FIDE wants to acquire the "Ground Zero"

To be honest, I don't like the idea of having the land of where the twin towers used to be to be occupied by something that is not co-related with the September 11 terrorist attack in New York City. (Oh yeah, let sentimentality hit me this time real hard!) Since it is a landmark, a memorable, historic ground, chess hasn't something to do with 9-11 terrorist attack. So when Chessdom.com first informed us that the land where the twin towers used to stand, I wasn't that much excited even if one day, it becomes a major chess hub.

One thing is for sure though and it just show you how powerful Kirsan Ilyumzhinov is. What the FIDE boss wants, he must get it. And if ever FIDE acquired the land, there is no doubt that it will promote chess around the world to the highest level. But I personally believe that the "Ground Zero" doesn't belong to chess. Build a mosque, a museum, a library or even a park but a chess center is out of this.

FIDE has requested the New York authorities to sell the land of the Twin Towers to create a chess center, announced FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov at a press conference on Thursday.

"We turned to the mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, who is also owner of this land, with a proposal to buy it for $10 million. We are now waiting for an answer and are ready to send our representatives," said Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.

Last week's proposal for "Ground Zero" by Donald Trump is 7,5 million dollars, while earlier a proposal for $100 million dollar Muslim center at 200 meters from the land has also been made. The future name of the FIDE construction is supposed to be "World Chess Center".

Copy of the official letter here

Interview with Segey Karjakin better half, WIM Katya Dolzhikova

Photo from Jermuk FIDE GP


Truth is, elite grandmasters are sometimes notorious for the high rates of broken/troubled marriage. Ivanchuk, Shirov, Kasparov just to name a few. Not because these people are womanizer. Grandmasters rarely are. It's just that high ego that usually associated with elite chess players. But of course we won't wish the same thing will happen with the newly weds, GM Segey Karjakin (19) and WIM Katya Dolzhikova (20). They're an almost perfect match. Sharing the same passions and interest, that is one mark for happy marriage life that could last a lifetime. Anyway, the couple is still in their honeymoon stages so expect some supernatural and cozy things from this interview conducted by that woman on the left, Lilit, from Jermuk FIDE GP to Sergey's better half, WIM Katya Dolzhikova:

- How would you describe Sergey, how is he in real life?
- Sergey is very romantic and full of care. When I am in a trouble, he always encourages me. He is optimist, always has a good mood and I am very happy when I am near him.

- How do you like to spend your spare time?
- We love poetry and often enjoy spending our free time reading classical Russian literature and poetry. For example, we recently read Pushkin’s Evgeny Onegin. Also we love music. I play the piano and guitar, and Sergey is learning to play the guitar as well and soon he will play …
One interesting addition: when we began dating, sometimes Sergey called me on the phone and we would play blind chess. Not surprisingly, those games ended with Sergey’s victory.

- How do you picture your future family? With many children or is one is enough? And would you like your children to be chess players like their parents?
- I would love to have a girl and a boy; I think one is not enough. It would be great if they become chess players, but Sergey doesn’t think so.

Full interview and photos from FIDE GP Jermuk website

FIDE Jermuk Grand Prix: Aronian, Filipinos sentimental favorite?

Are you rooting for Levon Aronian to win the GP? I won't be surprise if Levon Aronian is the sentimental favorite for most Filipino chess fans to win Jermuk. Of course the Barong Tagalog outfit he wore during the final day and awarding ceremony in Mainz Chess Classic endear many Filipino chess fans, not to mention his romantic involvement with half Filipina, WIM Arianne Caoili of Australia.

The coverage of the FIDE Grand Prix, no matter how controversial they may seemed to many, remains superb compare to other chess super tournament. For some reasons that the GP were being covered in plain English. Then there's a game by game commentaries and of course, live games. Sometimes, if allowed, they also provide live web cams inside the playing hall.

You can watch live games HERE. Games usually starts at around 6:00 pm, Manila time. Very convenient time indeed.

