Dortmund Rd5 – Kramnik on 3102 performance

by ChessBase
7/25/2011 – It is hard to find words for this. "Stratospheric" is inadequate – this man is clearly headed for low-earth orbit. Vladimir Kramnik beat Anish Giri in a Gruenfeld Exchange to hit 4.5/5, increasing his lead to 1.5 points after Le, undefeated, beat Ponomariov to assume second place. Meier and Nakamura played a marathon 150-move game that ended in a draw. Round six report.

ChessBase 17 - Mega package - Edition 2024 ChessBase 17 - Mega package - Edition 2024

It is the program of choice for anyone who loves the game and wants to know more about it. Start your personal success story with ChessBase and enjoy the game even more.

More...

From Thursday July 21 to Sunday July 31, 2010 the 39th edition annual Sparkassen Chess-Meeting is taking place in Dortmund, Germany. It is a six-player round robin, in which each player has to play two games against each of the others, one as White and one as Black. Draw offers are not allowed – a game can only be declared a draw, by the arbiter, if there is no possible win for one side, or if a position is repeated three times. The winner of the tournament will be determined after ten rounds.

Games start at 15:00h = 3 p.m. local time (CEST, = 17:00 Moscow, 14:00 p.m. London, 9:00 a.m. New York). All games will be broadcast by the official web site's "Live Games" page and on the Playchess.com server. As in the previous year the moves of the Sparkassen Chess-Meeting will be transmitted on the Internet with a delay of 15 minutes – which means that the moves stay in the playing hall for that period, before they are broadcast to the rest of the world. This is an important anti-cheating measure that has been proposed to FIDE since October 2005 and has the support of most of the top players. We commend the Dortmund organisers for taking the initiative.

Participants

Player
Title
Nat.
Born
Rating
Kramnik, Vladimir
GM
RUS
1975
2781
Nakamura, Hikaru
GM
USA
1987
2770
Ponomariov, Ruslan
GM
UKR
1983
2764
Le, Quang Liem
GM
VIE
1991
2715
Giri, Anish
GM
NED
1994
2715
Meier, Georg
GM
GER
1987
2656

Round five

Round 5: Monday, July 25, 15:00h
Quang Liem Le 
1-0
 Ruslan Ponomariov 
Georg Meier 
½-½
 Hikaru Nakamura
Vladimir Kramnik 
1-0
 Anish Giri


Lights! Action!

The day before the rest day was as action packed as one could hope. Ponomariov had been making a go for it at trying to stay within striking distance of Kramnik, and had been doing a decent job of it until a catastrophe hit in the guise of a brilliant Vietnamese prodigy. Quang Liem played a strong game, and entered a complicated endgame that he conducted to perfection wresting the second place away from Ruslan, and taking his score to 3.0/5.


Quang Liem Le is now second, undefeated at 3.0/5 and a 2804 performance


Ponomariov had managed to stay competitive with Kramnik, but now seems like he
will have to fight for second.

