Jermuk R12: Gelfand beats Kasimdzhanov, six players in contention

Fifth FIDE Grand Prix in Jermuk, Armenia

This event is taking place from August 8th-24th 2009. It is a Category 19 tournament, with eleven of the 14 players rated over 2700. The event is a memorial to former world champion Tigran Petrosian, who held the title from 1963–1969 and would have turned 80 on June 17th this year.

Round twelve

With one round to go, six players are in contention for first place. The Ruy Lopez Closed featured three times today, ultimately proving decisive for Kamsky, who became the benefactor of a major lapse by Eljanov – abandonment of the back rank. Two moves later, Eljanov was forced to capitulate, ending the game on its 66th move.

Kamsky,G (2717) - Eljanov,P (2716) [C88]
5th FIDE GP Jermuk ARM (12), 22.08.2009
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 Na5 9.Bc2 c5 10.d4 Qc7 11.Nbd2 0-0 12.b3 Re8 13.h3 Bf8 14.d5 g6 15.Nf1 Bg7 16.Ng3 Nb7 17.Bg5 h6 18.Be3 Bd7 19.Qd2 Kh7 20.Nh2 h5 21.Rf1 c4 22.Rac1 cxb3 23.axb3 Rac8 24.Ne2 Nc5 25.f3 a5 26.b4 Na4 27.Bd3 Qb7 28.bxa5 Nc5 29.Bc2 Qc7 30.g4 Kg8 31.Kh1 Qxa5 32.Rg1 Na4 33.Bb1 Nb6 34.Bg5 hxg4 35.Nxg4 Nxg4 36.fxg4 Nc4 37.Qe1 f6 38.Bh4 Rf8 39.Rf1 Rf7

At the time control Black is clearly better and pressing for a victory. But in the following segment errors creep in and the advantage slowly evaporate. 40.Bd3 Nb2 41.Bc2 Qa2 42.Rf3 Na4 43.Qd1 Nc5 44.Rb1 Qa8 45.Qd2 Qa2 46.Qd1 Qa6 47.Ra1 Qb7 48.Qd2 Na4 49.Bf2 Rc7 50.Rb1 Qc8 51.Bg1 Kh7 52.Rb3 Kg8 53.Rb4 f5 54.gxf5 gxf5 55.exf5 Bxf5 56.Bxf5 Rxf5 57.Rg3 Rh5 58.Kg2 Nc5 59.Rgg4 Rh7 60.Rxb5 Nd7 61.Qd3 Nf6 62.Rg3 Nh5 63.Rg5 Kh8 64.Qb1

White is a pawn up and definitely in the driving seat. Black makes it easy for the opponent: 64...Qa6?? 65.Rb8+ Rc8 66.Qb5 1-0.

The other two ventures into this opening proved less successful for those that employed it, with both Leko and Alekseev securing rather solid draws as White, in 45 and 58 moves, against Aronian and Bacrot, respectively.

The most important encounter of the round, however, had to have been Kasimdzhanov-Gelfand, in which the latter demonstrated superior endgame technique in marching his unopposed wing pawn. Kasimdzhanov had his chances, but bungled in his defence, allowing the forced loss of a pawn and a resultingly compromised pawn structure in what turned into a same-coloured bishops ending.

Kasimdzhanov,R (2672) - Gelfand,B (2755) [D47]
5th FIDE GP Jermuk ARM (12), 22.08.2009
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.a3 Bd6 10.0-0 0-0 11.Qc2 Qe7 12.e4 e5 13.Bg5 Rfe8 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Nxe5 Bxe5 16.f4 Bd4+ 17.Kh1 h6 18.Bh4 Qc5 19.e5 Nd5 20.Rf3 b4 21.Nxd5 Qxc2 22.Bxc2 cxd5 23.axb4 Bxb2 24.Rb1 Bd4 25.Rd1 Bb6 26.Ba4 Rec8 27.Bd7 Rc4 28.e6 fxe6 29.Bxe6+ Kh8 30.h3 Rxb4 31.Bxd5 Bxd5 32.Rxd5 a5 33.Bf2 Bc7 34.g3 a4 35.Ra3 Rb3

With the pressure building on the queenside White's nerves give and he blunders. Instead of retracting the rook on a3 he tries to defend it: 36.Bc5? Ra5 37.Rf5 Kh7 38.g4 Rxa3 39.Bxa3 Rxf5 40.gxf5 Bxf4 41.Kg2 Kg8 0-1.

As a result, Kasimdzhanov fell out of the lead and into the chasing pack, while Gelfand finally joined him, a half-point back of the leaders. Ivanchuk maintained his position in the leading pack, taking a 40 move draw against Jakovenko in the Ruy Lopez Berlin, while Inarkiev and Akopian were happy to split the point in a 47 move Petroff's Defence. Disappointingly for Cheparinov, he only managed a draw as White against Karjakin, in a 33 move Queen's Indian. This means he has locked up at least a share of last place. The thrilling conclusion comes tomorrow.

Current standings (with one round to go)

FIDE Grand Prix Jermuk 2009 – Schedule and results

The games start at 15:00h Armenian time (12:00 noon CEST, 11:00h London, 6 a.m. New York and 3 a.m. California). Full live coverage, including discussion and analysis with thousands of other visitors, is available on Playchess.

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