Struggle for fourth spot in GCT Finals heats up
For a second consecutive spherical, one of many 5 video games ended decisively on the Sinquefield Cup. Javokhir Sindarov scored his first victory of the match by defeating Vincent Keymer with the black items, whereas the opposite 4 encounters completed drawn.
Wesley So stays the only chief after a 32-move draw with white towards Anish Giri. So now has 4½/7 factors and leads by half some extent over Fabiano Caruana, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, who’re tied for second place on 4/7.
It rewards gamers who love initiative and clear attacking plans.
This two-volume course presents a whole repertoire for Black after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 – the Hyper-Accelerated Dragon. Lately, this dynamic line has grown considerably in recognition, with a number of of the world’s prime gamers including it to their repertoires.
This variation has two foremost benefits for black, he doesn’t must face the Rossolimo or Moscower Variation after 3.Bb5 and in lots of strains he can play d5 in a single go and save a tempo. This primary quantity covers the Open Sicilian with each the razor sharp strains from the dragon and the positional Maroczy Bind.
Free video pattern: Introduction
Free video pattern: 6.Be3 Qb6 Introduction
Sindarov’s victory added one other layer to the ultimate two rounds. Keymer entered the Sinquefield Cup in fourth place within the total Grand Chess Tour standings, the ultimate qualifying place for the GCT Finals, solely half some extent forward of Sindarov. With each gamers now on 3½/7 in Saint Louis, Sindarov has a sensible likelihood of overtaking Keymer if he finishes forward of his German colleague within the occasion.
The ultimate two rounds will due to this fact characteristic two parallel contests: one for the Sinquefield Cup title and one other for qualification to the Grand Chess Tour Finals.
We would get to see Javokhir Sindarov taking part in within the GCT Finals subsequent week, two months earlier than his match for the World Championship towards Gukesh Dommaraju – set to kick off on 25 November in Geneva | Photograph: Lennart Ootes
Spherical 7 outcomes
The closest anybody else got here to profitable was Sam Sevian towards Jorden van Foreest. Sevian obtained a beneficial place in a sophisticated queenless middlegame, however missed the exact 29…Nb5, which might have preserved Black’s benefit.
He as an alternative selected 29…Nc6?!, after which Van Foreest discovered sufficient assets to revive the steadiness and ultimately safe the draw.
One of many easiest openings for White to study, and one of the vital irritating ones for Black to face! With the strikes d4-Nf3-e3-Bd3 White goals for easy piece improvement and to slowly construct up a devastating assault on the kingside!
Free pattern video: Introduction
Free pattern video: e4-e5 attacking ideas
Jorden van Foreest | Photograph: Crystal Fuller
Sam Sevian and Jorden van Foreest quickly after signing a draw | Photograph: Lennart Ootes
Given the state of affairs within the tour standings, Sindarov had sturdy incentives to play for a win towards Keymer. With black, he selected the Benko Gambit, steering the sport in direction of an unbalanced place with loads of scope for energetic play.
The Uzbek grandmaster got here out of the opening in good condition and initially had the extra promising place. His 20…Be4?! altered the steadiness, nonetheless, permitting Keymer to take over the initiative and acquire a transparent edge.
Keymer didn’t profit from that chance. Somewhat than sustaining the strain within the extra advanced place, he simplified into an endgame, a call that eased Sindarov’s job significantly. Sindarov, who additionally had a considerable benefit on the clock, accurately judged that he might head for a pure opposite-coloured bishop ending.
Such endings are sometimes related to sturdy drawing tendencies, however the concrete options of this place favoured Black. Keymer, taking part in with roughly an hour much less on the clock, failed to search out essentially the most resilient defensive setup, whereas Sindarov progressively improved his king and bishop.
By the point Sindarov performed 54…Bg1, Black had a totally profitable place.
One significantly enticing profitable concept concerned even giving up the bishop, because the decisive issue was the black king’s route by means of d4 and c3. The king infiltration would have been sufficient to settle the sport regardless of the fabric sacrifice.
Keymer resigned quickly afterwards. It was his second defeat of the match, balancing the 2 wins he has scored thus far in Saint Louis. Sindarov, in the meantime, lastly broke by means of after six rounds and not using a victory.
Keymer 0-1 Sindarov
Vincent Keymer coping with a tricky opposite-coloured bishop ending | Photograph: Lennart Ootes
Javokhir Sindarov | Photograph: Crystal Fuller
