Grand Swiss: Seven perfect scores

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
10/27/2023 – After two rounds, seven players still have perfect scores in the open section of the FIDE Grand Swiss. Joining elite players Fabiano Caruana (pictured) and Arjun Erigaisi in the lead, among others, is IM Ramazan Zhalmakhanov from Kazakhstan, who stunned Bassem Amin on Thursday. In the women’s section, five players are sharing first place on 2/2. Tan Zhongyi and Anna Muzychuk are the highest-rated in this group, while, similarly to the open, a Kazakh representative gave the biggest surprise, as Meruert Kamalidenova beat Valentina Gunina to enter round 3 as one of the co-leaders. | Photo: Anna Shtourman

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Caruana beats Niemann, rejoins 2800 club

Fabiano Caruana is having a great month. The 31-year-old from Miami made his way to the Isle of Man right after winning the U.S. Championship with an impeccable, undefeated performance. In Douglas, he has started with back-to-back wins to become one of seven players sharing the lead, and has surpassed the 2800-rating barrier in the live ratings list.

Having already secured a spot in the Candidates, Caruana is likely to be more relaxed than other title contenders as the tournament progresses, which bodes well for his chances to win a second event in a row.

In round 2, Caruana got the better of Hans Niemann with the white pieces. Niemann found himself in real trouble after erring with 22...Qa6

Caruana vs. Niemann

In this quiet-looking position, Caruana already has a large advantage after 23.Rxd8+ Rxd8 24.Rd1, when the natural 24...Rxd1+ would fail to 25.Qxd1 Nc6 26.Qd7

Analysis diagram

Black is forced to play 26...h6 to deal with the threat of back-rank mate, and after 27.Qe8+ Kh7 28.Qxf7 White has a winning position.

Of course, Niemann did not enter this line and played 24...Ra8 instead — a major positional concession, which Caruana exploited until getting a clear 41-move victory.

Hans Niemann

Hans Niemann | Photo: Anna Shtourman

Predke, L’Ami and Zhalmakhanov stun strong opponents

Three out of the seven co-leaders grabbed upset wins in the second round. Alexandr Predke (Serbia) obtained an attacking win over Jan-Krzysztof Duda; Erwin l’Ami (Netherlands) got the better of Vladimir Fedoseev a day after beating Vidit Gujrathi; and Ramazan Zhalmakhanov (Kazakhstan), the 111th seed in Douglas, defeated Egyptian star Bassem Amin.

Predke made the most of Duda’s kingside vulnerabilities.

Predke vs. Duda

30.Bh6+ is game over. Duda resigned after 30.Kf7 Qg7+, with mate-in-one on the board. Of course, 30...Kxh6 fails to 31.Qg6#

Alexandr Predke

Alexandr Predke | Photo: Anna Shtourman

Zhalmakanov also got to finish his game in style.

Zhalmakanov vs. Amin

Both white knights are under attack, but the threat of g3-g4 checkmate prompted Black’s resignation.

Arjun, Esipenko and Sarana among the co-leaders

Also with 2/2 are Arjun Erigaisi (India), Andrey Esipenko (FIDE) and Alexey Sarana (Serbia). Ranked 16th, 32nd and 33rd in the field, the three youngsters defeated lower-rated opponents in Thursday’s second round.

Arjun saw his opponent, the ever-dangerous David Anton, resign the game a move before checkmate. The black king is doing a fantastic job in the centre of the board in this one.

Anton vs. Arjun

42...Bg2# is coming. Anton resigned.


Videos from the Isle of Man by ChessBase India

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A great, instructive interview with Anish Giri!


