Gashimov Surprise Leader at Reggio Emilia, Italy

5 January 2011, Kuala Lumpur – At the 53rd Torneo di Capodanno in Reggio Emilia, Italy, Gashimov has taken the lead after the seventh round of play with 4.5 points, the same with Vallejo Pons Francisco, now in second position.

In the big clash Vallejo-Gashimov, the Spaniard lost his first game, thus allowing his opponent to catch him in the standings. The surprising 11…Ng4 worked out well for Black, but for a long time the game stayed within the draw margin. With a pawn sacrifice in return for a strong passer on the a-file Gashimov decided the game in his favour.

Here is the seventh round game between Vallejo and Gashimov. At the 54th move, black trapped white with a rook check at g2, 54…Rg2+, causing white to lose his important rook piece. This forced the white king to move away from defending his other three pawns, which was under immediate attack by the opposing black king and the position was lost. Gashimov won with the black pieces.

[Event "53° Torneo di Capodanno"]
[Site "Reggio Emilia"]
[Date "2011.01.04"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Gashimov, Vugar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B08"]
[WhiteElo "2698"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2010.12.28"]
1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 d6 5. Be2 Nf6 6. O-O O-O 7. h3 Nbd7 8. Bf4 Qa5 9. Nd2 Qc7 10. a4 e5 11. Be3 Ng4 12. Bxg4 exd4 13. Bxd4 Bxd4 14. Nc4 Bc5 15. a5 Ne5 16. Nxe5 dxe5 17. Bxc8 Raxc8 18. Qe2 Bb4 19. a6 b5 20. Na2 Be7 21.Nc1 Rfd8 22. Nb3 Qb6 23. Rfd1 Kg7 24. Qg4 c5 25. Nd2 c4 26. Nf1 Bc5 27. Qg3 Rxd1 28. Rxd1 Qxa6 29. Qxe5+ Qf6 30. Qxf6+ Kxf6 31. Rd5 Ke6 32. g4 a6 33. Nd2 c3 34. bxc3 Bb6 35. c4 bxc4 36. Kf1 a5 37. Rb5 Bd8 38. Ke2 a4 39. Nb1 Ra8 40.Na3 Be7 41. Nxc4 a3 42. Rb6+ Kd7 43. Rb1 Kc6 44. c3 a2 45. Ra1 Kb5 46. Ne3 Bc5 47. Kd3 Bxe3 48. fxe3 f6 49. h4 h5 50. gxh5 gxh5 51. Kc2 Kc4 52. Kb2 Rb8+ 53.Kc2 Rg8 54. Rxa2 Rg2+ 55. Kb1 Rxa2 56. Kxa2 Kxc3 57. Kb1 Kd2 0-1


Links

• Official website
• Chessvibes.com
• Games in PGN for Round 7