FIDE World Cup Round 3 Game 1: A round of draws
In a sign that things are tightening up at the World Cup, a huge number of games ended in a draw, setting the stage for a more challenging second day for the favourites Magnus Carlsen and Leinier Dominguez Perez were the only top-rated players in the Open to score a victory. While all the other top players started round three with a draw, Daniil Dubov lost with white pieces against Daniele Vocaturo. Things were similar in the Women’s tournament, where Aleksandra Goryachkina and Mariya Muzychuk were the only two leading players to score a victory. The Open Tournament highlights: The main surprise of round three in the Open Tournament is Daniil Dubov’s unexpected loss as White against Italian Daniele Vocaturo (who eliminated Andrei Volokitin in the round two tiebreaks). After finding a nice combination to draw an even position, Dubov blundered, allowing the black king to escape perpetual check. Dubov ended with a rook down and ultimately had to resign. Norway’s number two, Aryan Tari, played a solid game as Black against the world’s highest-rated player and countryman, Magnus Carlsen. Tari ended with five pawns and a knight against a rook and three pawns, but Carlsen – who is regarded as one of the best endgame players in history – slowly peeled off Black’s position and then transitioned to a winning pawn endgame. Cuban-born American Leinier Dominguez Perez had a lucky break against Azerbaijan’s Gadir Guseinov. In a sharp opening line where Black (Guseinov) gave up a knight for four pawns, the two reached an even endgame. In a critical moment, facing time trouble, Guseinov blundered and was immediately lost. Salem Saleh is continuing his excellent run in the World Cup. Today he defeated Iran’s Bardiya Daneshvar (who yesterday eliminated Grischuk after four rounds of nail-biting tiebreaks) after a sharp attack, which destroyed the black king’s fortress and saw him getting caught up in a mating net in the centre. Notably, wildcard-entrant Peter Svidler defeated Jeroen Van Foreest after the Dutchman allowed the FIDE World Cup 2011 winner to launch a crushing attack on the kingside. All the other top favourites drew their games, including Nakamura, Caruana, Nepomniachtchi, Giri, Duda, So, Radjabov, and others. The Women’s Tournament highlights: Former Women’s World Champion Mariya Muzychuk and former World Championship Challenger Aleksandra Goryachkina got off to a good start in Round 3 as they pushed forward with a victory against Indian players. Mariya Muzychuk was better throughout her game against India’s rising star Vaishali Rameshbabu and won. Goryachkina scored against Deshmukh Divya after the Indian player overlooked a combination in the middlegame leading to a dominating position for White. The derby Round 3 in the Women’s tournament, between Elisabeth Paehtz and the reigning Women’s World Blitz Champion Bibisara Assaubayeva, ended in a draw, with neither side gaining any advantage. Georgia’s Nino Batsiashvili scored a notable victory as Black against China’s Zhao Xue. Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun drew with black pieces against Ulviyya Fataliyeva, while the 2011 Women’s World Cup Champion, Alexandra Kosteniuk, was held to a draw by Serbia’s Teodora Injac. Other top women players – Humpy Koneru, Tan Zhongyi, Anna Muzychuk, Zhu Jiner, Harika Dronavalli, and Polina Shuvalova, start round three with a draw. The full list of the results from the first game of round three can be found here: https://worldcup2023.fide.com/tree. Here follows a look at some of the most interesting positions from the first game Round 3: Daniil Dubov suffered a shocking defeat today as he lost a drawn endgame to more than 100 points lower-rated Italian GM Daniele Vocaturo. Following the English Opening which transposed into the Modern Benoni reversed, the two reached the following position. Black is a pawn up but his pawn structure is weak and the rook on h8 is yet to join the action. In a slightly inferior position, Dubov found a nice combination for a draw: 27.Na4! Qf2 28.Qxc6 Qc2 29.Nc5 Qb1+ 30.Kg2 Qd1 31.Nb7!+ Ke7 Now Dubov should have continued with 32.Qc5+ and after 32…Ke8 33.Nd6+ Kf7 34.Qb5+ Ke7 35.Qc5 both sides can only give perpetual checks. Dubov instead took the pawn with 32.Qxc7+ and after 32…Qd7 35.Qc5+ Ke8 36.Nd6+ Kd8 37.Qxa3? (37.Kh3 offered more chances) Qc6+ 38.Kh3 Nxc4 39.Nxc4 Qxc4 Black repelled all the threats and preserved his extra rook. Saleh Salem scored an impressive victory as White over Bardiya Daneshvar. White’s pieces are poised for an attack on the black king. Black should have taken it seriously and focused more on defending, with 26…Ne8. Instead, he played 26…Rc8? 