
The tournament is taking place in the Ugorian Chess Academy in the very heart
of Khanty-Mansiysk, which has hosted three previous World Cups: 2005,
2007,
and 2009.
The 128 participants hail from 46 different countries, and are playing for a
total prize fund of US $1.6 million. In addition the first three finisher get
tickets to the Candidates tournament in the next World Championship cycle.
A different view: the underdog…
By GM Efstratios Grivas

The internationally known trainer Efstratios Grivas
The FIDE World Cup which started in the Russian city of Khanty-Mansiysk last
Saturday, is an important event as it is not only gathering many of the (near
to) top players but it is also a preliminary tournament for challenging the
title of the World Champion. 128 players from around 50 countries are trying
their best on this knock-out system but of course the main interest of the public
is focused on the very cream of the top and rarely on the lowest rated players…
And this is a pity, as for these lower rated players and their countries their
participation is an important moment for themselves, the federations and the
countries. But this is life: the winner takes it all, the loser
standing small, beside the victory (Abba).
That's their destiny!

Grivas and the Turkish team in 2010 at a training camp in Bodrum
In the last European Individual Championship which held in Aix-les-Bains last
March, I was helping (training – coaching) the Turkish participants in
their try for qualification to the FIDE WC. I have been cooperating with the
Turkish Chess Federation since middle 2006, from the position of the Head Trainer
of the Men’s National Team, so in a way I grew-up with a lot of ‘kids’
that today they have become GMs or about to (Baris Esen, Emre Can, Mustafa Yilmaz,
Kivanc Haznedaroglu, Mert Erdogdu and others).

One of the top Turkish players, GM Baris Esen, rated 2543
The mission was successful as one of them (Baris Esen) qualified… And
if this does not look like something special for a lot of countries, for Turkey
it was a nice touch, as this was the first time that a native Turkish player
did it! The Turkish Chess Federation (and especially the ever active President
Ali Nihat Yazici) was happy enough for that and tried of course to help its
player to have a decent performance in the WC. Three GM trainers (Efstratios
Grivas, Mikhail Gurevich and Evgeny Miroschnichenko) were involved in his preparation
and accompanied him in Khanty Mansiysk.
Our squad was even the first to arrive on 23rd August for better acclimatisation
and some more preparation. The opponent of the Turkish player, GM Alexander
Moiseenko from Ukraine with a rating of 2715 was of course a very hard nut to
crack and our GM player with an ‘only’ 2543 rating was the clearly
underdog…
In the first game the Turkish player chose an ‘easy’ line which
