In the first round of the Corus Chess Tournament 2009, both Ivanchuk and Morozevich started badly. The Ukrainian lost on time against Dutchman Smeets while the Russian was crushed in just 26 moves by Karjakin.
"The Dutch trio will surely have a tough tournament", is a statement almost anybody agreed on before the start of this year's Corus Chess Tournament. And they still might, but at least they're of to a good start, scoring 2/3 in the first round. Van Wely and Stellwagen drew their White games having the better chances, but
Smeets' victory over top seed Vassily Ivanchuk was of course the sensation of the day. "It's even possible to win without having a better position anywhere in the game," were his cool words, after he had shown his game to the journalists in the press room (full video later here on ChessVibes!).In trying to win a better endgame, Ivanchuk overstepped the time limit. Some journos were of the opinion that Chuky's (standard) behaviour at the start had cost him the game: present at 13.30 sharp (as is prescribed in the players' contracts as from this year), he simply let his clock running for ten minutes, walking around and avoiding photographers. And bringing a first smile on his opponent's face.
Another big smile could be seen on Karjakin's face, who scored the first win of the tournament by completely crushing another big favorite, Alexander
Morozevich. The Ukrainian's novelty 15.Qg2 already gives White a good position, and "he blundered at the end; he can't do anything about 27.Bxh7+ because on 26...g6 I take," Karjakin explained.The other games in the A group were drawn, including what might turn out to be a very important encounter: Aronian-Wang Yue. But the most interesting game was the top clash between Carlsen and Radjabov. The latter surprised the Norwegian by going for 2...e6, and then Carlsen decided to avoid his opponent's preparation with 3.g3. 14.Bh6!! was a fantastic move and White might have been winning somewhere, but Radjabov defended like a lion.
The B group saw a rare scheme of results: three draws, and four wins by Black! Motylev miscalculated somewhere and suddenly dropped material against Navara, while Reinderman, in an attempt to avoid the Berlin Wall, lost a pawn in a rare sideline, and finally went down in a rook ending. Mecking was slightly worse for almost the whole game and eventually found himself in a lost opposite-coloured bishop ending.
Kasimdzhanov showed amazing perseverance and ground down Hou Yifan in an ending that should have been drawn.
Also a lot of decisive games in the first round of the C group. In a great game, Bosboom defeated one of the favorites, Howell, while top seed So started well by beating Nijboer with Black. I was filming the timetrouble in that game and the Dutchman had to make his 39th and 40th move in two seconds, but he managed! If So had played 39...Rxc1+, Nijboer would probably not have managed to execute the response in less than a second, I was thinking. In the clash between the World Junior Champions Gupta and
Dronavalli it was the girl who beat the boy. Romanishin set aside Bitalzadeh and in the Latin American encounter Iturrizaga won against Leon Hoyos.Here are all of today's games for replay:
GM Group A | | GM Group B |
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GM Group C |
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Schedule & results Grandmaster Group A
| Round 1 - Saturday 17.01.2009 |
| D. Stellwagen - S. Movsesian ¬?-¬? |
|
| M. Carlsen - T. Radjabov ¬?-¬? |
|
| L. Aronian - Wang Yue ¬?-¬? |
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| V. Ivanchuk - J. Smeets 0-1 |
|
| S. Karjakin - A. Morozevich 1-0 |
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| L. van Wely - L. Dominguez ¬?-¬? |
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| G. Kamsky - M. Adams ¬?-¬? |
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| Round 2 - Sunday 18.01.2009 |
| S. Movsesian - M. Adams |
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| L. Dominguez - G. Kamsky |
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| A. Morozevich - L. van Wely |
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| J. Smeets - S. Karjakin |
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| Wang Yue - V. Ivanchuk |
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| T. Radjabov - L. Aronian |
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| D. Stellwagen - M. Carlsen |
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| Round 3 - Monday 19.01.2009 |
| M. Carlsen - S. Movsesian |
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| L. Aronian - D. Stellwagen |
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| V. Ivanchuk - T. Radjabov |
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| S. Karjakin - Wang Yue |
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| L. van Wely - J. Smeets |
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| G. Kamsky - A. Morozevich |
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| M. Adams - L. Dominguez |
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| Round 4 - Tuesday 20.01.2009 |
| S. Movsesian - L. Dominguez |
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| A. Morozevich - M. Adams |
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| J. Smeets - G. Kamsky |
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| Wang Yue - L. van Wely |
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| T. Radjabov - S. Karjakin |
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| D. Stellwagen - V. Ivanchuk | |
| M. Carlsen - L. Aronian |
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| Round 5 - Thursday 22.01.2009 |
| L. Aronian - S. Movsesian |
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| V. Ivanchuk - M. Carlsen |
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| S. Karjakin - D. Stellwagen |
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| L. van Wely - T. Radjabov |
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| G. Kamsky - Wang Yue |
