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5/24/2016 – It was nothing short of an imperial performance by Russian GM Ernesto Inarkiev who stormed away with the tournament from start to finish, defeating all his would-be challengers, to end on 9.0/11 with a 2882 performance. Igor Kovalenko, who lost to him in round nine, bounced back with two big wins to take sole second. Here is the report with games and positions.

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Photos from the official site

The accolades and the hype throughout the coverage were well-deserved as Ernesto Inarkiev was in stellar form. He had already shown this with a huge 2901 performance in the Russian Team Championship just a week before, but showed no sign of slowing down as he continued to do Godzilla imitations stomping down on his rivals. Sound like more hyperbole? Consider this then: this month alone he has accumulated a 43 Elo gain based on 17 games, with 10 wins and 4.5/6 against 2700+ opposition.

In the final two rounds, with a domineering score of 8.0/9, a full point ahead of the field, he secured his gold medal with two draws. However, even the draw in the final round held interest as it re-examined the Scotch Opening that Kasparov had employed against Nakamura in the blitz tournament held in St. Louis the month before.

The last and key round. Having only 7.0/10, Piorun could not even expect silver if he won,

since three players stood at 7.5/10. Inarkiev had already scored 2.5/3 against them.

Kacper Piorun - Ernesto Inarkiev

[Event "17th ch-EUR Indiv 2016"] [Site "Gjakova KOS"] [Date "2016.05.23"] [Round "11.1"] [White "Piorun, Kacper"] [Black "Inarkiev, Ernesto"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C45"] [WhiteElo "2681"] [BlackElo "2686"] [PlyCount "53"] [EventDate "2016.05.12"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Bc4 Ne5 8. Bb3 Qg6 9. O-O d5 10. Bf4 {It must be said that it is not a little remarkable that the last person to make a serious contribution to this opening is.... Kasparov. Even his exhibition games bring something.} Bh3 (10... Bg4 11. Qc2 Bxd4 12. cxd4 N5c6 13. Qd2 Qxe4 14. f3 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Qxd4+ 16. Qxd4 Nxd4 17. Bxc7 Kd7 18. Bg3 Nxb3 19. axb3 Nf5 20. Nc3 d4 21. Rfd1 Rhd8 22. Rd3 Kc6 23. Ne2 Rd5 24. Rad1 Rad8 25. Bf2 Kc5 26. Rc1+ Kb5 27. Rc4 b6 28. Ng3 Nh4 29. Kf1 Ka6 30. Rc7 Rf8 31. b4 g6 32. Ne2 Nf5 33. Nxd4 Nxd4 34. Rxd4 Rf5 35. Rd3 Rf4 36. Rb3 Kb5 37. Rxa7 Re8 38. Rb7 Re6 39. Re3 Ref6 40. Kg2 Rxb4 41. b3 Kc6 42. Ra7 h5 43. Rc3+ Kb5 44. Re7 Rf5 45. h4 g5 46. hxg5 Rxg5+ 47. Kh3 Rf5 48. Rb7 Ka6 49. Re7 Rbf4 50. Ree3 Kb5 51. Bg3 Rd4 52. Re5+ Rd5 53. Rxd5+ Rxd5 54. Rc4 Rd3 55. Rf4 Rxb3 56. Rxf7 Kc4 57. f4 b5 58. f5 Kd5 59. Rd7+ Ke4 60. f6 Rf3 61. f7 b4 62. Kg2 b3 63. Re7+ {1-0 (63) Kasparov,G (2812)-Nakamura,H (2787) Saint Louis 2016}) 11. Bg3 h5 12. Ba4+ c6 13. exd5 h4 14. dxc6 {The engines suggest this offers nothing and allows Black to equalize, if nothing more.} ({ Following their proposed path to an edge, the main line starts with} 14. Bc2 f5 15. gxh3 hxg3 16. fxg3 O-O-O 17. Qe2 Rxd5 18. Kg2 Qd6 (18... Qh6 19. h4 g6 20. b4 Bb6 21. Bb3 $14) 19. Nxf5 Nxf5 20. Bxf5+ Kb8 21. b4 Bb6 22. a4 a5 23. bxa5 Bxa5 24. Ra2 {White is up material, but is tied down to parry Black's activity and threats, so it can be judged as unclear.}) 14... N5xc6 15. gxh3 hxg3 16. hxg3 Rxh3 17. Kg2 Qh6 18. Bxc6+ bxc6 19. Rh1 Rxh1 20. Qxh1 Qxh1+ 21. Kxh1 Rd8 22. Kg2 Bxd4 23. cxd4 Rxd4 24. Nc3 Rd2 25. Na4 Rc2 26. Re1 Kd7 27. Kf3 1/2-1/2 [Event "17th ch-EUR Indiv 2016"] [Site "Gjakova KOS"] [Date "2016.05.23"] [Round "11.1"] [White "Piorun, Kacper"] [Black "Inarkiev, Ernesto"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C45"] [WhiteElo "2681"] [BlackElo "2686"] [PlyCount "53"] [EventDate "2016.05.12"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Bc4 Ne5 8. Bb3 Qg6 9. O-O d5 10. Bf4 {It must be said that it is not a little remarkable that the last person to make a serious contribution to this opening is.... Kasparov. Even his exhibition games bring something.} Bh3 (10... Bg4 11. Qc2 Bxd4 12. cxd4 N5c6 13. Qd2 Qxe4 14. f3 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Qxd4+ 16. Qxd4 Nxd4 17. Bxc7 Kd7 18. Bg3 Nxb3 19. axb3 Nf5 20. Nc3 d4 21. Rfd1 Rhd8 22. Rd3 Kc6 23. Ne2 Rd5 24. Rad1 Rad8 25. Bf2 Kc5 26. Rc1+ Kb5 27. Rc4 b6 28. Ng3 Nh4 29. Kf1 Ka6 30. Rc7 Rf8 31. b4 g6 32. Ne2 Nf5 33. Nxd4 Nxd4 34. Rxd4 Rf5 35. Rd3 Rf4 36. Rb3 Kb5 37. Rxa7 Re8 38. Rb7 Re6 39. Re3 Ref6 40. Kg2 Rxb4 41. b3 Kc6 42. Ra7 h5 43. Rc3+ Kb5 44. Re7 Rf5 45. h4 g5 46. hxg5 Rxg5+ 47. Kh3 Rf5 48. Rb7 Ka6 49. Re7 Rbf4 50. Ree3 Kb5 51. Bg3 Rd4 52. Re5+ Rd5 53. Rxd5+ Rxd5 54. Rc4 Rd3 55. Rf4 Rxb3 56. Rxf7 Kc4 57. f4 b5 58. f5 Kd5 59. Rd7+ Ke4 60. f6 Rf3 61. f7 b4 62. Kg2 b3 63. Re7+ {1-0 (63) Kasparov,G (2812)-Nakamura,H (2787) Saint Louis 2016}) 11. Bg3 h5 12. Ba4+ c6 13. exd5 h4 14. dxc6 {The engines suggest this offers nothing and allows Black to equalize, if nothing more.} ({ Following their proposed path to an edge, the main line starts with} 14. Bc2 f5 15. gxh3 hxg3 16. fxg3 O-O-O 17. Qe2 Rxd5 18. Kg2 Qd6 (18... Qh6 19. h4 g6 20. b4 Bb6 21. Bb3 $14) 19. Nxf5 Nxf5 20. Bxf5+ Kb8 21. b4 Bb6 22. a4 a5 23. bxa5 Bxa5 24. Ra2 {White is up material, but is tied down to parry Black's activity and threats, so it can be judged as unclear.}) 14... N5xc6 15. gxh3 hxg3 16. hxg3 Rxh3 17. Kg2 Qh6 18. Bxc6+ bxc6 19. Rh1 Rxh1 20. Qxh1 Qxh1+ 21. Kxh1 Rd8 22. Kg2 Bxd4 23. cxd4 Rxd4 24. Nc3 Rd2 25. Na4 Rc2 26. Re1 Kd7 27. Kf3 1/2-1/2

