2011 World Cup (Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia)

2011 World Cup  (Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia)

In a few weeks, Russia will host the FIDE World Cup beginning tomorrow with 128 players from around the world vying for a qualifying spot for the 2012 World Championship. The seven-round tournament will feature a knockout format with the winner continuing onto the next stage. Khanty-Mansiysk, the host of the 2010 Olympiad, will stage the tournament and more details can be found on the official website below.

Most of the top players will be present excluding Magnus Carlsen, Veselin Topalov and Hikaru Nakamura, but luminaries such as Sergey Karjakin, Vassily Ivanchuk and Teimour Radjabov will be battling. Last year winner Boris Gelfand qualified for the Candidates matches and will face World Champion Viswanathan Anand in 2012, but this year there will be three qualifiers from the 2011 World Cup. On another note, GM Vladimir Akopian will withdraw due to suffering a broken leg.

Many young GMs will dot the field such as the America’s Ray Robson and Peru’s Jorge Cori. Look for some upsets early on as several IMs will be looking to make history. Zimbabwean International Master Robert Gwaze will be looking to gain the spotlight he earned back in 2002 when he won an Olympiad gold medal. Canadian IM Eric Hansen will also make his debut.

World women’s champion GM Hou Yifan was originally paired to face GM Judit Polgar, but the pairings were adjusted and it is doubtful that the two will meet. Look for a few upsets and the balance of power is rapidly changing. Asian players will certainly be a threat to go deep into the tournament.

2011 World Cup  (Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia)

Ugorian Chess Academy
(Venue of the 2011 World Cup)

Official Site: https://chess.ugrasport.com/
Pairings: https://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/5423-world-cup-2011-round-1-pairings.html
Rules and Regulations: https://www.fide.com/FIDE/handbook/regscandidates2012.pdf
Live Games: https://chess.ugrasport.com/houdini.php

