Shankland the top scorer on day 2
About two weeks ago, Sam Shankland was knocked out of the World Cup by Sergey Karjakin. The former US champion almost made it into the semifinals, after eliminating the likes of Baadur Jobava and Peter Svidler, and even winning the first game against Karjakin. Given how well he had played, the result was understandably disappointing, although he had once again proven he is absolutely capable of facing the very best in the world on equal terms.
The Californian had a tough first day in Saint Louis, but he bounced right back, beating top seed Fabiano Caruana in round 4.
Smyslov cultivated a clear positional style and even in sharp tactical positions often relied more on his intuition than on concrete calculation of variations. Let our authors introduce you into the world of Vasily Smyslov.
Caruana vs. Shankland - Round 4
Caruana found the right idea to break White’s bind in the centre and kingside, but he played it one move too early — instead of his 41...g5, he needed to start with 41...Qe5+, when in case of 42.Qg3, it is actually good to untangle with 42...g5.
Shankland’s initiative had increased, and he made the most of it, eventually infiltrating Black’s position along the dark squares.
45.Be4 was the losing blunder, as it allowed 45...Qe3 46.f5 Qh6 and there is no defence for Black. Resignation came five moves later.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 0-0 6.0-0 d6 7.Re1 a6 8.a4 h6 9.h3 Re8 10.Nbd2 Be6 11.Bxe6 Rxe6 12.b4 Ba7 13.Qc2 Qd7 14.Rb1 b5 15.Ra1 Ree8 16.Nf1 d5 17.Bd2 Rad8 18.Ng3 18...Qe6N 18...dxe4 19.dxe4 Qe6 20.Rec1 Qc4 21.Be1 Bb6 22.Nd2 Qd3 23.Qxd3 Rxd3 24.Nf3 bxa4 25.Rxa4 19.Nf5 Kh8 20.g4 dxe4 21.dxe4 Qc4 22.Qa2! Qxa2 23.Rxa2 Rd3 24.Kg2 h5 24...Kh7= 25.g5± Ng8 26.axb5 axb5 27.c4 bxc4 28.b5 28.Rc1± Bb6 29.Rxc4 28...Nd4= 29.N3xd4 Bxd4 29...exd4?! 30.Rxa7 Rxd2 31.Rxc7± 30.Rc1 c3 31.Be1 g6 32.Ng3 f6 33.Kf1 Rf3 33...fxg5? 34.Ke2+- 34.Kg2 Rd3 35.Kf1 h4 35...fxg5? 36.Ke2+- 35...Rf3= 36.Ke2!± Rd2+ 37.Bxd2 cxd2 38.Rxc7 hxg3 39.fxg3 fxg5 40.Rxd2 40.Ra6 Rb8 41.Rxg6 41.Kxd2 Rxb5 42.Ra8 Rb2+ 43.Kc1 Rb3 40...Nf6= 41.b6 Bxb6 41...Nxe4? 42.b7+- 42.Rc6 42...Nxe4 43.Rxb6 Nxd2 44.Kxd2 Kg7 45.Ke3 Ra8 46.Rb7+ Kh6 47.Re7 Ra3+ 48.Kf2 g4 49.hxg4 Ra5 50.Re6 Kg5 51.Kf3 Rb5 51...e4+ 52.Rxe4 Ra3+ 53.Kg2 Ra1 54.Re5+ Kxg4 55.Re4+ Kg5 52.Kf2 Rb2+ 53.Kf3 Rb3+ 54.Kf2 Kxg4 55.Rxg6+ Kf5 56.Ra6 Rb2+ 57.Ke3 Rb3+ 58.Kf2 Ke4 59.Ra4+ Kd3 60.Kf3 Kd2+ 60...Rb6 61.Ra3+ Kd4 62.Kg4 Rf6 63.Ra4+ Ke3 61.Ke4 Re3+ 62.Kf5 Rxg3 63.Kxe5 Rc3 64.Rd4+ Rd3 65.Rxd3+ Kxd3 ½–½ - Start an analysis engine:
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Dominguez Perez,L | 2758 | So,W | 2772 | ½–½ | 2021 | | GCT St Louis Rapid 2021 | 4.1 |
Shankland,S | 2709 | Caruana,F | 2806 | 1–0 | 2021 | | GCT St Louis Rapid 2021 | 4.2 |
Xiong,J | 2710 | Mamedyarov,S | 2782 | ½–½ | 2021 | | GCT St Louis Rapid 2021 | 4.3 |
Le,Q | 2709 | Nakamura,H | 2736 | ½–½ | 2021 | | GCT St Louis Rapid 2021 | 4.4 |
Rapport,R | 2763 | Svidler,P | 2714 | ½–½ | 2021 | | GCT St Louis Rapid 2021 | 4.5 |
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Sam Shankland | Photo: Austin Fuller
Shankland’s win allowed Leinier Dominguez to grab the sole lead after drawing Wesley So with the white pieces. The Cuban-born grandmaster could not hold on to first place, though, as he was outplayed by Caruana in a strategic battle.
