9/27/2017 – Since round four ended with the four leaders drawing their respective games, now seven share first with 3.5/4, from Magnus Carlsen to Alexander Lenderman. Hou Yifan, who faced her fourth consecutive female opponent, requested a half point bye in round 5, but contrary to rumour has no intention to withdraw for now. | Analysis by GM Elshan Moradiabadi; Photo: Alina L'Ami
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Carlsen and six others tied for lead
The foremost games of the round were the two between the last players left with 100% scores: former FIDE World Champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov against Magnus Carlsen, and Alex Lenderman, who has often shared his deep analysis with ChessBase readers, against Pavel Eljanov.
Kasimdzhanov opened with 1.e4 without trepidation, perhaps wondering whether the World Champion would repeat his ‘Tiger Modern’ from round two. When Carlsen replied with 1…Nc6, essentially inviting all manner of unorthodox opening play, Kasimdzhanov backed down slightly, and a slightly offbeat Pirc ensued. If Magnus was hoping to just outplay his opponent, he also had to deal with his serious space disadvantage, which Rustam negotiated well, and they eventually drew after 72 moves.
It as nice to see both players leave the board in visble good spirits after the hard-fought game that had lasted no fewer than 72 moves. | Photo: John Saunders
Alexander Lenderman showed that his share of first was not a fluke, as he outplayed his higher rated opponent, Pavel Eljanov, for a good portion of the game, and even achieved what was likely a winning endgame advantage.
Lenderman ½-½ Eljanov
White played 32. c5! bxc5 33. b6! and got a huge position.
Alexander Lenderman has shown great chess so far | Photo: Alina L'Ami
Unfortunately for his supporters, this was shortly before the time control, and by the time move 40 was reached, his advantage had been reduced to a four vs three rook endgame that the Ukrainian held to a draw.
Fabiano Caruana, who made waves by beating Vladimir Kramnik in the very first round, will be kicking himself slightly as he missed a nice opportunity to get ahead in his game against Nils Grandelius.
Grandelius ½-½ Caruana
Black missed an opportunity here with 19. Bxe4! 20. Rxe4 Nxe4 21. Qxe4 Bg5 22. Qc2 Bxc1 Qxc1 after which he would be up two rooks and a pawn against three pieces. Plenty of fight left, but he would be in the driver's seat.
Though he strived hard to wrest the advantage again, he never quite got the same opportunity and they drew.
One advantage of a big open such as this compared to a tighter round robin is how many colleagues and friends the players get to run into | Photo: Alina L'Ami
One player who did not miss his chance was the young Indian grandmaster Vidit Santosh Gujrathi, who completely swamped his opponent Benjamin Bok.
Fabiano Caruana faced Nils Grandelius in round four | Photo: John Saunders
Benajmin Bok 0-1 Vidit Santosh Gujrathi (annotated by Elshan Moradiabadi)