Drum Coverage

| Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 |
| Semifinals | Finals |

36 Comments

  1. 2011 World Cup
    August 26th-September 21st, 2011
    (Khanty Mansiysk, Russia)
    Round #1
    #
    Name
    Flag
    Nation
    Result
    Name
    Flag
    Nation
    1 Karjakin, S
    RUS
    2-0
    Kaabi, M
    TUN
    2 Ivanchuk, V
    UKR
    2-0
    Steel, H
    RSA
    3 Mamedyarov, S
    AZE
    2-0
    Ibrahim, H
    EGY
    4 Ponomariov, R
    UKR
    1½-½
    Gwaze, R
    ZIM
    5 Gashimov, V
    AZE
    2-0
    Hansen, E
    CAN
    6 Grischuk, A
    RUS
    1½-½
    Genba, V
    RUS
    7 Radjabov, T
    AZE
    2-0
    Perdomo, F
    CUB
    8 Kamsky, G
    USA
    2½-1½
    Di Berardino, D
    BRA
    9 Svidler, P
    RUS
    1½-½
    Lima, D
    BRA
    10 Jakovenko, D
    RUS
    2-0
    Salem, S
    UAE
    11 Vitiugov, N
    RUS
    4-2
    Bezgodov, A
    RUS
    12 Almasi, Z
    HUN
    2-0
    El Gindy, E
    EGY
    13 Vallejo Pons, F
    ESP
    2½-1½
    Cori, J
    PER
    14 Navara, D
    CZE
    2-0
    Kabanov, N
    RUS
    15 Vachier-Lagrave, M
    FRA
    1½-½
    Rahman, Z
    BAN
    16 Dominguez, L
    CUB
    1½-½
    Moradiabadi, E
    IRI
    17 *Wang Hao
    CHN
    0F-2F
    Ivanov, A
    USA
    18 Leko, P
    HUN
    ½-1½
    Shankland, S
    USA
    19 Moiseenko, A
    UKR
    1½-½
    Esen, B
    TUR
    20 Le, Quang L
    VIE
    1½-½
    Megaranto, S
    INA
    21 Adams, M
    ENG
    1½-½
    Paragua, M
    PHI
    22 Shirov, A
    ESP
    1½-½
    Leon Hoyos, M
    MEX
    23 Jobava, B
    GEO
    2-0
    Guliyev, N
    AZE
    24 Caruana, F
    ITA
    1½-½
    Pridorozhni, A
    RUS
    25 Nepomniachtchi, I
    RUS
    2-0
    Ortiz, I
    CUB
    26 Bacrot, E
    FRA
    4-2
    Robson, R
    USA
    27 Wang Yue
    CHN
    ½-1½
    Fier, A
    BRA
    28 Tomashevsky, E
    RUS
    2-0
    Zhao, Z
    AUS
    29 Efimenko, Z
    UKR
    1½-½
    Babula, V
    CZE
    30 Malakhov, V
    RUS
    1½-2½
    Felgaer, R
    ARG
    31 Sutovsky, E
    ISR
    2½-1½
    Vorobiov, E
    RUS
    32 Movsesian, S
    ARM
    2-0
    Hou Yifan
    CHN
    33 Polgar, J
    HUN
    2-0
    Corrales, F
    CUB
    34 Fressinet, L
    FRA
    2-0
    Jumabayev, R
    KAZ
    35 Eljanov, P
    UKR
    1½-2½
    Zherebukh, Y
    UKR
    36 Berkes, F
    HUN
    1½-½
    Mareco, S
    ARG
    37 Andreikin, D
    RUS
    1½-½
    Kazhgaleyev, M
    KAZ
    38 Morozevich, A
    RUS
    3-1
    Halkias, S
    GRE
    39 Zhigalko, S
    BLR
    0-2
    Filippov, A
    UZB
    40 Riazantsev, A
    RUS
    1½-½
    Bluvshtein, M
    CAN
    41 Motylev, A
    RUS
    4-5
    Drozdovskij, Y
    UKR
    42 Wojtaszek, R
    POL
    2-0
    Pashikian, A
    ARM
    43 Potkin, V
    RUS
    3½-2½
    Shulman, Y
    USA
    44 Nielsen, P
    DEN
    5-3
    Postny, E
    ISR
    45 Grachev, B
    RUS
    1½-½
    Romanov, E
    RUS
    46 Inarkiev, E
    RUS
    1½-½
    Salgado, I
    ESP
    47 Mamedov, R
    AZE
    ½-1½
    Gupta, A
    IND
    48 Kobalia, M
    RUS
    1-3
    Lysyj, I
    RUS
    49 Bologan, V
    MDA
    1½-½
    Socko, B
    POL
    50 Bu Xiangzhi
    CHN
    2-0
    Adly, A
    EGY
    51 Onischuk, A
    USA
    1½-½
    Ivanisevic, I
    SRB
    52 Bruzon, L
    CUB
    3½-2½
    Quesada, Y
    CUB
    53 Yu Yangyi
    CHN
    0-2
    Parligras, M
    ROM
    54 Korobov, A
    UKR
    2-0
    Zhou Jianchao
    CHN
    55 Harikrishna, P
    IND
    1½-½
    Rodshtein, M
    ISR
    56 Li Chao
    CHN
    ½-1½
    Nguyen, N
    VIE
    57 Kasimdzhanov, R
    UZB
    1½-½
    Nisipeanu, L
    ROM
    58 *Akopian, V
    ARM
    0F-2F
    Negi, P
    IND
    59 Feller, S
    FRA
    2½-1½
    Iordachescu, V
    MDA
    60 Timofeev, A
    RUS
    ½-1½
    Azarov, S
    BLR
    61 Ni Hua
    CHN
    3½-2½
    Khairullin, I
    RUS
    62 Fridman, D
    GER
    1½-½
    Lupulescu, C
    ROM
    63 Alekseev, E
    RUS
    2½-1½
    Ragger, M
    AUT
    64 So, W
    PHI
    2½-1½
    Ding Liren
    CHN

    *The names in red indicates withdrawal. Opponents will receive byes in round #1.

