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Shamkir Chess 05: 3 decisive games; Anand, Carlsen, Mamedyarov win

Anand vs Wesley in r5 (pic: official site)

Round 5 of Shamkir Chess (held in memory of Vugar Gashimov) had 3 decisive games.

Anand beat Wesley

Anand who looked well prepared for his game, got the better of the leader Wesley So with the White pieces. Early in the opening, Anand sacrificed his Knight for a good attack. After all the pieces were exchanged, Anand had a winning advantage in a Queen endgame (with as many as 14 pawns still on board!). The Indian champ easily converted his advantage.

In other decisive games, world champion beat Vachier-Lagrave, while Shakriyar Mamedyarov beat former world champion Vladimir Kramnik.

Results

Anand 1-0 Wesley

Memdov 1/2 Adams

Carlsen 1-0 Vachier-Lagrave

Mamedyarov 1-0 Kramnik

Caruana 1/2 Giri

Pairings round 06 (Thursday)

Adams 2746 – Vachier-Lagrave 2762
Giri 2790 – Carlsen 2863
Kramnik 2783 – Caruana 2802
So 2788 – Mamedyarov 2754
Mamedov 2651 – Anand 2791

Wednesday is a rest day.

World Team Chess Round 3: Cuba on a roll!

The men from Cuba registered their second consecutive upset victory as they overcame 3rd seeds Armenia in the 3rd round of the World Team Chess Championship 2015. GMs Bruzon and Quesada scored the full points for Cuba while GM Dominguez (CUB) held GM Aronian (ARM) to ensure the Cubans a 2.5-1.5 victory. Meanwhile, the giant encounter between China and Russia resulted in a draw with all the four games ending peacefully.

Overnight leaders India had a tough day as Israel comprehensively beat them 3.5-0.5. Only GM Harikrishna’s draw against GM Gelfand saved India the blushes.

After 3 rounds, Israel and Cuba lead the rest with 5 Match-points.

Round 3 Results:

Team

 Team Res. :

Res.

Israel

 India 3½ :

½

Ukraine

 Egypt 4 :

0

Cuba

 Armenia 2½ :

1½

China

 Russia 2 :

2

USA

 Hungary 1½ :

2½

The full pairings and results can be checked here: http://www.chess-results.com/tnr170346.aspx?lan=1&art=2&turdet=YES&flag=30&wi=984

World Women’s Team Chess r3: India holds Ukraine

The Indian women scored a crucial match-point as they held top seeds Ukraine to a fighting 2-2 draw in the 3rd round of the World Women’s Team Chess Championship 2015. While GM Koneru Humpy and GM Harika Dronavalli could only manage draws against the Muzychuk sisters, WGM Padmini Rout scored the crucial point for India as she overcame former World Women’s Champion GM Anna Ushenina. However, GM Zhukova prevailed over WGM Soumya Swaminathan and ensured Ukraine a 2-2 draw.

In other match-ups between top teams, Russia outclassed hosts China 3-1 while Georgia overcame Poland 2.5-1.5.


Round 3 Results:

Team

 Team Res. :

Res.

  UKRAINE

   INDIA 2 :

2

  U.S.A

   KAZAKHSTAN 2 :

2

  GEORGIA

   POLAND 2½ :

1½

  ARMENIA

   EGYPT 3 :

1

  CHINA

   RUSSIA 1 :

3

The full pairings and results can be checked here: http://www.chess-results.com/tnr170190.aspx?lan=1&art=2&wi=821

World Amateur Final: Mire Deniz, Paula-Alexandra triumph!

Open Section

Overnight leader Dogan Mire Deniz of Turkey held 3rd seeded Papasimakopoulos Vasilios of Greece to a draw and clinched the World Amateur Open Championship 2015 by a full point margin over his nearest rivals. Michaelides Konstantinos and Puusepp Kaimar came out better on tie-breaks amongst 6 players tied for the second spot and secured the 2nd and 3rd positions respectively. Amongst Indians, Abhishek Thomre grabbed the Gold Medal in the Below 1600 prize category and increased his FIDE Rating by 52 points whilst Manjunath Jain boosted his Rating by 47 points.

