World Cup R6.1: Both games drawn, Ukraine to move

by ChessBase
9/12/2011 – Both the Russian grandmasters left in the World Cup played their first game of the semifinals with White. Realizing that the stakes are very high (there are only three tickets to the World Championship, not to speak of the substantial money prize) everyone played very carefully. The result: two draws, in 20 and 22 moves. On Tuesday the Ukrainians have white and thus the advantage. Semi-final report.

ChessBase 17 - Mega package - Edition 2024 ChessBase 17 - Mega package - Edition 2024

It is the program of choice for anyone who loves the game and wants to know more about it. Start your personal success story with ChessBase and enjoy the game even more.

More...

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.

Watch the games live


You can select HD and maximise the player for greatest enjoyment

Round six game one

On move three ex-World Chess Champion Ruslan Ponomariov (above) offered to play the Berlin Defence, which secured him a victory in the quarterfinal match against Gashimov.

Russian Champion Peter Svidler evaded the queen exchange, but Ponomariov was well prepared. After two symmetrical centre pushes (14…d5 15.d4) the position simplified. Afterwards Ponomariov said: "After Svidler exchanged on f4 on move 20, he did not even have the bishop pair advantage, and the position was almost symmetrical and absolutely equal. There was no point in playing any further; which is why White offered a draw."

[Event "FIDE World Cup 2011"] [Site "Khanty-Mansiysk RUS"] [Date "2011.09.12"] [Round "6.1"] [White "Svidler, Peter"] [Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C65"] [WhiteElo "2739"] [BlackElo "2764"] [PlyCount "39"] [EventDate "2011.08.28"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nbd2 h6 8. h3 Bb6 9. Nc4 Ne7 10. Ba4 Ng6 11. Bc2 Be6 12. a4 c6 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. Be3 d5 15. d4 exd4 16. Nxd4 Bd7 17. exd5 Nxd5 18. Bd2 Qf6 19. Qf3 Ndf4 20. Bxf4 1/2-1/2

The game Alexander Grischuk (Russia) vs Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine, above) lasted a bit longer. Here White also played 1.e4 and Black chose the French Defense. Alexander Grischuk: "The position of our game today reminded me my game against Morozevich, which we played in one of the Russian Team Championships in Dagomys. Here, too, I had an advantage during that game, but again missed the best continution and offered a draw."

Grischuk likened the situation in the now almost empty playing hall with two flies in a gym. One says: "It's cold in here!" The other replies: "Don't worry, we will warm up the place with our breath."

[Event "FIDE World Cup 2011"] [Site "Khanty-Mansiysk RUS"] [Date "2011.09.12"] [Round "6.1"] [White "Grischuk, Alexander"] [Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C10"] [WhiteElo "2746"] [BlackElo "2768"] [PlyCount "43"] [EventDate "2011.08.28"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. c3 Be7 8. Qa4+ Bd7 9. Qb3 Qc8 10. Ne5 O-O 11. Be2 Rd8 12. Bf3 Rb8 13. O-O Be8 14. Bf4 Nd7 15. Nd3 Bd6 16. Bg5 f6 17. Be3 Bf7 18. Rad1 e5 19. Bd5 Bxd5 20. Qxd5+ Kh8 21. dxe5 Nxe5 22. Nxe5 1/2-1/2

The number of spectators at the World Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk is not gigantic – in fact it is close to the number the Arabs introduced into our mathematical system in the ninth century. BUT: as the tournament organisers say, "chess lovers prefer to watch the chess battles via Internet." Their excellent HD video broadcast in Russian and English of the semi-final games were watched by around 56,000 online spectators. The number of visitors and online spectators during the whole Cup is almost a million unique visitors from 183 countries.

Results of round six

Name
G1
G2
 R1
 R2
 r3
 r4
 B1
 B2
 SD
Tot
 Svidler, Peter (RUS)
½
               
0.5
 Ponomariov, Ruslan (UKR)  
½
               
0.5
 
 Grischuk, Alexander (RUS)
½
               
0.5
 Ivanchuk, Vassily (UKR)
½
               
0.5

Remaining schedule of the World Chess Cup 2011

Date Day Time   Rounds
Players
13.09.2011 Tuesday 15:00 Round 6, game 2
14.09.2011 Wednesday 15:00 Tiebreak
15.09.2011 Thursday   Free Day
16.09.2011 Friday 15:00 Round 7, game 1
2
17.09.2011 Saturday 15:00 Round 7, game 2
18.09.2011 Sunday 15:00 Round 7, game 3
19.09.2011 Monday 15:00 Round 7, game 4
20.09.2011 Tuesday 11:00 Tiebreaks, Closing
21.09.2011 Wednesday   Departure

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 a free Playchess client there and get immediate access. You can also use ChessBase 11 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs.

Copyright ChessBase


Reports about chess: tournaments, championships, portraits, interviews, World Championships, product launches and more.

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register