
The 2015 Sparkassen Chess Meeting is taking place in Dortmund from the 27th of June to the 5th of July, 2015.
Round Seven
Round 07 – July 05 2015, 13:00h |
Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter |
2654 |
0-1
|
Caruana, Fabiano |
2805 |
So, Wesley |
2778 |
1-0
|
Kramnik, Vladimir |
2783 |
Naiditsch, Arkadij |
2722 |
½-½
|
Meier, Georg |
2654 |
Hou, Yifan |
2676 |
|
Nepomniachtchi, Ian |
2720 |
There was certainly a bit of irony in the way Fabiano Caruana reached the finish line, though taking nothing away from his superb win. Consider after all that after his powerful win over Magnus Carlsen in round two of Norway, everyone thought ‘He’s back!”. Instead it turned out to be the eye of the hurricane, in which destructive winds wreaked havoc on his positions throughout, and he never seemed to recover his footing.

Entrance to the playing hall in the Orchestra Center in Dortmund
On the flip side, here in Dortmund, after a strange game in round two in which he was winning against Wesley So and then lost abysmally, he took off to a fantastic five-win streak leaving everyone well behind in the end. It culminated with a last-round win over Liviu Nisipeanu, who chose to repeat Nakamura’s brush with disaster against Anand in the London Classic six months earlier.

Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 d6 6...exd4 7.0-0 7.Qb3 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.Qxd8+ Nxd8 9.Nxe5 Be6= 7...Qd7 7...Qe7 8.d5 Nd4 9.Nxd4 9.Qa4+ Qd7 10.Qxa5 Nc2+∞ 9...exd4 10.Qa4+ Bd7 11.Qxa5 Qxe4+ 12.Kd1∞ 8.dxe5 8.0-0 Bb6 9.Bb5 a6 10.Ba4 Ba7 11.d5? 11.Bxc6 Qxc6 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Nxe5 Qe6 11...b5 12.dxc6 Qxc6-+ 8...Bb6 9.a4 Na5 10.Qa2 Nxc4 11.Qxc4 Ne7 12.Ba3? 12.exd6 cxd6 13.0-0 0-0 14.Qd3 Ng6 15.a5 Bc5 16.Be3 Re8 17.Nbd2 Bxe3 18.Qxe3 d5 19.Rfe1 dxe4 20.Nxe4 Qe7 21.Nd6 Qxe3 22.fxe3 Rd8 23.Red1 Rb8 24.Rd4 Be6 25.c4 b6 26.axb6 axb6 27.Ra7 h6 28.h3 Ra8 29.Rb7 Rdb8 30.Rc7 Ra5 31.Kh2 Rc5 32.Ra7 Kf8 33.g4 Ra5 34.Rc7 Rc5 35.Ra7 Ra5 36.Rc7 12...0-0 12...d5 13.exd5 Qxd5 13.0-0 Re8 13...Ng6 14.exd6 cxd6 15.Rd1 Qg4! 16.h3 16.Rxd6? Nf4 17.Qf1 Nh3+ 18.Kh1 Nxf2+-+ 16...Ne5 17.hxg4 Nxc4 14.exd6 cxd6 15.Rd1 Qc6 16.Nbd2 Be6 17.Qxc6 Nxc6 18.Bxd6 Rad8 19.Bb4 19.e5 f6! 19...Rd3 20.a5 Bc7 21.Nf1 Rxd1 21...Red8 22.Rxd3 Rxd3 23.Ne3 22.Rxd1 Nxa5 23.Nd4 Nc4! 24.Nxe6 Rxe6 25.Rd7 Rc6 25...Bb6 26.Rxb7 h5 26.Ng3 g6 27.Ne2 a5! 28.Nd4 axb4! 29.Nxc6 b3! 30.Rxc7 30.Nb4 b2 31.Rd1 Nd2-+ 30.Na7!? b2 31.Rd1 Bf4! 31...Nd2? 32.Nb5!= 32.Rb1 Bc1-+ 30...Nd6! 0–1
- Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
Nisipeanu,L | 2654 | Caruana,F | 2805 | 0–1 | 2015 | C52 | 43rd GM 2015 | 7.1 |
Please, wait...
