Tata Steel Rd.2: Nepom wins; McShane leads

by ChessBase
1/16/2011 – It was a quiet day overall, with not much to drum up strong emotions or free-flowing adrenaline. In the main "A" tournament, spectators were left wondering whether the omission of the anti-draw Sofia rules might not have been a mistake after all, with Nepomniachtchi the only winner. In the "B" event, GM Luke McShane took the early lead with 2.0/2. Report with analysis by GM Karsten Mueller.

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This event is taking place from January 14th to 30th, 2011 in the traditional De Moriaan Center in Wijk aan Zee. There are three Grandmaster Groups, with 14 players each and each competitor playing against every other. The rate of play is 100 minutes for 40 moves, then 50 minutes for 20 moves and finally 15 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30 seconds/move increment starting with the first move of the game. Games begin at 13:30h local time (CET), except for the last round on January 30th, which begins at 12:00h. There are three rest days, on January 19th, 24th, and 27th.

Results of round two

Group A: Round 2 - Sun. Jan. 16th
Viswanathan Anand - Vladimir Kramnik
½-½
Wang Hao - Ian Nepomniachtchi
0-1
Alexander Grischuk - Max. Vachier-Lagrave
½-½
Levon Aronian - Hikaru Nakamura
½-½
Alexei Shirov - Magnus Carlsen
½-½
Anish Giri - Jan Smeets
½-½
Ruslan Ponomariov - Erwin l'Ami
½-½
Group B: Round 2 - Sun. Jan. 16th
Laurant Fressinet - Zahar Efimenko
½-½
Surya Ganguly - Jon Ludvig Hammer
1-0
Wesley So - Gabriel Sargissian
½-½
David Navara - Le Quang Liem
½-½
Wouter Spoelman - Radek Wojtaszek
½-½
Li Chao - Luke McShane
0-1
Vlad Tkachiev - Friso Nijboer
½-½
Group C: Round 2 - Sun. Jan. 16th
Benjamin Bok - Daniele Vocaturo
½-½
Murtas Kazhgaleyev - Robin van Kampen
1-0
Jan Willem de Jong - Ilya Nyzhnyk
½-½
Mark Bluvshtein - Dariusz Swiercz
1-0
Tania Sachdev - Katherina Lahno
0-1
Roeland Pruijssers - Ivan Ivanisevic
½-½
Mark van der Werf - Sebastian Siebrecht
0-1

It was a quiet day overall, with not much to drum up strong emotions or free-flowing adrenaline. In the main "A" tournament, spectators were left wondering whether the omission of the anti-draw Sofia rules might not have been a mistake after all. Although a few draws, while short, were pretty much sucked dry of the life in them, such as Anand-Kramnik, or Grischuk-Vachier Lagrave, one barely left the starting gate (Aronian-Nakamura), and a couple were agreed despite having plenty of play in them, such as Ponomariov-l'Ami, and above all Giri-Smeets.


Unfortunately, these expressions of sheer excitement also translated into their game

The latter was the biggest disappointment for the audience who had few (used as a synonym of 'zilch') options for action-packed games, and this was one intense battle that left even Playchess commentator, GM Daniel King, breathless. After managing to reach the time control alive, with ample playing options for both sides, the hands were stuck out and a quick escape was made to the analysis area. A pity.


Giri and Smeets had the most exciting game of the round in the "A" tournament

Giri,A (2686) - Smeets,J (2662) [D44]
73rd Tata Steel GMA Wijk aan Zee NED (2), 16.01.2011

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.e4 b5 7.e5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Nxg5 hxg5 10.Bxg5 Nbd7 11.exf6 Bb7 12.g3 c5 13.d5 Qb6 14.Bg2 0-0-0 15.0-0 b4 16.Na4 Qb5 17.a3 exd5 18.axb4 cxb4 19.Bf4 Bh6








This had been played only days before elsewhere, though it is probably an independent find by Smeet's second, GM Jan Gustafsson. 20.Bd6. 20.Qd2 Bxf4 21.Qxf4 Nc5 22.Nxc5 Qxc5 23.Rfe1 Rd7 24.Re5 Bc6 25.h4 a5 26.Bh3 a4 27.Rae1 a3 28.bxa3 b3 29.Re8+ Rxe8 30.Rxe8+ Kb7 31.Qb8+ Ka6 32.Bxd7 Bxd7 33.Re1 Bc6 34.h5 d4 35.Re5 Qxa3 36.Qc8+ Kb6 37.Qd8+ Ka6 38.Qc8+ Kb6 39.Qd8+ 1/2-1/2 Zakhartsov,V (2602)-Michalczak,T (2370)/Guben 2011/Mega2011 Update 03 20...Bf8 21.Be7 Bxe7 22.fxe7 Rde8 23.Qd4 Rh6








