CHESSDOM: R6 WESLEY SO

Sanan Sjugirov - Wesley So

Round 6
Aeroflot 2009
Moscow

Welcome to the round 6 live commentary of Aeroflot open on Chessdom.com! Today we are going to see yet another battle of the young GMs as Sanan Sjugirov (photo here) and Wesley So meet on the board.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Sicilian Taimanov!

5... Qc7 6.g3 a6 7.Bg2 Nf6 8.O-O Be7 Not the most common opening for Wesley So, while Sanan Sjugirov has played this against Ivan Popov in the Russian U20 championships with success. Some of the experienced players in this opening are Mikhail Tal, Ulf Andersson, and of course Mark Taimanov. Spassky also used it against FIsher in their 1972 match to win with black.

9.Re1 O-O 10.Nxc6 dxc6 11.e5 Rd8 12.Qf3 Nd5 13.h4 Nxc3 Sjugirov and Wesley So are moving very quickly, obviously still in home preparation

14.Qxc3 h6 Wesley So plays a long termdefensive move and lets Sanan Sjugirov choose the direction of the game. Many options ahead of white here, they can develop the white bishop or improve the positionof the queen.

15.Be3 c5 Bringing any of the rooks to d1 is good. Interesting idea here is 16. b4, black pawn will obviously have to stay on the position and a fight over the black squares will start.

16.b4 Bd7 Aquick line of exchanges 17.Bxc5 Rac8 18.Qe3 Bxc5 19.bxc5 Qxc5 20.Bxb7 brings advantage to white, but with coordinated activity black can also encounter a draw. On the other hand if bxc5 black is not obliged to take back immediatelly as the pawn is weak and can fall any time.

17.bxc5 Bc6 18.Bxc6 Qxc6 19.Red1 Rac8 all lines converge to a draw, it is very difficult the game to go in another direction

20.Rab1 b6 21.Qc4 Rxd1 22.Rxd1 taking on c5 brings complete equality.

22... Bxc5 23.Bxc5 And a draw was agreed. A solid opening from both players that after a series of exchanges led to the most logical result of the day. Thank you for following with Chessdom.com! 1/2-1/2