Boris Gelfand Wins Game 13 of His Match Against Ernesto Inarkiev

The score is 9.5-8.5 in favour of the Russian grandmaster.

The Gelfand vs. Inarkiev match, which is a part of the Tower Concord Festival, is going on at the Palace of Culture of Nazran, the biggest city of the Republic of Ingushetia. On August 11, the grandmasters played the 13th game (the fifth game with the classical time control). Boris Gelfand had white pieces. 

The opponents played one of the lines of the English Opening which had recently become popular in many respects thanks to Alexander Grischuk's endeavours. Boris Gelfand had made a rather quick draw with Michael Adams in Geneva one month ago, but came up with a new plan for the match in Ingushetia. Ernesto Inarkiev, facing an opening surprise, decided to provoke a crisis by immediately choosing quite a sharp continuation with a piece sacrifice. Gelfand was precise in puzzling out the difficulties, repelled his opponent's threats and maintained his material edge. The game boiled down to an endgame where Black had two pawns for a bishop. White was acting carefully to convert his advantage.  



We recall that an original formula is being used at the match: the opponents will play 6 classical games and 12 rapid games (6 games are played with the time control 25+10 and 6 games - with the time control 10+10). On August 3-4, 7-8, and 11-12, the classical games are played, while the rapid games are taking place on August 5, 9, and 13. The points scored in both parts are summarized. The scoring formula for the classical games is 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, while in rapid a more standard chess scoring is used. 

The score is 9.5-8.5 in favour of Ernesto Inarkiev (6-4 in favour of Gelfand in the classical chess and 5.5.-2.5 in favour of Inarkiev in rapid). On August 12, the ultimate sixth game with the classical time control will be played. Ernesto Inarkiev will play with white pieces.  

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