[Event "39th GM"] [Site "Dortmund GER"] [Date "2011.07.25"] [Round "5"] [White "Le, Quang Liem"] [Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D35"] [WhiteElo "2715"] [BlackElo "2764"] [PlyCount "141"] [EventDate "2011.07.21"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bf4 c6 7. Qc2 Nh5 8. Bd2 Nhf6 9. Bf4 Nh5 10. Bg5 Be7 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. e3 Nb6 13. Ne5 g6 14. O-O-O ( 14. g4 Ng7 15. h3 f6 16. Nd3 Bd7 17. Nc5 Ne6 18. Nxd7 Qxd7 19. h4 O-O-O 20. O-O-O Kb8 21. h5 g5 22. h6 Nc7 23. Bd3 Nb5 24. Nxb5 cxb5 25. Kb1 Nc4 26. Qe2 { 1/2-1/2 (41) Hertneck,G (2502)-Hansen,C (2610)/Germany 2002/EXT 2003 (43)}) 14... Bf5 15. Qe2 Nf6 16. g4 Be6 17. f3 O-O-O 18. h4 Nfd7 19. Nd3 Rhe8 20. Bg2 f6 21. Qf2 Qd6 22. Kb1 Kb8 23. Ka1 h6 24. Rhg1 Bf7 25. g5 hxg5 26. hxg5 f5 27. e4 dxe4 28. fxe4 Ka8 29. Nc5 Nc4 30. Nb3 $6 (30. exf5 $1 Nxc5 31. dxc5 Qe5 32. Rxd8+ Rxd8 33. fxg6 Bxg6 34. Qf6 $16) 30... Qb4 31. d5 Qb6 (31... cxd5 $1 32. exf5 Qb6 33. Qxb6 Ndxb6 34. f6 Ne3 35. Rd2 Nbc4 $11) 32. Qxb6 Ndxb6 33. dxc6 Rxd1+ 34. Nxd1 fxe4 35. cxb7+ Kb8 36. Nc3 Re5 37. Bxe4 Nd6 38. Nd4 Rc5 39. Rf1 Nxe4 40. Nxe4 Rc4 41. Rd1 Bd5 42. Nd6 Rc7 43. Rf1 Bxb7 44. Rf8+ Nc8 45. b4 $1 { Le's handling of the technical phase is superb and he converts his advantage masterfully.} Rd7 46. Nc6+ Kc7 47. Nxb7 Kxb7 48. Rf6 Rd6 49. Ne5 Rd5 50. Nf3 Rd3 51. Kb2 Nb6 52. Ne5 Rd5 53. Nf7 a5 54. bxa5 Rb5+ 55. Ka1 Rxa5 56. Rxg6 Rc5 57. Kb2 Rb5+ 58. Kc3 Ra5 59. Nd6+ Kc7 60. Kb3 Rd5 61. Ne8+ Kb7 62. Rg7+ Kc6 63. Rc7+ Kb5 64. g6 Rg5 65. Nd6+ Ka6 66. g7 Rg3+ 67. Kc2 Nd5 68. Rf7 Rg2+ 69. Kb3 Ne3 70. Ne8 Rg3 71. Rf3 1-0


Vladimir Kramnik facing Anish Giri in round five

Kramnik has been defying expectations, odds, you name it. After a heavily criticized drawing attitude in the recent Candidates matches, and having seen young Karjakin take over his spot as the top Russian in the FIDE ratings, it seemed as if time was finally taking its toll. Who could have expected to see Kramnik coming to the event playing like this? Playing with the fire and vigor of his youth, taking chances, and scoring a mid-tournament performance that just leaves one speechless. 3102... Adjectives fail us. It is worth mentioning that in the live ratings at 2700Chess.com he is just three points short of breaking back into the 2800 club.


Anish Giri was unable to do any better than his colleagues

His game against Giri was typical of his event: strong, energetic, and deadly efficient.

[Event "39th GM"] [Site "Dortmund GER"] [Date "2011.07.25"] [Round "5"] [White "Kramnik, V."] [Black "Giri, A."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D85"] [WhiteElo "2781"] [BlackElo "2701"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "2011.07.21"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3 c5 8. Qd2 Qa5 9. Rc1 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qxd2+ 11. Bxd2 O-O 12. Nf3 e6 13. h4 (13. Bb5 Nc6 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. O-O Ba6 16. Rfe1 Bb5 17. Bb4 Rfd8 18. Bc5 a5 19. h4 a4 20. Rc3 f6 21. e5 {1/2-1/2 (51) Kramnik,V (2790)-Mamedyarov,S (2761)/Moscow 2010/ CBM 139 (51)}) 13... Nc6 14. e5 Bd7 15. Rb1 b6 16. h5 Ne7 17. hxg6 fxg6 $6 { There was no special need to take with the f-pawn, and now Black has to constantly keep a look out for his e6 weakness not to mention tactics on the a2-g8 diagonal.} 18. Bc4 $1 Rac8 19. Bb3 Nd5 20. Ng5 $1 {Heading to the d6-square, and a colossal headache for Black.} h6 21. Ne4 g5 22. Nd6 Rc7 23. Ke2 Rd8 24. Rh3 Bc6 25. Rbh1 Rf8 $2 {Although clearly worse, after this move, Black's game crumbles very quickly.} (25... a5 26. a3 (26. Rxh6 $6 Bxh6 27. Rxh6 a4 $11) 26... a4 27. Ba2 Ba8 28. Kd3 $14) 26. Rc1 Bd7 27. Rxc7 Nxc7 28. Rc3 Na6 (28... Nd5 $2 29. Bxd5 exd5 30. Rc7 Rd8 31. Ke3 {threatening Nb7.} Be6 32. Rxa7 $18) 29. g3 Rd8 30. f4 {Rolling the pawns forward and exploiting the pin on e6.} Bf8 31. f5 Bxd6 32. exd6 Bb5+ 33. Ke3 Rxd6 34. fxe6 Kf8 35. Rc8+ Ke7 36. d5 Rd8 37. Rxd8 Kxd8 38. d6 Nc5 39. Bd5 Bd7 40. exd7 Kxd7 41. Kd4 Kxd6 42. Bb4 a5 43. Bxc5+ bxc5+ 44. Ke4 1-0

