Birthday boys
Two of the wildcards playing at the Paris Rapid & Blitz Tournament had birthdays this week. While Peter Svidler turned 45 on Thursday, Alireza Firouzja made his debut in a Grand Chess Tour event on the very day he turned 18 years old. The two players are known for their dynamic style, and both of them showcased their characteristic fighting spirit on an entertaining first day of action.
The Ruy Lopez is one of the oldest openings which continues to enjoy high popularity from club level to the absolute world top. In this video series, American super GM Fabiano Caruana, talking to IM Oliver Reeh, presents a complete repertoire for White.
Svidler finished among the four players sharing the lead on 4/6 points (in the rapid section, a win is worth 2 points and a draw is worth 1 point), while Firouzja ended the day with a -1 score, as he drew his first two encounters and lost with the black pieces against Teimour Radjabov in round 3.
Sharing the lead with Svidler are Ian Nepomniachtchi, Levon Aronian and Wesley So. In a very appealing clash of round 4, So will have the white pieces against the ever-fighting Nepo.

World Championship challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Round 1: Svidler and Bacrot strike first
Etienne Bacrot was invited to play in the rapid section of the event, as his place will be taken by none other than Vladimir Kramnik in the blitz. The Frenchman, who entered the world’s top 10 in 2005 and had a peak rating of 2749, kicked off with a win over Richard Rapport. Bacrot played principled chess to counter Rapport’s unorthodox play.
In the other decisive game of the round, Svidler defeated Maxime Vachier-Lagrave with the white pieces. The Russian had more space in a closed structure, and decided to play the one pawn break available in the position on move 53.
Svidler vs. Vachier-Lagrave
White was obviously the one fighting for a win after 53.h5 gxh5 54.g6, when MVL correctly went for 55...Rxg6 56.Nxg6 Bxg6. Svidler needed to work hard to get the win, though. After missing a couple of opportunities, the Russian had a rook for no fewer than 4 pawns.
In over 4 hours in front of the camera, Karsten Müller presents to you sensations from the world of endgames - partly reaching far beyond standard techniques and rules of thumb - and rounds off with some cases of with own examples.
It was a brave defensive effort by the Frenchman, but he could not stop Svidler from getting an 89-move victory.
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.Bg5 6.0-0 h6 7.Re1 0-0 8.Nbd2 a6 9.a4 Re8 10.Qb3 Be6 11.a5 Rb8 12.Nf1 d5 13.exd5 Bxd5 14.Ng3 Bxc4 15.Qxc4 Qd5 16.Ne4 Qxc4 17.Nxf6+ gxf6 18.dxc4 Kh7 19.b4 6...h6 7.Bh4 a6 8.a4 Ba7 9.0-0 Qe7 10.Nbd2 10.b4 10...g5!= 11.Bg3 Nh7 12.b4 Nf8! 13.d4N 13.b5 Nd8 14.d4 Ng6 15.h3 h5 16.Bd5 c6 17.Bb3 g4 18.hxg4 Bxg4 19.Qb1 13...Ng6 14.b5 Na5 15.h3 h5 16.Bd5 16.bxa6= g4 17.hxg4 hxg4 18.axb7 Bxb7 19.Nh2 16...Bb6 17.Qb1 17.bxa6 Rxa6 18.dxe5 dxe5 19.Nc4 Nxc4 20.Bxc4 17...g4 18.hxg4 hxg4 19.Nh2 Qg5 20.Qd3 Nf4 21.Qe3 Qh6 22.Rfe1 f6 23.Bc4 Nh5 24.Nhf1 Bd7 25.Bh4 25.bxa6 Nf4 26.Nh2 25...Nf4-+ 26.g3 26...Qh5! 27.bxa6 27.gxf4 Qxh4 27...bxa6 28.Bd5 28...Rb8 28...c6!-+ 29.Ba2 29.Rab1 Bd8 29...Ng6 29.gxf4 Qxh4 30.Ng3 Ba7 30...Qh2+ 31.Kf1 Qh6 32.fxe5 Qxe3 33.Rxe3 fxe5 31.Ndf1= Ke7 31...Kd8= 32.fxe5 fxe5 33.Nf5+ Bxf5 34.exf5 c6 35.Bg2 Nc4 36.Qd3 d5 37.Rxe5+? 37.Ra2= 37...Nxe5-+ 38.Re1 38...Kf7 39.Rxe5= Rb2 40.Re2 Rb6 41.f6 Bb8 41...Qxf6?! 42.Re5± 42.Qf5 Bh2+ 42...Rb7!? 43.Nxh2 Qxh2+ 44.Kf1 Rb7 44...Rb1+= 45.Qxb1 Qh1+ 46.Bxh1 Rxh1+ 47.Kg2 Rxb1 45.Bxd5+ 45.Qe6+ Kg6 46.Qxg4+ Kh6 47.Re5 45...cxd5+- 46.Qxd5+ Kg6 47.Qe4+ 47.Qxb7 Qh3+ 48.Kg1 Qh2+ 49.Kf1 Qh3+ 50.Kg1 Qh2+ 51.Kf1= 47...Kxf6? 