Jermuk Grand Prix official website

Aronian wins Nalchik Grand Prix (But look who had the last laugh)

Leko had the last laugh, though

Levon Aronian defeated co-leader of the tournament Peter Leko in the final round to win 2009 Nalchik GP. Going into the 13th round, both players shared the lead with 7.5 points. Leko, on his part need to win his game with Aronian to take home the Nalchik trophy. Hats off nevertheless for Peter. He was notoriously unpopular with fans owing to his high percentage of draws. But in the final game in Nalchik, he goes for it, had his moments to equalized early on but was crushed in the end just the same.


[Event "Nalchik Grand Prix"]
[Date "2009.04.29"]
[Round "13"]
[White "GM Aronian"]
[Black "GM Leko"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E55"]
[White Elo "2754"]
[Black Elo "2751"]

-2009 Nalchik GP official website

Top grandmasters speaking about rapid chess and blitz

The tremendous success of 1st Barley Rapid chess tournament last March in Quezon City proves to be that rapid tournament, is indeed the chess players and chess enthusiast ultimate chess tournament. Haven't I told you that over 600 people (my estimation) came to Gateway Mall each day to see the games? No surprise in that. Fans knew that at the end of each matches, 70% would end in decisive results, I mean with less drawn game. I'm not a big fan of blitz. It's of minor importance. But rapid, with increment, of course, is absolutely wonderful. Imagine seeing three exciting, quality rounds in one day? Oh, such a pleasure to watch. Somebody shake me up. I'm day dreaming again...

Alexander Grischuk: I like rapid chess and blitz very much: it is interesting either to play or to watch. I do not see any problems in creating more championships of this kind. It is a mystery for me why such tournaments are organized less than normal ones.

Pavel Eljanov: Quick chess is interesting due to its dynamics. I think it would be great if there would be organized a rapid chess world championship. It is much more interesting for me to play quick chess. But I think that the blitz is not serious.

Vassily Ivanchuk: Yes, I like blitz tournaments. I also like rapid chess but it does not mean that I don’t like playing classical chess. I welcome both kinds of chess I can’t say that I prefer one specific kind. If a rapid world championship would be organized, I would probably take part in it.

Levon Aronian: Frankly speaking, most of all I like Chess960 (Fischerrandom) chess. I wish there were more 960 tournaments. I think there are enough rapid and blitz tournaments.

Sergey Karjakin: I like quick chess. Opening theory is not of great importance there as it is in classical chess. By the way, I’d like to mention that I consider Vassily Ivanchuk the world blitz champion, because he won the “Tal’s Cup” last year. Almost everyone could be selected for this game, and there is not any sport selection for the so-called world championship. I consider the “Tal’s Cup” the world blitz championship.

Evgeny Alekseev: Classical chess acquired its reputation a long time ago. Blitz and rapid chess are of minor importance, I have to admit.

Peter Leko: It is good that there is a world blitz championship, and it would be much better to have an official world rapid championship too. The three branches should not be mixed; the more time is allowed for the game, the more important the tournament is. But many people are now interested in blitz and in rapid chess.

Boris Gelfand: All the three branches are very interesting and attract the spectators’ attention. And I participate in tournaments of all kinds with great pleasure. It is better to have more tournaments with any kind of control. I think that there should be three fixed branches: rapid, blitz and classical chess. Each of them has its advantages. To mix them is an absolute nonsense and even crime against chess. Classical chess has deeper games, quick chess is more entertaining, and blitz game checks your reaction. And such an outrage as the FIDE time control, when you are given an hour and a half for the whole game, should remain in history and should not be returned to.

Rustam Kasimdzhanov: I like to play both blitz and rapid chess. We, chess players, are always glad to take part in some good contests. Probably, if there were more of such contests, it would be easier to play, because classical games demand not only the game itself but you also have to work hard preparing for and during the tournament. And it is much more relaxed and pleasant when you play rapid chess and blitz.