The happy result for the newly repatriated American is that Fabiano Caruana’s Elo freefall has ended, after reaching the summit of Olympus, and he is comfortably back in the 2800 club where he belongs. The Sinquefield Cup cannot arrive too soon.

Nisipeanu, Caruana, Dirk Poldauf (chess magazine Schach), Dagobert Kohlmeyer (press officer)
Nisipeanu’s ill-fated choice had a direct repercussion on the final standings, unfortunately for the Romanian grandmaster whose sterling start had promised a top spot. Instead, Wesley So whose own beginning had been quite iffy, with two losses in three rounds, found himself in a complex endgame against a very belligerent Vladimir Kramnik.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.h3 Ne7 10.Nc3 Bd7 10...Ng6 10...h6 11.Ng5N Ke8 12.e6!? Bxe6 12...fxe6 13.Re1 Nf5 14.Nxe6 Bxe6 15.Rxe6+ Kf7 16.Re5= 13.Nxe6 fxe6 14.Re1 Kf7 15.Ne4 h6 16.Rd1 e5 16...Nd5 17.c4 Nf6 18.Nxf6 Kxf6 19.Bd2 19.Rd7 Bd6 19...Bd6 20.Bc3+ e5= 17.Rd7 Rc8 18.Bd2 b6 18...Ke6? 19.Nc5+ 19.Re1 Ke6 20.Rd3 c5 20...g5 21.f4 Nc6 22.Rg3 Re8 22...Nd4 23.c3 Nf5 24.Rg4∞ 23.fxe5 g5 23...Nxe5 24.Bc3 Kd5 25.Nd2 c4∞ 24.h4 Bg7 25.hxg5 Bxe5 26.Rf3 hxg5 27.Bxg5?! 27.Nf6!? Ref8 28.Bxg5 Nd4? 28...Rf7 29.Rxe5+ Kxe5 30.Nd7+ Kd6 31.Rxf8 Rh5! 32.Nxc5! bxc5 32...Rxg5? 33.Ne4+± 33.Bf6 Nxc2 34.g4 27...Bd4+! 28.Nf2+ Kd5 29.Rd1 Rhg8 29...Ne5!? 30.Bf4 Re2!? 30...Kc4! 31.c3 Be5= 31.c3 Rxb2 32.cxd4 Nxd4 33.Be3 33.Ra3!? 33...Rxa2 34.Rf4 Ra4 35.Ne4 Kc6 36.Nc3 Ra3 37.Bxd4 cxd4 38.Ne2 d3 39.Rf3 Ra2 39...dxe2 40.Rc1++- 40.Nf4 d2 41.Kf2 b5 42.Rc3+ Kb7 43.Nd5 Rg7 44.Rb3 a6 45.Nb4 Ra4 46.Rxd2 c5 47.Nd5 Rd7 48.Rf3 Re4 49.Rf6 Ka7 50.Rd3 c4 51.Rh3 Rd4 52.Nb4 R4d6 53.Rhh6 Rxf6+ 54.Rxf6 Rd2+ 55.Kf3 a5 55...Kb7 56.Nxa6 56.Rxa6? Rb2 56...c3 57.Nc5+ Kc7 58.Ke3 Rxg2= 56.Ra6+ Kb7 57.Rxa5 Kb6 58.Ra2 Rd7 58...Rd8 59.Ra8 Kc5 60.Nc2± Rc7 61.Rf8! c3 62.Rf5+ Kb6 63.g4+- Ka5 64.g5 Ka4 65.Ke3 Rd7 66.g6 b4 67.Rf4 Kb3 68.Nxb4 Re7+ 69.Re4 Rg7 70.Rg4 Re7+ 71.Kf3 Rg7 72.Nc6 Rg8 73.g7 c2 74.Nd4+ Kc4 75.Nxc2+ Kd5 76.Rg6 1–0
- Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
So,W | 2778 | Kramnik,V | 2783 | 1–0 | 2015 | C67 | 43rd GM 2015 | 7.2 |
Please, wait...