24.b3?! This looks suspicious frankly, as it makes the pawn advance that much easier. Perhaps the young Dutchman hoped to undermine and work past the queenside pawns. Give some, take some. 24...Rxe7 25.Rfc1 Ne5 26.Nc5 c3








Which is stronger? The knight or the bishop? The bishop on b7 is slightly hampered by the d5 pawn, but it also not only helps keep the position together, protecting d5, as it maintains threats along the long a8-h1 diagonal. It is a tough judgement call. 27.Rxa7. 27.Nxb7 Qxb7 is anything but clear. For example 28.Ra4 (28.Bxd5 Qb6 and after the exchange the protected passed pawn is going to hurt.) 28...Rb6 29.h4!? (29.Bxd5 would just draw. 29...Qd7 30.Rxb4 Rxb4 31.Qxb4 Qxd5 32.Qxe7 Nf3+ 33.Kf1 Nd2+ 34.Kg1 Nf3+ etc.) 27...Nc6 28.Qg4+








28...Rhe6. Forced since both king moves lose outright. 28...Kd8? 29.Nxb7+ Rxb7 30.Rxb7 Qxb7 31.Qg5+; 28...Kb8? 29.Rxb7+ Rxb7 30.Qg8+ Ka7 31.Ra1+ Kb6 32.Nxb7 Kxb7 33.Qxf7+ Kb8 34.Qf4+ 29.Nxe6 fxe6 30.Ra4 Qc5 31.Qg8+ Kd7 32.Bf1 d4 33.Bc4 Na5. By now both players had less than ten minutes left to make the time control, though of course they also still have their 30-second increment kicking in every move. 34.Qb8. Has Giri blundered? Does Qc6 win? 34...Qc6 35.f3! This actually holds, even though it looks more like one of those computer moves, forestalling an inevitable mate by any means. 35...Nxc4. Taking with 35...Qxf3 Doesn't win believe it or not. By taking on f3, Black allows 36.Bb5+ Bc6 37.Bxc6+ Nxc6 38.Ra7+ Nxa7 39.Qxa7+ Kc6 (39...Ke8 40.Qb8+ Kd7 (40...Kf7 41.Rf1) 41.Qa7+) 40.Qxe7 Qe3+ 41.Kg2 Qxc1 42.Qxe6+ with a perpetual. 36.Rxb4 Nb6 37.Rxd4+ Nd5 38.Qe5 Qc7








Draw??!!? Come on you guys. It may be balanced, but this should be played out, unless *both* actually thought they were worse, which is very hard to believe. 1/2-1/2. [Click to replay]

Nepomniachtchi milked his advantageous endgame with Hao to the end, and there were no miracle saves this time for the resourceful Chinese GM, for the only decisive game of the top key. The renowned endgame expert, GM Karsten Mueller, pointed out that Hao missed a chance to save the endgame and was kind enough to share his analysis.


After a slip in the endgame, allowing the Russian a chance to win a pawn, Nepomniachtchi
never let go and reeled the point in.