The Final Rankings can be checked here: http://www.chess-results.com/tnr164371.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=9&turdet=YES&flag=30&wi=984


Women’s Section

WCM Gitu Paula-Alexandra (ROM), who was leading by half a point over Sandhya G (IND) prior to the final round, overcame Chetina Elizaveta of Russia to clinch the Women’s Section of the World Amateur Championship 2015. The second spot was secured by Sandhya G., who overcame Amarjargal Enkhbayar in the last round. Koutsogiannopoulou Theodora of Greece stood sole third. Meanwhile, in an all-India clash, Aparajita Gocchikar defeated Niti Gupta to finish 6th in the final standings.

The Final Rankings can be checked here: http://www.chess-results.com/tnr164372.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=9&turdet=YES&flag=30&wi=984

World Amateur Round 8: Dogan Mire Deniz cruising away!

Open Section

In the 8th Round of the World Amateur Chess Championship 2015, Dogan Mire Deniz of Turkey continued with his splendid performance as he overcame Puusepp Kaimar of Estonia with the black pieces. The former goes into the last round as a clear favourite with a one-point lead over his nearest rivals.

Amongst the notable Indian results of Round 8, Vivek M. defeated higher-rated player Caushaj Kastriot of Albania whereas Manjunath Jain split points with a 1900+ player.

The pairings for the Final round can be checked here: http://www.chess-results.com/tnr164371.aspx?lan=1&art=2&rd=9&turdet=YES&flag=30&wi=984

Women’s Section

The leader-board in the Women’s section maintained the status-quo as overnight leader WCM Gitu Paula-Alexandra of Romania prevailed over Khulan Enkhsaikhan of Mongolia. Going into the final round, the former leads with 7/8 while Sandhya G, who overcame compatriot Niti Gupta in Round 8, is on the sole 2nd spot with 6.5/8. Paula-Alexandra and Sandhya G. are the only two players with a chance of clinching the tournament.

The pairings for the final round can be checked here: http://www.chess-results.com/tnr164372.aspx?lan=1&art=2&rd=9&turdet=YES&flag=30&wi=984

World Team Chess Round 2: Cuba stun Russia, Egypt hold Israel

The second round of the World Team Chess Championship 2015 produced a major upset as 8th seeds Cuba stunned top seeds Russia 2.5-1.5 to hand the Russians their second loss on the trot. GM Dominguez scored the winner for Cuba by defeating World No. 5 GM Grischuk in a rather long game.

In another surprising turn of events, Egypt held Israel to a 2-2 draw with GM Samy Shoker scoring the full point for the Egyptians. Meanwhile, the battle of the heavyweights – Ukraine vs Armenia – resulted in a narrow victory for Armenia courtesy of GM Aronian’s victory over GM Ponomariov.

The India-U.S.A. and Hungary-China matches followed a peaceful path with all the games in each of the matches ending in draws. In fact, as many as 16 games out of 20 played in this round resulted in draws.

The full pairings and results can be checked here: http://www.chess-results.com/tnr170346.aspx?lan=1&art=2&turdet=YES&flag=30&wi=984

World Women’s Team Chess Round 2: India hold China

The second round of the on-going World Women’s Team Chess Championship 2015 saw as many as three matches – India vs China, Russia vs Armenia and Poland vs U.S.A. – end in 2-2 draws. In the other encounters, Georgia whitewashed Egypt while Ukraine routed Kazakhstan 3.5-0.5.

In the India vs China match-up, Harika vs Tan Zhongyi and Padmini vs Shen Yang finished relatively early. With both those games ending in draws, the fate of the match-up rested on the remaining two games. Experienced Indian GM Koneru Humpy outwitted GM Ju Wenjun but WGM Lei Tingjie immediately scored the equalizer for China as she overcame WGM Mary Ann Gomes.

Meanwhile, Armenia managed a surprise draw against Russia, thanks to GM Danielian’s exciting win over GM Gunina.

