Third Shamkir Tournament in memory of Vugar Gashimov
The Vugar Gashimov Memorial, is being held in Shamkir, Azerbaijan, from the May 26 to June 4, 2016, in memory of the great Vugar Gashimov, who passed away on the 10th of January 2014. The tournament features ten world-class players: Fabiano Caruana (2795), Anish Giri (2790), Sergey Karjakin (2779), Pavel Eljanov (2750), Pentala Harikrishna (2763), Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2750), Teimour Radjabov (2726), Eltaj Safarli (2664), Hou Yifan (2663) and Rauf Mamedov (2650). The time control is 120/40 moves + 60/20 moves + 15 minutes + 30 seconds/move at 61st move.
All games start at 3 p.m. local time = 1 p.m. in Europe (CEST), one hour earlier in Britain, and 2 p.m. in Moscow. You can find the starting time at your location here. Today's pairings:
| Round 7 – June 2, 2016 |
| Fabiano Caruana |
½-½
|
Anish Giri |
| Shak Mamedyarov |
1-0
|
Eltaj Safarli |
| Sergey Karjakin |
½-½
|
Teimour Radjabov |
| Pentala Harikrishna |
½-½
|
Rauf Mamedov |
| Pavel Eljanov |
1-0
|
Hou Yifan |
Watch it live on Playchess!
Round Seven
Everyone's eyes were clearly on the Caruana-Giri matchup, which would seemingly determine the fate of the tournament. The game was rather interesting, and all throughout the tactics were complicated and the battle fierce, but it was just at the end, with the clock ticking down, that Caruana was unable to find a really brilliant continuation to win the game. In other news, Eljanov escapes from last place by beating Hou Yifan, meanwhile Mamedyarov beat Safarli, but not without complications.
Caruana, Fabiano ½-½ Giri, Anish
Another player that essays the Open Spanish against Caruana. The fight in this game was very tactical, with pieces hanging consistently and many trades, which did not lead to a drawn position. White always kept an edge with his superior pieces and the queen and rook vs. queen and rook endgame was more pleasant for White. After some brilliant maneuvering, the following happened:
Caruana would've basically clinched the tournament had he found the brilliant Kh2 move
[Event "3rd Shamkir Chess 2016"] [Site "Shamkir"] [Date "2016.06.02"] [Round "7"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Giri, Anish"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C81"] [WhiteElo "2804"] [BlackElo "2790"] [Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,Alejandro"] [PlyCount "75"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [EventCountry "AZE"] [TimeControl "40/7200:20/3600:900+30"] 1. e4 {(3s)} e5 {(3s)} 2. Nf3 {(5s)} Nc6 {(6s)} 3. Bb5 {(3s)} a6 {(5s)} 4. Ba4 {(4s)} Nf6 {(4s)} 5. O-O {(5s)} Nxe4 {(15s)} 6. d4 {(8s)} b5 {(3s)} 7. Bb3 { (4s)} d5 {(4s)} 8. dxe5 {(5s)} Be6 {(8s)} 9. Qe2 {(80 s)} Be7 {(183s)} 10. Rd1 {(6s)} O-O {(6s)} 11. c4 {(4s)} bxc4 {(46s)} 12. Bxc4 {(5s)} Bc5 {(30s)} 13. Be3 {(6s)} Bxe3 {(8s)} 14. Qxe3 {(4s)} Qb8 {(48s)} 15. Bb3 {(5s)} Na5 {(6s)} 16. Nd4 {(9s)} c5 {(61s)} 17. Nxe6 {(8s)} fxe6 {(2s)} 18. f3 {(10s)} c4 {(38s)} 19. fxe4 {(6s)} cxb3 {(2s)} 20. exd5 {(15s)} bxa2 {(415s)} 21. Rxa2 {(6s)} Nc4 {(5s)} 22. Qd4 {(85s)} Qb3 {(124s)} 23. Nc3 {(34s)} Rac8 {(103s)} 24. Rb1 { (1619s)} Ne3 {(771s)} 25. Qxe3 {(301s)} Rxc3 {(11s)} 26. Qxc3 {(5s)} Qxa2 {(3s) } 27. Rd1 {(72s)} exd5 {(5s)} 28. Qd4 {(171s)} Re8 {(460s)} 29. Rc1 {(271s)} h6 {(932s)} 30. h3 {(1029s)} Kh8 {(1078s)} 31. e6 {(1739s)} Rxe6 {(268s)} 32. Rc8+ {(18s)} Kh7 {(2s)} 33. Qd3+ {(11s)} Re4 {(13s)} 34. Qf1 {(13s)} Re5 {(295s)} 35. Qd3+ {(6s)} Re4 {(4s)} 36. Qf1 {(10s)} Re5 {(4s)} 37. Qd3+ {(201s)} Re4 { (18s)} 38. Qf1 {The draw was agreed at this point. Fortunate for Giri, as he is completely lost:} (38. Qf1 Re5 39. Qf7 {snuffing out the Black king. The strange part of not going for this is that White cannot possibly lose, worst case scenario there is another perpetual.} Qa4 (39... Qxb2 40. Qg8+ Kg6 41. Rc6+ Kf5 42. Qf7+ Ke4 43. Qf3+ Kd4 44. Qd1+ Ke4 45. Kh2 {again this important move, safeguarding the king before going for the kill.}) 40. Kh2 $3 {Is the winning trick. A computer move, simply making the king a bit safer. The "threat" is b3, removing the defender of either the fourth rank or of the c6 square. You can try to work out the variations on your own.}) 1/2-1/2
Dodging a bullet: Anish Giri
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar 1-0 Safarli, Eltaj
Mamedyarov's opening strategy was very successful, but when it came time to close he found himself with his king in a very weakened position, and he did not follow the best line of play. Safarli missed an amazing perpetual, and gave the game back to Mamedyarov.
[Event "3rd Shamkir Chess 2016"] [Site "Shamkir"] [Date "2016.06.02"] [Round "7"] [White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"] [Black "Safarli, Eltaj"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E20"] [WhiteElo "2746"] [BlackElo "2673"] [Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,Alejandro"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [EventCountry "AZE"] [TimeControl "40/7200:20/3600:900+30"] 1. d4 {(3s)} Nf6 {(13s)} 2. c4 {(4s)} e6 {(5s)} 3. Nc3 {(5s)} Bb4 {(21s)} 4. g3 {The move 4.g3 is not the most common idea in the Nimzo-Indian, but it's one of the many ways in which White can try to get a small but riskless edge.} d5 { (179s)} 5. Bg2 {(14s)} O-O {(12s)} 6. a3 {(2s)} Bxc3+ {(144s)} 7. bxc3 {(2s)} c5 $5 {This exact position had been seen in the game... Kuzubov-Safarli, from eleven years ago! I doubt that Mamedyarov prepared against that game, but you never know.} (7... dxc4 8. Nf3 Nc6 9. O-O {was Ivanchuk-Fressinet from March. The position is very interesting with Black having a material advantage but White having the pair of bishops and easier play overall.}) 8. cxd5 {(3s)} exd5 {( 250s)} 9. Nf3 {(3s)} cxd4 {(356s)} 10. Nxd4 {(65s)} (10. cxd4 {looks more natural at first, but it is slower and it prevents White from having any breaks. The move played in the game is much stronger and shows a great feel for the position.}) 10... Nc6 {(231s)} 11. O-O {(94s)} Ne4 $6 {Underestimating White's resources.} 12. c4 {This move is obvious, White just needs to make sure it works.