Wang,Hao (2731) - Nepomniachtchi,Ian (2733) [E60]
73rd Tata Steel GMA Wijk aan Zee NED (2), 16.01.2011 [Mueller,Karsten]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 d6 4.Nc3 e5 5.dxe5 dxe5 6.Qxd8+ Kxd8 7.Bg5 Be7 8.0-0-0+ Nbd7 9.Nh3 h6 10.Be3 c6 11.Nf2 Kc7 12.Nd3 b6 13.g3 Ba6 14.b3 Rae8 15.Bh3 Bc8 16.Kc2 Bf8 17.f4 exf4 18.Bxf4+ Kb7 19.b4 g5 20.Bc1 Ne5 21.Bxc8+ Kxc8 22.Nxe5 Rxe5 23.Rhf1 Re6 24.Kb3 Be7 25.b5 Rd8 26.bxc6 Rxd1 27.Rxd1 Rxc6 28.Nb5 Re6 29.e3 a6 30.Nd4 Re5 31.Rf1 Kd7 32.Nf5 Ke6 33.Ng7+ Kd7 34.Nf5 Ke6 35.Ng7+ Kd7 36.Kc2 Ne4 37.Nf5 Ra5 38.Bb2 Rxa2 39.Rd1+ Ke8 40.Kb3 Ra5 41.Nxh6 Nc5+ 42.Kc2 Ra4 43.Nf5 Rxc4+ 44.Kb1 g4 45.Rd5 Ne6 46.Be5 Rc6 47.e4 f6 48.Bb2 Nc7 49.Rd3 Rc4 50.Rd4 Rxd4 51.Bxd4 b5 52.Nh6 Ne6 53.Be3 Nc5 54.Bxc5 Bxc5 55.Nxg4 Kf7 56.h4 Kg6 57.Kc2 a5 58.h5+ Kg5 59.h6 Bf8 60.h7 Bg7 61.Ne3 Kg6 62.Nd5 Kxh7 63.Nc7 b4 64.Kb3 Bf8 65.Nd5 Kg6 66.Ka4 Bd6 67.Kxa5 b3 68.Nc3 Be5 69.Kb4 b2 70.Nb1 Kg5 71.Kc4 Kg4 72.Kd3 Kxg3 73.Ke3 Bf4+ 74.Ke2 Bc1 75.Nc3 Kf4 76.Kd3 Kf3 77.Kc2 Bf4








Fortress or Zugzwang? When a knight fights against a bishop for a draw it often wants to construct a fortress: 78.Nb1? Then White's forces will be dominated. Astonishingly Black cannot win after 78.Kd3! For example: 78...Be5 (78...Kf2?! runs into the fork 79.Nd1+=) 79.Nb1 Kf2 (79...Bd6 80.Kc2 Kxe4 81.Nd2+ Kd4 82.Kxb2 Kd3 83.Kc1 Bf4 84.Kd1 Bxd2 stalemate is another point.) 80.Kd2 Kf1 (80...Bf4+ 81.Kc2 Bc1 82.Nc3 Ke3 83.Nd5+ Kxe4 84.Nxf6+=) 81.Kd1 Bf4 82.Kc2 Bc1 83.Na3 Ke2 84.Nc4 Kf3 85.e5=; 78.Kxb2? runs into 78...Be5 79.Kc2 Bxc3 80.Kxc3 Kxe4-+ and Black's king has occupied a key square. 78...Kxe4 79.Kxb2. 79.Nc3+ Kf3 80.Nd5 Be5-+








79...Kd3! dominates the knight and gives a bodycheck. 80.Kb3 Be5 80...Be5 81.Na3 f5 82.Nc4 Bd4 83.Nd6 f4 84.Nf5 f3 85.Ng3 f2 86.Kb4 Be5 87.Nf1 Ke2-+ 0-1. [Click to replay]

The "B" event was also somewhat sparse in ones and zeros, but the couple that appeared were significant. After a fairly crazy game with Efimenko in the first round, against whom Carlsen's compatriot GM Jon Hammer had spent the greater part dead lost, it was precisely when he attained his miracle drawn endgame that he crumbled and capitulated. Still unrecovered from it, he was unable to show his best and lost again in round two against Ganguly.


GM Luke "catch me if you can" McShane

On the opposite side of the spectrum, English GM Luke McShane, who had shocked everyone with his "catch me if you can" opening sprint at the London Classic a few weeks ago, showed his result was not some wild fluke, and is the only one on 2.0/2.

Watching the games

It goes without saying that the options to watch the games live are wide and varied. You can watch them at no cost on Playchess, enjoying the software's new options to display multiple boards at the same time, and if you are a Premium member, live grandmaster commentary will be provided on Playchess for every round by GM Daniel King, author of the best-selling Power Play series, and GM Lubomir Ftacnik.


A sample of the first round commentary by GM Daniel King, commenting and analyzing the moves of the game
as well as suggestions by the spectators in the chat. The variations and arrows can be saved for later replay by
all who are watching.

If you miss the live games, you can always watch the commentary after the fact, or get an abridged tale via the Daily Roundup show also hosted on Playchess. Again, if you miss the show, it remains available on the server at your disposal.


