Round 5 summary by GM Stellan Brynell

Stellan Brynell
GM Stellan Brynell Photo: Lars OA Hedlund

Keymer-Svidler

The players found some interesting maneuvers in the English Opening. The game was balanced, but after the risky 24.Rfb1, Svidler could have secured an advantage with 24…e4, with the idea of bringing the bishop to f6. When he did not find this move, the game soon moved into a drawn endgame.

Van Foreest-Erigaisi

Van Foreest played the Four Knights Spanish, and managed to apply some pressure in the middlegame. He converted this into an endgame with an extra pawn, where both players had two rooks. With exact play, Erigaisi should have been able to defend, but a serious error, 47…Kg8, gave Van Foreest the chance to simplify into a won pawn endgame.

Final position in Van Foreest – Erigaisi. Last move in the game was 51.Kxg4

Gukesh-Mishra

In the Najdorf Sicilian, Gukesh soon put some pressure on Mishra, but the AmericanContinue reading“Round 5 summary by GM Stellan Brynell”

Pairings round 6

Pairings round 6, Tuesday, May 9

GM Arjun Erigaisi – GM Mishra Abhimanyu
GM Boris Gelfand – GM Gukesh D
GM Peter Svidler – GM Nils Grandelius
GM Jorden Van Foreest – GM Vincent Keymer

Round 4 summary by GM Stellan Brynell

Stellan Brynell
GM Stellan Brynell Photo: Lars OA Hedlund

A somewhat calmer day, with three draws.

Gelfand-Keymer

Keymer chose the Karpov variation in the Nimzo (9…b6). With 12…exd5, he avoided the sharp 12…Bxc3 13.dxe6 Bxf3 14.gxf3 fxe6, where it seems that black equalises with exact play. Instead, Gelfand got a slight initiative, but Keymer defended well, and the game faded into a drawn endgame.

Svidler-Van Foreest
As white in the Ruy Lopez, Svidler sacrificed a pawn, and after 18.Qc3, it seemed like black was in trouble.

Svidler – Van Foreest. Position after 18.Qc3
After thinking for almost 40 minutes, van Foreest found the best defence in 18…b4 19.Qf3 Rb8. White got his pawn back, but black managed to castle, and after that, the game was headed for a draw.

Mishra-Grandelius

Grandelius once again chose the Slav Defenece, and seemed to be ok, but after the risky 17…e5 (instead of 17…Bd6), Mishra had the initiative. MaybeContinue reading“Round 4 summary by GM Stellan Brynell”

Pairings round 5

Pairings round 5, Monday May 8

GM Jorden Van Foreest – GM Arjun Erigaisi
GM Vincent Keymer – GM Peter Svidler
GM Nils Grandelius – GM Boris Gelfand
GM Gukesh D – GM Mishra Abhimanyu