Hess has high hopes (5)

Robert Hess leads group B and is now close to qualification for the Semi-Finals. The leaders draw in Group A with the revelation Daniel Naroditsky continuing his fine form. Irina Krush is the new leader in the Women's event.

Here are the fifth round results in Group A:

Ray Robson  2522 0-1 Daniel Naroditsky 2438 
Gata Kamsky 2733  ½-½ Alexander Stripunsky 2578
Alexander Ivanov 2540 ½-½ Jaan Ehlvest 2586
Varuzhan Akobian 2611 ½-½ Yury Shulman 2622

The points tally in Group A after five rounds:

Seed Name Rating points
1 Gata Kamsky 2733 3.5
2 Yury Shulman 2622 3.5
7 Ray Robson 2522 2.5
3 Varuzhan Akobian 2611 2.5
6 Alexander Ivanov 2540 2.5
8 Daniel Naroditsky  2438 2.5
4 Jaan Ehlvest 2586 1.5
5 Alexander Stripunsky 2578 1.5

So at present, the top two seeds occupy the qualification spots, a full point ahead, with only two games to go.

Here are the results from the earlier rounds in Group A:

Round 1:

Daniel Naroditsky 2438 ½-½ Jaan Ehlvest 2586
Yury Shulman 2622 ½-½ Alexander Stripunsky 2578
Alexander Ivanov 2540 ½-½ Gata Kamsky 2733
Varuzhan Akobian 2611 ½-½ Ray Robson 2522

Round 2:

Daniel Naroditsky 2438 ½-½ Yury Shulman 2622
Jaan Ehlvest 2586 ½-½ Ray Robson 2522
Alexander Stripunsky 2578 ½-½ Alexander Ivanov 2540
Gata Kamsky 2733 1-0 Varuzhan Akobian 2611

Round 3:

Yury Shulman 2622 1-0 Jaan Ehlvest 2586
Alexander Ivanov 2540 1-0 Daniel Naroditsky 2438
Varuzhan Akobian 2611 1-0 Alexander Stripunsky 2578
Ray Robson 2522 ½-½ Gata Kamsky 2733

Round 4:

Yury Shulman 2622 1-0 Alexander Ivanov 2540
Alexander Stripunsky 2578 0-1 Ray Robson  2522
Jaan Ehlvest 2586 0-1 Gata Kamsky 2733
Daniel Naroditsky 2438 ½-½ Varuzhan Akobian 2611

Group B

Robert Hess wins again and moves into a clear lead, with Alexander Onischuk and Sam Shankland a point behind.

Alexander Onischuk 2678 1-0 Larry Christiansen 2586
Sam Shankland 2512 0-1 Alexander Shabalov 2590
Robert Hess 2565 1-0 Gregory Kaidanov 2569
Ben Finegold 2500 0-1 Yasser Seirawan 2636

The total points after five rounds:

Seed Name Rating Points
6 Robert Hess 2565 4
1 Alexander Onischuk 2678 3
7 Sam Shankland 2512 3
2 Yasser Seirawan 2636 2.5
4 Larry Christiansen 2586 2.5
3 Alexander Shabalov  2590 2
8 Ben Finegold 2500 2
5 Gregory Kaidanov 2569 1

Somewhat surprisingly, so far the sixth and seventh seeds are best placed to make the semi-finals.

Here are the results from earlier rounds in Group B:

Round 1:

Larry Christiansen 2586 1-0 Alexander Shabalov 2590
Yasser Seirawan 2636 ½-½ Gregory Kaidanov 2569
Sam Shankland 2512 ½-½ Robert Hess 2565
Ben Finegold 2500 0-1 Alexander Onischuk 2678

Round 2:

Larry Christiansen 2586 1-0 Yasser Seirawan 2636
Gregory Kaidanov 2569 0-1 Sam Shankland 2512
Alexander Shabalov 2590 ½-½ Alexander Onischuk 2678
Robert Hess 2565 ½-½ Ben Finegold 2500

Round 3:

Sam Shankland 2512 1-0 Larry Christiansen 2586
Yasser Seirawan 2636 ½-½ Alexander Shabalov 2590
Ben Finegold 2500 1-0 Gregory Kaidanov 2569
Alexander Onischuk 2678 0-1 Robert Hess 2565 

Round 4:

Larry Christiansen 2586 ½-½ Ben Finegold 2500
Yasser Seirawan 2636 ½-½ Sam Shankland 2512
Gregory Kaidanov 2569 ½-½ Alexander Onischuk 2678
Alexander Shabalov 2590 0-1 Robert Hess 2565

The Women's Championship

Four straight wins have powered Irina Krush past her rivals. Sabina Foisor loses her first game and highest-rated Anne Zatonskih is in serious danger of not qualifying.

No Title Name Rating 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Total
1 IM Irina Krush 2472 x 1 1 1 1     0 4
2 WFM Tatev Abrahamyan 2326 0 x 1 1     1 0.5 3.5
3 IM Rusudan Goletiani 2367 0 0 x     0.5 0 1 1.5
4 IM Anna Zatonskih 2499 0 0   x 0.5 1 0.5   2
5 FM Alisa Melekhina 2304 0     0.5 x 0 0 0 0.5
6 WIM Iryna Zenyuk 2245     0.5 0 1 x 0 0 1.5
7 WGM Camilla Baginskaite 2342   0 1 0.5 1 1 x   3.5
8 WGM Sabina Foisor 2350 1 0.5 0   1 1   x 3.5

More information from the

official site

The games in rounds 1 to 7 will be everyday from 2pm to 8pm (local time).

There is a seven hour difference between St. Louis and Paris. So 2pm (St. Louis) =

8pm London

9pm Paris, Madrid

11pm Moscow

Live play:live


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