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1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a6Vidit chooses the Spanish Defense against the Dutch talent. He is capable of playing several other openings including the Caro-Kann defense!4.Ba4Nf65.0-0Be76.Re1b57.Bb3d68.c30-09.h3Bb7Known as the Zaitsev variation, it is named after the 12th world champion's coach, Igor Zaitsev. This fighting line has been a source of debate for more than 27 years after Karpov (unsuccessfully) employed it against Kasparov in their last match in 1990.10.d4Re811.Ng5Rf812.Nf3Re8Both players are gentlemen and enter the fight without repetition.13.Nbd213.Ng5Rf814.Nf3is definitely a way to make a draw!13...Bf814.a3There are a number of other equally interesting moves here.14.d514.a414.Bc214.Ng514...g615.d515.Ba2Bg716.b4exd417.cxd4a518.Qb3Qd719.Bb2is the mainline.15...Nb816.Nf1Nbd717.Ba2Nc5!Something does not make sense to me: White seems to be many tempi down and his center is about to be invaded by Black's well-placed pieces. I do not know whether it was Bok's preperation or something else, but whatever the case White's position does not appeal to me at all!18.Ng3c619.Bg519.b4Na420.dxc6Bxc621.Qb3Qe722.Bg5Rec8is slightly better for Black.19...cxd520.Bxf6Qxf621.Bxd5Bxd522.Qxd5Na422...Qe6 could be an equally good or even better choice.23.Rad1Qxd524.Rxd5Reb825.b4Na426.Ne2Be7with a great endgame for Black.23.Qd2Rad824.Nf1? A big mistake. White does not sense the dynamics of the position and falls for a deadly positional pseudo-sacrificed5!25.exd5e426.N3h2Qd627.Rad1f5d5 will fall soon. The question is what is White going to do about it.28.g4?This only adds to White's problems.28.f3Nc529.Re2and White should sit tight and pray hard!28...Nc529.gxf5gxf530.Ng3Nd331.Nxf5Qg6+32.Ng3Bc5!Black's pieces dominate the board. They are so much better that Vidit was probably thinking: "Should I really exchange them with any of White's pieces?".33.Re3Bxe334.Qxe3Rxd535.Ng4h536.Nxe4The last try but this wouldn't even work in a rapid game against Vidit!hxg437.Nf6+Qxf638.Qxe8+Kg739.Qe3gxh340.Kh2Qd6+A clean and nice finish by Vidit who joined the pack of players in the lead.0–1
WGM Enkhtuul Altan had to be a combination of shocked and delighted to get an opportunity to play against Vladimir Kramnik despite her modest start and playing on board 50. | Photo: Alina L'Ami
Hikaru Nakamura pressed hard throughout the entire game and endgame, but was unable to get his Indian opponent, GM S. P. Sethuraman to crack and they drew. | Photo: Maria Emelianova / Chess.com
While the tale of any event, short of a scandal or controversy, is inevitably comprised of the action by the top boards and players, such a large open with such a rich selection of strong players means that there will also be a wealth of fascinating struggles that have no direct effect on the podium, yet deserve to be seen and enjoyed. One such game was between young Argentinian GM Alan Pichot, former World under-16 champion, who overcame his 2700+ opponent, Zoltan Almasi from Hungary in an imbalanced tussle.
Alan Pichot and Zoltan Almasi showed that all games deserve to be checked out, not just the elite | Photo: Maria Emelianova / Chess.com
Alan Pichot 1-0 Zoltan Almasi (annotated by Elshan Moradiabadi)
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1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a6Today's recipe is all Spanish!4.Ba4Nf65.0-0Be76.Re1b57.Bb3d68.c30-09.h3Nb8Almasi feels very patriotic today and plays a line which is named after his countryman, Gyula Breyer.10.d4Nbd711.Nbd2c5A sideline. Surprisingly Almasi does not show any interest in the mainline duel. From my past experience against Almasi, he prefers technical and complex positions. So, his choice makes a lot of sense given that he probably tried to outplay his much lower rated, yet strong, opponent.12.Nf1Re813.Ng3Bf814.Ng5!?It seems that White gives up a tempo to force Black to relinquish his pressure