World Rapid - Day 2: Fedoseev and Ju Wenjun lead the pack

A promising start of the tournament saw two unheralded players sharing the lead after Day One. Both Fedoseev and Jobava are notorious risk takers, so a "strategic" draw wasn't an option. Things got wild early and until the very end could have gone either way.

The players arrive at the venue. In front are female talent 13-year-old Bibisara Assaubayeva, her mother, and Vladimir Fedoseev. | Photo: riyadh2017.fide.com

The key match was in round 6, the first of Day 2, pitting both leaders, Vladimir Fedoseev and Baadur Jobava, against each other. There could only be one, and the Russian emerged victorious in a topsy-turvy game.

Vladimir Fedoseev 1-0 Baadur Jobava

Vladimir Fedoseev and Baadur Jobava | Photo: riyadh2017.fide.com

Baadur took this loss hard. For the rest of Day Two he was unrecognizable, only scoring 1 / 5. For Fedoseev it was more wind in his sails, and his next win was far more convincing.

Vladimir Fedoseev 1-0 Yuri Kuzubov

The Nimzoindian Defence — The easy way

Danish GM Jacob Aagaard introduces you to the secrets of the Nimzoindian Defence (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4). In 15 lessons that last 4 hours and 4 minutes Aagaard shows you how you can successfully play this opening by understanding key ideas instead of memorizing long tedious variations.

Vladimir Fedoseev shares his impressions of his overall play from the first two days

This is how Fedoseev got to 6½ / 7. Of course it couldn't go on forever. Vladimir followed with three draws, and he still stands alone in the lead with 8 / 10.

The marathon distance of 15 rounds leaves some room to recover after a mediocre start. Levon Aronian put a ray of hope in the hearts of his supporters by winning a smooth game to open the second day of his campaign.

Levon Aronian 1-0 Mikheil Mchedlishvili

The Accelerated Dragon by Nigel Davies

The Accelerated Dragon is much more than just a dynamic yet solid means of countering 1.e4. By knowing how to counter the Maroczy Bind Black can counter both the English and Reti Openings and even develop the basis of a defence against 1.d4.

Whilst having been used extensively by superstars such as Bent Larsen and Tigran Petrosian, Davies argues that the Accelerated Dragon is an even more effective proposition for club players. As he explains on this DVD, many White players are under the mistaken impression that the positions are like a regular Sicilian Dragon. And if this is the case they can find himself being demolished right out of the opening.

The resting area is a luxurious space with magnificent rugs, where the VIPs and players alike, came to enjoy it. | Photo: riyadh2017.fide.com

Unfortunately Levon couldn't quite build up on this success. There followed two draws where he had winning chances at some points, then a good win with Black over Peter Leko. A disaster struck in the last game when he couldn't defend a long endgame.

Vladislav Artemiev 1-0 Levon Aronian

Vladislav Artemiev deserves a lot of credit to righting his ship after a bad Day One. His 4½ points scored today put the young Russian  right back into contention, with the only draw coming as Black against Mamedyarov. Artemiev has developed into a fearsome Rapid and Blitz player. He won the Rapid section of the recent Nutcracker tournament with 6½ / 8, and his Blitz rating is second only to Carlsen's. Expect more great things from Artemiev in Riyadh!

Dvoretsky's Engame Manual

Russian International Master Mark Dvoretsky is perhaps the most respected chess instructor in the world today. His latest work, Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manual, is sure to become a classic on one of the most difficult and subtile phases in chess. It covers all the most important positions required for endgame mastery, from elementary king-and-pawn endings to complex rook or queen endgames that have baffled even top grandmasters.

Speaking of Carlsen, he's still in the hunt, although his tournament took a body blow in Round 9 at the hands of his old rival, Vishy Anand.

Viswanathan Anand | Photo: riyadh2017.fide.com

Vishy Anand's form has been magnificent, drawing awed comments by fellow GMs, as he has played with a seeming relaxed confident approach that is hidden under the pensive look. His performance after ten rounds is over 2900, bested only by leader Fedoseev himself.

Anand continues to impress by keeping his composure and not shunning away from complications, a welcome change from his less than mediocre showing at the London Classic.

Magnus Carlsen 0-1 Vishy Anand

Vishy Anand goes over his second day | Source: ChessCast

There are many more players to mention and games to show, but the parameters of this report cannot be stretched indefinitely. Everything is going to be decided in the last five rounds to be played Thursday.

My parting gift is the following spectacular attack from the 15-year-old Andrey Esipenko, played against his highly decorated compatriot. Frank Marshall would have been proud.

Sergey Karjakin 0-1 Andrey Esipenko

Open standings after ten rounds (top 20)

Complete standings

Also opening the first game on the Women's top board between Elina Danielian (left) and Ju Wenjun was Princess Ilama Al-Sudairi, who also has an active role in the Saudi Chess Federation. | Photo: riyadh2017.fide.com

Women standings after ten rounds (top 20)

Complete standings

Day Two Commentary

All games

Links

• Official site
• Twitter channel
• Facebook page
• Watch live
• Day 1: Fedoseev, Jobava, and Ju Wenjun
• FIDE's Riyadh Gambit