    Pairing Tree

    Official Site: https://chess.ugrasport.com/
    Games: Main Site, PGN (TWIC)

  2. GM Wang Hao has withdrawn from the World Cup due to heart problems. GM Vladimir Akopian had withdrawn earlier due to a broken leg from a fall. Both GM Alexander Ivanov (USA) and GM Parimarjan Negi (India) will receive byes in the first round.

  3. 2011 World Cup
    August 26th-September 21st, 2011
    (Khanty Mansiysk, Russia)
    Round #2
    #
    Name
    Flag
    Nation
    Result
    Name
    Flag
    Nation
    1 Karjakin, S
    RUS
    2½-1½
    So, W
    PHI
    2 Alekseev, E
    RUS
    ½-1½
    Ivanchuk, V
    UKR
    3 Mamedyarov, S
    AZE
    2½-1½
    Fridman, D
    GER
    4 Ni Hua
    CHN
    2½-3½
    Ponomariov, R
    UKR
    5 Gashimov, V
    AZE
    1½-½
    Azarov, S
    BLR
    6 Feller, S
    FRA
    1-3
    Grischuk, A
    RUS
    7 Radjabov, T
    AZE
    1½-½
    Negi, P
    IND
    8 Kasimdzhanov, R
    UZB
    ½-1½
    Kamsky, G
    USA
    9 Svidler, P
    RUS
    4-2
    Nguyen, N
    VIE
    10 Harikrishna, P
    IND
    ½-1½
    Jakovenko, D
    RUS
    11 Vitiugov, N
    RUS
    1½-½
    Korobov, A
    UKR
    12 Parligras, M
    ROM
    1½-½
    Almasi, Z
    HUN
    13 Vallejo Pons, F
    ESP
    1½-2½
    Bruzon, L
    CUB
    14 Onischuk, A
    USA
    ½-1½
    Navara, D
    CZE
    15 Vachier-Lagrave, M
    FRA
    1½-2½
    Bu Xiangzhi
    CHN
    16 Bologan, V
    MDA
    ½-1½
    Dominguez, L
    CUB
    17 Ivanov, A
    USA
    1½-2½
    Lysyj, I
    RUS
    18 Gupta, A
    IND
    1½-½
    Shankland, S
    USA
    19 Moiseenko, A
    UKR
    3-1
    Inarkiev, E
    RUS
    20 Grachev, B
    RUS
    ½-1½
    Le, Quang L
    VIE
    21 Adams, M
    ENG
    1½-2½
    Nielsen, P
    DEN
    22 Potkin, V
    RUS
    2-0
    Shirov, A
    ESP
    23 Jobava, B
    GEO
    1½-½
    Guliyev, N
    AZE
    24 Drozdovskij, Y
    UKR
    ½-1½
    Caruana, F
    ITA
    25 Nepomniachtchi, I
    RUS
    2½-1½
    Riazantsev, A
    RUS
    26 Filippov, A
    UZB
    1-3
    Bacrot, E
    FRA
    27 Fier, A
    BRA
    0-2
    Morozevich, A
    RUS
    28 Andreikin, D
    RUS
    ½-1½
    Tomashevsky, E
    RUS
    29 Efimenko, Z
    UKR
    1½-½
    Berkes, F
    HUN
    30 Zherebukh, Y
    UKR
    3-1
    Felgaer, R
    ARG
    31 Sutovsky, E
    ISR
    1½-½
    Fressinet, L
    FRA
    32 Polgar, J
    HUN
    1½-½
    Movsesian, S
    ARM
    Pairing Tree

    Official Site: https://chess.ugrasport.com/
    Games: Main Site, PGN (TWIC)

