Wesley So and Pavel Eljanov lead at Reykjavik before the last round

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The penultimate round of the Reykjavik Open started with six players sharing the lead. Two of them – Pavel Eljanov and Wesley So – scored victories and go to the last round as the leaders.

Eljanov will have white tomorrow in their direct encounter.

Participants / Live games

Today Eljanov played with black against Ding Liren. The game was highly tense from the beginning because both players decided to expand their pawns on the flanks, leaving their kings uncastled. The Ukrainian was the first one to break in the center with a knight sacrifice for two pawns. The Chinese needed to play precisely to avoid losing immediately, but was not able to do so. He resigned on move 22 when black was about to create a strong passed pawn on the queenside.

Wesley So, on the other hand, played with white against Marcin Dziuba. The Polish GM chose the Caro-Kann Defense and So demonstrated that he was very well prepared to face this opening. The game became exciting when the Filipino went for a queen sacrifice in exchange of a rook and bishop. The position was very sharp and Wesley claimed a winning advantage with an exchange sacrifice. A very nice final sequence finished in checkmate on move 41.

Pavel Eljanov will have the white pieces tomorrow in their direct encounter.

Still, there are six players that might catch the leaders if there is a draw on the first board tomorrow. Three of them have the same score on the two first tie-break criteria: Grzegorz Gajewski, Anish Giri and Ivan Cheparinov. Coincidentally, none of them face each other and they all play with black tomorrow.

To get to this position, Anish Giri defeated fellow Dutchman Erwin L’Ami. The compatriots created a closed pawn structure and took the battle to the center of the board. L’Ami’s king was more active, but also more vulnerable, and this proved to be the decisive factor in the game. Giri played some accurate attacking moves and L’Ami had to resign on move 40.

Do not miss tomorrow’s coverage of the tournament on Chessdom. The games will be broadcast live with computer analysis and there will be minute by minute updates in the Chess bits section.

Standings after 9 rounds:

1	GM	Eljanov Pavel	UKR	2678	7.5
2	GM	So Wesley	PHI	2684	7.5
3	GM	Gajewski Grzegorz	POL	2644	7.0
4	GM	Giri Anish	NED	2722	7.0
5	GM	Cheparinov Ivan	BUL	2709	7.0
6	IM	Wei Yi	CHN	2501	7.0
7	GM	Jones Gawain C B	ENG	2637	7.0
8	GM	Amin Bassem	EGY	2631	7.0
9	GM	Yu Yangyi	CHN	2688	6.5
10	GM	Ding Liren	CHN	2709	6.5
11	GM	Dziuba Marcin	POL	2602	6.5
12	GM	Stefansson Hannes	ISL	2496	6.5
13	NM	Norowitz Yaacov	USA	2432	6.5
14	GM	Kuzubov Yuriy	UKR	2622	6.5
15	GM	Thorhallsson Throstur	ISL	2441	6.5
16	GM	Sokolov Ivan	NED	2644	6.5
17	GM	Xiu Deshun	CHN	2530	6.5
18	IM	Urkedal Frode	NOR	2473	6.5
19	GM	Vachier-Lagrave Maxime	FRA	2715	6.0
20	GM	Grandelius Nils	SWE	2566	6.0
21	GM	L’ami Erwin	NED	2622	6.0
22	GM	Ipatov Alexander	TUR	2569	6.0
23	GM	Yilmaz Mustafa	TUR	2531	6.0
24	IM	Gretarsson Hjorvar Steinn	ISL	2509	6.0
25	GM	Bu Xiangzhi	CHN	2675	6.0
26	GM	Baklan Vladimir	UKR	2609	6.0
27	GM	Halkias Stelios	GRE	2566	6.0
28	GM	Navara David	CZE	2710	6.0
29	IM	Li Wenliang	CHN	2411	6.0
30	GM	Shulman Yury	USA	2563	6.0
31	WGM	Tan Zhongyi	CHN	2466	6.0
32	IM	Guramishvili Sopiko	GEO	2414	6.0
33	GM	Kveinys Aloyzas	LTU	2533	6.0
34	GM	Oleksienko Mikhailo	UKR	2568	6.0
35	WGM	Guo Qi	CHN	2431	6.0
36	GM	Williams Simon K	ENG	2498	6.0
37	IM	Lou Yiping	CHN	2468	6.0
38	GM	Esen Baris	TUR	2565	6.0
39	GM	Kristjansson Stefan	ISL	2486	6.0
40	WGM	Huang Qian	CHN	2478	6.0
41	IM	Bartholomew John	USA	2435	6.0
42	IM	Schreiner Peter	AUT	2439	6.0
43	IM	Kjartansson Gudmundur	ISL	2430	6.0
44		Tari Aryan	NOR	2263	6.0
45	IM	Zumsande Martin	GER	2419	6.0
46	GM	Socko Bartosz	POL	2643	5.5
47	GM	Solak Dragan	TUR	2603	5.5
48	IM	Muir Andrew J	SCO	2313	5.5
49	WGM	Wang Jue	CHN	2375	5.5
50	IM	Andersen Mads	DEN	2462	5.5
51		Wang Yiye	CHN	2226	5.5
52	GM	Maze Sebastien	FRA	2556	5.5
53	IM	Smith Axel	SWE	2485	5.5
54	WGM	Cherednichenko Svetlana	UKR	2307	5.5
55	IM	Krush Irina	USA	2460	5.5
56	GM	Danielsen Henrik	ISL	2507	5.5
57	GM	Olafsson Fridrik	ISL	2416	5.5
58	IM	Diermair Andreas	AUT	2407	5.5
59	FM	Hambleton Aman	CAN	2472	5.5
60	IM	Prosviriakov Vladimir	USA	2297	5.5
61	WGM	L’ami Alina	ROU	2362	5.5
62	IM	Bekker-Jensen Simon	DEN	2405	5.5
63	WGM	Mamedjarova Turkan	AZE	2280	5.5
64	FM	Bewersdorff Oliver	GER	2335	5.5
65		Drill Frank	GER	2124	5.5
66		Wahlbom Magnus	SWE	2279	5.5
67		Bergthorsson Jon Thor	ISL	2125	5.5
68	IM	Arngrimsson Dagur	ISL	2375	5.0
69	FM	Bjerke Richard	NOR	2131	5.0
70	WGM	Saduakassova Dinara	KAZ	2312	5.0
71	IM	Hagen Andreas Skytte	DEN	2411	5.0
72	IM	Ris Robert	NED	2407	5.0
73	IM	Borsos Bogdan	UKR	2260	5.0
74	WGM	Mammadova Gulnar	AZE	2369	5.0
75	FM	Gislason Gudmundur	ISL	2329	5.0
76		Beeke Bob	NED	2257	5.0
77	FM	Handler Lukas	AUT	2369	5.0
78	IM	Mikkelsen Nikolaj	DEN	2421	5.0
79		Omarsson Dadi	ISL	2212	5.0