Players comment from 2009 Nalchik GP website

Nalchik GP: when Chucky gets cocky

This is an interesting game and at the same time quite..funny? What the... this is not the first time that we've seen Ivanchuk, with his caliber, lose his concentration because of OTB ego and lost a game in the process in such a cruel fashion. Please take a moment to replay the game below. Ivanchuk, playing the white pieces was so confident, or cocky I should say, that his king was well shield from the ramming threat of black's queen and rook on the f file that he decided instead to retreat his bishop by 22. Bf1? using the rook at d2 to protect f2 instead of the possible 22.f3 or 22.Rf1 the latter he opted not to choose since it will definitely hurt his ego as he had previously played Rf-d1 and don't want to take back his decisions but then he overlooks black's next move 22...d4, and eventually fell to Rustam Kasimzhanov's final (and beautiful) combination, winning a piece. 26.Qd3 by 26…Rxc2 27.Qxc2 Qxf1+! 28. Rxf1 Rxf1 29. Kxf1 Nxe3

Never try this at home or tournaments folks. Swallow your pride!

2009 Nalchik Grand Prix Live games, webcam

Let me remind you folks that you can actually follow the live games and watch the action live through webcams (you need Java) from Nalchik for free and no registration is required. Don't expect high quality, streaming videos though. The camera appears to be taking shots of the playing hall every one or two seconds. All games starts at around 7:00 pm Manila time. Enjoy!

-Links
-Live webcam
-Live games

Nalchik Grand Prix, one of the strongest tourney this year starts today!

We won't see Teimour Radjabov and Wang Yue in Nalchik. These two supposedly the favorites to win the Grand Prix having garnered the most points thus far, Radjabov with 363,33 is occupying the first place in the standings and Wang Yue with a total of 353,33 is on the second spot. Nalchik GP is the strongest compare to its past three series and one of the strongest this year, boasting 11 out of 14 players with 2700+ and with an average rating of 2725. The winner of the Grand Prix series will play in 2011 in the Candidate event of the World Championship Cycle.

The Players

1 Akopian Vladimir Armenia 2696, 2 Alekseev Evgeny Russia 2716, 3 Aronian Levon Armenia 2754, 4 Bacrot Etienne France 2728, 5 Eljanov Pavel Ukraine 2693, 6 Gelfand Boris Israel 2733, 7 Grischuk Alexander Russia 2748, 8 Ivanchuk Vassily Ukraine 2746, 9 Kamsky Gata USA 2720, 10 Karjakin Sergey Ukraine 2721, 11 Kasimdzhanov Rustam Uzbekistan 2695, 12 Leko Peter Hungary 2751, 13 Mamedyarov Shakhriyar Azerbaijan 2725, 14 Svidler Peter Russia 2726

Back to the country, Day 3 of Philippine Inter-Cities and Municipalities chess team championship saw four team sharing the top spot with 10 points after six round: Tagaytay, Mandaluyong, Muntinlupa, FEU-FERN-QC-Inton, Pasig-Marfori. Alcon John Datu scores the biggest upset thus far in the tournament by beating the 3rd rank player in the country, GM John Paul Gomez.

For complete details of the tournament visit Journal.com.ph

How do you cope with failures?

"I love the winning, I can take the loosing, but most of all I love to play."
-Boris Becker

"I have missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot . . . and missed. And I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why . . . I succeed."
-Michael Jordan

"Wise men never sit and wail their loss, but cheerily seek how to redress their harms."
-William Shakespeare


Anyway it is good to hear what these masters of the game we all love has to say about loosing and failures. Fire on guys, we're all listening. Too bad, Ivanchuk is not competing in the FIDE Grand Prix to hear his thoughts about loosing...too bad.