Standings after round 2

Rk. Name Pts.  TB1 
1 Predke, Alexandr 2 2726
2 L'ami, Erwin 2 2716
3 Zhalmakhanov, Ramazan 2 2680
4 Caruana, Fabiano 2 2667
5 Erigaisi, Arjun 2 2653
6 Esipenko, Andrey 2 2603
7 Sarana, Alexey 2 2592
8 Bacrot, Etienne 1,5 2752
9 Cheparinov, Ivan 1,5 2742
10 Shirov, Alexei 1,5 2720
11 Narayanan, S L 1,5 2716
Tari, Aryan 1,5 2716
13 Melkumyan, Hrant 1,5 2707
14 Ter-Sahakyan, Samvel 1,5 2707
15 Aravindh, Chithambaram Vr. 1,5 2698
16 Najer, Evgeniy 1,5 2696
17 Huschenbeth, Niclas 1,5 2689
18 Kuybokarov, Temur 1,5 2685
19 Rapport, Richard 1,5 2669
20 Maurizzi, Marc`andria 1,5 2668

...114 players

All games - Round 2

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1.e4 6 e5 31 2.Nf3 8 Nc6 16 3.Bb5 5 Nf6 3:05 4.d3 4:00 Bc5 30 5.Bxc6 4 dxc6 11 6.h3 56 C65: Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defence (3...Nf6), unusual lines and 4 0-0 Bc5. Nd7 6:41 now scores much better than the old 6...0-0. 7.Nc3 1:05 0-0 1:38 8.Be3 8:46 The position is equal. Bd6 2:52 9.0-0 7:43 Re8 1:18 10.Nd2 23 Nf8 53 11.Nc4 1:13 Ng6 46
12.d4!?N 9:07       An interesting novelty. Predecessor: 12.Ne2 a5 13.b3 a4 14.Nxd6 cxd6 15.f4 exf4 16.Nxf4 d5 17.Nxg6 hxg6 18.Qf3 ½-½ Anand,V (2770)-Aronian,L (2792) Leuven GCT blitz 2016 (8) 12...Be6 12:24 13.Nxd6 3:54 cxd6 1:47 14.d5 5:46 cxd5 11:34 15.Nxd5 9 Qd7 15:55 15...Rc8!? 16.Qd3 3:57 Bxd5 5:53 17.Qxd5 27 Ne7 8 18.Qd3 11:13 d5 1:02 19.exd5 8 Qxd5 11 20.Rfd1 1:45 Red8 5:31 21.Qe2 7:11 Qa5 7:04 22.Qg4 1:31 Qa6 4:29
22...Qc7= 23.Rxd8+!± 3:49 Rxd8 6
24.Rd1! 5       White is out for blood. Ra8 11:30 Black cannot hold the game after this. 24...Qa5± 25.Rd7+- 3:48 Black is weak on the dark squares Ng6 1:35 26.Qf3 2:21 Qxa2 2:12 27.b3 3:48 But not 27.Rxb7?! Qe6 28.Qe4 28.Rxa7 Rxa7 29.Bxa7 h6± 28.Rxf7? e4-+ 28...Rd8 29.Rxa7 Nf8+- 27.Qxb7 Re8 28.b3 28.Bxa7 e4± 28.Qxa7 Qxa7 29.Rxa7 f5+- 28...e4 29.Rxf7 29.Qxa7 Qxc2 30.Rxf7 Ne7± 29...Qa1+ 30.Kh2 Qe5+ 31.Kh1 Qa1+ 32.Kh2 Qe5+ 33.g3 Ne7+- 27...Nh8 2:38 27...Rf8 28.Bc5 Qa1+ 29.Kh2 e4 30.Qxe4 Rc8 28.Qxb7 1:41 28.Rxb7 Qxc2± 28...Re8 5 29.Qc6 1:07 Not 29.Qxa7 Qxc2 30.Qb7 Qf5+- 29...h6 1:53 30.Rxa7 17       Discovered Attack Qb1+ 5 31.Kh2 2 Rf8 15 32.Qc4 9:12 Rd8 2:13 33.b4 3:46       And now b5 would win. Rb8 19 34.c3 3:01 Rd8 5 35.Qa2 7:05 Qe4 1:59 35...Qxa2 36.Rxa2 Rb8 36.b5 34 Kh7 2:24 37.b6 8 f5 1:09 38.Qa4 2:11 Qb1 1:12 38...Qxa4+- 39.Rxa4 f4 39.Qh4 2:37 White mates. Rd6 13 40.Qe7 24 Rg6 12 41.Qxe5 50:05 Weighted Error Value: White=0.37/Black=0.70
1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Caruana,F2786Niemann,H26671–02023C65FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.1
Bacrot,E2669Rapport,R2752½–½2023B12FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.2
Aronian,L2742Cheparinov,I2658½–½2023A20FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.3
Predke,A2656Duda,J27261–02023D24FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.4
Yu,Y2720Shirov,A2655½–½2023D35FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.5
Abdusattorov,N2716Narayanan.S.L2651½–½2023A32FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.6
Anton Guijarro,D2653Erigaisi Arjun27120–12023A13FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.7
Melkumyan,H2650Maghsoodloo,P2707½–½2023A17FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.8
Sevian,S2698Aravindh,C2649½–½2023B45FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.9
Najer,E2648Martirosyan,H2696½–½2023C54FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.10
Fedoseev,V2691L'Ami,E26270–12023D12FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.11
Huschenbeth,N2605Sargissian,G2686½–½2023C88FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.12
Tabatabaei,M2685Kuybokarov,T2584½–½2023B44FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.13
Jumabayev,R2585Esipenko,A26830–12023D11FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.14
Sarana,A2682Royal,S24071–02023D23FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.15
Zhalmakhanov,R2447Amin,B26801–02023C95FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.16
