Dortmund 2008

Dortmund 2008: The games start on Saturday
25.06.2008 – Our templates are ready: the annual Sparkassen Chess Meeting will take place from June 28th to July 6th, 2008, with eight players: Vladimir Kramnik, Shakhriyar Mamedjarov, Peter Leko, Vassily Ivanchuk, Loek van Wely, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Arkadij Naiditsch and Jan Gustafsson. The average age is 27.9, the average rating 2695 (= category 18). Full details.

Dortmund R1: All games drawn in Sparkassen Meeting
28.06.2008 – Gustafsson-Kramnik, an Exchange Grünfeld, ended in a symmetrical rook ending and a draw in 29 moves. Naiditsch-Nepomnaichtchi, a Sicilian Najdorf, saw White with some chances but ended in repetition after 30 moves. Mamedyarov vs Leko was a Sämisch and drawn after 24 moves. Ivanchuk-van Wely was a Scheveningen with a drawn queen ending in 39 moves. Illustrated report.

Dortmund R2: Kramnik, Leko and Gustafsson win
29.06.2008 – Vladimir Kramnik outwitted Loek van Wely in a highly tactical Queen's Gambit Declined and clinched the point in 29 moves. Peter Leko had to work harder and longer – 57 moves – against Vassily Ivanchuk in a Sicilian Taimanov. Jan Gustafsson (thumbnail) whipped up a deadly attack after strategic errors by Arkadij Naiditsch. Round two report.

Dortmund R3: Naiditsch beats Kramnik with sensational rook sacrifice
01.07.2008 – A very dramatic day in Dortmund. While three games ended in relatively uneventful draws (in 19, 27 and 31 moves) the second-youngest player, Arkadij Naiditsch, uncorked a giant novelty against Vladimir Kramnik's Petroff Defence. It worked like clockwork and Naiditsch took home his first point. Mind you it turns out that Garry Kasparov had analysed this move nine years ago. Round three report.

Dortmund R4: Nepomniachtchi beats van Wely, joins the leaders
02.07.2008 – Ian Nepomniachtchi, the youngest player in Dortmund (he turns 18 in two weeks), scored his first win, beating Dutch GM Loek van Wely in 48 moves. Ian joins Jan Gustafsson and Peter Leko at "plus one", which is enough to lead after four of the seven rounds. The other games were drawn. The other games were drawn; the draw quota is 69% – with all wins scored by White. Round four report.

Dortmund R5: Gustafsson beats van Wely, leads the event
04.07.2008 – With two rounds to go (and no more rest days) German GM Jan Gustafsson scored a second point, with black in an 18-move miniature against Loek van Wely. Jan is now at plus two, half a point ahead of Peter Leko and poised to win the tournament. Vassily Ivanchuk climbed to 50% with a win over Arkadij Naiditsch. The other games were drawn. Round five report.

Dortmund R6: Leko beats Gustafsson, takes the lead
05.07.2008 – The penultimate round in the Sparkassen Chess-Meeting saw Peter Leko score a fine black-piece victory over yesterday's leader Jan Gustafsson, taking a point and the lead from the German grandmaster. Loek van Wely blundered again to lose to Arkadij Naiditsch. Tomorrow Gustafsson and Nepomniachtchi play against each other with chances to catch Leko. Round six report.

Dortmund R7: Leko wins Sparkassen Meeting, Ivanchuk beats Kramnik
06.07.2008 – Peter Leko, who was in the lead after the penultimate round, drew his game in 31 moves. Since his closest rivals, Ian Nepomniachtchi and Jan Gustafsson drew their game (in 22 moves) Leko became the sole winner with his plus two score. The shocker came when Vladimir Kramnik stumbled against Ivanchuk to end in seventh place. Final report.