FIDE World Cup 2017: MVL's Narikala against Grischuk

by Sagar Shah
9/15/2017 – Round four tiebreaks saw five matches being played. Four of them were finished in the first two 25'+10" encounter.The winners were Svidler, So, Fedoseev and Rapport. The only match that went beyond the first two rapid games was the one between Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Alexander Grischuk. In the first 10'+10" game MVL was able to outwit the Russian super GM. In a must-win scenario Grischuk gave everything that he had, and came so close. But MVL showcased virtuoso defence to qualify to the quarter finals! In-depth coverage from Tbilisi. | Photos: Amruta Mokal

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So, Svidler, Fedoseev, MVL, Rapport advance

World Cup

Narikala Fortress is an ancient symbol of Tbilisi's defence | Photo: Eurasia travels

Yesterday we had the endgame masterclass in the game between Levon Aronian and Daniil Dubov, where both players had g-pawns and Aronian had a rook versus Dubov's bishop. Today, in the tiebreaks, the very crucial encounter between MVL and Grischuk saw the same material balance, just that instead of both sides have g-pawns, it was h-pawn and rook vs g-pawn and the bishop. The position is very instructive and something that we can all learn from. MVL setup a very nice fortress (hence, the title of this article!). But first let us understand the background.

MVL against Grischuk was the match that made day 12 at the World Cup very memorable | Photo: Amruta Mokal

The first two classical games of the match between MVL and Grischuk had ended in draws. The two 25' + 10" rapid games ended in draws as well, although it must be mentioned that in the first game Grischuk was clearly better with an extra pawn. As both the 25'+10" rapid games ended in draws, the action shifted to 10'+10" rapids. MVL was able to get in the first win of the match with the white pieces. All he had to do in the second game was to get the half point to qualify for the quarter finals. But MVL, being MVL, played the game in the most ambitious fashion. Grischuk won an exchange and extinguished his opponent's initiative. Finally we reached the following endgame:

 
Black has just played g6-g5. White to play should stop the advance of the pawn further with h3.

In the above position if White plays h3, he is winning. The win is easy to demonstrate but requires some finesse. White first gets his rook to a6 cutting the black king. When the bishop moves from f4, the rook attacks the bishop (say Be3 Ra3 Bf4 Rf3!) Once the rook has an eye on the bishop, the king comes up via h6-h5 to g4 and then the bishop starts feeling uncomfortable. It's diagonal c1-f4 is too short because the rook attacks it and the h4 move prevents it from sitting comfortably on f4.

Grischuk did not play h3 and instead allowed Black to play g4 followed by g3. This was a substantial improvement for Black and after the game MVL thought that the following position was a fortess:

 
MVL thought that this position is drawn, but this is winning for White. He needs to show great precision.

How should white win? A lot of schematic thinking is required here to win. Let's try to break down into steps:

1. Firstly White should get his king to f3 and rook to the g-file say Rg4. Now Black will have to keep his king on the h-file because if it goes to the f-file, then the h-pawn simply runs down the board.

 
The first position that we are aiming for.

2. Once the king is on the h-file, the rook must push the black king back to h7. This is possible because the white king can move to f5 and start threatening mates with the rook. Once the king goes to h7, the white rook must jump into g6 and cut the king off.

 
The second important position.

3. Now it is very important to get this position with black to play. If it is White's move he can move his rook to g4-g5- later g8 and get this position with black to play. Once you get the above position with black to play, it is zugzwang. I can see you asking zugzwang for what? Well, the reason is that white king must get to h5. If White is able to do that then he wins easily, as he gets his rook to g4-e4 and finally checking the black king from e7 and then penetrating to the g6 square with the king. So getting the king to h5 is very important. In the above diagram, black to move can either play Kh8 or Be1. Kh8 is met with Rg4 and Kh7 loses to Kg5 with Kh5 coming up. And if instead of Kh8, Black plays Be1, straightaway Kg5 is possible as g2 loses the pawn to Kh5. This means that you are able to get your king to h5. What next?

 
The king has come to h5. It's time for the final attack.

