25.07.2007 M.Notkin. Best in June: Shirov – Ivanchuk

Good day friends! I hope you are spending summer time well. Being on leave makes me to report briefly, without excesses. GMs Sergey Rublevsky, Michal Krasenkow, Mikhail Kobalia, Sergey Ivanov, Emil Sutovsky, Evgeniy Najer, Evgeny Gleizerov and IMs Sergey Solovjov and Vladimir Barskij took part in determining the best game played in June.
I give room to Sergey Ivanov for an opening address and for declaring the winner:
"The June collection looks saturated and diverse. There were many tournaments, good and different, and our columnist surely had to work hard to produce the candidates list. But to my mind, one of the events was out of competition in the number of chess pearls. I mean the 'AeroSvit' event in Foros. Five of the top six games in my list belong to the participants of the Crimean tournament. One can see an interesting trend: percent of beautiful, remembering games is visibly higher in the events held at sea coasts (Dagomys last month, Foros this one). Of course, we need more statistics to make reliable conclusions, but chess organizers already have what to think of...
Only the victory won by Alexander Grischuk over Sergey Rublevsky in Elista in 'Kasparov-Topalov' style indeed, could I place among the games from Foros. I give my fist place, as in the last month, to Vassily Ivanchuk who is in his very fruitful period, each his game being a masterpiece. His fight against Alexei Shirov makes an unforgettable impression: in several moves, he literally torn into scraps seemingly solid and safe position of his opponent. This way, Vassily!"
I commented the duel online and I can confirm – it was the enormous impression! The decisive game of the Foros super tournament was ranked 1st also by Kobalia and Najer, and 3rd by two more experts. The sum is 71 points – clear first place slightly ahead of another constant producer of masterpieces.
Joint mind, taste and conscience of our experts gave the second place to the victory by Alexander Morozevich over Bartosz Socko, Spanish team championship: two top rankings (Gleizerov, Barskij), one 2nd and 65 points altogether. I shall comment the game in my review, so no more words about it now. Believe me, Alexander played excellently.
Bronze medal of June is awarded to a brilliant home-made novelty by Loek van Wely whose victim happened to be Dmitry Jakovenko. 1st places by Rublevsky and Solovjov, three 3rd places, 60 points. You have surely seen this inspiring interpretation of the Queen's Indian á la Topalov, so let us go on.
The fourth place: another deep preparation with sacrifices, Grischuk – Rublevsky (three 2nd places, 56 points). No doubt, you have paid attention to this candidates' duel also.
The fifth place: Eljanov – Karjakin, where the young man playing Black gave away a piece at first, and then proceeded to developing. He succeeded fully! Estimated as 1st by Sutovsky, one 2nd and one 3rd place, 47 points.
The sixth position is occupied by another game by Sergey Karjakin played in Foros against van Wely. Loek underestimated his opponent's slyness and allowed him to implement a fine combination with sacrifices of a bishop and a rook. One 2nd place, one 3rd, 43 points.
Another leader of future champions generation Magnus Carlsen took the seventh place. His play in the endgame against Levon Aronian deserved one 2nd place and 35 overall points.
Next is Vladimir Kramnik himself with his victory over Arkadij Najditsch in Dortmund (one 2nd place, one 3rd, 29 points). World champion is so fond of endgames, that even sacrifices when the queens are out of the board. Though his opponent could defend better, grace and depth of Vladimir's plan deserve admiring.
The ninth place: Kasimdzhanov – Granda (one 2nd place, 25 points). Apparently, Peruvian grandmaster hoped to rehabilitate a suspicious variation, however, ex-world champion proved with confidence that the queen is stronger than a bundle of pieces. See details in the future review.
Kotronias – Najditsch brings up the rear of the ten, played at the very beginning of June at the French team championship (1st place by Krasenkow, 22 points). White succeeded in maneuvering and by means of a knight sacrifice on f5 developed a powerful attack. The duel will be present in my review also, and here my report is over. Let us continue our rest!