Results of round four
Group A: Round 4 - Tues. Jan. 15th |
Loek van Wely - Veselin Topalov |
1-0 |
Boris Gelfand - Judit Polgar |
0-1 |
Peter Leko - Vassily Ivanchuk |
½-½ |
Magnus Carlsen - Levon Aronian |
½-½ |
Vishy Anand - Michael Adams |
½-½ |
Vladimir Kramnik - Pavel Eljanov |
1-0 |
Teimour Radjabov - Shak. Mamedyarov |
½-½ |
|
Group B: Round 4 - Tues. Jan. 15th |
Nigel Short - Koneru Humpy |
½-½ |
Gabriel Sargissian - Erwin L’Ami |
½-½ |
Ivan Cheparinov - Ian Nepomniachtchi |
1-0 |
Michal Krasenkow - Jan Smeets |
½-½ |
Etienne Bacrot - Sergei Movsesian |
½-½ |
P. Harikrishna - Wouter Spoelman |
1-0 |
Hou Yifan - Daniël Stellwagen |
½-½ |
|
Group C: Round 4 - Tues. Jan. 15th |
Irina Krush - Efstratios Grivas |
0-1 |
Fabiano Caruana - Dimitri Reinderman |
½-½ |
Pontus Carlsson - Dennis Ruijgrok |
1-0 |
Arik Braun - Mark van der Werf |
1-0 |
John van der Wiel - Peng Zhaoqin |
½-½ |
Li Shilong - Parimarjan Negi |
0-1 |
Anna Ushenina - Friso Nijboer |
0-1 |
|
|
Round four express
Report from Wijk aan Zee by Steve Giddins
Chess players are notoriously superstitious folk. Lucky pens, lucky shirts
– you name it, we have it. This otherwise harmless diversion can occasionally
have serious downsides. The player who insists on wearing the same "lucky
shirt" nine days in a row is one of the worst of these, and recently caused
one British arbiter to suggest that every chess tournament should have a notice
hanging over the entrance, reading "Abandon soap, all ye who enter here".
Lucky pens and similar objects cause much less trouble. Looking at the pictures
of yesterday's C group "killer", Hou Yifan, one cannot help noticing
that she always wears the same bright yellow hair clip. I wonder if this is
a lucky souvenir, or whether it conceals a more sinister purpose. Such is the
deadliness of her tactical vision that one chess scribe of my acquaintance has
wondered whether it is actually a secret antenna, possibly wired directly into
her brain. But all such thoughts must now be abandoned, as today Hou came to
the board without the item in question. It is the first time I have ever seen
her not wearing it. Naturally, I was tempted to go up and ask her why she had
come in disguise, but I was not sure how well my English humour would translate
into Mandarin, so the mystery remains.
Group A
In today's fourth round, there were wins for Judit Polgar (with black) over
Boris Gelfand; Vladimir Kramnik over Pavel Eljanov in a six-hour grind by the
former World Champion; and Loek van Wely, who spent 81 moves and close to seven
hours pushing Veselin Topalov over the edge. Anand was in trouble with white
against Michael Adams, but held the pawn-down position with equanimity. Radjabov
vs Mamedyarov was a slugfest that ended after 28 moves in a clean draw. Carlsen
vs Aronian was a perilous, to-and-fro affair which ended after 36 moves in a
formal peace accord.
Carlsen (Magnificent Magnus) and Aronian remain in the lead, ahead of a group
of four players with a win and three draws apiece to their names. Behind them
are three players with all games drawn, then two with "minus one"
(one loss, three draws) and three with minus two. Shocking that Anand is in
the second last group and Topalov in the minus two section. Stand by for big
comebacks.
Group A standings
Full analysis of the key games will follow tomorrow...
Group B
The Semi-Slav Moscow Gambit is fast becoming the dominant opening of the tournament.
Today it featured in the B Group clash between Cheparinov and Nepomniashy, a
brave choice by the latter, against Topalov's second. The result was a devastating
defeat for the Russian, whose opening play left Nigel Short almost speechless.
