Sochi R04: Ivan Cheparinov leads ahead of Grischuk

FIDE Grand Prix in Sochi 2008

The Second FIDE Grand Prix Tournament is taking place in the Russian Black Sea resort city of Sochi, from July 30 to August 15, 2008, with 14 players from ten different countries. The field is dominated by Ukrainian GM Vassily Ivanchuk, who is 37 point ahead of the next highest ranked player in the field. The other players who already participated in the first Grand Prix in Baku, are Peter Svidler (RUS), Alexander Grischuk (RUS), Sergey Karjakin (UKR), Gata Kamsky (USA), Ivan Cheparinov (BUL) and David Navara (CZE). For Levon Aronian (ARM), Boris Gelfand (ISR), Dmitry Jakovenko (RUS, the host city's nominated player) and Mohamad Al Modiahki (QTR), Sochi 2008 will be the first Grand Prix tournament. The event is a category 19 with an average rating of 2708.

Report after round four

Gata Kamsky thinks while Vassily Ivanchuk kibitzes in the Karjakin-Wang Yue game

Peter Svidler, Russia, lost in 39 moves to Ivan Cheparinov, Bulgaria

Levon Aronian beat David Navara in 46 moves

A shocking loss for Gata Kamsky against Topalov-second Ivan Cheparinov

Cheparinov,I (2687) - Kamsky,G (2723) [D86]
2nd FIDE GP Sochi RUS (3), 02.08.2008
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 0-0 10.0-0 Na5 11.Bd3 b6 12.Qd2 e5 13.Bh6 cxd4 14.cxd4 exd4 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.f4 f6 17.Rac1 Bg4 18.Ng3 Bd7 19.h4 Rc8 20.Rxc8 Bxc8 21.h5 Qe7 22.Qe2 Bd7 23.Rc1 Rc8 24.Re1 Rc3 25.e5 f5 26.hxg6 hxg6 27.Qd2 Nc4 28.Bxc4 Rxc4 29.Qd3 Qc5 30.e6 Bb5 31.Nh5+ Kh6 32.Qh3 d3+ 33.Kh2 gxh5 34.Qh4 Be8 35.Re5 Qf8 36.Qg5+ Kh7 37.Rxf5 Qg7 38.Qd8

Kamsky has outplayed his opponent and should win quite easily. For instance he could play 38...h4!, after which White either gets mated, or has to trade queens, e.g., 39.Qxe8 Qg3+ 40.Kg1 Rc1# or 39.Qxh4+ Qh6! or 39.Rg5 Qc7! or 39.Qxd3 Qg3+!. But in time trouble comes the blunder (actually blunders): 38...Rc2? 39.Rg5 Qc7? This loses quickly: 40.Qxd3+ Kh6 41.Qf5 1-0.

A first win for the GM from the Qatar, a second loss for the young Czech grandmaster

A first win in this event for Peter Svidler, Russia, against...

All pictures by Mark Gluhovsky © for FIDE

Videos by Europe Echecs

FIDE Grand Prix Sochi 2008 – Schedule and results

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