Sadhwani,R2641Nakamura,H2780½–½2023B06FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.17
Firouzja,A2777Mamedov,R26401–02023B36FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.18
Svane,R2646Giri,A27600–12023E15FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.19
Gukesh D2758Ponomariov,R2641½–½2023C55FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.20
Murzin,V2633Praggnanandhaa R2738½–½2023D46FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.21
Vachier-Lagrave,M2727Durarbayli,V2625½–½2023C88FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.22
Aryan Chopra2634Keymer,V2717½–½2023C54FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.23
Tari,A2619Harikrishna,P27161–02023B44FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.24
Vitiugov,N2711Gledura,B26331–02023D35FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.25
Van Foreest,J2707Ter-Sahakyan,S26180–12023D24FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.26
Henriquez Villagra,C2630Deac,B27010–12023A08FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.27
Karthikeyan,M2611Shankland,S26980–12023B11FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.28
Artemiev,V2697Mendonca,L2622½–½2023B13FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.29
Nihal Sarin2694Suleymanli,A2588½–½2023E05FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.30
Nguyen,T2618Xiong,J2693½–½2023A34FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.31
Akobian,V2582Grandelius,N26890–12023D13FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.32
Abasov,N2679Iturrizaga Bonelli,E26151–02023A46FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.33
Mareco,S2606Shevchenko,K2671½–½2023A48FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.34
Maurizzi,M2555Bluebaum,M26681–02023C02FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.35
Wojtaszek,R2668Kozak,A2566½–½2023E11FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.36
Volokitin,A2664Fier,A25741–02023B62FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.37
Korobov,A2658Gurel,E25141–02023D47FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.38
Samunenkov,I2531Sindarov,J26580–12023B07FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.39
Vokhidov,S2578Ivanchuk,V2653½–½2023C10FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.40
Bartel,M2651Lazavik,D2560½–½2023C54FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.41
Vidit,S2716Gupta,A26091–02023D30FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.42
Navara,D2689Bachmann,A26041–02023E11FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.43
Sanal,V2603Donchenko,A2676½–½2023C85FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.44
Matlakov,M2674Petrosyan,M2604½–½2023C54FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.45
Wagner,D2589Pichot,A26500–12023D30FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.46
Santos Latasa,J2650Mishra,A2592½–½2023B90FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.47
Amar,E2568Saric,I2647½–½2023B77FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.48
Yilmaz,M2640Dardha,D2580½–½2023E48FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.49
Parligras,M2561Warmerdam,M2636½–½2023E04FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.50
Idani,P2633Adhiban,B25511–02023C28FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.51
Fawzy,A2535Kollars,D26330–12023C64FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.52
Rodrigue-Lemieux,S2488Sargsyan,S2631½–½2023B51FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.53
Svane,F2626Krasenkow,M25311–02023C42FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.54
Kuzubov,Y2625Greenfeld,A2455½–½2023E90FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.55
Wu,L2303Theodorou,N2619½–½2023FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.56
Yakubboev,N2616Kolbus,D22251–02023A36FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.57

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Kamalidenova among co-leaders

In the 50-player women’s competition, five players still have a perfect score after two rounds.

