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 75. Kd1 {[%emt 0:00:15]} * [Event "FIDE World Cup 2017"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.24"] [Round "7.2"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E06"] [WhiteElo "2771"] [BlackElo "2802"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "149"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 {Just like in his match against Wesley So, Ding Liren chooses the Catalan.} O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4 Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bg5 a5 11. Nc3 Na6 12. e3 ({White did not get much after} 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. e4 Nb4 14. Rad1 g6 15. h4 Bg7 16. Rfe1 Qd7 17. b3 Rad8 18. Qe2 Qe7 19. Rd2 Bh6 20. Rdd1 Bg7 21. Rd2 Bh6 22. Rdd1 Bg7 23. Rd2 {½-½ Eljanov,P (2765)-Aronian,L (2784) Stavanger 2016}) 12... Nb4 13. Rfd1 Nd7 $146 {"Very interesting idea to keep the knight instead of the bishop." (Ding)} ({ Previously Black had tried} 13... h6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Rac1 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 c6 { with a solid, albeit cramped position in Bareev,E (2675)-Shneider,A (2530) Moscow 1995}) 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. e4 Rfd8 16. Rd2 {"I think this is a very bad move." (Ding)} ({"I should have played"} 16. Qe2 {"first." (Ding) After} Nb6 17. Ne5 Be8 {Black is again ready to go for c7-c5 with full equality, thus} 18. Nc4 {seems like a reasonable option, for example} Nxc4 19. Qxc4 Rac8 {and it is all about the c7-c5 advance again. Will Black make it, or not?}) 16... Nb6 $1 {"I totally missed the idea after this move."(Ding)} 17. Qe2 Be8 18. b3 c5 { "Black is probably slightly better." (Ding)} 19. Qe3 ({Perhaps White should have gone for} 19. Rad1 Rac8 20. dxc5 Rxd2 21. Qxd2 Qxc5 22. Nb5 {with the idea } Bxb5 23. axb5 Qxb5 $4 ({Still Black hardly experiences any problems after} 23... h6 24. Bf1) 24. Qd8+ Qe8 25. Qxb6) 19... Rac8 {"I also missed this very simple move. After this I was very nervous." (Ding)} ({On} 19... c4 {the Chinese GM was planning} 20. d5 $1) 20. Rc1 c4 {Simple and good.} ({Aronian also believed he is better after} 20... cxd4 {with the idea} 21. Nxd4 Bxa4 $1 { when} 22. bxa4 $2 {loses due to the pin after} Nc4 23. Qe2 Nxd2 24. Qxd2 Qd7) 21. d5 Qc5 $1 {With the rook on c8 this is possible.} 22. Qxc5 Rxc5 {The endgame is indeed slightly better for Black. His queenside majority went into motion and somewhere in the not-so-distant future Aronian will have an outside passer. With his next moves Ding skillfully slows down Black's initiative.} 23. dxe6 Rxd2 24. Nxd2 fxe6 25. Bf1 $1 cxb3 26. Nxb3 Rc7 27. Nxa5 Nxa4 28. Na2 Rxc1 29. Nxc1 Nc5 {Up to now everything was normal, but...} 30. Ncb3 $6 {"A careless move!" (Ding)} (30. f3 {followed by the king march to e3 would have held the position relatively easy.}) 30... b6 $1 31. Nxc5 bxa5 32. Bc4 a4 { Aronian got the most dangerous outside passer.