The second round of the final FIDE Grand Prix was played today at the Chapelle de la Villedieu in Paris, France.
The only decisive game of the day was Laurent Fressinet’s victory against Alexander Grischuk, who is chasing the first place and qualification to the Candidates Tournament.
The opening was somewhat unusual but the plans resembled the popular line of the Queen’s Indian defence. After the exchange of the queens it was clear that black doesn’t have any problems, and as the game progressed he even got a slight pull.
Fressinet started pushing his queenside pawns with the idea of shutting the opponent’s bishop. Grischuk’s reaction was not the best and white slowly but steadily improved his position.
Already before the time control white had some advantage. As the white rook started threatening along the back-rank, Grischuk made a mistake that cost him lots of material.
Laurent Fressinet
Playing hall at Chapelle de la Villedieu
Round 2 results:
Bacrot Etienne (FRA) – Ivanchuk Vassily (UKR) ½-½
Dominguez Perez Leinier (CUB) – Nakamura Hikaru (USA) ½-½
Fressinet Laurent (FRA) – Grischuk Alexander (RUS) 1-0
Ponomariov Ruslan (UKR) – Giri Anish (NED) ½-½
Tomashevsky Evgeny (RUS) – Gelfand Boris (ISR) ½-½
Wang Hao (CHN) – Caruana Fabiano (ITA) ½-½
Round 3 pairings:
GM Gelfand Boris 2764 – GM Dominguez Perez Leinier 2757
GM Giri Anish 2737 – GM Tomashevsky Evgeny 2703
GM Grischuk Alexander 2785 – GM Ponomariov Ruslan 2756
GM Caruana Fabiano 2779 – GM Fressinet Laurent 2708
GM Ivanchuk Vassily 2731 – GM Wang Hao 2736
GM Nakamura Hikaru 2772 – GM Bacrot Etienne 2723
Photos by Alina l’Ami – Official website / Opening ceremony
Anish Giri
Vassily Ivanchuk