27-year-old Igor Kovalenko from Latvia had no less remarkable a tournament, showing a fire in his belly that could not be snuffed out. After facing Inarkiev in round nine and being thoroughly outplayed, one might have expected him to catch his breath, and regroup with a draw, but there was no time for this, and he showed exceptional strength of character by forging two wins in his final two rounds to capture sole second with 8.5/11 and a 2787 performance.

Kovalenko - Fressinet

White has complete control and it is now time to close the deal.

White to play and win.

[Event "17th ch-EUR Indiv 2016"] [Site "Gjakova KOS"] [Date "2016.05.22"] [Round "10.4"] [White "Kovalenko, Igor"] [Black "Fressinet, Laurent"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A29"] [WhiteElo "2644"] [BlackElo "2692"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "1R1n2k1/3r1qp1/5pQp/2p1p2P/r7/4B1P1/4PP2/1R4K1 w - - 0 31"] [PlyCount "17"] [EventDate "2016.05.12"] 31. R1b7 $1 {Not only can the rook not be taken, but the direct threat of Rxd8+ is fatal.} Ra1+ (31... Rxb7 32. Rxd8+) 32. Kh2 Qxg6 (32... Rad1 33. Rxd8+ ) 33. hxg6 Rad1 34. Rxd7 Rxd7 35. Bxc5 {Black resigned as there is no defense against the mate. Ex:} h5 {The king is boxed in and can do nothing to escape his cage.} 36. Be7 h4 (36... Rxe7 37. Rxd8+ Re8 38. Rxe8#) 37. Bxd8 Kf8 38. Bxf6+ Rd8 39. Rxd8# 1-0

The tournament saw this stamp issued especially in its honor. A very nice touch.