brought him no problems, but he also didn’t pose any to his opponent as
well. After a technical and rather correct game, a draw was agreed.

Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.cxd5 exd5 7.Qc2 7.e3 7.Rc1 7...c5 7...c6 8.dxc5 h6 8...Nxc5 9.a3 Bxc3+ 10.Qxc3 Nce4 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.Qe5+ Qe7 13.Qxe7+ Kxe7 14.Nd4 Bd7 15.e3 Rhc8 16.f3 h5 17.Kd2 Ne8 18.Bd3 Nd6 19.b3 8...Qa5 9.Bd2 Qxc5 10.e3 Qe7 11.a3 Bc5 12.Be2 0-0 13.0-0 a6 14.Rac1 9.Bd2 9.Bxf6 Qxf6 10.0-0-0 Bxc3 11.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 12.bxc3 Nf6 13.e3 0-0 14.Bd3 Bg4 15.Rd2 Rac8 16.Ne5 Rxc5 17.Nxg4 Nxg4 18.Kb2 g6 19.Bc2 Rfc8 20.Bb3 Nf6 21.Rd3 R8c6 22.Rhd1 Rb5 23.h3 h5 24.Rd4 Kg7 25.h4 Ra5 9...Bxc5 10.e3 0-0 11.Bd3 11.Rc1 Qe7 12.Be2 a6 13.Qd3 Nb6 14.0-0 Bg4 15.Nd4 Bd7 16.Bf3 Rfe8 17.b3 Ba3 18.Rc2 Rac8 19.Nce2 Rxc2 20.Qxc2 Be6 21.Bc1 Rc8 22.Bxa3 Qxa3 23.Qd2 11...a6 12.0-0 b5 13.Rac1 Bb7 14.Ne2 14.Qb1 Qe7 14...Bd6 15.Ne2 Ne4 16.Bc3 Nxc3 17.Rxc3 Ne5 18.Nxe5 Bxe5 19.Nd4 Qb6 20.Rd1 Rac8 21.Rxc8 Rxc8 22.Bf5 Rc7 23.g3 g6 24.Bh3 Kg7 25.Bg2 Qc5 26.Nf3 15.Ne2 Ne4 16.Bc3 Nxc3 17.Rxc3 Bb6 18.Ned4 Nc5 19.b4 Ne4 20.Rc2 Rfc8 21.Rfc1 g6 22.Qb3 Qe8 23.h4 Rxc2 24.Rxc2 Nf6 25.Qb2 Bd8∞ 14.Rfd1 Re8 15.Be1 Qb6 16.Bf5 Rad8 17.Nd4 Bd6 18.Qe2 Ne5 19.h3 Bb8∞ 14...Rc8 15.Qb1 Ne4 16.Bc3 Nxc3 16...Bd6 17.Bd4 Ndc5 18.Ng3 18.Rfd1 Qe7 19.Bc2 b4 20.Bxc5 Bxc5 21.Bxe4 dxe4 22.Nfd4 a5 18...Qd7 19.Rfd1 Qe6∞ 17.Rxc3 Nf6 18.Rfc1 Ne4! 19.R3c2 19.Bxe4?! dxe4 20.Nfd4 20.Rxc5? Rxc5 21.Rxc5 exf3 20...Qd5 19...b4 20.Nfd4 Qd6 21.Nb3 Bb6 22.Rxc8 Rxc8 23.Rxc8+ Bxc8 24.Qc2 Bb7 25.Nbd4 g6 26.Ng3 Nc5 26...Nxg3 27.hxg3 Bxd4 28.exd4 27.Bf1 h5 28.Nge2 Ne4 29.Nf3 Qf6 30.h4 30.Qa4 Bc5 31.Qe8+ Kg7 32.Ned4 Qe7 33.Qxe7 Bxe7= 30...Bc6!? 31.Ned4 Bd7 32.Bd3 Nc5 33.Be2 a5 33...Ne4 34.Bd3 Nc5 34.Ng5 Bg4 35.g3 Qe5 36.Kg2 36.Bxg4 hxg4 37.Qe2 Ne4! 37...f6? 38.Qb5+- 38.Nxe4 38.Qxg4 Bxd4 39.exd4 Qxd4 40.Nxe4 dxe4 41.Qe2= 38...Qxe4 39.Qb5 Bxd4 40.exd4 Qxd4 41.Qxa5 36.Bf1!? 36...Kg7 37.Qd1 37.Bxg4?! hxg4 38.Nb3 38.Qe2? f6 39.Qb5 Qd6-+ 38...Nxb3 39.axb3 Bd8 37...Bd7 37...f6 38.Nh3 Bxh3+ 39.Kxh3 Ne6 40.Nxe6+ Qxe6+ 41.Kg2 d4 42.exd4 Qe4+ 43.Bf3 Qxd4 44.Qxd4 Bxd4 45.b3 38.b3 38.Bb5 Bg4 38...Bxb5 39.Nxb5 Ne4 40.Nxe4 dxe4 41.Nd6! Bc5 41...Qxb2? 42.Qd5!+- 42.Nc4 Qe6 43.b3 a4 39.Be2 Bd7= 38...Ne4 38...f6 39.Ngf3 Qe8 39.Ndf3 Qf5 40.Bd3! Bc6 41.Qc2 Bb7 42.Bxe4 dxe4 43.Nd2 Qe5! 43...Bd5 44.Ngxe4 Qe5 45.Kf1 f6 46.Qd3 Qe6 47.Ke2 44.Nc4 44.Ngxe4? f5-+ 44...Qc3! 44...Qc7? 45.Qd1! Bc5 46.Nxa5!± 45.Qd1 45.Qxc3+? bxc3 46.Na3 f6 47.Ne6+ Kf7 48.Nf4 Bc5 49.Nc2 Ba6 50.Ne1 Bd6 51.Nd5 Be5-+ 45...Qd3! 46.Qa1+ 46.Qxd3 exd3+ 47.Kf1 Ba6! 48.Nd2 48.Ke1? Bxc4 49.bxc4 a4-+ 48...f6 49.Nh3 Kh6 46...Qc3 47.Qd1 Qd3 48.Qa1+ Qc3 ½–½
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Esen,B | 2543 | Moiseenko,A | 2715 | ½–½ | 2011 | D38 | FIDE WC | 1.1 |
Please, wait...
