World Chess Rapid, Day 2: Anand defeats Carlsen

The King Salman World Rapid Championship continued today at the iconic Apex Convention Centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Players from 55 countries, among them 10 men out of the World Top-15 as well as 11 out the World Top-15 women, are competing in this prestigious event. Five more rounds were played in both Open and Women’s sections.

The five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand had a good day at the office. He successfully dismantled his nemesis Magnus Carlsen with black pieces.

Anand employed Rubinstein variation of Nimzo Indian defence. In the middlegame, he gave a powerful rook sacrifice which enabled his light-squared Bishop to have complete control over White’s Kingside. Anand exchange-sacrificed his second rook to deliver a final blow. In a Damiano’s bishop mate pattern, a classic method of checkmating, the threat was too powerful for the Norwegian. The reigning World Champion resigned on 34.

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Anand is in joint-second position on the leaderboard. Russia’s GM Vladimir Fedoseev is the sole leader with 8.0/10 points.

In the Women’s section, GM Dronavalli Harika is closely behind the leaders on 7.0/10 points. She defeated reigning World Junior Girls Champion Abdumalik Zhansaya of Kazakstan in round 7.

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The overnight leader in the Women’s section, Ju Wenjun of China is singling out on the top of the standings with 8.0/10 points.

Pairings: Open

Round 11 on 2017/12/28

Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
1	69	GM	Pantsulaia Levan	2654	7		7	GM	Carlsen Magnus *)	2908	1
2	37	GM	Mamedov Rauf	2695	7		8	GM	Fedoseev Vladimir	2771	8
3	18	GM	Svidler Peter	2743	7½		7½	GM	Anand Viswanathan	2758	12
4	9	GM	Wang Hao	2770	7½		7	GM	Safarli Eltaj	2694	39
5	4	GM	Mamedyarov Shakhriyar	2814	6½		7	GM	Yu Yangyi	2752	14
6	7	GM	Nepomniachtchi Ian	2780	6½		6½	GM	Kuzubov Yuriy	2662	63
7	11	GM	Korobov Anton	2765	6½		6½	GM	Quparadze Giga	2614	85
8	17	GM	Rapport Richard	2748	6½		6½	GM	Bu Xiangzhi	2654	68
9	38	GM	Cheparinov Ivan	2694	6½		6½	GM	Ding Liren	2734	20
10	25	GM	Petrosian Tigran L.	2715	6½		6½	GM	Kravtsiv Martyn	2610	87

Pairings: Women’s Championship

Round 11 on 2017/12/28

Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
1	4	GM	Ju Wenjun	2537	8		7½	GM	Dzagnidze Nana	2508	5
2	10	GM	Danielian Elina	2473	7½		7	GM	Harika Dronavalli	2466	12
3	2	GM	Kosteniuk Alexandra	2586	7		7½	WGM	Goryachkina Aleksandra	2460	13
4	17	GM	Lei Tingjie	2450	7		7	IM	Pham Le Thao Nguyen	2390	36
5	15	WGM	Huang Qian	2453	6½		7	IM	Paehtz Elisabeth	2467	11
6	38	IM	Atalik Ekaterina	2389	6½		6½	IM	Guo Qi	2451	16
7	20	GM	Sebag Marie	2445	6½		6½	WGM	Fataliyeva Ulviyya	2085	92
8	68	IM	Charochkina Daria	2307	6½		6½	IM	Abdumalik Zhansaya	2439	23
9	24	GM	Khotenashvili Bela	2425	6½		6½	IM	Zimina Olga	2376	45
10	9	IM	Bodnaruk Anastasia	2480	6		6½	WGM	Tokhirjonova Gulrukhbegim	2171	88