Dominguez and Vachier-Lagrave also win
The Sinquefield Cup sees four of the participants not only fighting to win the tournament but also keeping an eye on the overall standings of the Grand Chess Tour, which grants an extra $175,000 prize fund for the three players who get the most points throughout the series. Wesley So is the clear leader in that competition; Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave are almost tied in second and third places; while Fabiano Caruana has an outside chance of finishing second or third (see the full standings table in our preview).
The Italian Game is considered a sound but quiet opening without early trades, giving rise to rich positions where plans are more important than forced variations. So shows black's plans on this DVD.
Out of these four ‘tour regulars’, Caruana and Vachier-Lagrave had the best starts at the Sinquefield Cup, beating Sam Shankland and Peter Svidler respectively. They are joined in the early lead by Leinier Dominguez, who got the better of Dariusz Swiercz.

Classical (elite) chess has returned to Saint Louis! | Photo: Crystal Fuller
The first result of the event was a draw, with Jeffery Xiong failing to get anything with white against Richard Rapport.
Not long after, Svidler resigned against MVL. Two of the strongest practitioners of the Grünfeld Defence, they entered a variation with 4.h4. Theory was followed until move 15, with Black giving up a pawn to get open lines on the queenside — à la Benko Gambit. Svidler eventually recovered the pawn, but by then White’s h-pawn had made it to the sixth rank.
Vachier-Lagrave vs. Svidler
After MVL’s 25.b4 came Svidler’s decisive mistake — 25...Ne8 (25...cxb4 or 25...Ke8 would have kept the game going). There followed 26.bxc5 dxc5 27.Bg7+ Kg8 28.Qa8
The Grünfeld is a highly dynamic opening in which Black's position often seems to hang together by a single thread; and yet, this apparently precarious equilibrium appears to be enough to make it entirely viable — up to the highest level.
Black is completely stuck. Note that in the first diagrammed position the knight was protecting the a8-square. 28...c4 29.Qd8 Qa4 30.Kg2 Qb5 31.Bb2 and Svidler resigned. (You can try your own variations on our interactive diagrams).
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.h4 Bg7 4.Nc3 0-0 5.e4 d6 6.Be2 c5 7.d5 b5 8.cxb5 a6 9.a4 axb5 10.Bxb5 Ba6 11.Bd2 Bxb5 12.axb5 Nbd7 13.Nf3 Rxa1 14.Qxa1 Qb6 15.0-0 15...Rb8N 15...Ne8 16.Bg5 Nc7 17.Bxe7 Ra8 18.Qd1 Nxb5 19.Nxb5 Qxb5 20.Bxd6 Bxb2 21.Qc2 c4 16.Qa6 Ne8 17.Ra1 Kf8 18.h5 Nc7 19.Qa4 Ra8 20.Qd1 Rxa1 21.Qxa1 Ne5 22.h6 Nxf3+ 23.gxf3 Bxc3 24.Bxc3 Qxb5 25.b4 Ne8? 25...cxb4= 26.Bxb4 Ke8 26.bxc5+- dxc5 27.Bg7+ Kg8 28.Qa8! c4? 28...Qd7+- 29.e5 e6 29.Qd8 Qa4 30.Kg2 Qb5 31.Bb2! 1–0 - Start an analysis engine:
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Vachier Lagrave,M | 2751 | Svidler,P | 2714 | 1–0 | 2021 | | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 1.2 |
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Grünfeld specialists — Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Peter Svidler | Photo: Lennart Ootes
While MVL and Svidler opted for a deep theoretical variation, Caruana chose the more positionally oriented London System with white against Shankland. The world number 2 outmanoeuvred his opponent in the middlegame, focusing on improving his pieces on the kingside. The following position was reached after 27 moves.
Caruana found the stunning 28.Ng4, not only taking advantage of the fact that 28...Nxh4 runs into 29.Nh6#, but also planning to give up a piece for the attack after 28...h5 — 29.Qg5 hxg4 30.hxg4 Ng7. Notice how strong the unopposed dark-squared bishop is along the e5-h8 diagonal.
The Ruy Lopez is one of the oldest openings which continues to enjoy high popularity from club level to the absolute world top. In this video series, American super GM Fabiano Caruana, talking to IM Oliver Reeh, presents a complete repertoire for White.
Black is doomed. After 31.Qh6, Shankland found nothing better than 31...Nef5, returning the material, but there was no defence already. Resignation came seven moves later.
The tournament offers an extra $5,000 brilliancy prize, and Caruana’s win will certainly be among the contenders.
