Batumi Olympiad Round 6: Poland, Azerbaijan lead in open and USA, Armenia in the women's

by Sagar Shah
10/1/2018 – Watch Round 7 LIVE! After six rounds we are still trying to find a sole leader in the open section. We now have Poland and Azerbaijan, both the teams on 12.0/12 facing off against each other. The Polish team beat Ukraine, while Azerbaijan were just too strong for Czech Republic. In the women's section, USA maintained its lead but were joined by Armenia who got the better of Russia. In this report you will find analysis of the key encounters and also a lot of videos and excellent pictures.

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Different routes to the same destination

For a journalist, the World Chess Olympiad is a bliss! You turn to your right you have a story, you turn to your left you have an interesting person to interview. The only problem is that the Olympiad lasts for just 12 days! If only, it could go on for a bit longer! In our bid to provide maximum updates to the readers, Amruta and I decided to leave early from our Hotel Hilton to the playing hall. As luck would have it, we got delayed in reaching the venue due to a flat tire!

A flat tire on the day when you want to reach early is always irritating!

We did reach the venue on time and the sixth round was going to be an exciting one. There were four teams with a perfect score of 10.0/10. They were Azerbaijan, Czech Republic, Poland and Ukraine. It was interesting to note that all the big guns like USA, Russia, China and India were pushed behind. As these four teams took on each other we once again saw two decisive results which meant that we were left with two leaders: Azerbaijan led by Shakhriyar Mamedyarov beat Czech Republic and the Polish team led by youngster Jan Krzysztof Duda ensured that the Polish team outwitted Ukraine.

Top teams after six days

Azerbaijan and Poland are the two teams that are on 100% score right now with 12.0/12. They both have played some phenomenal bit of chess to reach where they are right now. 

The Azeri team (clockwise from top left): Teimour Radjabov, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Eltaj Safarli, Arkadij Naiditsch and Rauf Mamedov.

The Polish Team (clockwise from top left): Radoslaw Wojtaszek, Jan Krzysztof Duda, Kamil Dragun, Jacek Tomczak, and Kacper Piorun

The Azerbaijan team has been relying heavily on its top boards to fire. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov has already scored wins over Michael Adams, Levon Aronian and David Navara. Not to mention he has reached a live Elo rating of 2826, just 13 Elo points behind Magnus Carlsen. For Poland, however, it has been quite the opposite. Their lower boards are the ones who are causing the maximum damage. Jacek Tomczak, Kacper Piorun and Kamil Dragun are all playing some amazing chess and have a rating performance of above 2750. It will be interesting to view the seventh round when these two team fight it out against each other! 

Azerbaijan's win over Czech Republic

There was no doubt about this fact that Azerbaijan was the stronger team. But once the Czech Republic had beaten China in the previous round, no one was taking them lightly. However, Azerbaijan is different from other teams in the fact that their top board, Mamedyarov, is in the best form of his life. After demolishing Aronian in round five, Shakh had absolutely no difficulties in outplaying David Navara with the white pieces. The second win for the Azeri team was scored by Arkadij Naiditsch and a convincing 3-1 result was the final scoreline.

Stocek (right) has been playing some excellent chess for the Czech team in the past rounds. He wasn't able to cause much damage to Mamedov with the white pieces