47...Kg5+- 48.Qxb7 Qh3+ 49.Qg2 Kxf6 48.Qc6+ Kg5 49.Re5+? 49.Qd5++- Kh4 50.Qxb7 49...Qxe5! 50.dxe5 Rf7 50...Rb1+ 51.Kg2 Rh6 51.e6+- 51.Qxa6 g3± 51...Rf6 51...Rfh7 52.Qxa6 Re7 52.Qd7 Rhf8 53.Qg7+? 53.Qd2++- Kg6 54.Qd3+ Kg7 55.Qd7+ Kh6 56.e7 Rxf2+ 57.Kg1 Rf1+ 58.Kg2 R1f2+ 59.Kg1 Rf1+ 60.Kg2 R8f2+ 61.Kg3 53...Kh4? 53...Kf5± 54.e7 Re8 54.e7 Rxf2+ 55.Ke1 Rf1+ 56.Ke2 R1f2+ 57.Ke3? 57.Kd1 Rf1+ 58.Kc2 R1f2+ 59.Kb3 Rb8+ 60.Kc4 57...R2f3+ 57...R8f3+ 58.Kd4 Rd2+ 59.Kc4 Re2 60.Qh8+ Kg3 58.Ke4 Re8 59.Qh6+? 59.Kd5+- 59...Kg3± 60.Qd6+ Kf2 61.Qd2+ Kg3 61...Kf1 62.Qd7 Rff8 62.Qd6+? 62.Qd7± Rff8 63.Qe6 62...Kh3? 62...Kf2!= 63.Qd7+- Rff8 64.c4 Kh4? 64...Kh2 65.Kd5? 65.Qe6+- Rf1 66.Kd5 65...Rg8± 66.Ke6 g3 67.Qd4+! Kh3 68.Qe3 68.Qg1!± g2 69.c5 68...Kh2= 69.Qh6+ Kg1 70.Qe3+ Kh2 71.Qh6+ Kg1 72.Qe3+ ½–½ - Start an analysis engine:
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Firouzja,A | 2759 | So,W | 2770 | ½–½ | 2021 | C54 | GCT Paris Rapid 2021 | 1.1 |
Radjabov,T | 2765 | Aronian,L | 2781 | ½–½ | 2021 | D39 | GCT Paris Rapid 2021 | 1.2 |
Svidler,P | 2714 | Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2760 | 1–0 | 2021 | C11 | GCT Paris Rapid 2021 | 1.3 |
Caruana,F | 2820 | Nepomniachtchi,I | 2792 | ½–½ | 2021 | E54 | GCT Paris Rapid 2021 | 1.4 |
Bacrot,E | 2678 | Rapport,R | 2763 | 1–0 | 2021 | B11 | GCT Paris Rapid 2021 | 1.5 |
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Select an entry from the list to switch between games

Peter Svidler kicked off with a great win | Photo: Bryan Adams
Round 2: Kingside attacks
The second round was truly entertaining, with imbalanced positions prompting the players who had white to go for attacks on the kingside, almost invariably. So, Nepomniachtchi and Vachier-Lagrave all won their games with the white pieces.
MVL’s attacking victory over Radjabov was remarkable.
Vachier-Lagrave vs. Radjabov
White has given up his bishop on h6, a logical decision given how out of play Black’s bishops are on the b-file. The engines applauded MVL’s sacrifice, but by the time the diagrammed position was reached, they thought the worst had passed for Black, who needed to play 27...Ke6 to continue with the defence. Instead, Radjabov’s 27...Qg6 was duly punished by the Frenchman — 28.Nh6+ Kg7 29.Ngf5+ Kh7 30.Qe2
Tap into your creative mind and start the game on a fresh note. The Trompowsky (1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5) is an opening outside of conventional wisdom. Create challenges and make your opponent solve problems early on.
MVL correctly retreated with his queen to e2, leaving the third rank open for the rook to join the attack on the g-file. Radjabov soon gave up his queen, and Vachier-Lagrave did not falter until getting the full two points on move 41.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 c5 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.Nge2 cxd4 7.exd4 d5 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.0-0 Nf6 10.Bc2 0-0 11.a3!? Bxc3 12.bxc3 12...e5N 12...Qa5 13.c4 Rd8 14.Bb2 Qh5 15.Qe1 b6 16.d5 exd5 17.Nf4 Qh4 18.Nxd5 Be6 19.Nxf6+ gxf6 13.Bg5 exd4 14.Nxd4 Nxd4 15.cxd4 h6 16.Bh4 Re8 17.Qd3 Bd7 18.d5 Rc8 19.d6 g5 20.Bg3 Ne4 20...Qa5= 21.Rae1!± Rc3 22.Qd1 Nxg3 23.hxg3 Rxe1 23...Rxa3? 24.Rxe8+ Bxe8 25.Re1+- 24.Rxe1 Be6 25.Qd2 Rxa3 26.Rd1 Bd7 26...Bg4± 27.Qb4+- Ra2 28.Qb3 Ra5 29.Qxb7 Kg7 29...Qe8 30.Qc7 Re5 31.Qxa7 Re1+ 32.Rxe1 Qxe1+ 33.Kh2 Qe6 30.Re1! Rc5 30...Rb5 31.Qe4 31.Qxa7 Rd5± 31...Qf6 31.Qe4 Qf6 32.Qh7+ Kf8 33.Re7 Be8 33...Rxc2 34.Qxc2 Qxd6 34.Bg6! 1–0 - 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.