Hou Yifan had an exciting game against Ian Nepomniachtchi in the final round, and seemed to have the better chances, with a protected passed pawn on d7, plus two more on the queenside, all for the exchange. The Russian fought back, and hard to avoid finding himself passively waiting for her to build up an advantage. There was a risk of backfiring, and she missed a chance to make him work a little harder to save his half point, but the draw was the end result.

Hou Yifan, Ian Nepomniachtchi, and tournament press officer Dagobert Kohlmeyer
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Qd3 Be6 10.Nd5 Bxd5 11.exd5 Nbd7 12.Bd2 a5 13.a4 Qc7 14.Rfd1 Rfc8 15.Rac1 g6 16.h3 Bf8 17.Qf3 Bg7 18.Bb5 Nc5 19.Nxc5 Qxc5 20.Bg5 Nh5 21.c3 f5 22.g4 fxg4 23.hxg4 Nf4 24.Bxf4 exf4 25.Re1 Be5 26.Rcd1 Rd8 27.Qd3 Qc8 28.f3 Qc5+ 29.Kg2 Rac8 30.Rxe5 dxe5 31.d6 Kg7 32.d7 Rc7 33.Qe4 Qe7 34.Rd5 Rc5 35.Rxc5 Qxc5 36.Qxb7 Qd6 37.Qe4 Kf8 38.Qe1 Qe7 39.b4 axb4 40.cxb4 40...h5 41.gxh5 Qg5+ 42.Kf1 gxh5 43.Qe4 Ke7 44.Qh7+ Kd6 45.Qc2 Ke7 46.Qc5+ Kf6 47.Qd6+ Kg7 48.Bc4 Qf6 49.Be6 e4 50.fxe4 f3 51.Qg3+ Kh8 52.Bf5 Qc3 53.Kf2 Qd4+ 54.Kxf3 Rg8 55.Qe1 Qd3+ 56.Kf4 Qd6+ 57.Kf3 Qd3+ 58.Kf2 Qd4+ 59.Qe3 59.Ke2! 59...Qb2+ 60.Kf1 Qb1+ 61.Kf2 Qb2+ 62.Kf1 Qb1+ 63.Kf2 ½–½ - Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
Hou,Y | 2676 | Nepomniachtchi,I | 2720 | ½–½ | 2015 | B92 | 43rd GM 2015 | 7.3 |
Please, wait...
The only annoyance for her is that if she does not regain at least five Elo by the end of the month, or Judit Polgar is not removed due to inactivity, the Hungarian will inherit the no. 1 female spot once more.
Tail-ender Georg Meier came as the lowest rated player in the event, and for anyone who missed the action of the previous rounds, his final result would not appear to be so surprising. However, the sheer number of winning games he had is staggering, including his last round against Arkadij Naidistch, his +5 score against Caruana, and more.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
36...Qe3+? 36...Nd2 37.Rd1 Ne4 37.Qxe3 Nxe3 38.Re1 Ng4 39.h5 Ne5? 39...Kg7 40.Rg3 Kg7 41.Rf1 Re7 42.Ng2 Bd7 43.Nh4 Bg4 44.Rf4 Bd7 45.Nf3 b5? 45...Nd3! 46.Rh4 Nc1! 46.Ng5 Bf5 47.a4 a6 48.a5 Nc4 49.Nf3 Bb1 50.Ng5 Bf5 51.Nf3 Be4 52.h6+ Kxh6 53.Rh3+ Kg7 54.Ng5 Bf5 55.Rxh7+ Kf6 56.Rxe7 Kxe7 57.Ne4 Nxa5 58.Rh4 Bxe4 59.Rxe4+ Kd7? 59...Kf7! 60.Re6 Nc4 60.Rg4 Nc4 61.Rxg6 a5? 61...Kc7 62.Rg7+ Kc8 63.Kf2 b4 63...a4 64.Ke2 Nb6 65.Rg5 Kb7 66.Kd3 b4 64.cxb4 cxb4 65.Ke2 Nb6 66.Kd3 a4 67.Ra7 b3 68.Ra5 Nd7 69.Kc3 Nc5 70.Kb2 Kb7 71.Ka3 Kb6 72.Ra8 Kb7 73.Rh8 Kb6 74.Rh6 Kc7 75.Rh7+ Kb6 76.Rh6 Kc7 77.Rh7+ ½–½
- Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
Naiditsch,A | 2722 | Meier,G | 2654 | ½–½ | 2015 | E20 | 43rd GM 2015 | 7.4 |
Please, wait...