Analysis by GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly
 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 c5 Once again Mamedyarov is facing the same line which Adams played against him on 3rd round. 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e4 Nxc3 7.bxc3 cxd4 8.cxd4 Bb4+ 9.Bd2 Bxd2+ 10.Qxd2 0-0 The main tabiya of this line. In 2015 Mamedyarov played a fine game and defeated Kramnik. Since then he didn't face this line at top level until Ding Liren beat him in Berlin Candidates. 11.Bc4 Nd7 12.0-0 b6 13.Rad1 Bb7 14.Rfe1 Rc8 15.Bb3 Re8 Adams started with h6 here but it eventually got transposed after h3-Re8 16.h3 h6 16...Nf6 was started by Kramnik and then Ding used this to beat Mamedyarov in Candidates. 17.Qf4 Nh5 18.Qh2 h6 19.Ne5 Nf6 20.Qf4 b5! Black was fine in 0-1 (43) Mamedyarov,S (2809)-Ding,L (2769) Berlin 2018 Mega2018 Update 23 [Ding Liren] 17.Qf4 Both players were making their moves instantly following Mamedyarov - Adams game from round 3. Now finally Mamedyarov deviates by Qf4 which was also played instantly. 17.Re3 was the Adams game 17...Qc7 17...Qf6 is also equally doable and its matter of taste where black would like to put his queen. 18.e5 Computers top choice is 18.Qc7 but of course this will lead nowhere and practically it would be much easier for black to play once the queens are off. Nf8 After 15min of thought. It is always difficult to make choice when different options are available and all of them are of similar strength. Right here black had at least three decent options...1. Keeping the knight on d7 flexible and advancing the queenside pawns with a5-b5. 2. Play Nf6-Nd5 immediately 3. To play Nf8-Ng6 as happened in the game. All of these moves are equally good and once again its matter of taste how one will play. 18...Nf6!? 19.Rc1 Qb8 20.Rxc8 Rxc8 21.Nd2 a5 22.Qh4 Almost every knight retreat is possible and keeps the balance. 18...a5!? I like this. For now, black simply keeps d7 knight flexible and starts advancing on queenside which is very typical idea in this line. 19.d5 19.Ba4 Red8 19.Qg4 Bxf3 20.Qxf3 b5 21.a3 Nb6 the advantage of keeping the knight flexible! 19...Bxd5 20.Bxd5 exd5 21.Rxd5 Nc5 Once again the knight on d7 came handy 19.Nd2 Ng6 20.Qg4 b5 Natural follow up 21.Ne4 Bxe4 22.Qxe4 a5!? 22...Ne7 This was quite simple solution. Brining the knight back to e7 from where it not only controls d5 but also ready to meet Re3-Rg3 with Nf5. 23.Re2 23.Re3 Red8 There is no attack in kingside so black can focus on center 23.d5 Nxd5 24.Bxd5 exd5 25.Rxd5 Qc4= 23...Red8 24.Rc2 24.Bc2 g6 24...Qd7= 23.d5 exd5 24.Rxd5 a4 25.Bd1 With the bishop on d1 it is hard to imagine white can hope for any advantage. Qb7?! Now white gets to activate his bishop and finally can hope for getting slight edge. 25...Rcd8! A little tactical solution was available to liquidate further. 26.Rxb5 Nxe5 27.Rf1 Nc4! 28.Qc2 or else white loses! Re7 Black is active enough to hold the balance here. 26.Bf3 Ne7 27.Rd6 Qxe4 28.Bxe4 With pawns on both wings and having an active bishop on e4 white is definitely psychologically feeling better to reach this position from what he had a few moves back. Ng6? An immediate mistake based on miscalculation. 28...Rb8 It would have been wiser to try and exchange queenside pawns somehow and then play Ng6 at right moment to get into some pawn down drawish rook pawn endgame. 29.e6! Not that this move was missed rather it was expected and Navara played his next move instantly.... Nf4 30.exf7+ Kxf7 31.g3! This is the move which was missed or perhaps somehow Navara thought it won’t work due to Rc4 but then white has the cool f3 which in the only move but sufficient to win the game. Ke7 31...Nxh3+ 32.Kg2 31...Rc4 32.f3! Otherwise white is in trouble! Nxh3+ 33.Kg2 32.Rd2 Ne6 33.Rd5! Mamedyarov now starts playing with utmost preciseness. b4 34.f4 b3?! 34...Kf6 35.Rf5+ 34...Red8 35.Rb5 b3 36.axb3 axb3 37.Rxb3 would have been less evil although it won’t be fun to defend this position either. 35.axb3 axb3 36.Bg6! Rf8 36...Red8 37.Rxd8 Rxd8 38.f5+- 37.f5 Rf6 38.Rxe6+ 38.Rb5+- 38...Rxe6 39.fxe6 b2? Expedite things 39...Rb8 40.Kf2 Kxe6 White will win eventually just that it would take longer moves now. 40.Rb5 Kf6 41.Bh7 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Mamedyarov,S2820Navara,D27401–02018D41Batumi Chess Olympiad | Open6.1

Poland beats Ukraine

Until now it had been the lower boards that were doing really well for Poland, but in round six it was the top board, youngster Jan-Krzyzstof Duda who provided the big breakthrough for the Poles. He managed to outplay Vassily Ivanchuk and bring home the full point. Rest of the boards were not without action, and the assessments fluctuated quite a bit. Wojtaszek and Eljanov ended in a draw. Piorun Kacper was completely winning against Kryvoruchko but couldn't convert the better position. It seemed as Korobov would level the scores for Ukraine but Kamil Dragun fought on bravely and managed to hold. A well-deserved 2½-1½ victory for the Polish team.

