Karjakin had no reason to risk too much against Aronian and drew very quickly today. Movsesian played an excellent game with Black and beat Ivanchuk, and suddenly we find last year's B qualifier in shared first place! Carlsen escaped with a draw against Van Wely, while Morozevich inflicted a first loss on Smeets. Magnus Carlsen is not in top shape. So far, his tactics lack the sharpness that's needed win games in a big event like this - in fact, he's the only player who drew all of his seven games.
Today he allowed Van Wely's thematical push d3-d4, after which the Dutchman got a comfortable plus. If he hadn't overlooked 28.Re2!, as was shown to him in the press room by Ivan Sokolov, Van Wely could have put the Norwegian in big trouble.
At first, Kamsky seemed to have an easy day; around move 25 Stellwagen's position already looked resignable. But after one slight mistake by the American grandmaster (32.Nd4 instead of 32.Nd6) the young Dutchman was back in the game and even managed to draw by sacrificing his rook for a perpetual that shouldn't have been a perpetual. A very disappointed Kamsky did enter the press room, to see the computer's verdict, which showed a win for White.
It should have been more or less the same story for the third and thus far best-performing Dutchman Smeets, who defended well till and including the timetrouble. However, in the resulting ending, which was still difficult but possibly drawn, he fell for a trick and had to resign immediately. A welcome gift for the Moscovite, who needs the points badly.Both Adams-Radjabov and Karjakin-Aronian had ended in a draw after about an hour of play. Not much better was Dominguez-Wang Yue, which went from a Berlin Wall directly into a level pawn ending.
Today's press conference, to be published later at ChessVibes, is highly recommended. A well-spoken, modest and honest Sergey Movsesian explains his nice Black victory over Ivanchuk, and one quote should be mentioned right away. The fifth-seeded player in Wijk aan Zee wasn't sure about his e6-e5 move after the opening, about which he commented: "I have to check how strong players play this position." :-)In B, the legendary Mecking, thus far out of the spotlights, won a fine game against Sasikiran. Yesterday's Sokolov prize winner Navara again played creatively, but this time it didn't work out. L'Ami just took the (small) material, made us of the a-file and then, in the timetrouble phase, the tactics worked in his favour.
The game between the other two leaders, Kasimdzhanov and Short, was decided by the Englishman. "He simply missed that after 25...Rd1+ I can just go back." The resulting ending was very pleasant for White, and probably winning from the moment Black omitted the pawn sac 40...f5, which at least would have created a passed h-pawn.Manuel Bosboom, who has more fans by the day, lost against Leon Hoyos in a crazy game. After declining a thematical knight sac, the Dutchman got under heavy pressure and should have lost earlier, but 51.Qh3? (where 51.Rg8 wins) suddenly allowed 51...Rd4! which Bosboom didn't see, however.So couldn't win against Harika and so he has to share the lead with Hillarp Persson again, who beat Iturrizaga. After 21 moves, the ICC qualifier had just 21 seconds left till 40! He did make it, with 0:01 on the clock, but his position was dead lost.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 ¬?-¬? |
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| M. Carlsen - T. Radjabov ¬?-¬? |
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| L. Aronian - Wang Yue ¬?-¬? |
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| V. Ivanchuk - J. Smeets 0-1 |
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| 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 1-0 |
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| L. Dominguez - G. Kamsky ¬?-¬? |
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| A. Morozevich - L. van Wely 1-0 |
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| J. Smeets - S. Karjakin ¬?-¬? |
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| Wang Yue - V. Ivanchuk 0-1 |
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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 0-1 |
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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 1-0 |
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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 ¬?-¬? |
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| M. Carlsen - L. Aronian ¬?-¬? |
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| Round 5 - Thursday 22.01.2009 |
| L. Aronian - S. Movsesian 1-0 |
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| V. Ivanchuk - M. Carlsen ¬?-¬? |
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| S. Karjakin - D. Stellwagen 1-0 |
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| L. van Wely - T. Radjabov 1-0 |
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| G. Kamsky - Wang Yue ¬?-¬? |
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| M. Adams - J. Smeets ¬?-¬? |
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| L. Dominguez - A. Morozevich 1-0 |
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| Round 6 - Friday 23.01.2009 |
| S. Movsesian - A. Morozevich 1-0 |
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| J. Smeets - L. Dominguez ¬?-¬? |
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| Wang Yue - M. Adams 0-1 |
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| T. Radjabov - G. Kamsky 1-0 |
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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 0-1 |
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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 1-0 |
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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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[TABLE=580]
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 1-0 |
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| J. Werle - A. Volokitin ¬?-¬? |
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| F. Vallejo Pons - N. Short 0-1 |
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| E. l'Ami - D. Reinderman ¬?-¬? |
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| Hou Yifan - K. Sasikiran 1-0 |
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| Round 3 - Monday 19.01.2009 |
| K. Sasikiran - R. Kasimdzhanov 0-1 |
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| D. Reinderman - Hou Yifan 1-0 |
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| N. Short - E. l'Ami 1-0 |
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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 1-0 |
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| Round 4 - Tuesday 20.01.2009 |
| R. Kasimdzhanov - Z. Efimenko ¬?-¬? |
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| F. Caruana - D. Navara 1-0 |
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| J. Werle - A. Motylev 0-1 |
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| F. Vallejo Pons - H. Mecking 1-0 |
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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 0-1 |
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| A. Volokitin - Hou Yifan 1-0 |
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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 1-0 |