This is the Question of the Day from Elista FIDE Grand Prix Official website

Vugar GASHIMOV: - Many chess players usually suffer from defeats or overall tournament failures. I think, one should stand defeats philosophically, because it is impossible to win all the time and be among the winners. But on the other hand, if you prepare comprehensively for the competition and aim at struggle, then there will be more successes than failures, or, moreover, you will have no defeats in the tournament. As for me, I easily stand failures, defeats, and I try not to get stuck on it. I consider such an attitude to failures as one of my fortes. I prefer not to think too much and about my victory or draw in the lately played game, and not to revolve in my head some separate moments of it. More...

Teimour RADJABOV: - I also try to treat losses philosophically. Failure is one of the three possible results in the game, and from time to time it happens anyway, no matter what the player wants. But no defeats are alike, there are losses which you feel very bad about and it is very difficult to switch from them. For example, yesterday I lost to Ernesto Inarkiev because of the blunder under the time trouble, though throughout the game I had a clear advantage. I regretted the outcome very much, so I cannot give any advice about the way to overcome such offensive failures, as far as I cannot master my emotions, I feel very bad in such situations. I would prefer to lose the game due to the opponent’s flawless performance, but not to experience such a disappointing loss when you have done everything to win, but a single incomprehensible blunder in the time trouble ruins everything..

Rustam KASIMZHANOV: - A defeat is the most upsetting, I would even say, the ugliest thing for a player, at least, for a professional chess-player. I even think that grandmasters are happy not to face frequent life stresses comparable to a defeat in a significant and important game. After the upsetting loss one needs time to recover not only morally and psychologically but physically as well. It happens this way to me actually. I cannot offer any ready recipe for feeling better after a loss.

Peter LEKO: - Like any sportsman I don’t like losing. This year I held the traditional commercial 8-game match in Miskolc, Hungary. Magnus Carlsen, the 4th in the world ranking, was my opponent this time. Unfortunately I lost the match without a single victory. The game was a utter frustration: I missed a number of opportunities and made awful blunders. Certainly I was very much upset about a defeat and my poor performance. This was, I remind, an unofficial match of no sport importance. I recovered from it only after the victory in the traditional Dortmund Super Tournament.

Evgeny ALEKSEEV: - I try to forget the defeat as fast as possible and concentrate on the coming game. Some times I cannot do it however. Yesterday I lost to Grischuk, for example, today once again I was defeated by Cheparinov. I don’t know how I will overcome this failure but of course I’ll try to compose myself and aim at struggle in the coming game. One should fight until the very end.

Ernesto INARKIEV: - Of course failures occur in my tournament practice. I cannot say anything new on the point: you should toil at the preparation, theory, analyze a lot in order not to lose but to win. The basis of success is nothing else but elaborate and comprehensive theoretical preparation.

Shakhriyar MAMEDYAROV: - Speaking about defeats in the tournament and not just some losses in some games, I should say I am not satisfied with my performance in ten tournaments out of the last eleven I participated in. Still I believe that very soon there will be victories. Such is the life of a professional chess-player.

Ivan CHEPARINOV: - Defeat is an ordinary phenomenon. Everyone can lose a game, and you shouldn’t take failures too close to heart as life goes on. Any defeat can teach us a lesson and not only in chess. You should of course make a comprehensive analysis of the lost game to find the cause, but preferably not in the course of the tournament. You just have no time for this, you got to prepare for the coming game. Yesterday I lost to Eljanov, but today I managed to rally my thoughts and defeated Alekseev.

Etienne BACROT: - Defeats do not put me out that much. Even after a most unpleasant loss I come to the next game as if nothing had happened. You should treat chess as a game but not as a cutthroat battle.

Dmitry JAKOVENKO: - After any failure, whether it is a defeat or an offensive draw, I try not to pay attention to it and am thinking about my coming game. In case I fail my last game … my thoughts switch to the following tournament. It is the only way for me to overcome the unpleasant consequences of sport failures.