Nakamura played a combative Classical King's Indian against Meier, and boring it was not. He got into a bit of trouble, but the position was such that Meier had few ways to really improve upon his position. Neither was willing to call it a day even in the endgame, and the two slugged it out almost to the bare kings after 150 moves.


Hikaru Nakamura has been having a tough time of it and has
been unrecognizable.


Georg Meier has also been outgunned so far

[Event "39th GM"] [Site "Dortmund GER"] [Date "2011.07.25"] [Round "5"] [White "Meier, Geo"] [Black "Nakamura, Hi"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E98"] [WhiteElo "2656"] [BlackElo "2770"] [PlyCount "299"] [EventDate "2011.07.21"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. Ne1 Nd7 10. Be3 f5 11. f3 f4 12. Bf2 g5 13. Nd3 Nf6 14. c5 Ng6 15. Rc1 Rf7 16. a4 Bf8 17. a5 h5 18. cxd6 cxd6 19. Nb5 g4 20. Nxa7 Bd7 21. Qb3 g3 22. Bb6 Qe7 23. Rc7 Ne8 24. Rxd7 gxh2+ 25. Kh1 Qxd7 26. Rc1 Rg7 27. Bf1 Nh4 28. Rc3 Qe7 29. Qc2 Qg5 30. Ne1 Ng6 31. Nd3 Nh4 32. Ne1 Kh7 33. b4 Be7 34. Bf2 Bd8 35. Rc8 Rxc8 36. Qxc8 Ng6 37. a6 Qe7 38. axb7 Qxb7 39. Qxd8 Qxb4 40. Qxe8 Qb2 41. Nd3 Qb1 42. Be1 Rxa7 43. Qc6 Ra3 44. Qc1 Qb6 45. Kxh2 Ra2 46. Nb4 Ra4 47. Qc3 h4 48. Nc2 h3 49. gxh3 Qb1 50. Qd2 Ra2 51. Bd3 Kh6 52. h4 Nf8 53. Bf2 Qb3 54. Kg2 Ng6 55. Qd1 Nf8 56. Kh3 Ng6 57. Qf1 Qc3 58. Be1 Qc8+ 59. Kh2 Kh5 60. Qf2 Rb2 61. Qa7 Rxc2+ 62. Bxc2 Qxc2+ 63. Kg1 Kh6 64. Qf2 Qb1 65. Kh2 Nh8 66. Qg1 Nf7 67. Bf2 Qc2 68. Qg2 Qb2 69. Bg1 Qc3 70. Kh3 Qc1 71. Bb6 Qc8+ 72. Qg4 Qa6 73. Bf2 Qf1+ 74. Qg2 Qc1 75. Kh2 Qc2 76. Bg1 Qd1 77. Qh3 Qd2+ 78. Kh1 Qe2 79. Bb6 Qb2 80. Qe6+ Kg7 81. Qg4+ Kf8 82. Bg1 Qe2 83. Qg2 Qe1 84. Qf2 Qc1 85. Kh2 Kg7 86. Qe2 Kh6 87. Bf2 Qc3 88. Kg2 Qc8 89. Qb5 Qg8+ 90. Kh2 Qd8 91. Qb6 Qd7 92. Qa6 Qd8 93. Qf1 Qc8 94. Qh3 Qf8 95. Qe6+ Kh5 96. Qf5+ Kh6 97. Qf6+ Kh5 98. Kg2 Qg8+ 99. Kf1 Qf8 100. Bb6 Qg8 101. Bc7 Qg6 102. Qxg6+ Kxg6 103. Kg2 Kf6 104. Kh3 Kg6 105. Ba5 Kf6 106. Kg4 Nh6+ 107. Kh5 Nf7 108. Be1 Kg7 109. Kg4 Kf6 110. Kh3 Nh6 111. Kg2 Kg6 112. Kf1 Kf7 113. Ke2 Ng8 114. Bb4 Ke7 115. Ke1 Nf6 116. Kf2 Kd7 117. Kg2 Ke7 118. Kh3 Kd7 119. Be1 Ke7 120. Bf2 Kf7 121. Ba7 Ke7 122. Bb6 Ke8 123. Bf2 Kf7 124. Be1 Ke7 125. h5 Nxh5 126. Kg4 Nf6+ 127. Kf5 Nd7 128. Bh4+ Kf7 129. Bd8 Nc5 130. Bg5 Nb3 131. Kg4 Nd4 132. Bh4 Nc2 133. Kg5 Ne3 134. Bf2 Ke7 135. Kh4 Kd7 136. Kh3 Kc7 137. Bh4 Kb6 138. Be7 Kc5 139. Kh2 Nc4 140. Kg2 Kd4 141. Kf2 Kd3 142. Bf8 Kd2 143. Be7 Kd1 144. Bf8 Kd2 145. Be7 Kd3 146. Bf8 Nd2 147. Bxd6 Nxe4+ 148. fxe4 Kxe4 149. Bxe5 Kxd5 150. Bxf4 1/2-1/2

