
The Qatar Masters Open 2014
is being held from November 25 to December 5 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in
Doha, Qatar. There are 92 grandmasters participating, or 60% of the 154
total players. 56 GMs are over rated 2600, and an incredible 14 over 2700.
Let those numbers sink in for a moment! This tournament truly is a convention
of brilliant chess minds.
Anish Giri leads Qatar Masters with 6.0/6
Report from Doha by Akshat Chandra
Another day, another round, and another win for the top seed GM Anish Giri,
who has elevated his score to a phenomenal 6.0/6! Today he took down Swedish
GM Nils Grandelius, who was having a breakout tournament as well. It was
a long, thoughtful game, and things were very even for a while before Giri
eventually ground out a win in an endgame. Grandelius defended extremely
well and tenaciously, before eventually cracking under the relentless pressure.
It’s always instructive to see how strong GM’s overcome equally
strong players in a seemingly balanced position.

60...Rb5?! 60...Ra8 61.a6 Nb4? 61...Ra5 62.Nc6++- 61...Kf6 62.a7 Ra5 63.Nc6 Ra6 64.Rb2 Nc7 65.Rb7 Rxc6 66.Rxc7 Ra6= 62.a7 Ra5 63.Rb2 Kf6 64.Ng4+ Kf5 65.Ne3+ Kf6 66.Rxb4 Rxa7 67.Rb5 Ra4 68.Kg3 Ra6 69.Ng4+ Kg6 70.Nf2 Rd6 71.Kg4 71.Rxg5+! 71...Rd2 72.Rxg5+ Kh6 73.Rh5+ Kg6 74.Rh2 1–0
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Giri,A | 2776 | Grandelius,N | 2573 | 1–0 | 2014 | A05 | Qatar Masters Open | 6.1 |
Please, wait...

Swedish GM Nils Grandelius during the daunting
task of playing a Super-GM on a roll

Speaking about "on the roll", here's
another Super-GM about whom that may be said
The second seed and former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik continued his
comeback with a swift 25-move win over his compatriot Sanan Sjugirov. The
game started out as a quiet Reti, before suddenly escalating into a complex
and exciting struggle. Black had to play accurately, and for a time Sjugirov
was managing to do just that. But as usually happens, when under continuous
pressure, one makes a blunder, and this game was no exception. Sjugirov
tried his luck with a dubious piece sacrifice, but Kramnik accurately refuted
it, and won the game shortly after.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 c6 4.d3 Bg4 5.0-0 Nbd7 6.Qe1 e5 7.e4 Bd6 7...dxe4 8.dxe4 Bd6 9.Nbd2 0-0 10.h3 Bh5 11.Nc4 Bc7 12.a4 Re8 12...b5 13.axb5 cxb5 14.Ne3 13.Nh4 Nc5 14.Nf5 Ne6 15.Be3 8.h3 Bh5 9.Nh4 0-0 10.g4 Bg6 11.g5 11.Nf5 Bxf5 12.exf5 12.gxf5 Re8 12...h6 13.Qd1 Re8 14.Re1 14.h4? Nh7 14...Qb6 11...Nh5 12.exd5 cxd5 13.Nxg6 hxg6 14.Bxd5 Nf4! 15.Bxf4 exf4 16.h4 Qc8! 17.Qe4! 17.Nc3 Ne5 18.Qe4 Qg4+ 19.Qg2 Qxh4 17...Qxc2 17...Re8 18.Bxb7!? 18.Qxg6 Ne5 19.Qe4 Ng6!? 