Polish stars Duda (in the Nike shirt) and Piorun enter the tournament hall

Coach Bartosz Socko tells us about the victory of Poland over Ukraine

It was a close fight, but the Poles came out on top with a score of 2½-1½

Analysis by GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly
 
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1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 One can never predict which opening Ivanchuk might play who is capable of playing A00 to E99 with either color. Today he was in mood for Grunfeld setup. 3.cxd5 Nxd5 4.Nf3 g6 5.Qb3 Nb6 6.d4 Bg7 7.Bf4 Be6 8.Qa3 A very popular anti Grunfeld system 0-0 8...c5!? I came up with this novelty back in 2009 and since then many games have been played. However, both 8...0-0 and 8...Nc6 are more popular. 9.e3 N8d7 10.Rd1 Ivanchuk himself had this position as white against MVL back in Olympiad 2010 where MVL opted for 10...a5 c6 11.Ng5 Bf5N A number of top games reached this position and everyone earlier opted either for Bc4 or Bd5. Grischuk, Svidler and Sutovsky all seemed to prefer Bd5 here. 12.e4 Bg4 Ivanchuk was playing very fast indicating this line has been checked properly. 12...e5 13.dxe5 Bg4 is another direction 13.Be2 Only here Ivanchuk finally strated to think 13.f3 e5! is the whole point of this bishop dance. 14.dxe5 h6 13...Bxe2 14.Nxe2 Qe8? Somehow this move doesn't fit in with the spirit of the position 14...Nc4!? is more to the point 15.Qh3 15.Qb4 e5 15...h6! 16.Ne6 does look scary and perhaps bothered Ivanchuk but black is active enough to counterattack immediately. Qa5+ 17.Kf1 fxe6 18.Qxe6+ Kh7 19.Qxc4 e5 15.Qh3! 15.e5!? 15...h6 16.Nf3 h5 16...g5 17.Bxg5 hxg5 18.Nxg5 Nf6 19.Ng3 Kills 17.e5 White now got more space and black lacks immediate counter. Nd5 18.g4! Computer doesn't like this due to black's brilliant piece sacrifice but in a practical game this is clearly the best move. Qc8?! 18...N7f6‼ Brilliant resource! It is not obvious why this sac should work. As a matter of fact black still remains worse but definitely much better than the game continuation. 19.exf6 Nxf4 19...exf6!? 20.Be3 20.Kf1 Qxe2+ 20...Nxe3 21.fxe3 hxg4 22.Qxg4 Qxe3 23.Kf1 White keeps the advantage 20.Nxf4 exf6+ 21.Kf1 21.Ne2 Qe4! 22.gxh5 Rae8 23.0-0 Qxe2 21...Qe4! thanks to this move black now gets back the piece. 22.Nxh5 22.Qg3 h4! 22...gxh5 23.Rg1 Rfe8 24.gxh5 Kh8 White is better but not winning outright. 19.Qh4! Very precise. White simply gets away from the pin and avoids any queen exchanging ideas as well renewing the threat of gh5 19.gxh5 Nxe5 was the little trap. 19...Rd8 19...N7f6 Would have been more resilient but white has an ice cool reply here.... 20.h3 20.exf6 exf6 21.gxh5 g5 22.Bxg5 fxg5 23.Qxg5 also looked great 20...Re8 21.Rg1 No rush! Black is completely paralysed and white can slowly make some more useful moves before taking the piece and opening up kingside. 20.gxh5 Nf8 21.hxg6 Human way to continue the attack. 21.h6! Often engines overestimate the pawn on h6 but in this particular case it is correct. Bh8 22.Bd2 would have been crushing Qf5 23.Ng5 Nh7 24.Ng3 Qc8 25.Nf3 black is completely stuck and white can slowly win the game. 21...Nxg6 22.Qg3 Qf5 23.Bc1 Kf8 23...c5 24.Rg1 24.h4 cxd4 25.h5 d3-+ 24...cxd4 25.Nexd4 Qe4+ 26.Kf1± 24.h4 Qh5 25.Qg2 25.Rg1! Ke8 25...e6 26.Ng5+- 26.Qg4 Surprising but wins on the spot! 25...Ke8 26.Ng5 Bh6 26...Qxe2+ 27.Kxe2 Ngf4+ 28.Kf3 Nxg2 29.Kxg2+- Black is still stuck with his horrible dark square bishop and now white even has a strong passed pawn. 27.Qf3 Pretty much everything wins here. This move keeps things under control but reduces the advantage to a certain extent. 27.e6! would have been more brutal. fxe6 27...Qxe2+ 28.Kxe2 Ndf4+ 29.Bxf4 Nxf4+ 30.Kf3 Nxg2 31.exf7++- 27...f6 28.Ng3 Ngf4 29.Nxh5 Nxg2+ 30.Kf1+- 28.Ng3 Ngf4 28...Qg4 29.f3+- 29.Nxh5 Nxg2+ 30.Kf1+- 27...Qxf3 28.Nxf3 Bxc1 29.Rxc1 f6 30.Kd2 Kf7 31.Rcg1 31.h5 Ngf4 32.Nxf4 Nxf4 33.h6+- 31...Rh8 A blunder in a depressing position 31...Ngf4 32.Ng3 Black is pawn down with no compensation nevertheless white will have to show precise technique to win the game here. 32.e6+ 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Duda,J2739Ivanchuk,V27101–02018A1643rd Olympiad 20186.1

