Corus 2006, Round 9

Topalov and Anand are now one point ahead of Gelfand and Adams. Topalov counter-attacks Karjakin and wins. Anand’s novelty exchange sacrifice is enough to gain the point against van Wely. Gelfand snare’s Sokolov. Adams overpowers Kamsky.

Anand – van Wely

Anand sacrifices an exchange out of the opening of a Sicilian Sveshnikov, and exchanges queens. This gives him an advanced passed pawn. The middlegame shows that van Wely’s rooks are constricted by the passed pawn, and soon he has to give back the exchange. Anand gets his remaining rook on the seventh rank which secures him the point.

Aronian – Tiviakov

Tiviakov gets a solid position and equality out of a Queen’s Indian. In a balanced game Aronian is content to swap down into an equally balanced endgame. Drawn.

Gelfand – Sokolov

Sokolov manages to equalise on the Black side of a Semi-Slav. Gelfand’s manoeuvring allows the Black queen to become active, but there’s a trap. Sokolov’s knight is stranded in no mans land, and is compelled to sacrifice itself rather than retreat into an ambush. Gelfand’s thrusts against the Black kind force a resignation.

Ivanchuk – Mamedyarov

Ivanchuk wins a pawn in a manoeuvre in a Ruy Lopez Steinitz, but Black gets a bit of activity in compensation. Black uses the activity to launch a kingside attack, and forces a repetition of position.

Kamsky – Adams

Adams overpowers Kamsky in the Queen’s Indian and gets an advantage early on. He builds on this advantage and turns it into a passed d-pawn, which advances causing confusion on Kamsky’s position. Kamsky unleashes a pawn storm aimed at Black’s king, but it doesn’t save him

Karjakin – Topalov

Karjakin emerges from a Sveshnikov Sicilian with a tiny advantage. He barricades Black’s central pawns which allows him to centralise his pieces and start creating threats against the Black king. He sacrifices a pawn, but Topalov turns the tables on the kingside which forces Karjakin to dispose of another pawn. In the ensuing complications Topalov wins the White queen for a rook and bishop, whilst retaining his kingside pressure. His queen and pawns prove too strong for Karjakin’s rooks.

Leko – Bacrot

Leko emerges from a Petroff with a slight advantage, but his lack-lustre play sees Bacrot equalise, exchanging into a balanced rook and pawn ending. Draw.

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