15-year-old FM Luca Moroni from Italy scored an IM norm in the tournament

In the last round, top-seed David Navara (2735) had an unusual finish to his game as his opponent found himself losing a bishop. Naturally, blunders happen to anyone, but it must be said the way it was dominated and captured was not your everyday sequence.

Navara - Pashikian

[Event "17th ch-EUR Indiv 2016"] [Site "Gjakova KOS"] [Date "2016.05.23"] [Round "11.4"] [White "Navara, David"] [Black "Pashikian, Arman"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2735"] [BlackElo "2612"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "2rr2k1/1p2Rpp1/1q1p3p/1P1P4/8/3Q1N1P/1P3bPK/R7 b - - 0 30"] [PlyCount "26"] [EventDate "2016.05.12"] {It is almost hard to believe at first, but} 30... Rc7 $2 {actually loses the bishop by force.} 31. Re2 $1 Rcc8 {Black realizes his blunder, possibly praying White is not aware of the depth of it, but there is no return, and Navara saw it just as well. The point is that Black cannot evacuate the queen to let the bishop eventually escape to b6.} ({The immediate} 31... Bc5 { is no help.} 32. Ra4 $1 {and there is no way to prevent b4.} Bf2 33. Rae4 { and Qd2 is coming next.} Rf8 {Forced since Re8+ was mate.} 34. Qd2 Bc5 35. b4 { and the bishop falls.}) 32. Qd2 Bc5 33. b4 Qxb5 34. bxc5 dxc5 35. Re7 c4 36. Qf4 Qxd5 37. Ne5 Rf8 38. Nd7 Rce8 39. Rae1 Rxe7 40. Rxe7 Rd8 41. Qc7 Kh7 42. Qxd8 Qd6+ 43. Re5 1-0 [Event "17th ch-EUR Indiv 2016"] [Site "Gjakova KOS"] [Date "2016.05.23"] [Round "11.4"] [White "Navara, David"] [Black "Pashikian, Arman"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2735"] [BlackElo "2612"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "2rr2k1/1p2Rpp1/1q1p3p/1P1P4/8/3Q1N1P/1P3bPK/R7 b - - 0 30"] [PlyCount "26"] [EventDate "2016.05.12"] {It is almost hard to believe at first, but} 30... Rc7 $2 {actually loses the bishop by force.} 31. Re2 $1 Rcc8 {Black realizes his blunder, possibly praying White is not aware of the depth of it, but there is no return, and Navara saw it just as well. The point is that Black cannot evacuate the queen to let the bishop eventually escape to b6.} ({The immediate} 31... Bc5 { is no help.} 32. Ra4 $1 {and there is no way to prevent b4.} Bf2 33. Rae4 { and Qd2 is coming next.} Rf8 {Forced since Re8+ was mate.} 34. Qd2 Bc5 35. b4 { and the bishop falls.}) 32. Qd2 Bc5 33. b4 Qxb5 34. bxc5 dxc5 35. Re7 c4 36. Qf4 Qxd5 37. Ne5 Rf8 38. Nd7 Rce8 39. Rae1 Rxe7 40. Rxe7 Rd8 41. Qc7 Kh7 42. Qxd8 Qd6+ 43. Re5 1-0

Spanish GM Francisco Vallejo Pons also enjoyed an excellent tournament, defeating German talent

GM Alexander Donchenko in the last round to end on 8.0/11 in 5th place with a 2777 performance

Nisipeanu - Khismatullin

White is up material, but the opposite-colored bishops do promise chances

for Black to hope for a miracle. White ended them here. White to play.

[Event "17th ch-EUR Indiv 2016"] [Site "Gjakova KOS"] [Date "2016.05.22"] [Round "10.11"] [White "Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter"] [Black "Khismatullin, Denis"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D02"] [WhiteElo "2669"] [BlackElo "2609"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/p4p2/5kp1/2r1b3/6Pp/1BP4P/PP2RPK1/8 w - - 0 34"] [PlyCount "3"] [EventDate "2016.05.12"] 34. Bxf7 $1 Bxc3 ({If Black recaptures, he will lose his bishop back after} 34... Kxf7 35. b4 $1 Rb5 (35... Rd5 36. c4 {and the rook cannot remain on the 5th.}) 36. a4 Rd5 37. c4 {and the rook can no longer protect the bishop.} Rd4 38. Rxe5 Rxc4 39. Rb5) 35. Bxg6 {and Black resigned, two pawns down with no hope.} 1-0

You might be wondering what is special about this image, and why it was chosen here. We

do not know either. For reasons that baffle the author of this report, and the chess media

at large, the photographer of the organizers almost never displayed images of any of the

top boards, but instead posted endless photos of boards 100+ in all the rounds. In fact, the

picture above was the only chess photo from the round nine gallery. Kind organizers, if you

are going to hire a photographer, please choose one who knows what the heck he is doing.

Winner Ernesto Inarkiev being interviewed by the media

Results of round eleven

Click for complete round results

Final standings after eleven rounds

Click for complete standings

Schedule