A quick batch: how Nepomnyashchy won the Karpov Cup
The Karpov Cup, which was dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the 12th world champion winning the chess crown, has come to an end in Moscow. Before the last day, three chess players were in the lead — Yan Nepomnyashchy, Alexander Grischuk and Vladislav Artemyev. The seventh round was the key: Nepomnyashchy managed to defeat Peter Svidler, and Artemyev did not take advantage of Alexander Grischuk's yawn. As a result, the winner of the tournament was Yan Nepomnyashchy, who scored 6 points out of 9 possible. The second and third places were shared by Alexander Grischuk and Vladislav Artemyev. After the tournament, an award ceremony was held, where the grandmasters could personally congratulate Anatoly Karpov on his 74th birthday.
Nepomniachy justified the status, Niemann failed
The Karpov Cup — 50 Years Later was held at the Botvinnik Central Chess House from May 21 to 23. It was attended by the reigning world blitz champion Yan Nepomnyashchy, as well as titled Russian grandmasters: Alexander Grischuk, Peter Svidler, Daniil Dubov, Vladislav Artemyev, Evgeny Tomashevsky, Maxim Matlakov and Vladimir Malakhov. Foreigners include World Cup winner Teymur Radjabov (Azerbaijan) and renowned American chess player Hans Niemann. The participants determined the winner according to a round-robin system with time control "15+10" (rapid).
After the first third of the race, all the participants who managed to win on the first day were in the lead.: these are Dubov, Grischuk, Nepomnyashchy and Artemyev. But Niemann unexpectedly turned out to be an outsider, who scored only half a point out of three. Hans complained about the problems with acclimatization and the long journey he overcame to get to the Russian capital (one of the American's flights was delayed by seven hours, and he ended up late for a transfer). On the second day, Niemann could not find his game: only one and a half points out of six possible. Moreover, in the game with Peter Svidler, Hans allowed a pawn to yawn, but it turned out to be a draw. However, this fact is unlikely to have greatly pleased the American, who was in a clean last place with a point behind Vladimir Malakhov, who occupies the ninth line.
Grischuk, Artemyev and Nepomnyashchy were in the top three before the last day. They managed to score another victory with two draws and beat their pursuers by one point. Interestingly, Grischuk, who was in the lead in additional indicators, had to play two games on the last day with competitors (Jan and Vladislav), as well as with Niemann. As a result, Grischuk made three draws, although he had a very difficult position in the game with Artemyev. The reigning champion of Russia also failed to win on the final day. As a result, Alexander and Vladislav scored 5.5 points each, while they had absolutely all the additional indicators the same. As a result, the chess players drew lots, and Lady luck was on the side of Grischuk, who eventually finished second. Maxim Matlakov and Daniil Dubov are half a point behind third place, and from May 24 to 26 they will play each other in the "Match of the Two Capitals" (the chess tradition of meetings between Moscow and St. Petersburg is being revived - more than 20 friendly team matches were held between the two largest cities of the country).
The winner was the ranking favorite of the tournament. Nepomnyashchy scored 6 out of 9 points, beating Malakhov, Svidler and Niemann. The latter, by the way, was able to leave last place thanks to a successful game in the final round and eventually shared 8-9 place with Tomashevsky.
"The results of the tournament are logical," Artemyev said in a conversation with Izvestia. — Ian is on the rise now, he plays all kinds of control very well. Congratulations to him on this victory. Although I had the opportunity to win against him. I got a promising position in the face-to-face game, but I couldn't find a better solution.
Fond memories
The awards were presented to the winners by Andrey Filatov, President of the Russian Chess Federation, Viktor Vaipan, President of the Association of Chess Federations, and Alexander Bach, Tournament Director. The guest of honor of the event was the 12th world champion, State Duma deputy Anatoly Karpov, who celebrates his birthday on May 23. Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the President of Russia and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Russian Chess Federation, sent a congratulatory telegram to the legendary chess player, which was read out by Alexander Tkachev, Executive Director of the Russian Chess Federation.
— Dear Anatoly Evgenievich! I sincerely congratulate you on the 50th anniversary of your world chess championship. You have confidently ascended this olympus and have been glorifying our chess country for many decades. Your contribution to the development of the Russian chess school cannot be overestimated. Congratulations again!
Yan Nepomnyashchy noted that Anatoly Karpov was the first grandmaster he had the opportunity to meet at the board.
— The festival, in my opinion, was called "Children of Chernobyl," — said Jan. — Our children's team has arrived from Bryansk. You gave a simultaneous game session and in the opening suggested that everyone make short draws. There was a noise in the hall, I did not hear it, making a counter move. As a result, we played the game for 3-3.5 hours. We finished last. I have wonderful memories of that event and even a souvenir photo with you. I take this opportunity to congratulate you on your birthday and wish you health, joy, energy and strength.
The coach of the Russian national team, Alexander Ryazantsev, also shared his impressions of the game with the multiple world champion, and another mentor of the national team, Vladimir Potkin, read out a congratulatory letter on behalf of the chess players and coaches of the Russian national team.
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