The Russian grandmaster Yan Nepomniachtchi and the Vietnamese Le Quang Liem were leading after the first day. Both Grandmasters had 12 points each. But the distance from the competitors was not very big: half a point behind was Ruslan Ponomariov from the Ukraine. Also, very close to the leading chess players, there was a group of chess players Alexander Grischuk, Ernesto Inarkiev from Russia.

At the beginning of the second day, Le Liem was ahead of other chess players. Till the last round he managed to keep this distance. But before the last round Ponomariov came very close to the Vietnamese grandmaster. The victory over Sergey Movsesian (Armenia) in the last round brought the gold medal to Le in the World Blitz championship. Ponomariov made a draw in the last round against Gabriel Sargissian.

Grischuk, Nepomniachtchi and Ponomatiov finished the championship only half a point behind the winner. The silver medal goes to Alexander Grischuk and the bronze — to Ruslan Ponomariov.

The World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship was taking place from 6 to 10 June in Khanty-Mansiysk. The World Rapid Champion was known on 8 June, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE) became the World Rapid Chess Champion. Silver and Bronze medal go to Yan Nepomniachtchi and Alexander Grischuk accordingly.

The prize fund of the championships was 400 thousand US dollars and was divided between two tournaments equally.

 The Academy — which resembles a chess piece — is a creation of the Dutch architect Erik Van Egeraat, it was constructed only during two years. Now the Academy is called the best in the world after the Olympiad 2010. The tournament hall is the central place in the Academy. It is located on the second level. We should thank the innovations: the hall can be transformed and changed in size. The moving walls and folding tribune for spectators make the hall transformable.

The Academy hall is decorated with the art masterpieces. There are soft sofas in white and black gamma. Of course there is a place for the «Star alley». The famous sisters Kosintsevs, the acting Women’s World Champion Anna Ushenina and the World Rapid Chess Champion Shakhriyar Mamedyatov left their autographs on the wall. There are still spare squares for others.

The Academy is not only a place for the international competitions, Cups, congresses and Assemblies. The most important here, according to the directorate of the Academy, is that children study chess here. The special computer classes are equipped here. Future Grandmasters grow up here under the supervision of the professional coaches. The Academy plays the key educational role, participating in the program «Chess in school». Today, more than 500 children study here; there are 65 internet-centers of chess skills.

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(1) Movsesian,Sergei (2699) — Cheparinov,Ivan (2678) [A29]

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bg2 Nb6 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.0–0 Be7 8.d3 0–0 9.a3 Be6 10.Be3 f6 11.Rc1 Nd4 12.Bxd4 exd4 13.Ne4 c6 14.b4 Rf7 15.Nc5 Bxc5 16.bxc5 Nc8 17.Qa4 Rd7 18.Rb1 Ne7 19.Nd2 b5 20.Qb4 a5 21.Qb2 Qc7 22.Ne4 Rad8 23.Nd6 Nc8 24.Qxd4 Nxd6 25.cxd6 Rxd6 26.Qc3 Qb6 27.Rfc1 Rb8 28.Qc5 Qxc5 29.Rxc5 Bd7 

White stands better in this endgame, as he has some pressure on the black queenside. 30.Kf1 Rb6 31.Rbc1 Kf7 32.Ke1 Ke7 33.Kd2 f5 [Black should avoid in general any more 'weaknesses'. 33...Kd8 34.e3 Kc7 35.d4 Rb8+/= should be preferable.] 34.e3 Rf6 35.d4 Kd6 36.Bf3 Rf8 

37.d5!? [An interesting break, which allows more activity to the white rooks. 37.h4 Rfb8 38.e4 +/= was looking somewhat better.] 37…cxd5 38.Rxd5+ Ke6 39.Rd4 Rd6?! [Black should exchange the other rook: 39...Rc8! 40.Rxc8 Bxc8= .] 40.Rc7! Rc8 41.Ra7 And now the white rook is rather active on the 7th rank. 41…a4 42.Be2 Rc5 43.Bd3 g6 44.h4 Rc8?! [I feel that Black should have opted for the more active 44...Rcd5 45.Kc3 Rc5+ 46.Kb4 Rcd5 47.Rxd5 Rxd5 48.Kc3 Rc5+ 49.Kd2 Rd5 50.Rb7 (50.Ra6+ Rd6 51.Ra5 Rd5) 50...Bc6 51.Rb8 Kd6 52.h5 +/= .] 45.h5 Rb8 46.Kc3 Rxd4 47.exd4 gxh5 48.Kb4?! [The rook ending after 48.Bxf5+ Kxf5 49.Rxd7 Rf8 50.Re7 Kg6 51.Re6+ Kg7 52.d5 looks very promising.] 48…Kd6?! [Passivity never helps! With 48...f4! Black should manage to draw.] 49.Ra6+ Kd5 50.Rh6 Be6? 

