Jermuk R9: Kasimdzhanov catches the leaders

by ChessBase
8/19/2009 – Six draws from seven games – but happily there was quite a bit of excitement in at least two games. One was of course Rustam Kasimdzhanov's victory over Ivan Cheparinov, which brought the former FIDE World Champion into the lead group of Peter Leko and Vassily Ivanchuk, a full point ahead of the field. We bring you a big illustrated report with impressions by Arman Karakhanyan.

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Fifth FIDE Grand Prix in Jermuk, Armenia

This event is taking place from August 8th-24th 2009. It is a Category 19 tournament, with eleven of the 14 players rated over 2700. The event is a memorial to former world champion Tigran Petrosian, who held the title from 1963–1969 and would have turned 80 on June 17th this year.

Round nine

New day, same story. With a second consecutive round of six draws from seven games, the players seem to be falling into a pattern typical of these high level events. Fortunately, of course, every round has had a least one bloodied victim. Karjakin-Inarkiev saw the Russian miss an opportunity for another win, playing 68...Qe5, where 68...Rd3 led to eventual mate. Where Inarkiev failed, however, Kasimdzhanov succeeded, winning a 42-move encounter in the Anti-Meran Variations against Cheparinov.


Chparinov and Kasimdzhanov being interviewed after their game by IM Lilit Mkrtchian

Peter Leko continues to be unbeatable, forcing a 28-move draw against Kamsky to hold onto the lead for the ninth round in succession.


You talking to me? Kamsky and Leko debate their game in the press conference

No other game produced any truly substantive chances for decisive finishes. As a result, the leading pack grows again, with Leko and Ivanchuk welcoming Kasimdzhanov back into the fold.

Round 9: Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Kamsky Gata
½-½
Leko Peter
Kasimdzhanov Rus.
1-0
Cheparinov Ivan
Gelfand Boris
½-½
Alekseev Evgeny
Eljanov Pavel
½-½
Ivanchuk Vassily
Karjakin Sergey
½-½
Inarkiev Ernesto
Bacrot Etienne
½-½
Aronian Levon
Jakovenko Dmitry
½-½
Akopian Vladimir


Jermuk – a bridge spanning one of the many mountain ravines


A cascade of water spills down the mountain slope


Kamsky vs Leko with a backdrop of the hilly Jermuk countyside


Dmitry Jakovenko with a slightly different but equally spectacular view in the background


Haven't we seen this before? Boris Gelfand in a familiar pose here in game nine


French GM Etienne Bacrot in his round nine game


Sergey Karjakin at work in his round nine game against Ernesto Inarkiev


How do I do it? With pure, raw talent, Et! – Bacrot and Kasmidzanov after round nine


Armenian idols Lilit and Lev: we are taking up a collection to get some much needed
vowels for the charming Ms Mkrtchian


Armenian ladies with big ratings: WGM Nelly Aginian, 2322, IM Lilit Mkrtchian, 2467,
and WIM Siranush Andriasian, 2240


Local hero: Levon Aronian being mobbed by young fans after the round


Local beauty: Peter Leko's wife Sofi is originally from Armenia


I'll show you how it's done! Peter Leko performs in front of a clutch of Russian grandmasters


Like this, Peter? Evgeny Alekseev in action


Trick shot: Dmitry Jakovenko can spin and slice!


World-class photographer with world-class GM: Aram Karakhanyan with Lev Aronian

All pictures by Arman Karakhanyan, courtesy of FIDE

Current standings


FIDE Grand Prix Jermuk 2009 – Schedule and results

Round 1: Sunday, August 09, 2009

Inarkiev Ernesto
0-1
Leko Peter
Ivanchuk Vassily
½-½
Aronian Levon
Alekseev Evgeny
½-½
Akopian Vladimir
Cheparinov Ivan
1-0
Jakovenko Dmitry
Kamsky Gata
½-½
Bacrot Etienne
Kasimdzhanov Rus.
½-½
Karjakin Sergey
Gelfand Boris
½-½
Eljanov Pavel

Round 2: Monday, August 10, 2009

Leko Peter
½-½
Eljanov Pavel
Karjakin Sergey
½-½
Gelfand Boris
Bacrot Etienne
½-½
Kasimdzhanov Rus.
Jakovenko Dmitry
1-0
Kamsky Gata
Akopian Vladimir
½-½
Cheparinov Ivan
Aronian Levon
1-0
Alekseev Evgeny
Inarkiev Ernesto
½-½
Ivanchuk Vassily

Round 3: Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Ivanchuk Vassily
½-½
Leko Peter
Alekseev Evgeny
1-0
Inarkiev Ernesto
Cheparinov Ivan
½-½
Aronian Levon
Kamsky Gata
½-½
Akopian Vladimir
Kasimdzhanov Rus.
½-½
Jakovenko Dmitry
Gelfand Boris
½-½
Bacrot Etienne
Eljanov Pavel
½-½
Karjakin Sergey

