2015 World Cup - Day 1

The 2015 World Cup in Baku has started with a few small surprises, but nothing too dramatic. The top seeds either won their games, or at least drew, although some draws seemed harder than others. Anish Giri played 158 moves against Arthur Ssegwanyi, trying to convert a pawn advantage in a rook ending, but determined defence saw the game end with just kings on the board.
Leinier Dominguez Perez was the highest seeded player to lose, being beaten by Federico Perez Ponsa on board 18. Hrant Melkumyan also had a good start, beating the higher rated Gata Kamsky on board 47.
For Australian fans, Max Illingworth started his game against Pentala Harikrishna well, and even had a slight advantage in the middle game. His passed a pawns were dangerous, and eventually he was able to win a piece for them. Unfortunately the extra pawns that Harikrishna had in return proved to be more dangerous and Illingworth was unable to stop them charging down the board.
Tonight is the second half of the round one matches, with any tied matches going into playoffs tomorrow. I suspect higher seeded players already ahead will be happy to draw, although the other matches should remain competitive.


Illingworth,Max (2517) - Harikrishna,Pentala (2737) [A15]
FIDE World Cup 2015 Baku AZE (1.14), 13.09.2015

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4 d6 9. Rd1 Nbd7 10. Be3 Rc8 11. Rac1 O-O 12. Qh4 a6 13. b3 Re8 14. Bh3 Ba8 15. g4 b5 16. cxb5 Qa5 17. g5 Rxc3 18. Rxc3 Qxc3 19. gxf6 Nxf6 20. bxa6 Qc2 21. Re1 Qxa2 22. Qa4 Qxa4 23. bxa4 Nd5 24. Nd4 f5 25. Nb5 Nxe3 26. fxe3 Bh6 27. Kf2 Rc8 28. Rb1 Kf7 29. a7 Rc4 30. a5 Ra4 31. Nc7 Ra3 32. Nxa8 Bxe3+ 33. Kg2 Rxa5 34. Rb7 Bxa7 35. Nc7 Bd4 36. Rb3 Rc5 37. Nb5 Be5 38. Rb4 Rc2 39. Kf2 Bxh2 40. Nd4 Rc3 41. Nf3 Be5 42. Nxe5+ dxe5 43. Bf1 h5 44. e3 Rc2+ 45. Be2 g5 46. Ke1 g4 47. Bc4+ Kf6 48. Rb6+ Kg5 49. Bf7 g3 50. Rg6+ Kh4 51. Bd5 Rf2 52. Rh6 Kg4 53. Bc4 Kf3 54. Rxh5 Kxe3 55. Rg5 f4 56. Bd5 e4 57. Re5 Re2+ 58. Kd1 Kf2 59. Rg5 f3 0-1