[Missing a good chance to save the half-point: 50...f4! 51.Rxh5+ Kxd4 52.Rxh7 Kxd3 53.Rxd7+ Ke2 54.gxf4 Rf8! . Now Black gets into a mating net!] 51.Bb1! Bg8? [Black didn't get it! He should have accepted his mistake and opt for 51...Bd7 52.Rxh7 Bc6 53.Rxh5± ] 52.Kc3! b4+ 53.axb4 a3 54.Kd3 And as the coming 55.Ba2+ decides, Black resigned. 1–0

(2) Potapov,Pavel (2460) — Rublevsky,Sergei (2695) [B22]

1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nf3 e6 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 d6 7.Bc4 Nb6 8.Bd3 Nc6 9.0–0 Nb4 10.Be4 [Playable is 10.Bg5 Be7 11.Bxe7 Qxe7 12.Nc3 Nxd3 13.Qxd3 0–0 14.Ne4 dxe5 15.dxe5 Bd7 16.Nd4 Nd5 17.Rad1+/= as in Godena,M-Mastrovasilis,D Porto Carras 2011.] 10…d5 11.Bd3 Nxd3 12.Qxd3 Be7 13.b3 0–0 14.a4 Bd7 15.Nc3 Rc8 16.Bd2 

16…Na8!? [A novelty, planning to place the knight on b4 (...Na8-c7-a6-b4). Previously 16...Bc6 has been played: 17.Rfc1 h6 18.Ne2 Re8 19.Nf4 Bf8 20.h4 ½–½ Potapov,P-Isajevsky,A Moscow 2010.] 17.Ne2 White enjoys more space and he can try to create an initiative in both flanks. 17…Nc7 18.Ba5 Trying to provoke …b6, stopping the ….Na8-c7-a6-b4 redeployment. 18…Qe8 19.Rfc1 Na6 20.Nf4 Nb4? [A blunder. 20...Rxc1+ 21.Rxc1 Qb8 22.Nh5 Rc8 was plain equal.] 21.Bxb4 Bxb4 22.Ng5! Black’s kingside remained without any guard and the end is near. 22…g6 23.Qh3 h5 24.Nxh5! [24.Nxh5 Black resigned as mate cannot be avoided: 24...gxh5 25.Qxh5]  1–0

(3) Nepomniachtchi,Ian (2717) — Grischuk,Alexander (2779) [B07]

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.g3 Bg7 5.Bg2 0–0 6.Nge2 Nbd7 7.0–0 c5 8.h3 Rb8 9.dxc5 Nxc5 10.a4 b6 11.Re1 Bb7 12.Nf4 Nfd7 13.Bd2 Rc8 14.Qe2

White played the opening without any concrete plan and without fantasy. Black got what he wanted — a lively middlegame with many pieces on the board. He now opted for a ‘Hedghog’ structure. 14…a6 15.Red1 e6 16.Be1?! [Too passive. White should have gone for a forced variation: 16.b4! Bxc3 (16...Nxa4!? 17.Nxa4 b5 18.Nc3 Bxc3 19.Bxc3 Rxc3 20.Rxd6 Qc8 21.Qd1÷) 17.Bxc3 Nxe4 (17...Nxa4 18.Be1) 18.Bxe4 Bxe4 19.Qxe4 Rxc3 20.Rxd6 Qc7 21.Rad1 Nf6 22.Qd4= .] 16…Qe7 17.Qe3 Ne5 18.b3 Rfd8 [18...f5!? was good for Black here.] 19.Rac1 h5! Trying to create more weaknesses on the white kingside — White is lacking any good plan… 20.Nfe2 Kh7 21.f4 Nc6 22.Na2 b5 23.axb5 axb5 24.Bc3 

24…e5! 25.Re1 Ne6 26.Nb4 Nxb4 27.Bxb4 h4! White’s kingside is falling apart. 28.Rf1 hxg3 29.f5 What else? 29…Nf4? [Black mixes his ideas! He should have gone for the simple 29...Bh6 30.fxg6+ fxg6 31.Qxg3 Bxc1 was even better.] 30.Nxf4 Bh6 31.Qxg3 Bxf4 32.Rxf4! exf4 33.Qxf4 Qe5? [Black's last chance was laying on 33...Qf6 34.fxg6+ Qxg6 35.Qh4+ Kg7 36.c4 Re8³ .] 34.Qf2? [The obvious 34.Qh4+ Kg8 35.c4! Qd4+ 36.Kh1 Qg7 37.fxg6 fxg6 38.Bc3 Qh7 39.Qg4 was offering White very good compensation for the exchange - position should be unclear...] 34…Kg8? [Many mistakes in a row, but this is a rapid game - not much time to think! Black could have gained a good advantage with 34...gxf5! 35.c4 Qf6 36.Bc3 Qg6 .] 35.Re1? [35.c4! again was fine: 35...g5 36.Bc3 Qe7 (36...Qf4 37.Qxf4 gxf4 38.Bf6+/=) 37.f6 Qf8 38.Qb6 with unclear position.] 35…Re8 36.Qd2 d5 37.fxg6 fxg6 38.Rd1 dxe4 39.Qh6 Qh5! Now the queens are exchanged and Black shouldn’t have any problem to bring the bacon home. 40.Qxh5 gxh5 41.Bf1 Re5 42.Bd6 Rd8 43.Be2 Re6 44.Bb4 Rxd1+ 45.Bxd1 Re5 46.Kf2 e3+ 47.Ke2 Bc8 48.Bd6 Rd5 49.Bf4 Bxh3 50.Ke1 Bg4! 51.Bxg4 hxg4 52.c4 bxc4 53.bxc4 Rf5 [53...Rc5 54.Bxe3 Rxc4 was winning as well.] 54.Bxe3 g3 55.c5 Kf7 56.Ke2 Ke6 57.Bd4 Kd5 58.Bg1 Rf8 59.Be3 g2 60.Bf2 Rf7! Losing a tempo, forcing the white king to e1. 61.Ke1 [61.Ke3 Kxc5 62.Ke2+ Kd5 63.Ke3 Rf5 64.Ke2 Ke4–+ .] 61…Re7+! 62.Kd2 Rh7 [62...Rh7 White resigned, as 63.Ke2 Rh1 wins the bishop.]  0–1