Cheparinov,I (2713) - Nepomniachtchi,I (2600) [D43]
Corus B Wijk aan Zee NED (4), 15.01.2008
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 e6 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3
b5 9.Ne5 Bb4 10.Be2 Nxe4 11.0–0 Bxc3 12.bxc3 Nxc3 13.Qc2 Nxe2+ 14.Qxe2
14...h5 15.f4 f5 16.fxg5 Qxg5 17.Rae1 h4 18.Nf3 Qg4 19.Qe5 0–0
20.Nxh4 Rf7 21.Qd6 Nd7 22.Rxe6 Nf8 23.Re8 c3 24.Ng6 Be6 25.Ne7+ Rxe7 26.Rxa8
Qg5 27.Qd8 Qg7 28.Be5 Qf7 29.Bd6 1–0.
Harakrishna beat the luckless young Dutch talent, Wouter Spoelman, and with
the other games in the group being drawn, it is Bacrot, Smeets and Harakrishna
who share the lead, heading into the rest day.
Group B standings
Group C
The C Group is already turning into a shootout between Braun and Caruana. The
former needed barely 90 minutes' total playing time to demolish his fourth successive
opponent.
Braun,A (2536) - Van der Werf,M (2389) [D31]
Corus C Wijk aan Zee NED (4), 15.01.2008
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.e4 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Qxd4 7.Bxb4 Qxe4+
8.Be2 Na6 9.Bd6 Qxg2 10.Qd2 Nf6 11.Bf3 Qg6 12.0-0-0 e5 13.Bxe5 0-0 14.Ne2 Qf5
15.Qe3 Nb4
16.Nd4 Nxa2+ 17.Kd2 Rd8 18.Ke2 Qxe5 19.Qxe5 Re8 20.Qxe8+ Nxe8 21.Nxc6
bxc6 22.Rd8 1-0.
Meanwhile, Caruana dropped his first half point of the tournament, when was
held to a draw by Reinderman, so it is the German IM Braun who leads alone after
three rounds.
Group C standings
Schedule and results of Grandmaster Group A
Group A: Round 1 - Sat. Jan. 12th |
Vladimir Kramnik - Loek van Wely |
½-½ |
Teimour Radjabov - Vishy Anand |
1-0 |
Shak. Mamedyarov - Magnus Carlsen |
0-1 |
Pavel Eljanov - Peter Leko |
½-½ |
Michael Adams - Boris Gelfand |
½-½ |
Levon Aronian - Veselin Topalov |
1-0 |
Vassily Ivanchuk - Judit Polgar |
½-½ |
|
Group A: Round 2 - Sun. Jan. 13th |
Loek van Wely - Judit Polgar |
½-½ |
Veselin Topalov - Vassily Ivanchuk |
½-½ |
Boris Gelfand - Levon Aronian |
0-1 |
Peter Leko - Michael Adams |
½-½ |
Magnus Carlsen - Pavel Eljanov |
1-0 |
Vishy Anand - Shak. Mamedyarov |
½-½ |
Vladimir Kramnik - Teimour Radjabov |
½-½ |
|
Group A: Round 3 - Mon. Jan. 14th |
Teimour Radjabov - Loek van Wely |
½-½ |
Shak. Mamedyarov - Vladimir Kramnik |
½-½ |
Pavel Eljanov - Vishy Anand |
½-½ |
Michael Adams - Magnus Carlsen |
½-½ |
Levon Aronian - Peter Leko |
½-½ |
Vassily Ivanchuk - Boris Gelfand |
½-½ |
Judit Polgar - Veselin Topalov |
½-½ |
|
Group A: Round 4 - Tues. Jan. 15th |
Loek van Wely - Veselin Topalov |
1-0 |
Boris Gelfand - Judit Polgar |
0-1 |
Peter Leko - Vassily Ivanchuk |
½-½ |
Magnus Carlsen - Levon Aronian |
½-½ |
Vishy Anand - Michael Adams |
½-½ |
Vladimir Kramnik - Pavel Eljanov |
1-0 |
Teimour Radjabov - Shak. Mamedyarov |