} 33. Kf1 a3 34. Nb3 ({The Chinese GM thought that he is losing after} 34. Ke2 a2 35. Nb3 Nc2 36. Kd2 Ba4 {However, after} 37. Bxe6+ Kf8 38. Na1 Nxa1 39. Bxa2 {this is not 100 percent clear. The remaining pawns are on the same flank.}) 34... Ba4 35. Nc1 Bc2 36. Ke2 Bxe4 37. Bxe6+ Kf8 38. Kd2 (38. Bc4 {was somewhat better version to the game continuation.}) 38... Ke7 39. Bb3 Nd5 40. Ne2 Kd6 {The time trouble is over. White's problems are multiplied by the fact that the h-pawn of the opponent queens on a light square. The defense is very difficult.} 41. f3 Bb1 { Please note how nicely are Aronian's pieces co-ordinated. They do not allow the white king an access to the third rank.} 42. Kc1 Bg6 43. Nd4 Nc7 $1 { Another surprise for Ding.} ({He was hoping for} 43... Nc3 44. Bc2 Kc5 ({Or} 44... Bxc2 45. Kxc2 a2 46. Kb2 Kd5 47. Nf5 {and White should hold.}) 45. Bxg6 hxg6 46. Nc2 Nb5 47. Kb1 {"Since the black pawns are doubled, I think I should hold." (Ding)}) 44. Ne2 ({The pawns will no longer be doubled after} 44. Bc2 Bxc2 45. Kxc2 Kc5 46. Nf5 g6 {Whether this is a win is another question, but Black has reasonable chances. If we follow Botvinnik's formula that "knight endgames are the closest to pawn endgames" Black should be winning here.}) 44... Kc5 45. Nf4 Bf5 46. g4 {Ding decided to advance his pawns as much as possible in an attempt to trade them. It will take some hours (days?) to find the mathematically correct way to defend White's position. :-) It should also be mentioned that both players were getting very low on time.} Bd7 (46... Bc8 $5) 47. g5 $2 {Gives the diagonal into Black's hands again.} (47. Nh5 {was definitely stronger.}) 47... Nb5 48. Bg8 (48. Kb1 $5) 48... Bf5 {Once again achieving the perfect co-ordination.} 49. Nh5 g6 50. Ng3 Bd3 51. Bxh7 {This loses.} ({However, it is hard to believe that White can survive after} 51. Kd2 Bc4 52. Ne4+ Kd4 53. Bxc4 Kxc4 54. Kc2 Nd4+) 51... Nd4 $1 {With the threat Nd4-b3+ and a queen.} 52. Ne4+ (52. Bg8 {loses to} Nxf3) 52... Kb4 53. Bg8 Nxf3 {The wrong direction! Aronian missed a (very complicated) win.} ({The line} 53... Nb3+ $1 54. Bxb3 Kxb3 55. Nd2+ {This is what Ding saw and intended to play.} Kb4 $1 {wins for Black. Still, this was completely impossible to calculate, especially the zugzwangs that arise again and again. The impression is that White will have a chance to sacrifice his knight and three pawns for the remaining two black pawns, but check the lines:} (55... Kc3 $2 {is the first wrong path. Black holds after} 56. Nb1+ Kb4 ({But not} 56... Bxb1 $2 57. Kxb1 Kd3 58. h4 {and White wins!} Ke3 59. h5) 57. Nxa3 Kxa3 58. Kd2 Bb1 59. Kc3 $1 Ka4 60. h4 Kb5 61. Kd4 Kc6 62. Ke5 Kd7 63. Kf6 Ke8 64. Kg7 {followed by Kg7-h6 and h4-h5.}) 56. h3 Kc5 57. h4 ({Or} 57. Nb3+ Kc4 $1 58. Nd2+ Kd4) 57... Kd4 {The bishop and the a-pawn created a nice cell for the white king.} 58. Ne4 Ke3 59. Nc5 Bf5 60. Nb7 Kxf3 61. Na5 Bd3 62. Nc6 Kf4 63. Nd4 Kg4 64. Nc6 Kf5 $3 {Carefully taking the pawns.