The Grünfeld is a highly dynamic opening in which Black's position often seems to hang together by a single thread; and yet, this apparently precarious equilibrium appears to be enough to make it entirely viable — up to the highest level.


The Americans had absolutely no difficulties in winning against Bosnia and Herzegovinia. They won the match 3½-½ with the minor upset being that Hikaru was held to a draw by Dejan Marjanovic (2382)

One of the key encounters of the sixth round was between India and Russia. The Russians made a smart move by resting Sergey Karjakin. This is a luxury which only a team like theirs can afford. The main idea was that Anand didn't really have a great score against Nepomniachtchi. But because of this change, their top player Vladimir Kramnik had to accept the black pieces. Well, you cannot get everything! Russia's surprise move almost worked when Nepo had a great position against Vishy, but towards the end, he made some errors and the game was drawn. All other boards also ended in draws, with Adhiban having good chances to press against Jakovenko.

The two great ambassadors of the game — Vishy Anand and Vladimir Kramnik were not pitted against each other, but still greeted each other with a handshake and big smiles!

The match meant a lot for the Russians. You can see Arkadij Dvorkovich in the picture with a famous Russian footballer. Can you guess who he is?

Three Indians who are above 2700 Elo at the moment in the country!

Captain of the Russian team Andrey Filatov, who is a billionaire, serves tea to the players. Check out this video to get more information on what special tea the Russians are drinking

The Germans managed to hold Israel to a draw, after Daniel Friedman won his game on board three but Sutovsky managed to beat Rasmus Svane

Only White wins in India vs USA

The top match in the women's section was between USA and India. It was a match where all the white players won their games. 

Anna Zatonskih was having a great event with 4½/5, but was beaten in the sixth round by Koneru Humpy

Indians took an early lead in the match with two wins by Koneru Humpy and Tania Sachdev, but the US team pulled it back with wins by Irina Krush and Jennifer Yu

Learn from USA's best woman player, GM Irina Krush

Armenia stuns Russia

With Kosteniuk, Goryachkina, Gunina and Pogonina the Russian team looked really formidable. However, they are just not able to perform at their best level. In the sixth round, they were simply crushed by the Armenian team with a score of 3-1. Lilit Mkrtchian provided the first win over Aleksandra Goryachkina. This was followed by a victory by Siranush Ghukasiyan over Natalija Pogonina. The other two games ended in a draw and it was a convincing win for Armenia.

It's very difficult to understand why the Russian teams are not able to perform well at this Olympiad

Losing a basic rook endgame proves costly for Ukraine

Ukraine was cruising towards victory thanks to some excellent chess by Mariya Muzychuk to beat Shen Yang. Board one had ended in a draw and so had board four. When I saw the position on the third board between Anna Ushenina and Huang Qian, I lost my interest in that match, as I was sure that the position was drawn with ease. This is the position I was looking at:

 
Black has just taken the pawn on g5, and it is completely drawn

But on move 119, Ushenina make a critical mistake.

