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TOURNAMENT STANDINGS
Aeroflot Open Tournament

Ian Nepomniachtchi7/9(+5 -0 =4)[games]
Alexander Motylev6.5/9(+4 -0 =5)[games]
Aleksey Dreev6.5/9(+5 -1 =3)[games]
Maxim Rodshtein6/9(+4 -1 =4)[games]
Andrei Volokitin6/9(+4 -1 =4)[games]
Boris Grachev6/9(+4 -1 =4)[games]
Gadir Guseinov6/9(+3 -0 =6)[games]
Farrukh Amonatov6/9(+3 -0 =6)[games]
Rauf Mamedov5.5/9(+2 -0 =7)[games]
Victor Bologan5.5/9(+3 -1 =5)[games]
Karen Asrian5.5/9(+2 -0 =7)[games]
Borki Predojevic5.5/9(+3 -1 =5)[games]
Emil Sutovsky5.5/9(+3 -1 =5)[games]
Sergei Azarov5.5/9(+3 -1 =5)[games]
Denis Khismatullin5/9(+2 -1 =6)[games]
Le Quang Liem5/9(+4 -3 =2)[games]
Tigran Kotanjian5/9(+4 -3 =2)[games]
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave5/9(+3 -2 =4)[games]
Sergey Volkov5/9(+4 -3 =2)[games]
Ngoc Truong Son Nguyen5/9(+3 -2 =4)[games]
Jianchao Zhou5/9(+2 -1 =6)[games]
Artashes Minasian5/9(+2 -1 =6)[games]
Artyom Timofeev5/9(+3 -2 =4)[games]
Sergey Grigoriants5/9(+2 -1 =6)[games]
Evgeny Najer5/9(+3 -2 =4)[games]
Vladimir Akopian5/9(+1 -0 =8)[games]
Baadur Jobava5/9(+3 -2 =4)[games]
Alexander Riazantsev5/9(+2 -1 =6)[games]
Sergej Dyachkov4.5/9(+2 -2 =5)[games]
Dmitry Frolyanov4.5/9(+2 -2 =5)[games]
Evgeny Romanov4.5/9(+3 -3 =3)[games]
Yifan Hou4.5/9(+2 -2 =5)[games]
* (66 players total; 34 players not shown. Click here for longer list.)

Chessgames.com Chess Event Description
Aeroflot Open (2008)

The 7th Aeroflot Open was a 66-player 9-round Swiss held in the Izmailovo Hotel Gamma-Delta in Moscow from 14-22 February 2008. The A1 group, for players rated above 2549, saw 61 GMs and five IM's fighting for the $30,000 first prize and a place in the Dortmund tournament in June/July. Total prize fund (A1 only): $100,000. Time control: 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, 60 more minutes for the next 20 moves, then 15 more minutes till the end of the game, with 30 seconds added per move from move 61. The organizers were Aeroflot, the Association of Chess Federations and the Russian Chess Federation, in cooperation with the Committee on Tourism of the Municipality of Moscow. Tournament director: Alexander Bakh. Chief arbiter: Geurt Gijssen.

Ian Nepomniachtchi won with 7/9, and qualified for participation in Dortmund Sparkassen (2008).