Yet he was unable to convert a single one of these positions, and will undoubtedly do some soul searching after the event, hopefully working to reduce the number of such chances passing him by again.

The players with their rewards, and the guests of honor
Standings

Pictures: Frederic Friedel
Schedule
Round 01 – June 27 2015, 15:00h |
Nepomniachtchi, Ian |
2720 |
½-½
|
Caruana, Fabiano |
2805 |
Meier, Georg |
2654 |
½-½
|
Hou, Yifan |
2676 |
Kramnik, Vladimir |
2783 |
0-1
|
Naiditsch, Arkadij |
2722 |
Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter |
2654 |
1-0
|
So, Wesley |
2778 |
Round 02 – June 28 2015, 15:00h |
Caruana, Fabiano |
2805 |
0-1
|
So, Wesley |
2778 |
Naiditsch, Arkadij |
2722 |
0-1
|
Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter |
2654 |
Hou, Yifan |
2676 |
0-1
|
Kramnik, Vladimir |
2783 |
Nepomniachtchi, Ian |
2720 |
½-½
|
Meier, Georg |
2654 |
Round 03 – June 30 2015, 15:00h |
Meier, Georg |
2654 |
0-1
|
Caruana, Fabiano |
2805 |
Kramnik, Vladimir |
2783 |
1-0
|
Nepomniachtchi, Ian |
2720 |
Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter |
2654 |
½-½
|
Hou, Yifan |
2676 |
So, Wesley |
2778 |
0-1
|
Naiditsch, Arkadij |
2722 |
Round 04 – July 01 2015, 15:00h |
Caruana, Fabiano |
2805 |
1-0
|
Naiditsch, Arkadij |
2722 |
Hou, Yifan |
2676 |
½-½
|
So, Wesley |
2778 |
Nepomniachtchi, Ian |
2720 |
½-½
|
Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter |
2654 |
Meier, Georg |
2654 |
0-1
|
Kramnik, Vladimir |
2783 |
Round 05 – July 03 2015, 15:00h |
Kramnik, Vladimir |
2783 |
0-1
|
Caruana, Fabiano |
2805 |
Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter |
2654 |
½-½
|
Meier, Georg |
2654 |
So, Wesley |
2778 |
1-0
|
Nepomniachtchi, Ian |
2720 |
Naiditsch, Arkadij |
2722 |
|
Hou, Yifan |
2676 |
Round 06 – July 04 2015, 15:00h |
Caruana, Fabiano |
2805 |
1-0
|
Hou, Yifan |
2676 |
Nepomniachtchi, Ian |
2720 |
1-0
|
Naiditsch, Arkadij |
2722 |
Meier, Georg |
2654 |
½-½
|
So, Wesley |
2778 |
Kramnik, Vladimir |
2783 |
|
Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter |
2654 |
Round 07 – July 05 2015, 13:00h |
Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter |
2654 |
0-1
|
Caruana, Fabiano |
2805 |
So, Wesley |
2778 |
1-0
|
Kramnik, Vladimir |
2783 |
Naiditsch, Arkadij |
2722 |
½-½
|
Meier, Georg |
2654 |
Hou, Yifan |
2676 |
|
Nepomniachtchi, Ian |
2720 |