} ({Another trap is revealed after} 64... Kxh4 $2 65. Ne5 Bf5 66. Nc4 a2 67. Kb2 Kxg5 68. Ne5 {and the most important black pawn on g6 will disappear on the next move.}) 65. Ne7+ Ke5 66. Nc6+ Ke6 67. Nb4 Be4 68. Kd2 ({Or} 68. Na2 Kf5 69. Nc3 Bd3 70. Nd5 Kg4) 68... Kf5 69. Kc3 Kg4 70. Kb3 Kxh4 71. Kxa3 Kxg5 {and the tablebase says Black wins...}) 54. Nf6 Kc5 55. h3 ({I have serious doubts that White can survive even after the best computer move} 55. Ba2) 55... Kd4 {"I thought I am probably losing." (Ding)} 56. Ba2 { Played with only three seconds left on the clock!} Nxg5 57. h4 {It was not late to return to the aforementioned line but Black was also very low on time.} Ne4 58. Nd7 Nc5 {Indeed, Aronian was winning here with at least two moves:} ( 58... Nc3 {with the idea} 59. Bb3 Ne2+ 60. Kd2 Ng1 61. Nf8 Nf3+ 62. Kc1 Kc3 63. Ba2 Nd4 $1 64. Nd7 Bc2 $1 {and mate next.}) ({Or} 58... Ng3 59. Kd2 Nf5 60. Nf8 Bc4 $1 ({But not} 60... Nxh4 $2 {which is a draw after} 61. Ne6+ Ke4 62. Nc5+)) 59. Nf6 Ke5 60. Nd5 Bf5 (60... Na6 {was the last winning chance.}) 61. Ne3 Nd3+ 62. Kc2 $1 {"Maybe he missed this move, that I can protect my bishop. " (Ding) Indeed, moves which put your king in danger are easy to miss.} Nb4+ 63. Kb3 Nxa2 64. Kxa2 {Now it is a draw. The knight and the king can co-ordinate while the black king wins the pawn.} Ke4 65. Nc2 Kf4 66. Nd4 Kg4 67. Kxa3 (67. Nc6 Kxh4 68. Ne5 g5 69. Nf3+ {would had won the pawn at once, but the text move is enough for the half point.}) 67... Kxh4 68. Kb2 Kg3 69. Kc3 Kf2 70. Kd2 Bg4 ({ Or} 70... Bd7 71. Nc2 g5 72. Ne3) 71. Nc2 g5 72. Ne3 Be2 73. Nd5 Bg4 74. Nf6 Bf5 75. Kd1 1/2-1/2 [Event "Tbilisi GEO"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.25"] [Round "7.3"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A13"] [WhiteElo "2802"] [BlackElo "2771"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "61"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 {Ding played his beloved Catalan yesterday and now it is Aronian to show his version of the things - the Reti way.} d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Bd7 6. Qxc4 c5 7. Ne5 Qc8 8. Qd3 Nc6 9. Nxd7 Nxd7 ({The other capture is also playable} 9... Qxd7 10. Qxd7+ Kxd7 11. Nc3 Be7 12. b3 Rac8 13. Bb2 Rhd8 14. e3 Ke8 15. Ke2 b6 {although White can claim a slight advantage thanks to his bishop pair, Yu,Y (2744)-Wang,Y (2699) Huocheng County 2017}) 10. Qb3 $146 {A seemingly harmless novelty.} ({Grischuk managed to outplay Wojtaszek after} 10. Qb5 Nde5 11. f4 a6 12. Qa4 Nd7 13. Bxc6 bxc6 14. Na3 Nb6 15. Qe4 {Grischuk, A (2737)-Wojtaszek,R (2749) Doha 2016. Apparently both sides prepared this line heavily.}) 10... Be7 {Ding's play is very simple: finish the development, use the half-open d-file and the d4-outpost for his knight.} 11. Nc3 O-O 12. O-O Rd8 13. d3 {If the game opens somehow Aronian may try to use his bishop pair. But this never happens in the game.} Nb6 14. Be3 (14. Rd1 $4 {with the idea to prepare e2-e3 would not be nice after} Nd4) 14... Nd4 15. Bxd4 {White would love to keep the bishop alive, but the knigth is too great to stay in the center.