Nigel Short chose an unusual move order which led the game into a Sicilian Dragon with White playing f4. White's development then seemed normal enough, but the Russian found a way to shake up the queenside with a temporary piece sacrifice. With Short trying to hold his various weaknesses together, Nepomniachtchi then smashed through on the kingside with a series of elegant blows.
White | Rating | Country | Result | Black | Country | Rating | No. Moves | Opening |
Lazaro Bruzon Batista | 2668 | CUB | 0.5-0.5 | Evgeny Alekseev | 2700 | RUS | 13 | Queen's Indian Defence |
Vassily Ivanchuk | 2741 | UKR | 0.5-0.5 | Leinier Dominguez Perez | 2713 | CUB | 33 | Grünfeld Defence |
Ian Nepomniachtchi | 2695 | RUS | 1-0 | Nigel Short | 2685 | ENG | 28 | Sicilian Dragon |
Dominguez was able to steer the game away from the main theoretical lines and all Ivanchuk could obtain was a slight advantage in development. However with a symmetrical structure and no weaknesses the Cuban was able to gradually nullify White's nominal advantage.
Bruzon-Alekseev was another quick draw which suggests that these two players prefer to avoid losing any more games rather than seeking their maiden victories.
Position | Name | Country | Official Rating | Highest ever Rating | Virtual Rating before Havana | World ranking | Age | Points after 7 rounds |
1st | Vassily Ivanchuk | UKR | 2741 | 2787 | 2726 | 12 | 41 | 5.5 |
2nd | Ian Nepomniachtchi | RUS | 2695 | Actual | 2695 | 42 | 19 | 5 |
3rd-4th | Leinier Dominguez Perez | CUB | 2713 | 2721 | 2713 | 28 | 26 | 4 |
3rd-4th | Nigel Short | ENG | 2685 | 2712 | 2683 | 48 | 45 | 4 |
5th | Lazaro Bruzon Batista | CUB | 2668 | 2677 | 2668 | 63 | 28 | 3 |
6th | Evgeny Alekseev | RUS | 2700 | 2725 | 2711 | 37 | 29 | 2.5 |
Only half-a-point separates the leaders with Nepomniachtchi coming up fast. He has to play Dominguez and Ivanchuk in his remaining games, so the race for first place is definitely hotting-up.
Although one gets used to it (to some extent!), his name is still something of a mouthful, so I was wondering if he is known by a dimunitive such as 'Nepi'? Just a thought!
More information in Spanish from the