Nagpur: Safety First was the order of play in the opening games of the
Chess World Cup semifinals in Goa on Friday. With three of the four semifinalists headed to their maiden Candidates tournament, Game 1 of the semifinals saw players with black pieces on both boards managing their clock well while forcing those with an opening advantage to bring out their best defensive weapons.
The battle between childhood Uzbek friends Sindarov Javokhir and Yakubboev Nodirbek ended after a tense 30-move draw. The contest between Russian and Chinese Grandmasters Andrey Esipenko and Wei Yi had 33 turns, with three of five excellent moves in the endgame helping the oldest semifinalist bring parity and split points.
Though the accuracy level in the 3.06-hour all-Uzbek semifinal was above 99 percent, Yakubboev fell drastically short on time, down to just over a minute on his clock, and despite being on top in the final position, was left with no option but to sign the peace treaty.
At 19, Sindarov, the youngest semifinalist, put Yakubboev under heavy pressure. But the rooks-and-knight endgame with equal pawns ended in a draw. In an earlier interaction, Sindarov disclosed that he and his friend-cum-opponent Yakubboev have been working with the same coach, Roman Vidonyak from Germany, in the World Cup. Describing it as the best moment for his country, Sindarov said, “I am happy to be one of the Uzbek who will become a Candidate. I hope both of us will be in the Candidates.”
Twelve minutes after the Uzbek players split their points, the board two battle between China and Russia ended in a draw where Wei Yi, 26, made some sacrificial moves in the endgame to sign a truce with 23-year-old Andrey Esipenko.
The French Defense opted by 2683 Elo Esipenko, Russia’s leading youngster who is now challenging the dominance of the older generation led by Ian Nepomniachtchi and Alexander Grischuk, gave him a slight edge in the middle game.
With his black pieces, when Esipenko advanced his rook on the 20th turn, legendary woman chess player Judit Polgar in her commentary said, “There is a great chance that Andrey Esipenko can take the lead.”
Despite being short on the clock, Wei, once a Chinese prodigy who surpassed the elite 2700 rating but who opted to take a six-year break from chess to study economics and management, made the most attractive move on the 28th turn to equalise the position.
The 28th sacrificial move by Wei, followed by Esipenko’s mistake to change his attacking lines, came handy for the 2754 Elo Chinese GM as he made three of five excellent moves as per engines to sign a truce on the 33rd turn.
In an equal pawn endgame, Wei just had a queen against a rook and queen for Esipenko. The rook sacrifice that Wei made on the 32nd move brought his queen into a position where Esipenko couldn’t escape checks, and both players made a handshake.
On Saturday, both Esipenko and Sindarov will look to make the most of their opening advantage.
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