Dortmund Rd4 – Kramnik unstoppable at 3.5/4 and 3064 performance

by ChessBase
7/24/2011 – At the breakneck pace at which he is speeding, Kramnik is not only on track to win Dortmund, but he could conceivably score the greatest tournament performance of his career. Playing Nakamura, Kramnik seemed headed for a draw after most of the pieces came off, but a series of imprecisions yielded a winning position and he converted. The other games were drawn. Round four report.

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From Thursday July 21 to Sunday July 31, 2010 the 39th edition annual Sparkassen Chess-Meeting is taking place in Dortmund, Germany. It is a six-player round robin, in which each player has to play two games against each of the others, one as White and one as Black. Draw offers are not allowed – a game can only be declared a draw, by the arbiter, if there is no possible win for one side, or if a position is repeated three times. The winner of the tournament will be determined after ten rounds.

Games start at 15:00h = 3 p.m. local time (CEST, = 17:00 Moscow, 14:00 p.m. London, 9:00 a.m. New York). All games will be broadcast by the official web site's "Live Games" page and on the Playchess.com server. As in the previous year the moves of the Sparkassen Chess-Meeting will be transmitted on the Internet with a delay of 15 minutes – which means that the moves stay in the playing hall for that period, before they are broadcast to the rest of the world. This is an important anti-cheating measure that has been proposed to FIDE since October 2005 and has the support of most of the top players. We commend the Dortmund organisers for taking the initiative.

Participants

Player
Title
Nat.
Born
Rating
Kramnik, Vladimir
GM
RUS
1975
2781
Nakamura, Hikaru
GM
USA
1987
2770
Ponomariov, Ruslan
GM
UKR
1983
2764
Le, Quang Liem
GM
VIE
1991
2715
Giri, Anish
GM
NED
1994
2715
Meier, Georg
GM
GER
1987
2656

Round four

Round 4: Sunday, July 24, 15:00h
Anish Giri 
½-½
 Le Quang Liem
Hikaru Nakamura 
0-1
 Vladimir Kramnik
Ruslan Ponomariov 
½-½
 Georg Meier

German GM Georg Meier was able to equalise to an opposite-coloured bishops ending, which former FIDE knockout world champion Ruslan Ponomariov tried hard to win. The Ukrainian turned his extra pawn into a bishop-for-a-pawn advantage on move 55 and tried for 36 more moves to find a win. But Meier defended impeccably and the game ended in a deserved draw.


Ruslan Ponomariov at the start of game four

[Event "39th GM"] [Site "Dortmund GER"] [Date "2011.07.24"] [Round "4"] [White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"] [Black "Meier, Georg"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E31"] [WhiteElo "2764"] [BlackElo "2656"] [PlyCount "181"] [EventDate "2011.07.21"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bg5 h6 5. Bh4 c5 6. d5 d6 7. e3 exd5 8. cxd5 Nbd7 9. Bb5 Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 Qa5 11. Bxd7+ Nxd7 12. Ne2 Qa6 13. O-O O-O 14. Bg3 Nf6 15. f3 Nxd5 16. Qxd5 Qxe2 17. Rfe1 Be6 18. Rxe2 Bxd5 19. Bxd6 Rfc8 20. e4 Be6 21. a4 Rc6 22. e5 Rac8 23. Rb2 b6 24. a5 Bc4 25. axb6 Rxb6 26. Rxb6 axb6 27. Kf2 g5 28. h4 Kg7 29. h5 b5 30. Ke3 Be6 31. Ra5 b4 32. cxb4 cxb4 33. Bxb4 Kh7 34. Be7 Rc3+ 35. Kd2 Rc8 36. Bf6 Rc4 37. g3 Rc8 38. Ra7 Kg8 39. f4 gxf4 40. gxf4 Bg4 41. Ke3 Be6 42. Be7 Rc3+ 43. Kd2 Rc4 44. Ra8+ Rc8 45. Ra1 Kh7 46. Kd3 Bg4 47. Rh1 Bf5+ 48. Kd4 Be6 49. Bc5 Rd8+ 50. Ke3 Rg8 51. Ke4 Rg3 52. Rf1 Rh3 53. f5 Rh4+ 54. Ke3 Rxh5 55. fxe6 Rxe5+ 56. Kd4 Rxe6 57. Rxf7+ Kg6 58. Rf1 h5 59. Kd5 Re2 60. Bf2 Kg5 61. Rg1+ Kf5 62. Be1 Ra2 63. Rh1 Kg4 64. Ke4 Re2+ 65. Kd3 Ra2 66. Rh4+ Kg5 67. Rc4 Ra3+ 68. Ke2 Rh3 69. Bf2 Kf5 70. Kf1 Rb3 71. Kg2 Rd3 72. Bg3 Rd1 73. Kh3 Rh1+ 74. Bh2 Kg5 75. Rc5+ Kg6 76. Kg2 Rb1 77. Bf4 Rb4 78. Kf3 Rb3+ 79. Be3 h4 80. Rg5+ Kf6 81. Rg4 h3 82. Rh4 Ke6 83. Rxh3 Kd5 84. Rh5+ Kc4 85. Ke4 Rb5 86. Rh1 Kb3 87. Kd3 Rd5+ 88. Bd4 Rb5 89. Rb1+ Ka4 90. Rxb5 Kxb5 91. Ke4 1/2-1/2


