Naiditsch beats Efimenko 3.5-2.5

In the 4th in a series of matches held in Mukachevo, Ukraine Arkadij Naiditsch beat Zahar Efimenko 3.5-2.5. Naiditsch won the second game of the match, while five other games were drawn.

The 4th rapid match in Mukachevo, Ukraine was organised by the local Chess Club 32x64 and Universal Event Promotion, known from organizing the 2008 Anand-Kramnik match. The company was also responsible for the two rapid matches between Ivanchuk and Leko in 2007 and 2009, and the Short-Efimenko match from last year.



This year's match took place August 12-18 and consisted of six classical games. The match was part of the festival Transcarpathian Cup, which also ended on 18 August and included many other events, such as two classical opens, rapid, blitz and children's events.

On 15 August the 2002-2004 FIDE World Champion, Grandmaster Ruslan Ponomariov gave a simultaneous exhibition against kids - guests of the Transkarpathian Cup - and won all 27 games.



The only decisive game was a Berlin Wall, where White got everything he wanted: the classical majority on the kingside and no counterplay for Black on the queenside.

Naiditsch-Efimenko Mukachevo (02) 2010 24...b5?! Here 24...b6 was safer. Now White wins a few tempi and makes progress quickly. 25. Nc3! Rb8 26. Ne4! c4 27. Kg3 a5 28. f4 g6 29. Kh4 b4 30. axb4 axb4 31. Kg5 Rb5 32. Nf6! c3 33. bxc3 bxc3 34. Rh2 Bd5 35. Rh3 Bc6 36. Rxc3 and White won.

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Photos © Petro Parovinchak

Links

• Official website
• Games in PGN via TWIC