against White's center.14.Bc2cxd415.cxd4exd416.a4d3?!16...Bb717.Nxd4bxa4should be roughly equal.18.Ndf5d517.Bxd3bxa418.Bc2Bb719.Rxa4Nc520.Rd4Ne621.Rd2Qb622.b3d523.exd5Nf424.Rxe8Rxe825.d6N6d526.d7Rd827.Rd4Qc728.Rc4Qb829.Ng5Ng630.Bf5h631.Nxf7Kxf732.Qh5Qd633.Ne4Qb634.Bb2Ndf435.Qg4Qxb336.Bxg6+Nxg637.Qf5+Kg838.Nf6+gxf639.Qxg6+Bg740.Qe8+Kh741.Qxd8Qd1+42.Kh2Qd6+43.Kg1Qd1+44.Kh2Qd6+45.Kg1Qd1+1/2-1/2 (45) Sevian,S (2587)-Ipatov,A (2660) Saint Louis 201714...c415.Bc2h616.Nf3Bb717.b3N17.Nh2d518.dxe5Nxe519.f4Bc5+20.Kf1Ng621.e5Ne422.Nxe4dxe423.Qg4a524.Rxe4Bxe425.Bxe4Ra626.Bc2Nh427.Qh5g628.Qg4Ba729.Nf3Nxf330.Qxf3Qb631.Ke2Qg132.Rb1Kg733.Bd2Qc534.Rf1Rd635.Be3Qxe3+36.Qxe3Bxe337.exd6Bxf4+38.Kf3Bxd639.Rf2Re640.Re2Rf6+41.Ke4Be742.a4Re6+43.Kf3Rf6+44.Ke4b445.Kd5bxc346.bxc3Bd847.Be4Rf448.Bf3Bf649.Re4Rxe450.Bxe4Bxc351.Kxc4Be552.Kd3f553.Bc6Kf654.Ke2h555.Be8h456.Kf31/2-1/2 (56) Esserman,M (2426) -Grandelius,N (2603) Reykjavik 201517.d5g618.Be3Qc7And we transpose to one of the main lines in the Breyer!17.Be3exd418.Bxd4Nc5does not seem right to me!17...Qc718.Bd2Rac8?I have a hard time endorsing this move. White's plan is clear. He wants to shut down the center and undermine Black's position on the queen side. Thus, it makes sense for Black to try something against it. However, Almasi's move looks like a waste of time.18...exd419.cxd419.Nxd4d5Black is more than fine.19...c320.Bf4b421.a3a5with an unclear position.19.d5!Now things on the queenside are problematic.cxb320.axb3g621.Bd3!A nice finesse. White tries to play c4.Nc522.Bf1Qb623.Be3Qc724.Nd2h525.b4Ncd726.c4?Hasty! This gives away most of White's advantage.26.Rc1h427.Ne2Nb628.c4Nxc429.Nxc4bxc430.Nc3Qd731.Qd2Nh532.Qa2f533.Na4Qd834.Bxc4f435.Bb6Qg536.f3This is a losing King's Indian position where White had achieved everything he needs and Black has gotten nothing out of his attackRa837.Bf2Bc838.Kh2And Black has absolutely no attack.26...bxc427.Qc2c3?!Almasi returns the favor again. Now was the right time for the typical piece sacrifice.27...h428.Ne2Bxd529.exd5Nxd5was the right timing!28.Nb1h429.Ne2Bxd5Last practical chance otherwise Black is completely doomed! Nevertheless, it is a bit late and White's advantage should be very big and close to decisive. However, in a practical game, anything can happen!30.exd5Nxd531.Qb3
31.Nexc3!Nxc332.Nxc3Qxc333.Qa4Qc633...Nf634.Rec1Qb235.Rab1traps the queen!34.b5Qc235.bxa6Qxa436.Rxa4Rc737.Bc4This endgame is winning but hard to evaluate for a human! I cannot blame Pichot for not choosing to enter this position!31...Nxe332.fxe3c233.Nbc3Nf634.Qxc2Qb6?!This is probably a serious inaccuracy.34...Nd535.Rec1Bh636.Qe4Nxe336...Bxe3+37.Kh1Bxc138.Nxd5+-37.Nd5Qa738.Rxc838.Nf6+Kf839.Rxc8Rxc840.Kh1Kg7 black is fine now.38...Nxd5+39.Kh1Rxc840.Qxd5Qb641.Qe4Bd242.Rb1White is still a piece up but his advantage is not absolute due to his poorly placed knight and bishop. Nevertheless, White has the better perspective.35.Qd3Bh636.Kh1?36.Nd1Qxb437.Nec3was a must with a good advantage for White.36...e4?A big blunder.36...Qxe337.Qxe3Bxe338.Red138.Rxa6??Bd2-+38...Rc6should be completely ok.37.Qxa6Qxe338.Qxd6Qf239.Nd5Nxd540.Qxd5Rcd841.Qc4Rc842.Qb3Be343.Red1Re6White's knight and bishop are now excellently placed and defends everything in White's camp. However, just by the look of the position and the hard task of improving the position, Pichot takes drastic measures to solve his problems.44.g4?The active approach. White gives up a pawn to activate his pieces. I would not have done that!hxg344...Rec645.Ra2Rc346.Qa4Rd347.Bg2Bf448.Nxf4Rxd1+49.Qxd1Qxa250.Bxe4Qb2and I prefer to be black in this position!45.Bg2Qxe246.Re1Qf247.Rxe3Rc248.Rg1Qd249.Ree1e350.b5Kg751.Rb1I cannot spot an exact moment but it seems White's position has worsened very fast.Rf651...Qf2!52.b652.Rbf1e253.Re1Rc5same token!52...Re553.b7Rh5mates!51...Re552.Qb4does not work.52.Qb4Qd7??Almasi does not believe that he is winning!52...Qd353.Rgd153.b6
