Sardinia Festival 2024 R4-5: Yair Parkhov emerges sole leader

by Shahid Ahmed - 30/04/2024

Yair Parkhov (ISR) got his GM title confirmed today officially. That is not the sole reason for him to rejoice as he won both of his games to emerge sole leader at Sardinia World Chess Festival 2024. In Round 4, Parkhov defeated GM Niclas Huschenbeth (GER) after the latter made a positional mistake in the endgame. In Round 5 also, Parkhov won in a similar way. His opponent, GM Vladimir Fedoseev (SLO) made a positional inaccuracy by capturing a pawn incorrectly. The newly minted GM invaded with his rook and won the game. Parkhov is followed by three players - GM Maksim Chigaev (ESP), GM Alan Pichot (ESP) and GM Luca Moroni Jr. (ITA) at 4.5/5 each. GM Bharath Subramaniyam H is at 4/5. He drew both of his games today. WFM Alexandra Botez (CAN) has gained sole lead 5/5 in Group B. She won both of her games and played for over nine hours in total. Round 6 starts tomorrow at 3 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST. All photos are by Shahid Ahmed unless stated otherwise.

Alexandra Botez wins five in-a-row, gains sole lead

WFM Alexandra Botez (CAN) will face CM Joel Paul Ganta in the sixth round.

GM Yair Parkhov (ISR) is the sole leader with a perfect score 5/5

Yair - Niclas, Round 4

Position after 35...Bg7??

GM Niclas Huschenbeth (GER, 2607) made a positional mistake 35...Bg7?? His opponent, GM Yair Parkhov (ISR, 2513) found the correct continuation 36.h5 Bxe5 37.dxe5 Ne7 38.Rd1 Qe8 39.Qg5 Rd8 40.Rd6 Rxd6 41.exd6 and White won.

Bharath Subramaniyam H - Alan Pichot (ESP): 0.5-0.5

Fedoseev - Yair, Round 5

Position after 41...Kg6

The fatigue of double round took a toll on GM Vladimir Fedoseev (SLO, 2702). He captured a pawn incorrectly on b7 42.Nxb7?? positional mistake allowed entry of black rook via c-file Rcc2 43.Rf4 Kf6 44.g4 g5 45.Rf3 Kg6 46.Nc5 fxg4 47.Rf8 g3 48.Nd3 gxf2 49.Nxe5+ Kh5 and Black won the game in the next few moves.

GM Yair Parkhov (ISR) stuns GM Vladimir Fedoseev (SLO) in Round 5 | Video: ChessBase India

GM Yair Parkhov (ISR) defeated GM Vladimir Fedoseev (SLO) to maintain his sole lead | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

GM Alan Pichot (ESP) capitalized on his opponent GM Lorenzo Lodici's (ITA) incorrect positional decisions in the endgame | Photo: Niklesh Jain

Chigaev - Sonis

Position after 42.Rxf6

After a back and forth play in the rook endgame, there was a beautiful defense for GM Francesco Sonis (ITA, 2580). It was certainly not easy to find. 42...Re7 43.Rf5 e3 44.fxe3 Rxe3 45.Rh5+ Kg7 46.Rxh4 Re5 and it is a draw. To free up his rook, White must either sacrifice his g-pawn or force himself getting a doubled h-pawn. Unfortunately Black could not find it. He played 42...Rb5 and went to lose the game against GM Maksim Chigaev (ESP, 2647).

Most amazing defense you'll witness in Round 5 of Sardinia World Chess Festival 2024 | Video: ChessBase India

GM Maksim Chigaev (ESP) won an extremely well contested battle against GM Francesco Sonis (ITA) | Photo: Niklesh Jain

GM Bharath Subramaniyam H drew with GM Ediz Gurel (TUR)

Final moments: Alexander Becker - WFM Alexandra Botez | Video: ChessBase India

If I lose to my sister in front of tens of thousands, I'll never hear the end of it - WFM Alexandra Botez | Video: ChessBase India

WFM Alexandra Botez (CAN) played for over nine hours, won both of her games to emerge sole leader 5/5 | Photo: Niklesh Jain

FIDE Deputy Chair and European Chess Union Deputy President - WGM Dana Reizniece-Ozola (LAT) made the ceremonial first move on GM Vladimir Fedoseev (SLO) and GM Yair Parkhov's (ISR) board

Final moments: Alessia Natoli (POL) - Federico Maida (ITA) | Video: ChessBase India

For more Round 4 and Round 5 photos, please click at the respective links. Lots of exciting, interesting game videos and interviews of GM Yair Parkhov (ISR) and WFM Alexandra Botez (CAN) will be published soon, stay tuned!