(4) Andreikin,Dmitry (2713) — Bologan,Viktor (2672) [B40]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 d5 4.exd5 exd5 5.d4 Nc6 6.Bg2 Bg4 7.0–0 cxd4 8.h3 [An alternative is 8.Nbd2 Nf6 9.h3 Bf5 10.Nb3 Be7 11.Nfxd4 Be4 with unclear position Short,N-Vitiugov,N Caleta 2013.] 8…Bh5 9.g4 Bg6 10.Nxd4 Nf6 11.c4 

11…Be7 [A novelty. Previously 11...Be4 12.Bxe4 (12.Nc3!? Bxg2 13.Kxg2 dxc4 14.Nxc6 Qxd1 15.Rxd1 bxc6 16.Rd4 +/=) 12...Nxe4 13.cxd5 Qxd5 14.Nxc6 Qxd1 15.Rxd1 bxc6 16.Be3 Bc5 17.Nd2 Bxe3 18.Nxe4 Bf4 19.Nd6+ Kf8 20.Nc4 h5 21.Rd4 ½–½ Schmitz,J-Racherbaeumer,M Germany 2010, has been played.; Maybe 11...Bc5 is a bit better: 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.Qa4+ Kf8 15.Nc3² .] 12.g5 Ne4 13.cxd5 Nxd4? [13...Qxd5 was forced: 14.Nxc6 Qxd1 (14...Qxc6 15.Nc3 0–0 16.Qe1 Bb4 17.Bxe4 Bxc3 18.Bxc6 Bxe1 19.Bxb7 Rab8 20.Bg2 Ba5 21.b3 +/=) 15.Rxd1 bxc6 16.Nc3 Nxc3 17.Bxc6+ Kf8 18.bxc3 Rc8 19.Bg2 +/= .] 14.Qxd4 Qb6? [A blunder. Black was forced to go for 14...Bxg5 15.Bxg5 Qxg5 16.h4 Qh5 17.Qa4+ Kf8 18.Nc3 Nxc3 19.bxc3± .] 15.Qa4+ [15.Qa4+ And Black resigned due to 15...Kf8 16.Bxe4 .]  1–0

(5) Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar (2753) — Inarkiev,Ernesto (2680) [D31]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 a6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bf4 Nf6 6.e3 Bd6 7.Qf3 [Another option is 7.Bg3 0–0 8.Bd3 Bg4 9.Nge2 Re8 10.Rc1 Bxe2 11.Nxe2 c6 12.Qb3 Qa5+ 13.Nc3 +/= Volkov,S-Ivanisevic,I Legnica 2013.] 7…c5!? [A novelty. 7...Be6 8.Bd3 c5 9.Bxd6 Qxd6 10.dxc5 Qxc5 11.Qf4 Nc6 12.Nge2 Rd8 13.Rd1 0–0 14.0–0 +/= was seen in Shomoev,A-Inarkiev,E Vladivostok 2012. Inarkiev decided to play ...c5 directly.] 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.Bg5 Nbd7 10.0–0–0 A risky continuation, but White needed to complicate matters… 10…Qa5?! [10...Be7!? 11.Nge2 Nb6 12.h3 0–0 was interesting and preferable!] 11.Nge2?! [White could win the central pawn: 11.Nxd5! Nxd5 12.Qxd5 0–0 13.Be7 Re8 14.Bd6 +/= .] 11…0–0 12.Nd4 Bb4 13.Nb3 Qc7 14.Qf4?! [14.Bf4 Qc6 15.Nd4 Qc5 16.Nb3 was equal, but as said, White had to win at any cost!] 14…Qxf4? [The worst contiuation. The obvious 14...Bd6! was 'screaming' for! A sample continuation could be 15.Qh4 Ne4 (15...Be5 16.Bf4 (16.Kb1 Bxc3 17.Rc1 Ne4 18.Bd3 Nxg5 19.Qxg5 h6 20.Qe7 Qe5 21.Qa3 Bxb2 22.Qxb2 Qd6µ) 16...Bxf4 17.Qxf4 Qxf4 18.exf4 Nb6 19.f3=) 16.Bd3 Ba3! 17.Kb1 Nxc3+ 18.bxc3 h6 19.Be7 Bxe7 20.Qxe7 Qxc3µ .] 15.Bxf4 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Ne4 17.Rxd5 Nxf2 18.Rg1 Nf6 19.Rd4 

