World Team Ch. Rd4 – Azerbaijan crushes Russia 3-1

by ChessBase
7/21/2011 – The only clear thing about the rankings after the fourth round is that Armenia leads...barely. After that it is a giant jumble with no fewer than four teams tied for second after non-stop strike and counterstrike by the teams as they battle for the gold. The biggest news was Azerbaijan's crushing win over Russia, but China nearly whitewashed the US after a 3.5-0.5 win. Round four report.

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The Chinese Chess Association with the patronage and support of the Ningbo Municipal Government and Ningbo Sports Bureau is staging the 2011 World Team Chess Championship in Ningbo, China. The event is being held from July 15 2011 (arrival) to July 26 2011 (Departure) at the playing venue in the five-star New Century Grand Hotel Ningbo.

Round four report

The only clear thing about the rankings after fourth round is that Armenia leads...barely. After that it is a giant jumble with no fewer than four teams tied for second. In a normal round-robin, such parity would usually be accompanied by a crosstable filled withy draws, but in this elite team event, it has been a constant strike and counterstrike with teams winning, then losing, rinse and repeat.


Karjakin drew against Radjabov, but could only have saved the team by beating him 2-0

The biggest news of the day was Russia's crushing loss to Azerbaijan. Though the Azerbaijan team was certainly strong enough to defeat the Russians, one could hardly expect to read about a 3-1 victory over a team fielding players such as Karjakin, Grischuk, Nepomniachtchi and Svidler. Yet that is what happened, with both Gashimov and Guseinov coming up with the goods against Grischuk and Svidler respectively.


Gashimov's win over Grischuk helped the Azerbaijani's beat the Russians 3-1

[Event "8th World Teams"] [Site "Ningbo CHN"] [Date "2011.07.20"] [Round "4"] [White "Gashimov, Vugar"] [Black "Grischuk, Alexander"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C65"] [WhiteElo "2760"] [BlackElo "2746"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "2011.07.17"] [WhiteTeam "Azerbaijan"] [BlackTeam "Russia"] [WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"] [BlackTeamCountry "RUS"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nbd2 a6 8. Ba4 Ba7 9. Bc2 Re8 10. h3 Ne7 11. Re1 Ng6 12. d4 b5 13. Nf1 Bb7 14. Ng3 d5 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Nxe4 17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Qxd8 Raxd8 19. Bf4 h6 20. h4 e3 21. Bxe3 Bxe3 22. Rxe3 Rd2 23. Rc1 f6 24. e6 Bd5 25. Bf5 $5 {The simplest move would have been Bb3, however this move tenders a subtle trap that Grischuk falls into.} Bxa2 $2 (25... g6 {was simpler and safer.} 26. Bxg6 Rxe6 27. Rxe6 Bxe6 { and the position is equal.}) 26. Ra1 Bd5 {Forced.} ({The point was that after} 26... Rxb2 {White can play} 27. h5 $1 {and Black is actually lost as he is helpless against the combination of back rank weakness, passed pawn with killer bishop. Ex:} Rd2 28. Rxa2 $1 Rxa2 29. e7) 27. Rxa6 g5 28. e7 Kf7 29. Bg4 $1 Rxe7 30. Bh5+ Kf8 31. Rxf6+ Kg7 32. Rg6+ Kf8 33. Rxe7 Kxe7 34. hxg5 hxg5 35. b4 Rc2 36. Rxg5 Kd6 37. Rg6+ Ke5 38. Rg3 {It is over.} Rc1+ 39. Kh2 Rc2 40. Re3+ Kf4 41. Be2 1-0


The American team, all wearing smart jackets, shake hands before their rout

If the Americans were on a high after their 3.5-0.5 win yesterday, they were on the receiving end this time after losing by the very same score to the Chinese.


17-year-old Yu Yangyi is on the fast track after jumping from 2607 in January to 2672
on the July rating list.

