chessbase india logo

FIDE Moscow GP: Giri, Mamedyarov, Aronian and Karjakin get eliminated

by Dylan Loeb McClain - 19/05/2019

At the conclusion of round 1.1 in FIDE Grand Prix 2019 Moscow, three players were on the brink of elimination. They are Mamedyarov, Aronian and So. They were in a must win situation to head for Playoffs. Two of them could not surive - Mamedyarov and Aronian. Both of them lost their round 1.2 game which caused elimination. However So bounced back and defeated Duda to head for Playoffs. Dubov played an impressive attacking game to knock Giri out of the tournament. Aronian got eliminated by Nepo after the former blundered a pawn in the opening. Vitiugov and Jakovenko failed to score in a must-score game to get eliminated from the tournament. Photo: World Chess

Six Players Advance at Grand Prix; Four Head to Playoffs

The second day of the first leg of the FIDE Grand Prix Series organized by World Chess produced five decisive results, including a spectacular win by Daniil Dubov over Anish Giri, the tournament’s top seed. All told, six players, including Dubov, advanced to the second round of the tournament.

 

Four other players will face off on Sunday in a series of tie-breaker games to determine who else will move on.

Aronian signs an autograph for a fan| Photo: World Chess

Svidler and So arrives in a BMW VIP Shuttle as BMW is the transport partner of the event | Photo: World Chess

Three of them were on the brink of elimination as they were in a must-win situation. Mamedyarov and Aronian were held to a draw by Wojtaszek and Nepomniachtchi respectivel and they got knocked out. Only So managed to bounced back by defeating Duda to head for Playoffs. Giri, Karjakin, Vitiugov, Jakovenko lost their respective games and got eliminated.

Results after day 2

Giri could not have fathomed that Dubov will play such an inspired chess | Photo: World Chess  

The game of the day, and perhaps of the tournament, though it is obviously still early, was Dubov’s win over Giri. Dubov, who is Russian, had White and essayed a slightly offbeat line of the Queen’s Gambit with 4 Bg5 instead of the more common 4 Nc3. Giri, who is Dutch, replied in what is generally considered the most appropriate way – by taking the White pawn on c4.

Daniil Dubov vs Anish Giri, Round 1.2

Giri replied with 4...dxc4 to Dubov's 4.Bg5

The game transposed to a position that resembled the Botvinnik Variation of the Semi-Slav Defense, which is among the sharpest openings in chess. Dubov, who was obviously better prepared than Giri as he took little time in the opening, played the unusual 10. Bxf6 instead of the more common 10 Bh4. The idea was that after 11. exf6, Giri faced a rather unpleasant choice of taking the pawn on f6, and leaving his queen a bit offside, or allowing the White pawn to continue to sit at f6. Giri chose the second option and the pawn eventually became a huge thorn in his side.

Giri was left with an unpleasant choice after 11.exf6

The game became sharper and sharper, with Giri lagging behind in development. Dubov’s decision to castle long on move 19 looked almost like a joke – his king was castling where it had no pawn cover, while all of White’s pawns on the kingside, the more standard resting place of the king, remained on their original squares. But Giri’s queen blocked the diagonal that would have allowed Dubov to castle on the kingside, and castling on the queenside immediately threatened mate on d8.

The reigning World Rapid Champion Daniil Dubov made dastardly move 19.0-0-0

Though logical, Dubov’s follow-up, 20 Nb5 was also spectacular. The knight was taboo and the move allowed Dubov to cover the squares that Giri would normally have to deliver check. Later, in the commentator’s studio Dubov explained, “Nb5 looks completely natural but it is a complete mess.”

The natural move in a messy position

Giri found the best defensive moves until Dubov played 22 Kb1, another counterintuitive move. Dubov said later that he was trying to find the best spot for his king and to “stabilize” the position.

King's safety is very important during an attack

Giri immediately blundered (computer engines said that 22 … Bc5 was his best bet) and his position began to rapidly deteriorate. He was also in time pressure, having used up most of his time earlier in the game.

After Dubov’s king found refuge on f3 (!), he was firmly in control. Giri resigned after 36 … Kh8 because 37 Nf7 would have rapidly delivered mate.

In the studio, Dubov said of the game, “In general, I probably just played well, but it is hard to believe.”

Giri and Dubov talk about the game | Video: World Chess

That was far from the only interesting game of the day.

So won a must-win game against Duda | Photo: World Chess

Wesley So of the United States faced a must-win against Jan-Krzysztof Duda of Poland as Duda had won their first game on Friday. So had White and opened with 1 e4. Duda, to his credit, or perhaps because of his youth (he is 21) and, therefore, relative inexperience, replied with the Sicilian Defense, the most dynamic response. He then steered the game into the Dragon Variation, which is particularly double-edged.

 

The game followed a well-known but very complex path until Duda sacrificed an exchange (rook for knight) to break up the pawns covering So’s king protection on the queenside. Though the sacrifice is thought to be sound, So demonstrated cool under pressure and slowly built up his position, threatening to exchange pieces and go into an endgame with a material advantage.