White enjoys the advantageof the bishop-pair and Black of the better pawn-structure. The position is balanced but a bit more easy for White in the coming middlegame/endgame. I think that this is the kind of position that White wanted to have in this critical game. 19…Bd7 20.Be2 Rac8 21.Kb2 Rfe8 22.h3 h6 23.Rf1 N2e4 24.c4 Ng5? [Black blunders in no time! He should have gone for 24...b6 with a balanced position.] 25.Bxg5 hxg5 26.Rxf6! gxf6 27.Rxd7 Rxe3 28.Bh5! Black is plain lost. White’s advantage of the two light pieces vs rook is not of a match. 28…b5 29.c5 [29.cxb5 axb5 30.Nd4 was another winning continuation.] 29…a5 30.Bxf7+ Kf8 

31.Bg6? [White makes his life difficult. The simple 31.Bd5 a4 32.Bb7 Rce8 33.Nd4 a3+ 34.Kc2 was curtains.] 31…a4? [But Black played instantly the text move. He should have tried 31...Re2+ 32.Bc2 Rxg2 33.Ra7± , when White still would have to work hard...] 32.Nd4 Rxc5 [Or 32...a3+ 33.Kc2 Rxc5+ 34.Kd2 Ree5 35.Bf7! Re7 36.Ne6++- .] 33.Rd8+ Kg7 34.Nf5+ Kxg6 [34...Rxf5 35.Bxf5 Re2+ 36.Ka3 Rxg2 37.Rd7+ Kf8 38.Rb7+- .] 35.Nxe3 And now White with an extra piece has no problem to cash the point. 35…b4 36.Rd3 Re5 37.g4 Re4 38.Nc2 Re2 39.Kc1 f5 40.Rd6+ Kf7 41.gxf5 b3 42.axb3 axb3 43.Nd4 Re3 44.Nc6 Kf8 45.f6 Kf7 46.Nd8+ Kf8 47.f7 Rf3 48.Re6 And Black resigned, making Mamedyarov the new FIDE Rapid World Champion! 1–0

The organizers chose rather special format — all participants played in open air, near the Ugra Chess academy.

«During warm seasons we often organize the tournaments in open air,» — said the chief arbiter of the tournament Natalia Popova. «Sometimes we even have the tournament in the central square of the city We also organize family tournaments. This competition is dedicated to the World Rapid and Blitz championships that are taking place now in Khanty-Mansiysk»

The Chief Arbiter also underlined that each person can participate in the tournament. «So called street tournaments popularize chess in the best way possible. It even happens that even passing people start to play in it,» — said Natalia Popova.

Not only local chess fans, but also the sportsmen from other municipalities of Ugra as well as guests from some other regions of Ural Federal Okrug (Tymen and Kurgan regions and Yamal) took part in the tournament.

The President of Ugra Chess Federation, the Mayor of Khanty-Mansiysk Vasilyl Filipenko mentioned at the Award Ceremony that this was the first amateur tournament which is organized in the frames of the World Rapid and Blitz Championships. «We are planning to organize such kind of tournaments in the future as well. We had this idea long before, but brought ourselfes to make it only this year,» — said Vasily Filipenko.

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 dxc4 5.e3 Bd6 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 c5 8.Nf3 cxd4 9.Nxd4 0–0 10.Bxc4 Be7 11.0–0 Bd7 12.Qe2 Nc6 13.Rfd1 Ne5 14.Bb3 Ng6 15.Bg3 Qa5 16.Bc2 Qh5 17.Qxh5 Nxh5 

It seems that Black is doing fine, but the tactics turned aganst him! 18.Nf5! Bc6 [The other option was 18...exf5 19.Rxd7 Nxg3 20.hxg3 Bf6 21.Bxf5± .] 19.Nxe7+ Nxe7 20.Bd6 Rfe8 21.e4! According to the old rules of restriction (Steinitz) when you deal with the bishop-pair. Black’s position is rather difficult, without any counterplay… 21…Nf6 22.f3 Nc8 23.Bf4 Nb6 24.a4! Restriction of the opponet pieces once more! 24…e5 25.Bc1 Rad8 26.Rxd8 Rxd8 27.Kf2 a6 28.Bb3 Na8 29.Be3 Nc7 30.Rc1 Ne6 