  4. 2011 World Cup
    August 26th-September 21st, 2011
    (Khanty Mansiysk, Russia)
    Round #3
    #
    Name
    Flag
    Nation
    Result
    Name
    Flag
    Nation
    1 Karjakin, S
    RUS
    ½-1½
    Polgar, J
    HUN
    2 Sutovsky, E
    ISR
    1-3
    Ivanchuk, V
    UKR
    3 Mamedyarov, S
    AZE
    1½-2½
    Zherebukh, Y
    UKR
    4 Efimenko, Z
    UKR
    1½-2½
    Ponomariov, R
    UKR
    5 Gashimov, V
    AZE
    1½-½
    Andreikin, D
    RUS
    6 Morozevich, A
    RUS
    ½-1½
    Grischuk, A
    RUS
    7 Radjabov, T
    AZE
    1½-½
    Bacrot, E
    FRA
    8 Nepomniachtchi, I
    RUS
    1-3
    Kamsky, G
    USA
    9 Svidler, P
    RUS
    3-1
    Caruana, F
    ITA
    10 Jobava, B
    GEO
    0-2
    Jakovenko, D
    RUS
    11 Vitiugov, N
    RUS
    1½-2½
    Potkin, V
    RUS
    12 Parligras, M
    ROM
    1-3
    Nielsen, P
    DEN
    13 Le, Quang L
    VIE
    1½-2½
    Bruzon, L
    CUB
    14 Moiseenko, A
    UKR
    2-4
    Navara, D
    CZE
    15 Gupta, A
    IND
    ½-1½
    Bu Xiangzhi
    CHN
    16 Lysyj, I
    RUS
    4-5
    Dominguez, L
    CUB
    Pairing Tree

    Official Site: https://chess.ugrasport.com/
    Games: Main Site, PGN (TWIC)
    Drum Coverage: https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2011/08/25/2011-world-cup-khanty-mansiysk-russia/

  5. I commend Navaro V Moiseenko for continuing when it was 2 knights and pawn versus knight considering how many agreed draws we always see. On my computer, I set up the position with white Knights on c5 and c7, white pawn on a4, white king on h4, black Knight on c4, black K on e5, white to move. Regardless of what pair of strong emulated GM personalities I tried, the pawn is always eventually captured before it promotes. Sometimes the philosophy was very similar to the real game, but sometimes not. When I tried “Anand” V “Botvinnik”, white tried to get his king over immediately towards his pawn, black kept his king on that side for a good while to restrict the white king. But no matter what, It’s always a draw.

      1. Interesting “incident” in this game. David Navara ended up getting the winning position, but before he completed his move, he offered Moiseenko a draw! The official account provides comments from both players.

        After six-hour-matches there was only one game played in the emptied tournament hall: David Navara (Czech Republic) was implementing the decisive material advantage (queen vs rook) against Alexander Moiseenko (Ukraine). Having beaten down the desperate resistance of the opponent, Navara achieved the position where either mate or the loss of the rook was inevitable and at that moment he offered a draw. The situation was clarified by both grandmasters.

        David Navara: – On the 35th move I accidentally touched both pieces – the king and the bishop. I wanted to move my bishop on d6, but clipped the king also, however, Moiseenko insists that I have first touched the king, but I am not sure about that. Any move with the king would lead to the loss of the piece, however, Moiseenko did not insist that I make my move namely with it. I did not want to be referred as to the unethical chess player who managed to win in an unfair way, that is why at the end, having achieved the winning position, I offered a draw.

        Alexander Moiseenko: – Navara on the 35th move first touched the king. I told him: the king moves. However, I realized that my opponent accidentally made this mistake, it is not possible that he could so easily blunder the piece. This is the reason I did not insist on his move with the king.

        Full story: https://chess.ugrasport.com/?p=2326

  6. 2011 World Cup
    August 26th-September 21st, 2011
    (Khanty Mansiysk, Russia)
    Round #4
    #
    Name
    Flag
    Nation
    Result
    Name
    Flag
    Nation
    1 Polgar, J
    HUN
    4½-3½
    Dominguez, L
    CUB
    2 Ivanchuk, V
    UKR
    3-1
    Bu Xiangzhi
    CHN
    3 Zherebukh, Y
    UKR
    0-2
    Navara, D
    CZE
    4 Ponomariov, R
    UKR
    4½-3½
    Bruzon, L
    CUB
    5 Gashimov, V
    AZE
    4-2
    Nielsen, P
    DEN
    6 Potkin, V
    RUS
    1½-2½
    Grischuk, A
    RUS
    7 Radjabov, T