} Re8 {(882s)} (12... dxc4 13. Nxc6 {just loses for Black.}) ( 12... Nc3 13. Nxc6 bxc6 (13... Nxd1 14. Nxd8 Nc3 15. Nxf7 $18) 14. Qd3 { with a very clear advantage for White. That dark squared bishop will become a monster.}) 13. Bb2 {(830s)} Na5 {(806s)} 14. cxd5 {(75s)} Nc4 {(88s)} 15. Rb1 { (238s)} (15. Qb3 $1 Ned2 (15... Ncd2 16. Qd3 Nxf1 17. Bxe4 $18) (15... Nxb2 16. Qxb2 Qxd5 17. Rfc1 {was very strong, as White has a huge development advantage and will continue with Rc7.}) 16. Qc3 $18) 15... Nxb2 {(375s)} (15... Qxd5 16. Ba1 {is better for White as he has the bishops, but it was the lesser evil.}) 16. Rxb2 {(61s)} Qxd5 {(90s)} 17. Qd3 {(1053s)} Bd7 {(476s)} 18. Rfb1 {(23s)} Rab8 {(194s)} 19. Rb5 $1 {A simply but nice tactical coup. Black is forced to give up two of his pieces for one rook.} Bxb5 {(154s)} 20. Rxb5 {The queen cannot keep protection of the black knight.} Nxf2 {(116s)} 21. Kxf2 {(91s)} Qd6 {(398s)} 22. Bxb7 {(337s)} Rbd8 {(703s)} 23. e3 {Unfortunately for Safarli the material disadvantage here is just too big. Mamedyarov has all he needs to take the point home.} Re5 {(49s)} 24. a4 {(114s)} h5 {(275s)} 25. h4 {( 165s)} Rde8 {(177s)} 26. e4 {(158s)} Qf6+ {(302s)} 27. Kg2 {(60s)} Rxb5 {(55s)} 28. axb5 {(30s)} g6 {(77s)} 29. Bd5 {(77s)} Re7 {(4s)} 30. Qd2 {(353s)} a6 {(88s)} 31. bxa6 $2 {Somehow Mamedyarov really lets go of his advantage in the next few moves.} (31. Nc6 Rb7 32. e5 $18) 31... Qxa6 {(5s)} 32. Nc6 {(13s)} Rc7 { (96s)} 33. Nd8 $6 {(428s)} (33. Ne5 $16) 33... Qa4 {(102s)} 34. Qh6 $2 { A time pressure blunder. The players missed an incredible resource here} Rc2+ $2 {(26s)} (34... Qc2+ 35. Kh3 Qd1 $1 36. Qxg6+ Kf8 37. Qd6+ Kg7 {Surprisingly, White has no way of avoiding the perpetual. This would have been a crazy end to the game and a dissapointment for Mamedyarov, but Safarli did not find it.}) 35. Kh3 {(7s)} Qd7+ {(15s)} 36. Ne6 $1 {A resource that keeps the advantage in White's camp} fxe6 {(1s)} 37. Qxg6+ {(5s)} Kf8 {(4s)} 38. Bxe6 {(14s)} Qg7 { (18s)} 39. Qxh5 {(11s)} Rc3 {(11s)} 40. Qg4 {(0s)} Qxg4+ {This leads to a lost endgame. More resistance was put up by not trading the queens, but the endgame is lost anyway.} 41. Kxg4 {(134s)} Kg7 {(513s)} 42. Kf4 {(45s)} Rc1 {(164s)} 43. Kg5 {(20s)} Re1 {(577s)} 44. Bf5 {(24s)} 1-0
Highlight of the day: an Azerbaijani duel that did not end in a draw
Karjakin, Sergey ½-½ Radjabov, Teimour
In these locked up French positions usually one side tries to break through on the kingside, either with f4-f5 by White or g6 or f6 by Black. If neither player does that, well, nothing ever happens.
Basically nothing happenered here today
Harikrishna, Pentala ½-½ Mamedov, Rauf
Harikrishna saw himself in danger of losing this game from very early on. Mamedov managed to win a pawn and get a comfortable endgame. The opposite colored bishops kept Harikrishna's chances to make a draw alive, and Mamedov simply did not have the best technique. The extra black pawn was able to reach e2, but it was clear it was going no further.