31.Bxe6! Top-players know when they have to tranform their advantages. Here, from the bishop-pair we go to the weak pawns advantage. 31…fxe6 32.b3 Kf7 33.Na2 Rd3 34.Nb4 Rxb3 35.Nxc6 bxc6 36.Rxc6 Rb2+ 37.Kf1 Rb1+ [Maybe Black could have tried 37...Nh5 38.g3 g5 39.Rxa6 Rxh2 , although after 40.Bf2 Rh1+ 41.Bg1± , his position would also be rather difficult.] 38.Ke2 Rb2+ 39.Bd2 a5 40.Rc7+ Kg6 41.Ra7 Ra2 42.Rxa5 And White won finally some material. 42…Nd7 43.Kd3! Rxa4? Black was having some difficult time, but this blunder ends the game in no time. 44.Rxa4 Nc5+ 45.Kc2 Nxa4 46.Be3! The black knight is trapped and will be lost soon, so Black resigned. 1–0

(2) Grachev,Boris (2683) — Riazantsev,Alexander (2708) [E05]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.0–0 0–0 6.d4 dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.a4 Bd7 9.Qxc4 Bc6 10.Bg5 Bd5 11.Qd3 Be4 12.Qd1 h6 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Nc3 Bh7 15.e3 Nd7 16.Nd2 c5 17.Nde4 cxd4 18.exd4 Bxe4 19.Nxe4 Rb8 

White got something out of the opening and he decided that it is time to open-up the position. 20.d5! Bxb2? [20...exd5 was a must: 21.Qxd5 Ne5 22.b3!² .] 21.Ra2 exd5? [But now this is a blunder. Black had to opt for 21...Bf6 22.dxe6 Ne5 23.Rd2 Qe7 24.exf7+ Qxf7 25.f4± .] 22.Rxb2 dxe4 

23.Rd2! That’s what Black forgot about! White wins a piece and the game… 23…e3 24.fxe3 Qb6 25.Rxd7 Qxe3+ 26.Kh1 b5 27.a5 b4 28.Qd6 Qe6 29.Bd5 Qxd6 30.Rxd6 Rb5 31.Bxf7+ Kh8 32.Rxa6 b3 33.Rb6 Rxa5 34.Rxb3 Raa8 35.Rbf3 Ra6 36.h4 g6 37.Bc4 Rxf3 38.Rxf3 Rc6 39.Rf4 h5 40.Kg2 Kg7 41.Kh3 Rc7 42.Rd4 Rc6 43.Bd3 Rb6 44.Rd5 Rc6 45.Kg2 Rf6 46.Be4 Rb6 47.Kf3 Rf6+ 48.Ke3 Kh6 49.Rg5 Ra6 50.Kf4 Re6 51.Rxg6+ 1–0

(3) Akopian,Vladimir (2691) — Potkin,Vladimir (2647) [B48]

Position after 28…Rbd8 

A passed pawn is nearly always a huge power. Here we have no exception! 29.Qc7! Exchanges is the secret! Then the pawn will queen! 29…Qxc7 30.dxc7 Rc8 31.Rd7 Ne6 32.Bd5! Obviously White had foressen this tactical blow, otherwise his 29th move should be considered a blunder. 32…Nxg5 [Black cannot capture the devilish pawn: 32...Rxc7 33.Bxe6 or; 32...Nxc7 33.Bxf7+ .] 33.h4 Ne6 34.Bxe6! More exchanges and the pawn is getting stronger. 34…fxe6 [34...Rxe6 loses to 35.Rd8+ Re8 36.Rxe8+ Rxe8 37.Rd1 and 38.Rd8 queens.] 35.Rhd1 Rf8 36.Re7! Rxf3 37.Rd8+ Rf8 38.Rxc8 Rxc8 

39.Rd7 And as the coming 40.Rd8+ decides, Black resigned. 1–0

(4) Sargissian,Gabriel (2671) — AL-Sayed,Mohammed (2498) [D10]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Bf4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.e3 Bg4 7.Qb3 Na5 8.Qa4+ Bd7 9.Qc2 e6 10.Nf3 Rc8 11.Bd3 Nc4 12.0–0 Bd6 

White got very little from the opening, but here he went wrong. 13.Ne5 [Maybe 13.Bxd6 Nxd6 14.Qb3 0–0 15.Ne5² was correct.] 13…Bxe5 14.dxe5 Nh5 15.b3 [But this is too much. Preferable was 15.Rac1 Nxf4 16.exf4 h6 with equal chances.] 15…Nxf4 16.exf4 Nxe5! A bold from the blue! 17.fxe5 d4 

18.Bc4? [White should have opted for 18.Be4 Rxc3 19.Qd2 Bc6 20.Bxc6+ Rxc6 21.Rfd1 Rc5 22.Qxd4 Qxd4 23.Rxd4 when his activity should be enough for preserving the balance.] 18…dxc3 19.Rfd1 0–0? [A bit too naive. Good for an advantage was 19...Qa5 20.Rd4 Bc6 21.Rad1 0–0µ .] 20.a4 a6 21.Qd3? [Returning the favour. White could have chosen instead 21.Rd6! , preserving the balance.] 21…b5! 22.axb5 axb5 23.Qxd7 [23.Bxb5 c2 24.Rdc1 Bxb5 25.Qxb5 Qd4 26.g3 Rfd8 is a lost case for White.] 23…bxc4 24.b4 c2 [24...Qg5 was even stronger.] 25.Qxd8 Rfxd8 26.Rdc1 

