The Week in Chess

Etienne Bacrot won the only decisive game of the day beating tail-ender Richard Rapport and took the lead on 3.5/5. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave got a decisive advantage vs Moiseenko but became frustrated with himself after missing a clear win allowed a draw.

Etienne Bacrot won an ultra sharp Botvinnik Variation of the Semi-Slav against Richard Rapport. Bacrot thought the variation very promising and had played it three times before but 17...Rb8 took him by surprise. A key moment was after 24.Nxb6 when Bacrot feared 24...Qg4 although 25.Rh3 is probably white's best try black has good chances to draw. After missing this chance Rapport's position collapsed very quickly.

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave missed another opportunity in an event of missed opportunities against Alexander Moiseenko. Both players agreed Moiseenko was not only losing but losing in many ways in a c3 Sicilian where he decided to play 3...Nf6 after some thought to avoid preparation, 13...Rd8 was better than his Bd7. After 15.Bb3 it is "not easy to play and I did not play well" - Moiseenko. 18.h4 Qa6 h5 was critical according to Vachier instead Moiseenko played 18...h5 which allowed a quick g4 when black is lost. Black gave up the exchange to try and stop the attack but his position is still a mess. 28.Bxe6 or Bxc2 won but having missed black's reply Qc3 to his 28.Rd6 Vachier was frustrated, with himself and quickly took a draw.

Ian Nepomniachtchi survived some enterprising play in the King's Indian by Liren Ding and emerged with an extra pawn but it didn't prove enoguth to win.

Round 5 Standings: Bacrot 3.5pts, Moiseenko 3pts, Vachier-Lagrave and Liren Ding 2.5pts, Nepomniachtchi 2pts, Rapport 1pt.

Round 6 Pairings Sat 27th July: Bacrot-Nepomniachtchi, Rapport-Vachier-Lagrave, Ding Liren-Moiseenko.