Aimchess US Rapid: Aronian sole leader

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
8/29/2021 – The first five rounds of the Aimchess US Rapid preliminary stage were played on Saturday. Levon Aronian ended the day as sole leader after scoring 4 points, with wins over Le Quang Liem, Eric Hansen and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. Magnus Carlsen and Vladislav Artemiev are sharing second place a half point back. | Photo: Amruta Mokal

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Mating nets

World number 5 Levon Aronian has been showing good form during the summer, finishing in shared second place at the Superbet Classic, winning the Goldmoney Asian Rapid tournament and reaching the semifinals of the Chessable Masters. The 38-year-old, who announced in February that he will switch federations to represent the United States, had a strong start at the Aimchess US Rapid, scoring 4 out of 5 points on Saturday to grab the sole lead.

Magnus Carlsen and Vladislav Artemiev make up the chasing pack standing a half point behind. While Artemiev kicked off the day with two wins and drew his remaining games, Carlsen was defeated once on the first day of action, by Alireza Firouzja in round 4.

 
Firouzja vs. Carlsen - Round 4

The world champion seemed to have things under control earlier in the game, but by this point he was already in serious trouble with his king lacking protection on the queenside. 31...Ne4 was a blunder, since it allowed 32.Qh2, and after 32...Kc8 (32...Nd6 was better) 33.Bd7+, with a double check, 33...Kxd7 34.Rc7+ the world champion played 34...Ke6, allowing mate in one to appear on the board.

 

35.Qe5#. This was Firouzja’s only win of the day. The youngster drew his remaining games.

The world champion was not the only player who got caught in a mating on Saturday. In round 2, Leinier Dominguez misplaced his king on move 28 against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov.

 
Dominguez vs. Mamedyarov - Round 2

28.Kh5 left the white king short of escape squares. Mamedyarov quickly found 28...Rxe5 29.fxe5 Kg7

 

Having extra material means nothing when one’s king is about to get mated. Dominguez played 30.e6 only to delay the inevitable — 30...Be4 and there is no way to prevent ...Bg6#.

The top 8 players in the 15-round preliminary round robin advance to the knockout stage. The likes of Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Vidit Gujrathi and Jan-Krzysztof Duda are currently in the bottom half of the standings table, which means we can expect to get plenty of exciting chess in the remaining ten rounds of the prelims, as the aforementioned players are not the kind to lose without a fight.


Standings after round 5

Rk.NameRtg.Nt.Pts.n
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
TBPerf.
1
2782
4.0
5
0.00
2930
2
2847
3.5
5
0.00
2867
3
2704
3.5
5
0.00
2876
4
2782
3.0
5
1.00
2817
5
2772
3.0
5
0.50
2828
6
2759
3.0
5
0.50
2809
7
2758
3.0
5
0.00
2789
8
2776
2.5
5
0.00
2704
9
2751
2.0
5
0.00
2654
10
2623
2.0
5
0.00
2666
11
2726
2.0
5
0.00
2681
12
2709
2.0
5
0.00
2693
13
2698
2.0
5
0.00
2613
14
2606
1.5
5
1.00
2560
15
2587
1.5
5
0.00
2550
16
2738
1.5
5
0.00
2599
TBs: Direct encounter, Wins, Koya

