FIDE Grand Prix Elista 2008

Elista Grand Prix starts, with wins by Jakovenko and Gashimov
14.12.2008 – Originally scheduled for Doha in Qatar, the third FIDE Grand Prix had to be hurriedly moved to Elista, Kalmykia, causing a number of withdrawals. Still, it is a category 19 event, which started with a colorful opening ceremony and two decisive games, one of which ended an 82-game unbeaten streak by the Chinese GM Wang Yue. Playchess.com is broadcasting the games live. Illustrated report.

Elista R2: Grischuk beats Leko, Radjabov beats Bacrot
16.12.2008 – With a rook for bishop and pawn the Azeri GM Teimour Radjabov, playing black, ground down his opponent, the French GM Etienne Bacrot in 73 moves. Alexander Grischuk took a full point in a Queen's Indian against the second seed Peter Leko. We bring you results and games, and an interview with Geoffrey Borg, CEO of Global Chess, on the future of the Grand Prix tournaments.

Elista R3: Radjabov, Leko, Eljanov win, Radjabov leads
17.12.2008 – Round three of the Third FIDE Grand Prix brought three decisive games: Teimour Radjabov beat Rustam Kasimdzhanov in a very convincing game, to take the sole lead in the tournament with 2.5/3. Peter Leko defeated Topalov second Ivan Cheparinov, and Pavel Eljanov took a full point from Russian GM Evgeny Alekseev. Illustrated report from Elista.

Elista R4: Bacrot, Alekseev and Wang Yue win
18.12.2008 – The game of the day was a 31-mover between top French GM Etienne Bacrot and top Hungarian Peter Leko. The latter played a Caro-Kann, had a good position but fell to the amazingly complex tactics that the game produced. Wang Yue won a nice light-piece ending against Pavel Eljanov, and Evgeny Alekseev outplayed the luckless Rustam Kasimdzhanov. Illustrated report from Elista.

Elista R5: Cheparinov, Gashimov win, Gashimov leads
19.12.2008 – Round five of the FIDE Grand Prix in Elista saw Ivan Cheparinov try a novelty against Ernesto Inarkiev, fall into trouble, but then extricate himself and win. Vugar Gashimov too turned around a dangerous position, against Grischuk, and also took the full point. Now two Azeris, Gashimov and Radjabov, are in the lead, with 3.5/5 points. The organisation used the opportunity to poll the players on doping.

Elista R6: Grischuk, Alekseev win, marathon games in Elista
21.12.2008 – Alexander Grischuk had to work for 79 moves to win his pawn-up ending against Pavel Eljanov. Evgeny Alexseev outplayed the Armenian GM Vladimir Akopian on the black side of a Ruy Lopez Breyer which lasted 61 moves. Cheparinov-Gashimov concluded with bare kings on move 68. Mamedyarov-Leko was a titanic 110-move struggle which ended in a draw. Round six report.

Elista R8: Grischuk does it again: wins and leads
22.12.2008 – Today Alexander Grischuk won his third game in succession (we're counting, Sasha!), against the "undefeatable" Chinese GM Wang Yue. Rustam Kasimdzhanov won his first game in this event, beating Vladimir Akopian, while Ivan Cheparinov played a stunner against Evgeny Alekseev to take the full point. Grischuk leads alone, by half a point. Round eight report.

Elista R7: Grischuk, Inarkiev, Eljanov win, Grischuk now leads
22.12.2008 – Alexander Grischuk won his second consecutive game today, with a well-played Benko/Volga Gambit as black against Evgeny Alekseev. Teimour Radjabov spoilt a perfectly good position against Ernesto Inarkiev, losing for the first time in this event. Pavel Eljanov played a 125-mover to grind out a win against Ivan Cheparinov in a queen ending. Report with an interview with Teimour Radjabov.

Elista R9: Gashimov catches Grischuk
24.12.2008 – Alexander Grischuk drew against Vladimir Akopain, while Vugar Gashimov ensnared Shakhriyar Mamedyarov's queen to take the full point and join him in the lead. Dmitry Jakovenko played a great attacking game against Rustam Kasimdzhanov, Teimour Radjabov defeated Pavel Eljanov with black, and Wang Yue outplayed Ivan Cheparinov. Report and questionnaire on how to cope with failures.

Elista R10: White Christmas at the Grand Prix
25.12.2008 – It was not a peaceful festival day in Elista: five decisive games out of seven, with White winning them all. That put three players in the joint lead: Dmitry Jakovenko, Teimour Radjabov and Alexander Grischuk, with yesterday's leader Vugar Gashimov half a point behind. With three rounds to go these four are in contention. Round ten report.

Elista R12: Kasimdzhanov beats Cheparinov, all other games drawn
27.12.2008 – Rustam Kasimdzhanov of Uzbekistan, one of Vishy Anand's trusted seconds (at the World Championship in Bonn) had a very spotty start to this event. But today he scored his second victory in succession, this time against Ivan Cheparinov of Bulgaria, one of former FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov's trusted seconds. All other games were drawn, the table remains essentially the same.

Elista R11: Kasimdzhanov beats Inarkiev with black
27.12.2008 – That was the only decisive game in round eleven: Uzbek GM Rustam Kasimdzhanov defeated his Russian colleague Ernesto Inarkiev in a convoluted 86-move game. Since all other games were drawn the table has not changed. It has Jakovenko, Radjabov and Grischuk in the lead. In a new and interesting FIDE questionnaire the players were asked their opinion about computer cheating.

Elista R13: Eljanov beats Inarkiev, all other games drawn
28.12.2008 – Which means: no change in the top rankings. Teimour Radjabov, Dmitry Jakovenko and Alexander Grischuk share first place, with Radjabov leading in the Grand Prix after three events. He and Grischuk battled it out in the final round for 97 moves without a result. The other contender for sole first, Jakovenko, did not get a chance to win with black against Evgeny Alekseev. Final report.