Pictures by Georgios Souleidis

Standings after five rounds


Schedule and results

Round 1: Thursday, July 21, 15:00h
Georg Meier 
½-½
 Quang Liem Le
Vladimir Kramnik 
1-0
 Ruslan Ponomariov
Anish Giri 
½-½
 Hikaru Nakamura 
Round 2: Friday, July 22, 15:00h
Quang Liem Le 
½-½
 Hikaru Nakamura
Ruslan Ponomariov 
1-0
 Anish Giri
Georg Meier 
0-1
 Vladimir Kramnik
Round 3: Saturday, July 23, 15:00h
Vladimir Kramnik 
½-½
 Quang Liem Le
Anish Giri 
1-0
 Georg Meier
Hikaru Nakamura 
0-1
 Ruslan Ponomariov 
Round 4: Sunday, July 24, 15:00h
Anish Giri 
½-½
 Quang Liem Le
Hikaru Nakamura 
0-1
 Vladimir Kramnik
Ruslan Ponomariov 
½-½
 Georg Meier
Round 5: Monday, July 25, 15:00h
Quang Liem Le 
1-0
 Ruslan Ponomariov 
Georg Meier 
½-½
 Hikaru Nakamura
Vladimir Kramnik 
1-0
 Anish Giri
Round 6: Wednesday, July 27, 15:00h
Quang Liem Le 
   Georg Meier
Ruslan Ponomariov 
   Vladimir Kramnik
Hikaru Nakamura 
   Anish Giri
Round 7: Thursday, July 28, 15:00h
Hikaru Nakamura 
   Quang Liem Le
Anish Giri 
   Ruslan Ponomariov 
Vladimir Kramnik 
   Georg Meier
Round 8: Friday, July 29, 15:00h
Quang Liem Le  
   Vladimir Kramnik
Georg Meier 
   Anish Giri
Ruslan Ponomariov 
   Hikaru Nakamura
Round 9: Saturday, July 30, 15:00h
Ruslan Ponomariov 
   Quang Liem Le
Hikaru Nakamura 
   Georg Meier
Anish Giri 
   Vladimir Kramnik
Round 10: Sunday, July 31, 15:00h
Quang Liem Le 
   Anish Giri
Vladimir Kramnik 
   Hikaru Nakamura
Georg Meier 
   Ruslan Ponomariov 

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 a free Playchess client there and get immediate access. You can also use ChessBase 11 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs.

Previous reports

Copyright ChessBase


Reports about chess: tournaments, championships, portraits, interviews, World Championships, product launches and more.

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register