Levitov Chess Week 2023 Day 1: Vishy Anand sensational against So
Vishy Anand made a fantastic start at Levitov Chess Week 2023. He scored an impressive 3.5/5 on the first day, trailing the sole leader Levon Aronian (USA) by a half point. The maestro scored his first win of the event in a superb way against Wesley So (USA) in the third round. First he sacrificed his knight, then rook and finally the queen. Although the queen sacrifice was not a true sacrifice because he was getting it back by promoting another. Nevertheless, the win is one for the future chess books for sure. He followed it up with his second win of the day against Ian Nepomniachtchi. Round 6 starts today from 2 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. All photos by Lennart Ootes unless mentioned otherwise
Aronian emerges early sole leader 4/5
Levon Aronian (USA) has taken an early sole lead 4/5 at Levitov Chess Week. It is a ten-player double round-robin event with a time control of 10 minutes + 5 seconds increment. Time controls like these are often termed as 'fast rapid'. There are five rounds on each of the four days between 22nd and 26th September. Rest day is on 24th September 2023.
Anand - So, Round 3
Wesley So (USA, 2765) is ready to launch a devastating attack on the queenside starting with 18...b4. Vishy Anand (2745) launched an unfettered attack of his own 19.gxf5! offering his knight as a sacrifice. Black decided on taking it as he found no harm. Little did he know that that will be the undoing of his own king. 19...bxc3 20.fxg6+- Rae8 21.Rhg1 offering his rook now Bxg1 22.Rxg1 Rxf4 23.Qxe6+ now the maestro gives up his queen Kf8 24.gxh7 and it's over.
Nepomniachtchi - Anand, Round 5
It was Anand who made the first mistake 40...h5? White needed to play 41.Re5 to seize his advantage. Instead, Ian Nepomniachtchi (2766) played 41.gxh5 and the window of opportunity was self-shut. A few moves later, he walked his king into a trap.
Find out why 47.Ke5?? is a blunder and the winning continuation for Black which Anand executed in the game.
Replay Round 1-5 games
Round 5 results
Bo. | No. | Rtg | Name | Result | Name | Rtg | No. | PGN | ||
1 | 3 | 2619 | GM | Gelfand, Boris | 0 - 1 | GM | Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | 2711 | 10 | PGN |
2 | 4 | 2756 | GM | Aronian, Levon | ½ - ½ | GM | Kramnik, Vladimir | 2730 | 2 | PGN |
3 | 5 | 2722 | GM | Svidler, Peter | 1 - 0 | GM | Grischuk, Alexander | 2709 | 1 | PGN |
4 | 6 | 2745 | GM | Anand, Viswanathan | ½ - ½ | GM | Dubov, Daniil | 2717 | 9 | PGN |
5 | 7 | 2765 | GM | So, Wesley | 1 - 0 | GM | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | 2766 | 8 | PGN |
Standings after Round 5
Rk. | SNo | Name | FED | Rtg | TB1 | |
1 | 4 | GM | Aronian, Levon | USA | 2756 | 4 |
2 | 6 | GM | Anand, Viswanathan | IND | 2745 | 3,5 |
3 | 5 | GM | Svidler, Peter | FID | 2722 | 3 |
9 | GM | Dubov, Daniil | RUS | 2717 | 3 | |
5 | 3 | GM | Gelfand, Boris | ISR | 2619 | 2,5 |
10 | GM | Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | AZE | 2711 | 2,5 | |
7 | 2 | GM | Kramnik, Vladimir | RUS | 2730 | 2 |
8 | GM | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | RUS | 2766 | 2 | |
9 | 1 | GM | Grischuk, Alexander | RUS | 2709 | 1,5 |
10 | 7 | GM | So, Wesley | USA | 2765 | 1 |
Round 6 pairings
Bo. | No. | Rtg | Name | Result | Name | Rtg | No. | PGN | ||
1 | 10 | 2711 | GM | Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | GM | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | 2766 | 8 | ||
2 | 9 | 2717 | GM | Dubov, Daniil | GM | So, Wesley | 2765 | 7 | ||
3 | 1 | 2709 | GM | Grischuk, Alexander | GM | Anand, Viswanathan | 2745 | 6 | ||
4 | 2 | 2730 | GM | Kramnik, Vladimir | GM | Svidler, Peter | 2722 | 5 | ||
5 | 3 | 2619 | GM | Gelfand, Boris | GM | Aronian, Levon | 2756 | 4 |
Links
Levitov Chess: Youtube and twitch