Round eight
Before the tournament began, a few players and noteworthy pundits were consulted on their opinion of the respective chances of both MVL and Radjabov to qualify for the Candidates. In spite of MVL requiring a larger number of Grand Prix points, 126 to Radjabov’s 94 (rounded up for simplicity), most favored MVL’s chances for a variety of reasons. Whether at that time this spoke highly of MVL’s prestige, or poorly of Radjabov’s, is open to speculation, but that was the popular feeling.
The tournament did little to dispel this opinion, and while MVL started strong with a win straight out of the opening in the first round followed by some draws, the Azeri player’s equally positive start with a win in round two, was then marred almost catastrophically by two losses, one in round four against Nakamura, and the next against Tomashevsky in round six. With a minus one score and only three rounds left, it seemed all but over for Radjabov.

Radjabov may not have shown the same unequivocal desire to fight for each and every game with the same verve, but when push came to shove he was ready | Photo: Valerij Belobeev
Perhaps the sign that things were not so clear came from Radjabov himself in a Tweet he posted. It showed a defiant player who was unapologetic for trying to fight on even if this eventually cost him the point. This was not a weepy apologetic participant, lamenting the way things had gone wrong, or with some ‘philosophical’ outlook claiming things would be better next time. Radjabov is experienced enough to be above such banalities (remember this is a player who was taking down Garry Kasparov when he was just 15!). He was there to fight, and the Tweet was his banner.
In round seven he steadily outplayed Li Chao in a complex endgame to return to parity, which could still have been a last hurrah, but round eight changed everything. With Black, he faced Gelfand, a veteran opponent who has also seen it all, and then some, and there was no King’s Indian either, to the surprise of many, and yes it was an option. Enjoy the in-depth look at this critical game by GM Tiger Hillarp Persson.

Boris Gelfand tries to gauge his opponent. Is he going to fight tooth and nail, or will he take an easy draw? He found out soon enough... | Photo: Valerij Belobeev
Boris Gelfand - Teimour Radjabov (Annotated by GM Tiger Hillarp-Persson)