All games

 
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 Ng4 7.Bc1 Nc6 B90: Sicilian Najdorf: Unusual White 6th moves, 6 Be3 Ng4 and 6 Be3 e5. 8.Be2 aiming for Nxc6. Qb6 9.Bxg4 Qxd4 The position is equal. 10.Qe2!?      
Exploring less charted territory. 10.Qxd4 Nxd4 11.Bd1 10...Ne5N Predecessor: 10...e6 11.0-0 Be7 12.Rd1 Qb6 13.Be3 Qxb2 14.Na4 Qb5 15.Qxb5 axb5 16.Nb6 Rb8 1-0 (29) Smirnov,P (2566)-Khatoev,E (2283) Barnaul 2011 11.Bxc8 11.h3 looks sharper. Bxg4 12.hxg4 Rc8 13.Nd1 Qc4 14.Qxc4 Rxc4 15.Ne3 11...Rxc8 12.0-0 e6 13.Rd1 Qc4 14.Qxc4 Rxc4 15.a4 Be7 16.f3 g5 17.Be3 Kd7 18.a5 g4 19.Kf2 19.f4 Nc6 20.Rd3 19...Rg8 19...gxf3 20.gxf3 Bf6 20.Bf4 20.f4= keeps the balance. g3+ 21.Ke2 20...Ng6 21.Be3 gxf3 22.gxf3 Bh4+ 23.Ke2 Bf6 24.Ra3 24.Ra4 Ne5 25.f4 Rg2+       Double Attack 26.Bf2 24...Rb4 24...Ne5 Strongly threatening ...Rg2+. 25.Rg1 Rxg1 26.Bxg1 Rb4 25.Rb3 Rxb3 26.cxb3 Be5 26...Ne5 Threatens to win with ...Rg2+. 27.Rg1 Rxg1 28.Bxg1 Nc6 27.Na4!= Nf4+ 28.Kf1! Ng2 29.Bf2 Bf4 30.Rd3 Bxh2 31.Rc3 Black must now prevent Nb6+. d5?
31...Rg5= and Black stays safe. 32.Nb6+!+-       White has strong compensation. Ke7 33.Bc5+ 33.exd5 Be5= 33...Kd8 34.Rc2 Bd6
34...Be5 35.Rxg2 Rxg2 36.Kxg2 Kc7 35.Bd4! Intending Bf6+ and mate. Less strong is 35.exd5 Rg5 35...Rg6 36.Rxg2 Rxg2 37.Kxg2 dxe4 38.fxe4 f5 39.Nc4 Bf8 39...Bc7 40.Kf3 Kd7 41.Ne5+ Ke7 40.exf5 exf5 41.Ne3 f4 42.Nd5 Kd7 43.Kf3 Kc6 44.Nxf4 44.Nf6 44...Bb4 45.Bc3 Kb5 46.Ke4 Better is 46.Be5+- 46...Bxa5± 47.Kd5 White wants to mate with Bxa5. Bb6 47...Bxc3± was called for. 48.bxc3 a5 48.Ne6+- a5 48...Be3 was worth a try. 49.Ke4 Bc1 49.Nd4+ Ka6 50.Nf5 Bf2 51.Kc4 b5+? 51...h5 52.Kd3 b5 52.Kd5 Kb6 53.Bf6 a4 53...Kc7 54.Nd6 h5 55.Nxb5+ Kb6 54.b4 Be1 55.Bd4+ Ka6 56.Kc5 h5 57.Bf6 57.Nd6 Ka7 58.Kxb5+ Kb8 59.Kc5 h4 60.b5 Bg3 61.Nf5 Bf4 62.Nxh4 57...Bf2+ 58.Kc6 White mates. Be1 59.Be7 Bf2 60.Bc5 Be1 61.Nd4 h4 62.Nxb5 Bg3 63.Na3 Weighted Error Value: White=0.27/Black=0.53
1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Dominguez Perez,L2758Duda,J27381–02021B90Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20211.1
Mamedyarov,S2782Vachier-Lagrave,M2751½–½2021D79Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20211.2
Artemiev,V2704Hansen,E26061–02021A07Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20211.3
Giri,A2776Naroditsky,D2623½–½2021E94Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20211.4
Liang,A2587Firouzja,A2759½–½2021C78Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20211.5
Aronian,L2782Le,Q27091–02021C78Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20211.6
Van Foreest,J2698Vidit,S27260–12021E20Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20211.7
Carlsen,M2847So,W27721–02021A50Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20211.8
Duda,J2738So,W27720–12021C48Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20212.1
Vidit,S2726Carlsen,M2847½–½2021A87Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20212.2
Le,Q2709Van Foreest,J2698½–½2021C65Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20212.3
Firouzja,A2759Aronian,L2782½–½2021C42Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20212.4
Naroditsky,D2623Liang,A25870–12021A01Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20212.5
Hansen,E2606Giri,A2776½–½2021C88Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20212.6
Vachier-Lagrave,M2751Artemiev,V27040–12021B12Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20212.7
Dominguez Perez,L2758Mamedyarov,S27820–12021C67Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20212.8
Mamedyarov,S2782Duda,J2738½–½2021D35Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20213.1
Artemiev,V2704Dominguez Perez,L2758½–½2021A34Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20213.2
Giri,A2776Vachier-Lagrave,M2751½–½2021A34Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20213.3
Liang,A2587Hansen,E26060–12021E32Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20213.4
Aronian,L2782Naroditsky,D2623½–½2021E73Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20213.5
Van Foreest,J2698Firouzja,A2759½–½2021C78Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20213.6
Carlsen,M2847Le,Q27091–02021C90Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20213.7
So,W2772Vidit,S27261–02021C42Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20213.8
Duda,J2738Vidit,S2726½–½2021A08Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20214.1
Le,Q2709So,W2772½–½2021D37Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20214.2
Firouzja,A2759Carlsen,M28471–02021B01Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20214.3
Naroditsky,D2623Van Foreest,J26981–02021D32Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20214.4
