Author Archives: Yelena Dembo

Moscow Open 2011 Round-robin event of young female grandmasters (under 26)

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This very strong female event is under way in Moscow. Three players – Zhao Xue, Monguntuul and Gunina lead the event with 3 out of 4.

Here are the results round by round

Round 1
1 Fominykh, Maria 0 – 1 Zhao, Xue
2 Girya, Olga 1 – 0 Kashlinskaya, Alina
3 Kosteniuk, Alexandra 1 – 0 Ambartsumova, Karina
4 Gunina, Valentina 0 – 1 Munguntuul, Batkhuyag
5 Galojan, Lilit 0.5 – 0.5 Zawadzka, Jolanta

Round 2
1 Zhao, Xue 0.5 – 0.5 Zawadzka, Jolanta
2 Munguntuul, Batkhuyag 1 – 0 Galojan, Lilit
3 Ambartsumova, Karina 0 – 1 Gunina, Valentina
4 Kashlinskaya, Alina 1 – 0 Kosteniuk, Alexandra
5 Fominykh, Maria 0.5 – 0.5 Girya, Olga

Round 3
1 Girya, Olga 0.5 – 0.5 Zhao, Xue
2 Kosteniuk, Alexandra 1 – 0 Fominykh, Maria
3 Gunina, Valentina 1 – 0 Kashlinskaya, Alina
4 Galojan, Lilit 1 – 0 Ambartsumova, Karina
5 Zawadzka, Jolanta 0 – 1 Munguntuul, Batkhuyag

Round 4
1 Zhao, Xue 1 – 0 Munguntuul, Batkhuyag
2 Ambartsumova, Karina 1 – 0 Zawadzka, Jolanta
3 Kashlinskaya, Alina 0,5 – 0,5 Galojan, Lilit
4 Fominykh, Maria 0 – 1 Gunina, Valentina
5 Girya, Olga 0,5 – 0,5 Kosteniuk, Alexandra

And a selection of photos from the event’s website

And two interviews, taken from the main website of the event

Alina Kashlinskaya, 17 years old Moscow citizen, made a little sensation in the second round – defeated former world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk.
– I was not so lucky in the opening. I was waiting for Nemtsovich Defense but prepared another option and didn’t remember at all what did my competitor play. In the opening I spent a lot of time, gained a better position. The some pawn structure emerged and neither of us wanted to change it. I was always trying to attack but closer to time trouble I realized she recaptured the initiative. It resolved in time trouble – such a complicated position, lack of time to count something. Sasha made a mistake on 29th move – after moving bishop to h6 position was bad.
– What did you feel about playing with former world champion?
– I just wanted to play good. Before the game it was pleasant – to play against former world champion. Then we sat at the desk and all thoughts went away. When there is a position on the desk – no matter who’s in front of you – Kasparov or beginner.
– Is this your first duel?
– In a Tournament with classical control – yes. Before that we used to play in training camp before Olympics – but speed-chess in pairs.

Batkhuyag «MUNGUNTUUL: IT WAS TIGHT FIGHT IN EACH GAME»
Batkhuyag Munguntuul – leader of the robin tournament for young grandmasters, she graduated from Russian State Social University and now she is the strongest chess player of Mongolia. Batkhuyag got 100 percent result after another victory in the third round of the tournament.

– Jolanta usually plays the same opening, so I haven’t got any problems with training for the game, – told Munguntuul after her todays match versus Poland Jolanta Zawadzka. – After the opening she has sacrificed quality for the initiative. In several moves I offered it back, but in that case she will lose pawn and will be in worse endgame. Jolanta tried to attack, but she hasn’t got any compensation for the material. And at the end she blundered the bishop.

– Batkhuyag at this moment you doesn’t lost any game on the tournament – were these games for you?
– I can’t tell that this was easy. It was a tight fight in the each game and in the first two rounds.

– You just graduated from RSSU; do you feel any special support?
– Of cause I do, I studied here for 5 years. But I wasn’t in Moscow for a long time. I have arrived to the tournament a little bit earlier – went for a walk, met with my friends.

– Do you want to return and to continue your education?
– I think no. I already left and if I’d like to continue education – I should stay at once.

The official website – http://open.moschess.ru/eng/

2011 Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival – Masters round 8

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Ivanchuk won a very good game vs Roiz, but Black should have continued the game as his resignation looked quite premature. Melia had a winning position against Fridman but missed a win and drew. Ivanchuk is leading the event with 7 out of 8.