 

Wesley So vs Jan Krzysztof Duda, Round 1.2

Duda played 15...b4 and sacrificed an exchange

In a complicated position, So found the best moves and eventually emerged in an endgame a pawn up, which was passed on the a file. Duda began to err and though So made some mistakes, the result was not really in doubt. Duda finally resigned, sending their match into playoff on Sunday.

So played 29.Nc6 to gain the a7-pawn which eventually helped White to win
Interview with So and Duda after the game | Video: World Chess

Wei Yi defeated Dmitry Jakovenko and advanced to the Quarter-finals | Photo: World Chess

The game, and the match, between Dmitry Jakovenko of Russia and Wei Yi of China ended in Wei’s favor when it looked for much of the day that Jakovenko would prevail. Jakovenko, who had White, opened with 1 e4 and Wei replied with 1… e5. The game entered the Ruy Lopez and Jakovenko chose the relatively quiet move 5 d3.

Dmitry Jakovenko - Wei Yi, Round 1.2

Jakovenko wen with 5.d3 in Ruy Lopez

Wei delayed castling and then, after Jakovenko had pinned his knight on f6 with his dark-squared bishop, lashed out with h6 and then g5. While it gained space on the kingside, it left his king with no good place to seek shelter.

Black pronounced an attack on the kingside with 13...g5

Jakovenko responded energetically by opening the center with 15 d4 and 16 e5. He soon had a clear advantage and Wei, who was also facing time pressure, had to eventually give up an exchange with 22 … c5. 

Jakovenko was not going to be a spectator in his own game, so he opted for 16.e5

Just as it seemed that Jakovenko would be moving on, he began to err. Wei’s pieces soon took up active posts in the center and Jakovenko was on the ropes. After 33 … Kg6, Wei threatened to chase Jakovenko’s queen away from defending g2 (and stopping mate) by playing f5. The only way to stop it was for Jakovenko to give up his bishop. He promptly resigned. In an interview afterward, Wei said, “I think that I was so lucky because my position was so dangerous.”

Interview with Wei Yi after his win over Dmitry Jakovenko

Svidler won against his friend Vitiugov after drawing his round 1.1 game | Photo: World Chess

Another player to advance on Saturday was Peter Svidler of Russia who beat his compatriot and friend, Nikita Vitiugov. Svidler, who had White, gained a pawn out of the opening of an Open Ruy Lopez and managed to hang on to it as the game headed toward the endgame. Vitiugov never generated much counterplay and Svidler eventually won a second pawn, sealing the victory.

Afterward, Svidler said that he was not entirely familiar with the opening but believed that he had managed to play the most critical line.

Both Vitiugov and Svidler speak about the game after the latter defeated the former and eliminated him | Video: World Chess

Grischuk got the better of Karjakin and advanced to the Quarter-finals | Photo: World Chess

Alexander Grischuk of Russia beat Sergey Karjakin, another compatriot and friend, in their game on Saturday, putting him through to the second round after their first game had ended in a draw. Game 2 was a slow grind, with Grischuk, who had White, always having a slight but clear edge. Karjakin, who is known for his defensive skills, was never quite able to equalize and eventually blundered into a mating net.

Wojtaszek only needed a draw against Mamedyarov and he managed to achieve that to eliminate Shakh | Photo: World Chess

Just like Wojtaszek, Nepo also needed a draw against Aronian to advance to the Quarter-finals and he managed to do that | Photo: World Chess

Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia also only had to draw his game against Levon Aronian of Armenia after beating him in Game 1 on Friday. Though Aronian tried to muddy things in Game 2, he took a lot of time on his clock, got into time pressure and also lost a pawn. At the end, they agreed to a draw in which Nepomniachtchi was, if anything, slightly better.

Radjabov-Nakamura made a quick draw and they will play Playoff | Photo: World Chess

In addition to So and Duda, Hikaru Nakamura of the United States and Teimour Radjabov of Azerbijan will also have a playoff on Sunday as their second game, like their first, was a short draw. Indeed, the game ended after just over an hour and only 14 moves. Nakamura said in the interview afterwards that Radjabov, who had Black, surprised him by playing a line he normally does not play and he could find no advantage so he proposed a draw. He said, “Why waste a few more hours when it is going to be a draw anyway?”

Radjabov and Nakamura talk about their chances in the tie-breakers | Video: World Chess

The tie-breakers are two rapid games and, if there is no clear winner, 10+10 games and, if there is still a tie, the blitz games followed, if necessary, by an Armageddon game (Black has less time, but is declared the winner even if the game ends in a draw).

 

Tie-break Rapid of the will be played on Sunday at 3 p.m. local time, 5.30 p.m. IST. The broadcast can be viewed free and live at worldchess.com. One way or another, two of the four players – So or Duda and Nakamura or Radjabov – will advance on Sunday. 

Live games begin at 5.30 p.m. IST

The principal sponsors of the series are PhosAgro, a giant Russian fertilizer company, and Kaspersky Lab, a worldwide leader in data security. The series is being organized and broadcast by Worldchess on its Web site under the auspices of FIDE.

About the author:

Dylan Loeb McClain is an author for the World Chess website. Formerly, he was a staff editor and chess columnist for The New York Times.