Pavel ELJANOV: - Yesterday I played the longest record game in my tournament career. It lasted no less than 7,5 hours! Though it ended with my victory it’s been a stress for me because the resistance was very stiff. After the game I had a sound sleep and got up only at 11 a.m. I haven’t even had lunch before today’s game because I spent the rest of the time preparing for the coming game and analyzing my opponent’s opening variations. I recommend a sound sleep, ideally 10 hours, especially after a defeat to get rid of unpleasant thoughts. During such enduring and tiresome tournaments sound sleep is especially useful. Furthermore this tournament has a strict rule that forbids the players to offer a draw. Many games drag on for long and blunders and disappointing breakdowns take place. After failures you shouldn’t give up, just pull yourself together and recover fully to do your best the next game..

Vladimir AKOPIAN: - Losses and defeats are a part of a professional chess player’s life just like upheavals and victories. Of course I‘d like to have fewer defeats. For me losing a game or an overall tournament failure is not a tragedy. But there are chess-players who are extremely hurt by failures and take it too close to heart. I have on quite a few occasions seen players who were totally down-spirited after a loss. Every sport and every game means defeat for one of the parties. Someone succeeds and someone fails. It’s normal and we have to take it philosophically.

Wang YUE: - Life is life, chess is chess. OK. I lost. So what?

It's just like this: you lost because you win so many games, and you win because you lost so many games, I guess there is really an "in between" situation about winning and loosing for an average sportsman. Whatever that is, is something we have yet to figure out but that is certainly, friends, a very nice feeling.

FIDE Grand Prix Sochi 2008 Final round

The final round of FIDE Sochi will be played tonight at around 7 pm. Manila time. You can see all the LIVE games HERE. Armenian GM Levon Aronian is currently protecting a half a point lead to his closest pursuers, Wang Yue of China, Sergey Karjakin of Ukraine and Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan going into the final round. Pre-tournament favorite, Vasily Ivanchuck is way behind the pack where he is tied with five other players from 7-11th place with 6 points. Crucial match up tonight and it looks like none of the players that is still in the hunt for the title will have an easy prey although the Sergei Karjakin vs. Teimour Radjabov is definitely the match up of the day.

Round 13 pairings:

Aronian Levon - Grischuk Alexander
Karjakin Sergey - Radjabov Teimour
Gashimov Vugar - Svidler Peter
Ivanchuk Vassily - Wang Yue
Navara David - Kamsky Gata
Jakovenko Dmitry - Cheparinov Ivan
Al-Modiahki Mohamad - Gelfand Boris

Rank after round 12
Rank	SNo.		Name	Rtg	FED	Pts	SB.
1	9	GM	Aronian Levon	2737	ARM	7½	41,50
2	6	GM	Wang Yue	2704	CHN	7	41,50
3	10	GM	Karjakin Sergey	2727	UKR	7	39,75
4	4	GM	Radjabov Teimour	2744	AZE	7	37,75
5	14	GM	Kamsky Gata	2723	USA	6½	38,50
6	13	GM	Gashimov Vugar	2717	AZE	6½	36,50
7	8	GM	Ivanchuk Vassily	2781	UKR	6	36,50
8	12	GM	Jakovenko Dmitry	2709	RUS	6	36,25
9	5	GM	Grischuk Alexander	2728	RUS	6	35,75
10	2	GM	Cheparinov Ivan	2687	BUL	6	34,50
11	1	GM	Svidler Peter	2738	RUS	6	34,50
12	3	GM	Gelfand Boris	2720	ISR	5	30,00
13	7	GM	Navara David	2646	CZE	4	24,50
14	11	GM	Al-Modiahki Mohamad	2556	QAT	3½	19,50

- Tournament WebSite

FIDE Grand Prix Sochi Round 8 LIVE tonight!

Round 8 of the FIDE Grand Prix in Sochi will start at around 7 pm. tonight, Manila time. You can see all the LIVE games HERE. Gata Kamsky will face Al-Modiahki and perhaps it is now Gata's turn to pull of a victory against the Qatari? One of the tournament leader Ivan Cheparinov, who lately joined the elite group of GM's with 2700+ Elo points will face the struggling David Navarra of Czech Republic. Against Wang Yue, we will see if Boris Gelfand have already recover emotionaly from the terrible blunder he made in the end game (47. d7?) against Radjabov in round 6. Boris handled the game brilliantly, got a winning position, and then blew it in a few moves. It is obvious that Gelfand stamina for long classical games is no longer that good, I guess.

