Grischuk Leads In Nalchik (Updated)
Everything was going so well for Aronian, who wore down his Armenian compatriot Akopian in round 2 to take the sole lead (Svidler was the only other winner, taking advantage of Ivanchuk's habitual time-trouble).
However, in round 3 Aronian's perfect start came to a sudden halt as he uncharacteristically lost his way in a double-rook ending against Karjakin
Video analysis of the game is below, by Waldemar Moes.
That left the way open for Grischuk (pictured) to move into the undisputed lead on 2.5/3 after overcoming former FIDE champion Kasimdzhanov in their game.
An eventful third round also served up victories for Alekseev and Leko.
Aronian and Grischuk face each other tomorrow in the most eagerly awaited pairing of the fourth round. The official website is here.
The results in round 2:
| Svidler, Peter | Ivanchuk, Vassily | 1-0 | 29 |
Ruy Lopez Moeller |
| Leko, Peter | Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | ½-½ | 37 |
Sicilian Rauzer |
| Aronian, Levon | Akopian, Vladimir | 1-0 | 94 |
Anti-Meran Variations |
| Kamsky, Gata | Bacrot, Etienne | ½-½ | 81 |
Ruy Lopez Marshall |
| Eljanov, Pavel | Grischuk, Alexander | ½-½ | 28 |
Queen's Gambit Meran |
| Gelfand, Boris | Alekseev, Evgeny | ½-½ | 35 |
QGD Ragozin |
| Kasimdzhanov, Rustam | Karjakin, Sergey | ½-½ | 23 |
Slav Defence |
The results in round 3:
| Grischuk, Alexander | Kasimdzhanov, Rustam | 1-0 | 39 |
QGA |
| Karjakin, Sergey | Aronian, Levon | 1-0 | 34 |
Ruy Lopez Closed |
| Alekseev, Evgeny | Eljanov, Pavel | 1-0 | 57 |
QGD 5.Bf4 |
| Bacrot, Etienne | Svidler, Peter | ½-½ | 36 |
Ruy Lopez |
| Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | Kamsky, Gata | ½-½ | 43 |
Gruenfeld Defence |
| Ivanchuk, Vassily | Gelfand, Boris | ½-½ | 30 |
Slav Defence |
| Akopian, Vladimir | Leko, Peter | 0-1 | 61 |
Queens Gambit Meran |
The standings after round 3:
| Grischuk, Alexander | RUS | 2748 | 2½ |
| Karjakin, Sergey | UKR | 2721 | 2 |
| Svidler, Peter | RUS | 2726 | 2 |
| Alekseev, Evgeny | RUS | 2716 |
2 |
| Leko, Peter | HUN | 2751 | 2 |
| Aronian, Levon | ARM | 2754 | 2 |
| Bacrot, Etienne | FRA | 2728 | 1½ |
| Kamsky, Gata | USA | 2720 | 1½ |
| Eljanov, Pavel | UKR | 2693 | 1 |
| Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | AZE | 2725 | 1 |
| Gelfand, Boris | ISR | 2733 | 1 |
| Ivanchuk, Vassily | UKR | 2746 | 1 |
| Kasimdzhanov, Rustam | UZB | 2695 | 1 |
| Akopian, Vladimir | ARM | 2696 | ½ |
