After a couple of years hiatus the Aeroflot Open is back!
The classic event has been more than just a massive super-strong series of opens, it has been the proving grounds for the players on the rise, a rich source of norms, and competition for all levels divided into three opens. It also has a richly doted blitz tournament at the end, free of entry for those registered in tournaments A and B.
Final Round
Ian Nepomniachtchi went into the final round with only one goal in mind: not lose. He had absolute not trouble holding Ivan Bukavshin to a draw with a solid Grunfeld. Meanwhile on board two the following slugfest occurred:
[Event "Aeroflot Open A 2015"] [Site "Moscow RUS"] [Date "2015.04.04"] [Round "9.2"] [White "Dubov, Daniil"] [Black "Lu, Shanglei"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A80"] [WhiteElo "2627"] [BlackElo "2570"] [PlyCount "53"] [EventDate "2015.03.27"] [SourceDate "2015.02.07"] 1. d4 f5 $5 {A dutch to fight for first, why not?} 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bg5 Ne4 4. Bh4 g6 5. Nbd2 Bg7 6. e3 c5 $5 {Aggression and aggression. Black is not happy with having a normal position. This is risky, however, as overextension is a real possibility.} 7. c3 d5 8. Nxe4 fxe4 9. Nd2 cxd4 10. cxd4 O-O $6 (10... Qb6 $1 { Would have prevented White's next move.}) 11. Qb3 Nc6 12. Rc1 Be6 $2 {The start of an extremely risky continuation, but probably not so strong.} 13. Qxb7 Nxd4 {The logical follow up, after all...} 14. exd4 Rb8 15. Qa6 Rb6 16. Qa3 Bxd4 {Black is down a piece, but he does seem to have some initiative...} 17. Nb3 Rxb3 (17... Bg7 18. Be2 d4 19. O-O d3 20. Bd1 {doesn't seem to leave Black with any compensation.}) 18. Qxb3 $6 (18. axb3 Qb6 19. Rc2 $18) 18... Qa5+ 19. Kd1 Bd7 20. Qb7 $2 Qa4+ $4 (20... e3 $1 {Suddenly after this move it would not have been so clear... White has several choices, but they aren't clear cut.} 21. Qxd5+ (21. Rc2 Bf5 $13) (21. fxe3 Bxe3 22. Rc3 Qa4+ 23. Qb3 Qxh4 $15) 21... Qxd5 22. Bc4 Qxc4 23. Rxc4 exf2 24. Rxd4 f1=Q+ 25. Rxf1 Rxf1+ $11 {Suddenly Black seems like he will hold a draw.}) 21. b3 Bg4+ 22. f3 $1 {A nice, accurate move. This move diffuses the attack:} exf3 23. Qxd5+ (23. bxa4 $4 fxg2+ 24. Kc2 gxh1=Q) 23... e6 (23... Kh8 24. bxa4 fxg2+ 25. Kc2 $18 {and h1 is now defended.}) 24. Qxe6+ Bxe6 25. bxa4 Bd5 26. gxf3 Bxf3+ 27. Kd2 {White is simply up a piece since Bxh1 runs into Bc4.} 1-0
On the third board Salem and Anton Guijarro drew their game to finish excellent tournaments. That did allow several people to tie with them on 6.0/9, but that doesn't diminish how well they played.
The list of players that were able to score 6.0/9 included Jumbayev, Khairullin and Khismatullin, while Lu Shanglei lost his game but already had 6.0.
Aeroflot is an unbelievably tough event, consider that Mamedyarov only scored 50%!
With this victory Nepomniachtchi qualifies for Dortmund later this year.
The winners and their trophies: Dubov (second place) Nepomniachtchi and Bukavshin
Third place for Ivan Bukavshin
Final Standings
Photos Boris Dolmatovski
Replay Final Rounds
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