Superbet Classic R5: Mamedyarov wins and joins three-way lead 3.0/5

by Shahid Ahmed - 10/06/2021

Mamedyarov scored his first victory of Superbet Chess Classic 2021 in Round 5 against Lupulescu. The Romanian did not anticipate the world no.8's onslaught correctly which caused his kingside to be completely broken and eventually cost the game. So and Grischuk made solid draws with Deac and Radjabov respectively. Aronian made his fifth consecutive draw, in another well contested game with Vachier-Lagrave. Today is a rest day. Round 6 starts tomorrow Friday 11th June from 5:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Mamedyarov scores the sole victory of the round

Mamedyarov beat Romania no.1 Constantin Lupulescu to join So and Grischuk in a three-way lead 3.0/5, heading into the only rest day of the event. So made a solid draw with Deac and Grischuk also had a well contested draw with Radjabov.

Mamedyarov joins the leaders with his first win of the event | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Deac - So: 0.5-0.5

Deac from the get-go was bent on launching an attack against So's kingside which of course he anticipated and took preventive measures before the Romanian could make a dent.

Position after 11.Re1

Find out what should black do in the above diagram. The game eventually liquidated into a drawn Rook endgame.

Interview with Wesley So - Round 5 | Video: Saint Louis Chess Club

Deac is playing very solid chess in this event | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Radjabov - Grischuk: 0.5-0.5

Radjabov played his longest game of the event so far and drew with Grischuk after 35 moves.

Interview with Alexander Grischuk - Round 5 | Video: Saint Louis Chess Club

Teimour Radjabov 2.5/5 | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Lupulescu - Mamedyarov: 0-1

Lupulescu was playing fine till Mamedyarov made a strong breakthrough.

Position after 33.Bf1

Black went for the obvious 33...e5 break. White could have tried to hold a bit longer 34.Nh4 exf4 35.exf4 or even 34.Rb2 was fine. 34.fxe5 spelled doom for white as after 34...Rg6 white has no way to defend the g3-pawn and the kingside gets completely annihilated. Thus Mamedyarov scored his first victory of the event.

Mamedyarov joins the three-way lead 3.0/5 | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Interview with Shakhriyar Mamedyarov - Round 5 | Video: Saint Louis Chess Club

Caruana - Giri: 0.5-0.5

Caruana and Giri had a solid draw in the Berlin. However the American opted for a different line instead of exchanging queens on move no.8

Position after 8.Qe2

8.Qe2 was played by Averbakh in 1949 and Fischer in 1958.

Interview with Fabiano Caruana - Round 5 | Video: Saint Louis Chess Club

Giri is only a full point away from the leaders 2.0/5 | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Saint Louis Chess Club

Aronian - Vachier-Lagrave: 0.5-0.5

Aronian and Vachier-Lagrave had a well-contested draw.

Aronian made his fifth consecutive draw 2.5/5 | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Saint Louis Chess Club

Photo Gallery

First move of the round has been made | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

The spotlight is on Deac | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Can you guess the player holding the queen? | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Wesley So arrives with his adopted mother Lotis Key | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Replay Round 5 games

Round 5 results

Mamedyarov won the sole decisive game of the round | Photo: Grand Chess Tour

Standings after Round 5

Mamedyarov joins So and Grischuk in the the lead 3.0/5 | Photo: Grand Chess Tour

2021 Superbet Chess Classic: Round 5 | Video: Saint Louis Chess Club

Links

Grand Chess Tour official site

Tournament regulations

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