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1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bf4 Bg7 4.e3 d6 5.h3 c5 6.Nbd2 cxd4 7.exd4 0-0 8.Be2 Qb6 8...Nc6= 9.Nc4 Qc7 10.Ne3N 10.0-0 Bf5 11.c3 Nbd7 12.Ne3 e6 13.Nc4 Ne8 14.a4 e5 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.Bg3 10...Nc6 11.c3 e5 12.Bh2 Qe7 12...exd4! 13.Nxd4 Nxd4 14.Qxd4 Ng4! 13.0-0 e4 14.Ne1 d5 15.N1c2 Be6 16.Qe1 Nd7 16...Rad8= 17.f3! f5 18.fxe4! fxe4 19.Bf4 Rf7 20.Qg3 Nf6 21.Rf2 Qd7 22.Raf1 Raf8 23.Qh4 Ne8 24.Ng4 Nd6 25.Nce3 Ne7 26.Ne5 Bxe5 27.Bxe5 Ndf5? 27...Rxf2± 28.Rxf2 Rxf2 29.Kxf2 29.Qxf2 Nc6 29...Nc6 28.Ng4!+- h5 28...Nxh4 29.Nh6# 29.Qg5 hxg4 30.hxg4 Ng7 30...e3 31.Rf3 Rh7 31.Qh6 Nef5 32.gxf5 Rxf5 33.Rxf5 Rxf5 34.Rxf5 Bxf5 35.g4 Be6 35...Bxg4 36.Bxg7 Qxg7 37.Qxg7+ Kxg7 38.Bxg4 Kf7 36.Qxg6 Qf7 37.Qh6 e3 38.Bf3! 1–0 - Start an analysis engine:
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Caruana,F | 2806 | Shankland,S | 2709 | 1–0 | 2021 | | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 1.4 |
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Dealing with a tough position — Sam Shankland | Photo: Lennart Ootes
In a crucial game for the overall standings of the Grand Chess Tour, So failed to make the most of an advantageous queenless position against Mamedyarov. A common pandemic-related confusion occurred at the start of the game — handshake or fist bump?
In the last game to finish on Tuesday, Dominguez showed his class to defeat Swiercz with the black pieces. The Cuban-born grandmaster will play white against Caruana in Wednesday’s second round.
Standings after round 1
Rk. | | Name | Rtg. | Nt. | Pts. | n | | | | | | | | | | | TB | Perf. |
---|
1 | | | 2806 | | 1.0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 0.00 | 3509 |
2 | | | 2758 | | 1.0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 0.00 | 3455 |
3 | | | 2751 | | 1.0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 0.00 | 3514 |
4 | | | 2782 | | 0.5 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 0.25 | 2772 |
5 | | | 2772 | | 0.5 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 0.25 | 2782 |
6 | | | 2763 | | 0.5 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 0.25 | 2710 |
7 | | | 2710 | | 0.5 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 0.25 | 2763 |
8 | | | 2714 | | 0.0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 0.00 | 1951 |
9 | | | 2709 | | 0.0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 0.00 | 2006 |
10 | | | 2655 | | 0.0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 0.00 | 1958 |
TBs: Sonneborn-Berger |
All games
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.0-0 Nf6 5.d3 0-0 6.h3 d6 7.c3 Ne7 8.Re1 Ng6 9.d4 Bb6 10.Bd3 10...d5N 10...h6 11.Be3 Nh5 12.Nbd2 Nhf4 13.Bf1 Qf6 14.Kh2 Re8 15.a4 a6 16.g3 exd4 17.cxd4 11.exd5 exd4 12.c4 c6 13.Qc2 cxd5 14.c5 Bc7 15.Nxd4 Re8 16.Rxe8+ Qxe8 17.Nc3 Qe1+ 18.Bf1 Bd7 19.Qe2 Qxe2 20.Ndxe2 Rc8 21.Be3 Ne7 22.Rd1 a6 23.g4 Bc6 24.f3 h6 25.b4 Re8 26.Kf2 Bd7 27.Bf4 Bxf4 28.Nxf4 d4 28...Be6 29.Rxd4+- Nc6 30.Rd6 Nxb4 31.Rb6 a5 32.Rxb7 Bc6 33.Ra7 g5 34.Nd3 Rd8 35.Ne5 Rd2+ 36.Kg3 Rc2 37.a3! Nbd5 38.Nxd5 38.Nxc6?! Rxc3 39.Ne5 39.Rxa5 Ne4+ 40.Kh2 Nd2= 39...Ne4+ 40.Kh2 Nd2 38...Nxd5 39.Bd3 39.Rxf7 39...Ne3! 40.Rf8+ Kxf8 41.Ng6+ Kg7 42.Be2 Rxe2 43.h4 Nf1+ 44.Kh3 Rh2# 39.h4+- Be8 40.Rxa5 39...Rxc5± 40.Nxf7 40.Nxc6± Rxc6 41.Rxa5 40...Nf4!= 41.Bf5 Bd5 42.Ne5 42.Nxh6+ Kf8 43.Be4 Bxe4 44.fxe4 Rc3+ 45.Kf2 42...Rc3 43.Rxa5 Re3 44.Nd3 Rxf3+ 45.Kh2 Rxh3+ 46.Kg1 Rg3+ 47.Kf2 Rf3+ 48.Kg1 Rg3+ 49.Kf2 Rf3+ 50.Kg1 Rg3+ ½–½ - Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
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- Drag the split bars between window panes.