Official Site

SNo.		Name	Rtg			Name	Rtg	SNo.
14	GM	Kamsky Gata	2723		GM	Al-Modiahki Mohamad	2556	11
12	GM	Jakovenko Dmitry	2709		GM	Karjakin Sergey	2727	10
13	GM	Gashimov Vugar	2717		GM	Aronian Levon	2737	9
1	GM	Svidler Peter	2738		GM	Ivanchuk Vassily	2781	8
2	GM	Cheparinov Ivan	2687		GM	Navara David	2646	7
3	GM	Gelfand Boris	2720		GM	Wang Yue	2704	6
4	GM	Radjabov Teimour	2744		GM	Grischuk Alexander	2728	5

Standings after 7 rounds:

1. Cheparinov, Ivan g BUL 2687 4½
2. Radjabov, Teimour g AZE 2744 4½

3. Gashimov, Vugar g AZE 2717 4
4. Aronian, Levon g ARM 2737 4

5. Kamsky, Gata g USA 2723 3½
6. Wang Yue g CHN 2704 3½
7. Svidler, Peter g RUS 2738 3½
8. Jakovenko, Dmitry g RUS 2709 3½
9. Grischuk, Alexander g RUS 2728 3½
10. Ivanchuk, Vassily g UKR 2781 3½
11. Karjakin, Sergey g UKR 2727 3½

12. Gelfand, Boris g ISR 2720 3

13. Al-Modiahki, Mohamad g QAT 2556 2½

14. Navara, David g CZE 2646 2

Live Games: Sochi Grand Prix

Grand Prix Series Starts today!

FIDE Sochi Grand Prix will start at around 7:00 pm. Manila time. You can see all the LIVE top level chess games HERE. Enjoy!

FIDE Grand Prix - Sochi 2008--second in a series of six tournaments

The second tournament of the FIDE Grand Prix 2008/9 will take place five days from today, 30th July - 15th August in a Russian sea resort - Sochi. Magnus Carlsen, the first series co-winner will be out, that's understandable since he is currently campaigning in 41st Biel Chess Festival of which he is currently sharing the lead with Evgeney Alekseev. Newly crowned 2008 Dortmund king Peter Leko also begged out for the tourney but the seemingly omnipresent and one of my personal chess hero, Vassily Ivanchuk, will again take no chances to scribble the Grand Prix to his long resume of tournaments he take part with. Radjabov, Kamsky, Karjakin and Gelfand are some of the big names who will also see action. The pride of Arab chess, Qatari GM Mohamad Al Modiahki competing in perhaps the biggest tournament he ever join in, is also line up to mix it up with the big guys.

Of course I'm definitely rooting for "big Chucky" here. Though I've got a feeling that Levon Aronian, Sergei Karjakin and Kamsky could be the surprise winners. Aronian is well rested and well prepared. While Karjakin looks very sharp and fully rejuvenated in his recent tourneys especially in his demolition of former World title contender Nigel Short in a series of rapid matches. Kamsky should win at least a major tournament before his face off with Topalov in FIDE championship match. He must really show something. Now pick your bet from the names below.


Participants:

Vassily Ivanchuk (UKR 2781)
Teimour Radjabov (AZE 2744)
Peter Svidler (RUS 2738)
Levon Aronian (ARM 2737)
Alexander Grischuk (RUS 2728)
Sergey Karjakin (UKR 2727)
Gata Kamsky (USA 2723)
Boris Gelfand (ISR 2720)
Vugar Gashimov (AZE 2717)
Dmitry Jakovenko (RUS 2709)
Wang Yue (CHN 2704)
Ivan Cheparinov (BUL 2687)
David Navarra (CZE 2646)
Mohamad Al Modiahki (QAT 2556)

Baku Grand Prix Round : Carlsen-Inakiev 1-0

Top seed Magnus Carlsen of Norway salvage his first victory of the tournament on the cause of his brilliant end game maneuvering. Inarkiev suffered his second lost in the event with a win. The match was fought using the King's Indian system but Carlsen avoid the usual line of posting a pawn on c5.