26…Rd2 Black dominates and soon will carry the point home! 27.Kf1 Rcd8 28.Ke1 g5 29.b5 c3 30.b6 R8d5 [30...R8d5 White resigned, as after 31.b7 Rxe5+ 32.Kf1 Rb5 33.Rxc2 Rxc2 34.Ra8+ Kg7 35.b8Q Rxb8 36.Rxb8 Rb2 it will be over soon.]  0–1

 (5) Le,Quang Liem (2712) — Nepomniachtchi,Ian (2717) [A34]

Position after 48.Nc3 

The bishop-pair dominates but old masters used to say that one of the main advantages of this asset is the possibility to exchange one of the bishops under favourable circumstances! 48…Bxc3+! 49.Kxc3 Kf4?! [49...Kh4 was more accurate, as now White can create some problems.] 50.h4! Kg3 51.Bg8 h6 52.Bf7 Kxg2! [52...g5 is not of a help, as 53.hxg5 hxg5 54.Bg6 holds, as 54...Kxg2 55.Be4! Be8 56.f4+ is drawn.] 53.Bxg6 Kg3 54.h5 Kxf3 55.Kb4 Kf4 56.Bc2 Kg5 57.Bd1 [This makes it easier, but the alternative 57.Bg6 Bf3 58.Kxa4 Bxh5 wins for Black anyway - tablebases indicate mate in 19 moves!] 57…Be8 58.Ka3 Bxh5 59.Bxa4 

59…Bg6! The only winning move! In this bishop’s endgame the rook pawn is the best, as the defending bishop has just one diagonal at his disposal. 60.Bd1 Bf5 61.Kb2 Bg4 62.Kc1 h5 63.Kd2 Kf4 64.Ba4 h4 65.Ke1 h3 66.Bc6 [66.Kf2 Bf3 67.Kg1 Kg3 .] 66…Bf3 67.Bxf3 Kxf3 0–1

(1) Najer,Evgeniy (2633) — Kamsky,Gata (2741) [B43]

WRBC 2013 (1.3), 06.06.2013

Position after 41.h4

After a lot of complications, where White missed more than one wins, we have reached this certain position. White is still on the top but Black found his best practical chance: 41…Rxf5!? 42.Nxf5 Qxf5 43.Ra1!! [Well played and probably the only way to preserve fair winning chances. 43.hxg5? Qxg5 44.Qh7 Qg6 45.Qh4 Kg7 would allow Black to hold on, but not without suffering for another 20–30 moves at least!] 43…Kg7 [Under the circumstances, best. 43...Qd5?! would lose to 44.hxg5 Rxg5 45.Qh8+ Rg8 46.Qh6+ Rg7 47.Rb1 Qe5 48.Qh8+ Ke7 49.Rb7+ Kf6 50.Qh6+ Rg6 51.Rb6+ . But after all, maybe Black had to try it and pray...] 44.Qxg5+ [44.hxg5? Rh8 45.Qe2 Qd5 46.Qb2+ Kg8 would be fine for Black.] 44…Qxg5 45.hxg5 The resulting rook ending is won for White — he only has to exchange his g5 pawn for Black’s f — easier said than done! 45…Kg6 [45...Rc8 46.Ra2! .] 46.Ra5 [46.f4 Rd8 47.Kg2 Rd7 48.Kh3+- .] 46…Rb8 47.Kg2

47…Rb3 [47...Rb2 48.g4 Rc2 49.Kg3 Rb2 50.Ra6+! Kg7 (50...Kxg5 51.f4#) 51.f4+- .] 48.f4 Kh5 49.Kh3 Rb1 50.Ra7 Kg6 51.Ra6+ Kg7 52.Kg4 Rb4 53.Rc6 Ra4 54.Rb6 Rc4 55.Kh5 Rc3 56.Kh4 Rc4 57.Rb7 Kg6 58.Ra7 Rb4 59.Ra6+ Kg7 60.Kg4 Rc4 61.Rd6 Ra4 62.Kf5 Ra3 63.Kg4 Ra4 64.Kh4 Rb4 65.Rd3 Kg6 66.Rf3 Rb8 67.f5+ Kg7 68.Ra3 Rb5 69.Kg4 Rb4+ 70.Kh5 Rb1 71.Ra7 Rh1+ 72.Kg4 Kg8 73.Ra6 And as White’s next move will be 74.g6, exchanging the pawns, Black called it a day. 1–0.

(2) Frolyanov,Dmitry (2570) — Dreev,Alexey (2668) [B13]

WRBC 2013 (2.3), 06.06.2013

 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 Be6 7.Be2 Qa5 8.Nf3 dxc4 9.0–0 Rd8 10.Re1 a6

11.Bf1 [In this sideline of the 'Panov Attack' in the 'Caro-Kan Defence' White has tried previously 11.a4 h6 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Bf1 Qf5ч as in Haast,A-Turov,M Wijk aan Zee 2012. His novelty didn't help...] 11…Bg4! 12.Bxf6?! [White should have seriously consider 12.Be3 b5 13.h3 Bh5 14.a4!© .] 12…gxf6 13.d5 Ne5 14.Be2 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 Bg7?! [Not the best by far. 15...Nd3! 16.Re2 f5 looks excellent for Black.] 16.Be4! Now White’s compensation is nice. 16…h5 [16...0–0? 17.Qh5 Ng6 18.Re3 would play in White's hands.] 17.Ne2?