Elo 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 Nepomniachtchi 2600 +50 +62 +03 =02 +06 =04 =08 +16 =05 7 2 Motylev 2644 =52 +44 +55 =01 =07 =06 +20 +04 =03 6½ 3 Dreev 2633 +38 +22 -01 +21 +24 +23 =04 =07 =02 6½ 4 Rodshtein 2614 =46 +17 +42 +39 +10 =01 =03 -02 =07 6 5 Volokitin 2674 -22 +37 =15 +42 +36 =11 =06 +13 =01 6 6 Grachev 2601 +31 =21 +32 +25 -01 =02 =05 =10 +23 6 7 Guseinov 2617 +30 =42 +20 =48 =02 =27 +25 =03 =04 6 8 Amonatov 2649 =41 =09 +60 =24 =15 +31 =01 =11 +16 6 9 Mamedov 2583 =26 =08 +16 =27 =13 =12 =21 +39 =25 5½ 10 Bologan 2663 =44 =47 +38 +40 -04 =24 =22 =06 +36 5½ 11 Asrian 2621 +63 =36 =45 =31 +39 =05 =23 =08 =12 5½ 12 Predojevic 2641 =45 -20 +29 =30 +49 =09 +41 =23 =11 5½ 13 Sutovsky 2642 =15 +52 =40 =45 =09 =37 +44 -05 +30 5½ 14 Azarov 2594 +33 -39 =49 =56 =32 =30 +31 =36 +37 5½ 15 Khismatullin 2564 =13 =34 =05 +43 =08 -25 =28 =40 +47 5 16 Le Quang Liem 2540 =48 =35 -09 +60 +54 +64 +27 -01 -08 5 17 Kotanjian 2545 =64 -04 -28 -44 +63 +60 +55 +59 =26 5 18 Vachier-Lagrave 2637 -42 -38 +63 =41 =46 =29 +49 +45 =20 5 19 Volkov 2623 -21 =30 =46 +51 -20 +42 -36 +53 +32 5 20 Nguyen 2551 =28 +12 -07 =58 +19 +48 -02 =27 =18 5 21 Zhou Jianchao 2551 +19 =06 =26 -03 =64 +35 =09 =34 =27 5 22 Minasian 2578 +05 -03 =62 =37 =34 +56 =10 =26 =24 5 23 Timofeev 2664 +60 =40 =39 +64 +48 -03 =11 =12 -06 5 24 Grigoriants 2583 +43 =25 +58 =08 -03 =10 =32 =30 =22 5 25 Najer 2634 +51 =24 +59 -06 =31 +15 -07 =32 =09 5 26 Akopian 2700 =09 =41 =21 =49 =59 =45 +37 =22 =17 5 27 Jobava 2643 -36 +63 +41 =09 +45 =07 -16 =20 =21 5 28 Riazantsev 2628 =20 -45 +17 =32 =56 =33 =15 =29 +41 5 29 Dyachkov 2559 =34 -64 -12 +61 =62 =18 +58 =27 =40 4½ 30 Frolyanov 2544 -07 =19 +61 =12 =58 =14 +48 =24 -13 4½ 31 Romanov 2543 -06 +43 +34 =11 =25 -08 -14 =48 +59 4½ 32 Yifan Hou 2527 =55 +53 -06 =28 =14 +40 =24 =25 -19 4½

Chess.com: https://www.chess.com/news/view/gm-...
ChessBase 1: https://en.chessbase.com/post/nepom...
ChessBase 2: https://en.chessbase.com/post/aerof...
Aeroflot: https://web.archive.org/web/2008092...
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyl...
Ruchess: https://ruchess.ru/championship/det...
TWIC: https://theweekinchess.com/html/twi...
FICS: https://www.freechess.org/Events/Re...
FIDE: https://ratings.fide.com/tournament...

Previous: Aeroflot Open (2007). Next: Aeroflot Open (2009)

