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Monday, 24 May 2010 |
 Vugar Gashimov vs. Teimour Radjabov ½:½
This game could determine a second qualifier for the candidates matches: the winner could more or less secure the ticket. However, it ended in a draw, and the issue was postponed to the final round.
In the Rollolimo Sicilian Gashimov won a pawn already on the 10th move.
Black did not have full compensation, but Radjabov managed to complicate
the game. Gashimov played well and kept his advantage for a while, but
prior to the control Radjabov transferred his queen to the queenside and
gave the perpetual check.
Peter Svidler vs. Boris Gelfand 1-0
The five-time Russian champion won his first game at the Astrakhan FIDE Grand Prix stage. In the Four Knights Opening both players were eager to complicate things. Gelfand’s sharp f-pawn push on the 21st move proved to be a big mistake. Svidler delivered a nice tactical blow, and Black’s position collapsed. Gelfand resigned on the 31st move.
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov vs. Peter Leko ½:½
Mamedyarov improved his first round game against Dmitry Jakovenko. Leko
did not find the right way to counter White’s novelty and ended up in a
difficult position. Perhaps Mamedyarov did not find all the best moves,
but nevertheless managed to transpose to the ending with a big
advantage, which he effectively converted to the full point, winning the
game on the 73rd move.
Vladimir Akopian vs. Vassily Ivanchuk ½:½
Ivanchuk lose this game surprisingly quickly – on the 23rd move! The
Ukrainian handled the Ragozin Variation of the Queen’s Gambit too
passively. Akopian comfortably arranged his pieces and launched a
kingside attack. On the 21st move the Armenian sacrificed an exchange,
which turned out to be a very unpleasant surprise for Black. In two more
moves Ivanchuk abandoned his resistance. It is curious to note that
despite White’s dangerous attack the computer assesses the final
position as equal – at least on a shallow depth.
Pavel Eljanov vs. Dmitry Jakovenko ½:½
This game was rather uneventful. Both players were content with a draw,
and they found the move repetition already on the 13th move in the
Catalan Opening.
Wang Yue vs. Ruslan Ponomariov ½:½
Ponomariov, playing Black, misplayed the Gruenfeld Defense and ended up
in a worse position. However, in the subsequent game he showed his
excellent defensive skill, tenacity and creativity, and gradually
equalized by the first control. A draw was agreed on the 44th move.
Evgeny Alekseev vs. Ernesto Inarkiev 1-0
This duel of the two Russian players became the longest game of the 12th
round. After interesting complications in the Slav Defense the players
arrived at a very original position, in which White had three minor
pieces against a rook and three pawns. White slowly but surely
consolidated his pieces and launched the attack on the king.
Consequently he won a pawn and advanced to a winning ending. Despite
Black’s stubborn resistance, Alekseev won the game on the 88th move.
GM Evgeny Sveshnikov, IM Eldar Mukhametov
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