More on Nakamura, Bhat and Anand from Mainz
By J.Shahade/M.Peterson   
August 4, 2008
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Nakamura in Mainz Photo courtesy Harry Schaack, www.chesstigers.de
GM Hikaru Nakamura scored 9/11 in the Finet 960 Open along with Alexander Motlyev and Sergei Movsesian. Nakamura took the title on tiebreak. Nakamura also tied for third (sixth on tiebreak) in a regular rapid chess tournament, the Ordix Open. In this not to be missed video link, Hikaru speaks about his win in the 960, playing in Europe and his future plans. 

Here is Nakamura's win with Black over World Open Co-champion Evgeny Najer, which he discusses in the interview.

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Starting position, Najer-Nakamura


1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 g6 4. dxe5 dxe5 5. Rxd8 Qxd8 6. Bd2 Ne6 7.O-O-O 
f6 8. Ne3 Bd7 9. Nd5 Qe8 10. Be3 b6 11. g3 Kb7 12. Nd2 Rd8 13. f4 Bc6 14.
Nc4 Kb8 15. Qb4
15.Qb4.jpg
Position after 15.Qb4

Qf8 16. Qc3 Bb7 17. f5 gxf5 18. exf5 Nd4 19. Bxd4 exd4 20. Rxd4
Ne7 21. Ncxb6
21.Ncb6.jpg
Nc6 22. b4 axb6 23. b5 Rxd5 24. Rxd5 Nb4 25. Qb3 Nxd5 26. Bxd5
26.Bd5.jpg
Bg7 27. Bxb7 Kxb7 28. Kb2 Qc5 29. Qd3 Bf8 30. a3 Bd6 31. Ka2 Be5 32. Kb3 Kc8 33. Qc4 Qxc4+ 34. Kxc4 Kd7 35. Kd5 Bd6 36. a4 Ba3 37. Ke4 Kd6 38. h4 h5 39. g4 hxg4 40. Kf4 Bc1+ 41. Kxg4 Ke5 42. c3 Be3 0-1

Samford Scholar Vinay Bhat also played in Mainz, where he finished tied for 9-18th place 16th in the 960 and tied for 12th-24th (19th on tiebreak) in the Rapid. ICC multimedia journalist Macauley Peterson  interviewed Vinay for CLO in Mainz:


On August 3, Anand defeated Magnus Carlsen in the final of the Mainz Rapid World Championship (August 1-3.)

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Photo courtesy Harry Schaack, www.chesstigers.de


Macauley Peterson wrote: "Earlier this week, at the opening press conference, Anand inevitably faced questions about his upcoming match for the World Championship against Vladimir Kramnik, set for a mid-October start in Bonn, Germany. Anand was coy about his preparations and training. Here's what he had to say."