St Petersburg wrap-up
By Misha Savinov
Round 6
An ultimate test for the tournament leader – Alexey Dreev had to play black
against the former FIDE world champion Alexander Khalifman. Both players are
renowned theoreticians, and the outcome of the opening duel was expected to
predetermine the result to a great extent. Khalifman's repertoire is much wider,
while Dreev relies on deep knowledge of his favorite set-ups. Specialists predicted
either a Caro-Kann or the Moscow Variation of the Semi-Slav, and were of the
opinion that the sharp lines of the Caro-Kann would suit Khalifman better.
So, Alexander's 1.d4 was a moderate surprise. However, the true bomb exploded
on move 6, when Dreev calmly moved his Queen to a5, heading for Cambridge-Springs
for the first time in his known career!
Alexei Dreev with his bombshell move in round
Although Khalifman often plays 6.Bg5, allowing the Cambridge-Springs, he faced
this system just once – in 2000, making a 23-move draw with Artur Jussupow.
It turned out that Dreev was far better prepared for the opening struggle.
Khalifman avoided riskier continuations, and both players followed the forced
line, in which Black exchanges two pieces for rook and pawn and achieves a
very easy game. On move 23 Khalifman offered a draw – only Black could try
playing the resulting position for a win. Dreev accepted, and remained on top
with just 3 rounds to go. [Replay game]
Vitaly Tseshkovsky employed a healthy strategic plan against Epishin's Sicilian,
building up his pieces against the weak a6-pawn. It looked like White has a
serious advantage, but Sicilian positions are treacherous. Epishin launched
a counterattack, and after lively tactical play this game ended peacefully
after the time control. [Replay game]
Vitaly Tseshkovsky (right) working on Vladimir Epishin's Sicilian
Former Russian champion Sergey Volkov had a chance "to put in his place" the
young FM Evgeny Romanov. It was a fierce double-edged struggle that attracted
the attention of many spectators and fellow participants.
Khalifman kibitzing in the game Volkov-Romanov (R6)
In a very complex game the players were worthy of each other, and a draw was
agreed on move 47.
Ian Nepomniashchy defeated GM Igor Kurnosov in a sharp French. In the picture
above Aeroflot open organizer and executive director of Russian chess federation
Alexander Bakh observes the game. Black's position is already winning. [Replay
game]
Vadim Zvjaginsev outplayed his opponent Evgeny Shaposhnikov in the opening,
and transposed into a rook endgame with an extra pawn.
Vadim Zvjaginsev in the endgame against Shaposhnikov
It turned out to contain some pitfalls, but Zvjaginsev once again proved his
reputation of being an endgame whiz, winning smoothly. Evgeny Shaposhnikov
studied it afterwards with Valery Loginov. Although Black could defend more
stubbornly, the endgame is objectively winning for White. [Replay
game]
Evgeny Shaposhnikov analysing with Valery Loginov
Round 7
The top board encounter between Dreev and Zvjaginsev did not impress the spectators.
Ones again Alexey Dreev preferred to rest on his well-deserved four starting
wins, making a quick draw [Replay game].
It was up to other contenders to show their fighting spirit. Namely, Vitaly
Tseshkovsky and Alexander Khalifman.
As for El Khalif, who got a second consecutive White, he had one of the last
chances of catching up with the leaders. And Alexander looked focused, achieving
a known Benoni setup (actually, I am still confused about the proper name of
this opening, as it often called the Czech Benoni) with an extra tempo. However,
Tseshkovsky was comfortable with that type of position, and did not seem to
care about the tempi count. Black got the initiative in a complex middlegame
with kings castled on opposite flanks.
"El Khalif" in his round seven game against Tseshkovsky
Afterwards Tseshkovsky was of the opinion that he had missed a winning continuation.
He sacrificed a bishop approaching the time control, and it took all of Khalifman's
defensive skill to save the white king. Returning some material, White transposed
into an unbalanced position with Q+N+B against Black's Q+R. Alexander avoided
a move repetition, but Black's heavy pieces were very active, making a draw
inevitable. [Replay game]
Tseshkovsky's king under perpetual check by Khalifman
There was an interesting opening story in 7th round. Two friends from St.
Petersburg, GM Denis Yevseev and IM Sergey Solovjov, prepared the same (unsound?)
line of Slav defense against GMs Alekseev and Riazantsev. Black sacrificed
a pawn for certain position compensation, unlikely to be adequate. The games
deviated on the 14th move. Solovjov lost, while Yevseev caught his opponent
on threefold repetition on move 30. Not the most successful experiment in terms
of the score, but it was creative play indeed. [Replay
games]
GM Denis Yevseev (left) discussing his pawn sac with opponent Alekseev
Ironically Sergey Ivanov, who outplayed Belov with Black in the French Defense
yesterday, continued his breakthrough, beating Sergey Volkov's 4...a6 variation
of the Semi-Slav. By the way, this system, also called the Chebanenko Variation,
was extremely popular in St. Petersburg. The game was approximately even until
Volkov blundered and had to part with his knight. The rest was more or less
simple technique. [Replay game]
Sergey Ivanov (right) on his way to victory against Sergey Volkov
Evgeny Najer was lucky to win his 7th round game. Najer played well in the
opening, and could have got a serious advantage, but made a couple of inaccuracies
in complications. Black started to take the upper hand, but then a mutual time
trouble came:
Najer,E (2606) – Landa,K (2550) [B43]
57th ch-RUS Qualifier St Petersburg RUS (7), 28.05.2004
Position after 38.Rd4-h4
Here Konstantin Landa made a terrible Fingerfehler in a winning position.
Instead of 38...Bxc2+ 39.Kc1 /a1 f4 with a clear win, Landa started with the
second move of planned sequence: 38...f4?? 39.Rxh7+ and mate in two.
After the game was over, Najer looked upset no less than his opponent.
14-year-old Dmitry Andreikin easily held with Black against former European
champion Pavel Tregubov (2418 and 2636 respectively). This youngster is truly
a new Ratmir "Central defender" Kholmov – he recorded one win and eight draws
against eight GMs and one FM with average Elo 2576! Andreikin's Black opening
repertoire makes a refreshing impression, but turned out to be an effective
equalizing weapon. [Replay game]
Talented 14-year-old Dmitry Andreikin
To be continued (rounds eight and nine to follow shortly)
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