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After the rest day the tournament is to be resumed. We again will center our attention on Ivanchuk's play. Would his opponents find a way to counter him or his winning streak is really unstoppable? After losing in the first round Radjabov is very solid. Perhaps this time he is going to be more successful in his duel with the genius from Lviv. Up to now Vassily's games in this event were never boring. Let's hope he keeps to this tradition. It is hard to guess what has he prepared in the opening for today - 1.d4 to enter a discussion in King's Indian or 1.e4 in which case Teimour's repertoire consists of Sicilian Lasker and Ruy Lopez Jaenish.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 So, Sicilian Defense, Lasker variation.
6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Bxf6 This move almost disappeared from modern practice in favor of (9.Nd5)
9... gxf6 10.Nd5 Bg7 (10... f5) is the alternative plan.
11.Bd3 Ne7 12.Nxe7 Qxe7 13.c3 The main line is (13.c4) which leads to to extremely complicated situations. As always Ivanchuk has his own opinion about the opening lines.
13... f5 14.Nc2 O-O 15.O-O Rb8 16.exf5 e4 17.Be2 (17.Re1)
17... Bxf5 18.Nb4 White plans to mount his Knight on 'd5' or undermine Black Queen-side pawns by a2-a4. Black is considered to have sufficient counterplay creating threats against White monarch by Qg5 and Be5.
18... Qg5 This is still theory. Adams evacuated his King from the pin by 19.Kh1 against Kramnik, while in a recent game the 'd6' pawn was captured. 19.f4 is to be considered as well.
19.f4 Radjadov has to capture 'en pasant' on 'f3' (19.f4 exf3 20.Bxf3 Be5) otherwise he is going to experience strategic difficulties.
19... exf3 20.Bxf3 Rbe8 A novelty. Up to now Ivanchuk played vary rapidly but now is thinking with high concentration.
21.Nc6 Ignores both the 'd6' and 'a6' pawns and prepares a2-a4. (21.a4 a5 22.Nc6 b4) There is not to be seen direct refutation of (21.Nxa6) but this is supposed to be the main line of Radjabov's analysis and he has probably found a way to develop attack against the King.
21... Be5 22.Nxe5 dxe5 23.Qc1 Black pieces were aiming menacingly at the King so White prefers to simplify the position.
23... Qxc1 24.Raxc1 Ivanchuk has good prospects on the Queen-side thanks to the long-term weaknesses on 'a6' and 'b5' but placing Be6 and Rd8 Radjabov should be able to equalize without too much trouble.
24... Be6 25.Rfe1 f6 26.Rcd1 White plan to maintain his pawn on 'a2' and if captured to play Rd1-a1xa6 weakening the one on 'b5' In case of a2-a3 Black gets control over the 'd' file by Rd8 and Bb3.
26... Rd8 27.Bb7 a5 28.Bc6 b4 29.cxb4 axb4 The game is nearing towards a draw but caution from both players is still required.
31.Rxd1 Rc8 32.Be4 f5 33.Bd5 Bxd5 34.Rxd5 This Rook ending should be drawn soon but after the tournament rules both opponents have to go on playing.
34... Rc2 35.b3 Rc3 (35... Rc1+) followed by Rc2+ was an even easier way to equality.
36.Rxe5 Rxb3 37.Rxf5 Ra3 38.a5 b3 39.Rb5 Kg7 40.h3 b2 41.Rxb2 Rxa5 Draw. Ivanchuk is finally stopped! He had obviously prepared for this game judging by the speed he played the opening. Radjabov sacrificed a pawn which the Ukrainian considered too risky to capture and preferred playing safely. That lead to inevitable draw. This was the first time Vasssily was not troubled by time during this tournament and quite curiously his only draw. With four more rounds to come nothing is yet decided. We'll meet again tomorrow in our next live on-line comments.
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