The Indians, who had been having trouble winning their matches, posted their first victory over Israel, with a first board win by Harikrishna over Sutovsky. As to Hungary, they won their second straight victory, this time at the expense of Ukraine. Their hero of the day was Peter Leko, who had a very tough 2010, and came up with excellent opening preparation to beat Ivanchuk in a Spanish Marshall.


Ivanchuk lost the homework battle to Leko, allowing Hungary to notch their second win


Pavel Eljanov secured the second board against Almasi


Ivanchuk pondering his move just before the position began to look suspicious

[Event "8th World Teams"] [Site "Ningbo CHN"] [Date "2011.07.20"] [Round "4"] [White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"] [Black "Leko, Peter"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C89"] [WhiteElo "2768"] [BlackElo "2717"] [PlyCount "82"] [EventDate "2011.07.17"] [WhiteTeam "Ukraine"] [BlackTeam "Hungary"] [WhiteTeamCountry "UKR"] [BlackTeamCountry "HUN"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3 15. Qe2 Bg4 (15... Bd7 16. Qf1 Qf5 17. Nd2 Rae8 18. f3 Nf6 19. a4 c5 20. Rxe8 Rxe8 21. Ne4 Rxe4 22. fxe4 Qxe4 23. Bf4 Bc6 24. d5 c4 25. Bxd6 Qxd5 26. Bd1 Qh1+ 27. Kf2 Qxh2+ 28. Ke1 Qxb2 29. Ra3 Ne4 30. Qf4 Qg2 31. Be2 Qg1+ 32. Bf1 g5 33. Qf3 Nd2 34. Qxc6 Qxf1+ 35. Kxd2 Qf2+ 36. Kc1 Qe1+ {1/2-1/2 (36) Dominguez Perez,L (2712)-Leko,P (2739)/Wijk aan Zee 2010/CBM 135}) 16. Qf1 Qh5 17. Nd2 f5 (17... Rae8 18. Rxe8 Rxe8 19. f3 Bf5 20. Ne4 Bc7 21. Bd2 Qg6 22. Re1 Bxe4 23. Rxe4 Rxe4 24. Bc2 f5 25. fxe4 fxe4 26. Qg2 Nf6 27. Qh3 Ng4 28. Bb3+ Kf8 29. Bd1 e3 30. Bc1 h5 {1/2-1/2 (43) Svidler,P (2735)-Leko,P (2751)/Mexico City 2007/CBM 120 (43)}) 18. c4 $6 {Although natural looking, this actually gets White into a bit of trouble. Tough going for Ivanchuk, falling into some strong home preparation by Leko, but that is what you get playing the Marshall. 18.f3 was better.} f4 $1 19. cxd5 c5 20. Re4 c4 {The bishop is blocked off and Black's initiative is unabated. White has yet to solve his development issues.} 21. Bc2 fxg3 22. hxg3 Bxg3 23. fxg3 Rxf1+ 24. Nxf1 Qh3 25. Re3 Rf8 26. Bd2 Bf3 27. Rxf3 Rxf3 28. Be4 Rxg3+ {A bit of a gamble. The position is theoretically equal, and a draw would be a fair result, however, this offers White chances to go astray.} 29. Nxg3 Qxg3+ 30. Bg2 $2 {And the gamble pays off.} (30. Kf1 {was best.}) 30... Qd3 31. Be1 (31. Bc3 $2 b4 32. Be1 (32. Bxb4 Qxd4+ 33. Kh2 Qe5+ 34. Kh3 Qxb2) 32... c3) 31... Qxd4+ 32. Bf2 Qxb2 33. Rf1 Qd2 34. Bc5 g6 35. Rf8+ Kg7 36. Rf2 Qd1+ 37. Rf1 Qd2 38. Kh2 ({Why not repeat with} 38. Rf2 {and let Leko show how he balances his winning chances against White's threats.}) 38... c3 39. Rf2 Qe1 40. Bd4+ Kh6 41. Bh3 c2 (41... c2 42. Rxc2 Qe4 {and a piece will fall.} 43. Rd2 Qf4+) 0-1

