[chessmind] Dennis Monokroussos: The Daily Update: Essent finishes, Bundesliga

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Posted by Dennis Monokroussos:
The Daily Update: Essent finishes, Bundesliga
http://chessmind.powerblogs.com/posts/1224983913.shtml


   The [1]Essent tournaments have finished. In the Crown Group,
   Sokolov-Adly was a draw while Smeets defeated Sebag with the black
   pieces. The final standings:
   1. Sokolov 5 (of 6)
   2-3. Smeets, Adly 2.5
   4. Sebag 2
   In the Open there was a three way tie for first between Nijboer, Fier
   and Haslinger at 7/9. Robson, whose progress we have been following in
   this event, lost his last game to Gupta, finishing with 5 points and
   presumably no GM norm.
   In the [2]Bundesliga, today's round included a few games that caught
   my attention:
   Shirov-Marcelin was a Berlin Defense won by Black, surprisingly not
   only because it was Black but also because Shirov outrated him by 232
   points.
   Vallejo Pons-Deglmann is interesting for players curious about the
   Hippo. Black tried it against his much higher rated opponent...and
   suffered badly.
   Uhlmann-Baramidze was interesting because it was Uhlmann. He was a big
   GM name back in the 1960s and has to his credit wins over Botvinnik,
   Smyslov and Fischer. Props to Uhlmann for playing at the age of 73,
   and even more for drawing his much younger, higher-rated GM opponent.
   Appel-Nyback was a bit of a head-scratcher. They followed the Exchange
   Slav line from [3]Kramnik-Anand, game 1, but instead of Anand's
   15...Qc8 Nyback played 15...Qa5+. By move 25 Appel had achieved the
   dream position: an extra pawn on b4 rooting the bishop on c5. Nyback's
   novelty was a dud, but what do the players know about the
   Kramnik-Anand line - if anything! - that made Appel willing to repeat
   it and Nyback eager for change?
   More Bundesliga tomorrow, along with the start of Cap D'Agde and the
   resumption (and perhaps finale) of the Anand-Kramnik match.

References

   1. http://www.essentchess.nl/
   2. http://www.schachbundesliga.de/index.aspx
   3. http://chessmind.powerblogs.com/files/kramnik_anand_2008_1.htm