Astrakhan, Round 5: Eljanov Leads
The draw train continued to chug, with five of seven games drawn, and four of the five finishing in no more than 33 moves (Gashimov - Akopian, Radjabov - Leko, Alekseev - Gelfand and Mamedyarov - Svidler). Inarkiev - Jakovenko went a respectable 60 moves, but the game wasn't really as long as that number would suggest.
Anyway, there were two wins, and both were by Black. Ivanchuk beat his old nemesis Ponomariov in an Anti-Meran; deservedly so, as he played extremely accurately. The other win was a crazy Slav against Wang Yue that put Eljanov into clear first. Wang Yue played quite well, and was on the way to a well-deserved win prior to 39.Kb2. That gave away some of his advantage (39.Ka2! +-), and then he was again winning prior to 47.g6 (47.Re2 +-). But it was only the last move that reversed the players' fortunes: 53.Qg3+ (followed by 54.Qe1) won; Wang Yue's 53.Qxf5?? lost: 53...Qc3+ and 0-1 due to 54.Ka4 b5+ 55.Ka5 Qa3# or 54.Ka2 Qc4+ and 55...Qxe2, winning.
Saturday is a rest day; meanwhile, the leading standings look like this:
1. Eljanov 3.5
2-5. Gashimov, Inarkiev, Leko, Gelfand 3
Games and more info here.
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