The Week in Chess

There was a two day 10 board match between St Petersburg and Moscow in St Petersburg on Sat-Sun 17th-18th September 2011. This traditional event is back after a 5 year break. Interest in chess sponsorship (this time Gazprom) seems to be really quite high in Russia at the moment. Moscow were the strong Elo favourites. Moscow: 2700+ players Morozevich, Nepomniachtchi, Jakovenko, Dreev, Malakhov. St Petersburg: Vitiugov. The team lists below contains a couple of reserves for each side. Day 1 was drawn 5-5 (being especially stupid I missed Peter Svidler's joke that it was drawn 5.5-5.5 with top board being held elsewhere, of course he and Grischuk (Moscow) would have almost certainly have played had they not been in the World Cup Final). Alexander Morozevich won on top board. Day 1 Games now complete. Day 2 was again close with Alexander Morozevich losing the return game to Nikita Vitiugov. With three games still going the match was tied at 8.5-8.5 but then Moscow won the final three to win 11.5-8.5 overall and 6.5-3.6 on day 2. Day 2 games are complete.