} ({After} 15. Qd1 Qd7 {followed by Ra8-c8 Black is doing great.}) 15... Rxd4 16. Rfc1 {Aronian tries to make use of the half-open c-file.} ({Or} 16. Rfd1 Qd7 {with equality.}) 16... Rd7 17. a4 {Attacking the only piece that is a bit exposed from Black's position. The pawn wants to run all the way to b7.} Qd8 18. a5 Nd5 {Now the other black knight is great.} 19. Nxd5 {For a moment at least.} exd5 20. d4 cxd4 21. Rc2 {The light-squared bishops are harbingers of the draw. Further exchanges lead the game towards the logical outcome.} g6 22. Bh3 Rc7 23. Rac1 Rxc2 24. Rxc2 b6 ({There is no need to complicate things with} 24... Qxa5 25. Qxb7 Re8 26. Rc7 d3 $1 27. exd3 Bc5 { which is also equal after say} 28. Bf1 (28. Rxf7 {is more exciting (and risky for White) after} Qe1+ 29. Bf1 Re7) 28... Rf8 29. b4 Qxb4 30. Qxb4 Bxb4 31. Rxa7) 25. Bg2 Rc8 {Returns the pawn but achieves the desired material balance.} 26. Rxc8 Qxc8 27. Bxd5 Qf5 28. Qc4 bxa5 29. b3 d3 {To free the bishop.} 30. exd3 Bd8 31. Qe4 {None of the sides can make real progress.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "FIDE World Cup 2017"] [Site "Tbilisi GEO"] [Date "2017.09.26"] [Round "7.4"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D39"] [WhiteElo "2771"] [BlackElo "2802"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "103"] [EventDate "2017.09.03"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 {No Catalan today.} Bb4 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 h6 {This came as a surprise for Ding Liren. It's not clear why, because Aronian had played like this before (see below).} 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8. Bxc4 c5 9. O-O O-O 10. e5 Qd8 11. Ne4 cxd4 12. Qe2 Bd7 ({The other way to play it is the daring} 12... Be7 13. Rad1 Qc7 14. Ng3 Rd8 15. Nh5 g6 {as in Moiseenko,A (2671) -Meier,G (2644) Jerusalem 2017}) 13. Rfd1 Nc6 14. Ng3 $146 {This novelty was most likely not home-brewed.} ({The above-mentioned earlier game of Aronian went:} 14. a3 Be7 15. b4 Qb8 {and only then} 16. Ng3 b5 17. Bxb5 Nxe5 18. Bxd7 Nxd7 19. Nxd4 Ne5 {and in a marathon hundred move game Black held, Grischuk,A (2736)-Aronian, L (2781) Linares 2010}) 14... Bc5 15. a3 ({It turns out that it is not that easy to restore the material balance:} 15. Ne4 Be7 (15... Bb6) 16. Nxd4 Nxe5) 15... Ne7 $1 {A nice regroupment. The light-squared bishop gets ready to occupy the long diagonal and the knight will find work on the kingside. Ding assessed his position correctly: "I was worse after the opening. "} 16. Ne4 Bb6 17. Nxd4 {Ding took the pawn back, but now the e5 one has problems.} ({Black is also taking over the initiative in case of} 17. Nd6 Ng6 18. Nxb7 Qe7 19. Nxd4 Ba4 20. b3 Qxb7 21. bxa4 Rad8) 17... Ng6 18. Qh5 ({Black is doing great after} 18. Nf3 Qc7 19. Nd6 Bc6) 18... Qh4 $1 {Missed by the Chinese GM. "Immediately after I played Qh5 I saw he could play Qh4." Now that the queens are gone, White cannot save the pawn.