World Chess Cup (Aug. 26 – Sept. 21, 2011)

In Round 3, Gata Kamsky (USA) wins against Ian Nepomniachtchi (Russia)

GM Kamsky, Gata (2741) (White) vs GM Nepomniachtchi, Ian (2711) (Black)

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Qc7 11. Rb1 a6 12. Bf4 Qa5 13. Bd5 cxd4 14. cxd4 Bg4 15. f3 Be6 16. Bd2 Qc7 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. Bc3 Rad8 19. Qb3 0.17 Nxd4 0.24 20. Bxd4 Bxd4+ 21. Nxd4 Rxd4 22. Qxe6+ Rf7 23. Rbc1 Qd6 24. Qc8+ Kg7 25. Qxb7 Rd2 26. Qb3 e5 27. Rcd1 Qd4+ 28. Kh1 Rd7 29. Rxd2 Qxd2 30. Qe6 Qd6 31. Qxd6 Rxd6 32. h4 Rd2 33. Rc1 Rxa2 34. Rc7+ Kf6 35. Rxh7 a5 36. Ra7 a4 37. Kh2 a3 38. Kh3 Ke6 39. Ra6+ Kf7 40. Kg3 Kg7 41. Re6 Re2 42. Rxe5 a2 43. Ra5 Kf6 44. f4 Rxe4 45. Rxa2 Kg7 46. Kg4 Rb4 47. Ra5

Six U.S. Players in the World Chess Cup: Gata Kamsky, Alexander, Onischuk, Yuri Shulman, Ray Robson, Samuel L Shankland, Alexander Ivanov – ONLY GM Gata Kamsky remains.

These were the Pairings for Round 3:

• Sergey Karjakin (Russia) — Judit Polgar (Hungary)
• Gata Kamsky (USA) — Ian Nepomniachtchi (Russia)
• Peter Svidler (Russia) — Fabiano Caruana (Italy)
• Ruslan Ponomariov (Ukraine) — Zakhar Efimenko (Ukraine)
• Vugar Gashimov (Azerbaijan) — Evgeny Tomashevsky (Russia)
• Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine) — Emil Sutovsky (Israel)
• Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan) — Etienne Bacrot (France)
• Dmitry Jakovenko (Russia) — Baadur Jobava (Georgia)
• Alexander Grischuk (Russia) — Alexander Morozevich (Russia)

Ivanov was eliminated following Round 2

Round 2:  Here is a review by GM Konstantin Landa: G. Kamsky — R. Kasimdzhanov

It was unfortunate to see such a strong players meeting at such an early stage. One mistake by Rustam Kasimdzhanov was enough for his opponent to win.

28…Ng6?

After 28…Nc6 29.Bxd5 Rd8 Black feels just fine.

29.Bxd5 Rd8 30.Bf3

30.Ra8!? Rff8 31.Rxd8 Rxd8 32.Bf3 Bxf3 33.Nxf3 Rd3 34.Kf2 Rxc3 35.Re8 Kh7 36.f5 Nh8 37.Re7 was also good.

30…Bxf3 31.Nxf3 Rd5?

31…Rd3 32.Nd4 b4!

32.Ra8 Kh7 33.Ree8 Rxc5 34.Nd4 Nxf4?

34…Rxc3 35.f5 b4 36.fxg6 Kxg6.

35.gxf4 Rxf4 36.Ne6

A rook usually works well with a knight, and two rooks with a knight can simply give mate!

36…Rg4 37.Kf2 Rf5 38.Ke3 h5 39.Ra6 g6 40.Re7 Kh6 41.Ra8!

Black resigns. The game could continue 41…g5 42.Ra6 Rf6 43.Nf8 Rxa6 44.Rh7#.

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• List of 2011 World Cup participants

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