 
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1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.a4 e6 6.g3 c5 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Bg2 Nc6 9.0-0 Be7 10.Nxd5 exd5 11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.Bg5 f6 13.Rc1 Bb6 14.Bd2 Be6 15.b4 0-0 16.Qb3 Bf7 17.Qb2 Re8 18.e3 a5 19.bxa5 Nxa5 20.Bc3 Nc4 21.Qb5 Nd6 22.Qb4 Ba5 23.Qb2 Bxc3 24.Rxc3 Rxa4 25.Rd1 Qa5 26.Rc2 Bg6 27.Rcc1 Be4 28.Ra1 Rxa1 29.Rxa1 Qb5 30.Qd4 Rc8 31.Nd2 Nf5 32.Qa7 Bxg2 33.Kxg2 Rc2 34.Qb8+ Kf7 35.Qf4 Qd3 36.Nf1 d4 37.Ra7 Qb5 38.exd4 Qd5+ 39.Qf3 Qxf3+ 40.Kxf3 Nxd4+ 41.Ke4 Rxf2 42.Rxb7+ Kg6 43.Kxd4 Rxf1 44.Ke3 Kh6 45.Ke2 Rf5 46.h4 Kg6 47.Ra7 Rb5 48.Kf3 Rb3+ 49.Kf2 Rd3 50.Rb7 f5 51.Kg2 Re3 52.Ra7 Kf6 53.Rb7 h6 54.Ra7 Rd3 55.Rb7 Rd2+ 56.Kf3 g5 57.hxg5+ hxg5 58.Ke3 Rd6 59.Rb8 Ra6 60.Rb5 Ra3+ 61.Kf2 Ra2+ 62.Kf1 Rd2 63.Ra5 Rd4 64.Kf2 Ke6 65.Ke3 Rc4 66.Ra8 Rc3+ 67.Kf2 Rc2+ 68.Ke3 68.Kf1 was safer. 68...Rc3+ 69.Kf2 Rd3 70.Re8+ Kf7 71.Re5 Kg6 72.Ra5 Rd2+ 73.Kf1 Kf6 74.Rb5 Ra2 75.Kg1 Ra4 76.Kf2 Ke6 77.Ke3 Rc4 78.Kf2 Rd4 79.Ke3 Rd5 80.Rb8 Ra5 81.Rg8 Kf6 82.Kf2 Ra2+ 83.Kf1 Rd2 84.Kg1 Re2 85.Kf1 Re7 86.Kf2 Rg7 87.Re8 Kf7 88.Ra8 Rg8 89.Ra5 Kg6 90.Kf3 Rb8 91.Kf2 Rb6 92.Kg1 Rf6 93.Kf2 Rf8 94.Kf3 Rc8 95.Kf2 Rd8 96.Kf1 Kf6 97.Kf2 Rd2+ 98.Ke3 Rc2 99.Ra6+ Kf7 100.Kf3 Rd2 101.Ke3 Rd7 102.Kf3 Re7 103.Rb6 Re6 104.Rb8 Ra6 105.Rb5 Kf6 106.Kf2 g4 Finally Black pushed the pawn. 107.Kf1 Ke6 108.Kf2 Rd6 109.Ke3 Rd5 110.Rb8 Rd1 111.Rb6+ Ke5 112.Rb5+ Kf6 113.Rb6+ Ke5 114.Rb5+ Rd5 115.Rb8 Ra5 116.Rb3?! 116.Kf2 Ra2+ 117.Kf1 Ke4 118.Rb3= 116...Ra2 117.Rb5+ Kf6 118.Rb6+ Kg5 119.Rb8? Black is just winning now. 119.Rb3 was the only way to draw the game. Rg2 120.Kd4 Rf2 121.Rc3 Rf3 122.Rxf3 gxf3 123.Ke3 Kg4 124.Kf2= 119...Rg2 120.Rg8+ Kf6 121.Rf8+ Kg6 122.Kf4 Rf2+ 123.Ke5 Re2+ 124.Kd4 Rg2 125.Ke5 Rxg3 126.Rxf5 Rf3 127.Rf4 Kg5 128.Ra4 g3 129.Ra8 Re3+ 130.Kd4 Re1 131.Kd3 Kg4 132.Kd2 Re7 133.Rg8+ Kh3 134.Rh8+ Kg2 135.Rg8 Re5 136.Rg7 Kh2 137.Rh7+ Kg1 138.Rg7 g2 139.Rg8 Rh5 140.Ke2 Kh2 141.Kf2 Rf5+ 142.Ke2 g1Q 143.Rh8+ Kg2 144.Rg8+ Kh1 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Ushenina,A2451Huang,Q24460–12018D1543rd Olympiad Women 20186.3

Although Shen Yang lost her game, China managed to salvage a draw thanks to the efforts of Huang Qian

Georgia 1 shows no mercy to compatriots!

Georgia 1 was facing Georgia 2 in the sixth round. It was a very hard fought match, but in the end, it was Lela Javakhashvili's victory Inga Charkhalashvili that made all the difference.