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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 2...g6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 4...Ba6 5.b3 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Be7 7.Nc3 d5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Bg2 0-0 10.0-0 Re8 5.Bg2 Be7 6.0-0 0-0 7.Nc3 Ne4 8.Bd2 Nxd2 8...Bf6 9.Rc1 9.Be1 c5 10.Qc2!? 9...Nxd2 10.Qxd2 d6 8...f5 9.Ne5 Nxc3 10.Bxc3 Bxg2 11.Kxg2 Bf6 12.Qd3 d5 13.Rfd1 8...d5 9.cxd5 exd5 10.Rc1 9.Qxd2 d6 10.Rad1 10.e4 Nd7 11.Rfe1 a6 12.Qe2 12.Rad1 b5 13.cxb5 axb5 14.a3 c6 15.d5 e5 16.dxc6 Bxc6 17.Nd5 12...c5 13.d5 e5 14.h4! Rb8 15.a4 Nf6 16.Bh3 g6 17.Kg2 Kg7 18.Rh1 h5 19.Ng5 Bc8 20.Bxc8 Qxc8 21.Raf1 21.f3! Ne8 22.Nh3 Nc7 23.Nf2 b5 24.axb5 axb5 25.cxb5 21...Rb7 22.f3 Ne8 23.Rf2 23.Nh3 Nc7 23...Bxg5 24.hxg5 f6 10...Nd7 11.Rfe1 c5 11...e5? 12.Nxe5! 11...d5?! 12.cxd5 exd5 13.Qc2 Re8 14.e4 dxe4 15.Nxe4 Nf6 16.Nxf6+ Bxf6 17.Rxe8+ Qxe8 18.Qxc7 12.e4 a6 13.d5 e5! 14.b3 14.a4! 14.Rf1 b5 14...g6! 14...f5?? 15.exf5 Rxf5 16.Qe2 15.Rf1 15.h4!? h5?! 16.a3 f5? 17.Qh6+- 15...Bc8 16.Ne1 Rb8 16...b5 17.cxb5 axb5 18.Nxb5 Ba6 19.a4 Bxb5 20.axb5 Qb6 21.Qd3 Ra5 22.Nf3 Qxb5 23.Qxb5 Rxb5 24.Nd2 Nb6 25.h4 g5! 26.h5 26.hxg5 Bxg5 27.f4 27.Nc4 Nxc4 28.bxc4 Rb4 26...g4! 27.Rfe1 Rb4 28.Bf1 f5 17.a4 f5! 17...Bg5 18.Qe2 17...Kh8 18.Nd3 18.h4?! f5 19.h5 gxh5 18...f5 19.f4 Bf6 20.Kh1 Qe7 21.exf5 gxf5 22.fxe5 Nxe5 23.Nf4 Ng4∞ 18.f4 18.Nd3 Bg5 19.f4 exf4 20.gxf4 Bf6 21.exf5 gxf5 22.Bh3 Bg7 23.Kh1 Qh4 18.Nf3!? Rf7 19.Bh3 Nf8!? 20.Ne1 Bd7 21.Nd3 18.exf5 gxf5 19.f4 Bf6 20.Kh1 e4 18.Bh3 Nf6! 19.Nc2 f4 19...fxe4 20.Be6+ Bxe6 21.dxe6 Qc8 22.Ne3 Qxe6 23.Qc2 20.Be6+ Bxe6 21.dxe6 Qc8 22.f3 Qxe6 23.gxf4 exf4 24.Qxf4 Nh5 25.Qd2 18...exf4 19.gxf4 fxe4 20.Nxe4 b5 21.a5 21.axb5 axb5 22.Nf3 bxc4 23.bxc4 Nb6!? 23...Nf6 24.Nfg5 Nxe4 25.Bxe4 Bxg5 26.fxg5 24.Rc1 Bf5 25.Neg5 Bxg5 26.Nxg5 Qf6 21...bxc4 22.bxc4 Rb4 23.Rc1 Nf6 24.Ng5 Qxa5 24...Ra4! 25.Nd3 25.Qe3? Ng4-+ 25.Ne6 Bxe6 26.dxe6 Qxa5 25...Ng4! 25.Nd3 Ra4 26.Qe3 Qd8 26...Re8 27.Bh3! Bf8 28.Be6+ Bxe6 29.Nxe6 27.Rce1 Bf5 28.Bh3! 28.Ne6 Qc8! 29.Bh3 Rxc4 30.Bxf5 Nxd5! 31.Nxf8 Qxf5 32.Qf3 Kxf8 33.Ne5 Rd4 34.Nc6 Rxf4 35.Nxe7 28...Nxd5‼ 29.cxd5 Bxg5 30.Bxf5 Rxf5 31.Qe6+ Kg7 31...Kh8 32.fxg5 Qxg5+ 33.Kh1 Ra2 34.Qe8+ Kg7 35.Qe7+ 32.fxg5 Qxg5+ 33.Kh1 Ra2 34.Qe7+ 34.Qe4 Qd2 35.Qe7+ Kg8 35...Kh6 36.Qh4+ Rh5 37.Qf2 Qxf2 38.Nxf2 Rxd5 39.Ng4+ Kg5 40.Nf6 Rf5 41.Ne4+ 36.Qe8+= 34...Qxe7 35.Rxe7+ Kf8 36.Ree1! Rxf1+ 36...a5 37.Nf4 a4 38.Ne6+ Kg8 39.Rb1 a3 40.Rb8+ Kf7 41.Re1 Rb2 42.Rf8+ Ke7 43.Ra8 a2 44.Nd4+ Kf6 45.Nxf5 gxf5 46.Rg1 c4 47.Rg2 Rb1+ 48.Rg1 37.Rxf1+ Ke7 38.Re1+?! 38.Nf2! Rd2 38...a5 39.Re1+ Kd7 40.Ne4 Ra4 41.Nf6+ Kc7 42.Re7+ Kb6 43.Re6 39.Kg2 Rxd5 40.Ra1 38...Kd7 39.Re3?! 39.Kg1! a5 39...Rd2! 40.Nf2 Rxd5 41.Ra1 Kc6 42.Rxa6+ Kb5 43.Ra7 Rh5 40.Nf2 a4 41.Ne4 a3 42.Nf6+ Kc7 42...Kc8 43.Ne4 Kc7 44.Nc3 43.Ne8+ Kb6 44.Nxd6 Rc2 45.Rb1+ Ka5 46.Ne4 a2 47.Ra1 Kb6 48.h4 h6 49.Kf1= 39...a5! 40.Rh3 h5 41.Nf4 41.Kg1 a4 42.Kf1 Kc7 43.Nf2 a3 44.Ne4 41...a4 42.Nxg6 a3 43.Rf3? 43.Rc3 c4! 44.Rxc4 Rb2 45.Ra4 a2 43.Nf8+ Kc8 44.Rb3 c4! 45.Rc3 Kb7! 46.Rxc4 Rb2 47.Nd7 a2 48.Ra4 Rb1+ 49.Kg2 a1Q 50.Rxa1 Rxa1 51.Nf6 Kb6 52.Nxh5 Kc5 53.Nf4 Kd4-+ 43...c4! 44.Nf4 44.Rf7+ Kd8 45.Rf8+ Kc7-+ 44...Ra1+ 45.Kg2 a2! 46.Ra3 c3! 47.Ne2?! 47.Ra7+ Kc8 48.Nd3 Rd1 49.Rxa2 49.Nc1 Rxc1 50.Rxa2 c2 49...Rxd3 50.Ra6 Kd7 51.Rc6 Ke7 52.Kf2 Kf6! 53.Rxd6+ 53.Ke2 Rh3 54.Rxd6+ Ke5 55.Rc6 Rxh2+ 56.Kd3 Kxd5 57.Rc8 c2-+ 53...Ke5 54.Rd8 54.Rc6 Kxd5 54...Rd2+ 55.Ke3 Rxh2-+ 47.Rxc3 Rg1+! 47...c2 48.Kf2 Rh1 0–1
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Gelfand,B | 2719 | Radjabov,T | 2741 | 0–1 | 2017 | E18 | FIDE Grand Prix Palma 2017 | 8 |
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With plus one, this changes everything, and Radjabov’s chances are now very much alive. Plus one might not be much, but in view of only one other player having more: Levon Aronian, and eight others at plus one, he is right there in the mix. While it is conceivable he could qualify with that plus one, it would need a very good draw in the lottery of results in the last round. A win would pretty much guarantee his spot.
Maxime Vachier Lagrave may not have suffered the two losses that threatened to capsize USS Radjabov, but the near endless slew of seven straight draws has done him no favors, especially with a few barely warranting the label ‘game’. He too is on plus one, but the chance that it might suffice to win a berth to Berlin is next to nil. He is in a win-at-all-costs situation, and will have to defeat Dmitry Jakovenko in the final round. His saving grace is that he is white.