In the second game White did not go for the most critical lines and choose
instead a ‘quiet’ variation. The Turkish player didn’t ‘understand’
his position in depth, he didn’t play well and he went down rather in
no time.

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.e3 Qa5 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Qd2 Bb4 9.Rc1 0-0 9...c5 10.a3 Bxc3 11.bxc3 h6 12.Bh4 b6 13.c4 Qxd2+ 14.Nxd2 N5f6 15.f3 9...h6 10.Bh4 b6 11.Bd3 c5 12.0-0 0-0 13.a3 Bxc3 14.bxc3 Ba6 15.Bxa6 Qxa6 16.e4 Nc7 17.d5 exd5 18.exd5= 10.Bd3 h6 11.Bh4 e5 12.0-0 12.a3 Bxc3 13.bxc3 exd4 14.cxd4 Qxa3 15.0-0 Re8 16.e4 Nf4 17.Bb1 Ng6 18.Bg3 a5∞ 12...Re8 13.Qc2 exd4 14.Nxd5 14.exd4 Nf8 15.Nxd5 Qxd5 16.Bc4∞ 14...Qxd5 15.Nxd4! 15.Rfd1 Ne5 16.Bh7+ Kh8 17.Nxe5 Qxe5 18.Rxd4 Be7 19.Rcd1 Be6 20.Bxe7 Rxe7 21.Bd3 c5 22.Re4 Qh5 23.Be2 Qg6 24.Qxc5 Bh3 25.Bf3 Rxe4 26.Bxe4 Qxe4 27.gxh3 Qg6+= 15.exd4 Nb6 16.b3 16.Bg3?! Qxa2 17.Ne5 Be6 16...Qh5 17.Bg3 Be6 18.Ne5 Nd5= 15...Nb6?! 15...Qxa2? 16.Nb3! 15...Nf8!? 16.Bc4 Qh5 17.Bg3 Ne6 18.Nxe6 Bxe6 19.Bxe6 Rxe6 20.Rfd1 15...Bf8 16.Rfd1 Nc5 17.Bh7+ Kh8 18.Bg3 16.Rfd1? 16.Nb3 Qh5 17.Bg3 Be7 18.Rfd1 16.a3 Be7 17.Bxe7 Rxe7 18.Rfd1 16...Qh5? 16...Qxa2! 17.Bg3 17.Nb3 Be6 18.Nd4 Qa4 19.b3 Qa5∞ 17...Bg4 18.f3 Bd7 19.Ra1 Qd5 20.Nb5 Qc5 21.Bh7+ Kh8 22.Nd6 Qxc2 23.Bxc2 Bxd6 24.Bxd6 Nd5 25.Bc5 b6 26.e4 bxc5 27.exd5 cxd5 28.Rxd5 Be6 29.Rxc5 Re7= 17.Bg3 Bg4 18.f3 Bd7 19.Qf2 19.Bh7+ Kh8 20.Bf5 Bxf5 21.Nxf5 g6 22.Qb3 Qxf5 23.Qxb4± 19...Be7 20.Bb1?! 20.e4 20...g6?! 20...Bg5! 21.Re1 21.f4 Be7 22.e4 Rad8∞ 21...Rad8 22.Rc5 Nd5 23.e4 Be7 24.Rcc1 Nb6 25.a3 21.e4 c5?! 21...Rad8 22.e5 Bc8 23.a3 Bf8 24.Ba2 22.Ne2 Bf8 22...c4!? 23.e5 Bf8 24.Be4 24.Nf4 Qg5 25.h4 Qe7 26.h5 g5 27.e6 27.Nd5 Nxd5 28.Rxd5 Be6 29.Qc2 Bg7 30.Rd6 Rad8 31.Rcd1 Rxd6 32.exd6 27...Bxe6 28.Qc2 Qc5+ 29.Kh2 Bf5 30.Qxf5 Qxf5 31.Bxf5 gxf4 32.Bxf4± 24...Rxe5!? 25.Bxb7 25.Bxe5? Qxe5 26.Bxb7 Bc5 27.Nd4 Rd8 28.b4 cxb3 29.axb3 Bc8 30.Rxc5 Qxc5= 25...Rd8 26.Nf4 Qf5 27.Be4 Qf6 28.Nd5± 23.e5 Rxe5? 23...c4 24.Nf4 Qg5 25.h4 Qe7 24.Nf4! 24.Bxe5? Qxe5 24...Qg5 25.Nxg6! Ree8 25...fxg6 26.f4 Qg4 27.fxe5 26.Nxf8 Kxf8 27.Rxc5 Qe3 28.Qxe3 Rxe3 29.Bf4 Re6 30.Rh5 30.Rh5 Kg7 31.Bf5 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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Moiseenko,A | 2715 | Esen,B | 2543 | 1–0 | 2011 | D00 | FIDE WC | 1.2 |
Please, wait...
So, the next morning we had to make our way back home. We found ourselves in
an early flight to Moscow with a lot of other unhappy faces – players