4. The black king can either go to h8 or the bishop goes to e1. Be1 is refuted with Re6! Bf2 Re7+ Kg8 Kg6 threatening a mate! So instead of Be1, Kh8 is possible, but White now chooses to push his pawn with h4 and Kh7 is met with Rg4. Black king going to last rank will lose to Kg6. And Be1 is met with Re4! Bf2 Re7+ Kg8 Kg6.

 
Once the king reaches g6 it is all over.

5. To...Kf8 in the above position, you must find the only move to win, Re2! Not so difficult. Now the king cannot move, the bishop has to and then White advances his h-pawn. 

 
Once you get the king to g6, the rest is easy as Black is unable to make any progress and we can start pushing the h-pawn.

There are so many subtleties and so many little moves that White has to make in order to win the game. One of the very important things that White must be careful about is not pushing his h-pawn. On h3 it is safe. And it helps to keep the pawn away from the radar of black's bishop.

 
h4?? A bad move by Grischuk. After this he is unable to win.

In the game Grischuk couldn't understand that his pawn must remain on h3. He pushed his pawn to h4 and now it is a draw. The key line being ...Be1 Kg5 g2! Kh5 Bxh4. And there you see the downside of pushing the pawn to h4.

Replay the game with all the analysis: 

 
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1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5 4.d3 Nge7 5.g3 d5 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.Bg2 Nc7 8.0-0 Be7 9.Nd2 0-0 10.Bxc6! This is the right choice when you are in a must win scenario. You must imbalance the play. bxc6 11.Qa4 Rb8 12.Nc4 Rb4 13.Qa5 f6 14.b3 Bh3 15.Re1 Qb8 16.Ba3 Rb5!? MVL thought that this was the right way to go because in return for the loss of exchange he gets the initiative and the white queen looks a bit funny on a5. 17.Nxb5 cxb5 18.Ne3 Qb7 19.f3 b4!? 20.Bb2 Na6 The threat is Bd8 followed by Bd7 trapping the queen. 21.g4! Grischuk prevents the bishop from coming out. h5 22.a3!? 22.a4!± 22...Bd8 23.Qa4 hxg4 24.axb4 Nxb4 25.Qxa7 Qxa7 26.Rxa7 gxf3 27.Kf2 fxe2 28.Kxe2 White has an exchange for a pawn, but the pawns are weak and it is not so easy to make progress. Be6 29.Bc3 Bxb3 30.Rb1 Bf7 31.Bxb4 cxb4 32.Rxb4 f5 33.Rb8 e4 34.Raa8 exd3+ 35.Kxd3 Be7 36.Nxf5! Bg6 37.Rxf8+ Bxf8 38.Ke4 Kf7 39.Ke5 Bxf5 40.Kxf5 White is now winning and it clearly feels so, but MVL is a tricky guy! g6+ 41.Kg5 Bc5 42.Kh6 Be3+ 43.Kh7 g5 44.Kh6 44.h3 After the game Grischuk said that he should have played this. While this move wins, what happened in the game was also winning, albeit with more efforts. Bf4 44...Kf6? 45.Rf8+ Ke7 46.Rf1+- 45.Ra6 Be3 46.Ra3 Bf4 47.Rf3 Kf6 47...Ke6 48.Kg6 Ke5 49.Kh5 Kf5 50.Rf1 Ke5 51.Kg4 Bd2 52.Rd1 Bf4 53.h4+- 48.Kh6 Kf5 49.Kh5 Ke4 50.Kg4 Bc1 51.Rf5 Bd2 52.Rxg5+- 44...Bf4 45.Ra2 45.h3? g4+= 45...g4+ 46.Kh5 g3 47.h3 Be3 At this point it seemed to us that the game might end in a draw. The bishop sits on f2 and someone has to all the time baby sit the g2 square. But there is still a way to win. 48.Kg4 Bf2 49.Kf3 Kg6 50.Ra5 Kh6 51.Rb5 Grischuk makes some moves now that make no sense. He is just gaining time, and soon hits on the right plan. Kg6 52.Rd5 Kh6 53.Re5 Kg6 54.Rb5 Kh6 55.Rb4 Kg5 56.Rg4+ Kh6 The first step is achieved, the rook on g4 is well placed. The white king can now advance. 