  • Tan Zhongyi (China, 2517), who beat rising star Divya Deshmukh with the black pieces
  • Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine, 2410), who saw her opponent, Stavroula Tsolakidou, first failing to find a winning move and then blundering a whole rook in a drawish position.
  • Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria, 2424), who outplayed Savitha Shri in an endgame with a rook and two minor pieces per side.
  • Irina Bulmaga (Romania, 2423), who defeated her compatriot Mihaela Sanda with the black pieces.
  • Meruert Kamalidenova (Kazakhstan, 2351), who obtained an upset win with white over the ever-creative Valentina Gunina.

Tan Zhongyi

Tan Zhongyi | Photo: Anna Shtourman

The older of the Muzychuk sisters got lucky twice on Thursday.

Muzychuk vs. Tsolakidou

Grabbing a pawn while threatening a discovered check with 34.Qxe4 is surely tempting, but it is also a losing blunder.

Black has a major threat of her own, connected to a potential mate on the back rank. Moving the knight would discover this attack, but where to place it? Tsolakidou opted for 34...Nb3, when 34...Nd7 was the winning continuation (in this line, 35.Ree1+, for example, fails to 35...Nf6, blocking the discovered check).

After the text, White survives with 35.axb3, and in case of 35...Rxc1+, White both defends and gives the discovered check with 36.Re1+, as was seen in the game!

A queen and rook endgame with 4 vs 3 pawns emerged from this position, one in which Black surely had drawing chances — until Tsolakidou simply forgot that her rook was under attack on e8.

40...Qh6, played on the last move before reaching the time control, lost on the spot to 41.Qxe8+. Certainly a painful loss for the Greek IM.

Anna Muzychuk

Stavroula Tsolakidou and Anna Muzychuk | Photo: Anna Shtourman

Standings after round 2

Rk. Name Pts.  TB1 
1 Kamalidenova, Meruert 2 2439
2 Tan, Zhongyi 2 2408
3 Muzychuk, Anna 2 2391
4 Stefanova, Antoaneta 2 2375
5 Bulmaga, Irina 2 2298
6 Guichard, Pauline 1,5 2558
7 Roebers, Eline 1,5 2506
8 Garifullina, Leya 1,5 2484
9 Paehtz, Elisabeth 1,5 2402
10 Muzychuk, Mariya 1,5 2400
11 Vaishali, Rameshbabu 1,5 2390
12 Assaubayeva, Bibisara 1,5 2383
13 Mammadzada, Gunay 1,5 2380
14 Beydullayeva, Govhar 1 2523
15 Narva, Mai 1 2523
16 Hoang, Thanh Trang 1 2519
17 Divya, Deshmukh 1 2517
Fataliyeva, Ulviyya 1 2517
19 Tsolakidou, Stavroula 1 2510
20 Milliet, Sophie 1 2510