20.Qxg6 Qg4+ 21.Kh1 Qh3+= 18...Qxc2 18...Rxe4 19.Bxc8± 19.Qc6 Qxc6 19...Qxb2 20.Bxa8 Qxa1 21.Qxd6+- 20.Bxc6± 18.Nc3 18.Na3 Bxa3 18...Qxb2 19.Nc4+- 19.bxa3 Rad8 19...Rae8 20.Bxf7+ Kxf7 21.Qd5+± Ke7 22.Rac1 Qa4 23.Rc4 Qa6 24.Rb1+- 20.Qxf4 Nc5 18.Qxg6 Bc5 18...Qxb2 19.Qxd6 Qxa1 20.Qxd7+- 19.Qh5 Qxd3 20.g6 Qg3+! 21.Kh1 Qh3+ 18...Qxb2 19.Qxg6 Bc5 19...Qxc3 20.Qxd6 Ne5 20...Rad8 21.Rac1 Qe5 22.Qxe5 Nxe5 23.Bxb7 Rxd3= 21.Rac1 Qd4!? 22.Rc4! 22.Bxf7+ Rxf7 23.Qxd4 Nf3+-+ 22...Qb2 22...Nxc4 23.Bxf7++- 23.Re4 23.Rxf4 Rad8-+ 23...Nf3+ 24.Kg2 Nxh4+ 25.Kh3 Nf3 26.g6 Ng5+ 27.Kh4 Nxe4 28.dxe4 20.Ne4 Qe5 20...Qd4 21.Bb3 Qxd3 22.Nf6++- 20...Rad8 21.Rab1 Qd4 22.Bb3 Be7 20...Ne5 21.Nf6+ Kh8 22.Qh7# 20...Rae8 21.Rae1+- 21.Bb3! Bxf2+ 21...f3 22.Rae1! Qf4 23.Qh5+- 21...Be7 22.Rae1 22.Nxf2! 22.Kxf2 Qb2+ 23.Kg1 Qxb3 24.Qxg7+ Kxg7 25.axb3 f6 26.Rxf4 fxg5 27.Rg4 22...f3 23.Ne4 Qd4+ 23...Qb2 24.Rxf3! 24.Nf6+ Nxf6 25.gxf6 Qd4+ 26.Kh2 Qxh4+ 27.Kg1 Qd4+= 24...Qxb3 24...Qxa1+ 25.Rf1 Qd4+ 26.Rf2+- 25.Qxg7+ Kxg7 26.axb3 24.Kh1! 24.Kh2? Qb2+ 25.Nf2 25.Rf2 Qxa1∞ 25...Qxb3 26.Qxg7+ Kxg7 27.axb3 Nc5 24...Qb2 25.Nf6+! 25.Nf6+ Nxf6 26.gxf6 1–0
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Kramnik,V | 2760 | Sjugirov,S | 2673 | 1–0 | 2014 | A05 | Qatar Masters Open | 6.2 |
Please, wait...

A fantastic game by Kramnik. One cannot really pinpoint where Sjugirov
(above before the start of the game) went wrong. Maybe the entire idea with
7...Bd6 is dangerous for Black and he should stick to the simple 7...dxe4.
But in order to refute Black's play you need a player like Kramnik who feels
the position like a human and calculates like a machine!

Will he manage to do a Caruana*? Anish before
the start of a game with black
* caruana
Syllabification: ca·ru·a·na, Noun
The act of preposterously winning the first seven games in a very strong
chess tournament. Origin: from the Italian, coined after GM
Fabiano Caruana's feat of scoring seven straight wins in the first
seven rounds of the strongest tournament of all times.
Usage: to do a caruana, pull off a caruana, narrowly miss a caruana |
These unequivocal results today, set up a showdown between Giri and Kramnik,
who will meet in what will be a closely watched and exciting clash between
two of the world greats. What more could we have asked for? This matchup
is reminiscent of the Anand-Carlsen World Championship match, which featured
two world class players separated by a generation. Kramnik will have the
white pieces, which gives him a slight edge. But Giri has been invincible
so far. It’s a good example of when an immovable object, Kramnik,
meets an unstoppable force, Giri. Feel free to leave your thoughts about
this pivotal matchup, which starts at three p.m. Doha time, in the comment
section below!