Impeccable defence by German GM Georg Meier

American GM Hikaru Nakamura essentially self-destructed in an equal position when he went for more than the position could yield. A rejuvenated Vladimir Kramnik, who used to win Dortmund like other GMs eat popcorn, got what he truly excels in: endgames with a small advantage in which he can outplay his opponent.

On his Twitter page Hikaru ruefully wrote: "Apparently I have resolved that if I cannot win a game of chess, I must do everything within my power to lose instead. Good game plan!" and "It is one thing to be outplayed, but when your opponent himself states quite clearly that it took a lot to lose the position..."

On the same Twitter account Hikaru posted: "While I try to avoid politics, this pictorial website showing the national debt is hilarious!" Indeed, but not for the faint-hearted.

[Event "39th GM"] [Site "Dortmund GER"] [Date "2011.07.24"] [Round "4"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "E21"] [WhiteElo "2770"] [BlackElo "2781"] [PlyCount "94"] [EventDate "2011.07.21"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 O-O 7. Bg2 d5 8. Qb3 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Nc6 10. cxd5 Na5 11. Qc2 Nxd5 12. O-O Qc7 13. Re1 Bd7 14. e4 Nb6 15. e5 Ba4 16. Qd3 Qc4 17. Qf3 Nc6 18. Re4 Nxd4 19. Rxd4 Bc6 20. Rxc4 Bxf3 21. Rc7 Bxg2 22. Kxg2 Rab8 23. Rb1 Rfc8 24. Rxc8+ Rxc8 25. Rb3 h5 26. Be3 Nd5 {[#]} 27. Bd4 {Nakamura has spent a lot of time on his clock, and it is clear that the US grandmaster is looking for a possible win. This is a major inaccuracy.} (27. Bxa7 Nxc3 (27... Rxc3 28. Rxc3 Nxc3 29. a3) 28. Rxb7 Nxa2 29. Rb8 Rxb8 30. Bxb8 {is an easy draw.}) 27... b6 28. f4 Rc4 29. Kf1 $6 (29. Ra3 a5 30. Rb3 a4 31. Rb2 {is a plausible line, advocated by Deep Fritz.}) 29... Ra4 30. Rb2 Kh7 31. Kf2 Kg6 32. Rc2 Ra3 33. h3 b5 34. Rb2 a6 35. Rc2 Kf5 36. Kf3 b4 37. g4+ hxg4+ 38. hxg4+ Kg6 39. Ke4 bxc3 40. Rh2 Ra4 41. Rf2 a5 42. Kd3 c2 43. f5+ ({ White cannot take the pawn due to the fork} 43. Rxc2 Nb4+) 43... Kg5 44. Bb2 Nb4+ 45. Kc3 Rxa2 46. Rf1 Kxg4 47. fxe6 fxe6 {A well-played endgame by Kramnik after Nakamura blew the drawn position around move 30.} 0-1


Doing what he does best: former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik

Anish Giri's symmetrical fianchetto did not get him anything against Le Quang Liem, whose Grünfeld stood him in good stead. After the heavy pieces came off the board the bishop and many pawns ending at move 31 was clearly a draw.


