The Week in Chess

There were three more draws in the third round of the Biel Chess tournament but two of those should have finished decisively.

The first game to finish was a Gruenfeld between Alexander Moiseenko and Ian Nepomniachtchi. Nepomniachtchi described the game was "very boring" and the "only interesting point is the opening" with his (6...Nc6) which he prepared whilst seconding Potkin. Black more or less equalised and with some care he held the draw easily. Nepomniachtchi was asked about being a second "In general it's really boring to be someone's second." and refused to be drawn as to whether he is still working with Carlsen "I don't think it's a good idea to talk on this."

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Etienne Bacrot were both pretty scathing about the standard of their play in an English. After some aggressive play by Bacrot as black he probably had to try 14...Nxg3 fg 15.Be3+ with unclear complications. After this white built up a completely winning position and 22.e4 or 22.Bb4 would have brought home the point. 22.Qe3 let a substantial part of the advantage go and soon white traded to a draw.

Ding Liren and Richard Rapport debated a very sharp King's Indian Four Pawns but even though they were following known theory until 17.Qxg4 neither player seemed to know it. Rapport built up a substantial advantage on the clock and on the board but things remained unclear until the incredible double oversight 26...Qe4?? (26...Qe5 27.Qxe5 R8e5 28.Rd1 was discussed when 28...Nb6! seems to give black the advantage) when the simple 27. Rxe2 Qxe2 28.Re1 wins the exchange for nothing. After this the game quickly was drawn by repetition.

Round 3 standings: Vachier-Lagrave, Bacrot, Moiseenko 2pts, Nepomniachtchi, Ding, Rapport 1pt.

Round 4 pairings: Moiseenko-Bacrot, Ding Liren-Vachier-Lagrave, Rapport-Nepomniachtchi.