Replay live stream

Replay Round 4 live commentary by GM Evgenij Miroshnichenko (UKR) and WCM Alexandra Prado (BOL) | Video: UniChess

Replay Round 5 live commentary by GM Evgenij Miroshnichenko (UKR) and WCM Alexandra Prado (BOL) | Video: UniChess

Replay Round 4-5 Open A games

Replay Round 4-5 Open B games

Replay Round 4-5 Open C games

Round 5 Open A results

Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
1	1	GM	Fedoseev Vladimir	2690	3½	0 - 1	4	IM	Parkhov Yair	2513	20
2	5	GM	Pichot Alan	2644	3½	1 - 0	3½	GM	Lodici Lorenzo	2565	14
3	19	IM	Erdogmus Yagiz Kaan	2540	3½	½ - ½	3½	GM	Dardha Daniel	2630	8
4	9	GM	Chigaev Maksim	2621	3½	1 - 0	3½	GM	Sonis Francesco	2562	15
5	25	GM	Velten Paul	2481	3½	½ - ½	3½	GM	Moussard Jules	2610	10
6	21	GM	Mikhalevski Victor	2506	3½	0 - 1	3½	GM	Moroni Luca Jr	2580	12
7	13	GM	Gurel Ediz	2578	3½	½ - ½	3½	GM	Bharath Subramaniyam H	2544	18
8	3	GM	Shevchenko Kirill	2675	3	1 - 0	3½	IM	Kilic Eray	2429	38
9	35	IM	Ben Ari Yannay	2436	3	0 - 1	3	GM	Van Foreest Jorden	2668	4
10	40	FM	Kanov Nikola	2423	3	½ - ½	3	GM	Lagarde Maxime	2640	6
11	7	GM	Murzin Volodar	2632	3	1 - 0	3	IM	Olsen Filip Boe	2440	34
12	11	GM	Huschenbeth Niclas	2607	3	0 - 1	3	IM	Aizenberg Benny	2409	46
13	63	IM	Lewtak Damian	2343	3	0 - 1	3	GM	Sivuk Vitaly	2551	16
14	23	IM	Sokolovsky Yahli	2490	3	1 - 0	3	GM	Ibrayev Nurlan	2368	55
15	24	IM	Zhalmakhanov Ramazan	2490	3	1 - 0	3	FM	Vergara Anton Diego	2387	53

Details

Standings after Round 5

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	FED	RtgI	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4
1	20	IM	Parkhov Yair		ISR	2513	5	13	12	13,00	2445
2	9	GM	Chigaev Maksim		ESP	2621	4,5	16	13,5	14,25	2416
3	5	GM	Pichot Alan		ESP	2644	4,5	15,5	13,5	13,50	2452
4	12	GM	Moroni Luca Jr		ITA	2580	4,5	15	13	13,50	2313
5	18	GM	Bharath Subramaniyam H	U18	IND	2544	4	16,5	14,5	12,25	2443
6	25	GM	Velten Paul		FRA	2481	4	16,5	14	12,50	2488
7	24	IM	Zhalmakhanov Ramazan		KAZ	2490	4	16	13	12,50	2447
8	13	GM	Gurel Ediz	U18	TUR	2578	4	15,5	13,5	12,00	2394
9	10	GM	Moussard Jules		FRA	2610	4	15,5	13,5	11,75	2419
10	8	GM	Dardha Daniel		BEL	2630	4	15,5	13,5	11,50	2428
11	19	IM	Erdogmus Yagiz Kaan	U18	TUR	2540	4	15	13	11,50	2377
12	3	GM	Shevchenko Kirill		ROU	2675	4	14,5	12,5	11,50	2336
13	16	GM	Sivuk Vitaly		SWE	2551	4	14,5	12	11,00	2343
14	23	IM	Sokolovsky Yahli	U18	ISR	2490	4	14	11,5	11,25	2321
15	7	GM	Murzin Volodar	U18	FID	2632	4	13,5	11,5	10,25	2365

Details

Round 6 Open A pairings

Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
1	20	IM	Parkhov Yair	2513	5	4½	GM	Pichot Alan	2644	5
2	12	GM	Moroni Luca Jr	2580	4½	4½	GM	Chigaev Maksim	2621	9
3	16	GM	Sivuk Vitaly	2551	4	4	GM	Shevchenko Kirill	2675	3
4	4	GM	Van Foreest Jorden	2668	4	4	IM	Erdogmus Yagiz Kaan	2540	19
5	18	GM	Bharath Subramaniyam H	2544	4	4	GM	Murzin Volodar	2632	7
6	8	GM	Dardha Daniel	2630	4	4	IM	Sokolovsky Yahli	2490	23
7	10	GM	Moussard Jules	2610	4	4	IM	Zhalmakhanov Ramazan	2490	24
8	46	IM	Aizenberg Benny	2409	4	4	GM	Gurel Ediz	2578	13
9	6	GM	Lagarde Maxime	2640	3½	4	GM	Velten Paul	2481	25
10	38	IM	Kilic Eray	2429	3½	3½	GM	Fedoseev Vladimir	2690	1
11	2	GM	Sjugirov Sanan	2689	3½	3½	IM	Levin Guy	2451	33
12	14	GM	Lodici Lorenzo	2565	3½	3½	IM	Degraeve Remy	2432	37
13	50	IM	Vantika Agrawal	2398	3½	3½	GM	Sonis Francesco	2562	15
14	81	FM	Tudor Henry Edward	2279	3½	3½	GM	Mikhalevski Victor	2506	21
15	22	IM	Rozen Eytan	2499	3½	3½	FM	Kanov Nikola	2423	40

Details

Links

Sardinia Chess Festival: Official site , fb page and instagram

Tournament details

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