Anish Giri at the start of round four


Vietnamese super-talent Le Quang Liem

[Event "39th GM"] [Site "Dortmund GER"] [Date "2011.07.24"] [Round "4"] [White "Giri, Anish"] [Black "Le, Quang Liem"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E60"] [WhiteElo "2701"] [BlackElo "2715"] [PlyCount "93"] [EventDate "2011.07.21"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 c6 4. Bg2 d5 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Nf3 Bg7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Ne5 e6 9. O-O Nfd7 10. Nf3 Nf6 11. Bf4 Nc6 12. Rc1 h6 13. Ne5 Nxe5 14. Bxe5 Bd7 15. Qb3 Bc6 16. Rfd1 Qe7 17. a3 Rfc8 18. h3 Qd7 19. Qa2 Ne8 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21. e3 Nd6 22. b3 Rc7 23. Qb2 Kg8 24. Rc2 Rac8 25. Rdc1 Qd8 26. Na2 Be8 27. Rxc7 Rxc7 28. Rxc7 Qxc7 29. Qc3 Qxc3 30. Nxc3 Nb5 31. Nxb5 Bxb5 32. f4 f5 33. Bf3 h5 34. Kf2 Kf7 35. Ke1 Ke7 36. Kd2 Kd6 37. Kc3 a5 38. h4 b6 39. Bd1 Kc7 40. b4 a4 41. Bc2 Kd6 42. Kd2 Kc7 43. Ke1 Kd6 44. Kf2 Kc7 45. Ke1 Kd6 46. Kd2 Kc7 47. Ke1 1/2-1/2

Standings after four rounds


Schedule and results

Round 1: Thursday, July 21, 15:00h
Georg Meier 
½-½
 Le Quang Liem
Vladimir Kramnik 
1-0
 Ruslan Ponomariov
Anish Giri 
½-½
 Hikaru Nakamura 
Round 2: Friday, July 22, 15:00h
Le Quang Liem 
½-½
 Hikaru Nakamura
Ruslan Ponomariov 
1-0
 Anish Giri
Georg Meier 
0-1
 Vladimir Kramnik
Round 3: Saturday, July 23, 15:00h
Vladimir Kramnik 
½-½
 Le Quang Liem
Anish Giri 
1-0
 Georg Meier
Hikaru Nakamura 
0-1
 Ruslan Ponomariov 
Round 4: Sunday, July 24, 15:00h
Anish Giri 
½-½
 Le Quang Liem
Hikaru Nakamura 
0-1
 Vladimir Kramnik
Ruslan Ponomariov 
½-½
 Georg Meier
Round 5: Monday, July 25, 15:00h
Le Quang Liem 
   Ruslan Ponomariov 
Georg Meier 
   Hikaru Nakamura
Vladimir Kramnik 
   Anish Giri
Round 6: Wednesday, July 27, 15:00h
Le Quang Liem 
   Georg Meier
Ruslan Ponomariov 
   Vladimir Kramnik
Hikaru Nakamura 
   Anish Giri
Round 7: Thursday, July 28, 15:00h
Hikaru Nakamura 
   Le Quang Liem
Anish Giri 
   Ruslan Ponomariov 
Vladimir Kramnik 
   Georg Meier
Round 8: Friday, July 29, 15:00h
Le Quang Liem  
   Vladimir Kramnik
Georg Meier 
   Anish Giri
Ruslan Ponomariov 
   Hikaru Nakamura
Round 9: Saturday, July 30, 15:00h
Ruslan Ponomariov 
   Le Quang Liem
Hikaru Nakamura 
   Georg Meier
Anish Giri 
   Vladimir Kramnik
Round 10: Sunday, July 31, 15:00h
Le Quang Liem 
   Anish Giri
Vladimir Kramnik 
   Hikaru Nakamura
Georg Meier 
   Ruslan Ponomariov 

Links

The games are being 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 11 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs.

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