
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.
What a strong round! Almost no one survived without giving up at least a draw. Only in the Aeroflot Open can we see such results!
On the top board Ildar Khairullin massacred the top seed:
Sasikirian was able to beat yesterday's featured game hero, Potkin, with a brilliant game of his own. His pawn sacrifices on the queenside were perfectly timed to rip apart the position and allow deadly penetration. In a complex endgame the Indian player fabulously outplayed his opponent and won. A nice comeback so far from his poor play in the India-China summit.
Two underdogs were also able to take the full point, Ponkratov beating Petrosian and Van Foreest, who is not yet a GM, edging Kobalia.
An impressive series of GMs, but these are not the top boards
Paco Vallejo, Spain's #1 but living in Moscow. A local, if you will.
Potkin was yesterday's hero, but today he fell hard against Sasikirian
Man of the hour: Khairullin beat Mamedyarov
If you wonder how grandmasters think, its like this.
Glek vs. Danielian is a Group B game in an open. Wrap your head around that.
Round Two Standings
Rk. | SNo | Name | FED | Rtg | Pts. | |
1 | 8 | GM | Sasikiran Krishnan | IND | 2682 | 2.0 |
30 | GM | Ponkratov Pavel | RUS | 2613 | 2.0 | |
61 | IM | Van Foreest Jorden | NED | 2493 | 2.0 | |
21 | GM | Khairullin Ildar | RUS | 2630 | 2.0 | |
5 | 2 | GM | Nepomniachtchi Ian | RUS | 2714 | 1.5 |
3 | GM | Rapport Richard | HUN | 2709 | 1.5 | |
5 | GM | Inarkiev Ernesto | RUS | 2706 | 1.5 | |
6 | GM | Korobov Anton | UKR | 2694 | 1.5 | |
9 | GM | Fedoseev Vladimir | RUS | 2674 | 1.5 | |
10 | GM | Grachev Boris | RUS | 2673 | 1.5 | |
13 | GM | Kovalenko Igor | LAT | 2661 | 1.5 | |
14 | GM | Mamedov Rauf | AZE | 2658 | 1.5 | |
15 | GM | Zvjaginsev Vadim | RUS | 2658 | 1.5 | |
16 | GM | Motylev Alexander | RUS | 2653 | 1.5 | |
17 | GM | Khismatullin Denis | RUS | 2650 | 1.5 | |
18 | GM | Adhiban B. | IND | 2646 | 1.5 | |
22 | GM | Dubov Daniil | RUS | 2627 | 1.5 | |
24 | GM | Vidit Santosh Gujrathi | IND | 2625 | 1.5 | |
26 | GM | Bukavshin Ivan | RUS | 2618 | 1.5 | |
29 | GM | Khalifman Alexander | RUS | 2613 | 1.5 | |
32 | GM | Salem A.R. Saleh | UAE | 2603 | 1.5 | |
34 | GM | Shimanov Aleksandr | RUS | 2594 | 1.5 | |
35 | GM | Svetushkin Dmitry | MDA | 2592 | 1.5 | |
36 | GM | Bok Benjamin | NED | 2587 | 1.5 | |
43 | GM | Lu Shanglei | CHN | 2570 | 1.5 | |
69 | IM | Kovalevskaya Ekaterina | RUS | 2438 | 1.5 | |
23 | GM | Salgado Lopez Ivan | ESP | 2627 | 1.5 |
Only four remain with 2.0/2, and the games will be epic. The big question of the day: will Van Foreest, a lowly IM, be able to top Aeroflot with a perfect 3.0/3? Stay tuned and find out!
Photos Boris Dolmatovski
Select from the dropdown menu to replay the games
LinksThe games will be 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. |