who had been knocked out as well! The show will go on and life will continue.
The Turkish player went back home wiser and with more passion to further improve
his position in the chess world in the years to come… And what is for
sure, the Turkish Chess Federation will stand next to him…
Efstratios Grivas
Efstratios Grivas is a grandmaster and highly experienced chess trainer
and chess author. He lives in Athens, and he is also a FIDE Senior Trainer
(Secretary of the FIDE Trainers' Commission), an International FIDE
Chess Arbiter and an International FIDE Chess Organizer. He has represented
his country on a great many occasions, winning the fourth position in
the World Junior Championship 1985, an individual gold medal at the
1989 European Team Championship and an individual silver medal at the
1998 Olympiad.
In 2010 he was awarded the worldwide highly important FIDE TRG Awards
– the Boleslavsky Medal (best author) for 2009.
Visit the Efstratios
Grivas chess site |
|
Training DVDs by Efstratios Grivas

Chess Expertise Step by Step Vols. 1 and 2. Click for more informantion
See also
 |
Grivas Training: Building a Repertoire
18.04.2011 – "In contrast to the middlegame
and the endgame, where theory is objective and accepted by everyone, in
the opening each chess player makes his choices in accordance with his
emotions and his personal experience. No opening
loses, no opening wins."
World renown chess trainer GM Efstratios Grivas explains how you should
build your repertoire in Part
3 of his lecture series. |
 |
Grivas Training: Getting to Know Ourselves
13.02.2011 – Young chess players need to be
able to identify the assets and weaknesses of their chess personalities.
Many trainers and trainees have wondered how this can be done properly.
The basic resource are one's recent games, which are used to produce an
"X-ray image" of one's chess-self. GM Efstratios Grivas, a world-class
trainer, tells us how to go about it, in Part
2 of his lecture series. |
 |
ChessBase Training with GM Efstratios Grivas (Part 1)
28.01.2011 – How do you help talented young
chess players to realize their potential? Working with a world-class trainer
is a good way to start. ChessBase has started a program to sponsor a series
of training sessions, which started, logically, in our offices in Hamburg.
Five young talents got a full-day session with an internationally known
chess coach, who has graciously placed his entire lecture at
our disposal. |
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