27.Ng4! Ne8 but now it’s late 28.Nh6!! gxh6 29.Rg3+ Kf8 30.Qd2 Ke7 31.Qxh6 Qxb2? The fatal error. After the precise 32.Rf1! White is simply unstoppable 32…Qc2 33.Qg5 Kd7 34.Qg8! Nd6 35.Qg7 Nf5 36.Qxf7+ Ne7 37.Rg7 Re8 38.h6 Qf5 39.Qf6! Qh5 40.h7 Rcc8 41.c4! dxc4 42.d5 and Black has no good options to resist anymore. Guseinov dropped a point to Dominguez Perez in an even endgame. In a deeply analyzed and tested line of the Four Knights Variation of the Sicilian, playing as Black, he got three pawns for the knight. As the game progressed the two reached the following endgame: In time trouble, Black misplayed with a seemingly logical move 40…Rf1? Guseinov should have proceeded with 40…Rfa8 maintaining the balance. But now: 41.Bg8! and Black either has to give up a rook for the bishop with his king in a mating net, or accept immediate checkmate. Aleksandra Goryachkina won her game as White against Divya Deshmukh after the Indian player overlooked a combination early on, after which she was in dire straits. 16…Nd7? (better was 16…Nd5) and after 17.Nxa5 Bxc5 18.Nxb7 Bxb7 19.Nxd7 Rxe1+ 20.Bxe1 Qxd7 21.Bxb7 White is not only a pawn up but also significantly better. The game between Zhao Xue and Nino Batsiashvili ended with a victory for Black after White underestimated the attacking chances against her king. Black is significantly better but Zhao’s trade of the knights is a perfect illustration of “the cure is worse than the disease”. 25.Nxg4? hxg4 26.Rc5 Completely ignoring Black’s potential on the h-file, although White’s position is beyond repair. And now: 26…Rh8 27.Rxa5 Rae8 28.Qb4 Rh6 29.Rc1 Qe4! White resigned as there is no way of
FIDE World Schools Team Championship commences in Aktau, Kazakhstan
The new scholastic flagship FIDE competition started in Aktau on August 4, 2023, bringing together more than 400 students from 53 countries. These young chess enthusiasts are competing in two age categories: up to 12 years old and 18 years old. Two rounds were played at the Halyk Arena on the first day. As many as eight teams in the U18 and five in the U12 sections won both matches. Notably, the Istanbul ENKA High School team from Turkey, competing in the U18 category, showcased exceptional skills by winning all of their games and reinforcing their position as the main favourites of the tournament. The day started with the grand Opening Ceremony at the prestigious Assembly of Peoples of Kazakhstan. Among the distinguished guests were Mr Arkady Dvorkovich, the President of the International Chess Federation, Mr Timur Turlov, the President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, and Mr Nurlan Nogaev, Akim of Mangistau region, where Aktau is situated. “A few months ago, we thought bringing more than 50 countries to the World Schools Team Championship was an almost impossible mission, but together we made our idea a reality. And I want each and every one of you to dream of something that seems impossible and achieve it,” said Arkady Dvorkovich greeting the participants. “This championship is in full compliance with our strategic objective of building an intellectual nation, strengthening human potential and promoting the cult of knowledge. And school-level chess should play a key role in it,” noted Timur Turlov. “Schoolchildren from four continents came to the Caspian coast to defend the honour of their school and country with dignity. I am sure these talents will conquer great milestones and become champions in the future. It is also worth noting the merit of coaches and parents because their work is behind each victory,” said Nurlan Nogaev. Nurlan Nogaev made the symbolic first move in the U18 category, while Timur Turlov the honours in the U12 tournament, and the chess fighting commenced. Eight teams in the Under 18 section won both matches, finishing the day with four match points: Istanbul ENKA High School (TUR)Republican School of Physics and Mathema (KAZ)Velammal Vidyalaya Alapakkam, Chennai (IND)Gymnasium Theodorianum Paderborn (GER)Author’s educational complex of the gymn (KGZ)Riga State Gymnasium No. 1 (LAT)Sumgayit City No-1 Secondary School (AZE)ABSE Escuela (PAR) In the Under 12 category, five teams are in the lead with perfect 4 match points: Lyceum School No. 8 for Gifted Children (KAZ)Velammal MHS Mogappair (IND)Saco Oliveros (PER)Lviv Academic Gymnasium (UKR)Szkoła Podstawowa nr 48 im. Szarych Szer (POL) Rounds 3 and 4 will be played on Saturday, August 5. The winners will be determined on August 7. Apart from the thrilling competition, this event offers a diverse excursion and entertainment program, ensuring that participants and guests have an unforgettable time in Aktau. The historic World Schools Team Championship presents a unique opportunity for young chess players from around the globe to showcase their skills while getting to know new cultures, enjoying a friendly atmosphere and making new friends. About World Schools Team Championship 2023 Schoolkids come to Aktau from all over the world to defend the honour of their school and country. The Championship is organized by FIDE and Kazakhstan Chess Federation, with the support of the akimat of Mangistau region, as well as the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Education of Kazakhstan. Freedom Holding Corp is the General Partner and Sponsor. Official website: wstcc2023.fide.com Photos: Flickr (can be used only for media reporting about the event, with credit given to Kazakhstan Chess Federation)