GM Carlsen (2765) - GM Inarkiev (2684) [A48]
23.04.2008 - Round 3 - Baku Grand Prix

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bg5 Bg7 4.Nbd2 0–0 5.c3 h6 6.Bh4 d6 7.e4 c5 8.dxc5 dxc5 9.Bc4 Nc6 10.0–0 Nh5 11.Qe2 Qc7 12.Rfe1 Na5 13.Bb5 a6 14.Ba4 b5 15.Bc2 e5 16.Nf1 Nf4 17.Qd1 Nc4 18.Qb1 Bg4 19.Bd1 g5 20.Bg3 Rad8 21.h3 Bh5 22.Bxf4 exf4 23.Be2 Bxf3 24.Bxf3 Nd2 25.Nxd2 Rxd2 26.e5 Bxe5 27.Qf5 f6 28.Rad1 Rfd8 29.Qe6+ Kg7 30.Qxa6 b4 31.Rxd2 Rxd2 32.Rd1 bxc3 33.bxc3 Rxd1+ 34.Bxd1 c4 35.Be2 Bxc3 36.Bxc4 Be5 37.Qe6 Qd8 38.Qf7+ Kh8 39.f3 Bd6 40.a4 Bb4 41.Kh2 Qf8 42.Qg6 Be1 43.Bd3 f5 44.a5 Bg3+ 45.Kh1 Qg7 46.Qe8+ Qg8 47.Qe5+ Qg7 48.Qb8+ Qg8 49.Qb6 Qd5 50.Qxh6+ Kg8 51.Qxg5+ Kf7 52.Qxf5+ Qxf5 53.Bxf5 Bf2 54.g4 fxg3 55.f4 Kf6 56.Be4 White wins 1–0

You can see all the LIVE games HERE

Baku Grand Prix Round 3: Gashimov-Svidler 1-0

In a Sicilian/Kan Variation, Peter Svidler, playing black, chose a rare aggressive line of the variation (8...Bd6!?) in an attempt to put an immediate pressure on enemy king. Vugar Gashimov ignore the threat with a cold reply 9. a5 to stick with his plan of initiating a queen side action of his own. Black's bishop stayed on d5 square for quite sometime but doesn't look that threatening. 15 moves later, white finally saw the lights to knock the bishop out of d5 with tempo. The timing was perfect as white finally able to effectively advance his e and f pawn deep into enemy territory almost stealthily. The end came for black in the 31st move when an imminent pin of white bishop and rook on the black night on g7, loosing the knight in the process.

GM Gashimov - GM Svidler
Baku GP - Round 3

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 b5 6. Be2 Bb7 7. Bf3 Qc7 8. O-OBd6 9. a4 Bxh2+ 10. Kh1 Be5 11. axb5 Nf6 12. Be3 O-O 13. Qd3 d6 14. Rfd1 Nfd715. Qd2 Rc8 16. Be2 Nf6 17. f4 Bxd4 18. Qxd4 d5 19. bxa6 Nxa6 20. e5 Ne8 21. f5Nc5 22. Bb5 Qd8 23. Rxa8 Bxa8 24. f6 Nd7 25. fxg7 Qc7 26. Bf4 Qb7 27. Rd3 Nxg728. Bxd7 Rc4 29. Qf2 Qxd7 30. Rg3 Kh8 31. Bg5 1-0

You can see all the LIVE games HERE

Baku Grand Prix Round 3: Radjabov-Wang 1/2

In a battle that took almost entirely on the queen side, local hero Teimour Radjabov made Yue Wang's misplaced knight on a5 as immobile and useless for much of the match but the Chinese sensation who shows no intimidation whatsoever against his much stronger opponent find again some way to escape with a draw. Seeing Radjabov's over extended c and d pawns, Wang tried everything he can for more effective queen side actions for his pieces to liberate his game. But Radjabovs constant pressure on the misplaced knight made it hard for both players to gain any initiative. Draw were agreed after the 37th move of the Petroff.