Other highlights from rounds six, annotated by IM Sagar Shah
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
33.Kh4 Bb1 34.a3 Kc6? 34...Ke6 35.Kg5 Kf7= 35.Kg5 Kb6 36.Kxg6 Ka5 37.g3! Ka4 38.Bh3 Bd3? 38...a5 39.Bxf5 Bxf5+ 40.Kxf5 Kxa3 41.Kg6 a4 42.f5 Kb3 43.f6 a3 44.f7 a2 45.f8Q a1Q 46.Qxc5 Qxc3 47.g4 Qd3+ 47...Qxc4? 48.Qxc4+ Kxc4 49.g5 b5 50.Kf5 b4 51.g6 b3 52.g7 b2 53.g8Q++- 48.Kh6 Qh3+ 49.Qh5± 39.Bxf5 Bxc4 40.Bd7+! Kxa3 41.f5 b5 41...a5 42.Be6! Bd3 43.Kg5 a4 44.f6 Kb2 45.f7+- 42.f6 b4 43.cxb4 Kxb4 44.g4 44.g4 a5 45.g5 a4 46.Bxa4 Kxa4 47.Kg7 47.f7? Bxf7+ 48.Kxf7 c4= 47...Be6 48.g6 c4 49.f7 Bxf7 50.gxf7 c3 51.f8Q c2 52.Qf4+! Kb3 53.Qc1+- 1–0
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Ivanisevic,I | 2643 | Mamedyarov,S | 2757 | 1–0 | 2014 | A85 | Qatar Masters Open | 6.6 |
Please, wait...
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
32.Ra6 g5 33.h3 f5 34.Kh2 Ra3 35.h4?! 35.Kg1= 35.g4= 35...gxh4 36.Kh3 36.g3 Rxe3 36...hxg3+ 37.Kxg3 Rxe3+ 38.Kf4= 37.gxh4 a3 38.Kg2= 36...f4 37.Kxh4 fxe3 38.Kg3? 38.Re6 Kf7 39.Re4 Kf6 40.Kg4 Rc3 41.Kf3 a3 42.Ra4= 38...e2+ 39.Kf2 Re3! 40.Ke1 a3 41.Rd6 41.g4 Rh3! 42.Kxe2 a2! 43.Kd2 Rh1!-+ 41.g3 Kf7 41...Kf7 42.Rd5 42.Ra6 Ke7 43.Rb6 Kd7 44.Ra6 Kc7 45.Rf6 Kb7 46.Rf5 Kb6-+ 42...Ke6 43.Rd4 Ke5 44.Rd8 Ke4 45.Rd7 Rb3 46.Re7+ 46.Kxe2 Rb2+ 47.Ke1 a2-+ 46...Kd3 47.Rd7+ Kc3 48.Ra7 Kb2 49.Kxe2 a2 0–1
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Swiercz,D | 2616 | Mamedov,R | 2652 | 0–1 | 2014 | D11 | Qatar Masters Open | 6.16 |
Please, wait...
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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21.b5! Bc5 21...cxb5 22.Nd5 Qe6! 22...Qd8 23.Nc7± 23.Nc7 23.Rab1 Qh3+! 24.Kg1 Bg4 23...Qxb3 24.Rcb1 Qc3 25.Rc1= 22.a6! bxa6? 22...Ra7 23.axb7 Rxb7 24.bxc6 Rxb3 25.cxd7 Nxd7 23.bxc6! Bxc6 23...Be6 24.Bxe6 Nxe6 24...fxe6 25.Rxc5 dxc5 26.Nc4± 25.Nd5± 24.Ng4! Qe7 25.Rxc5! dxc5 26.Ngxe5 Kh7 27.Nxf7 g6 28.Qe3 g5 29.h4! Qf6 30.hxg5 Qxa1 31.g6+! Kg8 31...Nxg6 32.Qxh6+ Kg8 33.N7g5+ c4 34.Bxc4+ Bd5 35.Bxd5+ Re6 36.Bxe6# 31...Kxg6 32.Qxh6# 32.Nxh6+ Kh8 32...Kg7 33.Nf5+ Kh8 34.Qh6+ Nh7 35.Qxh7# 33.Nf5 Ra7 34.Bf7 34.Qh6+ Nh7 35.d4!? cxd4 36.g7+ 34...Nh7 34...Rxf7 35.gxf7+- 35.g7+ 1–0
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Jobava,B | 2722 | Hovhannisyan,R | 2591 | 1–0 | 2014 | C54 | Qatar Masters Open | 6.18 |
Please, wait...

