Super Final R5: Dreev joins Grischuk at the top

57th Russian Championship Super Final November 14th – December 1st 2004

The Super Final of the 57th Russian Championship is being held in the Festive Hall of the Hotel Rossija (“Rociya”), directly adjacent to the Red Square. The prize sum is US $125,000, to be paid out in rouble equivalent. The winner takes $50,000. The participants of this round robin tournament are Garry Kasparov, Alexander Morozevich, Alexander Grischuk, Peter Svidler, Evgeny Bareev, Alexey Dreev, Vitaly Tseshkovsky, Alexander Motylev, Vladimir Epishin, Artem Timofeev and Alexey Korotylev. Originally Vladimir Kramnik and Anatoly Karpov were included, but both withdrew at the last moment.

Round five – Saturday, November 20, 2004

Peter Svidler, who is probably still under shock from his white loss to Timofeev in round three, drew his game on the white side of a Sicilian Rossolimo in 22 moves against tournament leader Grischuk in this round. Morozevich pressed very hard with the black pieces in a Ruy Lopez against Artyom Timofeev, but had to concede a draw after 57 hard-fought moves. Bareev used the French Defence and completely outplayed Tseshkovsky, finishing the game in 29 moves, while Alexei Dreev took 39 to demolish Korotylev in a Slav and join Alexander Grischuk in the tournament lead. And finally Garry Kasparov tried hard for 42 moves in a Nimzo Indian Rubinstein to overcome Vladimir Epishin, but the man who has drawn every game so far did not allow his record to be spoilt.

Current standings

Draw watch

If we take a look at all the games played so far, 25, we see that 15 were drawn, which makes for a total of 60%. Four games were won by White (16%) and six by Black (24%).

In a press conference before the event both Kasparov and Karpov agreed that 30% decided games in a tournament like the current one was normal, both hoped that it might be more – perhaps 40%, which according to Karpov would be "magnificent".

If we look at the games we see that only one game was drawn in under 20 moves (Dreev vs Grischuk in round three lasted only ten moves). Seven draws lasted 20 to 27 moves, while the longest draws were Bareev-Motylev (R2, 84 moves), Kasparov-Motylev (R4, 76), and Epishin-Morozevich (R1, 70). So there is not much to complain about the fighting spirit in this event – at least so far.

All Results

• All games in zipped PGN
• All reports so far