Round 4: Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Leko Peter
1-0
Karjakin Sergey
Bacrot Etienne
½-½
Eljanov Pavel
Jakovenko Dmitry
½-½
Gelfand Boris
Akopian Vladimir
½-½
Kasimdzhanov Rus.
Aronian Levon
1-0
Kamsky Gata
Inarkiev Ernesto
½-½
Cheparinov Ivan
Ivanchuk Vassily
1-0
Alekseev Evgeny

Round 5: Thursday, August 13, 2009

Alekseev Evgeny
½-½
Leko Peter
Cheparinov Ivan
0-1
Ivanchuk Vassily
Kamsky Gata
1-0
Inarkiev Ernesto
Kasimdzhanov Rus.
1-0
Aronian Levon
Gelfand Boris
1-0
Akopian Vladimir
Eljanov Pavel
½-½
Jakovenko Dmitry
Karjakin Sergey
1-0
Bacrot Etienne

Round 6: Saturday, August 15, 2009

Leko Peter
½-½
Bacrot Etienne
Jakovenko Dmitry
½-½
Karjakin Sergey
Akopian Vladimir
½-½
Eljanov Pavel
Aronian Levon
1-0
Gelfand Boris
Inarkiev Ernesto
0-1
Kasimdzhanov Rus.
Ivanchuk Vassily
½-½
Kamsky Gata
Alekseev Evgeny
1-0
Cheparinov Ivan

Round 7: Sunday, August 16, 2009

Cheparinov Ivan
0-1
Leko Peter
Kamsky Gata
0-1
Alekseev Evgeny
Kasimdzhanov Rus.
½-½
Ivanchuk Vassily
Gelfand Boris
1-0
Inarkiev Ernesto
Eljanov Pavel
1-0
Aronian Levon
Karjakin Sergey
1-0
Akopian Vladimir
Bacrot Etienne
1-0
Jakovenko Dmitry

Round 8: Monday, August 17, 2009

Leko Peter
½-½
Jakovenko Dmitry
Akopian Vladimir
½-½
Bacrot Etienne
Aronian Levon
½-½
Karjakin Sergey
Inarkiev Ernesto
½-½
Eljanov Pavel
Ivanchuk Vassily
1-0
Gelfand Boris
Alekseev Evgeny
½-½
Kasimdzhanov Rus.
Cheparinov Ivan
½-½
Kamsky Gata

Round 9: Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Kamsky Gata
½-½
Leko Peter
Kasimdzhanov Rus.
1-0
Cheparinov Ivan
Gelfand Boris
½-½
Alekseev Evgeny
Eljanov Pavel
½-½
Ivanchuk Vassily
Karjakin Sergey
½-½
Inarkiev Ernesto
Bacrot Etienne
½-½
Aronian Levon
Jakovenko Dmitry
½-½
Akopian Vladimir

Round 10: Thursday, August 20, 2009

Leko Peter
-
Akopian Vladimir
Aronian Levon
-
Jakovenko Dmitry
Inarkiev Ernesto
-
Bacrot Etienne
Ivanchuk Vassily
-
Karjakin Sergey
Alekseev Evgeny
-
Eljanov Pavel
Cheparinov Ivan
-
Gelfand Boris
Kamsky Gata
-
Kasimdzhanov Rus.
GamesReport

Round 11: Friday, August 21, 2009

Kasimdzhanov Rus.

-
Leko Peter

Gelfand Boris

-
Kamsky Gata

Eljanov Pavel

-
Cheparinov Ivan

Karjakin Sergey

-
Alekseev Evgeny

Bacrot Etienne

-
Ivanchuk Vassily

Jakovenko Dmitry

-
Inarkiev Ernesto

Akopian Vladimir

-
Aronian Levon
GamesReport

Round 12: Saturday, August 22, 2009

Leko Peter
-
Aronian Levon
Inarkiev Ernesto
-
Akopian Vladimir
Ivanchuk Vassily
-
Jakovenko Dmitry
Alekseev Evgeny
-
Bacrot Etienne
Cheparinov Ivan
-
Karjakin Sergey
Kamsky Gata
-
Eljanov Pavel
Kasimdzhanov Rus.
-
Gelfand Boris
GamesReport

Round 13: Sunday, August 23, 2009

Gelfand Boris
-
Leko Peter
Eljanov Pavel
-
Kasimdzhanov Rus.
Karjakin Sergey
-
Kamsky Gata
Bacrot Etienne
-
Cheparinov Ivan
Jakovenko Dmitry
-
Alekseev Evgeny
Akopian Vladimir
-
Ivanchuk Vassily
Aronian Levon
-
Inarkiev Ernesto
GamesReport
Monday, August 24, 2009
Departure

The games start at 15:00h Armenian time (12:00 noon CEST, 11:00h London, 6 a.m. New York and 3 a.m. California). Full live coverage, including discussion and analysis with thousands of other visitors, is available on Playchess.

Links

The games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the chess server Playchess.com. If you are not a member you can download the free PGN reader ChessBase Light, which gives you immediate access. You can also use the program to read, replay and analyse PGN games. New and enhanced: CB Light 2009!


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