Artur Jussupow is a true legend of the game. Apart from being a very strong
player, he is also an excellent coach and is the author of some superb chess
books. But even on the best of days he would not have expected himself to
win this rook ending in which he is a pawn down.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
27.Rb7 c4 27...Rc8 28.Rd2 c4 29.g6 fxg6 30.Rdd7 Kh7! 31.Rxg7+ Kh6 32.f4 Rh8= 33.Rgc7 33.Rxa7 Rxa7 34.Rxa7 Rc8 33...Ra4 34.Kf2 a5 35.e5 c3 36.Kf3 36.Rxc3 Rxf4+ 36...Ra3= 28.g6! fxg6 29.Rxc4 Rd1+?! 29...Rd2 30.Rcc7 30.Rc8+ Kh7 31.Rbb8 g5 30...Rg5! 30...Raa2? 31.Rxg7+ Kh8 32.Rxg6+- 31.Rxg7+ Kh8 32.Kh1 Rgxg2= 30.Kh2 Rd2? 30...Kh7 31.Rcc7 Kh6 32.Rxg7 Kg5 33.Rxa7 Rxa7 34.Rxa7 31.f4! g5 31...Raa2 32.Rc8+ Kh7 33.Rbb8 32.f5 Raa2 33.Rc8+ Kh7 34.Rbb8! Rxg2+ 35.Kh1 Rh2+ 36.Kg1 Rhg2+ 37.Kf1 Rgf2+ 38.Ke1 Rae2+ 39.Kd1 Rd2+ 40.Kc1 g6 41.Rc7+ 1–0
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Jussupow,A | 2581 | Neelotpal,D | 2424 | 1–0 | 2014 | E59 | Qatar Masters Open | 6.44 |
Please, wait...
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
18...Ng4 19.h3 Ngxf2 20.Rxf2 Nxf2 21.Kxf2 Qxe3+ 22.Kf1 Qe7 23.Bc1 c5 24.bxc6 Bxc6 25.Qb1 h6 26.Kg1 b5 27.Rf1 b4 28.Nf4 Rab8 29.Rf2 b3 30.Ba3‼ Bxa3 31.Ne5?! 31.Bh7+ Kh8 31...Kf8? 32.Ng6+ fxg6 33.Ne5++- 32.Ne5 Qf6 33.Nfg6+ fxg6 34.Rxf6 gxf6 35.Nxg6+ Kxh7 36.Nf8+ Kg8 37.Qg6+ Kxf8 38.Qxf6+ Kg8 39.Qg6+= 31...g6 32.Nfxg6 fxg6?! 32...Qb4! 33.Nf4 Rxe5 34.dxe5 b2-+ 33.Bxg6 Rf8 34.Bf7+! Rxf7 35.Rxf7 Qxf7 36.Nxf7 b2 36...Kxf7 37.Qf5+ Kg8 38.Qg6+ Kf8 39.Qf6+ Kg8 40.Qe6+ Kh7 40...Kh8? 41.Qe5+ 41.Qf5+ Kg8 42.Qg6+= 37.Nxh6+ Kh8 38.Nf7+ Kg7 39.Ng5 Be8 39...Rh8 40.Ne6+± 40.Qh7+ Kf6 41.Qh8+ Kxg5 42.Qe5+ Kh6 43.Qxb8 Bg6 44.Qh8+ Bh7 45.Qf6+ Bg6 46.Qh8+ Bh7 ½–½
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Salem,A | 2586 | Kryvoruchko,Y | 2706 | ½–½ | 2014 | E21 | Qatar Masters Open | 6.4 |
Please, wait...
All photos by Maria Emelianova and Dmitry Rukhletskiy
from the official website photo gallery
Top standings after six rounds
Standings
and results of all 150 players here
Links