57.Ke4 Be1 58.Kf5 Bf2 59.Rg6+ Kh7 59...Kh5 60.Rg7 Kh6 61.Rg8 Be1 61...Kh7 62.Rg6+- is a zugzwang. 62.Rh8+ Kg7 63.Re8 Bf2 64.Re6+- wins as in the main line. 60.Kf6 60.Rg4 Kh6 61.Rg8 Kh7 62.Rg6 Kh8 63.Rg4 60...Bd4+ 61.Kf7 Bf2 62.Kf6 Bd4+ 63.Kf5 Bf2 64.h4? The move that throws away the win. White had to get this same position with black to play and he would have been able to make substantial progress. 64.Rg4! Kh6 64...Be1 65.Kg5 Bf2 66.Kh5 Be1 67.Re4 Bf2 68.Re7+ Kg8 69.Kg6+- 65.Rg8! Kh7 66.Rg6 After this White gets his king to h5. Be1 66...Kh8 67.Rg4! Kg5-h5 is unstoppable. 67.Kg5 Bf2 68.Kh5 Kh8 68...Be1 69.h4 Bf2 70.Rg4 Be1 70...Kh8 71.Kg6+- 71.Re4 Bf2 72.Re7+ Kg8 73.Kg6 Kf8 74.Re2+- 69.h4 Kh7 70.Rg4 Be1 71.Re4 Bf2 72.Re7+ Kg8 73.Kg6 Kf8 74.Re2!+- The final accurate move that seals the win. 64...Be1 65.h5 65.Kg5 g2 66.Kh5 Bxh4!= is the critical line why the position is now drawn. 65...Bf2 66.Kf4 Be1 67.Kf3 Bf2 68.Ke2 Kh8 69.Kf3 Kh7 70.Kf4 Be1 71.Kg4 Bf2 72.Kf5 Be1 73.Kf4 Bf2 74.Ke5 Be1 75.Kf6 Bf2 76.Kf5 Be1 77.Kg5 Bf2 78.Kf5 Be1 79.Ke4 Bf2 80.Kf3 Grischuk tries very hard, but there is just no win! Be1 81.Re6 Bf2 82.h6! The final attempt and it seemed as if White can win now as Kh8 is met with Re7. But MVL was very alert. Bc5! 82...Kg8 83.Re7+- 83.Kxg3 Bf8 84.Kg4 Bxh6 85.Kf5 Bd2 White is just a tempo short of winning this rook vs bishop endgame. 86.Kf6 86.Rg6 Bc3!= 86...Kh6 87.Rc6 Kh5 88.Kf5 Kh4 89.Rc2 Be3 90.Re2 Bb6 91.Re6 Bc7 92.Rc6 Bb8 93.Rc3 Bg3 94.Rxg3 A great game filled some high quality chess and a lot of things to learn from. ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Grischuk,A2783Vachier-Lagrave,M2789½–½2017A04FIDE World Cup 20174.6

Some more instruction on this endgame by GM Effstratios Grivas will soon follow. ChessBase wants to ensure that you become an expert in rook vs bishop endgames!

The various expressions of Alexander Grischuk. Immediately after the game he knew that he was winning, but it was too late! | Photo: Amruta Mokal

We have the entire game on the ChessBase India Youtube channel in video. The game was 10'+10" but lasted nearly 45 minutes. The videos are split into five parts. Here is the first one:

This is the part I of the second rapid game. If you enjoy it, you can follow the next parts here.

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave was extremely tired after the game, but gave us a brief summary of his match with Grischuk

Wesley So vs Baadur Jobava

If there is one reason why we will see less chess fans at the playing venue from tomorrow, it is because Baadur Jobava was eliminated. Jobava is a big icon in the country and I realized this today when there was complete silence in the press room as he lost his match to Wesley So. Baadur with his solid play throughout the tournament had given Georgians a lot of hope. After all beating Yu Yangyi and Ian Nepomniachtchi was never easy. But Wesley So, proved to be a much harder nut to crack.

