Poikovsky: Naiditsch and Jobava win their first games.

The leaders drew but two players won with the White pieces, Baadur Jobava and Arkadij Naiditsch.
There have now been 12 White wins in the 11th Karpov Poikovsky compared to a sole Black victory (Riazantsev in round 1).

Naiditsch employed a sideline involving h3 and g4 against the Najdorf and induced complications where Sutovsky's pawn sacrifice didn't impress. Indeed the German kept control throughout.

In a Petroff, Jobava was able to keep a slight space advantage. Motylev reacted in the middlegame with a series of pawn sacrifices, but the Georgian calmly sought an endgame with an extra doubled pawn. He converted his advantage in a rook ending.

Nikita Vitiugov	Russia	2707	0.5-0.5	Alexander Riazantsev	Russia	2674
Victor Bologan	Moldavia	2668	0.5-0.5	Sergei Rublevsky	Russia	2704
Baadur Jobava	Georgia	2715	1-0	Alexander Motylev	Russia	2704
Arkadij Naiditsch	Germany	2686	1-0	Emil Sutovsky	Israel	2661
Ivan Sokolov	Bosnia-Herzegovina	2654	0.5-0.5	Alexander Onischuk	USA	2699
Sergey Karjakin	Russia	2739	0.5-0.5	Dmitry Jakovenko	Russia	2725

Of the draws, Bologan-Rublevsky, and especially Vitiugov-Riazantsev were tough battles with no quarter given.

Interesting position! @ Chesspro

After today's games, Sutovsky drops back, while Naiditsch and Jobava move up to join a large group on 50%. Last year's winner Motylev drops back to equal 9th and is well out of contention.

Position	Name	Country	Rating	World ranking	Age	Points after 7 rounds
1st-2nd	Dmitry Jakovenko	RUS	2725	21	26	4.5
1st-2nd	Alexander Riazantsev	RUS	2674	58	24	4.5
3rd	Sergey Karjakin	RUS	2739	14	20	4
4th-8th	Baadur Jobava	GEO	2715	26	26	3.5
4th-8th	Nikita Vitiugov	RUS	2707	32	23	3.5
4th-8th	Arkadij Naiditsch	GER	2686	47	24	3.5
4th-8th	Victor Bologan	MDA	2668	64	38	3.5
4th-8th	Emil Sutovsky	ISR	2661	75	32	3.5
9th-11th	Alexander Motylev	RUS	2704	34	30	3
9th-11th	Sergei Rublevsky	RUS	2704	33	35	3
9th-11th	Alexander Onischuk	USA	2699	38	34	3
12th	Ivan Sokolov	BIH	2654	83	41	2.5

The moves of the game between Bologan and Onischuk from the sixth round don't seem to be available, but the game was apparently drawn.

That solves part of the mystery!

You can follow the games live on Live games

You may also like to investigate the following site Chesspro However it is in Russian!

Jobava trying to keep up with his reflection! @ chesspro

The ninth round will start tomorrow (Thursday) at 10am (London), 11am (Paris) or 3pm (local time).