Jermuk R13: Ivanchuk wins fifth FIDE Grand Prix

Fifth FIDE Grand Prix in Jermuk, Armenia

This event took place from August 8th-24th 2009. It was a Category 19 tournament, with eleven of the 14 players rated over 2700. The event was a memorial to former world champion Tigran Petrosian, who held the title from 1963–1969 and would have turned 80 on June 17th this year.

Round thirteen (final)

After twelve rounds of intense competition, the spectators were fortunate enough to witness a meaningful final round – no less than six players were in contention for the title. Leko, who had lead the tournament from post-to-post was dealt a heartwrenching endgame loss at the hands of Gelfand, in the longest game of the round, a 78 move Queen's Indian. Coupled with Ivanchuk's handling of the black pieces against Akopian, a 62 move Ruy Lopez Anderssen in which the Ukrainian picked off pawns at will until the Armenian had no better option than resignation, this was enough to ensure Ivanchuk's emergence as the clear victor and Gelfand's final position in joint second.

Equal second-third: Boris Gelfand of Israel

Leko, who had been enjoying one of his best performances in the past few years, was left confuddled with musings of how his fortunes had changed so drastically, while Aronian joined Gelfand in the tie for joint second by virtue of his 57 move victory over Inarkiev in the Anti-Meran.

What happened, what went wrong? Peter Leko with his trainer GM Arshak Petrosian

The rest of the round was characterized by uneventful draws, with Jakovenko opting to end a tournament he would surely like to forget, by accepting a 19 move split against Alekseev in the Sicilian Paulsen. Meanwhile, Cheparinov locked up last place with a 37-mover against Bacrot in the Anti-Meran Gambit. Kasimdzhanov held out for 27 moves against Eljanov, giving him a tie with Leko in the final standings.

Fifth: Evgeny Alekseev, with 7.5/13 and a 2773 performance

Sixth: Rustam Kasimdzhanov of Uzbekistan, 7.5/13 with a 2776 performance

Finally, in the hardest-fought draw of the round, Karjakin and Kamsky showed some gumption in exchanging blows in a 43 move Caro Kann Advanced. With this thirteenth and final round concluded, so ends one of the most surprising – and fighting – elite tournaments of the year.

Seventh: Sergey Karjakin, 7.0/13 points, 2745 performance

Playing for France: Etienne Bacrot, ninth with 6.0/13, performance 2692

US GM Gata Kamsky, tenth with 6.0/13 and a 2693 performance

Lev Aronian being interviewed – in his trademark Barong shirt from the Philippines

Did we say one fan? Here is Vlad with a group of adoring Armenian chess players

Happy faces all around: Aronian and Ivanchuk pose with female chess players

Main organizer GM Smbat Lputian with the Minister of Sports and Youth, Armen Grigoryan

Technical pro Angelina with dashing press officer Lilit Mkrtchian

Closing ceremony with classical music

All pictures by Arman Karakhanyan, courtesy of FIDE

Final standings

FIDE Grand Prix Jermuk 2009 – Schedule and results

Links Full information on the FIDE site All ChessBase reports on the Jermuk GP All games in PGN The games were broadcast live on the official web site and on the chess server Playchess.com. If you are not a member you can download the free PGN reader ChessBase Light, which gives you immediate access. You can also use the program to read, replay and analyse PGN games. New and enhanced: CB Light 2009!