Every Georgian was cheering for their local hero Baadur Jobava! We show you the atmosphere in the press room while the game was in progress.

Baadur tried really hard, but Wesley showed his class in the first rapid game | Photo: Amruta Mokal

 
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1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 Bb7 4.Bg2 e6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Nc3 0-0 7.Re1 d5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.d4 Re8 10.Bf4 h6 11.Ne5 Nbd7 12.Qa4 Nf8 13.Nc6 Qd7 14.Nxe7+ Rxe7?! 14...Qxe7= 15.Qxd7 Rxd7 16.Bh3 Re7 17.Nb5?! 17.Rac1 17...Ng6! A strong move forcing White to go back. 18.Be3 18.Bxc7 a6 18...Ne4 19.a4 a6 20.Nc3 Nxc3 21.bxc3 Rae8 22.Bg2 c6 23.Ra2± Such position are a nightmare to play against a technical player like Wesley So. He uses his bishop pair and superior pawn structure to put tremendous pressure on Baadur and finishes him off to perfection. f6 24.Bc1 Nh8 25.Ba3 Rc7 26.Rb2 b5 27.e4 Nf7 28.Re3 bxa4 29.exd5 Rxe3 30.fxe3 cxd5 31.c4 Rd7 32.Bh3 Rc7 33.Bg2 Rd7 34.Rb6 Nd8 35.cxd5 f5 36.g4 Bxd5 37.gxf5 Bc4 38.Bf1 Bxf1 39.Kxf1 a5 40.Rb5 Nc6 41.Kf2 Ra7 42.Ke2 Kf7 43.Kd2 Nb4 44.e4 Rc7 45.Rxa5 Rc2+ 46.Kd1 Rc4 47.Ra7+ Kg8 48.Rxa4 Rxd4+ 49.Ke2 Rxe4+ 50.Kf3 Re5 51.Rxb4 Rxf5+ 52.Rf4 Ra5 53.Bb4 Rb5 54.Bc3 Rb7 55.Rc4 Rf7+ 56.Ke4 Kh7 57.Be5 Rf1 58.Rc7 Rg1 59.Kf5 Rg5+ 60.Ke6 Kg8 61.Rc3 Rg6+ 62.Kf5 Rg5+ 63.Kf4 Rg1 64.Kf5 Rf1+ 65.Kg6 Rg1+ 66.Bg3 1–0
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So,W2810Jobava,B26871–02017A15FIDE World Cup 20174.3

In the second game Wesley played the Petroff and was able to draw to qualify to the next round. Towards the end there was some drama related to three-fold repetition which we were able capture in a video:

The game that knocked out Baadur Jobava

The arbiters confirm that it is a three-fold repetition | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Wesley speaks about his win over Jobava, the resurgence of Petroff and what he thinks about his next opponent Vladimir Fedoseev

Richard Rapport vs Evgeny Najer

This was a battle of styles. While Rapport likes to play unconventional chess and goes for super complicated stuff, Najer has a much more controlled style of play. He likes to play logical chess and his moves usually follow a plan or a scheme that he has formulated. The match was hard fought with each and every game going down to the wire. After three draws (two classical games and one rapid), the deadlock was finally broken in the second rapid 25'+10" rapid game.

