
Round three report
By GM Dorian Rogozenco
Round 3: Friday, November 9, 15:30h |
Vassily Ivanchuk |
|
Fabiano Caruana |
Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu |
|
Veselin Topalov |
In the third round of Kings Tournament both games ended with a draw. In Ivanchuk-Caruana, the Ukrainian Grandmaster built some pressure in Ruy Lopez, but Caruana defended well and slowly equalized. Possibly on move 29 Ivanchuk could set more problems for his opponent.

Nisipeanu casts a professional look at the game between Ivanchuk and Caruana
Game annotations by GM Dorian Rogozenco:
1.e4 | 1,174,618 | 54% | 2421 | --- |
1.d4 | 952,919 | 55% | 2434 | --- |
1.Nf3 | 283,849 | 56% | 2440 | --- |
1.c4 | 183,334 | 56% | 2442 | --- |
1.g3 | 19,804 | 56% | 2427 | --- |
1.b3 | 14,464 | 54% | 2427 | --- |
1.f4 | 5,926 | 48% | 2377 | --- |
1.Nc3 | 3,855 | 50% | 2384 | --- |
1.b4 | 1,775 | 48% | 2379 | --- |
1.a3 | 1,239 | 54% | 2405 | --- |
1.e3 | 1,075 | 49% | 2409 | --- |
1.d3 | 961 | 50% | 2378 | --- |
1.g4 | 669 | 46% | 2361 | --- |
1.h4 | 465 | 54% | 2381 | --- |
1.c3 | 436 | 51% | 2426 | --- |
1.h3 | 284 | 56% | 2419 | --- |
1.a4 | 117 | 59% | 2462 | --- |
1.f3 | 100 | 47% | 2427 | --- |
1.Nh3 | 92 | 67% | 2511 | --- |
1.Na3 | 43 | 60% | 2477 | --- |
Please, wait...
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Re8 9...Nb8 10.d4 10.Ng5 Rf8 11.Nf3 Re8 12.Ng5 10...Bb7 11.Nbd2 Bf8 12.Bc2 h6 13.a3 13...Nb8 14.a4!? Nbd7 15.Bd3 c6 16.b3 g6 17.Qc2 Nh5 18.Ba3 Nf4 19.Bf1 Rc8 20.Rad1 20...exd4 20...Qc7 21.dxe5 dxe5 22.Bxf8 Rxf8 23.b4 21.cxd4 Ne6 22.Qc3 Qb6 22...c5 23.axb5 cxd4 24.Qb2 axb5 25.Bxb5 23.Qa1!? Bg7 23...c5 24.d5 24.Bb2 d5 25.a5 25.b4 a5 26.exd5 cxd5 27.Bxb5 25...Qc7 26.b4 dxe4 27.Nxe4 Nf4 28.Ne5 Nd5 29.Nd3 29.Nc5 Nxc5 29...Nxe5 30.dxe5 Nxb4 31.Rd7 30.dxc5 h5 31.Nd3 Bxb2 32.Qxb2 Rcd8 33.g3 Bc8 34.Rxe8+ Rxe8 35.Bg2 Bf5? 36.Bxd5 29.Nxd7 Qxd7 30.Nc5 Qc7 31.Qa3 Rcd8 32.g3 Bc8 33.Bg2 Re7 29...Rcd8 30.g3 Bc8 31.Bg2 Nf8 32.Qa3 Ne6 33.Ndc5 Re7 34.Nxe6 ½–½ - Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
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Ivanchuk,V | 2771 | Caruana,F | 2772 | ½–½ | 2012 | C93 | 6th Kings Tournament | 3 |
Please, wait...
Nisipeanu-Topalov saw an early exchange of queens in Sicilian Alapin. Already after nine moves the players had a position never seen in practice before. White was a pawn up, and Black compensated it with his active pieces Nisipeanu's vulnerable king position. In spite of some sharp play, the game never really crossed the equality zone and finished with a logical draw in an opposite-coloured bishop endgame.

