Elista R12: Kasimdzhanov beats Cheparinov, all other games drawn

FIDE Grand Prix in Elista 2008

The Third FIDE Grand Prix tournament is taking place in Elista from December 13 to 29, 2008. Despite the recent withdrawals (Carlsen, Adams) and the absence of players like Anand, Kramnik and Topalov the tournament is very strong, with a category of 19. The venue, originally Doha, is now "City Chess" in Elista, Kalmykia.

Results

Kasimdzhanov,R (2672) - Cheparinov,I (2696) [E92]
FIDE Grand Prix Elista RUS (12), 27.12.2008
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Nf3 0-0 5.e4 d6 6.Be2 e5 7.Be3 Ng4 8.Bg5 f6 9.Bh4 g5 10.Bg3 Nh6 11.d5 Nd7 12.0-0 f5 13.exf5 Nc5 14.Qd2 g4 15.Nh4 a5 16.f3 gxf3 17.Rxf3

17...Ng4 18.h3 Bh6 19.Qe1 e4 20.Rf1. Interesting and tempting was 20.hxg4 exf3 21.Nxf3. 20...Ne5 21.Bxe5 dxe5 22.g4 Be3+ 23.Kh1 Ra6 24.Ng2 Bd4 25.Qg3 Qg5 26.Rad1

26...Bxf5 27.Nb5 Qg7 28.Kh2 (why not 28...Qa3+–, we ask diffidently) 28...Bg6 29.Rxf8+ Kxf8 30.Nxc7 Rf6. Little tactical point: 30...Qxc7? 31.Rxd4!) 31.Nb5 Bxb2? 32.g5 Rf5 33.Bg4 Rf7 34.Rb1

34...Nd3. 34...Bd4 does not work because of 35.Nxd4 and Black cannot retake: 35...exd4?? 36.Qb8+ Ke7 37.d6 mate! 35.Rxb2 Nxb2 36.Qa3+ Kg8 37.Qxb2. The spoils of battle for White: two knights for a rook, and a winning position. 37...Rf1 38.Nd6 Qe7 39.Be6+ Kf8 40.Qxe5 Qg7 41.Qxg7+ Kxg7 42.Nxb7 Rf2 43.c5 Rd2 44.c6 e3 45.Kg3 e2 46.c7 1-0.

Afterwards "Kasim" discusses the game with tournament annotator GM Sergey Shipov

Standings after twelve rounds

Statistics: White has won 29% of the games, Black 8%, while 63% of the games were drawn.

FIDE Grand Prix Elista 2008 – Schedule and results

Links Tournament web site All games in PGN 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 ChessBase Light, which gives you immediate access. You can also use it to read, replay and analyse the PGN games. Download free PGN reader ChessBase Light