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12:29 17/05/2010

FIDE Grand Prix: Vladimir Hakobian yielded positions

The match between two solid and technical players, Akopian and Wang Yue went for one of the main lines of the Petroff. Both players have considerable experience in the Petroff and 17.Qc1 was played before by Akopian against Kasimdzhanov in another GP tournament! There black went 17…Bf6 but Wang Yue tried 17…Qd7 instead.

Wang Yue was looking to bounce back, after his round 5 defeat and the missed win in an earlier round against Dmitry Yakovenko. Only a win today could put him back with realistic chances of qualifying for the coveted Candidates place.

He pressed for a long time and eventually was rewarded with a position having an outside passed pawn. Additionally, white had a somewhat bad bishop also to resolve. Vladimir put up strong resistance but the Chinese player’s persistence won through and he obtained the full point. Final times (0:03 – 0:02)

Results
Eljanov    - Alekseev    0-1
Akopian    - Wang Yue    0-1
Mamedyarov - Gashimov    ½-½
Svidler    - Leko        ½-½
Gelfand    - Inarkiev    0-1
Jakovenko - Ponomariov 1-0
Ivanchuk   - Radjabov    ½-½

Standing
1. Inarkiev, Ernesto       4
2. Jakovenko, Dmitry       3½
3. Leko, Peter             3½
4. Gashimov, Vugar         3½
5. Eljanov, Pavel          3½
6. Alekseev, Evgeny        3
7. Radjabov, Teimour       3
8. Gelfand, Boris          3
9. Wang Yue                3
10. Ponomariov, Ruslan      2½
11. Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar 2½
12. Svidler, Peter          2½
13. Ivanchuk, Vassily       2½
14. Akopian, Vladimir       2

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