In Giri's encounter with Nakamura, the popular B-f4 system led to the so-called 'Carlsbad structure' once White released the tension on d5. These 'Exchange Variations' have a reputation for closed manoeuvring, particularly when both players castle on the same wing, but this pair of creative players generated lots of interesting ideas in a lively game.
Giri's minority attack was countered quite actively and a proposed exchange sacrifice by the American gave Black promising play. Complications led to perpetual check.
The young German Meier has a cautious positional style and although he kept matters under control in a steady game, Le Quang Liem was never in danger.
The round one details:
White | Rating | Result | Black | Rating | Moves | Opening details |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kramnik, Vladimir | 2781 | 1-0 | Ponomariov, Ruslan | 2764 | 42 | King's Indian Classical (7...exd4) E94 |
Giri, Anish | 2701 | ½-½ | Nakamura, Hikaru | 2770 | 54 | Queen's Gambit Declined (5.Bf4) D37 |
Meier, Georg | 2656 | ½-½ | Le, Quang Liem | 2715 | 38 | Grünfeld (Russian system, Hungarian Variation) D97 |
Here is the table after only one round.
Posn. | Name | Country | Rating | Kw | Kb | Nw | Nb | Gw | Gb | Lw | Lb | Mw | Mb | Pw | Pb | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kramnik, Vladimir | RUS | 2781 | * | * | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | 1 | . | 1 |
2-5 | Nakamura, Hikaru | USA | 2770 | . | . | * | * | . | ½ | . | . | . | . | . | . | ½ |
2-5 | Giri, Anish | NED | 2701 | . | . | ½ | . | * | * | . | . | . | . | . | . | ½ |
2-5 | Le, Quang Liem | VIE | 2715 | . | . | . | . | . | . | * | * | . | ½ | . | . | ½ |
2-5 | Meier, Georg | GER | 2656 | . | . | . | . | . | . | ½ | . | * | * | . | . | ½ |
6. | Ponomariov, Ruslan | UKR | 2764 | . | 0 | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | * | * | 0 |
Don't forget to check out the following:
Official site: http://www.sparkassen-chess-meeting.de/2011
Live games: http://schachtage.dokomserver.de/toma/live.htm
The transmission is with a 30 minute delay in order to avoid any possibility of 'external influences affecting the players decisions'.