Baku Grand Prix Round 3: Kamsky-Mamedyarov 1/2

In a Gruenfeld encounter, Gata Kamsky of the US drew his match against Shakriyar Mamedyarov in a wild, wild affair of sacrifices. Mamedyarov, playing white momentarily sacrifice a rook for mating threats on g7 . Kamsky, playing black, return the piece a couple of moves later to avoid imminent mate. Black enjoy material advantage for a while before White swipe three pawns in three succession moves to make the game almost dead even. Mamedyarov tried to pushed his isolated past pawn but black's constant harassment of White's king resulted in repetition moves.

You can see all the LIVE games HERE

Baku Grand Prix Updates

Round 2 results:

Kamsky Gata 2726 ½ - ½ Navara David 2672
Grischuk Alexander 2716 ½ - ½ Karjakin Sergey 2732
Adams Michael 2729 1 - 0 Cheparinov Ivan 2695
Bacrot Etienne 2705 0 - 1 Radjabov Teimour 2751
Yue Wang 2689 ½ - ½ Gashimov Vugar 2679
Svidler Peter 2746 ½ - ½ Carlsen Magnus 2765
Inarkiev Ernesto 2684 1 - 0 Mamedyarov Shakhriyar 2752

Round 2 standings:

1-4. Kamsky Gata 2726 USA, Radjabov Teimour 2751 AZE, Adams Michael 2729 ENG and Grischuk Alexander 2716 RUS - 1½
5-11. Karjakin Sergey 2732 UKR, Navara David 2672 CZE, Carlsen Magnus 2765 NOR, Yue Wang 2689 CHN, Gashimov Vugar 2679 AZE, Svidler Peter 2746 RUS and Inarkiev Ernesto 2684 RUS - 1.0
12-13. Mamedyarov Shakhriyar 2752 AZE and Bacrot Etienne 2705 FRA - ½
14. Cheparinov Ivan 2695 BUL - 0.0

Round 3 on 23rd April at 15:00 local time and 16:00 in the Far East

Mamedyarov Shakhriyar 2752 - Kamsky Gata 2726
Carlsen Magnus 2765 - Inarkiev Ernesto 2684
Gashimov Vugar 2679 - Svidler Peter 2746
Radjabov Teimour 2751 - Yue Wang 2689
Cheparinov Ivan 2695 - Bacrot Etienne 2705
Karjakin Sergey 2732 - Adams Michael 2729
Navara David 2672 - Grischuk Alexander 2716

Baku Grand Prix Round 2: Radjabov-Bacrot 1-0

the last match of the day was also the most grueling one. Local hero, Teimour Radjabov of Baku Azerbaijan breaks through the stiff resistance of the Frenchman Etienne Bacrot in 60 moves of Sicilian/Sveshnikov Varition. An end game of opposite bishop is always exciting right? also given the chance of an archipelago of pawns to fought with. So three exciting victories in round 2. Pick your choice which is best of the day. Good night everyone and thanks a lot for joining me. till tommorow :)


You can see all the LIVE games HERE

Baku Grand Prix Round 2: Adams, out position the positional master!

Next to salvage a victory for the day was the veteran Englishman, Michael Adams. It was a positional battle evolved from the Sicilian/Rossolimo variation that saw Ivan Cheparinov crumpled towards the beginning of the end game despite being branded as in the same league of Leko and Kramnik as masters of positional plays. The game nonetheles is a beauty and an example of complex rook and pawn endings. Adams manage somehow to win a pawn that decide the match.

You can see all the LIVE games HERE