 
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1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.b4!? Of course Rapport goes for the most fun line! Bg4 4.g3 Bxf3 5.exf3 e5 6.Bg2 Nd7 7.a3 a5 8.b5 Bd6 9.f4 exf4 10.Bxb7 Rb8 11.Bg2 Ngf6 12.d3 12.0-0 would be normal, but Rapport doesn't like normal stuff. 12...Qe7+ 13.Kf1 Nc5?! Why to let White check and break your castle? 13...0-0 14.Bc6+ Kf8 15.Ra2! Nfd7 16.gxf4 16.Bxf4 Bxf4 17.gxf4 16...Qf6 17.Nd2 Qxf4 17...Bxf4 18.Bxd7 Nxd7 19.Ne4 Qh4= 18.Ne4 Qf5 19.h4 h5 20.Bg5 Ne5 21.Nxc5 Bxc5 22.Be4 Qe6 23.Bd5 Qf5 24.Be4 Qe6 25.f3 Rxb5!? 26.Bd5 26.cxb5 Qxa2 26...Qd6 27.Bxf7! 27.cxb5 Qxd5 27...Rb7 28.Bd5 c6 29.Be4 Bxa3 30.Qa4 Bb4 31.f4 Rf7 32.Kg2 Ng4 33.Qxc6 White wins back his pawn and now has a clear positional superiority. Qxc6 34.Bxc6 Ne3+ 35.Kf3 g6 36.Be4 Kg7 37.c5 Ng4 38.c6 Rc8 39.Rc1 Bc3 40.Bd5 Ne5+ 40...Rfc7 41.Re2± 41.Ke2 Nxc6 42.Bxf7 Kxf7 43.Rb1 Re8+ 44.Kf1 Re3 44...Bb4 45.Rc2 Ne7 46.Rc7± 45.Rb6 Nb4 45...Re1+ 46.Kg2 Nb4 47.Rxa5 Re2+ 48.Kf3 Re3+ 49.Kg2 49.Kf2 Nxd3+-+ 49...Re2+= 46.Re2! Nxd3 47.f5! Rxe2 48.fxg6+ Kg7 49.Kxe2 Nc1+ 50.Bxc1 A very volatile and creative game by Rapport. 1–0
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Rapport,R2675Najer,E27071–02017A09FIDE World Cup 20174.4

If you too would like to play this line with 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.b4!? then you must definitely have a look at Bologan's latest DVD on the Reti where he talks about this line. In general he presents a repertoire for White beginning with 1.Nf3.

Reti - A Repertoire for White

Starting with 1.Nf3 the Reti is designed for those players who like strategy, manoeuvres and plans. Bologan presents a repertoire based on 1.Nf3 giving you options for all major replies.

Richard Rapport has already beaten Wei Yi and Li Chao at this event. Can he beat his third Chinese opponent — Ding Liren? | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Evgeniy Najer beat Aleksandrov, Vitiugov and Caruana. A very successful World Cup 2017 campaign comes to an end. | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Peter Svilder vs Bu Xiangzhi

Peter Svidler explained that beating Magnus Carlsen one game in a row doesn't make Bu Xiangzhi "a mythical beast which you need to be extremely afraid and totally alter your strategy," adding, "he remains an incredibly strong player, that I have the utmost respect for, but that was what I thought before." Svidler was able to beat Bu Xiangzhi 2-0 in the rapid and advance to the quarterfinals. Svidler beating his opponent with the black pieces was the most crucial result of the match. Bu was under too much pressure to win the second rapid game with black and collapsed.

He is 41 years old, and twelve days of gruelling chess is surely difficult. But Peter looks to be in good shape as he takes on Maxime Vachier Lagrave in the quarterfinals | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Peter Svidler talks about his match with Bu Xiangzhi

The disappointment of getting knocked out. Bu Xiangzhi with his coach after the completion of the match against Svidler | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Although he is out, Bu will cherish this tournament for eliminating Magnus Carlsen. Who knows he might be the reason for a reigning World Champion never again to take part in the World Cup!