½-½ |
|
Wednesday, January 16th –
Free day |
Group A: Round 5 - Thurs. Jan. 17th |
Shak. Mamedyarov - Loek van Wely |
|
Pavel Eljanov - Teimour Radjabov |
|
Michael Adams - Vladimir Kramnik |
|
Levon Aronian - Vishy Anand |
|
Vassily Ivanchuk - Magnus Carlsen |
|
Judit Polgar - Peter Leko |
|
Veselin Topalov - Boris Gelfand |
|
|
Group A: Round 6 - Fri. Jan. 18th |
Loek van Wely - Boris Gelfand |
|
Peter Leko - Veselin Topalov |
|
Magnus Carlsen - Judit Polgar |
|
Vishy Anand - Vassily Ivanchuk |
|
Vladimir Kramnik - Levon Aronian |
|
Teimour Radjabov - Michael Adams |
|
Shak. Mamedyarov - Pavel Eljanov |
|
|
Group A: Round 7 - Sat. Jan. 19st |
Pavel Eljanov - Loek van Wely |
|
Michael Adams - Shak. Mamedyarov |
|
Levon Aronian - Teimour Radjabov |
|
Vassily Ivanchuk - Vladimir Kramnik |
|
Judit Polgar - Vishy Anand |
|
Veselin Topalov - Magnus Carlsen |
|
Boris Gelfand - Peter Leko |
|
|
Group A: Round 8 - Sun. Jan. 20nd |
Loek van Wely - Peter Leko |
|
Magnus Carlsen - Boris Gelfand |
|
Vishy Anand - Veselin Topalov |
|
Vladimir Kramnik - Judit Polgar |
|
Teimour Radjabov - Vassily Ivanchuk |
|
Shak. Mamedyarov - Levon Aronian |
|
Pavel Eljanov - Michael Adams |
|
|
Monday, January 21st –
Free day |
Group A: Round 9 - Tues. Jan. 22th |
Michael Adams - Loek van Wely |
|
Levon Aronian - Pavel Eljanov |
|
Vassily Ivanchuk - Shak. Mamedyarov |
|
Judit Polgar - Teimour Radjabov |
|
Veselin Topalov - Vladimir Kramnik |
|
Boris Gelfand - Vishy Anand |
|
Peter Leko - Magnus Carlsen |
|
|
Group A: Round 10 - Wed. Jan. 23th |
Loek van Wely - Magnus Carlsen |
|
Vishy Anand - Peter Leko |
|
Vladimir Kramnik - Boris Gelfand |
|
Teimour Radjabov - Veselin Topalov |
|
Shak. Mamedyarov - Judit Polgar |
|
Pavel Eljanov - Vassily Ivanchuk |
|
Michael Adams - Levon Aronian |
|
|
Thursday, January 24th –
Free day |
Group A: Round 11 - Fri. Jan. 25th |
Levon Aronian - Loek van Wely |
|
Vassily Ivanchuk - Michael Adams |
|
Judit Polgar - Pavel Eljanov |
|
Veselin Topalov - Shak. Mamedyarov |
|
Boris Gelfand - Teimour Radjabov |
|
Peter Leko - Vladimir Kramnik |
|
Magnus Carlsen - Vishy Anand |
|
|
Group A: Round 12 - Sat. Jan. 26th |
Loek van Wely - Vishy Anand |
|
Vladimir Kramnik - Magnus Carlsen |
|
Teimour Radjabov - Peter Leko |
|
Shak. Mamedyarov - Boris Gelfand |
|
Pavel Eljanov - Veselin Topalov |
|
Michael Adams - Judit Polgar |
|
Levon Aronian - Vassily Ivanchuk |
|
|
Group A: Round 13 - Sun. Jan. 27th |
Vassily Ivanchuk - Loek van Wely |
|
Judit Polgar - Levon Aronian |
|
Veselin Topalov - Michael Adams |
|
Boris Gelfand - Pavel Eljanov |
|
Peter Leko - Shak. Mamedyarov |
|
Magnus Carlsen - Teimour Radjabov |
|
Vishy Anand - Vladimir Kramnik |
|
|
|