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.
Caruana vs. Dominguez - Round 5
White’s spatial advantage is crucial in this closed position, a factor which was masterly taken advantage of by Caruana, who followed with 33.Bd1 Qc7 34.Ba4 Rxa5 35.hxg5
Black cannot capture the bishop on a4 with either piece due to fxg6+, Qxh6 which wins for White. Notwithstanding, after 35...hxg5 36.Qh2, Caruana still left his bishop undefended, since he correctly assessed that the infiltration along the h-file was decisive. Dominguez threw in the towel shortly after.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 Nc6 4.Nf3 Bc5 5.0-0 h6 6.a4 a5 7.Be3N 7.c3 0-0 8.Re1 Re8 9.Na3 d5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.d4 exd4 12.Rxe8+ Qxe8 13.Bxd5 dxc3 7...Bxe3 8.fxe3 0-0 9.Nc3 d6 10.d4 Bg4 11.Qd2 Bh5 12.Qf2 Ng4 13.Qe1 Nb4 14.Bb3 Kh8 15.h3 Nf6 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.Nxe5 Qe7 18.Qg3 Rae8 19.Rf5 Kh7 20.Raf1 20.Nc4!± Bg6 21.Re5 21.Rxa5 Nxe4 22.Nxe4 Bxe4 20...Bg6 21.Nxg6 fxg6 22.Rxa5 22.R5f3= 22...Nxe4 22...c6! 23.Ra7 Rb8 23.Nxe4 Rxf1+ 24.Kxf1 Qxe4 25.Rc5 Na6 25...Nc6! 26.Rc4!± Qe7 27.c3 27.Rf4± 27...Qe6!= 28.a5 Qf5+ 29.Kg1 Qb1+ 29...Rf8? 30.Rf4+- 30.Kh2 Qxb2 31.Ba4 c6 32.Bxc6 bxc6 33.Rxc6 g5 34.Qd6 Qc2 35.Rxa6 Rxe3 36.Ra7? 36.Qd4= Qf2 37.Qg4 36...Qf5? 36...Qf2-+ 37.Qd4 Qg3+ 38.Kh1 Re1+ 39.Qg1 Rxg1+ 40.Kxg1 Qe3+ 41.Kh2 Qxa7 42.Kg3 Qxa5 43.Kf3 Qd5+ 44.Kf2 Qd2+ 45.Kf3 Qd3+ 46.Kf2 Kg6 47.Kg1 Kf5 48.Kf2 Qxc3 49.Kg1 g4 50.hxg4+ Kxg4 51.Kh2 Qd2 52.Kh1 Kg3 53.Kg1 Qxg2# 37.Qd4± Qe5+ 38.Qxe5 Rxe5 39.a6 39.Ra8± Re3 40.Rc8 39...Rc5+- 40.Rb7? 40.Ra8+- Rxc3 41.a7 40...Rxc3= 41.a7 Ra3 42.Kg1 Kg6 43.Kf2 h5 44.Ke2 h4? 44...Kh6= 45.Kd2 Kf5? 45...Kf6 46.Kc2 Ke5 46.Rxg7+- Ke4 47.Kc2 Kf4 48.Kb2 Ra6 49.Kb3 Ke3 50.Rf7! Kd4 51.Kb4 Ra1 52.Kb5 Kd5 53.Kb6 Kd6 54.Kb7 Rb1+ 55.Kc8 Ra1 56.Kb8 Kd5 1–0 - Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
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Svidler,P | 2714 | Le,Q | 2709 | 1–0 | 2021 | | GCT St Louis Rapid 2021 | 5.1 |
Nakamura,H | 2736 | Xiong,J | 2710 | ½–½ | 2021 | | GCT St Louis Rapid 2021 | 5.2 |
Mamedyarov,S | 2782 | Shankland,S | 2709 | 0–1 | 2021 | | GCT St Louis Rapid 2021 | 5.3 |
So,W | 2772 | Rapport,R | 2763 | ½–½ | 2021 | | GCT St Louis Rapid 2021 | 5.4 |
Caruana,F | 2806 | Dominguez Perez,L | 2758 | 1–0 | 2021 | | GCT St Louis Rapid 2021 | 5.5 |
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The playing hall | Photo: Austin Fuller
Wins for Shankland and Peter Svidler were also seen in round 5, while Hikaru Nakamura showed excellent defensive skills to save a half point against Jeffery Xiong. Naka went on to draw Shankland in the final round of the day to go into the third day of action in sole second place as the only player who remains undefeated so far in the tournament.
