Bucharest 02: Two Draws

by ChessBase
10/9/2013 – I Wang Hao's first game of the tournament, he was unable to overcome Radjabov's defenses and the game slowly but surely petered out to a draw. In the other game Ponomariov was surprised by Nisipeanu's choice of opening. The Ukrainian launched an attack on the kingside and play turned very sharp, but Nisipeanu had enough resources to force the game into a drawn endgame. GM Dorian Rogozenco informs.
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The opening ceremony of the 7th edition of Kings Tournament Romgaz took place on the 6th of October in the Bucharest University of Economic Studies (Piata Romana Nr.6). This international tournament is organized by the Sports Club “Elisabeta Polihroniade” and is a part of the Grand Slam circuit. The Kings Tournament will be a double round robin competition with 5 world-class participants: Fabiano Caruana (Italy, GM, 2779), the former World Champion Ruslan Ponomariov (Ukraine, GM, 2756), Wang Hao (China, GM, 2736), Radjabov Teimour (Azerbaijan, GM, 2733) and Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu, (Romania, GM, 2665). This year’s edition will be played in the Magna Auditorium and Conference Hall "Virgil Madgearu" of the  Bucharest University of Economic Studies – a partner of the Kings Tournament. The rounds will start every day from the 7th until the 17th October at 3:30 p.m. (last round starts at 1:30 p.m) and entrance will be free for spectators.

Grandmaster Dorian Rogozenco brings us excellet analysis of the games:

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The second round of the Kings Tournament finished with two draws. In both games Black didn’t have opening problems and equalized rather comfortably. In Wang Hao-Radjabov White was trying to squeeze an advantage in a typical middlegame position against an isolated queen’s pawn, but Black’s active knights always secured Black good play. The draw was agreed on move 36 in an equal rooks endgame. Having the black pieces Nisipeanu surprised Ponomariov in the opening by choosing the Petrov’s Defence. Black quickly achieved a comfortable position and in order to create some activity the former World Champion decided to launch an attack on the kingside. However, with his powerful centralized pieces Black’s position was very solid and he never was in real danger. Both players showed good tactical skills and a forced play led to an equal endgame, where the draw was agreed also on move 36. Thus after two rounds Caruana has one point out of one game, Ponomariov and Radjabov have one point out of two games, Wang Hao and Nisipeanu have half a point, but the Chinese GM played just one game, whereas Nisipeanu played two games. 1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.d4 d5
From the English Opening the game transposed to one of the quiet lines of the Tarrasch Defence. In a symmetrical position White hopes to use his extra tempo and achieve some advantage. The practice showed that Black doesn't have particular problems in this line. 6.a3 a6 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.b4 Bd6 9.cxd5 exd5 10.Bb2 0-0 11.Be2 Re8 12.0-0 Bg4
13.b5 More often White plays 13.Rc1 13...Na5 Less sense for Black makes 13...axb5 14.Nxb5 and White achieves the desired regrouping of pieces, although even here the position is very close to equal. 14.bxa6 bxa6 15.Na4 Nc4 16.Bd4 In two previous games with this position White took the pawn 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.Qxd5 but then Black can try to use his piece activity with Ne5 (which wasn't played before), with good compensation. 16...Ne4 17.Nc3
In this position Radjabov took almost 20 minutes to decide how to continue. Indeed, there are several options and many variations to calculate. 17...Qa5!? The tempting 17...Bxf3 18.Bxf3 Ncd2 leads to a position where only White can try to play for a win: 18...Ned2? 19.Bxd5 is bad for Black. 19.Bxe4! 19.Re1?? loses due to Bxh2+ 20.Kxh2 Qh4+ 21.Kg1 Qxf2+ 22.Kh2 Re6 19...Nxe4 20.Nxe4 dxe4 Also after 20...Rxe4 21.h3 White can claim an edge. 21.Qa4 White has a small plus, but the most likely result is draw anyway. 18.Bxc4 dxc4 19.Nxe4 Rxe4 20.h3
After the immediate 20.Bxg7? Black has Bxh2+ or 20...Rd8 21.Bd4 Qh5 with a powerful attack 21.Kxh2 Kxg7 with advantage for Black. 20...Bxf3 The correct decision. As demonstrated by Radjabov after the game, the alternatives are in White's favour: 20...Bxh3 21.gxh3 Qh5 21...Qf5 22.Ne1 22.Nh2? Bxh2+ 23.Kxh2 Rh4-+ 22...Qxh3 23.f4 Rxe3 24.Bxe3 Qxe3+ 25.Kg2 22.Nh2! Qxh3 23.f4 Rxe3 24.Bxe3 Qxe3+ 25.Kg2± After 20...Bh5 White can already take the pawn 21.Bxg7 Re6 21...Rd8 22.Bd4 21...Kxg7 22.Qxd6 Bxf3 23.gxf3± 22.Bd4 Rg6 23.Re1 21.Qxf3 Rae8 22.Rfc1 22.Rac1!? Bxa3 23.Rxc4 22...Qd5! 23.Rd1 Be5 24.Bc3 Qe6 25.Rac1 Bxc3 26.Rxc3 g6
27.Qg3 Qf6 28.Rc2 Rd8 29.Qf3 Rxd1+ 30.Qxd1 Qb6 31.Rc3 Qc5 32.Qc1 h5 33.f3 Re6 34.Rxc4 Qxe3+ 35.Qxe3 Rxe3 36.a4 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Wang,H2733Radjabov,T2723½–½2013D407th Kings Tournament2
Ponomariov,R2751Nisipeanu,L2674½–½2013C427th Kings Tournament2

