A bad day for the leaders!

Sergey Karjakin and Dmitry Jakovenko keep making the same result, unfortunately for them they both lost today!
Last placed Ivan Sokolov overcame Jakovenko whereas Karjakin went down to Nikita Vitiugov.
Five players now share first place on 3/5.

In a quiet line of the Nimzo-indian defence, Sokolov obtained the bishop pair and then pushed his g-pawn whilst leaving his king in the centre. Jakovenko tried to react actively in the centre, but Sokolov held sway in the complications, gained material and walked his king to safety.

Karjakin also tried the Nimzo-indian defence. After the opening he daringly played to win a hot pawn, but this rebounded on him as he soon felt obliged to give up the exchange.

He seemed however to give himself drawing chances, as in the endgame all the pawns were on a limited front, but Vitiugov was able to tie down the tournament favourite, create a passed pawn and shepherd it home.

In the World Cup (Khanty Mansiysk Nov-Dec 2009), Karjakin eliminated Vitiugov, so there was no doubt a double satisfaction for the lesser-known Russian! Note the fact that (in the photo) six months ago Karjakin was playing for the Ukraine, but has since switched his allegiance.

Karjakin came out on top in the World cup.

Arkadij Naiditsch kept a pull as White in an Anti-Marshall and even won a pawn in the endgame, but Onischuk was then able to activate all his forces and hold the draw.

The other three games were disappointing, and somewhat premature, draws.

Ivan SokolovBosnia-Herzegovina26541-0Dmitry JakovenkoRussia2725
Arkadij NaiditschGermany26860.5-0.5Alexander OnischukUSA2699
Emil SutovskyIsrael26610.5-0.5Alexander MotylevRussia2704
Baadur JobavaGeorgia27150.5-0.5Sergei RublevskyRussia2704
Nikita VitiugovRussia27071-0Sergey KarjakinRussia2739
Victor BologanMoldavia26680.5-0.5Alexander RiazantsevRussia2674

Vitiugov joins a leading group of five comprising Sutovsky and Riazantsev (also both having +1=4-0) along with Karjakin and Jakovenko (+2=2-1).

PositionNameCountryRatingWorld rankingAgePoints after 4 rounds
1st-5thSergey KarjakinRUS273914203
1st-5thDmitry JakovenkoRUS272521263
1st-5thNikita VitiugovRUS270732233
1st-5thAlexander RiazantsevRUS267458243
1st-5thEmil SutovskyISR266175323
6th-7thAlexander MotylevRUS270434302.5
6th-7thVictor BologanMDA266864382.5
8th-12thBaadur JobavaGEO271526262
8th-12thSergei RublevskyRUS270433352
8th-12thAlexander OnischukUSA269938342
8th-12thArkadij NaiditschGER268647242
8th-12thIvan SokolovBIH265483412

All twelve players are now within one point of each other.

You can follow the games live on Live games

You may also like to investigate the official tournament site. However it is in Russian!

The sixth round will start tomorrow (before the rest day on tuesday) at 10am (London), 11am (Paris) or 3pm (local time).


Published on , Updated on