After nearly taking over the world #1 ranking last year with a rating close to 2800, Ivanchuk has been a freefall of late. His rating dropped over 50 points and was in danger of going under 2700. But he has regained his magic touch at the Bazna tournament in Romania. Here is his latest 24-move win against Romania’s top player who was over 2700 not long ago :
GM Ivanchuk (2746) – GM Nisipeanu (2675) [B80]
Bazna (6), 20.06.2009
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be3 Be7 7.f4 0–0 8.Qf3 e5 9.Nf5 Bxf5 10.exf5 Nbd7 11.Bc4 Rc8 12.Bb3 d5 13.Nxd5 Nxd5 14.Qxd5 exf4 15.Bxf4 Bb4+ 16.c3 Qe7+ 17.Kf1 Rc5 18.Re1 Qh4 19.Qe4 Ba5 20.Bd6 Qxe4 21.Rxe4 Rxf5+ 22.Ke2 Nc5 23.Re3 Rc8 24.g4 White wins 1–0
Click here to replay the game.
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Chucky magic never dies!
Ivanchuk rules!
Nice win by Ivanchuk. Nisipeanu deserves praise for his resistance. He found some defensive resources, not easy to find. Good game!
Chucky is still harassing the little girl pieces.