Information and photos by Dorian Rogozenco

Schedule

Round 1 – October 07, 15:30h
Radjabov, Teimour 2723
½-½
 Ponomariov, Ruslan 2751
Nisipeanu, L.-D. 2674
0-1
 Caruana, Fabiano 2779
Wang Hao 2733
bye
    
Round 2 – October 08, 15:30h
Wang Hao 2733
½-½
 Radjabov, Teimour 2723
Ponomariov, Ruslan 2751
½-½
 Nisipeanu, L.-D. 2674
Caruana, Fabiano 2779
bye
    
Round 3 – October 09, 15:30h
Nisipeanu, L.-D. 2674
Wang Hao 2733
Caruana, Fabiano 2779
Ponomariov, Ruslan 2751
Radjabov, Teimour 2723
bye
    
Round 4 – October 10, 15:30h
Radjabov, Teimour 2723
Nisipeanu, L.-D. 2674
Wang Hao 2733
Caruana, Fabiano 2779
Ponomariov, Ruslan 2751
bye
    
Round 5 – October 11, 15:30h
Ponomariov, Ruslan 2751
Wang Hao 2733
Caruana, Fabiano 2779
Radjabov, Teimour 2723
Nisipeanu, L.-D. 2674
bye
    
Round 6 – October 12, 15:30h
Ponomariov, Ruslan 2751
Radjabov, Teimour 2723
Caruana, Fabiano 2779
Nisipeanu, L.-D. 2674
Wang Hao 2733
bye
    
Round 7 – October 13, 15:30h
Radjabov, Teimour 2723
Wang Hao 2733
Nisipeanu, L.-D. 2674
Ponomariov, Ruslan 2751
Caruana, Fabiano 2779
bye
    
Round 8 – October 14, 15:30h
Wang Hao 2733
Nisipeanu, L.-D. 2674
Ponomariov, Ruslan 2751
Caruana, Fabiano 2779
Radjabov, Teimour 2723
bye
    
Round 9 – October 15, 15:30h
Nisipeanu, L.-D. 2674
Radjabov, Teimour 2723
Caruana, Fabiano 2779
Wang Hao 2733
Ponomariov, Ruslan 2751
bye
    
Round 10 – October 16, 13:30h
Wang Hao 2733
Ponomariov, Ruslan 2751
Radjabov, Teimour 2723
Caruana, Fabiano 2779
Nisipeanu, L.-D. 2674
bye
    

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