Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.
Look who is hitting the gong: It’s no other than Michael Tal. A practical joke? Not quite! The son
of tournament director Rami Tal happens to have the same name as the eighth world champion.
(photo by Dr. Mark Livshits)
Three major upsets were scored in the fifth round of the European championship when three experienced grandmasters found themselves on the receiving end as they faced young Israeli talents. GM Khuzman lost to Omer Reshef, Israeli GM Dan Zoler fell to Matan Gorodetsky (more than 300 Elo points lower) and finally Russian Mikhail Antipov succumbed to Jonathan Bakalchuk (more than 250 points lower).
Last Saturday was the first of two free days and most foreign guests joined the excursion to Masada and the Dead Sea previously reported on. The general enthusiasm from this highly enjoyable experience definitely had a positive influence on the fighting spirit, however not on the number of decisive games in the fifth round.
The two leaders of the first half clashed in round five
On the first sixteen boards only three games were decided including the loss of the highest Israeli player in the tournament Maxim Rodshtein against Russian Alexander Shimanov. The Ukrainian Anton Korobov drew his game with Czech David Navara but owing to the multiple draws among the runners up he still kept the lead, albeit no longer with a perfect score.
Among the Russians with good results this year are Denis Khismatullin, who won the rapid
stage of the first leg of the Russian Chess Cup...
... but Ernesto Inarkiev's fantastic 8.0/9 win at the recent Moscow Open topped it.
It wasn't all bad news for those seeking entertaining chess. With so many strong players, it is not hard to find players on board 30 or more with near 2700 ratings. Without seeking so far down the list, here is a game played on board 13 between Georgian Levan Pantsulaia and Gabriel Sargissian from Armenia in which Black not only demonstrated great technique in clamping down his opponent, but also imaginative play.
Although Korobov maintains the lead, he is now followed very closely by 15 players just a half point behind, and it is once again anyone's game.
Viktor Laznicka (2670) is representing the Czech Republic
Azeri Rauf Mamedov (2650) has had a lukewarm start
|
Rk
|
SNo
|
Ti.
|
Name
|
FED
|
Rtg
|
Pts
|
|
1
|
11
|
GM
|
Korobov Anton |
2687
|
4.5
|
|
|
2
|
1
|
GM
|
Navara David |
2735
|
4.0
|
|
|
3
|
37
|
GM
|
Najer Evgeniy |
2634
|
4.0
|
|
|
4
|
71
|
GM
|
Vovk Yuri |
2588
|
4.0
|
|
|
5
|
22
|
GM
|
Motylev Alexander |
2665
|
4.0
|
|
|
6
|
3
|
GM
|
Eljanov Pavel |
2727
|
4.0
|
|
|
7
|
4
|
GM
|
Nepomniachtchi Ian |
2714
|
4.0
|
|
|
8
|
65
|
GM
|
Shimanov Aleksandr |
2594
|
4.0
|
|
|
9
|
33
|
GM
|
Volokitin Andrei |
2646
|
4.0
|
|
|
10
|
30
|
GM
|
Smirin Ilia |
2650
|
4.0
|
|
|
11
|
20
|
GM
|
Sargissian Gabriel |
2668
|
4.0
|
|
|
12
|
45
|
GM
|
Sutovsky Emil |
2626
|
4.0
|
|
|
13
|
38
|
GM
|
Dubov Daniil |
2632
|
4.0
|
|
|
14
|
47
|
GM
|
Kempinski Robert |
2625
|
4.0
|
|
|
15
|
39
|
GM
|
Bartel Mateusz |
2631
|
4.0
|
|
|
16
|
27
|
GM
|
Nisipeanu Liviu-Dieter |
2654
|
4.0
|
|
|
17
|
84
|
GM
|
Stefansson Hannes |
2573
|
3.5
|
|
|
18
|
49
|
GM
|
Beliavsky Alexander G |
2623
|
3.5
|
|
|
19
|
64
|
GM
|
Grigoryan Karen H. |
2596
|
3.5
|
|
|
20
|
109
|
GM
|
Godena Michele |
2502
|
3.5
|
Report by Yachanan Afek and Albert Silver
Photos by Yoav Nis
LinksThe games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the chess server Playchess.com. If you are not a member you can download a free Playchess client there and get immediate access. You can also use ChessBase 13 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs. |
|