80	WGM	Kashlinskaya Alina	RUS	2350	5.0
81		Ragnarsson Johann	ISL	2046	5.0
82	IM	Thorfinnsson Bjorn IM	ISL	2386	5.0
83		Bird Andrew	AUS	2223	5.0
84	FM	Cubas Pons Juan Miguel	ESP	2284	5.0
85	FM	Ekeberg Carl Fredrik	NOR	2274	5.0
86	FM	Thompson Ian D	ENG	2260	5.0
87	FM	Kvisvik Brede	NOR	2314	5.0
88	FM	Andreasen Per Naesby	DEN	2302	5.0
89		Schou-Moldt Thomas	DEN	2236	5.0
90		Ornolfsson Magnus P.	ISL	2169	5.0
91	WFM	Thorsteinsdottir Gudlaug	ISL	2041	5.0
92		Palmqvist Fredrik	SWE	2050	5.0
93		Karason Askell O	ISL	2235	5.0
94		Thorsteinsdottir Hallgerdur	ISL	1960	5.0
95		Johansen Stian	NOR	2090	5.0
96		Doell Detlef	GER	2044	5.0
97		Pretterhofer Kiaras	AUT	1997	5.0
98		Thorgeirsson Jon Kristinn	ISL	1766	5.0
99	FM	Jayakumar Adarsh	USA	2271	4.5
100	IM	Kislik Erik Andrew	USA	2359	4.5
101	WGM	Ptacnikova Lenka	ISL	2269	4.5
102		Finnbogadottir Tinna Kristin	ISL	1871	4.5
103		Ragnarsson Dagur	ISL	1961	4.5
104		Thorhallsson Gylfi	ISL	2141	4.5
105	IM	Miedema David	NED	2364	4.5
106	WFM	Newrkla Katharina	AUT	2135	4.5
107		Johannsson Orn Leo	ISL	1953	4.5
108		Christiansen Johan-Sebastian	NOR	2071	4.5
109		Maack Kjartan	ISL	2136	4.5
110		Steindorsson Sigurdur P.	ISL	2235	4.5
	WFM	Frisk Ellinor	SWE	2197	4.5
112	WCM	Roberts Lynda	WLS	1903	4.5
113		Karlsson Mikael Johann	ISL	1990	4.5
114		Halldorsson Bragi	ISL	2180	4.5
115		Mihajlov Sebastian	NOR	2059	4.5
116	WIM	Van Weersel Arlette	NED	2211	4.5
117	FM	Malmdin Nils-Ake	SWE	2281	4.5
118		Ofstad Sigurd	NOR	1985	4.5
119	FM	Valenti Giuseppe	ITA	2204	4.5
120		Mihajlov Svetoslav	NOR	2071	4.5
121		Sverrisson Nokkvi	ISL	1990	4.5
122	IM	Bjarnason Saevar	ISL	2133	4.5
123		Ingvason Johann	ISL	2148	4.5
124		Bergsson Stefan	ISL	2180	4.5
		Karlsson Robin	SWE	1980	4.5
126		Kuehnast Volker	GER	1936	4.5
127		Andreasen Jakup A.R.	FAI	1992	4.5
128		Vigfusson Vigfus	ISL	1985	4.5
129		Fivelstad Jon Olav	NOR	1888	4.5
130		Saemundsson Bjarni	ISL	1935	4.5
131		Frick Renato	LIE	2075	4.5
132		Johannesson Oliver	ISL	1988	4.5
133		Merkesvik Sondre	NOR	1903	4.5
134		Raddatz Michael	GER	2075	4.5
135		Helin Mikael	SWE	1910	4.0
136		Marentini Marcel	SUI	2069	4.0
137		Isaksson Per	SWE	2016	4.0
138		Schadd Jan	NED	0	4.0
139		Kleinert Juergen	GER	1991	4.0
140		Van Heirzeele Daniel	BEL	2125	4.0
141		Halldorsson Jon Arni	ISL	2222	4.0
142		Jonsson Olafur Gisli	ISL	1870	4.0
143		Hardarson Jon Trausti	ISL	1853	4.0
144		Leimeister Winfried	GER	1909	4.0
145		Palsson Halldor	ISL	2078	4.0
146		Egilsson Fridrik Orn	ISL	0	4.0
147		Hyotyla Tapio	SUI	1792	4.0
148		Haraldsson Leif	SWE	2028	4.0
149		Murray Michael A.	CAN	2017	4.0
150		Michel Steve	NED	2008	4.0
151		Bjornes Leif	NOR	1957	4.0
152		Knútsson Lárus	ISL	2072	4.0