Nisipeanu deep in thought in the novel opening against Topalov, while Ivanchuk paces
Game annotations by GM Dorian Rogozenco:
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.dxc5 6.Be2 6.Be3 6...Qxd1+ 6...Qxc5 7.Na3 7.Kxd1 e5 8.Be3 Nd5 9.b4 g6 9...Bf5 10.Bc4 0-0-0 11.Kc1 9...f6 10.Kc2 Bf5+ 10...a5 11.b5 11.Bb5 axb4 12.Nxe5 Nxe3+ 13.fxe3 Bf5+ 14.Kb3 Be6+ 15.Kb2 0-0-0 11...e4 12.Nd4 Ne5 13.Nd2 f5 10...Bg7 11.Nbd2 11.Bc4!? 11...0-0 12.Bc4 11.Kb3 a5 12.Bc4! 12.Bb5 Bg7 12.b5 a4+ 13.Kb2 Nxe3 14.fxe3 Na5 15.Nxe5 Bxc5 12...Be6 13.Ng5 13.b5 a4+ 14.Kb2 Na5 15.Bxd5 Bxd5 16.Nbd2 16.Nxe5 Bg7 16...f6 13...axb4 14.cxb4 14.Nxe6? Na5+ 15.Kc2 Nxc4 16.Nxf8 Ndxe3+ 17.fxe3 Nxe3+ 18.Kb3 Nxg2 14...Ncxb4 15.Nc3 15.Nxe6 fxe6 16.Re1 Nc6 15...Nxc3 15...Nxe3 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.fxe3 Bxc5 18.Ne4 b6= 16.Nxe6 16.Bxe6 fxe6 17.Kxb4 Nd5+ 18.Kb5 Be7 19.Ne4 19.Nxe6? Ra6 19...Nxe3 20.fxe3 Ra3 16...fxe6 17.Kxb4 17.Kxc3 Nd5+ 18.Kd2 Nxe3 19.fxe3 Bxc5 20.Bxe6= 17...Nd5+ 18.Kb5 Be7! 18...Nxe3 19.fxe3 Rc8 20.Rac1! Rxc5+ 21.Kb6 19.Rac1 19.Rhd1 Nc3+ 19...Nxe3 20.fxe3 Rc8 21.Rac1 Rxc5+ 22.Kb6 Kf7 20.Kb6 Nxd1 21.Rxd1 19...Bd8 20.Bb3 20.Bd2! 0-0 21.f3 20...Rf8 21.Rhd1 Ra5+ 22.Kc4 Be7! 23.Kd3 Nxe3 24.fxe3 Bxc5 25.Rf1! 25.Bxe6 Rf2 26.Rd2 e4+ 27.Kc2 Rf6! 25...Rxf1 26.Rxf1 Ke7 27.Rc1! b6 28.Rc4 Ra8 29.Ra4 Rxa4 29...Rd8+ 30.Ke2 30.Bxa4 g5 31.Ke4 ½–½ - 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.
Nisipeanu,L | 2661 | Topalov,V | 2751 | ½–½ | 2012 | B22 | 6th Kings Tournament | 3 |
Please, wait...
Thus, after the first half of the tournament Ivanchuk leads with 2.0/3, followed by Caruana and Topalov with 1.5/3 each and Nisipeanu with 1.0/3. Tomorrow is a free day.
All photos by Ionut Anisca
Schedule and results
Round 1: Wednesday, November 7, 15:30h |
Veselin Topalov |
|
Fabiano Caruana |
Vassily Ivanchuk |
1-0 |
Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu | |
Round 2: Thursday, November 8, 15:30h |
Fabiano Caruana |
|
Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu |
Veselin Topalov |
|
Vassily Ivanchuk | |
Round 3: Friday, November 9, 15:30h |
Vassily Ivanchuk |
|
Fabiano Caruana |
Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu |
|
Veselin Topalov | |
Round 4: Sunday, November 10, 15:30h |
Fabiano Caruana |
|
Veselin Topalov |
Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu |
|
Vassily Ivanchuk | |
Round 5: Monday, November 11, 15:30h |
Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu |
|
Fabiano Caruana |
Vassily Ivanchuk |
|
Veselin Topalov | |
Round 6: Tuesday, November 12, 15:30h |
Fabiano Caruana |
|
Vassily Ivanchuk |
Veselin Topalov |
|
Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu | |
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