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The time control in the GP tournaments is 100 minutes for the first 40 moves, 50 minutes for the next 20 moves and then 15 minutes for the rest of the game plus an additional 30 seconds per move starting from move one.
The first leg, in Sharjah, will be held February 18 - 27 (with a rest day on the 23rd) at the Sharjah Cultural & Chess Club. The first prize is €20,000; the total prize fund is is €130,000.
2017 Sharjah GP Participants
All photos by Max Avdeev
The round was one of disappointment, cautiousness, victory, and guts. In other words, there was a bit of everything. Mostly, unfortunately, one thing that stood out was how much rules such as the Sofia rule were still much needed. WHile some games ended in decisive results, and some that did not were fought all the way to the end, there were also a few very short lifeless draws in which little or no effort was made to make a game of it. Fortunately, this was not a widespread case, but the point of rules that prevent such quick draws at least ensures the audience and sponsors feel their time and investment are well spent.
The top board was the main draw of the round with Hikaru Nakamura fresh from a win to place him in the pack behind the leader MVL, facing the leader himself. Unfortunately after 18 moves, with all the pieces still on the board minus the queens, the players called it a day. Disappointing.
This was hardly the case of Hou Yifan's game against Pavel Eljanov, which was by far the longest game of the day, and fought to the very end, in spite of no swings to speak of.
P. Eljanov vs Hou Yifan
Michael Adams faced a ferocious...
... Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and succumbed to the storm.
Annotating the thrilling game is Tiger Hillarp Persson who explains that the choice was easy as he is a big fan of the Azeri player.
S. Mamedyarov vs M. Adams (annotated by Tiger Hillarp-Persson)
Grischuk played a lightning draw against Ian Nepomniachtchi in 19 moves
Rapport drew with Salem and put a stop to the rot
There are few things worse than forgetting one's preparation...
Li Chao came prepared to the teeth, and surprised Tomashevsky and his Queen's Indian with an early 8.h4!?
Li Chao vs E. Tomashevsky
| Bo | No | Ti. | Name | Rtg | Pts. | Result | Pts. | Ti | Name | Rtg | No |
| 1 | 3 | GM | Nakamura Hikaru | 2785 | 2 | ½ - ½ | 2½ | GM | Vachier-Lagrave Maxime | 2796 | 1 |
| 2 | 4 | GM | Mamedyarov Shakhriyar | 2766 | 2 | 1 - 0 | 2 | GM | Adams Michael | 2751 | 7 |
| 3 | 2 | GM | Aronian Levon | 2785 | 1½ | ½ - ½ | 1½ | GM | Riazantsev Alexander | 2671 | 15 |
| 4 | 12 | GM | Jakovenko Dmitry | 2709 | 1½ | ½ - ½ | 1½ | GM | Ding Liren | 2760 | 5 |
| 5 | 6 | GM | Eljanov Pavel | 2759 | 1½ | ½ - ½ | 1½ | GM | Hou Yifan | 2651 | 17 |
| 6 | 8 | GM | Nepomniachtchi Ian | 2749 | 1½ | ½ - ½ | 1½ | GM | Grischuk Alexander | 2742 | 9 |
| 7 | 18 | GM | Hammer Jon Ludvig | 2628 | 1½ | ½ - ½ | 1½ | GM | Vallejo Pons Francisco | 2709 | 13 |
| 8 | 10 | GM | Li Chao B | 2720 | 1 | 1 - 0 | 1 | GM | Tomashevsky Evgeny | 2711 | 11 |
| 9 | 14 | GM | Rapport Richard | 2692 | 1 | ½ - ½ | ½ | GM | Salem A.R. Saleh | 2656 | 16 |
| Rk | SNo | Ti. | Name | FED | Rtg | Pts |
| 1 | 1 | GM | Vachier-Lagrave Maxime | FRA | 2796 | 3,0 |
| 2 | 4 | GM | Mamedyarov Shakhriyar | AZE | 2766 | 3,0 |
| 3 | 3 | GM | Nakamura Hikaru | USA | 2785 | 2,5 |
| 4 | 5 | GM | Ding Liren | CHN | 2760 | 2,0 |
| 5 | 7 | GM | Adams Michael | ENG | 2751 | 2,0 |
| 6 | 10 | GM | Li Chao B | CHN | 2720 | 2,0 |
| 7 | 15 | GM | Riazantsev Alexander | RUS | 2671 | 2,0 |
| 8 | 12 | GM | Jakovenko Dmitry | RUS | 2709 | 2,0 |
| 18 | GM | Hammer Jon Ludvig | NOR | 2628 | 2,0 | |
| 10 | 13 | GM | Vallejo Pons Francisco | ESP | 2709 | 2,0 |
| 11 | 9 | GM | Grischuk Alexander | RUS | 2742 | 2,0 |
| 12 | 17 | GM | Hou Yifan | CHN | 2651 | 2,0 |
| 13 | 2 | GM | Aronian Levon | ARM | 2785 | 2,0 |
| 14 | 6 | GM | Eljanov Pavel | UKR | 2759 | 2,0 |
| 15 | 8 | GM | Nepomniachtchi Ian | RUS | 2749 | 2,0 |
| 16 | 14 | GM | Rapport Richard | HUN | 2692 | 1,5 |
| 17 | 11 | GM | Tomashevsky Evgeny | RUS | 2711 | 1,0 |
| 18 | 16 | GM | Salem A.R. Saleh | UAE | 2656 | 1,0 |
AGON is offering exclusive pay-per-view video of the games and live commentary. It comes in three packages: a one-time $10 fee just for Sharjah GP, a full package of all the events in the World Championship cycle for $30, and a $250 package, which is the same as the $30 Base but comes with signed posters from each event.
For more information, see the widget on the main page.
LinksThe games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the chess server Playchess.com. If you are not a member you can download a free Playchess client there and get immediate access. You can also use ChessBase 14 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs. |
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