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World Cup: Bu Xiangzhi, Movsesian, Efimenko & Sokolov eliminated

22 November 2009, 20.30 CET | Last modified: 14:50 | By Peter Doggers  | Filed under: Reports | Tags:

Sergei Movsesian is the strongest player who already has to leave the World Cup after two days of play. After losing the first game to Yu Yangyi, the Slovak GM was held to a draw in the second game today. Zahar Efimenko was eliminated 1.5-0.5 by Gilberto Milos; Yannick Pelletier beat Bu Xiangzhi with the same score while Ivan Sokolov lost both his games to Sergey Fedorchuk.

The FIDE World Chess Cup takes place November 20th-December 15th inn Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. It’s a seven-round knockout with six rounds of matches comprising two games per round. The final seventh round consists of four games.

Round 1 (November 21-23): 128 players Round 5 (December 3-5): 8 players
Round 2 (November 24-26): 64 players Round 6 (December 6-8): 4 players
Round 3 (November 27-29): 32 players Round 7 (December 10-14): 2 players
Round 4 (November 30-December 2): 16 players


The time control is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an addition of 30 seconds per move from move one. Games start at 15:00h local time (11:00 CET).

Round 1.2

During the second day of the World Cup the live transmission went well, although we’re not too enthusiastic about the choice of game viewer which is the free Montreux Java applet. During replay the games often jump to the final position, and another downside of it is that it doesn’t respond to the keyboard arrow keys, which we find much more convenient quickly replaying lots of games. Anyway, enough complaining.

Boris Gelfand, top seed at this event, was indeed the first to reach the second round because he didn’t care too much about losing a few rating points and agreed to a draw at move 12. Gashimov, Svidler, Morozevich, Radjabov, Ivanchuk, Wang Yue, Mamedyarov, Ganguly, Fressinet and Fedorchuk reached the next round by 2-0 victories; the latter by upsetting the higher-rated Ivan Sokolov.

15-year-old Chinese super-talent (already a GM with 2527 and an expected rating change of 29.7) Yu Yangyi knocked out Sergei Movsesian, who avoided theory today with a Closed Sicilian with c3, but didn’t come close to kingside attack. He had to repeat moves to avoid a disaster on the queenside.

Yu Yangyi surprisingly knocks out Sergei Movsesian

The third surprise in this first round so far is the elimination of Zahar Efimenko, who yesterday lost with the white pieces against 46-year-old Gilberto Milos. Today the young Ukrainian reached an ending with three pawns against a knight, but the experienced Brazilian grandmaster didn’t falter. Bu Xiangzhi was defeated 0.5-1.5 by Yannick Pelletier, who heroically defended a very difficult position with Black yesterday and then crushed his opponent today in a Grünfeld.

A nice thing about the World Cup is that you get to see top 10 players playing against IMs or “weak” GMs, the kind of opponents almost all of us would lose against. The way these top GMs beat them is often very instructive. In most cases the lower-rated players can go along quite well for a while, but after a few hours of play they inevitably start to make small mistakes, which are immediately punished.

Tomorrow are the tiebreaks of the first round:
Dominguez-Smerdon, Navara-Laylo, Bacrot-Nijboer, Hou Yifan-Naiditsch, Li Chao-Sargissian, Kryvoruchko-Cheparinov, Zhou Weiqi-Sutovsky, Iturrizaga-Tiviakov, L’Ami-Sasikiran, Shabalov-Baklan, Khalifman-Fier, Grachev-Bartel, Negi-Milov, Timofeev-Leitao, Gustafsson-Inarkiev, Savchenko-Shulman, Tkachiev-Le Quang Liem, Akobian-Tregubov, So-Guseinov and Nyback-Andreikin.

The rules for the tiebreaks are:

3. 8. 1. a. If the scores are level after the regular games, after a new drawing of colors, four (4) tie-break games shall be played. The games shall be played using the electronic clock starting with 25 minutes for each player with an addition of 10 seconds after each move.