Schedule and results of Grandmaster Group B
Group B: Round 1 - Sat. Jan. 12th |
P. Harikrishna - Nigel Short |
½-½ |
Hou Yifan - Etienne Bacrot |
0-1 |
Daniël Stellwagen - Michal Krasenkow |
1-0 |
Wouter Spoelman - Ivan Cheparinov |
0-1 |
Sergei Movsesian - Gabriel Sargissian |
½-½ |
Jan Smeets - Koneru Humpy |
1-0 |
Ian Nepomniachtchi - Erwin L’Ami |
½-½ |
|
Group B: Round 2 - Sun. Jan. 13th |
Nigel Short - Erwin L’Ami |
1-0 |
Koneru Humpy - Ian Nepomniachtchi |
½-½ |
Gabriel Sargissian - Jan Smeets |
½-½ |
Ivan Cheparinov - Sergei Movsesian |
½-½ |
Michal Krasenkow - Wouter Spoelman |
1-0 |
Etienne Bacrot - Daniël Stellwagen |
½-½ |
P. Harikrishna - Hou Yifan |
1-0 |
|
Group B: Round 3 - Mon. Jan. 14th |
Hou Yifan - Nigel Short |
1-0 |
Daniël Stellwagen - P. Harikrishna |
½-½ |
Wouter Spoelman - Etienne Bacrot |
0-1 |
Sergei Movsesian - Michal Krasenkow |
1-0 |
Jan Smeets - Ivan Cheparinov |
1-0 |
Ian Nepomniachtchi - Gabriel Sargissian |
1-0 |
Erwin L’Ami - Koneru Humpy |
1-0 |
|
Group B: Round 4 - Tues. Jan. 15th |
Nigel Short - Koneru Humpy |
½-½ |
Gabriel Sargissian - Erwin L’Ami |
½-½ |
Ivan Cheparinov - Ian Nepomniachtchi |
1-0 |
Michal Krasenkow - Jan Smeets |
½-½ |
Etienne Bacrot - Sergei Movsesian |
½-½ |
P. Harikrishna - Wouter Spoelman |
1-0 |
Hou Yifan - Daniël Stellwagen |
½-½ |
|
Wednesday, January 16th –
Free day |
Group B: Round 5 - Thurs. Jan. 17th |
Daniël Stellwagen - Nigel Short |
|
Wouter Spoelman - Hou Yifan |
|
Sergei Movsesian - P. Harikrishna |
|
Jan Smeets - Etienne Bacrot |
|
Ian Nepomniachtchi - Michal Krasenkow |
|
Erwin L’Ami - Ivan Cheparinov |
|
Koneru Humpy - Gabriel Sargissian |
|
|
Group B: Round 6 - Fri. Jan. 18th |
Nigel Short - Gabriel Sargissian |
|
Ivan Cheparinov - Koneru Humpy |
|
Michal Krasenkow - Erwin L’Ami |
|
Etienne Bacrot - Ian Nepomniachtchi |
|
P. Harikrishna - Jan Smeets |
|
Hou Yifan - Sergei Movsesian |
|
Daniël Stellwagen - Wouter Spoelman |
|
|
Group B: Round 7 - Sat. Jan. 29st |
Wouter Spoelman - Nigel Short |
|
Sergei Movsesian - Daniël Stellwagen |
|
Jan Smeets - Hou Yifan |
|
Ian Nepomniachtchi - P. Harikrishna |
|
Erwin L’Ami - Etienne Bacrot |
|
Koneru Humpy - Michal Krasenkow |
|
Gabriel Sargissian - Ivan Cheparinov |
|
|
Group B: Round 8 - Sun. Jan. 20nd |
Nigel Short - Ivan Cheparinov |
|
Michal Krasenkow - Gabriel Sargissian |
|
Etienne Bacrot - Koneru Humpy |
|
P. Harikrishna - Erwin L’Ami |
|
Hou Yifan - Ian Nepomniachtchi |
|
Daniël Stellwagen - Jan Smeets |
|
Wouter Spoelman - Sergei Movsesian |
|
|
Monday, January 21st –
Free day |
Group B: Round 9 - Tues. Jan. 22th |
Sergei Movsesian - Nigel Short |
|
Jan Smeets - Wouter Spoelman |
|
Ian Nepomniachtchi - Daniël Stellwagen |
|
Erwin L’Ami - Hou Yifan |
|
