2017 European Ind Ch 29 May - 11 June (Minsk)

[John McKenna]

More towards the other end of the age scale to IM Luca Moroni (2448), with a surprisingly low rating of 2480, there's Armenian GM Artashes Minasian (b. 1967 Jan.)

He's 3/3 and has W versus Kuzubov (2637) on 4th bd. For me it's one to watch.

On his 40th move Minasian had equal material but failed to find the way to defend a position in which he was only worse and not necessarily losing, as far as I can tell. Often happens.

Bd. 1 Kuzubov (4/4) v. Naiditsch (3.5)

[JustinHorton]

Gawain clearly struggling

Struggling, but somehow managed to hold.

I've not looked at it in any detail, but that looked like a close-run thing.

[Barry Sandercock]

Looks like a good save by Gawain from a difficult ending.

[Chris Rice]

Indeed, hanging on by his fingernails, in a lifeless position, material down with White at various points threatening to queen pawns or possibly mate Black was a superb effort for Gawain and if he does snatch one of these 22 places he may look back on this game as the one that got him there.

Esipenko, Andrey (RUS) - Jones, Gawain C B (ENG) ½-½
18th European Individual Championship 2017 round 04

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Bxd2+ 6. Qxd2 Qe7 7. Nc3 d5 8. Ne5 dxc4 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Bg2 O-O 11. O-O Rb8 12. Rfd1 Rd8 13. Qc2 Ba6 14. Bxc6 Nd5 15. Bxd5 exd5 16. Na4 Bc8 17. b3 Bg4 18. Re1 Qf6 19. Qd2 Re8 20. Nc5 Re7 21. f3 Bh3 22. Qf4 Qd6 23. Kf2 h6 24. bxc4 dxc4 25. Qxd6 cxd6 26. Ne4 Be6 27. Rab1 Reb7 28. Rxb7 Rxb7 29. Nc3 Kf8 30. d5 Bf5 31. Ke3 Rb2 32. Rd1 Ke7 33. Rd2 Rb4 34. Kd4 g5 35. Nd1 Bb1 36. Nc3 Bf5 37. Nd1 Bb1 38. a3 Rb3 39. Nc3 Bf5 40. Ra2 Bb1 41. Ra1 Bc2 42. Kxc4 Rb2 43. Kd4 Bf5 44. Ra2 Rb8 45. e4 Bd7 46. f4 a5 47. e5 gxf4 48. exd6+ Kxd6 49. Ne4+ Ke7 50. gxf4 Bf5 51. Ng3 Bb1 52. Re2+ Kd7 53. Nh5 Kd6 54. Nf6 a4 55. Ng4 Rb3 56. Ne5 f6 57. Nc4+ Kd7 58. d6 Rb5 59. Re7+ Kd8 60. Ra7 Ba2 61. Ne3 Bb3 62. f5 h5 63. h4 Ba2 64. Rh7 Rb1 65. Rh6 Rh1 66. Rxh5 Kd7 67. Rh6 Kxd6 68. Rxf6+ Ke7 69. Rh6 Bf7 70. Ra6 Rxh4+ 71. Ke5 Kf8 72. Ng2 Rc4 73. Nf4 Kg7 74. f6+ Kg8 75. Ra8+ Kh7 76. Ra7 Kg8 77. Ne6 Bxe6 78. Kxe6 Re4+ 79. Kd5 Rf4 80. Ke5 Rh4 81. Ke6 Re4+ 82. Kf5 Rc4 83. Ke5 Kf8 84. Kd6 Rf4 85. f7 Rf6+ 86. Kc5 Rxf7 87. Rxa4 Rf3 88. Kd6 Rd3+ 89. Kc7 Rc3+ 90. Kd8 Rd3+ 91. Kc7 Rc3+ 92. Kd7 Rd3+ 93. Ke6 Re3+ 94. Kd6 Rd3+ 95. Kc5 Ke7 96. Re4+ Kd7 97. Rd4+ Rxd4 98. Kxd4 Kc6 99. a4 Kb7 100. a5 Ka6 101. Kc5 Kxa5 ½-½

[JustinHorton]

Very convincing from David today.

[LawrenceCooper]

Gawain has also won to reach 3.5. David is on 4. All to play for after tomorrow's rest day.

[JustinHorton]

Interesting rook ending. Do people think it was drawn?

[LawrenceCooper]

Interesting rook ending. Do people think it was drawn?

I think black had to try f5 on the moves following f4 as the game continuation allowed Gawain's king to march up the board untroubled. If Gawain hadn't played f4 though I couldn't see anything better than endings where white gives up the d pawn but wins most of the kingside. With Rook, f+h v rook sometimes being a draw though I wasn't sure if it was anything more than practical winning chances.

[Chris Rice]

Cheparinov (ECX), Melkumyan (ARM), Kuzubov (UKR) and Fridman (GER) share the lead on 4½ after 5 rounds. David is 28th and Gawain 56th.
Round 6 pairings

7 Onischuk Vladimir 2608 4 4 GM Howell David W L 2684
28 Gabuzyan Hovhannes 2570 3½ 3½ GM Jones Gawain C B 2654

[John McKenna]

David's next opponent, Onischuk, defeated the talented Mr. Moroni by playing the KID and using a double exchange sac (he soon won one exchange back) on the c-file, followed by a k-side attack with q,kb, n & p v. K, Q, R, KB & P, which seem to win due to the opposite colour bishops, in the bottom right corner around the white K.

Gawain's next opponent, Gabuzyan of Armenia, is so far undefeated (+2, =3) with a win against Jobava.

Today is the rest day in this ginormous event in Minsk so there's time for some Sunday relaxation, and bit of extra prep. I hope David & Gawain do the same and come out fighting fit for the 6th (of 11) round(s).

[David Robertson]

Do cry for me, Kryvoruchko

Yuri began, seeded 4, with a win. Yet after five rounds, he plays on bd 86 tomorrow against an opponent seeded 276 and rated 400 points below him. I hope he finds something useful to do on his day off, chess prep being the least of it

[LawrenceCooper]

A young WFM seemingly on course for a WIM, WGM, IM and maybe even GM norm: http://www.chess-results.com/tnr280959. ... 21&snr=309

[Barry Sandercock]

Amazing result at age 13.

[Chris Rice]

Chess 24 report on the first half of the tournament where there have been many upsets and great combos.

[JustinHorton]

Interesting rook ending. Do people think it was drawn?

I think black had to try f5 on the moves following f4 as the game continuation allowed Gawain's king to march up the board untroubled. If Gawain hadn't played f4 though I couldn't see anything better than endings where white gives up the d pawn but wins most of the kingside. With Rook, f+h v rook sometimes being a draw though I wasn't sure if it was anything more than practical winning chances.

Still, it looks like Gawain's endgame technique has scored him a point and a half in the last two rounds when he could reasonably have expected only a half.

Odd in the first one how lifeless his bishop seemed (until he was able to get shot of it).