3. 8. 1. b. The tie-break games shall be played according to the following:

1. Play is governed by the Technical Regulations (annex 1), which apply with the exceptions mentioned below in (2), (3) and (4).
2. The player do not need to record the moves. An arbiter shall record the moves.
3. The player who has the move may stop the clock and consult the Arbiter’s score sheet and if his next move will produce a threefold repetition of position (according to Article 9.2a of the Technical Regulations), or the 50 moves rule (according to Article 9.3a of the Technical Regulations), he himself must write the intended move on the score sheet and claim the draw if he wants. A player can also claim a draw according to articles 9.2b and 9.3b of the Technical Regulations. If the claim is found to be correct, the game is immediately ended as a draw. If the claim is found to be incorrect, the Arbiter shall add three (3) minutes to the opponent’s remaining time and the game continues with the intended move in accordance with Article 4 of the Technical Regulations. A maximum of two (2) incorrect claims for a draw can be made by each player. If a player makes a 3rd incorrect claim, the arbiter shall declare the game lost for this player.
4. If a game has ended by resignation, checkmate, time loss, stalemate, triple repetition or any other of the ways described in article 5 of the Technical Regulations, no claim for irregularities shall be accepted (irregularities include clock settings and all other described in article 7 of the Technical Regulations).

3. 8. 2. a. If the scores are level after the games in paragraph 3.8.1a, then, after a new drawing of colors, a match of 2 games shall be played with a time control of 5 minutes plus 3 seconds increment after each move. In case of a level score, the same match will be repeated to determine a winner. If still there is no winner after 5 such matches (total 10 games), one sudden-death game will be played as described below in 3.8.3a.

3. 8. 2. b. The games shall be played according to the Rules mentioned in 3.8.1.b.

3. 8. 3. a. If the score is still level after five matches as described in 3.8.2a, the players shall play a single decisive sudden death game. The player who wins the drawing of lots may choose the color. The player with the white pieces shall receive 5 minutes, the opponent with the black pieces shall receive 4 minutes whereupon, after the 60th move, both players shall receive an
increment of 3 seconds from move 61. In case of a draw the player with the black pieces is declared the winner.

3. 8. 3. b. The games shall be played according to the Rules mentioned in 3.8.1.b.

3. 8. 4. Between the tie-break games as well as before the start of the sudden death game there shall be a pause of at least 10 minutes, unless the Chief Arbiter decides otherwise.

Games round 1.2

Game viewer by ChessTempo

Players are queuing for a security scan...

...here Radjabov just passes, followed by Onischuk and Bologan

Adly-Bologan, a 0.5-1.5 victory for the Moldavian GM

Parimarjan Negi faces Vadim Milov tomorrow again in the tiebreaks

Mamedyarov-Kosteniuk: 2-0 for the Azeri GM

Sergei Tiviakov will play tiebreaks tomorrow against his young opponent Eduardo Iturrizaga

Jan Gustafsson won the first, but lost the second game to Ernesto Inarkiev

Ivan Cheparinov and Yuryi Kryvoruchko are going to play rapid and possible blitz games as well