Putting on the pressure! Mamedov was close to a win today
Eljanov, Pavel 1-0 Hou Yifan
In another critical position, the Chinese player goes wrong and Eljanov cleans up with his extra piece:
[Event "3rd Shamkir Chess 2016"] [Site "Shamkir"] [Date "2016.06.02"] [Round "7"] [White "Eljanov, Pavel"] [Black "Hou, Yifan"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D02"] [WhiteElo "2751"] [BlackElo "2663"] [Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,Alejandro"] [PlyCount "119"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [EventCountry "AZE"] [TimeControl "40/7200:20/3600:900+30"] 1. d4 {(3s)} Nf6 {(5s)} 2. Nf3 {(8s)} d5 {(17s)} 3. Bf4 {(11s)} e6 {(44s)} 4. e3 {(37s)} c5 {(89s)} 5. c3 {(8s)} Nc6 {(51s)} 6. Nbd2 {(6s)} Bd6 {(29s)} 7. Bg3 {(10s)} O-O {(205s)} 8. Bb5 {(65s)} a5 {(539s)} 9. a4 {(451s)} Ne7 {(289s)} 10. Qe2 {(574s)} Nf5 {(859s)} 11. Bd3 {(688s)} Be7 {(1133s)} 12. Be5 {(376s)} b6 {(285s)} 13. Bxf6 {(526s)} Bxf6 {(6s)} 14. g4 {(5s)} Nd6 {(294s)} 15. h4 { (201s)} Be7 {( 225s)} 16. g5 {(1001s)} Bb7 {(174s)} 17. Ne5 {(15s)} Qe8 {(235s) } 18. Rg1 {(272s)} f5 {(202s)} 19. gxf6 {(29s)} Bxf6 {(5s)} 20. Qg4 {(183s)} Ba6 {(378s)} 21. Bc2 {(93s)} Ra7 {(118s)} 22. Ndf3 {(598 s)} Bxe5 {(161s)} 23. dxe5 {(412s)} Nf5 {(244s)} 24. Ng5 {(172s)} h6 {(548s)} 25. Nh3 {(4s)} d4 $2 { (81 s)} (25... b5 $1 {Counterattack is the only way. Black keeps options open by taking on a4 and opening the b-file.}) 26. e4 {(101s)} d3 {(192s)} 27. Bb3 { (46s)} c4 {(168s)} 28. Bd1 {Black has established a strong pawn chain, but now her knight on f5 is doomed as it has nowhere to go: putting it on e7 would allow Qxg7#.} Qb8 {(71s)} 29. exf5 {( 55s)} Qxe5+ {(5s)} 30. Kd2 {(56s)} Rxf5 { (9s)} 31. f4 {(65s)} Qf6 {(88s)} 32. Bf3 {(304s)} Bb7 {(15s)} 33. Bxb7 {(435s)} Rxb7 {(1s)} 34. Qf3 {Black simply does not have enough for the piece.} Rf7 { (103s)} 35. h5 {(91s)} Qh4 {(17s)} 36. Rg4 {(57 s)} Qxh5 {(81s)} 37. Rag1 { (22s)} Rd5 {(131s)} 38. Nf2 {(38s)} Qf5 {(67s)} 39. Ne4 {(32s)} Rdd7 {(2s)} 40. Qe3 {(0s)} b5 {(0s)} 41. Nc5 {(1660s)} Rde7 {(557s)} 42. Qe5 {(4s)} bxa4 { (750s)} 43. Ke3 {(47 s)} Kh7 {(164s)} 44. Rh4 {(563s)} Qxe5+ {(473s)} 45. fxe5 {(5s)} Rf5 {(4s)} 46. Rxc4 {(37s)} Rxe5+ {(5s)} 47. Ne4 {(128s)} g5 {(223s)} 48. Rxa4 {(30s)} Kg6 {(67s)} 49. Kxd3 {(251s)} Rf7 {(215s)} 50. Nd2 {(225s)} h5 {(137s)} 51. Re4 {(14s)} Rxe4 {(207s)} 52. Nxe4 {(6s)} g4 {(3s)} 53. c4 {(249s) } Rf3+ {(353s)} 54. Kd4 {(5s)} Kf5 {(9s)} 55. Ng3+ {(73s)} Rxg3 {(311s)} 56. Rxg3 {(4s)} h4 {(4s)} 57. Rg1 {(14s)} g3 {(1s)} 58. Ke3 {(7s)} Kg4 {(1s)} 59. Rd1 {(8s)} e5 {(124s)} 60. c5 {(0s)} 1-0
