.jpg) In the sixth round of the Grand Prix in Tashkent only one game was decided – Alexander Morozevich won against Leinier Domninguez and regained the sole lead in the tournament. Boris Gelfand and Peter Leko got promising positions playing against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Wang Hao respectively, however, all other five games finished peacefully. After the sixth round all the fight seems to be ahead as all players keep quite short distance between each other.
Morozevich-Dominguez 1-0
Gruenfeld with 7. Qa4 happened in the game and it seems Leinier was not well prepared for this line. 16…Bh6 was a mistake and, as it was pointed out during the press-conference, Black could have tried 16…Re4 instead. After 18…Qb6 the position of Cuban player became absolutely lost and Alexander Morozevich found the most precise way 19.Qa4. There was the last chance to resist White pressure by playing 18…Rf4.
 Kamsky-Kasimdzhanov 1/2-1/2
Gata Kamsky explained during the press-conference his second Emil Sutovky suggested him not to go into theoretical fights against Rustam, as it can be really dangerous. American player chose Antimarshal and got a slight edge but after 21.Rb6 cb6 both players agreed the position is too solid to be lost by any side. Two moves earlier Gata Kamsky could have tried to fight for an advantage by playing 19. Rb8 Rb8 20. Rb1.
.jpg) Leko-Wang Hao 1/2-1/2
Peter Leko was a bit surprised by Wang Hao choice 7.e6 as Chinese player used to play 7…b6. The position after the opening seemed very complicated with many different options for both sides. As Peter Leko put it during the press-conference after White played 18. Bf3 and 19.Ne2 he had feeling his position should be close to winning. However, he didn’t use a very promising option to play 25. g5, chose 25.Bf6 and the following ending turned to be drawish.
 Svidler-Karjakin 1/2-1/2
Peter Svidler chose English opening and Sergey Karjakin managed to equalize with black quite easily. Both players agreed that the final position is absolutely balanced even white pieces placed nicely and logically. The game was finished after three-time repetition.
.jpg) Caruana-Ponomariov 1/2-1/2
In the Scotch Game Ruslan, playing with Black, chose the line with 4…Bc5 and 5…bc but after seventh move the theory finished for both players. As former world champion said during the press-conference, Black had to solve many problems during the game, as his pieces were a bit passive and displaced. 22…c5 was a good attempt to organize counter play as possible 22…b5 would lead to unpleasant position for Black.
.jpg) Gelfand-Mamedyarov 1/2-1/2
Boris Gelfand’s 8.Ne5 in the opening was met by ambitious 8…Ba3. White tried to get some play after15. e4 and 18. f5 but Black was just in time to change the pieces and make a draw in the dead-equal rook endgame. As Boris Gelfand pointed out, perhaps, he could have chosen more quiet strategy in order to avoid simplification of the position. |
