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By Jennifer Shahade
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July 22, 2008 |
GM Alexander Onischuk against GM Magnus Carlsen last year in Biel
American GM Alexander Onischuk scored in round three of the Biel Chess Festival (Biel, Switzerland, July 20-Aug 1.) His victim was local player, Yannick Pelletier (2569), the lowest rated player in the event. Onischuk is the second lowest rated player in a field filled with 2700's. Last year that did not stop him from tying for first place with Magnus Carlsen , albeit losing to the Norweigian superGM in the playoff. At plus one, Onischuk is now tied for second. Alexander arrives in Biel after a tough time at the Karpov Poikovsky Cup in Russia (July 8-17) , where he was also the second lowest rated player in the field and shared 7-10th place with 3.5/9.
Although Onischuk was always better in his game today, victory was far from certain until 29...d3. This allowed Alexander to simplify into a winning rook and pawn ending with Rc7+ without having to worry about Rd7, when the d-pawn would simply fall.
2143
Biel Chess Festival 2008
Standings after three rounds
1. Magnus Carlsen 2775- 2.5
2-3. Alexander Onischuk 2670 and Evgeny Alekseev 2708-2
4. Lenier Dominguez 2708-1.5
5-6. Etienne Bacrot 2691 and Yannick Pelletier 2569-0.5
Don't miss the Carlsen-Onischuk match-up on July 24 at 8 AM EST, when Alex will have his chance to exact revenge for last year. Also look out for a midway Biel report on CLO by GM Ian Rogers.
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