In the clash between the Romanians, Nisipeanu qualified 1.5-0.5

All photos courtesy of FIDE

FIDE World Cup – Results round 1

Name NAT Rtng G1 G2 Total
Round 1 Match 01
Gelfand, Boris ISR 2758 1 ½ 1.5
Obodchuk, Andrei RUS 2404 0 ½ 0.5
Round 1 Match 02
Sarwat, Walaa EGY 2405 0 0 0
Gashimov, Vugar AZE 2758 1 1 2
Round 1 Match 03
Svidler, Peter RUS 2754 1 1 2
Hebert, Jean CAN 2420 0 0 0
Round 1 Match 04
Abdel Razik, Khaled EGY 2469 0 0 0
Morozevich, Alexander RUS 2750 1 1 2
Round 1 Match 05
Radjabov, Teimour AZE 2748 1 1 2
Ezat, Mohamed EGY 2472 0 0 0
Round 1 Match 06
Bezgodov, Alexei RUS 2484 0 0 0
Ivanchuk, Vassily UKR 2739 1 1 2
Round 1 Match 07
Ponomariov, Ruslan UKR 2739 ½ 1 1.5
El Gindy, Essam EGY 2493 ½ 0 0.5
Round 1 Match 08
Sriram, Jha IND 2497 ½ 0 0.5
Grischuk, Alexander RUS 2736 ½ 1 1.5
Round 1 Match 09
Jakovenko, Dmitry RUS 2736 1 ½ 1.5
Rizouk, Aimen ALG 2500 0 ½ 0.5
Round 1 Match 10
Kabanov, Nikolai RUS 2501 0 0 0
Wang, Yue CHN 2734 1 1 2
Round 1 Match 11
Eljanov, Pavel UKR 2729 1 ½ 1.5
Al Sayed, Mohamad N. QAT 2504 0 ½ 0.5
Round 1 Match 12
Rodriguez Vila, Andres URU 2508 0 ½ 0.5
Karjakin, Sergey UKR 2723 1 ½ 1.5
Round 1 Match 13
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar AZE 2719 1 1 2
Kosteniuk, Alexandra RUS 2517 0 0 0
Round 1 Match 14
Kunte, Abhijit IND 2522 ½ 0 0.5
Shirov, Alexei ESP 2719 ½ 1 1.5
Round 1 Match 15
Dominguez Perez, Leinier CUB 2719 ½ ½ 1
Smerdon, David AUS 2525 ½ ½ 1
Round 1 Match 16
Yu, Yangyi CHN 2527 1 ½ 1.5
Movsesian, Sergei SVK 2718 0 ½ 0.5
Round 1 Match 17
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime FRA 2718 ½ 1 1.5
Yu, Shaoteng CHN 2529 ½ 0 0.5
Round 1 Match 18
Pridorozhni, Aleksei RUS 2533 ½ 0 0.5
Alekseev, Evgeny RUS 2715 ½ 1 1.5
Round 1 Match 19
Tomashevsky, Evgeny RUS 2708 1 ½ 1.5
Ivanov, Alexander USA 2539 0 ½ 0.5
Round 1 Match 20
Friedel, Joshua E USA 2551 0 0 0
Wang, Hao CHN 2708 1 1 2
Round 1 Match 21
Navara, David CZE 2707 1 0 1
Laylo, Darwin PHI 2552 0 1 1
Round 1 Match 22
Amin, Bassem EGY 2553 0 0 0
Malakhov, Vladimir RUS 2706 1 1 2
Round 1 Match 23
Bacrot, Etienne FRA 2700 ½ ½ 1
Nijboer, Friso NED 2561 ½ ½ 1
Round 1 Match 24
Morovic Fernandez, Ivan CHI 2562 0 ½ 0.5
Rublevsky, Sergei RUS 2697 1 ½ 1.5
Round 1 Match 25
Jobava, Baadur GEO 2696 1 ½ 1.5
Robson, Ray USA 2567 0 ½ 0.5
Round 1 Match 26
Hess, Robert L USA 2572 ½ 0 0.5
Motylev, Alexander RUS 2695 ½ 1 1.5
Round 1 Match 27
Kamsky, Gata USA 2695 1 ½ 1.5
Antonio, Rogelio Jr PHI 2574 0 ½ 0.5
Round 1 Match 28
Gupta, Abhijeet IND 2578 ½ 0 0.5
Vitiugov, Nikita RUS 2694 ½ 1 1.5
Round 1 Match 29
Bologan, Viktor MDA 2692 1 ½ 1.5
Adly, Ahmed EGY 2583 0 ½ 0.5
Round 1 Match 30
Hou, Yifan CHN 2588 ½ ½ 1
Naiditsch, Arkadij GER 2689 ½ ½ 1
Round 1 Match 31
Bu, Xiangzhi CHN 2682 ½ 0 0.5
