Grischuk Wins ACP Chess Rapid Knockout 2013 in Riga

Grandmaster Alexander Grischuk of Russia has won the fifth edition of the ACP Rapid Knockout Cup - 2013 in Riga, Latvia. The final match Grischuk-Nepomniachtchi reached the Armageddon stage, after the players drew both rapid games after exciting fight, and later exchanged the victories in the blitz games. In the final game, Grischuk gained an advantage in the opening, and emerged victorious.

Ian Nepomniachtchi plays 44. ...Kf4. Grischuk went for 45. QxRg7. Can you see a spot another great continuation for Grischuk?

Grischuk, Alexander - Nepomniachtchi, Ian

Result: 1-0

Site: Riga

Date: 2013.09.15

[...] 1.d4 ♘f6 2.c4 g6 3.♘f3 ♗g7 4.e3 O-O 5.♗e2 d5 6.cxd5 ♘xd5 7.e4 ♘b6 8.O-O ♗g4 9.♘bd2 ♘c6 10.d5 ♘b8 11.a4 c6 12.a5 ♘6d7 13.h3 ♗xf3 14.♘xf3 ♘f6 15.♕b3 ♕c8 16.♗g5 ♘xe4 17.♗xe7 ♖e8 18.d6 ♘xd6 19.♗xd6 ♖xe2 20.♘g5 ♕d7 21.♖ae1 ♖xb2 22.♕c4 ♘a6 23.♖e7 ♕f5 24.♖xf7 ♕d5 25.♖xg7+ ♔xg7 26.♕c3+ ♔g8 27.♕xb2 ♕xd6 28.♕xb7 ♘c7 29.♘e4 ♕e5 30.♕xc6 ♖f8 31.♕c4+ ♔g7 32.♖d1 ♖f7 33.♘c5 h5 34.f3 ♕e3+ 35.♔h1 ♕f2 36.♕c3+ ♔h7 37.♖d8 ♖g7 38.♘e4 ♕f1+ 39.♔h2 ♕b5 40.♘f6+ ♔h6 41.♖h8+ ♔g5 42.♘e4+ ♔f4 43.♕xg7

43.g3+ ♔f5 44.♕f6# (0:00:00),42...Kf4 Yes it's checkmate in two! But any way, Grischuk is winning all the way since quite some time.

43...♘d5 44.♕d4 and Nepomniachtchi resigned!

Earlier, Grischuk knocked out Peter Svidler and Nepomniachtchi knocked out Ponomariov in the semi-finals. The final match was commented jointly by Grandmasters Alexei Shirov (who was replaced by GM Artur Neiksans during the tie-break) and Emil Sutovsky. All the photos and videos are available on the official website: www.acp-cup.com. The ACP Cup was organised by the Association of Chess Professionals together with the Latvian Chess Federation. The venue for the tournament is provided by Rietumu Bank, which has one of the best premises in Riga for hosting exhibitions, auctions and other cultural and intellectual events. The bank is also participating in the financing of the tournament.

The Association of Chess Professionals (ACP) is a not-for-profit organisation, whose main purpose is the protection of chess professionals’ rights and the practice and promotion of chess worldwide, in particular through the organisation of chess tournaments and other chess events. (All photos by Lennart Ootes).

* ACP Rapid Chess in Riga: Spectacular Knockout with 16 Fighters Sept 13-15
* ACP Rapid Chess Riga Day 1: Three Easy Knockout Punches to Enjoy

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Candidates R7: Carlsen, Aronian Lead

In what was the shortest round of the FIDE World Chess Candidates’ Tournament so far, Levon Aronian of Armenia and Magnus Carlsen of Norway maintained their 1.5 point lead over Russians Vladimir Kramnik and Peter Svidler. Against Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan, Carlsen needed to sacrifice an exchange to wear off dangerous threats against his king, which proved to be sufficient. Aronian got a small positional advantage against Alexander Grischuk of Russia, who saved himself by going for active defence. For a moment Kramnik was in big trouble, but he escaped with a draw when his opponent Boris Gelfand of Israel refrained from playing actively on move 19. Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine and Peter Svidler of Russia played the shortest draw of the round in a Scotch game that quickly turned into an endgame.