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So,W | 2772 | Mamedyarov,S | 2782 | ½–½ | 2021 | C54 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 1.1 |
Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2751 | Svidler,P | 2714 | 1–0 | 2021 | E73 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 1.2 |
Xiong,J | 2710 | Rapport,R | 2763 | ½–½ | 2021 | E38 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 1.3 |
Caruana,F | 2806 | Shankland,S | 2709 | 1–0 | 2021 | A48 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 1.4 |
Swiercz,D | 2655 | Dominguez Perez,L | 2758 | 0–1 | 2021 | C42 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 1.5 |
Dominguez Perez,L | 2758 | Caruana,F | 2806 | ½–½ | 2021 | C54 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 2.1 |
Shankland,S | 2709 | Xiong,J | 2710 | ½–½ | 2021 | B38 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 2.2 |
Swiercz,D | 2655 | So,W | 2772 | 0–1 | 2021 | C67 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 2.3 |
Rapport,R | 2763 | Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2751 | ½–½ | 2021 | E60 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 2.4 |
Svidler,P | 2714 | Mamedyarov,S | 2782 | ½–½ | 2021 | C54 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 2.5 |
So,W | 2772 | Svidler,P | 2714 | 1–0 | 2021 | A37 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 3.1 |
Mamedyarov,S | 2782 | Rapport,R | 2763 | 1–0 | 2021 | D49 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 3.2 |
Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2751 | Shankland,S | 2709 | 1–0 | 2021 | C54 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 3.3 |
Xiong,J | 2710 | Dominguez Perez,L | 2758 | ½–½ | 2021 | C47 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 3.4 |
Caruana,F | 2806 | Swiercz,D | 2655 | 1–0 | 2021 | B30 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 3.5 |
Swiercz,D | 2655 | Xiong,J | 2710 | 1–0 | 2021 | B96 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 4.1 |
Caruana,F | 2806 | So,W | 2772 | ½–½ | 2021 | A33 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 4.2 |
Rapport,R | 2763 | Svidler,P | 2714 | 1–0 | 2021 | D02 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 4.3 |
Shankland,S | 2709 | Mamedyarov,S | 2782 | 1–0 | 2021 | C65 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 4.4 |
Dominguez Perez,L | 2758 | Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2751 | 1–0 | 2021 | B90 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 4.5 |
Svidler,P | 2714 | Shankland,S | 2709 | ½–½ | 2021 | B90 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 5.1 |
Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2751 | Swiercz,D | 2655 | 1–0 | 2021 | C54 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 5.2 |
Mamedyarov,S | 2782 | Dominguez Perez,L | 2758 | ½–½ | 2021 | D27 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 5.3 |
Xiong,J | 2710 | Caruana,F | 2806 | 1–0 | 2021 | D02 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 5.4 |
So,W | 2772 | Rapport,R | 2763 | ½–½ | 2021 | C67 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 5.5 |
Caruana,F | 2806 | Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2751 | ½–½ | 2021 | B90 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 6.1 |
Dominguez Perez,L | 2758 | Svidler,P | 2714 | ½–½ | 2021 | C54 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 6.2 |
Xiong,J | 2710 | So,W | 2772 | ½–½ | 2021 | D02 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 6.3 |
Shankland,S | 2709 | Rapport,R | 2763 | ½–½ | 2021 | C45 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 6.4 |
Swiercz,D | 2655 | Mamedyarov,S | 2782 | ½–½ | 2021 | C67 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 6.5 |
Rapport,R | 2763 | Dominguez Perez,L | 2758 | ½–½ | 2021 | D23 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 7.1 |
So,W | 2772 | Shankland,S | 2709 | ½–½ | 2021 | A20 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 7.2 |
Mamedyarov,S | 2782 | Caruana,F | 2806 | 0–1 | 2021 | E20 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 7.3 |
Svidler,P | 2714 | Swiercz,D | 2655 | 1–0 | 2021 | C88 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 7.4 |
Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2751 | Xiong,J | 2710 | 1–0 | 2021 | C67 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 7.5 |
Xiong,J | 2710 | Mamedyarov,S | 2782 | ½–½ | 2021 | D32 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 8.1 |
Caruana,F | 2806 | Svidler,P | 2714 | ½–½ | 2021 | C54 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 8.2 |
Swiercz,D | 2655 | Rapport,R | 2763 | ½–½ | 2021 | D02 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 8.3 |
Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2751 | So,W | 2772 | ½–½ | 2021 | C67 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 8.4 |
Dominguez Perez,L | 2758 | Shankland,S | 2709 | ½–½ | 2021 | B90 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 8.5 |
Shankland,S | 2709 | Swiercz,D | 2655 | ½–½ | 2021 | A11 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 9.1 |
Mamedyarov,S | 2782 | Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2751 | ½–½ | 2021 | D85 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 9.2 |
So,W | 2772 | Dominguez Perez,L | 2758 | ½–½ | 2021 | D27 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 9.3 |
Svidler,P | 2714 | Xiong,J | 2710 | ½–½ | 2021 | C55 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 9.4 |
Rapport,R | 2763 | Caruana,F | 2806 | ½–½ | 2021 | B44 | GCT Sinquefield Cup 2021 | 9.5 |
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