Results of round four

Bd
10
  Russia
Rtg
1 : 3
7
  Azerbaijan
Rtg
1.1
GM
Karjakin Sergey
2788
½ - ½
GM
Radjabov Teimur
2744
1.2
GM
Grischuk Alexander
2746
0 - 1
GM
Gashimov Vugar
2760
1.3
GM
Nepomniachtchi Ian
2711
½ - ½
GM
Mamedyarov Shakhriyar
2765
1.4
GM
Svidler Peter
2739
0 - 1
GM
Guseinov Gadir
2625
Bd
8
  Ukraine
Rtg
1½:2½
6
  Hungary
Rtg
2.1
GM
Ivanchuk Vassily
2768
0 - 1
GM
Leko Peter
2717
2.2
GM
Eljanov Pavel
2697
½ - ½
GM
Almasi Zoltan
2726
2.3
GM
Efimenko Zahar
2706
½ - ½
GM
Polgar Judit
2699
2.4
GM
Moiseenko Alexander
2715
½ - ½
GM
Balogh Csaba
2643
Bd
9
  Israel
Rtg
1½:2½
5
  India
Rtg
3.1
GM
Sutovsky Emil
2700
0 - 1
GM
Harikrishna Pentala
2669
3.2
GM
Roiz Michael
2669
½ - ½
GM
Sasikiran Krishnan
2681
3.3
GM
Smirin Ilya
2676
½ - ½
GM
Ganguly Surya Shekhar
2627
3.4
GM
Nabaty Tamir
2584
½ - ½
GM
Gopal G.N.
2576
Bd
1
  USA
Rtg
½ :3½
4
  China
Rtg
4.1
GM
Kamsky Gata
2741
½ - ½
GM
Wang Hao
2718
4.2
GM
Onischuk Alexander
2675
0 - 1
GM
Wang Yue
2709
4.3
GM
Shulman Yuri
2617
0 - 1
GM
Li Chao B
2669
4.4
GM
Seirawan Yasser
2635
0 - 1
GM
Yu Yangyi
2672
Bd
2
  Armenia
Rtg
3½: ½
3
  Egypt
Rtg
5.1
GM
Movsesian Sergei
2700
1 - 0
GM
Adly Ahmed
2631
5.2
GM
Akopian Vladimir
2667
1 - 0
GM
Amin Bassem
2609
5.3
GM
Sargissian Gabriel
2663
½ - ½
IM
Shoker Samy
2475
5.4
GM
Hovhannisyan Robert
2556
1 - 0
IM
Ezat Mohamed
2430

Rank table

Rk. Team Gms   +    =    -   Pts   BPts   TB3 
1 Armenia 4 2 2 0 6 11.0 0
2 Azerbaijan 4 2 1 1 5 9.5 1
3 China 4 2 1 1 5 9.5 1
4 Russia 4 2 1 1 5 9.0 0
5 Hungary 4 2 1 1 5 8.0 0
6 Ukraine 4 2 0 2 4 8.0 0
7 Israel 4 2 0 2 4 7.5 0
8 India 4 1 1 2 3 7.0 0
9 USA 4 1 1 2 3 7.0 0
10 Egypt 4 0 0 4 0 3.5 0

Schedule

Friday 15 July   Arrival
Saturday 16 July 18:00h Opening Ceremony
Sunday 17 July 15:00h Round 1
Monday 18 July 15:00h Round 2
Tuesday 19 July 15:00h Round 3
Wednesday 20 July 15:00h Round 4
Thursday 21 July 15:00h Round 5
Friday 22 July   Rest Day
Saturday 23 July 15:00h Round 6
Sunday 24 July 15:00h Round 7
Monday 25 July 15:00h Round 8
Tuesday 26 July 10:00h Round 9, closing ceremony
Wednesday 27 July   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.

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