In the last round Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan, a pawn ahead against Alexander Grischuk of Russia, agreed to a draw after 97 moves. This allowed Grischuk, Radjabov and Dmitry Jakovenko of Russia — the only undefeated player — to share first place with an 8-5 score.
Vugar Gashimov, another rising start from Azerbaijan, finished fourth with 7 points . Next were Etienne Bacrot of France, last-minute replacement and former FIDE champ Rustam Kasimdzhanov of Uzbekistan, Peter Leko of Hungary, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan and Wang Yue of China.
The World Chess Federation, or FIDE, set up the Grand Prix as a six-tournament series for 2008 and 2009, but sponsors in two cities backed out. FIDE also changed the rules concerning world championship qualification from the Grand Prix, which was why Carlsen and Adams dropped out in protest.
FIDE says it has found two other cities to host the tournaments and will announce in March its final decision on the world championship cycle.
In the Grand Prix, each of the 21 invited players will compete in four of the six events, and the best 10 scorers will earn a share of the total prize pot: $420,000. The overall winner gets $105,000. Current leaders are Radjabov, Wang, Gashimov and Grischuk, who have already played in three tournaments. Jakovenko, who played twice, is in fifth place while Levon Aronian of Armenia, who won the Aug. 2008 Grand Prix, has yet to participate in another event.
Game of the week. Here is the world’s no. six and Azerbaijan’s top player — he’ll turn 22 this March — against the 29-year-old Uzbekistani GM who beat Britian’s Michael Adams in the finals to win the FIDE World Chess Championship in 2004. IM Jack Peters annotates.
GM Teimour Radjabov (2751)
GM Rustam Kasimdzhanov (2672)
Grand Prix, Elista 2008
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 g6 6 Be3 Bg7 7 f3 The Yugoslav Attack, still the critical response to the Sicilian Dragon. Nc6 8 Qd2 0-0 9 Bc4 Bd7 10 0-0-0 Rc8 11 Bb3 Ne5 12 h4 h5 Popularized by Andy Soltis. 13 Kb1 Hundreds of tests have failed to justify 13 g4?! hxg4. Re8 A slow move, aiming to preserve his Bishop from Be3-h6. 14 g4!? The Dragon must be treated roughly! hxg4 15 h5 Nxh5 16 Bh6 Threatening 17 Rxh5 gxh5 18 Qg5 Ng6 19 Qxg6. Kh7 Renouncing the idea of his 13th move, as 16…Bf6 17 Nd5 is unattractive and 16…Bh8? loses to 17 Rxh5! gxh5 18 Qg5+ Kh7 19 Qxh5. Nor does 16…e6 17 Rdg1! Bh8 work well after 18 fxg4 Nf6 19 Bg5. 17 Bxg7 Kxg7 18 fxg4 Bxg4 Fatal is 18…Nxg4?? 19 Rxh5! gxh5 20 Qg5+ Kf8 21 Qxh5. 19 Nf5+! Bxf5 Again forced. If 19… gxf5 20 Qg5+ Ng6 21 exf5, neither 21…Bxd1 22 Bxf7! nor 21…Bxf5 22 Qxf5 Nf6 23 Rh7+! Kxh7 24 Bxf7 saves Black. 20 exf5 Rh8 21 fxg6 Nxg6 Sturdier than 21…fxg6 22 Ne4. 22 Ne4 New. Kasimdzhanov drew as Black against Dominguez in the Olympiad in November after 22 Nd5 Nf6 23 Rxh8 Qxh8 24 Nxf6 exf6 25 Qd5 Rc7. Nf6?! To parry 23 Ng5 by 23…Rxh1 24 Rxh1 d5. But Black should prefer 22…d5! 23 Bxd5 Nhf4, hanging on. 23 Rdf1 More ambitious, and probably stronger, than 23 Rxh8. Rxh1 The computer suggests 25…Qd7 26 Rxh8 Rxh8 27 Qf2 Qd8, when 28 Nxf6 exf6 29 Qxa7 Qe7 holds White to a small advantage. 24 Rxh1 d5 25 Nxf6! Kxf6 Black cannot stand 25…exf6? 26 Bxd5 Kg8 27 Rh6! Kg7 28 Rh5. 26 Qf2+! Less clear is 26 Bxd5?! e6. Kg7 27 Rf1 f6 28 Qf5! Rc6?! Black’s last chance is 28…Rc5 29 Rg1 Qe8 30 c3 (threatening 31 Bc2) e6, although 31 Qf2 b6 32 Bd1! looks terrifying. 29 Rg1 Qe8 30 Bxd5 Not fearing 30…e6 31 Bxc6. Rc5 31 Qe6 Decisive. White plans c2-c4 and b2-b4 to chase Black’s Rook, then Bd5-e4 to win the pinned Knight. Rb5 32 c4 Rb6 33 Qh3 e6 Black’s King is too exposed after 33…f5 34 Qxf5 Qf8 35 Qg5 Qf6 36 Qg2. 34 Bf3 Qd8 Desperately hoping for 35 Bh5?? Rxb2+! 36 Kxb2? Qd4+. 35 Qg2!, Black Resigns.
Puzzler.
White — pawn on d2, Ka7, Bb5, Nc6, Bd6, Nf5, Rh5
Black — pawns on c5 and d3, Na6, Kd5
White to play and mate in three moves.
Send your answers to “64” c/o Marianas Variety, P.O. Box 500231, Saipan MP 96950. Our fax no. is 670-234-9271. You can also e-mail idlasts @lycos.com or [email protected].