Meanwhile, Caruana beat So after the latter, in untypical fashion, blundered a piece in one move. The other decisive result of the day saw Shakhriyar Mamedyarov beating Dominguez with the black pieces.
The second DVD deals with the middlegame positions where static factors play a determining part, permanently taking into account the inseparable dynamic and tactical elements.
Dominguez vs. Mamedyarov - Round 6
Dominguez resigned here, with a fully inoperative rook stuck on a2.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 h6 5.c3 Nf6 6.b4 Be7 7.0-0 0-0 8.Re1 d6 9.a4N 9.Nbd2 Nh7 10.a4 Ng5 11.b5 Nb8 12.d4 Bg4 13.h3 Bh5 14.Be2 Nxf3+ 15.Bxf3 Bxf3 16.Nxf3 9...Nb8 10.Bb3 c6 11.Nbd2 a5 12.b5 Nbd7 13.d4 cxb5 14.axb5 exd4 15.cxd4 Nb6! 16.Ba3 a4 17.Bc2 Be6 18.h3 d5 19.e5 Nh5 20.g3 20.Qe2 20...Bxa3= 21.Rxa3 Qe7 22.Ree3 Rfc8 23.Nh4 23.h4= 23...g6! 23...Bxh3 24.Nf5 24.Nf5? gxf5 0–1 - Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
So,W | 2772 | Caruana,F | 2806 | 0–1 | 2021 | | GCT St Louis Rapid 2021 | 6.1 |
Dominguez Perez,L | 2758 | Mamedyarov,S | 2782 | 0–1 | 2021 | | GCT St Louis Rapid 2021 | 6.2 |
Rapport,R | 2763 | Le,Q | 2709 | ½–½ | 2021 | | GCT St Louis Rapid 2021 | 6.3 |
Shankland,S | 2709 | Nakamura,H | 2736 | ½–½ | 2021 | | GCT St Louis Rapid 2021 | 6.4 |
Xiong,J | 2710 | Svidler,P | 2714 | ½–½ | 2021 | | GCT St Louis Rapid 2021 | 6.5 |
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Shakhriyar Mamedyarov | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Standings after round 6 (Win = 2 points; Draw = 1 point)
Rk. | | Name | Rtg. | Nt. | Pts. | n | | | | | | | | | | | TB | Perf. |
---|
1 | | | 2806 | | 9.0 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 23.50 | 2922 |
2 | | | 2736 | | 7.0 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 18.50 | 2788 |
3 | | | 2709 | | 6.0 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 21.50 | 2770 |
4 | | | 2763 | | 6.0 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 17.50 | 2733 |
5 | | | 2782 | | 6.0 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 16.50 | 2723 |
6 | | | 2772 | | 6.0 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 16.50 | 2743 |
7 | | | 2758 | | 6.0 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 16.00 | 2757 |
8 | | | 2709 | | 5.0 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 15.50 | 2705 |
9 | | | 2714 | | 5.0 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 14.50 | 2694 |
10 | | | 2710 | | 4.0 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 12.00 | 2636 |
TBs: Sonneborn-Berger |
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