Dortmund 2011, Round 3: Kramnik Still Leads
Vladimir Kramnik remains in first place, but the 100% score is gone after a draw with Le Quang Liem. Kramnik came out of the opening with an edge, but Le handled the middlegame well and Kramnik forced perpetual early in the second time control with a nice sacrificial line.
Ruslan Ponomariov moved into clear second with his second straight win. He avenged his match loss to Hikaru Nakamura, defeating him on the black side of a Nimzo-Indian. Nakamura's queenside got into a terrible bind, and while his pawn sac eliminated the cramp he never achieved any real compensation, and Ponomariov eventually brought his extra firepower to bear.
Anish Giri won a sort of Carlsen Jr. game. He came out of the opening against Georg Meier without any advantage, but played for a win, without having anything, for about another 50 moves. Meier finally blundered, and Giri won.
Standings After Round 3:
1. Kramnik 2.5
2. Ponomariov 2
3-4. Le, Giri 1.5
5. Nakamura 1
6. Meier .5
Round 4 Pairings:
- Giri - Le
- Nakamura - Kramnik
- Ponomariov - Meier
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