Koneru Humpy - P. Harikrishna |
|
Gabriel Sargissian - Etienne Bacrot |
|
Ivan Cheparinov - Michal Krasenkow |
|
|
Group B: Round 10 - Wed. Jan. 23th |
Nigel Short - Michal Krasenkow |
|
Etienne Bacrot - Ivan Cheparinov |
|
P. Harikrishna - Gabriel Sargissian |
|
Hou Yifan - Koneru Humpy |
|
Daniël Stellwagen - Erwin L’Ami |
|
Wouter Spoelman - Ian Nepomniachtchi |
|
Sergei Movsesian - Jan Smeets |
|
|
Thursday, January 24th –
Free day |
Group B: Round 11 - Fri. Jan. 25th |
Jan Smeets - Nigel Short |
|
Ian Nepomniachtchi - Sergei Movsesian |
|
Erwin L’Ami - Wouter Spoelman |
|
Koneru Humpy - Daniël Stellwagen |
|
Gabriel Sargissian - Hou Yifan |
|
Ivan Cheparinov - P. Harikrishna |
|
Michal Krasenkow - Etienne Bacrot |
|
|
Group B: Round 12 - Sat. Jan. 26th |
Nigel Short - Etienne Bacrot |
|
P. Harikrishna - Michal Krasenkow |
|
Hou Yifan - Ivan Cheparinov |
|
Daniël Stellwagen - Gabriel Sargissian |
|
Wouter Spoelman - Koneru Humpy |
|
Sergei Movsesian - Erwin L’Ami |
|
Jan Smeets - Ian Nepomniachtchi |
|
|
Group B: Round 13 - Sun. Jan. 27th |
Ian Nepomniachtchi - Nigel Short |
|
Erwin L’Ami - Jan Smeets |
|
Koneru Humpy - Sergei Movsesian |
|
Gabriel Sargissian - Wouter Spoelman |
|
Ivan Cheparinov - Daniël Stellwagen |
|
Michal Krasenkow - Hou Yifan |
|
Etienne Bacrot - P. Harikrishna |
|
|
|
Schedule and results of Grandmaster Group C
Group C: Round 1 - Sat. Jan. 12th |
Li Shilong - Irina Krush |
1-0 |
Anna Ushenina - John van der Wiel |
0-1 |
Friso Nijboer - Arik Braun |
0-1 |
Parimarjan Negi - Pontus Carlsson |
0-1 |
Peng Zhaoqin - Fabiano Caruana |
0-1 |
Mark van der Werf - Efstratios Grivas |
1-0 |
Dennis Ruijgrok - Dimitri Reinderman |
0-1 |
|
Group C: Round 2 - Sun. Jan. 13th |
Irina Krush - Dimitri Reinderman |
½-½ |
Efstratios Grivas - Dennis Ruijgrok |
1-0 |
Fabiano Caruana - Mark van der Werf |
1-0 |
Pontus Carlsson - Peng Zhaoqin |
½-½ |
Arik Braun - Parimarjan Negi |
1-0 |
John van der Wiel - Friso Nijboer |
1-0 |
Li Shilong - Anna Ushenina |
1-0 |
|
Group C: Round 3 - Mon. Jan. 14th |
Anna Ushenina - Irina Krush |
½-½ |
Friso Nijboer - Li Shilong |
1-0 |
Parimarjan Negi - John van der Wiel |
1-0 |
Peng Zhaoqin - Arik Braun |
0-1 |
Mark van der Werf - Pontus Carlsson |
½-½ |
Dennis Ruijgrok - Fabiano Caruana |
0-1 |
Dimitri Reinderman - Efstratios Grivas |
½-½ |
|
Group C: Round 4 - Tues. Jan. 15th |
Irina Krush - Efstratios Grivas |
0-1 |
Fabiano Caruana - Dimitri Reinderman |
½-½ |
Pontus Carlsson - Dennis Ruijgrok |
1-0 |
Arik Braun - Mark van der Werf |
1-0 |
John van der Wiel - Peng Zhaoqin |
½-½ |
Li Shilong - Parimarjan Negi |
0-1 |
Anna Ushenina - Friso Nijboer |
0-1 |
|
Wednesday, January 16th –
Free day |
Group C: Round 5 - Thurs. Jan. 17th |