Pelletier, Yannick SUI 2589 ½ 1 1.5
Round 1 Match 33
Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter ROU 2677 1 ½ 1.5
Lupulescu, Constantin ROU 2591 0 ½ 0.5
Round 1 Match 34
Li, Chao b CHN 2596 ½ ½ 1
Sargissian, Gabriel ARM 2676 ½ ½ 1
Round 1 Match 35
Onischuk, Alexander USA 2672 ½ 1 1.5
Flores, Diego ARG 2602 ½ 0 0.5
Round 1 Match 36
Kryvoruchko, Yuriy UKR 2602 ½ ½ 1
Cheparinov, Ivan BUL 2671 ½ ½ 1
Round 1 Match 37
Efimenko, Zahar UKR 2668 0 ½ 0.5
Milos, Gilberto BRA 2603 1 ½ 1.5
Round 1 Match 38
Zhou, Weiqi CHN 2603 ½ ½ 1
Sutovsky, Emil ISR 2666 ½ ½ 1
Round 1 Match 39
Najer, Evgeniy RUS 2666 1 ½ 1.5
Ghaem Maghami, Ehsan IRI 2603 0 ½ 0.5
Round 1 Match 40
Iturrizaga, Eduardo VEN 2605 ½ ½ 1
Tiviakov, Sergei NED 2664 ½ ½ 1
Round 1 Match 41
Areshchenko, Alexander UKR 2664 1 ½ 1.5
Corrales Jimenez, Fidel CUB 2605 0 ½ 0.5
Round 1 Match 42
L’Ami, Erwin NED 2606 ½ ½ 1.0
Sasikiran, Krishnan IND 2664 ½ ½ 1.0
Round 1 Match 43
Smirin, Ilia ISR 2662 1 ½ 1.5
Ehlvest, Jaan USA 2606 0 ½ 0.5
Round 1 Match 44
Shabalov, Alexander USA 2606 1 0 1
Baklan, Vladimir UKR 2655 0 1 1
Round 1 Match 45
Ganguly, Surya Shekhar IND 2654 1 1 2
Filippov, Anton UZB 2607 0 0 0
Round 1 Match 46
Khalifman, Alexander RUS 2612 ½ ½ 1
Fier, Alexandr BRA 2653 ½ ½ 1
Round 1 Match 47
Fressinet, Laurent FRA 2653 1 1 2
Sjugirov, Sanan RUS 2612 0 0 0
Round 1 Match 48
Petrosian, Tigran L. ARM 2615 ½ 0 0.5
Meier, Georg GER 2653 ½ 1 1.5
Round 1 Match 49
Grachev, Boris RUS 2652 ½ ½ 1
Bartel, Mateusz POL 2618 ½ ½ 1
Round 1 Match 50
Bruzon Batista, Lazaro CUB 2619 ½ 0 0.5
Caruana, Fabiano ITA 2652 ½ 1 1.5
Round 1 Match 51
Sokolov, Ivan NED 2652 0 0 0
Fedorchuk, Sergey A. UKR 2619 1 1 2
Round 1 Match 52
Negi, Parimarjan IND 2620 1 0 1
Milov, Vadim SUI 2652 0 1 1
Round 1 Match 53
Timofeev, Artyom RUS 2651 ½ ½ 1
Leitao, Rafael BRA 2621 ½ ½ 1
Round 1 Match 54
Gustafsson, Jan GER 2622 1 0 1
Inarkiev, Ernesto RUS 2645 0 1 1
Round 1 Match 55
Savchenko, Boris RUS 2644 ½ ½ 1
Shulman, Yuri USA 2623 ½ ½ 1
Round 1 Match 56
Sandipan, Chanda IND 2623 1 ½ 1.5
Kobalia, Mikhail RUS 2643 0 ½ 0.5
Round 1 Match 57
Tkachiev, Vladislav FRA 2642 ½ ½ 1
Le, Quang Liem VIE 2624 ½ ½ 1
Round 1 Match 58
Akobian, Varuzhan USA 2624 1 0 1
Tregubov, Pavel V. RUS 2642 0 1 1
Round 1 Match 59
So, Wesley PHI 2640 1 0 1
Guseinov, Gadir AZE 2625 0 1 1
Round 1 Match 60
Sakaev, Konstantin RUS 2626 ½ 1 1.5
Granda Zuniga, Julio E PER 2640 ½ 0 0.5
Round 1 Match 61
Laznicka, Viktor CZE 2637 1 ½ 1.5
Papaioannou, Ioannis GRE 2628 0 ½ 0.5
Round 1 Match 62
Nyback, Tomi FIN 2628 1 0 1
Andreikin, Dmitry RUS 2636 0 1 1
Round 1 Match 63
Mamedov, Rauf AZE 2634 ½ 0 0.5
Zhou, Jianchao CHN 2629 ½ 1 1.5
Round 1 Match 64
Volkov, Sergey RUS 2629 0 ½ 0.5
Amonatov, Farrukh TJK 2631 1 ½ 1.5

