Second FIDE Grand Prix Underway
Krischuk And Radjabov Early Leaders
The big chess gunslingers are out again, this time in Sochi, Russia, for the second FIDE Grand Prix tournament.
This single-round robin event of 14 participants saw just two decisive contests from the 7 games of the first round. Alexander Grischuk defeated Sergey Karjakin in a sharp Anti-Meran Gambit and Teimour Radjabov (pictured) beat the rank outsider Mohamad Al-Modiakhi using the subtle Barcza System (that's A07 for those who have memorised the ECO codes, and 1.Nf3 2. g3 for the rest of us).
None of the other games spaked into much life, as the first round proved to be typical of so many opening rounds: a cagey affair where avoiding losing is more important that winning. Sad but often true.
The results in round 1:
| Grischuk, Alexander | - Karjakin, Sergey | 1-0 | 41 | D43 | Anti-Meran Gambit |
| Radjabov, Teimour | - Al-Modiahki, Mohamad | 1-0 | 48 | A07 | Barcza System |
| Cheparinov, Ivan | - Gashimov, Vugar | ½-½ | 45 | C42 | Petroff's Defence |
| Gelfand, Boris | - Jakovenko, Dmitry | ½-½ | 42 | E32 | Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2 |
| Navara, David | - Ivanchuk, Vassily | ½-½ | 39 | E15 | Queens Indian |
| Svidler, Peter | - Kamsky, Gata | ½-½ | 35 | B12 | Caro Kann Advanced |
| Wang Yue | - Aronian, Levon | ½-½ | 32 | D11 | Slav Defence |
