A White Christmas In Elista!
Round 10 of the Elista FIDE Grand Prix was played on Christmas Day, and it turned out to be a White Christmas as 5 of the 7 games ended in victory for the white pieces.
However, peace on earth returned the following day in round 11 as only one game finished decisively, despite some hard fought games. Perhaps the players were still recovering after their Christmas exertions!
With 11 of 13 rounds now completed, it's a very close call at the top with Dmitry Jakovenko, Teimour Radjabov (pictured) and Alexander Grischuk on 7 points, just half a point ahead of Vugar Gashimov.
The standings after 11 rounds:
| 1 |
Jakovenko, Dmitry | RUS | 2737 |
7 |
| 2 |
Radjabov, Teimour | AZE | 2751 |
7 |
| 3 |
Grischuk, Alexander | RUS | 2719 |
7 |
| 4 |
Gashimov, Vugar | AZE | 2703 |
6½ |
| 5 |
Lékó, Peter | HUN | 2747 |
5½ |
| 6 |
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | AZE | 2731 |
5½ |
| 7 |
Cheparinov, Ivan | BUL | 2696 |
5½ |
| 8 |
Bacrot, Etienne | FRA | 2705 |
5½ |
| 9 |
Wang Yue | CHN | 2736 |
5½ |
| 10 |
Kasimdzhanov, Rustam | UZB | 2672 |
5 |
| 11 |
Inarkiev, Ernesto | RUS | 2669 |
4½ |
| 12 |
Alekseev, Evgeny | RUS | 2715 |
4½ |
| 13 |
Akopian, Vladimir | ARM | 2679 |
4 |
| 14 |
Eljanov, Pavel | UKR | 2720 |
4 |
The results in rounds 10 and 11 and game highlights are below.
| Round 10 | ||||
| Jakovenko, Dmitry | Inarkiev, Ernesto | 1-0 | 58 |
Slav Defence |
| Radjabov, Teimour | Alekseev, Evgeny | 1-0 | 54 |
Reti Opening |
| Lékó, Peter | Gashimov, Vugar | 1-0 | 57 |
Petroff's Defence |
| Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | Eljanov, Pavel | 1-0 | 41 |
Queen's Gambit |
| Cheparinov, Ivan | Akopian, Vladimir | 1-0 | 59 |
Slav Defence |
| Bacrot, Etienne | Wang Yue | ½-½ | 47 |
Slav Defence |
| Kasimdzhanov, Rustam | Grischuk, Alexander | ½-½ | 32 |
Slav Defence |
| Round 11 | ||||
| Grischuk, Alexander | Cheparinov, Ivan | ½-½ | 66 |
Anti-Meran Gambit |
| Gashimov, Vugar | Jakovenko, Dmitry | ½-½ | 55 |
Caro Kann |
| Wang Yue | Radjabov, Teimour | ½-½ | 46 |
King's Indian Classical |
| Inarkiev, Ernesto | Kasimdzhanov, Rustam | 0-1 | 86 |
Ruy Lopez Chigorin |
| Alekseev, Evgeny | Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | ½-½ | 41 |
Sicilian Rossolimo |
| Akopian, Vladimir | Bacrot, Etienne | ½-½ | 77 |
Sicilian Rossolimo |
| Eljanov, Pavel | Lékó, Peter | ½-½ | 70 |
Queens Indian |
