Sochi Grand Prix - Round 2
Kamsky Joint Leader At Sochi
Some exciting chess in the second round as the competition really got going. Gata Kamsky (pictured) clashed with Vassily Ivanchuk in a Sveshnikov Sicilian theoretical battle and came out on top against the Ukranian.
Lev Aronian also chalked up his first win against David Navara, making the bishop pair count in the ending. The third winner of the day was Ivan Cheparinov who showed that the Berlin is not just the toughest nut to crack in modern opening theory, but can also provide a few full points for Black. Peter Svidler was his unfortunate victim.
The results in round 2:
| Aronian, Levon | - Navara, David | 1-0 | 46 | D45 | Anti-Meran Variations |
| Kamsky, Gata | - Ivanchuk, Vassily | 1-0 | 47 | B33 | Sicilian Sveshnikov |
| Gashimov, Vugar | - Gelfand, Boris | ½-½ | 39 | C43 | Petroff's Defence |
| Jakovenko, Dmitry | - Radjabov, Teimour | ½-½ | 57 | E97 | King's Indian Classical |
| Al-Modiahki, Mohamad | - Grischuk, Alexander | ½-½ | 34 | C19 | French Winawer |
| Svidler, Peter | - Cheparinov, Ivan | 0-1 | 39 | C67 | Ruy Lopez Berlin |
| Karjakin, Sergey | - Wang Yue | ½-½ | 41 | C67 | Ruy Lopez Berlin |
The standings after round 2:
| 1 |
Aronian, Levon | ARM | 2737 |
1½ |
| 2 |
Cheparinov, Ivan | BUL | 2687 |
1½ |
| 3 |
Radjabov, Teimour | AZE | 2744 |
1½ |
| 4 |
Grischuk, Alexander | RUS | 2728 |
1½ |
| 5 |
Kamsky, Gata | USA | 2723 |
1½ |
| 6 |
Gashimov, Vugar | AZE | 2717 |
1 |
| 7 |
Jakovenko, Dmitry | RUS | 2709 |
1 |
| 8 |
Gelfand, Boris | ISR | 2720 |
1 |
| 9 |
Wang Yue | CHN | 2704 |
1 |
| 10 |
Al-Modiahki, Mohamad | QAT | 2556 |
½ |
| 11 |
Svidler, Peter | RUS | 2738 |
½ |
| 12 |
Karjakin, Sergey | UKR | 2727 |
½ |
| 13 |
Ivanchuk, Vassily | UKR | 2781 |
½ |
| 14 |
Navara, David | CZE | 2646 |
½ |
The official tournament website is here.