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| M. Adams - J. Smeets |
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| L. Dominguez - A. Morozevich |
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| Round 6 - Friday 23.01.2009 |
| S. Movsesian - A. Morozevich |
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| J. Smeets - L. Dominguez |
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| Wang Yue - M. Adams |
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| T. Radjabov - G. Kamsky |
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| D. Stellwagen - L. van Wely |
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| M. Carlsen - S. Karjakin |
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| L. Aronian - V. Ivanchuk |
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| Round 7 - Saturday 24.01.2009 |
| V. Ivanchuk - S. Movsesian |
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| S. Karjakin - L. Aronian |
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| L. van Wely - M. Carlsen |
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| G. Kamsky - D. Stellwagen |
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| M. Adams - T. Radjabov |
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| L. Dominguez - Wang Yue |
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| A. Morozevich - J. Smeets |
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| Round 8 - Sunday 25.01.2009 |
| S. Movsesian - J. Smeets |
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| Wang Yue - A. Morozevich |
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| T. Radjabov - L. Dominguez |
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| D. Stellwagen - M. Adams |
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| M. Carlsen - G. Kamsky |
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| L. Aronian - L. van Wely |
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| V. Ivanchuk - S. Karjakin |
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| Round 9 - Tuesday 27.01.2009 |
| S. Karjakin - S. Movsesian |
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| L. van Wely - V. Ivanchuk |
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| G. Kamsky - L. Aronian |
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| M. Adams - M. Carlsen |
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| L. Dominguez - D. Stellwagen |
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| A. Morozevich - T. Radjabov |
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| J. Smeets - Wang Yue |
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| Round 10 - Wednesday 28.01.2009 |
| S. Movsesian - Wang Yue |
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| T. Radjabov - J. Smeets |
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| D. Stellwagen - A. Morozevich |
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| M. Carlsen - L. Dominguez |
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| L. Aronian - M. Adams |
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| V. Ivanchuk - G. Kamsky |
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| S. Karjakin - L. van Wely |
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| Round 11 - Friday 30.01.2009 |
| L. van Wely - S. Movsesian |
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| G. Kamsky - S. Karjakin |
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| M. Adams - V. Ivanchuk |
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| L. Dominguez - L. Aronian |
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| A. Morozevich - M. Carlsen |
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| J. Smeets - D. Stellwagen |
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| Wang Yue - T. Radjabov |
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| Round 12 - Saturday 31.01.2009 |
| S. Movsesian - T. Radjabov |
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| D. Stellwagen - Wang Yue |
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| M. Carlsen - J. Smeets |
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| L. Aronian - A. Morozevich |
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| V. Ivanchuk - L. Dominguez |
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| S. Karjakin - M. Adams |
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| L. van Wely - G. Kamsky |
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| Round 13 - Sunday 1.02.2009 |
| G. Kamsky - S. Movsesian |
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| M. Adams - L. van Wely |
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| L. Dominguez - S. Karjakin |
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| A. Morozevich - V. Ivanchuk |
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| J. Smeets - L. Aronian |
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| Wang Yue - M. Carlsen |
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| T. Radjabov - D. Stellwagen |
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Schedule & results Grandmaster Group B
| Round 1 - Saturday 17.01.2009 |
| Hou Yifan - R. Kasimdzhanov 0-1 |
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| K. Sasikiran - E. l'Ami ¬?-¬? |
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| D. Reinderman - F. Vallejo Pons 0-1 |
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| N. Short - J. Werle ¬?-¬? |
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| A. Volokitin - F. Caruana ¬?-¬? |
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| H. Mecking - Z. Efimenko 0-1 |
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| A. Motylev - D. Navara 0-1 |
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| Round 2 - Sunday 18.01.2009 |
| R. Kasimdzhanov - D. Navara |
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| Z. Efimenko - A. Motylev |
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| F. Caruana - H. Mecking |
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| J. Werle - A. Volokitin |
