20 October 2016

Six Men On Top in Novosibirsk

Kosteniuk leads the women's Superfinal despite losing today.

The 5th round of the Russian Superfinal was played on October 20 in Novosibirsk.

In the men's champpionship, Dmitry Jakovenko defeated Dmitry Bocharov. The grandmaster from Novosibirsk employed the Pirc Defense and launched a pawn offensive on the kingside, while White was attacking on the queenside. At some point Black played too risky, and White broke through in the center, seized the initiative and won a pawn. Bocharov resigned in a loss rook and bishop endgame.

Jakovenko: “I suspect Dima just forgot my defensive idea associated with hxg3. He probably expected me to play with the knight to f1, and continued preparing his attack. After the move I played Black was in trouble.”

Evgeny Tomashevsky and Ernesto Inarkiev disputed in the Ragozin Defense. The queens were traded relatively early, and White obtained a certain advantage due to Black's pawn weaknesses. With accurate play, the defending Russian champion increased his advantage, won a pawn and flawlessly converted it in a rook ending. Black resigned on the move 58.

Grigoriy Oparin selected the Najdorf against Alexander Grischuk and defended a difficult position for the entire game. He did well for a while, but when it started to look as if the worst was over, Black committed a fatal mistake and lost. With this victory, Grischuk replaced Oparin in a tie for first place.

Grischuk: “This game was far from brilliant. I got an advantage after the opening, but Black's position was quite solid despite its disadvantages. It is possible he could survive in the end, but a single mistake decided the game.”

Peter Svidler, playing Black against Dmitry Kokarev, obtained an advantage in the second half of the game, but was unable to turn it into something more significant, and Kokarev held a draw.

A quick draw occurred in the game between two leaders, Alexander Riazantsev and Vladimir Fedoseev. Goganov-Vitiugov also ended in a draw.

In the women's championship, Aleksandra Goryachkina celebrated a quick victory over Valentina Gunina. In an isolani position Gunina blundered badly, missing Black's powerful reply. With energetic moves Goryachkina won a piece, and Gunina resigned on the 25th move.

Goryachkina: “During the game I thought I stand worse – I just don't like having an isolani. 18.Na5? is a decisive mistake, but this move was played rather quickly.”

Natalija Pogonina played White against the leader, Alexandra Kosteniuk, and outplayed her in the middlegame, transposing into an ending with an extra pawn. The technical stage required a lot of accuracy, but in the end White prevailed, winning on the 80th move.

Daria Charochkina was a nice attacking game as White against Evgenija Ovod. In the Dutch Defense, White castled long and then carried out a swift kingside attack, sacrificing two pieces on the way to irresistible mating threats.

Anastasia Bodnaruk played Black against Ekaterina Ubiennykh and was forced to defend a worse position in the Najdorf Sicilian. During the attack White sacrificed an exchange and later could force a draw by perpetual, but decided to continue playing for a win, which eventually backfired. Bodnaruk simplified the game, and her extra material told in the end.

Alisa Galliamova suffered a very unfortunate loss against Daria Pustovoitova, committing an inexplicable blunder in a technically winning endgame position.

Alina Kashlinskaya drew with Olga Girya.

Men's championship, standings after 5 rounds:

Grischuk, Jakovenko, Svidler, Fedoseev, Riazantsev, Tomashevsky – 3

Oparin, Goganov, Kokarev – 2.5

Vitiugov – 2

Bocharov – 1.5

Inarkiev – 1

Round 6 pairings:

Inarkiev-Bocharov, Oparin-Jakovenko, Vitiugov-Grischuk, Svidler-Goganov, Fedoseev-Kokarev, Tomashevsky-Riazantsev

Women's championship, standings after 5 rounds:

Kosteniuk – 4

Girya, Pogonina – 3.5