In the seventh round of the FIDE World Chess Candidates’ Tournament all games were finished in less than four hours. It’s hard to believe, though, that the participants were trying to be ready in time for the Chess Boxing event which is taking place at London’s Scala Club on Saturday night. Especially Magnus Carlsen and Levon Aronian have something better to do, on the night before they will play each other for the second time.

Less than three hours into the round, Vassily Ivanchuk and Peter Svidler were in the middle of an interesting ending when they suddenly agreed to a draw. “I didn’t expect the Scotch, and he probably didn’t expect long castles,” is how Svidler explained the time spent by both players in what was a theoretical opening variation. “It was a new position to me. I was trying to understand what was going on, and trying not to blunder something,” said Ivanchuk.

The players quickly reached an ending where White had a rook, bishop and knight with five pawns against two rooks and seven pawns for Black. Because neither player could really play for a win, the move repetition was a logical finish. Not satisfied with his play in the previous two rounds, Svidler said: “I don’t particularly mind equalizing and making a draw against a very strong player.”

The FIDE Candidates' Tournament is taking place March 14th-April 1st, 2013 at IET London, Savoy Place. It is sponsored by the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) and organized by AGON and the World Chess Federation (FIDE). Games and information can be found at http://london2013.fide.com.

Standings after Round 7
1.Magnus Carlsen 5
2.Levon Aronian 5
3.Peter Svidler 3.5
4.Vladimir Kramnik 3.5 
5.Teimour Radjabov 3
6.Alexander Grischuk 3
7.Vassily Ivanchuk 2.5
8.Boris Gelfand 2.5

Sunday pairings round 8
1.Magnus Carlsen-Levon Aronian
2.Teimour Radjabov-Boris Gelfand
3.Alexander Grischuk-Vassily Ivanchuk
4.Vladimir Kramnik-Peter Svidler

Watch India Time 7.30 pm Live

Report by Peter Doggers/Photos by Anastasiya Karlovich

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World Blitz Chess Champion 2012 is Alexander Grischuk of Russia

Russia continues to rule the chess world. Not only the World Rapid Chess Champion 2012 belongs to them, but now even the World Blitz Chess Champion 2012. Alexander Grischuk won the World Blitz Chess Champion 2012 title in Astana, Kazakhstan on Monday - half-a-point ahead of World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen. 

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Carlsen 'Chuks' It; Karjakin is World Rapid Chess Champion 2012

World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen going into the third day at the Astana World Rapid Chess Championship 2012 'chuk'ed his title win with back-to-back losses to Vassily Ivanchuk and Alexander Grischuk in the 12th and 13th rounds. In fact, he came close to losing the last round as well against Veselin Topalov.

The three winners: Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria (third), Sergey Karjakin of Russia (World Champion) and Magnus Carlsen (second).

Russia's Sergey Karjakin - with only one loss to Magnus Carlsen - steady performance and quality chess is the new World Rapid Chess Champion. Karjakin quickly got over his Carlsen debacle to post four wins on the final day!  

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Carlsen Crazy Chess Game Against Grischuk - Tal Chess Memorial Round 4

Magnus Carlsen - the world No. 1 - can be the talk of the chess world even when he plays a draw. That's the most fascinating aspect of this genius chess player. Playing at the Tal Chess Memorial in Round 4 in Moscow on Tuesday, Magnus Carlsen went all out to fetch a win against Alexander Grischuk. However, the Russian Grandmaster was up to the challenge. A great fireworks game that must be viewed. The game ended in a draw, but not without new chess ideas and lots of excitement. You must watch it in our Chess King game applet.

