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Levitov Chess Week 2023 Day 1: Vishy Anand sensational against So

by Shahid Ahmed - 23/09/2023

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.

Vishy Anand has made a great start

Levon Aronian scored three wins on the first day

Anand - So, Round 3

Position after 18...b4

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.

Vishy Anand's brilliant attack against Wesley So - Analysis by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

Vishy Anand was superb against Wesley So | Photo: Levitov Chess live stream

Nepomniachtchi - Anand, Round 5

Position after 40...h5?

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.

Position after 47.Ke5??

Find out why 47.Ke5?? is a blunder and the winning continuation for Black which Anand executed in the game.

Round 4 is about to start | Photo: Levitov Chess live stream

Levitov Chess Week 2023 participants at the opening ceremony

Spectators are glued to the screen
Replay Levitov Chess Week Day 1 Live commentary by GM Aleksandr Shimanov | Video: Levitov Chess

Replay Round 1-5 games

Round 5 results

Bo.No.RtgNameResultNameRtgNo.PGN
132619GMGelfand, Boris0 - 1GMMamedyarov, Shakhriyar271110PGN
242756GMAronian, Levon½ - ½GMKramnik, Vladimir27302PGN
352722GMSvidler, Peter1 - 0GMGrischuk, Alexander27091PGN
462745GMAnand, Viswanathan½ - ½GMDubov, Daniil27179PGN
572765GMSo, Wesley1 - 0GMNepomniachtchi, Ian27668PGN

Details

Standings after Round 5

Rk.SNoNameFEDRtg TB1 
14GMAronian, LevonUSA27564
26GMAnand, ViswanathanIND27453,5
35GMSvidler, PeterFID27223
9GMDubov, DaniilRUS27173
53GMGelfand, BorisISR26192,5
10GMMamedyarov, ShakhriyarAZE27112,5
72GMKramnik, VladimirRUS27302
8GMNepomniachtchi, IanRUS27662
91GMGrischuk, AlexanderRUS27091,5
107GMSo, WesleyUSA27651

Details

Round 6 pairings

Bo.No.RtgNameResultNameRtgNo.PGN
1102711GMMamedyarov, ShakhriyarGMNepomniachtchi, Ian27668
292717GMDubov, DaniilGMSo, Wesley27657
312709GMGrischuk, AlexanderGMAnand, Viswanathan27456
422730GMKramnik, VladimirGMSvidler, Peter27225
532619GMGelfand, BorisGMAronian, Levon27564

Details

Links

Official site

Levitov Chess: Youtube and twitch



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