Li Chao showed great creativity as he shocked Anish Giri with a pawn sacrifice in a queenless middlegame that left the Dutch player gasping | Photo: Valerij Belobeev
While these two tales might represent the drama in the larger picture of the tournament, they do not summarize the individual battles that took place. Li Chao also showed his resilience and desire to play them all, as he came back from his loss to Radjabov to defeat Anish Giri.
Both players have followed 16 moves of theory, and three moves later it is barely a wilt different from Gajewski-Fressinet (May 2017). Whether this was merely his objective choice of best move, or a desire to exploit Giri's tendency to avoid danger, the Chinese player came up with the strong and creative continuation 20. e4! and after 20... dxe4 21. d5!, Black chose not to face the rook invasion that would arise after 21...cxd5 22. Rc7+ and instead played 21...c5? and after 22. Bb5+ Kd8 23. Bd6 Rc8 24. Bc6 (NB: Remember you can move the pieces on the diagrams)
White's compensation and advantage were quite clear. Li Chao conducted the rest of the game with precision and technique and converted his point.
Jon Hammer, on the other hand, will be kicking himself for his missed opportunity against Alexander Riazantsev. He built up a winning advantage only to squander it. He then pressed on for dozens of moves in the endgame to finally be rewarded with a chance to win it once more.

PGN
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Hammer,J | 2629 | Riazantsev,A | 2651 | ½–½ | 2017 | C01 | FIDE Grand Prix Palma 2017 | 8 |
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Round 8 results
Standings after eight rounds
1 |
1 |
|
GM |
Aronian Levon |
|
2801 |
5,0 |
2832 |
10 |
2,9 |
2 |
2 |
|
GM |
Vachier-Lagrave Maxime |
|
2796 |
4,5 |
2787 |
10 |
-0,8 |
|
3 |
|
GM |
Nakamura Hikaru |
|
2780 |
4,5 |
2786 |
10 |
0,9 |
|
4 |
|
GM |
Ding Liren |
|
2774 |
4,5 |
2775 |
10 |
0,3 |
|
5 |
|
GM |
Svidler Peter |
|
2763 |
4,5 |
2782 |
10 |
2,4 |
|
8 |
|
GM |
Radjabov Teimour |
|
2741 |
4,5 |
2768 |
10 |
3,3 |
|
9 |
|
GM |
Harikrishna P. |
|
2738 |
4,5 |
2763 |
10 |
2,9 |
|
10 |
|
GM |
Jakovenko Dmitry |
|
2721 |
4,5 |
2780 |
10 |
6,7 |
|
14 |
|
GM |
Tomashevsky Evgeny |
|
2702 |
4,5 |
2788 |
10 |
9,8 |
|
15 |
|
GM |
Rapport Richard |
|
2692 |
4,5 |
2759 |
10 |
7,6 |
11 |
12 |
|
GM |
Eljanov Pavel |
|
2707 |
4,0 |
2725 |
10 |
2,0 |
|
16 |
|
GM |
Inarkiev Ernesto |
|
2683 |
4,0 |
2748 |
10 |
7,0 |
13 |
6 |
|
GM |
Giri Anish |
|
2762 |
3,5 |
2697 |
10 |
-7,5 |
|
7 |
|
GM |
Li Chao B |
|
2741 |
3,5 |
2662 |
10 |
-9,0 |
|
13 |
|
GM |
Vallejo Pons Francisco |
|
2705 |
3,5 |
2674 |
10 |
-3,6 |
16 |
17 |
|
GM |
Riazantsev Alexander |
|
2651 |
3,0 |
2631 |
10 |
-2,7 |
17 |
11 |
|
GM |
Gelfand Boris |
|
2719 |
2,5 |
2564 |
10 |
-16,5 |
|
18 |
|
GM |
Hammer Jon Ludvig |
|
2629 |
2,5 |
2574 |
10 |
-5,7 |
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