Friso Nijboer - Irina Krush |
|
Parimarjan Negi - Anna Ushenina |
|
Peng Zhaoqin - Li Shilong |
|
Mark van der Werf - John van der Wiel |
|
Dennis Ruijgrok - Arik Braun |
|
Dimitri Reinderman - Pontus Carlsson |
|
Efstratios Grivas - Fabiano Caruana |
|
|
Group C: Round 6 - Fri. Jan. 18th |
Irina Krush - Fabiano Caruana |
|
Pontus Carlsson - Efstratios Grivas |
|
Arik Braun - Dimitri Reinderman |
|
John van der Wiel - Dennis Ruijgrok |
|
Li Shilong - Mark van der Werf |
|
Anna Ushenina - Peng Zhaoqin |
|
Friso Nijboer - Parimarjan Negi |
|
|
Group C: Round 7 - Sat. Jan. 19st |
Parimarjan Negi - Irina Krush |
|
Peng Zhaoqin - Friso Nijboer |
|
Mark van der Werf - Anna Ushenina |
|
Dennis Ruijgrok - Li Shilong |
|
Dimitri Reinderman - John van der Wiel |
|
Efstratios Grivas - Arik Braun |
|
Fabiano Caruana - Pontus Carlsson |
|
|
Group C: Round 8 - Sun. Jan. 20nd |
Irina Krush - Pontus Carlsson |
|
Arik Braun - Fabiano Caruana |
|
John van der Wiel - Efstratios Grivas |
|
Li Shilong - Dimitri Reinderman |
|
Anna Ushenina - Dennis Ruijgrok |
|
Friso Nijboer - Mark van der Werf |
|
Parimarjan Negi - Peng Zhaoqin |
|
|
Monday, January 21st –
Free day |
Group C: Round 9 - Tues. Jan. 22th |
Peng Zhaoqin - Irina Krush |
|
Mark van der Werf - Parimarjan Negi |
|
Dennis Ruijgrok - Friso Nijboer |
|
Dimitri Reinderman - Anna Ushenina |
|
Efstratios Grivas - Li Shilong |
|
Fabiano Caruana - John van der Wiel |
|
Pontus Carlsson - Arik Braun |
|
|
Group C: Round 10 - Wed. Jan. 23th |
Irina Krush - Arik Braun |
|
John van der Wiel - Pontus Carlsson |
|
Li Shilong - Fabiano Caruana |
|
Anna Ushenina - Efstratios Grivas |
|
Friso Nijboer - Dimitri Reinderman |
|
Parimarjan Negi - Dennis Ruijgrok |
|
Peng Zhaoqin - Mark van der Werf |
|
|
Thursday, January 24th –
Free day |
Group C: Round 11 - Fri. Jan. 25th |
Mark van der Werf - Irina Krush |
|
Dennis Ruijgrok - Peng Zhaoqin |
|
Dimitri Reinderman - Parimarjan Negi |
|
Efstratios Grivas - Friso Nijboer |
|
Fabiano Caruana - Anna Ushenina |
|
Pontus Carlsson - Li Shilong |
|
Arik Braun - John van der Wiel |
|
|
Group C: Round 12 - Sat. Jan. 26th |
Irina Krush - John van der Wiel |
|
Li Shilong - Arik Braun |
|
Anna Ushenina - Pontus Carlsson |
|
Friso Nijboer - Fabiano Caruana |
|
Parimarjan Negi - Efstratios Grivas |
|
Peng Zhaoqin - Dimitri Reinderman |
|
Mark van der Werf - Dennis Ruijgrok |
|
|
Group C: Round 13 - Sun. Jan. 27th |
Dennis Ruijgrok - Irina Krush |
|
Dimitri Reinderman - Mark van der Werf |
|
Efstratios Grivas - Peng Zhaoqin |
|
Fabiano Caruana - Parimarjan Negi |
|
Pontus Carlsson - Friso Nijboer |
|
Arik Braun - Anna Ushenina |
|
John van der Wiel - Li Shilong |
|
|
|
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