[White goes wrongly. Correct was 17.Qe2 b5 18.a3© .] 17…f5!! A killer — White is losing material. 18.Bxf5 Rxd5 19.Qc2 Nd3 [Although the text is good enough, stronger seemed to be 19...Rd2 20.Qc3 Qxc3 21.bxc3 e6µ .] 20.Qxc4? [Good or bad White had to opt for 20.Red1 Rxf5 21.Qxc4 Qc5 22.Qxd3 Qxf2+ 23.Kh1 0–0µ .] 20…Nxe1 21.Nf4 Rd4 22.Qc8+ Qd8 23.Qc1 Bh6 0–1.

(3) Grischuk,Alexander (2779) — Salem,AR Saleh (2531) [D77]

WRBC 2013 (3.4), 06.06.2013

Position after 38.Nxa7

A typical ending arised, where White’s two advantages (extra pawn and knight vs bishop with pawns on one side) should be enough to score the point. 38…Ke6 39.Nb5 Bc5 40.Kg2 Ke5 41.Nc3 Bb4 42.Ne2 Ke6 43.Nf4+ Kf7 44.Kf3 Bd6 45.Ke4 Bb8 46.Kd5 Bc7 47.Kc6 Ba5 48.Kd7 Be1 49.Nd3 Bd2 50.e4 g5 [Black's options are limited, as a waiting move like 50...Bc3 fails to 51.f4 Bd4 52.e5 and the passed e-pawn decides.] 51.g4! The most secure (although slow) winning try. Light squares in the Black’s camp cannot be defended anymore… 51…hxg4 52.hxg4 Bc3 53.f3 Bd4 54.Nb4 Bc5 55.Nc6 Bb6 56.Nd8+ Kf8 57.Nb7 Kf7 58.Nd6+ Kg6

59.Ke6 [The winning plan was to get the white king on f7 and then collect the f6-pawn. Therefore: 59.Nc8 Bd4 60.Ke7 Kg7 61.Nd6 Be5 (61...Bc5 62.Ke6) 62.Ne8+ Kg6 63.Kf8 Bb8 64.Ng7 Bd6+ 65.Kg8 Ba3 66.Ne6 Bb4 67.Nf8+ Kh6 68.Kf7+- .] 59…Bd4 60.Nf5 Bb2 61.Ke7 Ba3+ 62.Ke6 Bb2 63.Ne7+ Kg7 64.Nc6 Kg6 65.Nb4 Bc3 66.Nd3 Bd4 67.e5? [Now it's a draw! White had a second winning plan (the first was mentioned above and could be carried away as well): 67.Nb4 Be5 68.Nd5 Bd4 69.Ne7+ Kg7 70.Kf5 Bc3 71.Nd5 Bb2 72.Nb6 Bc3 73.Nd7 Kf7 74.e5 fxe5 75.Nf6 Bd4 76.Ne4+- .] 67…Bc3 68.exf6 Bxf6 69.Ne5+ Kg7 And there is no way to win the last black pawn. White tried for many more moves, but in the end he had to call it a day… 70.Kf5 Bd8 71.Nc4 Be7 72.Nd2 Bd8 73.Ne4 Kh6 74.Nc5 Bb6 75.Ne6 Be3 76.Kf6 Bd2 77.Kf7 Bc3 78.Nc5 Bd4 79.Ne4 Be5 80.Nf6 Bc3 81.Nd5 Ba1 82.Ne3 Bb2 83.Nf5+ Kh7 84.Ke6 Kg6 85.Ne7+ Kg7 86.Kf5 Bc1 87.Nc6 Kh6 88.Kf6 Bb2+ 89.Ne5 Bc3 90.Kf5 Kg7 91.Nc4 Bf6 92.Ne5 Bd8 93.Nd7 Be7 94.Nb6 Bd8 95.Nd5 Kf7 96.Ne3 Kg7 97.Nc4 Be7 98.Ne5 Bd8 99.Nd7 Be7 100.Nb8 Bd8 101.Na6 Bf6 102.Nc5 Be7 103.Ne4 Kh6 104.Ke6 Ba3 105.Kf6 Bb2+ 106.Kf7 Be5 107.Nc5 Bd4 108.Ne6 Bb2 109.Nc7 Be5 110.Nd5 Bd4 111.Nf6 Bb2 112.Ne4 Be5 113.Ke6 Bb2 114.Kf5 Bc1 115.Nf2 Be3 116.Nd3 Bd2 117.Ne5 Kg7 118.Nc4 Bf4 119.Ke4 1/2.