Hansen,E2606Aronian,L27820–12021C55Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20214.5
Vachier-Lagrave,M2751Liang,A25871–02021B12Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20214.6
Dominguez Perez,L2758Giri,A2776½–½2021B90Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20214.7
Mamedyarov,S2782Artemiev,V2704½–½2021D32Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20214.8
Artemiev,V2704Duda,J2738½–½2021A30Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20215.1
Giri,A2776Mamedyarov,S2782½–½2021D27Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20215.2
Liang,A2587Dominguez Perez,L27580–12021A08Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20215.3
Aronian,L2782Vachier-Lagrave,M27511–02021D73Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20215.4
Van Foreest,J2698Hansen,E26061–02021C54Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20215.5
Carlsen,M2847Naroditsky,D26231–02021B12Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20215.6
So,W2772Firouzja,A2759½–½2021C54Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20215.7
Vidit,S2726Le,Q27090–12021C92Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20215.8
Duda,J2738Le,Q27091–02021A07Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20216.1
Firouzja,A2759Vidit,S27260–12021C82Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20216.2
Naroditsky,D2623So,W27721–02021C78Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20216.3
Hansen,E2606Carlsen,M28470–12021C53Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20216.4
Vachier-Lagrave,M2751Van Foreest,J26981–02021C65Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20216.5
Dominguez Perez,L2758Aronian,L27820–12021C54Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20216.6
Mamedyarov,S2782Liang,A25871–02021D47Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20216.7
Artemiev,V2704Giri,A2776½–½2021A20Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20216.8
Giri,A2776Duda,J2738½–½2021D97Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20217.1
Liang,A2587Artemiev,V27040–12021C72Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20217.2
Aronian,L2782Mamedyarov,S2782½–½2021C54Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20217.3
Van Foreest,J2698Dominguez Perez,L27581–02021D27Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20217.4
Carlsen,M2847Vachier-Lagrave,M27511–02021D80Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20217.5
So,W2772Hansen,E26061–02021C54Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20217.6
Vidit,S2726Naroditsky,D2623½–½2021E68Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20217.7
Le,Q2709Firouzja,A27590–12021E07Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20217.8
Duda,J2738Firouzja,A2759½–½2021A48Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20218.1
Naroditsky,D2623Le,Q27091–02021A01Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20218.2
Hansen,E2606Vidit,S2726½–½2021B33Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20218.3
Vachier-Lagrave,M2751So,W2772½–½2021C54Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20218.4
Dominguez Perez,L2758Carlsen,M2847½–½2021B01Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20218.5
Mamedyarov,S2782Van Foreest,J26981–02021D10Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20218.6
Artemiev,V2704Aronian,L27821–02021B22Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20218.7
Giri,A2776Liang,A2587½–½2021D19Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20218.8
Liang,A2587Duda,J27380–12021B11Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20219.1
Aronian,L2782Giri,A2776½–½2021Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20219.2
Van Foreest,J2698Artemiev,V27040–12021C91Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20219.3
Carlsen,M2847Mamedyarov,S2782½–½2021D02Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20219.4
So,W2772Dominguez Perez,L27581–02021A37Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20219.5
Vidit,S2726Vachier-Lagrave,M2751½–½2021A34Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20219.6
Le,Q2709Hansen,E26061–02021D27Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20219.7
Firouzja,A2759Naroditsky,D2623½–½2021C92Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 20219.8
Duda,J2738Naroditsky,D26231–02021A65Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202110.1
Hansen,E2606Firouzja,A27590–12021C54Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202110.2
Vachier-Lagrave,M2751Le,Q27091–02021C54Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202110.3
Dominguez Perez,L2758Vidit,S27261–02021C54Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202110.4
