World Cup R6.2: Peter Svidler through to final

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 two

The second game Ruslan Ponomariov vs Peter Svidler (above) was a Grünfeld in wich the Ukrainian GM selected a rather rare line on move seven. According to Svidler he was not quite ready for the opening dispute that ensued. Perhaps Ponomariov could have obtained a comfortable position with a small but lasting advantage, if he played 13.Rc1. Instead he went for 13.Rb1, and after Black castled long (a rare scenario in this opening), the game became very sharp. Black's pawn phalanx on the queenside looked very promising, and Svidler declined a draw offer by Ponomariov without hesitation. White did not defend in the most tenacious way and resigned soon after the 40th move.

Ruslan Ponomariov suffering in his final game at the Grand Prix

"I can celebrate this success properly," said Svidler in the press conference. "Two free days ahead, and my friends would not understand it if I spent this time alone."

Ukrainian GM Vassily Ivanchuk (above) and Alexander Grischuk (Russia) played a very sharp but extremely well-studied Vienna Variation. In a dynamically balanced position Grischuk tried to seize the initiative, spent a lot of time thinking, and missed some dangerous counterplay by White. Black had to give up a queen for a rook and a bishop. The compensation was probably not quite sufficient, but Ivanchuk, also being in time trouble, allowed Black to stabilize his position. Grischuk exchanged all the queenside pawns and built a fortress on the kingside, making a draw inevitable.

Grischuk preparing to set up a fortress (after Ivanchuk's move 34.c4)

Grischuk, in the press conference after the game: "I liked my position at first, but then I made some inexplicable moves, complete nonsense, and had to give up a queen in a very difficult position. I blundered, but the critical moment of the game occurred when Vassily took an exchange on c8."

Ivanchuk: "I had some advantage, but wasn't sure if I had anything real if the opponent defends accurately. I also was quite short on time, so I tried to play according to the position."

On Wednesday, September 14, Ivanchuk and Grischuk will play tie-break games and work out who will be the second finalist. The loser will meet Ruslan Ponomariov in a match for the third place, which is played under the same rules as the main final – four classical games plus tie-breaks.

Results of round six

• Source: official results page

Remaining schedule of the World Chess Cup 2011

Links Official tournament site All games in PGN 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