The closing ceremony of the World Cup 2011 took place in the Ogran Hall of the Ugra Classic concert and theater center.

The chess tournament that ended in Khanty-Mansiysk was in the center of attention of chess fans all over the world. More than 100 players from 46 countries competed for the main trophy. Two Russian players advanced to the final — the national champion Peter Svidler, and Alexander Grischuk. The 4-game match ended in Svidler's favor.

The closing ceremony was attended by the Deputy Governor of Ugra Ilya Petrov, the Mayor of Khanty-Mansiysk Vassily Filipenko, and the FIDE Vice-President Ilya Levitov. They congratulated the finalists and wished them success in future competitions.

Vassily Filipenko noted that Peter Svidler became first Russian winner of the World Cup. «We all witnessed great games. I am very glad that the trophy remains in Russia, and remained even regardless of the outcome of the final match. The tradition of inviting the strongest chess players to the Ugra capital will continue, and next year we will host the Women World Championship», — added Filipenko.

FIDE Vice-President Ilya Levitov thanked the players for their effort and shared his impressions about the tournament organization. «I want to thank the Ugra Okrug and the organization committee for excellent job. Their wonderful innovation with live video streaming in English and Russian made watching the World Cup even more exciting. Good luck with your next projects!»

The Chief Arbiter Ashot Vardapetian announced the official results of the World Cup. During the award ceremony the organizers received a letter from the Ugra Governor Natalia Komarova. The Governor congratulated the players with their success and wished them to reach new summits. Besides, Natalia Komarova wrote: «The fact that the fate of this highly prestigious title was decided in a match between two Russian players makes us very proud and confirms the superiority of our chess school».

The closing ceremony ended with a short organ music concert — Vladislav Murtazin, laureate of intersnational competitions and the People's artist of Bashkortostan, performed works of J.S. Bach.

The last round of the World Cup ended without tie-breaks. Peter Svidler won the main prize. Alexander Grischuk and Vassily Ivanchuk advanced to the Candidates Tournament.

Only Ruslan Ponomariov cannot be consoled — he played a very good tournament, but slipped in the end and did not get one of the main prizes.

Maria Fominykh reports

Both games started with the same scenario: one of the players is content with a draw, the other one desperately needs a win.

Guests from Czech Republic receive the instructions on behaving in the playing hall.

The city mayor Vassily Filipenko and the World Cup press officer Nikita Kim decided to play a game while waiting for the conclusion of the matches. They did not bother the souvenir board with players' autographs and used a regular one, as there are plenty of them at the Chess Academy.

Alexander Grischuk selected a Hedgehog setup and was very happy about his position. He even enjoyed a very rare time advantage. However, soon he caught up with Svidler on the clock, and then ended up in his usual time trouble with one minute plus bonus seconds. Alexander underestimated White's piece sacrifice, which gave Svidler two dangerous passed pawns in the center. When Svidler played с6, it became clear that only White can hope to win in this game. However, the grandmaster from Saint Petersburg took the most practical decision and forced a draw that gave him the match victory.

Peter Svidler is the winner of the 2011 World Cup. This victory is the highest achievement in the six-ime Russian champion's career.

The press-conference took more than usual and began to resemble some sort of a round table. Players, commentators, and journalists passionately discussed the events of the fourth games. The only thing missing was a demonstration board.

Sergey Shipov, armed by a cup of tea, joins the discussion

Sergey's co-commentator IM Valerij Yoshan.

The discussion expanded beyond the press room.

The all-Ukrainian match for the third place was by no means less interesting for the spectators than the final match. Especially because it could proceed to the tie-breaks, as Ivanchuk's position looked precarious.

However, it was a lucky day for Ivanchuk. He defended an inferior ending and won the match.

The third place finisher informed the journalists that he was very happy to spend a month in Khanty-Mansiysk. In three days the Ukrainian will participate in another tournament — the Grand Slam final in Bilbao. Who loves chess more than Ivanchuk?

The festival is over, and the spectators are going home. The World Cup participants Alexey Bezgodov and his younger daughter Tatiana — are there really no games tomorrow? They should attend the closing ceremony to realize it.

In football, the team that scores first usually wins. In short chess matches this happens even more often. More experienced participants of the World Cup final matches scored first, and then accurately defended to protect their lead. And they succeeded.

Grandmaster Sergey Shipov reviews the World Cup games

I'll show you both goals.

A. Grischuk — P. Svidler

Grischuk's incredible self-control in his horrible time troubles deserves huge respect, but in this case he failed to survive on the edge — the position was too complicated...

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 b5 6.Bd3 Qb6

A new branch on the old Paulsen tree. I studied this line by replaying the games of Kveinys and Kengis. The World Cup finalists also made some serious contribution to the variation. Black's idea is to push the White's knight away from the center, which should give Black more active opportunities.

7.Nf3

A fashionable move — White prepares e4-e5.

After 7.Nb3 the game usually develops along the Scheveningen lines. However, there are some nuances: 7...Qc7 8.f4 d6 9.Qf3 Nd7 10.0−0 Ngf6 11.Bd2 b4 12.Nd1 Bb7 13.Nf2 a5 14.c3 bxc3 15.Bxc3 Be7 16.Rac1 Qb6 17.g4 a4 18.Bd4 Qd8 19.Nd2 0−0 20.g5 Ne8 21.h4 e5!, and Black's counterplay in the center earned him success, Shirov-Svidler, Tilburg 1997.

Supporting the d4-knight just simplifies the position: 7.Be3 Bc5 8.Be2 (weaker is 8.Nce2 Nf6 9.h3 Bb7 10.e5 Nd5 with an advantage to Black, Hoiberg-Kveinys, Aarhus 1997) 8...Nc6 9.Nxc6 Bxe3 10.fxe3 dxc6 11.Qd4 Qxd4 12.exd4 e5! 13.d5 Ne7 14.0−0−0 Bd7 15.dxc6 Nxc6 16.Nd5 Ra7 17.c3 Be6 18.Rd2 0−0 19.Rhd1 h6 with complete equality, Blehm-Kengis, Cappelle la Grande 1999.

7...Nc6 8.0−0 Qb8

Another paradoxical move — Black keeps moving the queen and does not develop other pieces. However, it is important to fight for the e5-square in this position and avoid any threats coming from the с3-knight.

9.Re1 Bd6

Another possible move is 9...Nge7. Grischuk-Smirin, New Delhi 2000 continued 10.Be3 d6 11.Qd2 Ng6 12.Nd4 Nxd4 13.Bxd4 Ne5 14.f4 Nc6 15.Bf2 Be7 16.Nd5! exd5 17.exd5 Ne5 18.fxe5 dxe5 19.Qe2 0−0 20.Bd4 exd4 21.Qxe7 g6 22.Qf6 Bb7 23.d6 Bd5 24.Qxd4, and the game was drawn.

However, after 9...Nge7 the most challenging move is 10.e5. It occurred many times, and Grischuk probably analyzed it a lot.

10.e5!

An excellent novelty, which might seriously change the theory of the variation. White finds the most principled move. Other continuations give Black a comfortable game.

For instance, 10.Qe2 leads nowhere due to 10...Ne5! 11.Nxe5 Bxe5 12.a4 b4 13.Nd5 Bxh2+ 14.Kh1 Be5 15.Bd2 Nf6 16.f4 Nxd5 17.exd5 Bxf4, and White has no compensation for the lost pawns, Reeve-Yermolinsky, Edmonton 2005.

More interesting is 10.Bg5 Ne5 (10...Nge7 followed by 11...Ng6 is also fine) 11.Nxe5 Bxe5 12.Qh5, but Black has counterarguments — 12...h6 13.Bd2 Ne7 14.a4 b4 15.Ne2 Nc6 16.Rab1 d6 17.f4 g6 18.Qh4 Bg7 19.f5 Ne5 20.f6 Qb6+ 21.Kh1 Bf8 22.Rf1 Bd7 23.Qe1 a5 24.b3 h5 with mutual chances, Dovliatov-Kekelidze, Baku 2006.

10...Bc7

No wonder that Peter didn't take the pawn — White's direct attack looks very dangerous. However, my analysis shows that Black holds: 10...Nxe5!? 11.Be4 Nc6 (the exchange sacrifice 11...Ra7 12.Be3 Nxf3+ 13.Bxf3 Bxh2+ 14.Kh1 Bf4 is also interesting) 12.Bxc6 dxc6 13.Ne4 Be7! (weaker is 13...Bc7 14.Be3 and 15.Bc5) 14.a4 Nf6 15.Bg5 Qc7 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Qd2 — White has compensation for a pawn, but all three results are quite possible. Here is a draw example: 17...h5! 18.Qc3 b4 19.Nxf6+ Kf8 20.Nd7+ Kg8 21.Nf6+ Kf8 22.Nd7+ with perpetual.

11.Bf4 Nge7 12.Qe2

White strengthens the e5-pawn, solidifying his spatial gains. The e4 becomes a vital transition square for White pieces.

12...Ng6 13.Bg3 Bb7

Black doesn't seem to suffer as his pieces are well-placed.

14.Rad1

However, he has a problem with the d7-pawn, and the king is unsafe — if he castles short, then White attacks by h2-h4-h5. So Black has to be tricky.

14...Nce7 15.Be4

At this point I thought White has a clear edge, but Svidler managed to complicate things.

15...Bxe4

During the online relay I liked 15...Ba5, but this move lost its appeal after I found 16.Bxb7 Qxb7 17.Ne4! Nf5 (17...Bxe1? 18.Nd6+) 18.c3, and Black stands worse.

16.Nxe4 0−0!

An excellent practical chance.

17.Rxd7

No pawn — no problem.

17...Nd5

The rook is surrounded.

This is the critical moment of the game. White must play very precisely and calculate many variations. However, proper calculation requires time, which Grischuk didn't have because he thought too much in the opening. The time factor turned out to be decisive.

18.Nd6

A blunder, albeit not a fatal one.

The idea to get a second pawn for an exchange after 18.Qd2 in not dangerous for Black after either 18...Qc8 19.Rxd5 exd5 20.Qxd5 Rd8 etc. or 20…Nb6!? 19.Rd4 Nc4 20.Qc3 Ncxe5 — Black regains a pawn and has no weaknesses.

During the game I thought White wins by 18.Nfg5!, but in home analysis I found the best reply — 18…h6! (18...Qe8? is bad — 19.Rxc7! Nxc7 20.Nxh7!) 19.Nxe6 fxe6 20.Qg4 Qe8 21.Rxc7 Nxc7 22.Nd6 Nxe5 23.Bxe5 — White has an excellent compensation for an exchange but the victory is by no means guaranteed.

18...Nb6!

With the White knight on e4 this attack was harmless, but now the knight cuts the retreat path for the rook. I couldn't believe that a supergrandmaster can blunder such an obvious thing, but Grischuk confirmed his mistake after the game. Life is a strange thing...

19.Rxf7 Rxf7!

You would not believe, but this is one of the best moves of Svidler in this game. 19...Bxd6 looked very natural, but it turned out that White has a Tal style reaction: 20.Rxg7+! Kxg7 21.exd6, and despite having an extra rook, it is difficult for Black to defend, while White has a clear-cut plan: h2-h4-h5 and Nf3-g5. Playing such position under time pressure is a nightmare. Computer analysis helps to find all the right moves (Black should start with 21...Qb7!), but it doesn't matter at all.

20.Nxf7 Kxf7 21.Ng5+ Kg8 22.Nxe6

Three pawns for a piece is a decent compensation.

22...Qc8 23.Qg4

In addition, Black's king is still at risk.

23...Ra7!

This is probably the last critical moment. Sasha had almost no time to evaluate the position properly. His impatient moves quickly led White to a disaster, while objectively the chances were about even.

Black's last move aims against the h2-pawn march. On 24.h4 Black can play 24...Bb8!, and the rook protects on g7, so after 25.h5 there is 25...Nf8.

The rook also comes into action after 24.f4 Bxe5! 25.fxe5 Re7, and White is in trouble.

24.Rd1?!

White does not let the bishop come to b8, but Black vacates another square.

Therefore 24.h3!, defending the queen, is a better try. Now the march of the f2-pawn is a real threat. The game may continue 24...Na4! 25.Nxc7! (not good is 25.f4?! Bb6+! 26.Kh2 Nf8) 25...Qxg4! (after 25...Qxc7? 26.b3 Nc5 27.f4 Black cannot hold) 26.hxg4 Rxc7 27.e6 Rc8 28.b3 Nc3 29.Bd6 Re8 (or  29...Rd8 30.Bb4! Nxa2 31.Ba5) 30.f4 Rd8 31.Bc7 Rc8 32.Bd6 Rd8 33.Bc7 — this move repetition would be a logical outcome of the game.

24...Na4!

Weaker is 24...Nc4, as after 25.b3 the e5-pawn is taboo.

25.h3?

The final mistake. White could resist by 25.b3 Nc5 26.Qd4 Qxe6 27.Qxc5 Bb6 28.Qc3, although Black's advantage is quite obvious.

25...Nxb2 26.Rd5 Bb6!

It's all over baby.

27.Rd6 Nc4 28.Qf5 Rf7 29.Qe4 Nxd6 30.exd6 Nf8

And White resigns due to 31.Ng5 Qf5!

R. Ponomariov — V. Ivanchuk

Ruslan failed to foresee the opening, started to make poor moves in a well-known position, and ended up in a tough ending. He had some practical chances to survive, but failed to find the right moves in a time trouble.

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.e4 Bb4 6.Bg5

The Vienna Variation is not for people who fear dangers or hate homework.

6...c5 7.Bxc4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Qa5 10.Bb5+ Nbd7 11.Bxf6 Qxc3+ 12.Kf1 gxf6

Ruslan probably prepared another sideline (Black has many options on each move), so he ended up confused by a completely unfamiliar position. Being tired didn't help handling it right either.

13.Nxe6?

Maybe my assessment is too harsh, but it is well-known that this move is abandoned by the book.

The main lines are 13.h4 and 13.Rc1, and they often lead to similar positions. For example, 13...a6 14.Rh3 Qb4 15.Be2 Ne5 16.Rc1 Qd6 leads to a popular critical position.

Piket-van Wely, Wijk aan Zee 2002 continued 17.Rb3 b5 18.a4 bxa4 19.Rbc3 Bd7 20.h5 Rb8 21.f4 Ng6 22.hxg6 hxg6 23.Qd2 Rh4 24.Kg1 Rxf4, and Black got decent compensation for a piece.

Recently in Grischuk-Kramnik, Moscow 2011 the players decided to avoid the battle and do not reveal their secrets: 17.Rc2 Bd7 18.Rd2 Qc7 19.Rc2 Qd6 20.Rd2 Qc7 21.Rc2, and the game was drawn.

13...Qe5!

Of course not 13...fxe6? 14.Rc1 Qe5 15.Rxc8+!

14.Nd4

In case of 14.Ng7+ Kf8 the weakness of the rook on a1 prevents from taking on d7.

14...0−0

Here White began to realize that something went wrong. He regained a pawn, but Black completed his development, and is going to bring the knight to c5 and the rook to d8, attacking White's loose pieces. More importantly, White's rook gets stuck on h1, because the plan h2-h4 and Rh1-h3 does not work as the e6-pawn has left the board, and the c8-bishop is now free.

15.Qd3

This novelty does not solve any problems. Here is another try: 15.Qg4+ Kh8 16.Rd1 Nc5 17.Qh4 Ne6 18.Bc4 Nxd4 19.f4 Qd6 20.e5 fxe5 21.fxe5 Qxe5 22.Rxd4 Bf5, and Black got a healthy extra pawn in Schmidt-Slobodjan, Saarbruecken 2002.

During the game I considered 15.Bxd7 Bxd7 16.Nf3 Bb5+ 17.Kg1 Qxe4 the lesser of evils, and here White should play 18.Qd6, attacking the pawn on f6 and intending to play h2-h4, finally developing the rook. I think White would get some compensation for a pawn.

15...Nc5 16.Qg3+ Kh8 17.Qxe5 fxe5 18.Nf3 a6

18...Nxe4 is even stronger: 19.Nxe5 f6 20.Nf3 Nc3, planning to play a7-a5 at once, while the bishop will retreat anyway.

Sitting with a microphone, I could not understand why Black rejected 18...f6 19.Nd2 Be6, and White has serious problems with the e4-pawn. The players probably considered 20.Ke2 a6 21.Bc4 Bxc4+ 22.Nxc4 Nxe4, and decided that White has compensation for a pawn after, say, 23.Rac1.

Well, they know better.

19.Bc4 Nxe4

Here 19...f6 is ruled out due to 20.Bd5!

20.Nxe5 f6 21.Nf3 Bf5

Black simply improves his pieces and exerts pressure on the queenside, where he is a pawn up. And White keeps playing without a rook.

22.h3

The idea to play g2-g4 and Kf1-g2 is tempting but impossible to carry out.

22...b5 23.Bb3 Nc3

Getting ready to place the bishop to e4 when there is a chance.

24.Nd4 Bd3+ 25.Kg1

The daring 25.Ke1 works after 25...Rfd8 26.Kd2!, but after 25...Rac8! the king is in trouble.

25...a5 26.Kh2

The rook comes into play, but it cost White three tempi — the price is too high!

26...a4 27.Bd1 Bc4

The immediate pawn break 27...b4 is difficult to evaluate even in the analysis: 28.Nc6! b3 (28...Nxd1 gives Black nothing — 29.Rhxd1 Bc2 30.Rd4 b3 31.Rb4!) 29.axb3 Be4! 30.Nd4 Rfd8 31.Rc1! Nxd1 32.Rhxd1 a3, etc. Such variations have one major drawback: sometimes you win material, but cannot win the game.

28.a3

The Black's pawns are temporarily stopped.

28...Rad8 29.Nc6 Rd2 30.Bf3

White finds a nice way to rearrange his pieces.

30...Rxf2

He can even afford to give away a pawn.

31.Rhc1!

The rook comes to life.

31...Na2 32.Re1

Frankly speaking, here I felt that White's activity will allow him to make an easy draw. However, I did not consider two important factors: time trouble and energy preservation law. Ponomariov was completely exhausted after the nervous first part of the game, while Ivanchuk spared a lot of energy, and the difference began to tell...

32...Rc8 33.Re7

On 33.Ne7!? Black probably plays 33...Rc5, not allowing the knight to f5. Although it is not clear how to win after 34.Rad1 Nc3 35.Rd7 Re5 36.Rc1!, for example, 36...Ne4 37.Rd8+ Kg7 38.Nc6 Re6 39.Nd4 with move repetition.

33...Nc3

33...Rxf3 34.Na7 Rxa3 35.Nxc8 leads to a very sharp and unclear game. Obviously Vassily didn't like to risk his king.

34.Nb4

One can understand Ruslan's worries about the b5-b4-break, but removing the knight from the center has its own disadvantages. 34.Rd7 looked good, leaving more options for the knight, which can jump to e7 or even d8. Ideally White can create some threats against the enemy king.

34...f5!

An important resource — the e4-square has to be secured.

35.Rae1

I think White could afford the daring 35.Kg3!? Rb2 36.Kf4 — at least his king is out of danger, and the pawn on f5 is attacked.

35...Rg8!

Black's pressure on the g2-pawn with the bishop on f3 looks puzzling, but the point is that the bishop can eventually be driven away...

36.R7e5

The more active-looking 36.R1e5 is no good due to 36...Be2! I examined this line to the end: 37.Rxe2 Nxe2 38.Nd3 Rxf3 39.gxf3 Nd4 40.Ne5 Nc2 41.h4 Ra8! (weaker is 41...Nxa3 42.h5 Nc4 43.Nd7 Rg7 44.Re8+ Rg8 45.Re7 with a draw) 42.h5 h6 43.Nd7 Ra6 — White runs out of threats and Black wins.

The most tenacious is 36.Rd7!, and if 36...Be2?, then 37.Rd2!

Although Ivanchuk would likely reply to 36.Rd7 by 36...Ne4!, keeping the initiative.

36...Be2!

After this move White's position is critical.

37.Rxf5?

The final mistake. I was very surprised with the speed of Ruslan's losing move. He still had about three minutes and could calculate a few lines, but he responded instantly — playing by hand and without thought.

Black's main idea is shown in 37.R1xe2 Nxe2 38.Rxe2 Rgxg2+ 39.Bxg2 Rxe2, and White pieces cannot hold the passing pawns, for example, 40.Kg1 Re3 41.Nc2 (41.Bf1 also loses — 41...Rxa3 42.Bxb5 Rb3) 41...Rc3 42.Nd4 Rxa3 43.Nxb5 Rd3 44.Bf1 a3!

Of course, after 37.R1xe2 Nxe2 White has 38.Nd3!, but then 38...Rxf3 39.gxf3 Nd4 40.Ne1, and… Black must work hard to convert his advantage, and it is easy to make a mistake. For example, 40...f4 41.Rd5 Re8 42.Rxd4 Rxe1 43.Rxf4 Re3 44.Rf5 Rxa3 45.Rxb5 Rxf3 46.Ra5 a3 47.Ra7, and White should hold.

37...Bxf3 38.Rxf3 Rgxg2+ 39.Kh1 Rh2+ 40.Kg1 Ne2+

White loses an exchange in a hopeless position, so he decided to resign.

Grischuk and Ponomariov did not manage to equalize the score despite having a few good opportunities.

Look at the last games of both matches.

P. Svidler — A. Grischuk

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 a6 6.Be2 Ngf6 7.0−0 Qc7 8.c4 e6 9.b3 b6 10.Nc3 Bb7 11.Rd1 Be7 12.h3 Rd8 13.Qe3 0−0 14.Ba3 Rfe8 15.Rac1

Black got an excellent version of a Hedgehog. There cannot be a better scenario for a must-win game.

15...h6

At the press-conference Grischuk explained why he rejected the natural 15...Nc5. He saw that after 16.e5 dxe5 17.Nxe5 Black has 17...Nxb3, but calculated it to the sad end: 18.Rxd8 (18.Bxe7 is inaccurate: 18...Nxc1 19.Rxd8 Nxe2+ 20.Nxe2 due to 20...Qxe7! 21.Rxe8+ Nxe8 22.Qxb6 f6 with equality) 18...Rxd8 (I can add my own line 18...Nxc1 19.Rxe8+ Nxe8 20.Bxc1 Bc5 21.Qf4 Bd6 22.Qxf7+ Qxf7 23.Nxf7 Kxf7 24.Be3, and Black loses the b6-pawn and faces serious problems in the ending) 19.Bxe7 Nxc1 20.Bxf6 Nxe2+ 21.Nxe2 gxf6, and now White wins a queen with a nice combination: 22.Qg3+ Kh8 (22...Kf8 23.Ng6+) 23.Ng6+!

As you can see, grandmasters do not waste their time at the board, although sometimes they find deep and complicated lines, and miss the simple ones.

16.b4

This move shows that White was really worried about the Black's knight arriving to c5.

16...Rc8 17.Bb2

White's position looks active, but in fact he must defend accurately, because he has many weaknesses.

17...Qb8 18.Bd3

I think this was the last moment when the Muscovite could get some chances to play for a win.

18...Nh7

This move stunned the commentators. The idea of transferring the knight somewhere (to g5, or maybe to g6 via f8) might be quite good. However, we studied a much more interesting possibility.

The position demanded a central break — 18...d5!

We didn't see a clear way to equality during the game, and didn't find it in the analysis either. It turned out that Grischuk didn't see that 19.e5 is met by 19...d4!, which gives Black a very strong attack: 20.Qxd4 (20.Nxd4 Nxe5 is not better) 20...Bxf3 21.exf6 Bxf6 22.Qxd7 Bc6! (an important resource — White must return a piece to save his queen) 23.Bh7+ Kxh7 24.Qxf7 Qe5 — Black's advantage is obvious.

Svidler said that he intended to meet 18...d5 by 19.cxd5, and after 19...Bxb4 20.dxe6 Rxe6 21.Nd4 he hoped to bring the knight to f5 with some counterplay. However, let's look further: 21...Ree8 22.Nf5, and now instead of the machine move 22...Rc5!? one can make a human move 22...Bf8, and White didn't achieve much. The knight on f5 is useless, and the e4-pawn is weak. All exchanges favor Black, who will eventually created a remote passed pawn. Maybe the computer can hold White's position, but it would be very difficult for a human player.

19.Ne2 Ba8 20.e5!

White begins active operations.

20...Ng5

Psychologically it is very hard to play 20...Bxf3! 21.Qxf3 Nxe5 22.Bxh7+ Kxh7 23.Bxe5 dxe5 24.Qxf7 Rc7! 25.Qh5 Bxb4 26.Qxe5 Rf7 with a small advantage for Black, because it requires making several refined moves while worrying about the damaged structure. This was probably too difficult for a human.

21.Nxg5 Bxg5 22.f4 Be7 23.Be4!

Peter conducts the attack splendidly.

23...Bxe4 24.Qxe4 Red8 25.Nd4

Weaknesses of c6 and e6 makes Black's situation critical. Sasha defends brilliantly, but he cannot play for a win any longer.

25...Bf8

26.Nxe6!

Wrong is 26.Nc6 Qa8 27.b5 axb5 (during the online broadcasting I mumbled about 27...Nb8?, blundering a queen — 28.Ne7+!) 28.cxb5 d5 29.Qb1 Re8. Now Black ignores the с6-knight, and meet 30.f5 by 30...Qa4!

26...fxe6 27.exd6 Re8

27...Bxd6? 28.Qxe6+.

28.Rc3!

White has two pawns and powerful pressure for a piece. Right now he threatens to bring a rook to g3 with mating threats.

28...Qa8 29.Qxa8 Rxa8 30.c5 bxc5 31.bxc5

Stopping the passed pawns is a difficult task, but Grischuk demonstrates another time trouble brilliancy.

31...Reb8 32.Ba3

After 32.Ba1 Black survives by 32...Nxc5! 33.Rxc5 Bxd6 34.Rxd6 Rb1+ 35.Kh2 Rxa1 36.Rd7 Kh7 37.Rcc7 Rg8.

32...Rd8

More accurate is 32...Nf6 33.c6 Nd5, for instance, 34.Rxd5 exd5 35.c7 Rc8 36.d7 Bxa3 37.dxc8Q+ Rxc8 38.Rxa3 Rxc7 39.Rxa6 with a symbolic advantage to White.

33.c6 Rac8

34.Bb2

Under different circumstances Peter would be more aggressive. After 34.Rb1!? Nf6 35.c7 Re8 36.Rc6! White eventually captures the a6-pawn, and then slowly improve his position all over the board. I cannot say he would win for sure, but there were some winning chances.

34...Nb8 35.c7 Rxd6 36.Rxd6 Bxd6 37.cxb8Q Rxb8 38.Bc1

The resulting ending is completely equal. Grischuk did not object.

38...Rb4. Draw.

R. Ponomariov — V. Ivanchuk

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Qb3 d5 6.cxd5 Qxd5 7.Nc3 Qxb3 8.axb3 Bb7 9.Bg2 a6 10.0−0 Nbd7 11.Bg5 Bd6 12.Rfc1 0−0 13.Nd2 Bxg2 14.Kxg2 Rfc8 15.Nce4 Bf8 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.g4 c5 18.dxc5 Bxc5 19.Nf3 Kf8 20.b4 Bxb4 21.Rxa6 Bc5 22.Rca1 Rxa6 23.Rxa6 b5 24.Ra5 b4 25.Rb5 Be7 26.b3 Rc7 27.Nd4 Kg7 28.f4 Bf8 29.e3 Kg6 30.h4 Kg7 31.Kf3 Be7

At the press-conference Vassily Mikhailovich confessed that Ruslan outplayed him and got a big advantage. However, he failed to convert it, just like in the third game of the match.

32.Ke2

White misses a chance to launch a direct attack by 32.f5!

The express-analysis revealed serious problems for Black: 32...Ne5+ (after 32...e5 33.Ne2 White gets a decisive advantage thanks to controlling the critical square e4) 33.Kg3 Nc6 (the only way to avoid an immediate loss) 34.Nxc6 Rxc6 35.Kf3! — and White brings the knight to f4 via g3 and h5. Black is unlikely to hold the e6-pawn, therefore White will control the key squares in the center and almost certainly win the b4-pawn.

32...Nc5 33.Nd2 Nb7 34.Nc4

It is easy to recommend 34.h5!?, knowing the actual game continuation.

34...Nc5 35.Nd2 Nb7 36.Ne4 Nd6 37.Rc5

After 37.Nxd6 Bxd6 38.f5 Black equalizes by 38...e5 39.Nf3 Rc3!

37...Rxc5 38.Nxc5 h5!

This key move gives Black real drawing chances.

39.gxh5 Kh6

Now Ivanchuk has counterplay.

40.Nc6 Bf8 41.Nxb4 Kxh5 42.Nc6 Kxh4 43.Kf3

The remote passed pawn is a serious trump for White, but the material is generally very limited, and two knights cannot give mate on an empty board. These factors determine a peaceful outcome.

43...Kh5 44.b4 Kg6 45.Nd7 Bh6

46.Ke2

46.Nd4!, helping the b4-pawn, looked very natural.

The exchange combination 46...e5 47.fxe5 fxe5 48.Nxe5+ Kg5 49.b5 Nxb5 50.Nxb5 Kf5 51.Nd3 Bxe3 52.Kxe3 didn't work, because the f7-pawn kills Black. According to Nalimov base, White gives mate in 41.

46...Bg7 is more tenacious, but then White has a nice blocking sacrifice 47.f5+!, which cannot be accepted. After the correct 47...Kh7! 48.fxe6 fxe6 49.Nxe6 Kg6 Black can still hope to survive.

46...e5!

A well-timed break — it is important to free the king and the bishop.

47.Ne7+ Kg7 48.Kf3 exf4 49.e4

White tries his last chance — blocking the f5-pawn.

49...Nb5 50.Kg4

The last and very strange mistake. It is strange because it was played quickly, while Black's reply is very obvious.

Ruslan should have at least tested the opponent in the knight ending after 50.Nf5+ Kg6 51.Nxh6 Kxh6 52.Kxf4, although objectively it is drawn: 52...Kg6 53.Nb6 Nd6 54.Nd5 Nb5 55.Ne7+ Kg7 56.Ke3 Kf8 57.Nf5 Ke8 58.Nd4 Nd6, etc.

50...f3!

The bishop comes out and kills the passer on b4, and White cannot do anything about it. The rest of the game could well be omitted.

51.Nf5+ Kh8 52.Kxf3

Of course not 52.Nxh6? f2.

52...Bd2 53.Nxf6 Bxb4 54.e5 Bc3 55.Ke4 Nc7 56.Nd7 Kh7 57.Kf4 Nd5+ 58.Ke4 Nc7 59.Ne7 Kg7 60.Kf5 Bb4 61.Nc6 Ba3 62.Nd4 Ne6 63.Nxe6+ fxe6+ 64.Kxe6 Bb2 65.Ke7 Bxe5 66.Nxe5. Game drawn.

Peter Svidler won the World Cup. Alexander Grischuk and Vassily Ivanchuk also advanced to the Candidates Tournament. Bravo!

And Ruslan — don't lose courage!...

Vassily Ivanchuk won the match against Ruslan Ponomariov and became a holder of the third ticket to the World Championship cycle. After a tough  fourth game where Ivachuk managed to secure half a point, Grandmaster met with the journalists.

— Vassily, our congratulations with the victory in this match. Do you feel lucky now?

Of course. But I felt lucky before as well.

— Tell us about the decisive game of today?

My opponent outplayed me. My position was very complicated. Ruslan was very close to win, but luck was on my side.

— Was this match difficult for you?

Every match was difficult  its own way. I cannot say that for instance matches against Rajabov or Grischuk were easier.

— How important is the participation in the World Championship for you?

Of course it is very important to take part in the Candidates’ matches.

— May we say that the new stage in your career has started?

I don’t know what to say. In three days another tournament will commence — finals of the Great Slam. It is a tournament with six participants. Among them are Aronian, Carlssen, Nakamura, Valljeho Pons and Anand.

— Tell us a bit about your second?

Grandmaster from the Ukraine Orest Gritsak has been helping me since long time ago. Before he used to live in Lvov but now he moved to Lutsk.

— Did you like playing in Khanty Mansiysk? Did you feel support here?

Khanty Mansiysk is wonderful city. It is a great pleasure to spend such a long time here. I hope this is not only my opinion; other participants would also agree with me. I would like to wish further prosperity not only to this city but to all Ugra people.

The Russian Grandmaster Peter Svidler became the holder of the World Cup 2011. He outplayed his close friend Alexander Grischuk in the final match.

The 4^th game of the match finished in a draw and the Grandmasters shared with the journalists how the game was developing.

— Our congratulations to the finalists with the end of the tournament! Peter, you enjoy the moment?

Svidler: Yes, I can say that I have crawled to the finish line tape. The choice of the opening and the way I played it do not speak well of me… The truth is that I rehabilitated myself with the move Nxe6. But again, the choice of the opening and the way I played it is the demonstration of the fact that a courage which I had before left me in this game. My hands were shaking so much that I am even ashamed for the first part of the game.

— Peter what was the most difficult moment for you during the entire tournament?

Svidler: It is difficult to choose one special Round. Despite the fact that I won most of the matched in the main games, there was not a single easy one. Well, I am thinking over it for already a minute and cannot name any game. The second game against Kamsky was very important; I remember it well for the esthetical reasons. But if this did not happen, the recollections on 2007 would have rushed into my mind with double strength (Svidler lost to Kamsky in the World Cup 2007) and it would have been hard to cope with the situation further.

— Can you state that the World Cup is the biggest sport achievement of yours?

Svidler: I think it is.

— Sasha, what kind of ideas do you have about this tournament?

Grischuk: I would like to tell you about today’s game for it turned out to be very interesting. I was very happy after the opening. But there was a decisive moment when Petya trapped me without having realized it. When I made a move 15…h6, it looked stupid and the move itself was not good. Here comes to mind 15…Nс5. Now 16.Nd2 cannot be called a move, so 16.e5 dxe5 17.Nxe5 Nxb3. It seems that Black just wins, but then go 18.Rxd8 Rxd8 19.Bxe7 Nxc1 20.Bxf6 Nxe2+ 21.Nxe2 Rd1+ 22.Kh2 gxf6 23.Qg3+ Kf8 24.Ng6+, and White wins Queen. Petya confirmed after the game that he did not see it. Otherwise after 15…Nc5 White faced serious problems. But Petya should have found this all. Then I played 18…Nh7 — I think Sergey Shipov would not approve this move (editor: indeed, Sergey Shipov proposed here 18…d5 — this move was considered in Shipov’s final report). At the end at one point I had a thought that Petya just went mad: he sacrificed a piece and later exchanged Queens. But when I realized that his pawn passes till c6, the illusion was gone.

— Sasha, how do you estimate your result? After the victory over Navara you said that it was a culmination of your career? Did you change your opinion?

Grischuk: Today it is for sure not a culmination of my career, but in general… I am rarely satisfied with the second place, but in this case I am happy. Generally I don’t play chess in summer, but the situation this summer was different: I played in China for the whole month, then Superfinals and later again one month at the World Cup. In fact I have been playing chess nonstop for the whole year.

Do you like it?

Grischuk: No, there are a lot of difficult moments. Let’s say during the match against Navara I was sleeping for three days 12−14 hours, trying to recover after the match against Potkin. The tournament was hard for me, that is why I am happy that could make it to the candidate’s matches.

— Peter, is this year a successful for you?

Svidler: During one of the rest days the local TV invited me for an interview and the first question was the following: «How did you recover after China?» This is what I can add to the question about a successful year (laughing). In fact the year was various. There were a lot of events during this time. I cannot complain for the latest month and a half, but the year in general was multifarious. So, one should not generalize.

Grischuk: I would like to add something. I had a talk with one famous chess expert (will not say who it was). After China he told me: «You and Peter are friends. Tell him to make a break, he is tired already to play chess.» Before the Superfinals he said: «How did they come to an idea to organize Superfinals right before the World Cup? I am sure you will all play badly there.»

— How do you find the organization in Khanty Mansiysk?

Svidler: No matter how many times I played in this city, I always like everything from the organizational point of view. I am not happy with my results sometimes, but there are no complains to the organizers. Now we had a very nice Playing Hall. Perhaps it was a bit stuffy when 128 players were playing, but after three days there was not a single problem: a huge hall, high ceilings, tribune for spectators. Besides the games were webcast. I have no single complain, this is a standard for my performance in Khanty Mansiysk.

Grischuk: I always come to Khanty Mansiysk with pleasure. I like it here. Even when it is 40 degrees below zero in winter or plus 20. The only moment is that by the end of the tournament when everyone left I feel a bit lonely. Perhaps the organizers should think it over and make the Governor’s Cup last three weeks!

— Peter, did you wife come to support you?

Svidler: Unfortunately not. Everyone is sick at home as usual. It is autumn.

Foreign visitors of the World Cup site, watching the games on a daily basis, hear a pleasant man’s voice that is explaining them all the peculiarities of the battles between the best chess players of the planet.

However, the spectators do not know everything, like who is this person — Konstantin Landa except for the fact that he is a Russian Grandmaster. I think that this is the high time to reveal our commentator! So, ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce to you a successful chess player, analyst and simply a very nice guy Kostya Landa!

Tamila Musaeva

Konstantin started his story from speaking about his parents. His father is a Doctor in Technical sciences and a very respected in the scientific world personality: one of his elaborations won in the competition of Russian innovations in the year 2010. His mother used to work as pediatrician. Despite the fact that they have very serious occupation, his parents always spared time for sport. They are volleyball players and used to play for the national team of Omsk.

Initially they wanted that their only son goes info this kind of sport. However, small Kostya was a very active boy and at one moment his parents took the decision to sign their son in the sport section that would help him to become more diligent and that would «calm him down» a bit. This is exactly when they have come up with an idea to take their son to chess school.

The first coach of the future Grandmaster was Konstantin Isakov — the old front-line solder with a lot of medals all over his chest. It was him who negotiated with the administration of the chess school to accept the 5-year-old boy to the section, because the age limit started only from 7 years old.

«I think that this age difference between me and my section comrades became the starting point in my chess development. I began growing very fast together with them. Of course, at first I lost, but I hung tough on it, defended myself and gradually started defeating them », — Kostya is recalling.

«When I was 6 years old I played in simultaneous game with the USSR Champion Vitaly Tseshkovsky and drew the game. That was exactly the moment when my parents decided that if such a small boy managed to draw the game playing Black against the champion of the country, it means that chess is his vocation. So, this was the way my chess career began. I started participating in the tournaments during which my father used to send telegrams that said something like this: «Kostya won the first game!», to which my mother used to answer: «Hourray! My congratulations!»

At the age of 13 I had a chance to go to Kasparov’s school. There were 12 people at the first session where I was invited along with such popular nowadays chess players as Shirov, Svidler and Kramnik. I was so modest and this was the reason for the fact that my performances at the demonstration board left much to be desired. Afterwards my father simply told me that I had to pull myself together and to show the brilliant play. I realized that if I don’t manage to outplay Garry Kasparov in this session, I have to forget about great future for sure! I had a very difficult task — to outplay the God (as it seemed to me at that moment) of the ancient game, and moreover, I had to do that with Black. During the game I sacrificed a pawn and Kasparov tried to save extra material, but made a slight mistake in the arrangement of his pieces. I managed to get in a blow and implemented the play into the endgame with an extra pawn; we have postponed the game. During dinner Kasparov recalled that he had a postponed game against me and said: «If you wrote down the move h6-h5, I resign. And if you did not — we will continue playing ». At this moment I jumped up and said: «I did write down the move h6-h5!» Afterwards I had a feeling as if I defeated the God himself! I still consider this victory one of my main achievements in sport».

— You live in Germany since many years already. How did it happen? — In 1999 when it seemed that it did not work out for me in Russia at all, I got an opportunity to move to Germany for good. I took advantage of it and never regretted it. The chess world became even closer to me, because at the time the main tournaments were held in the center of Europe. Besides, I wanted to realize my professional potential as a programmer. Upon arrival in Germany I finished the courses in CDI Institute and got the diploma in «Microsoft MCSE и CNA». However, things did not come around as it was expected, luckily for the software world (laughing) and chess at one point overcame. While I was taking courses in the institute, I had an opportunity to train the young International Master Arkady Naiditch. This is when my training career started. Approximately in three years he became chess player number 1 in Germany and started showing brilliant results in international tournaments. Namely, in the year 2005 he won the super tournament in Dortmund having left Kramnik and other strongest grandmasters behind.

— Whom else you can brag about as your brilliant pupils?

All my charges are very talented and gifted people. Among them there is Russian chess player Alexandra Kosteniuk. At the end of 2008 she became the World Champion, bringing a female chess crown back to Russia. Also I was working with Evgeny Alexeev, ex Russian Champion. My Italian pupil Daniel Vocaturo became a winner of the prestige tournament in Wijk aan Zee in February 2011. Besides I am a coach of the National Iranian team, they participated in the Chess Olympiad last year here. My team performed brilliantly, showing the best result in the history of Iranian chess.

I am inviting everyone who would like to know more about my work as a coach to visit my website (Russian language) http://chesslanda.com.

— This is not your first visit to Khanty-Mansiysk. What impressions do you have?

I like the city. Here the hospitality is always very warm, a perfect atmosphere and wonderful weather. In autumn it is just fantastic. By the way my father took a little part in construction of the Okrug Clinics in the city. He left his trace in the history of Khanty-Mansiysk development. In general Khanty Mansiysk itself and Siberia in general is like my motherland. A lot of my friends from Omsk live and work here. Usually when I come to Khanty-Mansiysk as a participant or a coach, I visit my friends who live in the neighbor city Nefteyugansk. Unfortunately this time I don’t manage to do it, the time table of a commentator is very dense.

— How long are you working as a commentator?

I work as an online commentator in the format of the Cup for the first time. Usually I comment chess games online on the Russian site www.chesspro.ru just in writing. That is why this time it is a sort of new experiment for me.

— How did you get an offer to work as an expert at the World Cup?

Rather unexpectedly. We were on the phone with my old friend, Press officer of the World Cup Nikita Kim. He invited me to take part in the interesting project: to comment games online for the English speaking audience. Nikita warned me that this is for the first time when Russian experts will comment the chess games in English during the tournament. To accept this tempting offer, I had to refuse an offer to work at the Open tournament in Sardinia as well as the 5 star hotel at the seaside. But the challenge which I heard in Nikita’s voice made me sacrifice. It was decided to invite a beautiful chess player Anna Sharevich as my partner in this difficult work. She had other plans as well. She was going to the USA to get prepared for her exams. But at the last moment she changed her tickets being sure that it will be much more interesting in Khanty Mansiysk. It is an interesting work indeed! Having participated in this experiment, we have gained an invaluable experience. — How did you establish the relations with your colleagues?

Though I am now on another «side of the barricade», everything is new and unusual for me. I think I will remember this for good. We have wonderful team. I would like to pay many compliments to our dear women who work with us in organization of this tournament in severe Siberia.

— Yesterday there was a sidereal hour for you and Anna Sharevich — you showed who you are to the entire world. Don’t you want to work in TV now?

After this World Cup I feel that I am able to do more. I think if I get an offer to work online on TV, I would accept it with pleasure.

— Tell me about your family. Do you have wife, children?

I am married; we have a 6-year-old daughter Katya. She is beautiful girl, very talented. I try to find time to teach her how to play chess. She makes progress. For instance lately Katya won a match against one grown up German gentleman with a score: 2:0.

As for my parents, they also moved from Omsk to Germany. Grandmother baby-sits her lovely granddaughter and my younger sister Maria helps us in upbringing Katya.

— How does your family spend free time? What kind of relaxation do you prefer?

Unfortunately I don’t have an opportunity to spend a lot of time at home. But if we organize a family holiday, we go to country barbeque. Nature, fresh air and my favorite girls — this is what I need to be happy. I wish I could spend more time with them. I do hope that one day I will have this opportunity.

The 2011 World Cup winner was determined on Monday, September 19. The Russian champion Peter Svidler made a draw in the fourth game of the match against Alexander Grischuk, and won the main trophy.

Natalia Komarova, the Governor of Ugra, congratulated the winner: «I am sincerely happy for the six-time Russian champion and a wonderful sportsman Peter Svidler! He played the entire tournament very confidently and won a very difficult competition. Another Russian grandmaster Alexander Grischuk also deserves respect for his great skill and fighting spirit. I have no doubt that these players will help Russia winning the Olympiad gold in 2012».

FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov thanked the World Cup hosts for a very high level of organization, and congratulated the winners: «Peter Svidler, Alexander Grischuk, and Vassily Ivanchuk are outstanding grandmasters of modern time, a true creators at the board. I am glad for them and sincerely wish them to show their best at the Candidates Tournament, which will be played in the end of 2012».

«The last two months were very successful for Peter Svidler, the wonderful grandmaster from St. Petersburg, — said Vassily Filipenko, the mayor of Ugra and the president of Ugra Chess Federation. — In August he won the Russian championship for the sixth time, and in September won his first World Cup. I am happy that he took such a prestigious trophy on Ugra land, in our ultramodern Chess Academy. I wish Peter Svidler, Alexander Grischuk, and Vassily Ivanchuk to achieve even more in future!»

The Sicilian Defense occurred in the last game of the final match. Grischuk suggested to continue the opening discussion in the popular Najdorf Variation, which was started in the second game, but Svidler was content with a draw in this game, so he made a less challenging third move, giving a check from b5 with a bishop. This variation is notorious for its drawing tendencies, and if Grischuk wanted to fight for more, he had to avoid exchanges, thus ceding White a lot of space. However, Svidler showed little ambition in the opening, and allowed Black to get an easy game.

After the game Svidler said that he is a bit ashamed for cautious play early on. However, Peter rehabilitated himself on the 26^th move, sacrificing a knight for two pawns. Grischuk worked hard to parry the threats, but allowed mass exchanges and had to accept a draw,

In the 3^rd place match Vassily Ivanchuk was once again forced to defend an inferior position against Ruslan Ponomariov. Lengthy defending was rewarded — eventually Ivanchuk made the desired draw, won the match 2,5−1,5, and advanced to the Candidates Tournament.

All the grandmasters noted a very high level of organization of the World Cup.

Svidler: I played in Khanty-Mansiysk many times. My results were not always satisfactory, but I never had any complaints about the organization. Everything here is perfect. It was a pleasure to play in a large hall in the Academy, and I liked the live streaming video and grandmaster commentary.

Grischuk: I also liked the organization, although lately, when most of the players left, it became a bit lonely. I have an idea: maybe the Governor Cup (which takes a week during the World Cup) should last for three weeks? This would give the World Cup finalists some company.

Ivanchuk: Khanty-Mansiysk is a wonderful city, and I am happy to spend here a lot of time. I think other participants are sharing my view. I wish this city and Ugra region a lot of success.

All games are relayed with live grandmaster commentary in English and Russian on the official site of the World Cup: http://chess.ugrasport.com

The third game of the decisive Round did not bring any sensation. No one believed that the fight will be over this day — so the match was continued. Now we have a question: whether everything will be decided in the classical games or tie breaks are ahead?

Maria Fominykh

No matter how interesting, fascinating and fantastic the tournament turns to be — everyone got very much tired already. Grandmasters as well as those who make this festival for the chess fans. Despite anything, as the famous «Queen» sings: «show must go on».

During the third game of the finals the Executive Director of the Organizing Committee Vyacheslav Zhuravlev paid a visit to us. Together with the Press Officer of the tournament Nikita Kim they decided to play a chess game, they tried to play very accurately not to erase the autographs of chess stars.

A small technical meeting: the respective gentlemen and arbiters Mikhail Kryukov and Ashot Vardapetian. Vyacheslav was happy with the work — everything is well organized, without blunders. He expressed his full satisfaction with video broadcast and said that next time there will more cameras in the Hall in order to enable the spectators to feel an effect of presence at the tournament.

Not a single important World Cup guest passes by the commentary studio. How one can avoid it?

This time our commentators became guests. At the press conference Konstantin Landa and Anna Sharevich decided to speak Russian.

Valery Ioshan and Sergey Shipov became a real team during a month of mutual work.

It is joyful and lively in the press centre as usual. There is an ideal silence in the Playing Hall. It is not time to joke during the finals.

Peter Svidler has stopped his victorious Black series, however, he still keeps the advantage in score.

It is a pleasure that the finalists always come together to the press conferences. Svidler even started translating himself as well as Grischuk. Besides, when translating the variations, he was also explaining and adding something.

The journalist from Surgut had some questions to our heroes even after the online press conference.

In the game with White Ivanchuk, according to his own words, mixed up something after the opening and was left one pawn down and thus was suffering the whole game.

Ponomariov got an extra pawn but was not that precise in the realization and let Ivanchuk exchange almost all the pieces and pawns.

Vassily’s suffering for his 0.5 was not in vain, one more draw and Ivanchuk will have a ticket to the Candidates Cycle.

The TV team members have their own match. If they face a complicated position — they have Houdini that dictates moves into the headphones.

The operator Andrey and the system administrator Ilya have come to understand the moves during the time of their work at the World Cup.

The representatives of all generations come to the Academy to watch the games of Grandmasters.