...50 players

All games - Round 2

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1.c4 10:02 f5 11:09 2.Nf3 2:33 Nf6 19 3.g3 30 g6 33 4.Bg2 25 Bg7 6 5.0-0 1:49 d6 7 6.d4 2:06 0-0 9 7.Nc3 4 a5 33 8.b3 13:13 e5 14:24 9.dxe5 5:37 dxe5 7 10.Qc2 32:55 e4 6:34 11.Rd1 35 Qe7 5 12.Nd4 21 c6 32 13.Bb2 5:59 Na6 3:06 14.Na4 1:58 Bd7 3:06 15.Qc1 3:38 Rae8 9:16 16.Nc2 2:50 Be6 15:19 17.Qd2 5:53 Nb4 1:54 18.Nxb4 2:09 axb4 17 19.Bd4 3:11 Rd8 1:20 20.Bc5 35 Rxd2 4:09 21.Bxe7 3 Rxd1+ 23 22.Rxd1 1 Ra8 25 23.Bxb4 10:27 Bxc4 1:27 24.Bf1 3:43 Be6 7:58 25.e3 1:05 Nd5 19 26.Bc4 43 Kf7 3:30 27.Bxd5 29 cxd5 6 28.Rd2 1:02 g5 4:56 29.Bc3 31 Rc8 47 30.Bxg7 23 Kxg7 5 31.b4 17 Rc1+ 6:32 32.Kg2 1 Bf7 1:02 33.Nc5 8 Bh5 1:44 34.Ne6+ 3 Kf6 12 35.Nd4 1 Bd1 1:50 36.Ne2 2:35 Rb1 46 37.a3 29 Ra1 12 38.h3 34 Ke5 3:16 39.Nd4 30 h5 2:17 40.b5 30 g4 26 41.hxg4 27:34 hxg4 20:05 42.Kh2 6 Bf3 23 43.Nxf3+ 6 gxf3 4 44.Rc2 4:18 Rxa3 39 45.Rc7 1:44 Ra2 4 46.Rxb7 3:36 Rxf2+ 11 47.Kg1 2 Rb2 6 48.Rb8 1:15 d4 2:33 49.Re8+ 1:36 Kf6 5 50.exd4 2 Rxb5 5 51.Kf2 4:03 Kf7 16 52.Ra8 3:56 Rb2+ 5 53.Kf1 6 e3 8 54.Ra1 2 Ke6 19 55.Re1 24 Rf2+ 1:03 56.Kg1 2 Rg2+ 7 57.Kh1 7 e2 55 58.g4 11 Rxg4 7 59.Kh2 7 Kd6 10 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Divya Deshmukh2408Tan,Z25170–12023A87FIDE Womens Grand Swiss 20232.1
Muzychuk,A2510Tsolakidou,S23851–02023B22FIDE Womens Grand Swiss 20232.2
Garifullina,L2402Paehtz,E2484½–½2023B33FIDE Womens Grand Swiss 20232.3
Roebers,E2390Vaishali,R2448½–½2023D00FIDE Womens Grand Swiss 20232.4
Kamalidenova,M2351Gunina,V24391–02023B15FIDE Womens Grand Swiss 20232.5
Stefanova,A2424Savitha Shri B23751–02023B31FIDE Womens Grand Swiss 20232.6
Sandu,M2298Bulmaga,I24230–12023C74FIDE Womens Grand Swiss 20232.7
Goryachkina,A2558Guichard,P2358½–½2023A28FIDE Womens Grand Swiss 20232.8
Beydullayeva,G2383Kosteniuk,A2523½–½2023D17FIDE Womens Grand Swiss 20232.9
Muzychuk,M2519Matnadze Bujiashvili,A24001–02023B06FIDE Womens Grand Swiss 20232.10
Dronavalli,H2502Hoang,T2398½–½2023D30FIDE Womens Grand Swiss 20232.11
Cori T.,D2367Assaubayeva,B24690–12023A49FIDE Womens Grand Swiss 20232.12
Wagner,D2461Tania,S2389½–½2023E11FIDE Womens Grand Swiss 20232.13
Narva,M2399Cramling,P2446½–½2023B41FIDE Womens Grand Swiss 20232.14
Mammadzada,G2441Socko,M23801–02023E04FIDE Womens Grand Swiss 20232.15
Ushenina,A2434Munguntuul,B2366½–½2023D10FIDE Womens Grand Swiss 20232.16
Danielian,E2416Mkrtchyan,M2343½–½2023D37FIDE Womens Grand Swiss 20232.17
Batsiashvili,N2475Terbe,J22661–02023D45FIDE Womens Grand Swiss 20232.18
Lee,A2388Shuvalova,P25060–12023E04FIDE Womens Grand Swiss 20232.19
Efroimski,M2447Kiolbasa,O23751–02023C00FIDE Womens Grand Swiss 20232.20
Javakhishvili,L2437Arakhamia-Grant,K22971–02023E60FIDE Womens Grand Swiss 20232.21
Aulia,M2362Vantika Agrawal24351–02023B90FIDE Womens Grand Swiss 20232.22
Gomez Barrera,J2266Injac,T24260–12023C54FIDE Womens Grand Swiss 20232.23
Fataliyeva,U2393Nassr,L20661–02023A45FIDE Womens Grand Swiss 20232.24
Kanyamarala,T2184Milliet,S23910–12023D40FIDE Womens Grand Swiss 20232.25

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Carlos Colodro is a Hispanic Philologist from Bolivia. He works as a freelance translator and writer since 2012. A lot of his work is done in chess-related texts, as the game is one of his biggest interests, along with literature and music.

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