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| F. Vallejo Pons - N. Short |
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| E. l'Ami - D. Reinderman |
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| Hou Yifan - K. Sasikiran |
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| Round 3 - Monday 19.01.2009 |
| K. Sasikiran - R. Kasimdzhanov |
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| D. Reinderman - Hou Yifan |
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| N. Short - E. l'Ami |
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| A. Volokitin - F. Vallejo Pons |
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| H. Mecking - J. Werle |
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| A. Motylev - F. Caruana |
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| D. Navara - Z. Efimenko |
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| Round 4 - Tuesday 20.01.2009 |
| R. Kasimdzhanov - Z. Efimenko |
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| F. Caruana - D. Navara |
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| J. Werle - A. Motylev |
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| F. Vallejo Pons - H. Mecking |
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| E. l'Ami - A. Volokitin |
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| Hou Yifan - N. Short |
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| K. Sasikiran - D. Reinderman |
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| Round 5 - Thursday 22.01.2009 |
| D. Reinderman - R. Kasimdzhanov |
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| N. Short - K. Sasikiran |
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| A. Volokitin - Hou Yifan |
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| H. Mecking - E. l'Ami |
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| A. Motylev - F. Vallejo Pons |
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| D. Navara - J. Werle |
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| Z. Efimenko - F. Caruana |
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| Round 6 - Friday 23.01.2009 |
| R. Kasimdzhanov - F. Caruana |
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| J. Werle - Z. Efimenko |
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| F. Vallejo Pons - D. Navara |
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| E. l'Ami - A. Motylev |
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| Hou Yifan - H. Mecking |
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| K. Sasikiran - A. Volokitin |
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| D. Reinderman - N. Short |
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| Round 7 - Saturday 24.01.2009 |
| N. Short - R. Kasimdzhanov |
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| A. Volokitin - D. Reinderman |
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| H. Mecking - K. Sasikiran |
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| A. Motylev - Hou Yifan |
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| D. Navara - E. l'Ami |
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| Z. Efimenko - F. Vallejo Pons |
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| F. Caruana - J. Werle |
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| Round 8 - Sunday 25.01.2009 |
| R. Kasimdzhanov - J. Werle |
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| F. Vallejo Pons - F. Caruana |
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| E. l'Ami - Z. Efimenko |
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| Hou Yifan - D. Navara |
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| K. Sasikiran - A. Motylev |
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| D. Reinderman - H. Mecking |
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| N. Short - A. Volokitin |
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| Round 9 - Tuesday 27.01.2009 |
| A. Volokitin - R. Kasimdzhanov |
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| H. Mecking - N. Short |
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| A. Motylev - D. Reinderman |
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| D. Navara - K. Sasikiran |
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| Z. Efimenko - Hou Yifan |
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| F. Caruana - E. l'Ami |
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| J. Werle - F. Vallejo Pons |
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| Round 10 - Wednesday 28.01.2009 |
| R. Kasimdzhanov - F. Vallejo Pons |
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| E. l'Ami - J. Werle |
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| Hou Yifan - F. Caruana |
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| K. Sasikiran - Z. Efimenko |
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| D. Reinderman - D. Navara |
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| N. Short - A. Motylev |
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| A. Volokitin - H. Mecking |
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| Round 11 - Friday 30.01.2009 |
| H. Mecking - R. Kasimdzhanov |
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| A. Motylev - A. Volokitin |
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| D. Navara - N. Short |
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| Z. Efimenko - D. Reinderman |
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| F. Caruana - K. Sasikiran |
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| J. Werle - Hou Yifan |
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| F. Vallejo Pons - E. l'Ami |
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| Round 12 - Saturday 31.01.2009 |
| R. Kasimdzhanov - E. l'Ami |
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| Hou Yifan - F. Vallejo Pons |
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| K. Sasikiran - J. Werle |
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| D. Reinderman - F. Caruana |
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| N. Short - Z. Efimenko |
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| A. Volokitin - D. Navara |
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| H. Mecking - A. Motylev |
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| Round 13 - Sunday 1.02.2009 |
| A. Motylev - R. Kasimdzhanov |
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| D. Navara - H. Mecking |
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| Z. Efimenko - A. Volokitin |
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| F. Caruana - N. Short |
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| J. Werle - D. Reinderman |
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| F. Vallejo Pons - K. Sasikiran |
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| E. l'Ami - Hou Yifan |
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Schedule & results Grandmaster Group C
| Round 1 - Saturday 17.01.2009 |
| T. Hillarp Persson - R. Pruijssers ¬?-¬? |
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| D. Howell - M. Bosboom 0-1 |
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| F. Nijboer - W. So 0-1 |
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| O. Romanishin - A. Bitalzadeh 1-0 |
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| A. Giri - F. Holzke ¬?-¬? |
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| A. Gupta - D. Harika 0-1 |
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| E. Iturrizaga - M. Leon Hoyos 1-0 |
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| Round 2 - Sunday 18.01.2009 |
| R. Pruijssers - M. Leon Hoyos |
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| D. Harika - E. Iturrizaga |
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| F. Holzke - A. Gupta |
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| A. Bitalzadeh - A. Giri |
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| W. So - O. Romanishin |
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| M. Bosboom - F. Nijboer |
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| T. Hillarp Persson - D. Howell |
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| Round 3 - Monday 19.01.2009 |
| D. Howell - R. Pruijssers |
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| F. Nijboer - T. Hillarp Persson |
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| O. Romanishin - M. Bosboom |
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| A. Giri - W. So |
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| A. Gupta - A. Bitalzadeh | |
| E. Iturrizaga - F. Holzke |
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| M. Leon Hoyos - D. Harika |
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| Round 4 - Tuesday 20.01.2009 |
| R. Pruijssers - D. Harika |
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| F. Holzke - M. Leon Hoyos |
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| A. Bitalzadeh - E. Iturrizaga |
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| W. So - A. Gupta |
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| M. Bosboom - A. Giri |
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| T. Hillarp Persson - O. Romanishin |
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| D. Howell - F. Nijboer |
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| Round 5 - Thursday 22.01.2009 |
| F. Nijboer - R. Pruijssers |
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| O. Romanishin - D. Howell |
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| A. Giri - T. Hillarp Persson |
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| A. Gupta - M. Bosboom |
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| E. Iturrizaga - W. So |
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| M. Leon Hoyos - A. Bitalzadeh |
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| D. Harika - F. Holzke |
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| Round 6 - Friday 23.01.2009 |
| R. Pruijssers - F. Holzke |
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| A. Bitalzadeh - D. Harika |
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| W. So - M. Leon Hoyos |
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| M. Bosboom - E. Iturrizaga |
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| T. Hillarp Persson - A. Gupta |
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| D. Howell - A. Giri |
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| F. Nijboer - O. Romanishin |
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| Round 7 - Saturday 24.01.2009 |
| O. Romanishin - R. Pruijssers |
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| A. Giri - F. Nijboer |
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| A. Gupta - D. Howell |
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| E. Iturrizaga - T. Hillarp Persson |
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| M. Leon Hoyos - M. Bosboom |
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| D. Harika - W. So |
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| F. Holzke - A. Bitalzadeh |
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| Round 8 - Sunday 25.01.2009 |
| R. Pruijssers - A. Bitalzadeh |
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| W. So - F. Holzke |
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| M. Bosboom - D. Harika |
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| T. Hillarp Persson - M. Leon Hoyos |
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| D. Howell - E. Iturrizaga |
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| F. Nijboer - A. Gupta |
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| O. Romanishin - A. Giri |
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| Round 9 - Tuesday 27.01.2009 |
| A. Giri - R. Pruijssers |
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| A. Gupta - O. Romanishin |
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| E. Iturrizaga - F. Nijboer |
