Poikovsky: Naiditsch and Jobava win their first games.

The leaders drew but two players won with the White pieces, Baadur Jobava and Arkadij Naiditsch.
There have now been 12 White wins in the 11th Karpov Poikovsky compared to a sole Black victory (Riazantsev in round 1).

Naiditsch employed a sideline involving h3 and g4 against the Najdorf and induced complications where Sutovsky's pawn sacrifice didn't impress. Indeed the German kept control throughout.

In a Petroff, Jobava was able to keep a slight space advantage. Motylev reacted in the middlegame with a series of pawn sacrifices, but the Georgian calmly sought an endgame with an extra doubled pawn. He converted his advantage in a rook ending.

Nikita VitiugovRussia27070.5-0.5Alexander RiazantsevRussia2674
Victor BologanMoldavia26680.5-0.5Sergei RublevskyRussia2704
Baadur JobavaGeorgia27151-0Alexander MotylevRussia2704
Arkadij NaiditschGermany26861-0Emil SutovskyIsrael2661
Ivan SokolovBosnia-Herzegovina26540.5-0.5Alexander OnischukUSA2699
Sergey KarjakinRussia27390.5-0.5Dmitry JakovenkoRussia2725

Of the draws, Bologan-Rublevsky, and especially Vitiugov-Riazantsev were tough battles with no quarter given.

Interesting position! @ Chesspro

After today's games, Sutovsky drops back, while Naiditsch and Jobava move up to join a large group on 50%. Last year's winner Motylev drops back to equal 9th and is well out of contention.

PositionNameCountryRatingWorld rankingAgePoints after 7 rounds
1st-2ndDmitry JakovenkoRUS272521264.5
1st-2ndAlexander RiazantsevRUS267458244.5
3rdSergey KarjakinRUS273914204
4th-8thBaadur JobavaGEO271526263.5
4th-8thNikita VitiugovRUS270732233.5
4th-8thArkadij NaiditschGER268647243.5
4th-8thVictor BologanMDA266864383.5
4th-8thEmil SutovskyISR266175323.5
9th-11thAlexander MotylevRUS270434303
9th-11thSergei RublevskyRUS270433353
9th-11thAlexander OnischukUSA269938343
12thIvan SokolovBIH265483412.5

The moves of the game between Bologan and Onischuk from the sixth round don't seem to be available, but the game was apparently drawn.

That solves part of the mystery!

You can follow the games live on Live games

You may also like to investigate the following site Chesspro However it is in Russian!

Jobava trying to keep up with his reflection! @ chesspro

The ninth round will start tomorrow (Thursday) at 10am (London), 11am (Paris) or 3pm (local time).


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