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39 Responses to “World Cup: Bu Xiangzhi, Movsesian, Efimenko & Sokolov eliminated”

  1. Muadhib on November 22nd, 2009 20:32

    For whole pairing tree see here:

    http://www.pgndownloads.com/files/2009/2009_World_Cup.png

  2. ceann on November 22nd, 2009 21:03

    Obodchuk is a DISGRACE. He should be ashamed of himself. Why does he even play chess, the gimp that he is. For not even trying to win he deserves never to get an invite to any tournament again…..a few thousand dollars must keep him in vodka for a long time, sad.

  3. CAL|Daniel on November 22nd, 2009 21:09

    “Boris Gelfand, top seed at this event, was indeed the first to reach the second round because he didn’t care too much about losing a few rating points and agreed to a draw at move 12.”

    Technically, Judit polgar was the first to qualify for the second round.

  4. Muadhib on November 22nd, 2009 21:12

    ceann,

    you are a discgrace too, but we try to tolerate you, because you must have some reasons for your actions (as Obodchuk does).

  5. Zee on November 22nd, 2009 21:22

    At least these knockouts have done away with the myth that elite GMs only maintain their high ratings by playing each other in exclusive tournaments. Elo is a good indicator of ability.

    In fact given that even the ‘weak GMs’ must have spent several months preparing their opening lines on the computer for this tournament, what is surprising that there are so few surprises.

  6. test on November 22nd, 2009 21:54

    I also am surprised that he didn’t try harder to win the game, but that’s no reason to start calling names.

  7. vasil on November 22nd, 2009 22:16

    who is the player with the stick?

  8. Michel83 on November 22nd, 2009 23:00

    @ test

    For ceann ANYthing is a reason to start calling names, it’s a reflex; kind of a enhanced version of Pawlow’s theories.

    @ Muadhib

    :D

  9. Coco Loco on November 22nd, 2009 23:07

    how ironic to call obodchuk a “gimp” given that he actually is physically disabled. ceann’s disabilities seem a lot more serious – maybe he should have been given that spot.

  10. chess on November 22nd, 2009 23:36

    poor Alexandra. she lost. on a picture on chessbase before the game she was still laughing:(

  11. njm on November 22nd, 2009 23:52

    Wonderful World Cup. Alexandra Kosteniuk you are great. Please go on. I love your beauty and brain. Dominguez good job. From ecuador South America.

  12. Michael on November 22nd, 2009 23:55

    While browsing through today’s games, it struck me how often the Grünfeld was played. Out of 24 games that started with 1.d4, there were 10 Grünfelds (and one Grünfeld/Slay-hybrid). Even some players who, to my knowledge, have hardly played this opening berfore, seem to have taken it up. A new fashion caused by Carlsparov?

  13. Crouchyboy on November 23rd, 2009 00:58

    Another interesting point to make about the Grunfeld in the World Cup, sort of following on from Michael’s point: the current trend of popularity suggests the Grunfeld is doing very well, which it has, with the exception of Svidler’s losses with it to Kramnik and Anand in the Tal memorial. But in the World Cup, its been crushed twice already; Yannick Pelletier beating Bu Xiangzhi and Darwin Laylo winning against Navara (rating differential 103 and 155 points respectively).

  14. Glossu on November 23rd, 2009 03:03

    China Rules: Wang Yue, Wang Hao, Zhao1 Zhao 2, Chiao Li ahead!

  15. Castro on November 23rd, 2009 05:23

    I’m sorry for some of them, like Granda (I’m his fan for many years, he’s an original and a genious) or Bruzon, who (I think) had the first game won against Caruana but seemed to have chosen the wrong endgame. Justice to Caruana, who played a 2nd great game.

    Go Gata!!!

  16. Onischuk fan on November 23rd, 2009 07:33

    Dominguez Perez must win the tiebreak to advance. It would be an even bigger upset than Movsesian.

  17. Meppie on November 23rd, 2009 09:45

    l’Ami and Sasikiran also play a tiebreak (is not mentioned). Which means that the three Dutch players all play a tiebreak. (And will win, I hope……)

  18. Muadhib on November 23rd, 2009 11:25

    Seems like only two rapid games will be played instead of four.

    Regulations still say 4 rapid games though
    http://www.fide.com/FIDE/handbook/WorldCup2009Regulations.pdf

  19. Tickles on November 23rd, 2009 11:35

    How do they qualify for this knockout tournament?
    Wondered why no English players to follow….

  20. Peter Doggers on November 23rd, 2009 11:48

    @ Muadhib
    Well I think that the regulations mentioned here should be considered the latest news; the FIDE website might not be fully updated yet.

    @Tickles

    • World Champion;
    • 4 semi-finalists from the World Cup 2007;
    • Women’s World Champion;
    • World Junior U-20 Champions 2007 & 2008;
    • 20 rated players;
    • 90 players from Continental Championships;
    • 6 FIDE President nominees;
    • 4 organiser nominees.