Round 7 Pairings (top 10)

Team Team Pts. MP Res. : Res. MP Pts. Team Team
POL Poland 18½ 12   :   12 19 Azerbaijan AZE
CRO Croatia 17 10   :   11 17½ United States of America USA
UKR Ukraine 15 10   :   10 16½ China CHN
GER Germany 16½ 10   :   10 19 Netherlands NED
CZE Czech Republic 16 10   :   10 18 Israel ISR
BLR Belarus 15 10   :   10 16½ Armenia ARM
IND India 17½ 9   :   10 15 Egypt EGY
HUN Hungary 15 9   :   9 17 France FRA
ALG Algeria 15 9   :   9 17 Spain ESP
SRB Serbia 15 9   :   9 16 Russia RUS

Complete list

No one would have thought that Poland and Azerbaijan would clash each other at the end of six rounds and that too with a 100% score. But the match between them is going to be keenly contested. Ukraine against China will be great to follow as well as Germany against Netherlands. 

Round 7 Pairings (top 10)

Team Team Pts. MP Res. : Res. MP Pts. Team Team
ARM Armenia 17½ 11   :   11 17½ United States of America USA
CHN China 17 10   :   10 17½ Netherlands NED
IRI Iran 17 10   :   10 17½ Ukraine UKR
ITA Italy 17 10   :   10 18 Azerbaijan AZE
ROU Romania 17 10   :   10 16½ Uzbekistan UZB
IND India 18½ 10   :   11 17 Georgia 1 GEO1
PHI Philippines 16 9   :   9 17 Georgia 2 GEO2
KAZ Kazakhstan 16½ 9   :   9 15½ Argentina ARG
PER Peru 17½ 9   :   9 16 Lithuania LTU
SRB Serbia 15½ 9   :   9 16 Hungary HUN

Complete list

Armenia and USA take on each other. India against Georgia1 is also a match to look forward to two of the top teams clash against each other.

Photo Gallery by Amruta Mokal

Players observed a minute's silence for the victims of the Tsunami that struck Indonesia a couple of days ago. Above is the Indonesian women's team

These personalities changed women's chess forever by taking it to new heights! (From left to right): Nana Alexandria, Maia Chiburdanidze, Susan Polgar, Nona Gaprindashvili, Sofia Polgar, Nana Ioseliani and Judit Polgar!

Sopiko to Nino Batsiashvili (who took rest in the sixth round): "Do you know Anish has the highest performance rating in this tournament?!" 2944!

"I should also think about getting my hair coloured purple!"

The Hong Kong team with Arkadij Dvorkovich and Vishy Anand

Top players cannot breathe easy until the games have begun. Fans constantly ask them for pictures and autographs before the round!

Chess is like boxing, with your mind!

Guliskhan Nakhbayeva is the best performing Kazakh at this event. She is on 4½/5.

Legendary Blind chess player Zsiltzova-Lisenko Lubov looks over the game of Anna Stolarczyk. They are playing for the team of IBCA.

Do you know the great gentleman on the right? He is none other than the famous chess composer David Gurgenidze. Here is one of his famous compositions. Try your hand at solving it before checking the solution. It appears in the famous Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual:

 
White to play and draw. How do you do it?
 
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1.Ka3‼       Only here, to keep the b3-square free. 1.Kb2? Kf7 2.Kc3 Kg7 3.Kb4 Kxh7 4.Kxb5 h5-+ 1.Kb3? Ke6! 1...Kf7 2.Kb4 Kg7 3.Kxb5 Kxh7 4.Kc4 2.Nf8+ 2.Kb4 Kf5 3.Kxb5 h5-+ 2...Kf5 3.Nd7 h5 4.Nc5 h4-+ 1...Ke6! 1...Kf7 2.Kb4 Kg7 3.Kxb5 Kxh7 4.Kc4= 2.Nf8+! 2.Kb4? Kf5 3.Kxb5 h5-+ 2...Kf5 3.Nd7 h5 4.Nc5 h4 5.Nb3‼ 5.Nd3? h3 6.Nf2 h2 7.Kb4 Kf4-+ 5...h3 6.Nd2 h2 6...Kf4 7.Nf1= 7.Nf1 h1Q 8.Ng3+= ½–½
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Gurgenidze,D--½–½1970

All games of Round 6 (Open)

 
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  • 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.

All games of Round 6 (Women)

 
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MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
  • 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.

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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calvinamari calvinamari 10/1/2018 03:36
Great photo of Vishy & Vlady
GalacticKing GalacticKing 10/1/2018 02:17
Thanks for the fine coverage.
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