 page 1 of 12; games 1-25 of 290  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. V Akopian vs R Mamedov ½-½302008Aeroflot OpenB31 Sicilian, Rossolimo Variation
2. Minasian vs A Volokitin 1-0652008Aeroflot OpenB50 Sicilian
3. A Timofeev vs C Balogh 1-0602008Aeroflot OpenD12 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav
4. M Parligras vs Bologan  ½-½352008Aeroflot OpenC41 Philidor Defense
5. F Amonatov vs P Maletin  ½-½742008Aeroflot OpenC41 Philidor Defense
6. G Meier vs Motylev ½-½832008Aeroflot OpenB51 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky (Rossolimo) Attack
7. Jobava vs A Evdokimov  0-1552008Aeroflot OpenA37 English, Symmetrical
8. Khismatullin vs Sutovsky  ½-½622008Aeroflot OpenA48 King's Indian
9. Predojevic vs A Shomoev  ½-½582008Aeroflot OpenB25 Sicilian, Closed
10. S Dyachkov vs Khalifman  ½-½162008Aeroflot OpenA56 Benoni Defense
11. Naiditsch vs A Brkic 1-0322008Aeroflot OpenB90 Sicilian, Najdorf
12. S Zhigalko vs Vachier-Lagrave 1-0612008Aeroflot OpenB53 Sicilian
13. E Najer vs A Pashikian 1-0362008Aeroflot OpenA07 King's Indian Attack
14. A Zhigalko vs Dreev 0-1392008Aeroflot OpenB62 Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer
15. A Riazantsev vs N Nguyen  ½-½232008Aeroflot OpenA56 Benoni Defense
16. J Zhou vs S Volkov  1-0662008Aeroflot OpenD15 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav
17. K Asrian vs S Ionov 1-0392008Aeroflot OpenC07 French, Tarrasch
18. T Kotanjian vs A Aleksandrov  ½-½532008Aeroflot OpenD38 Queen's Gambit Declined, Ragozin Variation
19. G Guseinov vs D Frolyanov 1-0322008Aeroflot OpenC43 Petrov, Modern Attack
20. I Khairullin vs M Rodshtein  ½-½222008Aeroflot OpenB12 Caro-Kann Defense
21. B Grachev vs E Romanov  1-0412008Aeroflot OpenD12 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav
22. Le Quang Liem vs D Bocharov  ½-½672008Aeroflot OpenE11 Bogo-Indian Defense
23. Nepomniachtchi vs Z Andriasian 1-0452008Aeroflot OpenB33 Sicilian
24. H Olafsson vs P Smirnov 1-0632008Aeroflot OpenE36 Nimzo-Indian, Classical
25. Caruana vs Y Hou ½-½592008Aeroflot OpenC07 French, Tarrasch
 page 1 of 12; games 1-25 of 290  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2)  

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 10 OF 10 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Feb-22-08  percyblakeney: <sitzkrieg> I can't really read Russian, no, but one can always use the Babelfish thing.
Feb-22-08  adair10: I know the sound of endings in last names like the Nepo's, but why in this case ending is <iy> according to <acirce>, while more often <y> (like Dvoretsk<y>), <i>, or <ii> is used. What is the difference in Nepomniasch<iy> name.
Feb-22-08  percyblakeney: By the way, I think Amonatov was only teasing Nepo a bit when he said that he was afraid of him, they both seemed to agree that black was winning if he played Ne3 instead of accepting the draw offer.
Feb-22-08  sitzkrieg: bologan sacked the queen for bishops and pawns and won a nice game. recommended.
Feb-22-08  aragorn69: Take a look at Bologan's game. I'm not sure his spectacular combination is correct, but it's quite amazing nonetheless!
Feb-22-08  percyblakeney: According to Chesspro Sutovsky had lots of time left for his 40th move against Volokitin in the previous round. He seems to have thought that he had already made the time control, or maybe just forgot to look at the clock...
Feb-22-08  percyblakeney: Nepomniachtchi ended up with a 2822 performance after having been in the lead from the first to the last round. It seems as if he will gain just over 25 points, if I got that right.

Naiditsch was 59th of 66 players and will lose around 20 points.

Feb-22-08  sitzkrieg: <percyblakeney: According to Chesspro Sutovsky had lots of time left for his 40th move against Volokitin in the previous round. He seems to have thought that he had already made the time control, or maybe just forgot to look at the clock...> i was following the game live and this is just what i said Ezzy before. Guess he just doesn't want to admit he is wrong.
Feb-22-08  Ezzy: <percyblakeney: Naiditsch was 59th of 66 players and will lose around 20 points.> I think winning the Dortmund supertournament ruined his career. Perhaps living in fairytale land is too bigger price to pay :-)
Feb-22-08  Rottamo: It seems that Yifan Hou got a GM norm because her TPR was 2605. Is this her first?

http://www.aeroflotchess.com/result...