    For the purpose of deciding the 20 rated player qualifiers, as well as any replacements, the average of the July 2008 and January 2009 rating lists was used.

  21. Muadhib on November 23rd, 2009 11:51

    You misundersood – the regulations say 4 rapid games, but the official site indicates that only 2 rapid games will be played.

  22. Muadhib on November 23rd, 2009 11:51

    See here:
    http://cup2009.fide.com/results.php

  23. Peter Doggers on November 23rd, 2009 11:53

    Well these things happen I guess when an official tournament website doesn’t even have a simple “Regulations” page…

  24. steven on November 23rd, 2009 12:01

    Ceann,

    Winning against the petroff defence played by Boris Gelfand is nearly impossible for a 2400 player.
    So there’s nothing wrong with his decision.

  25. Muadhib on November 23rd, 2009 12:01

    Thats the main problem with FIDE. The regulations are always made long before the competition begins and by that this regulations (should) become some kind of constitution for that event. You just can not change it anymore just like that. If for the past year it says that there will be 4 rapid games, then there should be 4 f…ing rapid games!

    Arghh, these kind of things really piss me off.

  26. Thomas on November 23rd, 2009 12:32

    @Tickles: I don’t know how many English players qualified, or tried but didn’t succeed. The fact that relatively old rating lists are used would be an advantage for Adams, but a disadvantage for Short … .

    In any case, Adams, Short, McShane and Howell play the London supertournament, which collides with the World Cup. Same answer to recurrent questions “where is Nakamura?” … .

  27. Lothar on November 23rd, 2009 12:40

    Please ban Ceann from commenting on this site: to call Obodchuk (who was representing the International Physical-Disabled Chess Assocation at the World Cup) a “gimp” is simply disgusting.

  28. Muadhib on November 23rd, 2009 13:45

    Heh, now the official site is changed again. Looks like 4 rapid games will be played afterall. Like the regulations say.

    It’s very hard to walk if your right leg doesn’t know what the left one does :)

  29. steven on November 23rd, 2009 15:51

    Please bann nobody from this site.
    Free speech is more important than anything else.

  30. Crouchyboy on November 23rd, 2009 21:04

    Tregubov and Akobian played an absolute marathon! Right down to the very last pair of blitz games, with only two draws in the rapid set of four. Heroically well fought. Poor Tregubov must feel utterly disappointed to lose in such a way. Terrific entertainment for the fans though! :)

  31. Muadhib on November 23rd, 2009 21:31

    Yep, they startted at 15.00 local time and finished at 00:43 !!!
    I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Akobian offers an early draw with the white pieces tomorrow. And Ponomariov (as black) might just accept it if he follows “draw with black, win with white” policy.

  32. Frits Fritschy on November 23rd, 2009 21:31

    Let’s all give ceann the love he obviously needs.

    Something else: why are all comments in bold face?

  33. ChessGirl on November 23rd, 2009 21:41

    I don´t think Ponomariov follows that rule normally, Muadhib. Hopefully he will take the advantage to try to crush Akobian from the first game.

  34. Peter Doggers on November 23rd, 2009 21:52

    @Frits Not here (Firefox)!?

  35. Muadhib on November 23rd, 2009 21:56

    KO’s are different than “normal” tournaments. The only thing that matters is advancing into the next round with as little effort as possible (for example Khalifman and Fier quickly drawn both regular games and first two rapid games, before they started to actually play). So Ponomariov might feel enough confident to win with the white pieces, and might be willing to accept a quick draw as black.

    But of course it’s all speculation.

  36. Muadhib on November 23rd, 2009 21:57

    Yes Peter, on IE8 everything is bold for days now. Like there would be [/B] missing somewhere.

  37. Peter Doggers on November 23rd, 2009 22:15

    Solved now?

  38. Muadhib on November 23rd, 2009 22:15

    Yes.

  39. ChessGirl on November 24th, 2009 09:46

    I agree on the will to save energy, Muadhib, but don´t you think it´s also quite logical to try to beat a tired opponent and, if successful, your chances of not having to play the tie-breaks increase considerably? Not having to play the tie-breaks is great, it´s one free day and more time to prepare for your next rival. However, it must have been a bit of a nuisance too not to be able to prepare for a particular rival yesterday, since by the time Tregubov and Akobian finished yesterday probably even the arbiter had gone to sleep :)

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