Schedule of Grandmaster Group A

Group A: Round 1 - Sat. Jan. 15th
Ruslan Ponomariov - Viswanathan Anand
0-1
Erwin l'Ami - Anish Giri
½-½
Jan Smeets - Alexei Shirov
1-0
Magnus Carlsen - Levon Aronian
½-½
Hikaru Nakamura - Alexander Grischuk
1-0
Max. Vachier-Lagrave - Wang Hao
½-½
Ian Nepomniachtchi - Vladimir Kramnik
½-½
Group A: Round 2 - Sun. Jan. 16th
Viswanathan Anand - Vladimir Kramnik
½-½
Wang Hao - Ian Nepomniachtchi
0-1
Alexander Grischuk - Max. Vachier-Lagrave
½-½
Levon Aronian - Hikaru Nakamura
½-½
Alexei Shirov - Magnus Carlsen
½-½
Anish Giri - Jan Smeets
½-½
Ruslan Ponomariov - Erwin l'Ami
½-½
Group A: Round 3 - Mon. Jan. 17th
Erwin l'Ami - Viswanathan Anand  
Jan Smeets - Ruslan Ponomariov  
Magnus Carlsen - Anish Giri  
Hikaru Nakamura - Alexei Shirov  
Max. Vachier-Lagrave - Levon Aronian  
Ian Nepomniachtchi - Alexander Grischuk  
Vladimir Kramnik - Wang Hao  
Group A: Round 4 - Tues. Jan. 18th
Viswanathan Anand - Wang Hao  
Alexander Grischuk - Vladimir Kramnik  
Levon Aronian - Ian Nepomniachtchi  
Alexei Shirov - Max. Vachier-Lagrave  
Anish Giri - Hikaru Nakamura  
Ruslan Ponomariov - Magnus Carlsen  
Erwin l'Ami - Jan Smeets  
Wednesday, January 19th – Free day
Group A: Round 5 - Thurs. Jan. 20th
Jan Smeets - Viswanathan Anand  
Magnus Carlsen - Erwin l'Ami  
Hikaru Nakamura - Ruslan Ponomariov  
Max. Vachier-Lagrave - Anish Giri  
Ian Nepomniachtchi - Alexei Shirov  
Vladimir Kramnik - Levon Aronian  
Wang Hao - Alexander Grischuk  
Group A: Round 6 - Fri. Jan. 21st
Viswanathan Anand - Alexander Grischuk  
Levon Aronian - Wang Hao  
Alexei Shirov - Vladimir Kramnik  
Anish Giri - Ian Nepomniachtchi  
Ruslan Ponomariov - Max. Vachier-Lagrave  
Erwin l'Ami - Hikaru Nakamura  
Jan Smeets - Magnus Carlsen  
Group A: Round 7 - Sat. Jan. 22nd
Magnus Carlsen - Viswanathan Anand  
Hikaru Nakamura - Jan Smeets  
Max. Vachier-Lagrave - Erwin l'Ami  
Ian Nepomniachtchi - Ruslan Ponomariov  
Vladimir Kramnik - Anish Giri  
Wang Hao - Alexei Shirov  
Alexander Grischuk - Levon Aronian  
Group A: Round 8 - Sun. Jan. 23rd
Viswanathan Anand - Levon Aronian  
Alexei Shirov - Alexander Grischuk  
Anish Giri - Wang Hao  
Ruslan Ponomariov - Vladimir Kramnik  
Erwin l'Ami - Ian Nepomniachtchi  
Jan Smeets - Max. Vachier-Lagrave  
Magnus Carlsen - Hikaru Nakamura  
Monday, January 24th – Free day
Group A: Round 9 - Tues. Jan. 25th
Hikaru Nakamura - Viswanathan Anand  
Max. Vachier-Lagrave - Magnus Carlsen  
Ian Nepomniachtchi - Jan Smeets  
Vladimir Kramnik - Erwin l'Ami  
Wang Hao - Ruslan Ponomariov  
Alexander Grischuk - Anish Giri  
Levon Aronian - Alexei Shirov  
Group A: Round 10 - Wed. Jan. 26th
Viswanathan Anand - Alexei Shirov  
Anish Giri - Levon Aronian  
Ruslan Ponomariov - Alexander Grischuk  
Erwin l'Ami - Wang Hao  
Jan Smeets - Vladimir Kramnik  
Magnus Carlsen - Ian Nepomniachtchi  
Hikaru Nakamura - Max. Vachier-Lagrave  
Thursday, January 27th – Free day
Group A: Round 11 - Fri. Jan. 28th
Max. Vachier-Lagrave - Viswanathan Anand  
Ian Nepomniachtchi - Hikaru Nakamura  
Vladimir Kramnik - Magnus Carlsen  
Wang Hao - Jan Smeets  
Alexander Grischuk - Erwin l'Ami  
Levon Aronian - Ruslan Ponomariov  
Alexei Shirov - Anish Giri  
Group A: Round 12 - Sat. Jan. 29th
Viswanathan Anand - Anish Giri  
Ruslan Ponomariov - Alexei Shirov  
Erwin l'Ami - Levon Aronian  
Jan Smeets - Alexander Grischuk  
Magnus Carlsen - Wang Hao  
Hikaru Nakamura - Vladimir Kramnik  
Max. Vachier-Lagrave - Ian Nepomniachtchi  
Group A: Round 13 - Sun. Jan. 30st
Ian Nepomniachtchi - Viswanathan Anand  
Vladimir Kramnik - Max. Vachier-Lagrave  
Wang Hao - Hikaru Nakamura  
Alexander Grischuk - Magnus Carlsen  
Levon Aronian - Jan Smeets  
Alexei Shirov - Erwin l'Ami  
Anish Giri - Ruslan Ponomariov  