Feb-22-08  Wild Bill: Congratulations to Ian <nay-pohm-NYACH-chee> (did I say that right?) on his ticket to Dortmund.
Feb-22-08  Simonkaser: <Rottamo> Yes, this is the first GM norm for Hou Yifan!!!
Feb-22-08  jon01: Akopian did another fascinating tournament: 8 draws and a win over IM.
Feb-22-08  sitzkrieg: God bless Armenia;)
Feb-22-08  Riverbeast: Caruana got slapped around in this tournament
Feb-22-08  BIDMONFA: Aeroflot Open (2008)

Champion - IAN NEPOMNIACHTCHI
Sub-Champion - ALEXANDER MOTYLEV

http://www.bidmonfa.com/informacio_...
_

Feb-22-08  sitzkrieg: oh boy ezzy must feel stupid now..:
http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?...
Feb-23-08  suenteus po 147: Congratulations to Ian Nepomniachtchi ! I look forward to his debut in Dortmund!
Feb-23-08  Phoenix: <suenteus po 147: Congratulations to Ian Nepomniachtchi ! I look forward to his debut in Dortmund>

Me too. Something tells me he'll hold his own there.

Feb-24-08  Eyal: A lot of interviews (by eurpoe-echecs) with participants of the tournament posted now at http://www.aeroflotchess.com.
Feb-25-08  notyetagm: F Amonatov vs I Nepomniachtchi, 2008

Final position after 25 ♕g7xf7 1/2-1/2 ???


click for larger view

In the final position above, after 25 ♕g7xf7, the players agreed to a draw.

But http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail... says that 25 ... ♘d5-e3!! wins outright for Black!

<Draw agreed. But ChessBase running the Junior engine brings clarity: 25...Ne3 wins for Black! Nepomniachtchi missed an opportunity to clinch the tournament and win a full point ahead of the field.>

Position after 25 ... ♘d5-e3!!


click for larger view

When I looked at this move with <Fritz 5.32> it saw only a small advantage for Black, like 0.50 . Another kibitzer said that <Deep Junior 10> gave an eval of -1.16 . Neither of these evals is anywhere near as large as to provoke chessbase.com to write "25 ... Ne3 wins for Black!".

Could someone with the most recent <Junior/Deep Junior/Rybka> engine please post the analysis of this winning move 25 ... ♘d5-e3!! that both of the 2600s playing this game missed?

Thanks

Feb-25-08  THE pawn: <notyetagm> I really can't tell why Nepo didn't play on, because white has no threats at all. The only thing I can see as to why he accepted a draw is that he thought his pieces were stuck on the queenside but even then, there are plenty of ways to solve the problem.

Anyways, to answer your question:

26. Bxe3 (-2.14)
26. Rab1 (-2.74 and growing)
26. Rae1 (-2.56 and growing)
26. Rf2 (-1.56)

So the only reasonable option is to try to save the rook. I forced 26.Rf2 and played against my computer to see where this leads:

<27...Ng4 28.Qf4<no choice, Re2 followed by Nc6xe5 Nxe5 Nxe5 and black has to monster center pawns> Nxf2 29.Kxf2 Rxh5 30.Bf6 Rf8 31.Rae1 Rh5h8 32.g4!? Rg8(Qxa3!?) 33.g5>

and this is seriously hard to find anything concrete for black and white has some very nasty counterplay...Which is why Nepo called it a day, after all, 25...Ne3 seemed liked the only good option so it's impossible he missed it.


click for larger view

Don't worry, chessbase has this tendancy to overexagerate...

Mar-01-08  Starfire: Congratulations to NEPO.. it is nice to see a winner whose Name i can't find on the list !!! Who IS he???
Mar-01-08  DCP23: <Starfire> <Who IS he???>

Perhaps somebody you'll be hearing much more of in the years to come.

Mar-02-08  pawnofdoom: <Starfire> Nepo has been active lately, participating in Corus and stuff. He is still very young, and I first heard of him when I saw that there was a non-gm (IM Nepo) with a rating of 2608! And it wasn't because of rating fraud or anything like Vladimir Afromeev.
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