The full pairings and results can be checked here: http://www.chess-results.com/tnr170190.aspx?lan=1&art=2&wi=821

Shamkir 04: So wins, Anand holds Kramink with Black

It was another relatively quiet affair at the Vugar Gashimov Memorial Tournament. Wesley So was the sole winner of the day, beating the last seed of the tournament Rauf Mamedov is a fairly effortless manner with the white pieces. With this win, So walks into pole position in the tournament with 3.5/4 as hos co-leader overnight World Champion Magnus Carlsen could only draw with GM Michael Adams.

Vishy Anand played the black side of a Slav defense against Vladimir Kramnik. The battle between two former world champions petered out into a draw with opposite coloured bishops on the board.

Round five promises to be a cracker with Vishy taking on the leader GM Wesley So with the white pieces.

Resutlts for Round 4:

 GM Giri, Anish (1) 2790 ½-½  GM Mamedyarov (1) 2754
 GM Kramnik, V. (2) 2783 ½-½  GM Anand, V. (1½) 2791
 GM Adams, M. (½) 2746 ½-½  GM Carlsen, M. (2½) 2863
 GM So, Wesley (2½) 2788 1-0  GM Mamedov, Rauf (1½) 2651
 GM Vachier-Lagr. (1½) 2762 ½-½  GM Caruana, F. (1) 2802

Pairings for Round 5:

 GM Mamedov, Rauf (1½) 2651 —  GM Adams, M. (1) 2746
 GM Anand, V. (2) 2791 —  GM So, Wesley (3½) 2788
 GM Mamedyarov (1½) 2754 —  GM Kramnik, V. (2½) 2783
 GM Caruana, F. (1½) 2802 —  GM Giri, Anish (1½) 2790
 GM Carlsen, M. (3) 2863 —  GM Vachier-Lagr. (2) 2762

 

World Amateur Chess Round 7: Dogan Mire Deniz in sole lead, again!

Open Section

Turkish player Dogan Mire Deniz continued his terrific form at the World Amateur Chess Championship 2015 as he overcame Giordos Vasiolios with the White pieces. With this crucial victory, Dogan Mire Deniz took the sole lead once again in this 9 round tournament. Amongst Indians, the in-form Manjunath Jain went down to Pappas Mihail while Abhishek Thomre and Vivek M. secured a win and a draw respectively against higher-rated opposition.

The 8th round pairings can be checked here: http://www.chess-results.com/tnr164371.aspx?lan=1&art=2&rd=8&turdet=YES&flag=30&wi=984

Women’s Section

In the Women’s Section, WCM Gitu Paula-Alexandra of Romania continued her fine run with a victory over Amarjargal Ganbaatar of Mongolia while Sandhya G. of India prevailed over her compatriot Aparajita Gocchikar. In another Indian result, Niti Gupta recorded her 3rd consecutive win as she stunned Mc Roberts Holly of U.S.A.

Going into the 8th round, Paula-Alexandra leads with 6/7 while Sandhya G. is right on the former’s heels with 5.5/7.

The 8th round pairings can be checked here: http://www.chess-results.com/tnr164372.aspx?lan=1&art=2&rd=8&turdet=YES&flag=30&wi=984

World Team Chess Round 1: Ukraine beats Russia!

It is not often that you see the top two seeds locking horns in the first round of a tournament. But in the opening round of the World Team Chess Championship 2015, top seeds Russia took on 2nd seeds Ukraine, with the latter team managing a 2.5-1.5 victory over their arch-rivals. Amongst other notable results, Israel narrowly overcame the strong Armenian team.

Meanwhile, India, who were expected to have a relatively easy outing against the Egyptians, suffered a setback when IM Ezat Mohamed (EGY) stunned GM Sethuraman (IND). However, the rest of the Indian players defeated their respective opponents and led India to a 3-1 victory.

Round 1 Results:

S.No.

 Team Result Team

S.No.

10

 Egypt   1 – 3 India

7

6

 Israel 2½ – 1½ Armenia

3

2

 Ukraine 2½ – 1½ Russia

1

8

 Cuba   2 – 2 Hungary

5

4

 China 2½ – 1½ USA

9

The results and full pairings can be checked here: http://www.chess-results.com/tnr170346.aspx?lan=1&art=2&turdet=YES&flag=30&wi=984