Schedule of Grandmaster Group B

Group B: Round 1 - Sat. Jan. 15th
Vlad Tkachiev - Laurant Fressinet
½-½
Friso Nijboer - Li Chao
½-½
Luke McShane - Wouter Spoelman
1-0
Radek Wojtaszek - David Navara
0-1
Le Quang Liem - Wesley So
½-½
Gabriel Sargissian - Surya Ganguly
1-0
Jon Ludvig Hammer - Zahar Efimenko
0-1
Group B: Round 2 - Sun. Jan. 16th
Laurant Fressinet - Zahar Efimenko
½-½
Surya Ganguly - Jon Ludvig Hammer
1-0
Wesley So - Gabriel Sargissian
½-½
David Navara - Le Quang Liem
½-½
Wouter Spoelman - Radek Wojtaszek
½-½
Li Chao - Luke McShane
0-1
Vlad Tkachiev - Friso Nijboer
½-½
Group B: Round 3 - Mon. Jan. 17th
Friso Nijboer - Laurant Fressinet  
Luke McShane - Vlad Tkachiev  
Radek Wojtaszek - Li Chao  
Le Quang Liem - Wouter Spoelman  
Gabriel Sargissian - David Navara  
Jon Ludvig Hammer - Wesley So  
Zahar Efimenko - Surya Ganguly  
Group B: Round 4 - Tues. Jan. 18th
Laurant Fressinet - Surya Ganguly  
Wesley So - Zahar Efimenko  
David Navara - Jon Ludvig Hammer  
Wouter Spoelman - Gabriel Sargissian  
Li Chao - Le Quang Liem  
Vlad Tkachiev - Radek Wojtaszek  
Friso Nijboer - Luke McShane  
Wednesday, January 19th – Free day
Group B: Round 5 - Thurs. Jan. 20th
Luke McShane - Laurant Fressinet  
Radek Wojtaszek - Friso Nijboer  
Le Quang Liem - Vlad Tkachiev  
Gabriel Sargissian - Li Chao  
Jon Ludvig Hammer - Wouter Spoelman  
Zahar Efimenko - David Navara  
Surya Ganguly - Wesley So  
Group B: Round 6 - Fri. Jan. 21st
Laurant Fressinet - Wesley So  
David Navara - Surya Ganguly  
Wouter Spoelman - Zahar Efimenko  
Li Chao - Jon Ludvig Hammer  
Vlad Tkachiev - Gabriel Sargissian  
Friso Nijboer - Le Quang Liem  
Luke McShane - Radek Wojtaszek  
Group B: Round 7 - Sat. Jan. 22nd
Radek Wojtaszek - Laurant Fressinet  
Le Quang Liem - Luke McShane  
Gabriel Sargissian - Friso Nijboer  
Jon Ludvig Hammer - Vlad Tkachiev  
Zahar Efimenko - Li Chao  
Surya Ganguly - Wouter Spoelman  
Wesley So - David Navara  
Group B: Round 8 - Sun. Jan. 23rd
Laurant Fressinet - David Navara  
Wouter Spoelman - Wesley So  
Li Chao - Surya Ganguly  
Vlad Tkachiev - Zahar Efimenko  
Friso Nijboer - Jon Ludvig Hammer  
Luke McShane - Gabriel Sargissian  
Radek Wojtaszek - Le Quang Liem  
Monday, January 24th – Free day
Group B: Round 9 - Tues. Jan. 25th
Le Quang Liem - Laurant Fressinet  
Gabriel Sargissian - Radek Wojtaszek  
Jon Ludvig Hammer - Luke McShane  
Zahar Efimenko - Friso Nijboer  
Surya Ganguly - Vlad Tkachiev  
Wesley So - Li Chao  
David Navara - Wouter Spoelman  
Group B: Round 10 - Wed. Jan. 26th
Laurant Fressinet - Wouter Spoelman  
Li Chao - David Navara  
Vlad Tkachiev - Wesley So  
Friso Nijboer - Surya Ganguly  
Luke McShane - Zahar Efimenko  
Radek Wojtaszek - Jon Ludvig Hammer  
Le Quang Liem - Gabriel Sargissian  
Thursday, January 27th – Free day
Group B: Round 11 - Fri. Jan. 28th
Gabriel Sargissian - Laurant Fressinet  
Jon Ludvig Hammer - Le Quang Liem  
Zahar Efimenko - Radek Wojtaszek  
Surya Ganguly - Luke McShane  
Wesley So - Friso Nijboer  
David Navara - Vlad Tkachiev  
Wouter Spoelman - Li Chao  
Group B: Round 12 - Sat. Jan. 29th
Laurant Fressinet - Li Chao  
Vlad Tkachiev - Wouter Spoelman  
Friso Nijboer - David Navara  
Luke McShane - Wesley So  
Radek Wojtaszek - Surya Ganguly  
Le Quang Liem - Zahar Efimenko  
Gabriel Sargissian - Jon Ludvig Hammer  
Group B: Round 13 - Sun. Jan. 30th
Jon Ludvig Hammer - Laurant Fressinet  
Zahar Efimenko - Gabriel Sargissian  
Surya Ganguly - Le Quang Liem  
Wesley So - Radek Wojtaszek  
David Navara - Luke McShane  
Wouter Spoelman - Friso Nijboer  
Li Chao - Vlad Tkachiev  