A selection of Round 8 photos

Results of top 10 board – round 8

1 GM Ivanchuk Vassily 6 1 – 0 5½ GM Roiz Michael
2 GM Gopal Geetha Narayanan 5½ 0 – 1 5½ GM Short Nigel D
3 1GM Fridman Daniel 5½ ½ – ½ 5½ IM Melia Salome
4 GM Mikhalevski Victor 5½ 1 – 0 5 GM Onischuk Alexander
5 GM Ikonnikov Vyacheslav 5 ½ – ½ 5 GM Adams Michael
6 GM Caruana Fabiano 5 1 – 0 5 GM Rapport Richard
7 GM Bologan Viktor 5 1 – 0 5 GM Fier Alexandr
8 GM Sasikiran Krishnan 5 ½ – ½ 5 GM Sengupta Deep
9 GM Nisipeanu Liviu-Dieter 5 ½ – ½ 5 GM Speelman Jon S
10 GM Kulaots Kaido 5 ½ – ½ 5 GM Georgiev Kiril

Top 10 boards – round 9 pairings

1 GM Caruana Fabiano 6 – 7 GM Ivanchuk Vassily
2 GM Short Nigel D 6½ – 6½ GM Mikhalevski Victor
3 GM Erdos Viktor 6 – 6 GM Bologan Viktor
4 IM Melia Salome 6 – 6 GM Harikrishna Pentala
5 GM Fridman Daniel 6 – 5½ GM Sasikiran Krishnan
6 GM Adams Michael 5½ – 5½ GM Lemos Damian
7 GM Lafuente Pablo 5½ – 5½ GM Nisipeanu Liviu-Dieter
8 GM Georgiev Kiril 5½ – 5½ IM Kosintseva Nadezhda
9 GM Roiz Michael 5½ – 5½ GM Le Roux Jean-Pierre
10 GM Edouard Romain 5½ – 5½ GM Robson Ray

Official website – http://www.gibraltarchesscongress.com/gib2011/index.html

2011 Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival – Masters round 7

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It was a tough day for the white pieces in top 10 yesterday as seven games out of 10 were drawn. Melia won a nice game vs Kacheishvili and so did Roiz vs N.Kosintseva. Paul Szuper of USA, who started the event being rated 128th, has played wonderful chess so far and has 5 out of 7. Ivanchuk is a sole leader with 6 points.

Here is a selection of photos from round 7:

Top 10 results from round 7:

1 GM Mikhalevski Victor 5 ½ – ½ 5½ GM Ivanchuk Vassily
2 GM Short Nigel D 5 ½ – ½ 5 GM Fridman Daniel
3 GM Adams Michael 4½ ½ – ½ 4½ GM Kulaots Kaido
4 GM Fier Alexandr 4½ ½ – ½ 4½ GM Caruana Fabiano
5 GM Sengupta Deep 4½ ½ – ½ 4½ GM Nisipeanu Liviu-Dieter
6 GM Roiz Michael 4½ 1 – 0 4½ IM Kosintseva Nadezhda
7 GM Edouard Romain 4½ ½ – ½ 4½ IM Bellaiche Anthony
8 GM Gopal Geetha Narayanan 4½ 1 – 0 4½ GM Dzagnidze Nana
9 IM Melia Salome 4½ 1 – 0 4½ GM Kacheishvili Giorgi
10 Szuper Paul 4½ ½ – ½ 4½ GM Ikonnikov Vyacheslav

Standings after round 7:

1 GM Ivanchuk Vassily UKR 2764 6.0 2880
2 GM Short Nigel D ENG 2658 5.5 2802
3 GM Fridman Daniel GER 2655 5.5 2794
4 GM Roiz Michael ISR 2649 5.5 2745
5 GM Gopal Geetha Narayanan IND 2597 5.5 2715
6 GM Mikhalevski Victor ISR 2579 5.5 2638
7 IM Melia Salome GEO 2449 5.5 2600
8 GM Sengupta Deep IND 2530 5.0 2739
9 GM Rapport Richard HUN 2531 5.0 2723
10 GM Adams Michael ENG 2723 5.0 2710
11 GM Kulaots Kaido EST 2577 5.0 2708
12 GM Sasikiran Krishnan IND 2690 5.0 2694
13 GM Harikrishna Pentala IND 2667 5.0 2654
14 GM Caruana Fabiano ITA 2721 5.0 2653
15 GM Bologan Viktor MDA 2693 5.0 2630
16 GM Georgiev Kiril BUL 2669 5.0 2623
17 GM Onischuk Alexander USA 2689 5.0 2614
18 GM Nisipeanu Liviu-Dieter ROU 2678 5.0 2613
19 GM Erdos Viktor HUN 2593 5.0 2593
20 GM Edouard Romain FRA 2634 5.0 2563
21 GM Speelman Jon S ENG 2524 5.0 2562
22 IM Fernandez Romero Ernesto ESP 2453 5.0 2555
23 IM Bellaiche Anthony FRA 2458 5.0 2553
24 GM Ikonnikov Vyacheslav RUS 2580 5.0 2551
25 IM Nezad Husein Aziz QAT 2420 5.0 2531
26 GM Iordachescu Viorel MDA 2634 5.0 2503
27 GM Fier Alexandr BRA 2571 5.0 2491
28 Szuper Paul USA 2174 5.0 2457