153		Johannsdottir Johanna Bjorg	ISL	1872	4.0
154		Hojgaard Brandur	FAI	1734	4.0
155		Masson Kjartan	ISL	1856	4.0
156		Ingason Sigurdur	ISL	1878	4.0
157		Hisnay Gregory	USA	0	4.0
158	WCM	Orlova Yelizaveta	CAN	1978	4.0
159		Leosson Atli Johann	ISL	1736	4.0
160		Ohlsson Mikael	SWE	1811	4.0
161		Rodriguez Fonseca Jorge	ESP	2009	3.5
162		Newrkla Alexander	AUT	1969	3.5
163		Jensen Soren	DEN	1909	3.5
164		Eliasson Kristjan Orn	ISL	1873	3.5
165	CM	Herbold Manfred	GER	2125	3.5
166		Birgisson Ingvar Orn	ISL	1953	3.5
167		Johansen Arnt-Ole	NOR	1817	3.5
168		Ghaderi Arman K	NOR	1827	3.5
169		Klug Christian	GER	1894	3.5
170		Arntsen Frode	NOR	1840	3.5
171		de Winter Eric	NED	1823	3.5
172		Kjartansson Dagur	ISL	1623	3.5
173		Hauksdottir Hrund	ISL	1671	3.5
		Davidsdottir Nansy	ISL	1479	3.5
175		Evenson Kent	USA	0	3.5
176		Stefansson Vignir Vatnar	ISL	1652	3.5
177		Kristinardottir Elsa Maria	ISL	1747	3.5
178		Meier Gerd	GER	1949	3.5
179		Mehringer Joerg	GER	1908	3.5
180		Sundsbo Sigve	NOR	0	3.5
181		Traustason Ingi Tandri	ISL	1840	3.5
182		Einarsson Oskar Long	ISL	1613	3.5
183		Heerde Thomas	GER	2053	3.0
184		Seim Fredrik	NOR	1714	3.0
185		Birgisdottir Ingibjorg	ISL	1783	3.0
186		Jablon Stephen	USA	1896	3.0
187		Billot Daniel	FRA	1731	3.0
188		Hilmarsson Andri Steinn	ISL	0	3.0
189		Gjertsen Petter	NOR	0	3.0
190		Kruglyak Mikhail	USA	0	3.0
191		Jonsson Gauti Pall	ISL	1519	3.0
192		Vignisson Ingvar Egill	ISL	1542	3.0
193		Bjeglerud Jarle	NOR	0	3.0
194		Pantzar Milton	SWE	1693	3.0
195		Storesund Henrik	NOR	1759	3.0
		Kolka Dawid	ISL	1646	3.0
197		Holm Fridgeir K	ISL	1733	3.0
198		Heimisson Hilmir Freyr	ISL	1693	3.0
199		Magnusdottir Veronika Steinun	ISL	1557	3.0
200		Ragnarsson Heimir Pall	ISL	1354	3.0
201		Petersen Jakob Alexander	ISL	1370	3.0
202		Thorhallsson Simon	ISL	1451	3.0
203		Bakkes Frits	NED	1750	3.0
204		Jacobsen Trond	NOR	1610	2.5
205		Maggason Oskar	ISL	1903	2.5
206		Herda Christoph Dr.	GER	1915	2.5
207		Gunnarsson Sigurdur Jon	ISL	2000	2.5
208		Palsdottir Soley Lind	ISL	1393	2.5
209		Petersson Baldur Teodor	SWE	1575	2.5
210		Bauza Mercere Eduardo	ARG	1809	2.5
211		Leifsson Thorsteinn	ISL	1759	2.5
212		Ontiveros John	ISL	1700	2.5
213		Bakkejord Odd Vidar	NOR	0	2.5
214		Johannesson Petur	ISL	0	2.5
215		Smith Chris P	ENG	0	2.5
216		Ramtin Raman	IRI	1661	2.0
217		Hrafnsson Hilmir	ISL	1331	2.0
218		Steinthorsson Felix	ISL	1449	2.0
219		Bragason Gudmundur Agnar	ISL	0	2.0
220		Laitamaa Tore Johan Melker	NOR	0	2.0
221		Sigurdarson Alec Elias	ISL	0	2.0
222		Kolica Donika	ISL	1251	2.0
223		Bue Gunnar	NOR	1695	1.5
224		Kristbergsson Bjorgvin	ISL	1197	1.5
225		Magnusson Thorsteinn	ISL	0	1.5
226		Davidsson Oskar Vikingur	ISL	0	1.0
227		Bodvarsson Bodvar	ISL	0	1.0