Schedule of Grandmaster Group C

Group C: Round 1 - Sat. Jan. 15th
Mark van der Werf - Benjamin Bok
½-½
Sebastian Siebrecht - Roeland Pruijssers
½-½
Ivan Ivanisevic - Tania Sachdev
0-1
Katherina Lahno - Mark Bluvshtein
½-½
Dariusz Swiercz - Jan Willem de Jong
1-0
Ilya Nyzhnyk - Murtas Kazhgaleyev
1-0
Robin van Kampen - Daniele Vocaturo
0-1
Group C: Round 2 - Sun. Jan. 16th
Benjamin Bok - Daniele Vocaturo
½-½
Murtas Kazhgaleyev - Robin van Kampen
1-0
Jan Willem de Jong - Ilya Nyzhnyk
½-½
Mark Bluvshtein - Dariusz Swiercz
1-0
Tania Sachdev - Katherina Lahno
0-1
Roeland Pruijssers - Ivan Ivanisevic
½-½
Mark van der Werf - Sebastian Siebrecht
0-1
Group C: Round 3 - Mon. Jan. 17th
Sebastian Siebrecht - Benjamin Bok  
Ivan Ivanisevic - Mark van der Werf  
Katherina Lahno - Roeland Pruijssers  
Dariusz Swiercz - Tania Sachdev  
Ilya Nyzhnyk - Mark Bluvshtein  
Robin van Kampen - Jan Willem de Jong  
Daniele Vocaturo - Murtas Kazhgaleyev  
Group C: Round 4 - Tues. Jan. 18th
Benjamin Bok - Murtas Kazhgaleyev  
Jan Willem de Jong - Daniele Vocaturo  
Mark Bluvshtein - Robin van Kampen  
Tania Sachdev - Ilya Nyzhnyk  
Roeland Pruijssers - Dariusz Swiercz  
Mark van der Werf - Katherina Lahno  
Sebastian Siebrecht - Ivan Ivanisevic  
Wednesday, January 19th – Free day
Group C: Round 5 - Thurs. Jan. 20th
Ivan Ivanisevic - Benjamin Bok  
Katherina Lahno - Sebastian Siebrecht  
Dariusz Swiercz - Mark van der Werf  
Ilya Nyzhnyk - Roeland Pruijssers  
Robin van Kampen - Tania Sachdev  
Daniele Vocaturo - Mark Bluvshtein  
Murtas Kazhgaleyev - Jan Willem de Jong  
Group C: Round 6 - Fri. Jan. 21sr
Benjamin Bok - Mark Bluvshtein  
Tania Sachdev - Jan Willem de Jong  
Roeland Pruijssers - Murtas Kazhgaleyev  
Mark van der Werf - Daniele Vocaturo  
Sebastian Siebrecht - Robin van Kampen  
Ivan Ivanisevic - Ilya Nyzhnyk  
Katherina Lahno - Dariusz Swiercz  
Group C: Round 7 - Sat. Jan. 22nd
Katherina Lahno - Benjamin Bok  
Dariusz Swiercz - Ivan Ivanisevic  
Ilya Nyzhnyk - Sebastian Siebrecht  
Robin van Kampen - Mark van der Werf  
Daniele Vocaturo - Roeland Pruijssers  
Murtas Kazhgaleyev - Tania Sachdev  
Jan Willem de Jong - Mark Bluvshtein  