Related news:
फीडे महिला ग्रां प्री - अब हरिका के पास है अंतिम मौका

@ 29/02/2020 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
What happens when a super GM thinks for 35 minutes?

@ 19/12/2019 by Sagar Shah (en)
मोनाको ग्रां प्री:हम्पी उपविजेता,कोस्टिनीयुक को खिताब

@ 15/12/2019 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
मोनाको ग्रां प्री - हम्पी के पास आखिरी मौका !

@ 14/12/2019 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
मोनाको ग्रां प्री - हम्पी - हरिका के बीच मुक़ाबला ड्रॉ

@ 12/12/2019 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
मोनाको ग्रां प्री - हरिका की लगातार दूसरी जीत

@ 09/12/2019 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
मोनाको ग्रां प्री - जीत के साथ हरिका की वापसी

@ 08/12/2019 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
मोनाको ग्रां प्री - हम्पी का अच्छा बचाव ,बढ़त बरकरार

@ 07/12/2019 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
मोनाको ग्रां प्री - कोनेरु हम्पी विश्व नंबर 2 बनने के करीब

@ 06/12/2019 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
मोनाको ग्रां प्री - हारी बाजी जीतकर की हम्पी नें शुरुआत

@ 04/12/2019 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
मोनको फीडे ग्रां प्री - हम्पी और हरिका पर होगी नजर

@ 28/11/2019 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
विश्व शतरंज में हम्पी की वापसी - जीता फीडे ग्रांड प्रिक्स खिताब

@ 23/09/2019 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
Humpy wins Skolkovo FIDE Women's Grand Prix 2019

@ 23/09/2019 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
कोनेरु हम्पी फीडे वुमेन ग्रांड प्रिक्स खिताब के करीब

@ 21/09/2019 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
Humpy takes sole lead in Skolkovo FIDE Women's Grand Prix

@ 20/09/2019 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Humpy is now World no.3

@ 19/09/2019 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Humpy and Harika make a solid start at Skolkovo FIDE Women's Grand Prix

@ 15/09/2019 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
फीडे वुमेन ग्रांड प्रिक्स 2019 - हम्पी -हरिका नें खेला ड्रॉ

@ 12/09/2019 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
रिगा फीडे ग्रैंडप्रिक्स - मेक्सिम लाग्रेव पहुंचे सेमीफाइनल

@ 17/07/2019 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
फीडे ग्रैंडप्रिक्स R1:G2 - हरिकृष्णा की निगाहें टाईब्रेक पर

@ 14/07/2019 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
Harikrishna survives game one, now has a chance to knockout Wesley So

@ 13/07/2019 by Sagar Shah (en)
फीडे ग्रैंडप्रिक्स R1:G1 - हरिकृष्णा का शानदार बचाव !

@ 13/07/2019 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
नेपोमनियची बने मॉस्को ग्रांड प्रिक्स विजेता

@ 31/05/2019 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
Ian Nepomniachtchi wins Moscow GP

@ 30/05/2019 by Dylan Loeb McClain (en)
Playoff Will Decide Moscow Grand Prix

@ 29/05/2019 by Dylan Loeb McClain (en)
Moscow GP Finals: Grischuk-Nepo Game 1 ends up in a draw

@ 28/05/2019 by Dylan Loeb McClain (en)
Nepomniachtchi is the Second Finalist at Moscow GP

@ 26/05/2019 by Dylan Loeb McClain (en)
मॉस्को फीडे ग्रांड प्रिक्स - नाकामुरा हुए नॉक आउट

@ 25/05/2019 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
FIDE Moscow GP: Grischuk is the first to advance to the finals

@ 25/05/2019 by Dylan Loeb McClain (en)
मॉस्को फीडे ग्रांड प्रिक्स - शुरू हुई सेमीफ़ाइनल की जंग

@ 24/05/2019 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
FIDE Moscow GP: Moscow Semi-finals begin with two nervous, tense draws

@ 24/05/2019 by Dylan Loeb McClain (en)
FIDE Moscow GP: Nakamura, Grischuk and Nepo join Wojtaszek in the semi-finals

@ 23/05/2019 by Dylan Loeb McClain (en)
FIDE Moscow GP: Wojtaszek is the first Semi-finalist

@ 22/05/2019 by Dylan Loeb McClain (en)
मॉस्को फीडे ग्रांड प्रिक्स - दिग्गज हुए बाहर !

@ 21/05/2019 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
FIDE Moscow GP: Quarter-final begins with four draws

@ 20/05/2019 by Dylan Loeb McClain (en)
FIDE Moscow GP Round 1 Playoff: Nakamura and So advance to the Quarter-finals

@ 20/05/2019 by Dylan Loeb McClain (en)
Moscow Grand Prix Round 1.1: The Poles have a great day!

@ 18/05/2019 by Dylan Loeb McClain (en)
Harikrishna is the only Indian in the FIDE Grand Prix series 2019

@ 21/02/2019 by Sagar Shah (en)
फीडे ग्रां प्री में पेंटाला हरिकृष्णा होंगे अकेले भारतीय

@ 20/02/2019 by Niklesh Jain (hi)

Contact Us