Round five of the World Cup in Baku saw a day of gripping matches with seven out of 12 games played in both the Open and the Women’s tournament ending in victories
The Open tournament saw as many as five games finishing in a victory. Magnus Carlsen triumphed over Vasyl Ivanchuk in a poignant match, after choosing a better plan during strategical manoeuvring. Leinier Dominguez Perez, Nijat Abasov as well as Indians Gukesh D and Arjun Erigaisi are also among the winners of the first day of round five.
There were two decisive games in the Women’s tournament – former World Champion Tan Zhongyi defeated Bella Khotenashvili while Polina Shuvalova lost to Nurgyul Salimova after a mistake in an even endgame. Elisabeth Paehtz had a relatively quick draw with Anna Muzychuk, while Alexandra Goryachkina and Harika Dronavalli split a point following a long debate in the Tarrasch.
The Open Tournament Highlights
In the match of the day, Magnus Carlsen defeated the Ukrainian legend Vasyl Ivanchuk after a challenging game which lasted 43 moves. The match between the two is more than chess, especially in the current circumstances. Until shortly before the World Cup started it wasn’t even clear whether Ivanchuk will be allowed to leave his war-torn country to play. Despite coming straight from a war zone, Ivanchuk showed incredible strength and focus and made it to the final 16. However, today wasn’t his day on the board.
Playing the Catalan, Ivanchuk made a mistake in the positional manoeuvring, allowing Carlsen to activate his pieces and build up momentum. By move 36 Black was in deep trouble with Carlsen having two extra pawns and posing threats across the board. Ivanchuk tried to find a vent for his pieces, but Carlsen played very precisely and didn’t allow Black any chances. Rather than continue to suffer, Ivanchuk decided to resign after three hours of play.
Leinier Dominguez Perez scored as White against Alexey Sarana. In the Sicilian, Perez emerged with slightly more initiative and with a pair of bishops. Sarana underestimated the threat that bishops posed and, after a blunder, entered a losing position.
Wang Hao lost with black pieces against Gukesh D. While the two sides were even for most of the game, the Chinese Grandmaster misplayed in the endgame allowing Black to progress his d-pawn to promotion and win material. Another Indian, Arjun Erigaisiwas trying to squeeze blood from a stone in an even endgame against Nils Grandelius and, eventually, his determination paid off as the Swedish GM overlooked a pawn.
In the final twist of the day, Saleem Saleh made a fatal error in an equal endgame against Nijat Abasov that cost him a game.
Vidit and Nepomniachtchi drew in the Petrov Defense. After an imprecision by Nepomniachtchi (who was playing as Black), Vidit had a slight edge but then he missed the best move and the game was even until the end, finishing with a threefold repetition. Hungarian Ferenc Berkes and R Praggnanandhaa split a point in the Semi-Slav.
Caruana and Duda also drew their game. After a theoretical debate in the Petrov where both sides played very precisely, the two gradually transitioned towards a drawn rook endgame and decided to split a point.
The Women’s Tournament Highlights
Tan Zhongyi was the first to score a victory in the Women’s quarter-finals. She defeated Georgia’s Bella Khotenashvili with white pieces. The former World Champion was better throughout the game, but on two occasions she dropped her advantage and allowed Black to equalise. Khotenashvili didn’t use these opportunities and ended up losing with an effective sacrifice combination leading to checkmate.
Bulgaria’s Nurgyul Salimova staged a surprise, defeating Polina Shuvalova. In the Queen’s Gambit Declined, White (Salimova) gained a slight edge which she held throughout the game. The two reached an endgame with a minor piece and a rook each and it looked like a draw. However, Shuvalova somewhat surprisingly gave up an important pawn on g5, leaving White with a runner on the g-file. White then transitioned to a winning rook endgame and converted her advantage by move 77.
Aleksandra Goryachkina and Harika Dronavalli drew their game in the Tarrasch Defence. Anna Muzychuk and Elisabet Paehtz also split a point. In the Four Knights Sicilian, the two quickly progressed to an even rook endgame and decided to call it a day.