No longer last, but still losing 12 points: Pavel Eljanov
A tough loss for Yifan who is now on -3
Round Seven Games
Select from the dropdown menu to replay the games
Standings after seven rounds
Schedule and results
| Round 1 – May 26, 2016 |
| Rauf Mamedov |
½-½
|
Anish Giri |
| Teimour Radjabov |
½-½
|
Hou Yifan |
| Eltaj Safarli |
½-½
|
Pavel Eljanov |
| Fabiano Caruana |
½-½
|
Pentala Harikrishna |
| Shak Mamedyarov |
½-½
|
Sergey Karjakin |
| Round 3 – May 28, 2016 |
| Teimour Radjabov |
½-½
|
Anish Giri |
| Eltaj Safarli |
½-½
|
Rauf Mamedov |
| Fabiano Caruana |
1-0
|
Hou Yifan |
| Shak Mamedyarov |
1-0
|
Pavel Eljanov |
| Sergey Karjakin |
1-0
|
Pentala Harikrishna |
| Round 5 – May 30, 2016 |
| Eltaj Safarli |
0-1
|
Anish Giri |
| Fabiano Caruana |
1-0
|
Teimour Radjabov |
| Shak Mamedyarov |
½-½
|
Rauf Mamedov |
| Sergey Karjakin |
1-0
|
Hou Yifan |
| Pentala Harikrishna |
1-0
|
Pavel Eljanov |
| Round 6 – June 1, 2016 |
| Anish Giri |
½-½
|
Pavel Eljanov |
| Hou Yifan |
½-½
|
Pentala Harikrishna |
| Rauf Mamedov |
½-½
|
Sergey Karjakin |
| Teimour Radjabov |
½-½
|
Shak Mamedyarov |
| Eltaj Safarli |
½-½
|
Fabiano Caruana |
| Round 8 – June 3, 2016 |
| Anish Giri |
-
|
Hou Yifan |
| Rauf Mamedov |
-
|
Pavel Eljanov |
| Teimour Radjabov |
-
|
Pentala Harikrishna |
| Eltaj Safarli |
-
|
Sergey Karjakin |
| Fabiano Caruana |
-
|
Shak Mamedyarov |
|
|
| Round 2 – May 27, 2016 |
| Anish Giri |
1-0
|
Sergey Karjakin |
| Pentala Harikrishna |
1-0
|
Shak Mamedyarov |
| Pavel Eljanov |
0-1
|
Fabiano Caruana |
| Hou Yifan |
½-½
|
Eltaj Safarli |
| Rauf Mamedov |
½-½
|
Teimour Radjabov |
| Round 4 – May 29, 2016 |
| Anish Giri |
1-0
|
Pentala Harikrishna |
| Pavel Eljanov |
½-½
|
Sergey Karjakin |
| Hou Yifan |
½-½
|
Shak Mamedyarov |
| Rauf Mamedov |
0-1
|
Fabiano Caruana |
| Teimour Radjabov |
½-½
|
Eltaj Safarli |
|
May 31, 2016
|
|
Free day
|
| Round 7 – June 2, 2016 |
| Fabiano Caruana |
½-½
|
Anish Giri |
| Shak Mamedyarov |
1-0
|
Eltaj Safarli |
| Sergey Karjakin |
½-½
|
Teimour Radjabov |
| Pentala Harikrishna |
½-½
|
Rauf Mamedov |
| Pavel Eljanov |
1-0
|
Hou Yifan |
| Round 9 – June 4, 2016 |
| Shak Mamedyarov |
-
|
Anish Giri |
| Sergey Karjakin |
-
|
Fabiano Caruana |
| Pentala Harikrishna |
-
|
Eltaj Safarli |
| Pavel Eljanov |
-
|
Teimour Radjabov |
| Hou Yifan |
-
|
Rauf Mamedov |
|
Live commentary on Playchess
| Date |
Round |
English |
German |
| 03.6.2016 |
Round 8 |
Yasser Seirawan |
Klaus Bischoff |
| 04.6.2016 |
Round 9 |
Daniel King |
Klaus Bischoff |