 
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1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Bf4 6.g3 6...d5 7.e3 Bb4 8.Be2 0-0 9.0-0 White has an edge. Bxc3 10.bxc3 Re8 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bh4N 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.cxd5 exd5 14.Qb3 Rd8 0-1 (68) So,W (2773) -Vachier Lagrave,M (2744) Baku 2015 12...g5! 13.Bg3 Ne4 14.Qc2 14.Bd3 Nxc3 15.Qh5 14...e5 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.cxd5 cxd5 17.Rfd1 Bf5 18.Qb3 Rb8 Black has some pressure. 19.Rxd5?! 19.Qa3 19...Qc7 20.Qc4 Qxc4 21.Bxc4 Be6 22.Rxe5 Nxg3 And not 22...Bxc4 23.Rxe4! Rxe4 24.Bxb8± 23.Rxe6 White should play 23.Bb5 Rxb5 24.Rxb5 Ne2+ 25.Kf1 Nxc3 26.Rc5 23.Bxe6 Ne2+ 24.Kf1 Nxc3 23...Ne2+ 24.Kf1 fxe6 25.Bxe2 Endgame KRR-KRB Rec8 26.Bd1 Rb2 27.Bb3 Kf7 28.Rd1 Rxc3 29.g4 29.h3 29...Ke7-+ 30.Rd4
30...a5 30...Rc8!-+ White must now prevent ...Rf8. 31.Ra4 Rf8 32.Rxa7+ Kd6 33.Ra6+ Kc5 31.Re4 Rc6 32.Kg2 Kf6 33.Rd4 Ke7 34.Re4! Rd6 35.Kg3 Kf6 36.f4 Rb1 37.Re5
37.h4 37...a4! 38.Bxa4 gxf4+ 39.Kxf4 Rd3 Strongly threatening ...Rf1+. 40.Ra5? 40.Bb5 is tougher. Rb4+ 41.Kf3 40...Ra3 41.e4 Now e5+ and White clings on. Rf1# Precision: White = 42%, Black = 63%.
0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Bu,X2714Svidler,P27560–12017A33FIDE World Cup 20174.3

Vladimir Fedoseev vs Maxim Rodshtein

After staging a heroic comeback in the second classical game, Rodshtein was unable to maintain his momentum and lost both the rapid games to Vladimir Fedoseev. "I was not able to think properly," said Rodshtein after the game. Rodshtein goes back home, but takes with him a lot of memories. The positive feeling of beating Michael Adams, and the not so positive one of getting a walkover against Kovalyov.

 
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1.d4 0 d5 1 2.c4 0 e6 0 3.Nf3 26 Nf6 2 4.g3 15 Bb4+ 2 5.Nbd2 26 dxc4 2 6.Bg2 2 b5 5 7.0-0 32 a5 3 8.a4 147 c6 30 9.Ne1 78 Nd5 72 9...Ra6 10.Nc2 Be7 11.e4 0-0 12.e5 Nd5 13.Ne4 Nd7 14.Qg4 f5 15.exf6 1/2-1/2 (15) Papaioannou,I (2624)-Vidit,S (2563) Vrachati 2013 10.e4 97 Nb6 3 11.Nc2 101 11.axb5 cxb5 12.e5 Nd5 13.Ne4 with the idea of Qg4 is interesting 11...bxa4 105 11...c3 12.bxc3 12.Nxb4 cxd2 13.Bxd2 axb4 12...Bxc3 13.Ra2 Nxa4 12.e5 51 Be7 25 13.Qg4 9 g6 32 13...0-0 14.Ne4 14.Ne4 13 with the strong threat of Bh6 due to which black needed to play h5 61 15.Qf3 12 h4 76 16.Rd1 24 Ba6 34 17.Ne3 54 Rh5 188 Highly ambitious move 18.g4 88 18.Ng4± Hopping to the f6 weakness as soon as possible was good Rf5 19.Ngf6+ Bxf6 20.Nxf6+ Qxf6 21.exf6 Rxf3 22.Bxf3 Bb5 23.Bg5 hxg3 24.hxg3 White is just better and converting cannot be very difficult because of blacks weak king and pawn structure too. 18...Rh7 16 19.g5 6 N8d7 128 20.Ng4 30 Bb5 10 21.Bh3 182 White tried to put pressure on e6. The deep idea is Ngf6 and after exchange on f6 he will take with the g-pawn to vacate g5 square for the e4 knight and then threats of sacrifice on e6. 21.Ngf6+ Nxf6 22.gxf6 22.Nxf6+ Bxf6 23.gxf6 Nd5 and black is doing okay 22...Bb4∞ 21...Rh8 319 22.Nh6! 299 22.Ngf6+ Nxf6 23.gxf6 now this doesnt make sense because after Bb4 24.Ng5 is no more a tempo and black simply gets Qd5 22...Rf8 26 23.Qg4 7 23.Nd6+! Forcing an exchange of dark squared bishop and opening the crucial central e-file. Bxd6 24.exd6 Qb8 25.Bf4 Nd5 26.Re1± with a crushing attack. A very scary position to defend with black. The pressured points of e6-f7 with the king still in the center are hard to take care. 23...Qc7 12 24.Qxh4 7 0-0-0 10 25.Bd2 18 Nd5 18 26.Qg3 98 Qb6 57 27.Bc3 126 c5! 110 A very difficult position for a rapid game. Black is trying hard to create counterplay. 28.Bg2 0 Nxc3 75 29.bxc3 4 cxd4 3 30.cxd4 7 Nb8 46 31.Nc3 39 31.Qg4! xray defence to d4 Rxd4?? 32.Rxd4 Qxd4 33.Nd6++- 31...Bb4 73 31...Rxd4 32.Rxd4 Qxd4 32.d5 10 a3 9 33.Rdc1 55 33.Nxb5 Qxb5 34.d6 Nc6 35.Ng4± 33...Ba6 37 34.Rab1 2 34.Na4 Qb5 34...Qd4 35.d6± 35.Rxc4+! Qxc4 36.Nb6++- 34...Nd7! 25 35.Bf1 109 35.d6 35...Nc5 16 and now the knight becomes very strong with the support of c4 pawn. White suddenly lands in a difficult position. 36.Qf3?! 20 exd5 46 37.Nxd5 6 Rxd5 124 37...Qb7 38.Bg2 Qxd5 39.Qxd5 Rxd5 40.Bxd5 c3 38.Qxd5 0 Bb7 15 39.Qxc4 45 Qc6 1 40.Qg4+ 22 Kb8 38 41.f3 2 41.Bg2 would have led into a forcing variation Qxg2+ 42.Qxg2 Bxg2 43.Kxg2 a2 44.Ra1 Nb3 45.Rf1 Nxa1 46.Rxa1= 41...Qd5 45 42.Bg2?? 28 Nb3 6 43.Rd1 9 a2 5 Quite an interesting game. Ofcourse its not possible to play accurately in such kind of positions in rapid format. And not at all along with such a high level of tournament pressure. Rodstein fought his best and Fedoseev dint leave an opportunity to create counterplay. 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Rodshtein,M2695Fedoseev,V27310–12017E04FIDE World Cup 20174.4