Mamedyarov,S2782So,W2772½–½2021C67Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202110.5
Artemiev,V2704Carlsen,M2847½–½2021D74Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202110.6
Giri,A2776Van Foreest,J26981–02021D38Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202110.7
Liang,A2587Aronian,L27820–12021C78Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202110.8
Aronian,L2782Duda,J2738½–½2021C17Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202111.1
Van Foreest,J2698Liang,A25871–02021D15Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202111.2
Carlsen,M2847Giri,A2776½–½2021B30Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202111.3
So,W2772Artemiev,V27040–12021C79Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202111.4
Vidit,S2726Mamedyarov,S2782½–½2021D30Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202111.5
Le,Q2709Dominguez Perez,L27580–12021D26Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202111.6
Firouzja,A2759Vachier-Lagrave,M27511–02021D90Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202111.7
Naroditsky,D2623Hansen,E2606½–½2021C47Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202111.8
Duda,J2738Hansen,E2606½–½2021E32Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202112.1
Vachier-Lagrave,M2751Naroditsky,D26231–02021E75Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202112.2
Dominguez Perez,L2758Firouzja,A27590–12021C54Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202112.3
Mamedyarov,S2782Le,Q27090–12021E32Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202112.4
Artemiev,V2704Vidit,S2726½–½2021A30Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202112.5
Giri,A2776So,W2772½–½2021E06Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202112.6
Liang,A2587Carlsen,M28470–12021B46Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202112.7
Aronian,L2782Van Foreest,J26981–02021B90Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202112.8
Van Foreest,J2698Duda,J27380–12021D55Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202113.1
Carlsen,M2847Aronian,L2782½–½2021D39Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202113.2
So,W2772Liang,A25871–02021D12Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202113.3
Vidit,S2726Giri,A2776½–½2021D32Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202113.4
Le,Q2709Artemiev,V2704½–½2021B01Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202113.5
Firouzja,A2759Mamedyarov,S2782½–½2021C67Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202113.6
Naroditsky,D2623Dominguez Perez,L27580–12021B90Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202113.7
Hansen,E2606Vachier-Lagrave,M27510–12021C13Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202113.8
Duda,J2738Vachier-Lagrave,M27511–02021D78Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202114.1
Dominguez Perez,L2758Hansen,E26061–02021C54Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202114.2
Mamedyarov,S2782Naroditsky,D26231–02021B07Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202114.3
Artemiev,V2704Firouzja,A2759½–½2021D32Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202114.4
Giri,A2776Le,Q2709½–½2021D37Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202114.5
Liang,A2587Vidit,S2726½–½2021A38Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202114.6
Aronian,L2782So,W2772½–½2021C67Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202114.7
Van Foreest,J2698Carlsen,M2847½–½2021B08Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202114.8
Carlsen,M2847Duda,J2738½–½2021B22Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202115.1
So,W2772Van Foreest,J26981–02021E32Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202115.2
Vidit,S2726Aronian,L27821–02021D38Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202115.3
Le,Q2709Liang,A25871–02021B13Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202115.4
Firouzja,A2759Giri,A2776½–½2021D13Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202115.5
Naroditsky,D2623Artemiev,V2704½–½2021C72Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202115.6
Hansen,E2606Mamedyarov,S2782½–½2021C65Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202115.7
Vachier-Lagrave,M2751Dominguez Perez,L2758½–½2021C43Aimchess US Rapid Prelims 202115.8

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Carlos Colodro is a Hispanic Philologist from Bolivia. He works as a freelance translator and writer since 2012. A lot of his work is done in chess-related texts, as the game is one of his biggest interests, along with literature and music.

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