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Tal Chess Memorial Round 4: Radjabov, Morozevich Hold on to Lead

The draws in the fourth round of the 7th Tal Memorial don't tell the whole story. Magnus Carlsen  with three draws in the previous rounds - went all out to try crazy stuff against Alexander Grischuk. The game ended in a draw after some amazing ideas from the World No. 1. 

 

Morozevich and Radjabov - the overnight leaders - chose to play out a draw. Fabiano Caruana got a win over Evgeny Tomashevsky. 

The 7th Tal Chess Memorial is a 10-player round robin taking place in the beautiful Pashkov House in Moscow from June 8-18. The next rest day will be on June 15. Time control: 100 minutes to complete 40 moves and 50 minutes for 20 moves, followed by 15 minutes for the rest of the moves. There is a 30-second increment from the first move. You can watch the games live on the official website. Draw offers are not allowed before the first time control. The Tal Chess Memorial prize fund is 100,000 euros.

 

Round 4: Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Fabiano Caruana - Evgeny Tomashevsky 1-0
Luke McShane - Hikaru Nakamura 1/2-1/2
Vladimir Kramnik - Levon Aronian 1/2-1/2
Alexander Morozevich - Teimour Radjabov 1/2-1/2
Magnus Carlsen - Alexander Grischuk 1/2-1/2

Round four standings1-2. Morozevich, Radjabov – 3

3. Kramnik – 2.5

4-6. Aronian, Carlsen, Caruana – 2

7-9. Grischuk, McShane, Nakamura - 1.5

10. Tomashevsky – 1 

(Photos: Eteri Kublashvili/Russian Chess Federation.)

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Tal Chess Memorial With Carlsen, Aronian, Nakamura, Kramnik Begins in Moscow June 7

Misha - Mikhai Tal

It's time to play strong chess in Moscow all over again from June 7 at the Mikhail Tal Chess Memorial beginning with - hold your breath - Magnus Carlsen,  Hikaru Nakamura,  Vladimir Kramnik, Levon Aronian, Teimour Radjabov, Alexander Morozevich,  Fabiano Caruana,  Alexander Grischuk, Evgeny Tomashevsky and Luke McShane. 

The opening ceremony will be held on 7th June, at 18.00, in the playing venue at Pashkov House, st. Vozdvizhenka 3/5.

The Tal Chess Memorial is the first super chess event of the year after the recently concluded Anand-Gelfand World Chess Championship. It is also a major tournament before the upcoming Candidates Chess Tournament that would decide the next challenger for the reigning World Chess Champion Vishy Anand.

The organisers are going to try a unique plan to decide the drawing of lots. All the players will take part in a blitz chess tournament - with a separate prize fund - for deciding the starting seeding for the main tournament based on the blitz chess results. 

Magnus Carlsen and Levon Aronian were the joint winners of the 2011 Tal Chess Memorial. Both had earned 5.5/9 points, but Magnus Carlsen had won the chess trophy on better tiebreak. 

Mikhail Tal was a Russian-Latvian chess grandmaster and the Mikhail Tal playing style was all about creativity, attacking, and daring combination play. Mikhail Tal - often known as Misha - was the eighth world chess champion.

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Robot Chess - Grischuk versus Kuka Monster Chess Video

A special robo chess event was held in Moscow recently on the sidelines of the 2012 Anand Gelfand World Chess Championship - The first world robot blitz chess championship. ChessKA beat KUKA Monster! Later, KUKA Monster also played with Russian Grandmaster and former world blitz chess champion Alexander Grishcuk. Here is a video report on the super chess event.

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World Chess Blitz Championship among Chess Robots - ChessKA versus KUKA Monster

A special World Chess Blitz Championship for Chess Robots will take place on May 19 (12pm – 17pm Moscow time) in Moscow. This incredible World Chess Blitz event will be held on the Strastnoy Bulvar. Two robots will fight for the title of the World Robot Blitz Chess Champion. Read all about it at www.chessblog.com.

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