Top 10 pairings – round 8

1 GM Ivanchuk Vassily 6 – 5½ GM Roiz Michael
2 GM Gopal Geetha Narayanan 5½ – 5½ GM Short Nigel D
3 GM Fridman Daniel 5½ – 5½ IM Melia Salome
4 GM Mikhalevski Victor 5½- 5 GM Onischuk Alexander
5 GM Ikonnikov Vyacheslav 5 – 5 GM Adams Michael
6 GM Caruana Fabiano 5 – 5 GM Rapport Richard
7 GM Bologan Viktor 5 – 5 GM Fier Alexandr
8 GM Sasikiran Krishnan 5 – 5 GM Sengupta Deep
9 GM Nisipeanu Liviu-Dieter 5 – 5 GM Speelman Jon S
10 GM Kulaots Kaido 5 – 5 GM Georgiev Kiril

Official website – http://www.gibraltarchesscongress.com/gib2011/index.html

2011 Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival – Masters round 6

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Ivanchuk won a very nice game yesterday against Short while Dzagnidze created a brilliancy against Vallejo Pons. Another very good game was between Akobian and Mikhalevsky. Check out the live games at http://www.gibraltarchesscongress.com/gib2011/livegame.html .

Here are the results of yesterday round’s top boards:

1 GM Ivanchuk Vassily 4½ 1 – 0 5 GM Short Nigel D
2 GM Fridman Daniel 4½ ½ – ½ 4 GM Adams Michael
3 GM Ikonnikov Vyacheslav 4 ½ – ½ 4 GM Roiz Michael
4 GM Akobian Varuzhan 4 0 – 1 4 GM Mikhalevski Victor
5 IM Kosintseva Nadezhda 4 ½ – ½ 4 GM Gopal Geetha Narayanan
6 GM Kacheishvili Giorgi 4 ½ – ½ 4 GM Sengupta Deep
7 GM Caruana Fabiano 3½ 1 – 0 3½ GM Lafuente Pablo
8 GM Dzagnidze Nana 3½ 1 – 0 3½ GM Vallejo Pons Francisco
9 GM Bologan Viktor 3½ ½ – ½ 3½ GM Rapport Richard
10 GM Sasikiran Krishnan 3½ ½ – ½ 3½ GM Korchnoi Viktor

And the top pairings of today:

1 GM Mikhalevski Victor 5 5½ GM Ivanchuk Vassily
2 GM Short Nigel D 5 5 GM Fridman Daniel
3 GM Adams Michael 4½ 4½ GM Kulaots Kaido
4 GM Fier Alexandr 4½ 4½ GM Caruana Fabiano
5 GM Sengupta Deep 4½ 4½ GM Nisipeanu Liviu-Dieter
6 GM Roiz Michael 4½ 4½ IM Kosintseva Nadezhda
7 GM Edouard Romain 4½ 4½ IM Bellaiche Anthony
8 GM Gopal Geetha Narayanan 4½ 4½ GM Dzagnidze Nana
9 IM Melia Salome 4½ 4½ GM Kacheishvili Giorgi
10 Szuper Paul 4½ 4½ GM Ikonnikov Vyacheslav

And a selection of photos from 6th round:

73rd Tata Steel Chess Tournament – final standings

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This very exciting tournament has finished! We can surely say that Nakamura was the hero of the A group while Anand, Carlsen and Kramnik were surely disapointed. McShane had a wonderful tournament which is a continuation of London Classic. Vocaturo won the C group and won the right to compete in the B group next year!

The final standings of A group:

1. H. Nakamura 9
2. V. Anand 8½
3-4. L. Aronian, M. Carlsen 8
5-6. V. Kramnik, M. Vachier-Lagrave 7½
7-8. A. Giri, R. Ponomariov 6½
9-10. I. Nepomniachtchi, Wang Hao 6
11-13. A. Grischuk, E. l’Ami, J. Smeets 4½
14. A. Shirov 4

Final standings in the B group:

1-2. L. McShane, D. Navara 8½
3. Z. Efimenko 8
4-6. L. Liem, G. Sargissian, W. So 7½
7. V. Tkachiev 7
8. R. Wojtaszek 6½
9-10. L. Fressinet, Li Chao 6
11. S. Ganguly 5½
12. W. Spoelman 5
13. J. Hammer 4
14. F. Nijboer 3½

Final standings of the C Group:

1. D. Vocaturo 9
2. I. Nyzhnyk 8½
3. K. Lahno 8
4-6. M. Bluvshtein, I. Ivanisevic, D. Swiercz 7½
7. M. Kazhgaleyev 7
8-8. B. Bok, T. Sachdev 6½
10. S. Siebrecht 5½
11. M. van der Werf 5
12. R. van Kampen 4½
13-14. J.W. de Jong, R. Pruijssers 4

My congratulations to the winners!