2nd day review: Yan Nepomnyaschiy is two points ahead of the nearest rivals at the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships.
The second day of the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in Khanty-Mansiysk was marked with the confident play of Yan Nepomnyaschiy. The Russian Grandmaster scored 4.5 points during 5 games of the second day, the same result he made during first five rounds. Therefore he is on top of the current standings. Nepomnyaschiy has 9 out of 10 before the last day of rapid chess. The closest competitors – Ildar Khayrullin (Russia) and Ivan Cheparinov (Bulgaria) – are two points behind and share the second place.
Jan Nepomnyaschiy started the second day by defending his compatriot Alexei Dreev. He continued his victorious March with outplaying Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan), Boris Grachev (Russia) and Le Quang Liem (Vietnam). He just lost half a point in a game against Dmitry Andreikin.
The famous Russian commentator GM Sergey Shipov said the following on the successful start of Russian player:
“Yan is lucky at the tournament to have three positive factors combined luckily for him, – Shipov thinks. He is in a great shape himself. And plus, his main competitors don’t show their best performance, due to different reasons. Grischuk is keeping secrets in his openings. Ponomariov is not in the best health shape. Dreev is not so young anymore to cope with tough tournament. I was expecting more from Andreikin, but maybe he doesn’t force the preparations, for he has more important tournament ahead – Tal Memorial.
Yan found the right balance between light and deep game. This is very important in rapid chess, where you don’t have a possibility to sink into the depth of the game. He plays very quickly and thinks deeply only in critical moments.
In recent years Nepomnyaschiy was not so successful, but he worked hard and sooner or later the result has to come. In my opinion, he has a great chance to win two golden medals but let’s see what will happen.
Standings after 10 rounds: 1.Yan Nepomnyaschiy – 9 points, 2-3. Ildar Khairullin, Ivan Cheparinov – 7, 4-9. Alexey Dreev (Russia), Vladimir Akopian (Armenia), Vladimir Potkin (Russia), Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan), Alexander Grischuk (Russia), Sergei Movsesian (Armenia)
The final five rounds of the World Rapid Chess Championship will be held on Saturday, June 8 at 3 p.m. local time.
Official website: http://wrbc2013.fide.com/
Photo gallery: http://wrbc2013.fide.com/category/photo
A class above the rest. But Nakamura is better.