} 19. Qxh4 Nxh4 20. a4 $5 { Generating counterplay on the queenside.} (20. f4 $4 Nf5 {does not require a comment.}) ({In the line} 20. Nd6 Ng6 21. Nxb7 Nxe5 {White is also forced to part with a pawn after} 22. Be2 Rab8 23. Nd6 Ba4 24. b3 Bxd4 25. Rxd4 Bxb3) ({ But perhaps it was easier to the defend with opposite-colored bishops after} 20. Bb5 Bxd4 21. Bxd7 Bxe5 22. Rd2) 20... Ng6 21. a5 ({In the brief post-mortem Aronian suggested} 21. Bb5 {instead, although Black is also a healthy pawn ahead after} Bxb5 22. Nxb5 Nxe5 23. a5 Bd8) 21... Bxd4 22. Rxd4 Bc6 23. b4 ({Or} 23. f4 Nxf4 24. Nd6 Ng6 {and the problems with the e5-pawn remain.}) 23... Nxe5 24. b5 Bxe4 25. Rxe4 Nd7 {Summing up: Aronian is a hefty pawn up, but Ding has the better light piece and good drawing chances. It was for a reason that Capablanca called the advantage of the bishop versus the knight in the endgame a "small exchange."} 26. Rd4 Nc5 27. Rad1 Rfc8 28. h4 $1 {Seizing more space on the kingside. White would trade any pawn he can reach.} Kf8 29. h5 Ke7 30. Rg4 {Another use of the h-pawn advance. White keeps the opponent's pieces busy.} Rg8 31. Be2 {The bishop is also getting on the ideal square. Did I already mention that there was no Catalan today?} b6 32. Bf3 Rac8 {White's excellent strategy is backed up by tactics.} ({Ding was hoping for the following fantastic line:} 32... Rad8 33. Ra1 Nb3 34. axb6 $3 Nxa1 35. bxa7 {"and I have compensation" (Ding). White might be in fact better already. For example:} Nb3 36. b6 Nd2 37. Be2 $1 Ra8 38. Rd4 Nb3 39. Rc4 Na5 40. Rc5 Nb3 41. Rc7+ Kd6 42. Bf3 {Two pawns on the sixth rank are monsters!}) 33. axb6 axb6 34. Ra1 {Once that White got an open line for his rooks, things got better.} Rc7 35. Bc6 f5 {Finally some motion on the kingside.} ({But it seems as Aronian could have done better had he had gone for} 35... Nd3 {with the intention to trade the light pieces at once. For example} 36. Ra6 Ne5 37. Re4 Nxc6 38. bxc6 Rb8 $1 {with good winning chances.} ({Less good is} 38... Rxc6 39. Ra7+ Kd6 40. Rxf7)) 36. Rg3 Kf7 {The g8 rook is set free, but White has many targets to attack.} 37. Rd1 Ra7 38. Rg6 Ra3 39. g4 $1 {Pawn trades and again trades!} fxg4 40. Rxg4 (40. Rd4 Ra4 {would be less convincing according to Ding.}) 40... Rh3 41. Be4 $1 {Once that this move was made the Chinese GM could finally breath freely.} Nxe4 ({Or else the white pieces will become too dangerous:} 41... Rb3 42. Bg6+ Ke7 ({Or} 42... Kf6 43. Rf4+ Kg5 44. Rf7 Rxb5 45. Kg2 {and suddenly the black king feels the tension.}) 43. Bh7 {regaining one of the pawns and keeping the good position for the pieces.}) 42. Rxe4 Rxh5 43. Rd7+ {The rook endgame is drawish.} Kf6 44. Rd6 Re5 ({Or} 44... Rxb5 45. Rexe6+ Kf5 46. Rxb6 Rxb6 47. Rxb6 {which is also a draw, although Black can keep on torturing the opponent.}) 45. Rxe5 Kxe5 46. Rxb6 g5 47. Rb7 h5 48. b6 h4 49. Rf7 Rd8 50. b7 Rd1+ 51. Kg2 Rb1 52. f3 {An exciting tiebreak ahead!} 1/2-1/2