Group C: Round 8 - Sun. Jan. 23rd
Benjamin Bok - Tania Sachdev  
Roeland Pruijssers - Mark Bluvshtein  
Mark van der Werf - Jan Willem de Jong  
Sebastian Siebrecht - Murtas Kazhgaleyev  
Ivan Ivanisevic - Daniele Vocaturo  
Katherina Lahno - Robin van Kampen  
Dariusz Swiercz - Ilya Nyzhnyk  
Monday, January 24th – Free day
Group C: Round 9 - Tues. Jan. 25th
Dariusz Swiercz - Benjamin Bok  
Ilya Nyzhnyk - Katherina Lahno  
Robin van Kampen - Ivan Ivanisevic  
Daniele Vocaturo - Sebastian Siebrecht  
Murtas Kazhgaleyev - Mark van der Werf  
Jan Willem de Jong - Roeland Pruijssers  
Mark Bluvshtein - Tania Sachdev  
Group C: Round 10 - Wed. Jan. 26th
Benjamin Bok - Tania Sachdev  
Roeland Pruijssers - Mark Bluvshtein  
Mark van der Werf - Jan Willem de Jong  
Sebastian Siebrecht - Murtas Kazhgaleyev  
Ivan Ivanisevic - Daniele Vocaturo  
Katherina Lahno - Robin van Kampen  
Dariusz Swiercz - Ilya Nyzhnyk  
Thursday, January 27th – Free day
Group C: Round 11 - Fri. Jan. 28th
Ilya Nyzhnyk - Benjamin Bok  
Robin van Kampen - Dariusz Swiercz  
Daniele Vocaturo - Katherina Lahno  
Murtas Kazhgaleyev - Ivan Ivanisevic  
Jan Willem de Jong - Sebastian Siebrecht  
Mark Bluvshtein - Mark van der Werf  
Tania Sachdev - Roeland Pruijssers  
Group C: Round 12 - Sat. Jan. 29th
Benjamin Bok - Roeland Pruijssers  
Mark van der Werf - Tania Sachdev  
Sebastian Siebrecht - Mark Bluvshtein  
Ivan Ivanisevic - Jan Willem de Jong  
Katherina Lahno - Murtas Kazhgaleyev  
Dariusz Swiercz - Daniele Vocaturo  
Ilya Nyzhnyk - Robin van Kampen  
Group C: Round 13 - Sun. Jan. 30th
Robin van Kampen - Benjamin Bok  
Daniele Vocaturo - Ilya Nyzhnyk  
Murtas Kazhgaleyev - Dariusz Swiercz  
Jan Willem de Jong - Katherina Lahno  
Mark Bluvshtein - Ivan Ivanisevic  
Tania Sachdev - Sebastian Siebrecht  
Roeland Pruijssers - Mark van der Werf  

Links

The 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 the free PGN reader ChessBase Light, which gives you immediate access. You can also use the program to read, replay and analyse PGN games. New and enhanced: CB Light 2009!


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