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Grand Swiss Tournament – two interesting games

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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.

David Howell v Arturs Neiksans.
David Howell v Arturs Neiksans.

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

van Morovic Fernandez of Chile (left) taking on Nodirbek Yakubboev of Uzbekistan.
Ivan Morovic Fernandez of Chile (left) taking on Nodirbek Yakubboev of Uzbekistan.

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.

GM Alireza Firouzja of Iran now playing under the French flag.
GM Alireza Firouzja of Iran now playing under the French flag.

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.

IM Fy Antenaina Rakotomaharo of Madagascar.
IM Fy Antenaina Rakotomaharo of Madagascar.

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.

Aleksandra Goryachkina of Russia.
Aleksandra Goryachkina of Russia.

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.

The charming and former World Junior Chess Champion Zhansaya Abdumalik of Kazakhstan.
The charming and former World Junior Chess Champion Zhansaya Abdumalik of Kazakhstan.

All Photo credits – Anna Shtourman and Mark Livshitz.

Links

African chess stars begin their campaign in the Grand Swiss Tournament