Gashimov And Grischuk Lead Grand Prix
Now that the super-tournament at Pearl Springs in Nanjing, China is finished* attention turns again to the Elista Grand Prix which continues to provide a good number of exciting games.
After 9 rounds Vugar Gashimov (pictured) and Alexander Grischuk are joint leaders on 6 points. Former leader Teimour Radjabov is half a point behind together with Dmitry Jakovenko.
Gashimov's win in round 9 against Mamedyarov was particularly sweet, trapping Mamedyarov's Queen deep in Gashimov's territory (see below).
Today - Christmas Eve - is a rest day, but the players will be playing round 10 on Christmas Day!
Here are the full standings after round 9
| 1 |
Gashimov, Vugar | AZE | 2703 |
6 |
| 2 |
Grischuk, Alexander |
RUS | 2719 |
6 |
| 3 |
Jakovenko, Dmitry | RUS | 2737 |
5½ |
| 4 |
Radjabov, Teimour | AZE | 2751 |
5½ |
| 5 |
Inarkiev, Ernesto | RUS | 2669 |
4½ |
| 6 |
Bacrot, Etienne | FRA | 2705 |
4½ |
| 7 |
Wang Yue | CHN | 2736 |
4½ |
| 8 |
Cheparinov, Ivan | BUL | 2696 |
4 |
| 9 |
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | AZE | 2731 |
4 |
| 10 |
Lékó, Peter | HUN | 2747 |
4 |
| 11 |
Alekseev, Evgeny | RUS | 2715 |
4 |
| 12 |
Akopian, Vladimir | ARM | 2679 |
3½ |
| 13 |
Kasimdzhanov, Rustam | UZB | 2672 |
3½ |
| 14 |
Eljanov, Pavel | UKR | 2720 |
3½ |
The results from recent rounds:
| Round 5 | ||||
| Gashimov, Vugar | Grischuk, Alexander | 1-0 | 64 |
Sicilian Najdorf |
| Jakovenko, Dmitry | Bacrot, Etienne | ½-½ | 38 |
Ruy Lopez Berlin |
| Inarkiev, Ernesto | Cheparinov, Ivan | 0-1 | 29 |
Sicilian Najdorf Variation |
| Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | Kasimdzhanov, Rustam | ½-½ | 31 |
Nimzo Indian 4.Nf3 |
| Lékó, Peter | Radjabov, Teimour | ½-½ | 49 |
Sicilian Modern Dragon |
| Alekseev, Evgeny | Wang Yue | ½-½ | 68 |
Sicilian Rossolimo |
| Eljanov, Pavel | Akopian, Vladimir | ½-½ | 25 |
Anti-Meran Gambit |
| Round 6 | ||||
| Grischuk, Alexander | Eljanov, Pavel | 1-0 | 79 |
Ruy Lopez Berlin |
| Radjabov, Teimour | Jakovenko, Dmitry | ½-½ | 32 |
Petroff's Defence |
| Bacrot, Etienne | Inarkiev, Ernesto | ½-½ | 38 |
Ruy Lopez Marshall |
| Cheparinov, Ivan | Gashimov, Vugar | ½-½ | 68 |
Petroff's Defence |
| Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | Lékó, Peter | ½-½ | 110 |
Queens Indian Petrosian |
| Akopian, Vladimir | Alekseev, Evgeny | 0-1 | 61 |
Ruy Lopez Breyer |
| Kasimdzhanov, Rustam | Wang Yue | ½-½ | 37 |
Slav Defence |
| Round 7 | ||||
| Gashimov, Vugar | Bacrot, Etienne | ½-½ | 31 |
Sicilian Defence |
| Jakovenko, Dmitry | Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | ½-½ | 57 |
Gruenfeld Botvinnik |
| Inarkiev, Ernesto | Radjabov, Teimour | 1-0 | 62 |
Sicilian Modern Dragon |
| Wang Yue | Akopian, Vladimir | ½-½ | 46 |
Slav Defence |
| Lékó, Peter | Kasimdzhanov, Rustam | ½-½ | 40 |
Sicilian Najdorf Variation |
| Alekseev, Evgeny | Grischuk, Alexander | 0-1 | 50 |
King's Indian without Nc3 |
| Eljanov, Pavel | Cheparinov, Ivan | 1-0 | 125 |
Slav Defence |
| Round 8 | ||||
| Grischuk, Alexander | Wang Yue | 1-0 | 37 |
Slav Defence |
| Radjabov, Teimour | Gashimov, Vugar | ½-½ | 24 |
Nimzo Indian 4.Nf3 |
| Bacrot, Etienne | Eljanov, Pavel | ½-½ | 60 |
Sicilian Sveshnikov |
| Cheparinov, Ivan | Alekseev, Evgeny | 1-0 | 35 |
Ruy Lopez Breyer |
| Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | Inarkiev, Ernesto | ½-½ | 51 |
Slav Defence |
| Lékó, Peter | Jakovenko, Dmitry | ½-½ | 49 |
Ruy Lopez Closed |
| Kasimdzhanov, Rustam | Akopian, Vladimir | 1-0 | 35 |
Anti-Meran Variations |
| Round 9 | ||||
| Gashimov, Vugar | Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | 1-0 | 32 |
Sicilian Rauzer |
| Jakovenko, Dmitry | Kasimdzhanov, Rustam | 1-0 | 34 |
Sicilian Najdorf Variation |
| Inarkiev, Ernesto | Lékó, Peter |
½-½ | 34 |
Ruy Lopez Marshall |
| Wang Yue | Cheparinov, Ivan | 1-0 | 39 |
King's Indian Classical |
| Alekseev, Evgeny | Bacrot, Etienne | ½-½ | 25 |
Blumenfeld Counter Gambit |
| Akopian, Vladimir | Grischuk, Alexander | ½-½ | 33 |
Sicilian Najdorf Variation |
| Eljanov, Pavel | Radjabov, Teimour | 0-1 | 40 |
King's Indian Classical |
* The only decisive game of the last round in Pearl Spring was a victory for Ivanchuk - his only win of the tournament (see the last game below).