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| M. Leon Hoyos - D. Howell |
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| D. Harika - T. Hillarp Persson |
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| F. Holzke - M. Bosboom |
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| A. Bitalzadeh - W. So |
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| Round 10 - Wednesday 28.01.2009 |
| R. Pruijssers - W. So |
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| M. Bosboom - A. Bitalzadeh |
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| T. Hillarp Persson - F. Holzke |
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| D. Howell - D. Harika |
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| F. Nijboer - M. Leon Hoyos |
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| O. Romanishin - E. Iturrizaga |
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| A. Giri - A. Gupta |
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| Round 11 - Friday 30.01.2009 |
| A. Gupta - R. Pruijssers |
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| E. Iturrizaga - A. Giri |
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| M. Leon Hoyos - O. Romanishin |
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| D. Harika - F. Nijboer |
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| F. Holzke - D. Howell |
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| A. Bitalzadeh - T. Hillarp Persson |
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| W. So - M. Bosboom |
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| Round 12 - Saturday 31.01.2009 |
| R. Pruijssers - M. Bosboom |
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| T. Hillarp Persson - W. So |
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| D. Howell - A. Bitalzadeh |
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| F. Nijboer - F. Holzke |
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| O. Romanishin - D. Harika |
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| A. Giri - M. Leon Hoyos |
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| A. Gupta - E. Iturrizaga |
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| Round 13 - Sunday 1.02.2009 |
| E. Iturrizaga - R. Pruijssers |
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| M. Leon Hoyos - A. Gupta |
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| D. Harika - A. Giri |
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| F. Holzke - O. Romanishin |
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| A. Bitalzadeh - F. Nijboer |
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| W. So - D. Howell |
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| M. Bosboom - T. Hillarp Persson |
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Links:
In the first round of the Corus Chess Tournament 2009, both Ivanchuk and Morozevich started badly. The Ukrainian lost on time against Dutchman Smeets while the Russian was crushed in just 26 moves by Karjakin.
"The Dutch trio will surely have a tough tournament", is a statement almost anybody agreed on before the start of this year's Corus Chess Tournament. And they still might, but at least they're of to a good start, scoring 2/3 in the first round. Van Wely and Stellwagen drew their White games having the better chances, but Smeets' victory over top seed Vassily Ivanchuk was of course the sensation of the day. "It's even possible to win without having a better position anywhere in the game," were his cool words, after he had shown his game to the journalists in the press room (full video later here on ChessVibes!).In trying to win a better endgame, Ivanchuk overstepped the time limit. Some journos were of the opinion that Chuky's (standard) behaviour at the start had cost him the game: present at 13.30 sharp (as is prescribed in the players' contracts as from this year), he simply let his clock running for ten minutes, walking around and avoiding photographers. And bringing a first smile on his opponent's face.
Another big smile could be seen on Karjakin's face, who scored the first win of the tournament by completely crushing another big favorite, Alexander Morozevich. The Ukrainian's novelty 15.Qg2 already gives White a good position, and "he blundered at the end; he can't do anything about 27.Bxh7+ because on 26...g6 I take," Karjakin explained.The other games in the A group were drawn, including what might turn out to be a very important encounter: Aronian-Wang Yue. But the most interesting game was the top clash between Carlsen and Radjabov. The latter surprised the Norwegian by going for 2...e6, and then Carlsen decided to avoid his opponent's preparation with 3.g3. 14.Bh6!! was a fantastic move and White might have been winning somewhere, but Radjabov defended like a lion.
The B group saw a rare scheme of results: three draws, and four wins by Black! Motylev miscalculated somewhere and suddenly dropped material against Navara, while Reinderman, in an attempt to avoid the Berlin Wall, lost a pawn in a rare sideline, and finally went down in a rook ending. Mecking was slightly worse for almost the whole game and eventually found himself in a lost opposite-coloured bishop ending. Kasimdzhanov showed amazing perseverance and ground down Hou Yifan in an ending that should have been drawn.
Also a lot of decisive games in the first round of the C group. In a great game, Bosboom defeated one of the favorites, Howell, while top seed So started well by beating Nijboer with Black. I was filming the timetrouble in that game and the Dutchman had to make his 39th and 40th move in two seconds, but he managed! If So had played 39...Rxc1+, Nijboer would probably not have managed to execute the response in less than a second, I was thinking. In the clash between the World Junior Champions Gupta and Dronavalli it was the girl who beat the boy. Romanishin set aside Bitalzadeh and in the Latin American encounter Iturrizaga won against Leon Hoyos.Here are all of today's games for replay:
