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First ACP World Rapid Chess CupThis event is taking place in Odessa, Ukrainefrom January 4th to 8th 2007, in the Hotel Londonskaya. The total prize fund is US $136,000. 16 grandmasters are in this knockout tournament, with time control or 20 min + 5 sec. |
The venue of the event is the Londonskaya Hotel, located in the heart of Odessa and offering spectacular views of the Black Sea and famous Potyomkin Stairs. This landmark hotel opened 160 years ago and has been a part of history, with its corridors witnessing many of the historic events.
Peter Leko vs Ivan Sokolov
The first game, in which Sokolov had White, was more or less equal
and ended in a draw. After the match, Sokolov mentioned that a small incident
with him breaking a glass of water did not serve him well. Leko won the second
game confidently in 21 move. Curiously, it was Sokolov who was better prepared
for the opening line that occurred in the game. However, Leko, who had studied
the line at 11 (!), found a new and unpleasant for the opponent idea at the
board. On the move 11 Sokolov should have castled, temporary dropping his bishop,
and on the move 14 he missed the chance of extending the struggle by 14…e3,
the move suggested in the press center by Teimour Radjabov.
Sokolov vs Leko in game two of round one
Sergey Rublevsky vs Arkady Naiditsch
Rublevsky had White in the first game, which turned quite uneventful and ended
in a draw without much excitement. The second game was much more thrilling.
Naiditsch utilized the opponent’s carelessness and carried out a dangerous
central break on the move 17. However, in two more moves Arkadij made a mistake,
taking the f7-pawn instead of correct capture of another pawn on d5. The tables
were turned, and Rublevsky won the game and the match.
Rublevsky and Naiditsch in the press conference
Alexey Shirov vs Ilya Smirin
Shirov had Black in the first game. His handling of the opening was rather risky,
but Smirin rejected a principled continuation on the 13th move, after which
the game became equal. By the 30th move it transposed into a rook ending with
a microscopic, almost nominal advantage for Shirov. However, Smirin, as he confessed
at the press conference, lost concentration, starting to think about the next
game too early. Shirov won, perfectly utilizing all the inaccuracies of the
opponent. The grandmasters played the second game clearly being under very strong
impression about the first one. After Smirin’s mistake on the move 14,
his position became critical. Shirov designed a draw by perpetual, and let his
advantage to slip away on the move 16. Both players missed the resource, given
by Ivanchuk – 17...Bh6!, which could give Smirin a chance to continue
the struggle. After playing another move, Smirin soon had to accept the move
repetition in an objectively inferior position.
Shirov vs Smirin in round one
Boris Gelfand vs Hikaru Nakamura
In both games Gelfand showed exemplary technique. It helped him converting
his advantage in the first game, despite the position being closer to a draw
than to a win for White, according to the Israeli himself, as well as first
equalizing from a hopeless situation and then even winning a drawn endgame in
the second one. Nakamura missed the victory in that game on the move 47. Gelfand
was the only player who won his match with a ‘clean sheet’.
Nakamura vs Gelfand
Alexander Morozevich vs Pentala Harikrishna
Morozevich won the first game of his match against Harikrishna with
unexpected ease. The Muscovite was true to his style, selecting the Pirc and
then outplaying the opponent in a complex middlegame. Morozevich won an exchange,
and forced the resignation on the move 34. For the first time one of the participants
of the World Cup managed to return after losing the first game. And this result
was not determined by some blunder – Harikrishna carried out the game
at very high level, and his move 28...c2! was greatly praised by Peter Leko,
who led the discussion in the press center. In blitz the first two games were
each won by White, then Morozevich won the final game, delivering checkmate
in the final seconds of the Armageddon game.
Morozevich vs Harikrishna
Evgeny Bareev vs Taimour Radjabov
In the first game the Azeri grandmaster got a tangible advantage after the opening,
but unexpectedly for the spectators and commentators released the tension and
transposed the game to an almost even ending. After tense struggle, the second
game was won by Teimour Radjabov.
Bareev vs Radjabov in round one
Victor Bologan vs Etienne Bacrot
An unfortunate accident happened to Viorel Bologan. Having a noticeable advantage,
the Moldovan grandmaster first let it go, and then, having rejected a drawing
continuation, blundered and parted with a piece. In the second game the Frenchman
returned the compliment by blundering away a winning position in one move. The
blitz games were also very nervous, with White winning each game. The Armageddon
game was a success for Bacrot.
Bacrot vs Bologan
Vassily Ivanchuk vs Farrukh Amonatov
Ivanchuk's victory in the first game was far from being an easy walk –
Farrukh Amonatov did hist best to create problems for his opponent in converting
a significant opening advantage, and even being a rook down, forced Ivanchuk
finding the only moves leading to a win. Ivanchuk took game two for a 2-0 victory.
Amonatov vs Ivanchuk
Peter Leko vs Servey Rublevsky
Leko basically swept Rublevsky off the board, outmatching him in the opening
preparation – and nothing else was required. Sergey's narrow but well-worked
opening repertoire proved being just narrow this time. In the first game Leko
snatched a pawn without any compensation early in the game, and in the second
one came out with a good equalizing novelty against Rublevsky's pet Scotch.
Sergey refused taking a draw and duly lost the second game as well.
Alexei Shirov vs Boris Gelfand
Gelfand's opening choice probably came as a surprise to Shirov, who spent a
few minutes thinking on how to respond to the Chebanenko Variation of the Slav.
The Israeli won the game as Black in a nice fashion, and took the lead in the
match. In the second game Shirov needed to win with Black pieces. He managed
to get a promising position, but then did not use all the resources of developing
his game. After simplifications, the game ended in a draw, which allowed Gelfand
advancing into the semifinal.
Alexander Morozevich vs Taimour Radjabov
The outcome of the first game was decided by a tragic rook blunder in a technically
winning position for Morozevich.
Morozevich,A (2733) - Radjabov,T (2729) [B30]
The amazing blunder in a won postion: 64.b5?? Kxc5 0-1
Morozevich (right) blunders a rook against Radjabov
Having won as Black, Radjabov confidently protected his lead, despite all attempts of Morozevich to complicate the struggle, and advanced to the semifinal.
Vassily Ivanchuk vs Etienne Bacrot
Ivanchuk advanced to the semifinal in classical manner – draw as Black,
win as White. This match contained much fewer grave errors compared to the previous
ones, and the supporters of the Ukrainian grandmaster did not have to worry
about their hero...
Sokolov
0.5-1.5
Leko |
Leko |
Leko Gelfand |
|
Rublevsky
1.5-0.5
Naiditsch |
|||
Smirin
0.5-1.5
Shirov |
Shirov |
||
Gelfand
2.0-0.0
Nakamura |
|||
Harikrishna
2.0-3.0
Morozevich |
Morozevich |
Radjabov Ivanchuk |
|
Radjabov
1.5-0.5
Bareev |
|||
Bologan
2.0-3.0
Bacrot |
Bacrot |
||
Ivanchuk
2.0-0.0
Amonatov |
1:00 p.m.: Semi-final 1st match |
6:00 p.m.: Final match |