(4) Vallejo Pons,Francisco (2706) — Nepomniachtchi,Ian (2717) [B23]

WRBC 2013 (4.1), 06.06.2013

 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 a6 3.g4 b5 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.d3 e6 6.Nh3 Nc6 7.0–0 Nge7 8.f4 Ng6 9.Be3 Qc7 10.Qe1 Be7 11.Qf2 Nd4 12.Nd1 d6 13.c3 Nc6 14.d4 cxd4 15.cxd4 Bh4 16.Qd2 Nge7 17.d5 Nd8 18.dxe6 fxe6 19.Rc1 Nec6 20.g5 h6 21.gxh6 gxh6 22.f5 Qe7 23.Qe2 Ne5 24.Nf4 Rg8 25.fxe6 Nxe6 26.Qh5+ Kd7 27.Nd5 Bxd5 28.exd5 Nc5

After a Sicilian sideline, White explored some innacuracies by Black and had obtained a winning position. He just has to deliver the final blow. 29.Kh1 [Playing it safe! The immediate 29.b4 was possible as well 29...Na4 as only now 30.Kh1 is curtains...] 29…Raf8 [Or 29...Rxg2 30.Kxg2 Rg8+ 31.Kh1 Qh7 32.Qf5+ (32.Qxh4 Rg4) 32...Qxf5 33.Rxf5 .] 30.Rxf8 Rxf8 31.b4! Looks like the end but Black is a fighter! 31…Ned3 [31...Na4 32.Bh3+ Kd8 33.Rc8# .] 32.Rc3? [32.Rc2 was just winning a piece and the game: 32...Nxb4 33.Qg4+ .] 32…Be1 [Or 32...Nxb4 33.Qg4+ Kd8 34.Qxb4 Be1 .] 33.Qh3+?! [33.bxc5 Bxc3 34.cxd6 Kxd6 35.Qg6+ was even better.] 33…Kc7 34.bxc5 Bxc3 35.cxd6+ Qxd6 36.Nxc3 Nf4! 37.Qg3 Nxg2 38.Kxg2?! [Queens should be preserved on the board, as then White can also create an attack. Therefore 38.Qg7+ Kd8 39.Kxg2± should be preferable.] 38…Qxg3+ 39.hxg3 h5

Now Black has real saving chances. 40.Bf4+ Kb6 41.d6 [Or 41.Ne4 Rf5! (41...b4? 42.Bg5 Rc8 43.Be7+-) 42.d6 Kc6 and Black seems to hold.] 41…Kc6 42.Kf3 b4 43.Ne4 a5 44.Ke3 a4 Black’s counterplay on the queenside is good enough for the draw. 45.Bg5 b3 46.axb3 a3 47.Nc3 Rb8! 48.Kd3 Rxb3 49.Kc4 Rb2 50.Bf4? [50.Bc1 Rg2 51.Bxa3 Rxg3 was a draw.] 50…a2 51.Nxa2 Rxa2 Now Black’s winning chances are real, as he will penetrate with his king on the kingside. The rook will keep an eye on the passed white d-pawn and the breakthrough …h4 will decide, as the white bishop has little scope to deal with. 52.Kd4 Re2 53.Kd3 Re8 54.Kd4 Re1 55.Be5 Kd7 56.Kd5 Rd1+ 57.Ke4 Ke6 58.Bf4 Rf1 59.Ke3 Rd1 60.Ke4 Rb1 61.Ke3 Rb5 62.Kf3 Kf5 63.Kg2 Rd5 64.Kh3 Rd1 65.Kg2 Kg4 66.Be5 Rd5 67.Bf4 h4 68.Kg1 hxg3 And White resigned. A sad game for Vallejo… 0–1.

(5) Le Quang,Liem (2712) — Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar (2753) [A31]

WRBC 2013 (5.3), 06.06.2013

Position after 45.Qf5

It seems that Black is about to bring the bacon home, but his weakend king allows White some tactical resources… 45…Qd1+! 46.Kh2 Qd6+ 47.g3 Qc7? [47...Qc6! would do the job: 48.Re7 Kf8 49.Re1 c2 50.Rc1 Qc4–+ .] 48.Re7! And White found the saving continuation! 48…c2! [48...Qxe7 49.Qxc8+ Kh7 50.Qxc3 was too simple, so Black plays his last card.] 49.Qd5+ [49.Qg4! forcing 49...Qxe7 50.Qxc8+ Kf7 51.Qc4+! Kf8 52.Qc8+ was best.] 49…Kh7

Another critical position. [49...Kh8? 50.Rxc7 Rxc7 51.Qd8+ Kh7 52.Qxc7+- .] 50.Qd3+? [And Whote bites the decoy! He had to opt for 50.Qf5+ Kh8 51.Qg4 g5 52.Qe6 Qxe7 53.Qxe7 c1Q 54.Qxf6+ which would lead to a draw by perpetual check.] 50…f5! 51.Qxf5+ [51.Rxc7 Rxc7 52.Qxf5+ g6 it's curtains.] 51…Kh8 52.Qg4 Qc3! Again the only move but one that ends White’s hopes. 53.Rxg7 c1Q 54.Rf7 Qg5 [54...Q3a1 was a quicker win.] 55.Qe4 Qg8 56.Qf4 Qg6 0–1.