By Chess Tutor William Stewart
US Team Dominates Egypt 3½ – ½
As black, Kamsky drew Adly in an opposite color bishop ending. The rest of the US team was a different story, as Onischuk’s solid opening preparation and methodical pressure took out Amin in 34 moves. Gindy persistently attempted to achieve a draw against Seirawan, however Seirawan failed to oblige by maintaining and building consistent pressure. Patient maneuvering and excellent technique enabled to Seirawan to win as black in 66 moves. A determined Hess was able to dispatch IM Shoker’s Double-Fianchetto opening, first sacrificing a pawn with 13. e5!? and then trading his queen for a rook and bishop with 23. Bxe4!? Hess’s creativity and accurate technique enabled him to win a nice R+B vs Q endgame.
- Hess Vs Shoker: Final Position After 49. Ra8
Heavyweight Battle – Aronian (2808) Beats Karjakin (2782)
After losing a long game to a determined Kamsky yesterday, Aronian put a similarly patient grind on Karjakin in exceptional technical style. Aronian took advantage of an inaccurate move order by Karjakin to win a pawn with 17. Nxc6 – leading to a Q+R+R endgame with an extra isolated d-pawn for white. Aronian then equaled the material by sacrificing a pawn back to Karjakin, with the intention of activating white’s queen and pushing the d-pawn farther up. It’s possible that Karjakin was already lost, however I disliked 43. …f6 as it led to a chronic weakening of black’s king and kingside pawns. Either way, Aronian played with extreme technical precision to nurse this point home.
- Aronian Vs Karjakin – Final Position After 74. Qg6+
Svidler Saves Draw for Russians With Win Over Sargissian
Russian was on the verge of defeat against the Armenian team after Aronian’s win over Karjakin, however Svidler was able to complicate matters in a fairly calm position to confuse and overcome Sargissian. Svidler opened with a Ruy Lopez and proceeded with a game of patient maneuvering to obtain the small advantage of the two bishops with 19. Nf5 and 20. Nxe7. The position appeared relatively level when Svidler began an unusual series of moves beginning with 27. Qxa4!? – allowing him to consolidate his queenside pawns and maintain pressure against black’s weakness of a6. Running low on time, Sargissian miscalculated the resulting double rook endgame and allowed white to favorably simplify the positions via the tactical sequence beginning with 31. Nxa6! Svidler was able to forcefully seize the initiative and double his rooks on the 7th rank – leading to disaster for black. White’s activity proved too much, and Sargissian resigned in the face of impending mate (50. …Kg8 51. Rbg7+ Kf8 52. h6 and 53. Rh8#)
- Svidler Vs Sargissian – Final Position After 50. Rh7
Photos and Game PGNs Available at the Official Site. Original article on the World Team Chess Championship available on William’s website.
Svidler should be on board 1.