Ian Nepomniachtchi with strong start in Danzhou

by Johannes Fischer
7/12/2016 – Four games, three wins, one loss - Ian Nepomniachtchi began the 7. Hainan Danzhou tournament energetically. In round four he beat the very solid Peter Leko with Black in a Najdorf Sicilian and is now sole leader with 3.0/4. The other winners of the round were Ding Liren who won against Bu Xiangzhi and Wang Yue who decided the battle of the Wangs against Wang Hao in his favor.

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The tournament is played from 8th to 17th July and offers a prize-fund of 400,000 Yuan (60,000 USD). The winner receives 120,000 Yuan (18,000 USD). The Chinese start with Ding Liren, Wang Hao, Yu Yangyi, Wang Yue, Bu Xiangzhi, and Women's World Champion Hou Yifan. They fight against Pentala Harikrishna, Vassily Ivanchuk, Ian Nepomniachtchi and Peter Leko.

Results - round 4

Br. Title Name ELO Res. Title Name ELO
1 GM Hou Yifan 2663 ½ - ½ GM Vassily Ivanchuk 2710
2 GM Ding Liren 2778 1 - 0 GM Bu Xiangzhi 2723
3 GM Yu Yangyi 2737 ½ - ½ GM Penteala Harikrishna 2763
4 GM Wang Yue 2728 1 - 0 GM Wang Hao 2734
5 GM Peter Leko 2705 0 - 1 GM Ian Nepomniachtchi 2703

Ian Nepomniachtchi

Against Leko Nepomniachtchi showed his expertise in the Najdorf.

 

 

If you want to know more about the Najdorf and its winning potential Victor Bologan may help:

The Najdorf Sicilian

GM Viktor Bologan: The complex Najdorf
A complete repertoire for Black

Languages: English
Delivery: Download, Post
Level: Tournament player, Professional
€29.90
€25.13 without VAT (for Customers outside the EU)
$27.14 (without VAT)

When choosing an opening repertoire, it is common to consider two types of variations. One is usually a solid opening, like 1...e5 against 1.e4, with plenty of strategical ideas and quiet paths of play. However, there are of course days when you want to play for a win with Black, when you want to bear down on your opponent’s position with a potentially crushing attack. The Najdorf is perfect for just such occasions – and it’s no coincidence that Garry Kasparov played it the most out of all the variations in the Sicilian – the opening served him well throughout his brilliant career. I myself have played it with both colours, but even I discover more to its endless depths every day! Strategy, combinations, attack and defence, sacrifices and marvellous manoeuvres – exciting chess is all about the Najdorf! Video running time: 6 hours 31 min.

Order Viktor Bologan's The complex Najdorf in the ChessBase Shop

 

Vassily Ivanchuk started with 1.5/4 and shares places five to ten with four other players.

With 2.0/4 Pentala Harikrishna is the only player on 50 percent.

Hou Yifan

Wang Hao is in a good mood before his game against Wang Yue - which Wang Hao lost.

Yu Yangyi

Games rounds 1 to 4

 

 

Standings after four rounds

 

Ding Liren

Schedule

07.07 2016 - Round 1 - 14.30
08.07 2016 - Round 2 - 14.30
09.07 2016 - Round 3 - 14.30
10.07 2016 - Round 4 - 14.30
11.07 2016 - Round 5 - 14.30
12.07 2016 - Round 6 - 14.30
REST DAY
14.07 2016 - Round 7 - 14.30
15.07 2016 - Round 8 - 14.30
16.07 2016 - Round 9 - 10.30

Photos: cmsa.cn

Tournament page...

Johannes Fischer was born in 1963 in Hamburg and studied English and German literature in Frankfurt. He now lives as a writer and translator in Nürnberg. He is a FIDE-Master and regularly writes for KARL, a German chess magazine focusing on the links between culture and chess. On his own blog he regularly publishes notes on "Film, Literature and Chess".

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