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So,W | 2770 | Rapport,R | 2763 | 1–0 | 2021 | E41 | GCT Paris Rapid 2021 | 2.1 |
Nepomniachtchi,I | 2792 | Bacrot,E | 2678 | 1–0 | 2021 | B52 | GCT Paris Rapid 2021 | 2.2 |
Aronian,L | 2781 | Caruana,F | 2820 | ½–½ | 2021 | D38 | GCT Paris Rapid 2021 | 2.3 |
Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2760 | Radjabov,T | 2765 | 1–0 | 2021 | C65 | GCT Paris Rapid 2021 | 2.4 |
Firouzja,A | 2759 | Svidler,P | 2714 | ½–½ | 2021 | D02 | GCT Paris Rapid 2021 | 2.5 |
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Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Round 3: Imbalanced positions
More fighting chess was seen in the last round of the day. Perhaps the most exciting game of the round was the one that faced Fabiano Caruana with white against Vachier-Lagrave, with the two excellent calculators avoiding big mistakes until agreeing to a draw. Both players finished the day with a fifty percent score.
Radjabov bounced back from his loss in round 2 by beating Firouzja with the white pieces, while Aronian obtained the one win of the day with black against Bacrot. Commentator Cristian Chirila later asked Aronian how he felt about finally playing over-the-board instead of online chess. The Armenian responded:
In online chess you blunder much more. [...] I’m not from that generation of computer kids, so I think I blunder much more online than over the board.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.0-0 h6 7.Re1 0-0 8.h3 Bb6 9.Nbd2 Ne7 10.a4 10...c6 11.d4 Ng6 12.Bf1 Re8 13.Qc2 13...Bc7N 13...a5 14.Nc4 Bc7 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.Be3 Qe7 17.Rad1 Be6 18.Nfd2 Nh5 19.Nb3 Nhf4 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Nxe5 dxe5 16.Nc4 a5 17.Be3 Be6 18.b4 Bxc4 19.Bxc4 Bb6 20.Rad1 Qc7 21.Bc1 Red8 22.g3 Qe7 23.bxa5 Rxd1 24.Rxd1 Rxa5 25.Kg2 Ra8 26.Bb3 Bc5 27.Qd3 Bb6 28.Qf3 Rd8 29.Rxd8+ Qxd8 30.g4 Qd7 31.Bxh6! Nxg4! 32.Qxg4 Qxg4+ 33.hxg4 gxh6= 34.Kf3 Ba5 35.c4 35.g5!? 35...Kf8 36.Ke2 Ke7 37.Kd3 Bb6 38.f3 Kd6 39.Bd1 Kc5 40.Bc2 Kb4 41.Bd1 Ka3 42.Bc2 Kb2 43.Bd1 Kc1 44.Bb3 Kb2 45.Bd1 Kc1 46.Bb3 Kb2 46...Bc5 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.
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Svidler,P | 2714 | So,W | 2770 | ½–½ | 2021 | C54 | GCT Paris Rapid 2021 | 3.1 |
Radjabov,T | 2765 | Firouzja,A | 2759 | 1–0 | 2021 | D43 | GCT Paris Rapid 2021 | 3.2 |
Caruana,F | 2820 | Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2760 | ½–½ | 2021 | D00 | GCT Paris Rapid 2021 | 3.3 |
Rapport,R | 2763 | Nepomniachtchi,I | 2792 | ½–½ | 2021 | A30 | GCT Paris Rapid 2021 | 3.4 |
Bacrot,E | 2678 | Aronian,L | 2781 | 0–1 | 2021 | D30 | GCT Paris Rapid 2021 | 3.5 |
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Standings after round 5
Rk. | | Name | Rtg. | Nt. | Pts. | n | | | | | | | | | | | TB | Perf. |
---|
1 | | | 2792 | | 3.5 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | 8.75 | 2911 |
2 | | | 2820 | | 3.0 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | 7.50 | 2833 |
3 | | | 2770 | | 3.0 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | 6.75 | 2831 |
4 | | | 2781 | | 2.5 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | 6.00 | 2764 |
5 | | | 2765 | | 2.5 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | 6.00 | 2757 |
6 | | | 2714 | | 2.5 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | 5.75 | 2775 |
7 | | | 2678 | | 2.5 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | 4.50 | 2771 |
8 | | | 2759 | | 2.0 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | 5.50 | 2677 |
9 | | | 2760 | | 2.0 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | 4.75 | 2676 |
10 | | | 2763 | | 1.5 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | 4.00 | 2607 |
TBs: Sonneborn-Berger |
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