53...Rxg254.Rxg254.Kxg2Qe2+55.Kxg3Qf2+56.Kg4Qf3+57.Kh4Qh5+58.Kg3Rf3+59.Kh2Qxh3#54...Rf1+55.Rg1Qd5+56.Qe4Qxe4#53...Rd254.Rxd2exd255.Rd1Rf256.b6Re257.b7Qe3-+53.Qh4Qc7?? This now loses.53...Qd354.Qxg3Rxg2‼55.Qxg2e2still draws!56.Rge1Re657.b6Re358.Kh2Qd6+59.Kg1Rg360.Rxe2Rxg2+61.Rxg2Qd4+62.Kh1Qd363.Rbb2Qxh3+64.Kg1Qf365.b7Qe3+66.Kh2Qf4+67.Kg1Qe3+68.Kh1Qc1+=54.Qd4!Now white dominates! The b-pawn is unstoppable.Qb655.Qxb6Rxb656.Rge1Rc357.Bf1Black's pawns do not get anywhere. White wraps things up nicely!f558.Kg2f459.Be2Rc260.Kf3g561.Rec1Rxc162.Rxc1Kf663.Ra1Rb864.Ra6+Kg765.Rc6Rd866.Rc51–0
Speaking of controversies, it was with considerable surprise that we saw Hou Yifan paired against her fourth consecutive female player in the Isle of Man Open. This stands out for a variety of reasons, not least of which is Hou Yifan's very public protest in Gibraltar earlier this year, when she refused to play her last round after being paired against no fewer than seven female players. She already refused to take part in the latest Women World Champion cycle, effectively leaving the title open to any and all other colleagues, in order to focus on honing her skills against the best male players in the world. Her campaign and ambitions met with unprecedented success when she took clear first at the Biel GM tournament, but here once more, the pairings gods seem to have conspired against her.
Frustrated by the pairings, Hou has opted to skip round five, receiving instead a half point bye.
"It is difficult to imagine that the organisers are doing this on purpose," she said, reached for cooment via Skype. "There is no reason for that."
Update 12:30: We reached Hou Yifan for comment who informed that she is not considering withdrawing at this time, but did request a ½ bye due to her frustration with her pairings thus far. Initially the bye was recorded as a zero point bye, but it was later updated to ½ point along with byes for Arkadij Naiditsch, Laurent Fressinet and FM Michael Babar.
Update 16:00: We received the following information on pairing procedures from the Chief Arbiter, IA Peter Purland:
I can confirm we are using Swiss Manager version 12.0.0.171 (21 June 2017) and Swiss Master version 5.6 (build 12). These programmes do not use the same pairing programme.
Our procedures are that I input results and make pairings with Swiss Manager, Deputy Chief Arbiter IA Arno Eliens does this in Swiss Master independently. Then we compare full pairings of both programmes and only if these are exactly the same do we publish the pairings.
Albert SilverBorn in the US, he grew up in Paris, France, where he completed his Baccalaureat, and after college moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He had a peak rating of 2240 FIDE, and was a key designer of Chess Assistant 6. In 2010 he joined the ChessBase family as an editor and writer at ChessBase News. He is also a passionate photographer with work appearing in numerous publications, and the content creator of the YouTube channel, Chess & Tech.
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