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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 0-1 |
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| E. l'Ami - A. Motylev 0-1 |
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| Hou Yifan - H. Mecking 1-0 |
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| K. Sasikiran - A. Volokitin ¬?-¬? |
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| D. Reinderman - N. Short 0-1 |
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| Round 7 - Saturday 24.01.2009 |
| N. Short - R. Kasimdzhanov 1-0 |
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| A. Volokitin - D. Reinderman 1-0 |
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| H. Mecking - K. Sasikiran 1-0 |
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| A. Motylev - Hou Yifan 1-0 |
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| D. Navara - E. l'Ami 0-1 |
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| Z. Efimenko - F. Vallejo Pons ¬?-¬? |
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| F. Caruana - J. Werle 1-0 |
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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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[TABLE=582]
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 1-0 |
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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 1-0 |
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| T. Hillarp Persson - D. Howell 1-0 |
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| Round 3 - Monday 19.01.2009 |
| D. Howell - R. Pruijssers 1-0 |
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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 0-1 |
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| E. Iturrizaga - F. Holzke 1-0 |
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| M. Leon Hoyos - D. Harika 1-0 |
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| Round 4 - Tuesday 20.01.2009 |
| R. Pruijssers - D. Harika ¬?-¬? |
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| F. Holzke - M. Leon Hoyos 1-0 |
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| A. Bitalzadeh - E. Iturrizaga 1-0 |
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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 1-0 |
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| D. Howell - F. Nijboer 1-0 |
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| Round 5 - Thursday 22.01.2009 |
| F. Nijboer - R. Pruijssers 1-0 |
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| O. Romanishin - D. Howell 0-1 |
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| A. Giri - T. Hillarp Persson 0-1 |
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| A. Gupta - M. Bosboom 1-0 |
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| E. Iturrizaga - W. So 0-1 |
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| M. Leon Hoyos - A. Bitalzadeh 1-0 |
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| D. Harika - F. Holzke ¬?-¬? |
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| Round 6 - Friday 23.01.2009 |
| R. Pruijssers - F. Holzke 0-1 |
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| A. Bitalzadeh - D. Harika ¬?-¬? |
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| W. So - M. Leon Hoyos 1-0 |
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| M. Bosboom - E. Iturrizaga 1-0 |
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| T. Hillarp Persson - A. Gupta 0-1 |
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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 1-0 |
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| E. Iturrizaga - T. Hillarp Persson 0-1 |
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| M. Leon Hoyos - M. Bosboom 1-0 |
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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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|
|
[TABLE=583]Links:
Karjakin had no reason to risk too much against Aronian and drew very quickly today. Movsesian played an excellent game with Black and beat Ivanchuk, and suddenly we find last year's B qualifier in shared first place! Carlsen escaped with a draw against Van Wely, while Morozevich inflicted a first loss on Smeets. Magnus Carlsen is not in top shape. So far, his tactics lack the sharpness that's needed win games in a big event like this - in fact, he's the only player who drew all of his seven games.
Today he allowed Van Wely's thematical push d3-d4, after which the Dutchman got a comfortable plus. If he hadn't overlooked 28.Re2!, as was shown to him in the press room by Ivan Sokolov, Van Wely could have put the Norwegian in big trouble.
At first, Kamsky seemed to have an easy day; around move 25 Stellwagen's position already looked resignable. But after one slight mistake by the American grandmaster (32.Nd4 instead of 32.Nd6) the young Dutchman was back in the game and even managed to draw by sacrificing his rook for a perpetual that shouldn't have been a perpetual. A very disappointed Kamsky did enter the press room, to see the computer's verdict, which showed a win for White.
It should have been more or less the same story for the third and thus far best-performing Dutchman Smeets, who defended well till and including the timetrouble. However, in the resulting ending, which was still difficult but possibly drawn, he fell for a trick and had to resign immediately. A welcome gift for the Moscovite, who needs the points badly.Both Adams-Radjabov and Karjakin-Aronian had ended in a draw after about an hour of play. Not much better was Dominguez-Wang Yue, which went from a Berlin Wall directly into a level pawn ending.
Today's press conference, to be published later at ChessVibes, is highly recommended. A well-spoken, modest and honest Sergey Movsesian explains his nice Black victory over Ivanchuk, and one quote should be mentioned right away. The fifth-seeded player in Wijk aan Zee wasn't sure about his e6-e5 move after the opening, about which he commented: "I have to check how strong players play this position." :-)In B, the legendary Mecking, thus far out of the spotlights, won a fine game against Sasikiran. Yesterday's Sokolov prize winner Navara again played creatively, but this time it didn't work out. L'Ami just took the (small) material, made us of the a-file and then, in the timetrouble phase, the tactics worked in his favour. 
The game between the other two leaders, Kasimdzhanov and Short, was decided by the Englishman. "He simply missed that after 25...Rd1+ I can just go back." The resulting ending was very pleasant for White, and probably winning from the moment Black omitted the pawn sac 40...f5, which at least would have created a passed h-pawn.Manuel Bosboom, who has more fans by the day, lost against Leon Hoyos in a crazy game. After declining a thematical knight sac, the Dutchman got under heavy pressure and should have lost earlier, but 51.Qh3? (where 51.Rg8 wins) suddenly allowed 51...Rd4! which Bosboom didn't see, however.So couldn't win against Harika and so he has to share the lead with Hillarp Persson again, who beat Iturrizaga. After 21 moves, the ICC qualifier had just 21 seconds left till 40! He did make it, with 0:01 on the clock, but his position was dead lost.Here are all of today's games for replay:
