The Week in Chess

After a day of draws in the first round the second round was a big contrast with all three games finishing decisively.

Alexander Moiseenko admitted he was in some trouble out of the opening in a Sicilian 3.Bb5 against Richard Rapport. The position remained difficult and gradually Rapport lost his advantage and his 24.b4 sacrifice didn't work out well and quickly Moiseenko got a decisive advantage.

Favourite Ian Nepomniachtchi tried to get creative in a sideline of the Gruenfeld but quickly was at least slightly worse against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. 10.e3 was Nepomniachtchi's second choice after his intended 10.Qd4 didn't work, Vachier-Lagrave was unhappy with some of his moves after that but he retained a small advantage which transformed to an extra pawn in an ending he at least couldn't lose and later Nepomniachtchi couldn't hold.

Etienne Bacrot too wasn't that happy with his play in the opening against the Ding Liren's King's Indian (which it seems he plays almost always) and the position was more or less equal. Bacrot feared an early b5. Ding Liren's 29...Kh5 was either terribly risky or "a bit too much" and eventually after grabbing a pawn he couldn't defend his position.

Biel Round 2 Standings: Vachier-Lagrave, Bacrot, Moiseenko 1.5pts, Nepomniachtchi, Ding, Rapport 0.5pts.

Biel Round 3 Pairings: Vachier-Lagrave-Bacrot, Moiseenko-Nepomniachtchi, Ding Liren-Rapport.