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| The 'gladiators' at the press conference (official site) |
 The classical games (6 ko)
The rapid games (4 ko)
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| Classical chess match (Saint Louis, USA) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | V. | Black | Result | Moves | ECO | Opening |
| Ponomariov, Ruslan | - | Nakamura, Hikaru | 1-0 | 93 | E98 | King's Indian Classical |
| Nakamura, Hikaru | - | Ponomariov, Ruslan | ½-½ | 37 | C67 | Spanish Berlin |
| Ponomariov, Ruslan | - | Nakamura, Hikaru | 0-1 | 43 | E94 | King's Indian Classical |
| Nakamura, Hikaru | - | Ponomariov, Ruslan | ½-½ | 51 | D31 | Semi-Slav Defence |
| Ponomariov, Ruslan | - | Nakamura, Hikaru | ½-½ | 41 | E94 | King's Indian Classical |
| Nakamura, Hikaru | - | Ponomariov, Ruslan | 1-0 | 44 | D31 | Semi-Slav Defence |
So 3½-2½ was the final score.
| Classical match (Saint Louis, USA) 17th-23rd of May 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | Name | World Rank | NAT | Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Total | Performance | ELO change | ||||||
| 23 | Hikaru Nakamura | 8 | USA | 2774 | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 3½ | 2811 | +3.2 | ||||||
| 27 | Ruslan Ponomariov, Ruslan | 11 | UKR | 2754 | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 2½ | 2717 | -3.2 | ||||||
A gain of three rating points may not seem to be a great deal but it could be enough to enable the American to rise two places in the World rankings!
Following on from their classical match the players then switched to rapid play.
It was no surprise to many that the US No.1 Hikaru Nakamura was able to beat Ruslan Ponomariov in their rapid match.
I was present when the American beat Ponomariov in a play-off match in San Sebastian (it was impressive!). The Ukrainian is no less than No.11 in the world but at Rapid and Blitz chess few can compete with 'Naka'.
The first win came in the rare 1.b3 opening that is often named after Bent Larsen and Aaron Nimzowich.
| Rapid Match details, game-by-game | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | V. | Black | Result | Moves | ECO code | Opening |
| Ponomariov, Ruslan | - | Nakamura, Hikaru | ½-½ | 93 | A88 | Leningrad Dutch |
| Nakamura, Hikaru | - | Ponomariov, Ruslan | 1-0 | 56 | A01 | Larsen/ Nimzovich |
| Ponomariov, Ruslan | - | Nakamura, Hikaru | 0-1 | 27 | D11 | Slav Defence |
| Nakamura, Hikaru | - | Ponomariov, Ruslan | ½-½ | 39 | E60 | King's Indian |
| Rapid Match Saint Louis (USA), 24th-25th of May 2011 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | World rank | Country | Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Performance | ||||||
| Hikaru Nakamura | 8 | USA | 2774 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 3 | 2947 | ||||||
| Ruslan Ponomariov | 11 | UKR | 2754 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 2581 | ||||||
There was a second match going on at the same time where the youthful Ray Robson took on the experienced Ben Finegold.
A fine +2=4-0 from Ray Robson with a 2600+ performance.
| classical match (Saint Louis, USA) 17th-23th of May 2011 | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Title | Country | Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Total | Performance | ||||||
| Ray Robson | g | USA | 2545 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 4 | 2619 | ||||||
| Benjamin Finegold | g | USA | 2494 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 2 | 2420 | ||||||
In the rapids, Finegold started strongly but was caught at the end.
| Rapid Match Saint Louis (USA), 24th-25th of May 2011 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Title | Country | Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Performance | ||||||
| Benjamin Finegold | g | USA | 2494 | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 2 | 2545 | ||||||
| Ray Robson | g | USA | 2545 | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 2 | 2494 | ||||||
The best source for further details is the official site
| Photos | [Top of page] |
