Dear friends! Hello to everyone who is intersting in the events of the super-tornament in Wijk aan Zee! What can we say about before the start of today's round?! First of all about the sensational leadership of Judith Polgar. She really plays well in this tournament but I have to notice that the yesterday's win was rather ease one for her. Despite of classical time control Anatoly Yevgenievich just blundered the check on b4 and right after that he had bad position. The quantity of unforced mistakes is rather enough but despite of that or maybe due to that the show becomes more interseting! So the attempts to struggle against this new control, which by the way will be used in "Aeroflot open" in Moscow, can be considered far-fetched. Moreover most of the GMs (at least those with whom I could talk about it) prefer the accelerated time control. And now about today's pairs: 1) Shirov - Kramnik . Surely it is the central duel of the round and the result of this game maybe very important to determine the potential leader. 2) Polgar - Ivanchuk . Here I think we can be expected by the sharp play with unpredicted result. Vasily acts rather modestly in this tournament though. 3) Grischuk - Ponomariov . Ponomariov has got the sensible defeat yesterday , will he be able to cheer up? 4) Anand - Karpov . Anatoly Yevgenievich tests certain dificulties playing with Anand recently. So I think he should not wait for ease game. 5) Topalov - Van Wely . Yesterday the Dutchman had big luck, but today's contender is more serious. 6) Krasenkow - Bareev . Here we should wait for the play for 3 results. 7) Radjabov - Timman . Young GM was so close to win yesterady and he has to win if he wants to place himself for a long time in chess elite. But these veterans are not so simple... And so, we just have to wait for the start of the round. Shirov - Kramnik Again Cheliabinsk variation! Well this variation has setted our teeth on edge already, nevertheless this variation is very popular among the players who do not fear the compromised pawn strucure. On 19th move Kramnik tried to improved the variation by move Qb7. By the 23rd move there is the test of home preparation. Who will be right? After the short tactical skirmish by the 29th move there is the material balance. The only problem at Black is poor position of his King. The game is still holding the voltage. After the Rook exchange it was easier for Black to defence but it did not resolve all problems. The poor position of black King became the most important factor on this game. Combining the threats to rival's King with moving his passed pawn Shirov has led the game to the win. Polgar - Ivanchuk 1/2 Vasily gave up the center to his rival. On 10th move he used the new continuation, although and here the position is slightly better for white. The position in style of "Hedgehog" was setted up. In case of possible 18.e5 Black could play even 18... Ne8. White has played 18. h3 - the rivals just made useful moves. Ruslan in the game against Grischuk has used the solid and fashionable now "Berlin stonewall". As it well known it is much easier to defence when it is not too many pieces on the board, especially when you play with such an agressive player as Grischuk. Here the game is coming to the draw, at least Black equalized the chances and can to play for a win by 21...Rd8. As it was predicted Ponomariov did not want to repeat the position and won the pawn. I think there is no enough compensation for this. After 33.╔6 the result of the game is still unclear. After 40 moves Alexander still had the problems and he had to struggle for a draw. By the active play he could to equalize the chances. Anand has chosen 7.f4. I recall that this way was used by Topalov successfully against Bareev in Dortmund 2002. Karpov has prefered to play the position where he has 3 pawns against piece, however I think the perspectives of White here are better. After 21st move Karpov is going to prepare to counter-play connected with movement of the central pawns "e" and "f". I have such a feeling that Karpov in interval from 22nd to 27th moves just was breaking down his position by himself and he has lost the important pawn d5. In the game Topalov - Van Wely after 15th move Black has certain counter-play due to th weakness of white e4-pawn. I have such a feeling that Van Wely have mistaken somewhere and now after 20th move he has doubtful position. But White was carried away by material acquisitions he transfered the Queen to the Q-side and this allowed for Black to start the counter-attack on the K-side. The threats of Black became irresistable and Veselin had to resign. Krasenkow plays himself and he lets to play and his rivals. Today he has chosen the sharp way too. Bareev has chosen rather responsible decision by move 11...Rc8 instead of natural 11...Nd4. After that White has got the initiative and has won the pawn but Black has some compensation for this. After the simplifications by the 29th move Bareev has real chances for a draw so it is not easy to realize the extra-pawn. After the Queen exchange Black having the King on the d6-square keeps the position and if White plays f2-f4 then after the exchanges Knight moves to e5-square. The draw is good result for Black in this game. Teimur Radjabov has got the "clasical" slightly better in Queen indian, bit it is not so easy to get something certain. Today the youngest participant has good chances to win because his opponent allowed himself a lot. After 22nd move White has certain advantage + a pair of Bishops, I think White has almost decisive advantage. Nothing has changed in this game. Gradually White improve the position. A lot of events happened in this game. After Re2(better Re3) White lost the blow in the center - d6-d5! And position became unclear, moreover Black has captured the initiative. But in zeitnot veteran was breaking down his position. White has got real chances to win. Without any difficulties White has led the game to the logical result. Teimour could win his 1st game in this tournament. And so three leaders have +2. Now we expect the following games. Stay with us and we will try to do the best for you. Good luck! |
