Jermuk R11: Eljanov, Inarkiev win, lead unchanged

by ChessBase
8/22/2009 – The Fifth FIDE Grand Prix continues to produce fighting chess. A relatively low 61% of the games so far were drawn, but only two of 47 draws were in less than 25 moves. In round eleven there was one 31-mover, the rest 40 moves or more. And two decisive games, which however left the top of the table unchanged. Full report with more beautiful pictures 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 eleven

Round 11: Friday, August 21, 2009

Kasimdzhanov Rus.

½-½
Leko Peter

Gelfand Boris

½-½
Kamsky Gata

Eljanov Pavel

1-0
Cheparinov Ivan

Karjakin Sergey

½-½
Alekseev Evgeny

Bacrot Etienne

½-½
Ivanchuk Vassily

Jakovenko Dmitry

0-1
Inarkiev Ernesto

Akopian Vladimir

½-½
Aronian Levon


Fighting spirit: Vassily Ivanchuk, the leader in Jermuk with two rounds to go

If one player can be singled out as crowd favourite in this tournament, that player would unequivocally be identified as Ivanchuk. Despite Leko's having held the lead, or a share of it, from beginning to end, Ivanchuk has done something Leko hasn't – demonstrated a willingness to battle in virtually every round, involving himself in four of the six longest encounters in this event. In fact, in the eighth round, that tenacity paid off with a fine 98-move win over Gelfand. This round was slightly unfortunate for the Ukrainian, however, as Bacrot pushed an advantage – a passed wing pawn in a pawn-up Rook ending – leaving the joint leader to fight for the draw, with no prospects for more in a 63-move Slav Defence.


Rustam Kasimdzanov vs Peter Leko in round eleven: draw in 31 moves

More unfortunate was Cheparinov, though, as he slipped to dead last, now a full point back of the pack. In this sense, Ukraine was given something to cheer about, as Eljanov was the victor in this 53-move encounter in the King's Indian Classical.


Ivan Cheparinov and Pavel Iljanov in the post-game press conference with IM Lilit Mkrtchian

That said, there was one other winner this round – Inarkiev – who took advantage of Jakovenko's uncharacteristic form to score in a rather terse 42-move Ruy Lopez Chigorin.


Dmitry Jakovenko and Ernesto Inarkiev discuss the latter's win with Lilit

All other games were drawn, leaving the leaderboard, yet again, unchanged. After a shaky start, spectators may also have taken note of Alekseev's slow climb to, and retention of, a place in the chasing pack. If there can be said to be a dark horse in this event, watch for the Russian to make his move in the final two rounds. He obtained his objective today of holding Karjakin to a draw, while playing the black side of a 50-move Petroff's Defence. Action heats up tomorrow, as play draws near its end in the penultimate round.

Current standings



The players, dignitaries, organisers and helpers pose in front of the Armenia spa


Gata Kamsky during his round eleven game


Dmitry Jakovenko during a game that would inflict a second defeat in a row


Two Armenians who have four Olympiad gold medals between them


Afterwards the two are joined by organiser GM Smbat Lputian in the press center


Levon checks the pictures taken by WIM Siranush Andriasian


Chess fans in Jermuk


Baseball caps are popular in Armenia


Very young fans in the area outside the playing hall


Examining the progress of local heros Vladimir Akopian and Levon Aronian


IM Khachatrian and technical head Aram Hajian analyse with a budding chess student


How to improve your chess strength: solving tactical positions from a book

All pictures by Arman Karakhanyan, courtesy of FIDE


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

Round 11: Friday, August 21, 2009

Kasimdzhanov Rus.

½-½
Leko Peter

Gelfand Boris

½-½
Kamsky Gata

Eljanov Pavel

1-0
Cheparinov Ivan

Karjakin Sergey

½-½
Alekseev Evgeny

Bacrot Etienne

½-½
Ivanchuk Vassily

Jakovenko Dmitry

0-1
Inarkiev Ernesto

Akopian Vladimir

½-½
Aronian Levon

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

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