Watch out for this lad, he might just reach the Candidates. 22-year-old Vladimir Fedoseev | Photo: Amruta Mokal

"I was trying hard in 2015 and 2016 as well, but 2017 is the year when my real improvement took place"

Results of round four

Continental President for Americas Jorge Vega with European Chess Union President Zurab Azmaiparashvili | Photo: Amruta Mokal

In this picture you can see 30 years of Woman World Championship! Maia Chiburdanidze (right) was the World Champion from 1978 to 1991 and next to her is Nona Gaprindashvili who was the World Champion from 1962 to 1978! Also in the picture is famous journalist and author Genna Sosonko and former World Senior Champion Zurab Sturua. | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Maia Chiburdanidze became the Women's World Champion at the age of 17 when she beat Nona Gaprindashvili. She held the title for 13 years and was the second woman in the world to become a full fledged grandmaster. She talks about the current state of women's chess, can women be equal to men, and how Georgia dominated chess for so many years. She also has a message at the end for Vishy Anand.

The initial moments of round four tiebreaks

Pairings for Quarter-finals

Peter Svidler vs MVL

Who do you think will win?
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave199
68%
Peter Svidler90
31%

Vassily Ivanchuk vs Levon Aronian

Who do you think will win?
Levon Aronian204
77%
Vassily Ivanchuk60
22%

Wesley So vs Vladimir Fedoseev

Who do you think will win?
Wesley So199
76%
Vladimir Fedoseev60
23%

Richard Rapport vs Ding Liren

Who do you think will win?
Ding Liren171
65%
Richard Rapport89
34%

Links


Sagar is an International Master from India with two GM norms. He loves to cover chess tournaments, as that helps him understand and improve at the game he loves so much. He is the co-founder and CEO of ChessBase India, the biggest chess news portal in the country. His YouTube channel has over a million subscribers, and to date close to a billion views. ChessBase India is the sole distributor of ChessBase products in India and seven adjoining countries, where the software is available at a 60% discount. compared to International prices.

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