Grand Swiss Tournament – two interesting games
The 2021 FIDE Chess.com Grand Swiss Tournament, and the Women’s Grand Swiss are taking place in Riga, the historic capital city in Latvia. The events run from 25th October to 8th November 2021.
Round 2 had the following interesting games.
The last game to finish in the second round was Latvian Grandmaster Arturs Neiksans who played against England’s David Howell. In the Queen’s Indian Defence, Neiksans capitalised on his opponent’s mistake (17.Nd4? instead of the natural 17.e3) to obtain a winning position.
For a long time, Howell was teetering on the brink of defeat, but his grit and determination paid off in the end as the Englishman held his ground and squeezed out a draw in the late hours of the evening.
David Howell v Arturs Neiksans
Kings Indian Defence novelty
Alexandr Predke of Russia on board 8 introduced a great novelty in the King’s Indian Defence, sacrificing his queen for two minor pieces a pawn against Nodirbek Yakubboev the talented youngster from Ubebekiztan.
Other interesting facts about the events
Russians dominate the 2021 FIDE Chess.com Grand Swiss Tournament with 22 players out of 108. India has the second-largest contingent with 10.
The other interesting bit is that out of the 108 players taking part, 107 of them are Grandmasters, and the 108th player is IM
Russia has 20 players out of the 50 players taking part in the Women’s Grand Swiss event! India has five players, which means that these two countries provide 50% of the players.
Aleksandra Goryachkina of Russia is the only lady participant in the 2021 FIDE Chess.com Grand Swiss Tournament.
African chess stars including IM Fy Antenaina Rakotomaharo of Madagascar, GM Adly Ahmed of Egypt & WIM Jesse February of South Africa who are the continent’s representatives in these two notable events.
All Photo credits – Anna Shtourman and Mark Livshitz.
Links
African chess stars begin their campaign in the Grand Swiss Tournament
