Gustafsson Humbles Van Wely, Wrests Sole Lead
By Arvind Aaron

Jan Gustafsson of Germany is not even in the world top 100 but is leading the Sparkassen Chess-Meeting at Dortmund in Germany. He has 3.5/5 and enjoys a half point lead.

The 1979-born Gustafsson of Germany is playing at 2865 and still has to play Peter Leko and Ian Nepomniachtchi in the last two rounds. Two draws can see him win the prestigious event of the year. He will be the rank outsider to achieve such a feat.

In the fifth round on July 4, Gustafsson played the Slav defence with black and sacrificed a piece for three pawns in a well known variation of the Semi-Slav. Van Wely lost a piece and resigned in a mere 18 moves.

Experience can you win you games. The oldest player of the 8-player competition, Ivanchuk won a level rook and minor piece ending when Naiditch blundered his king knight pawn to lose a minor piece ending.

The results (round five): P. Leko (Hun) 3 drew with I. Nepomniachtchi (Rus) 3, S. Mamedyarov (Aze) 2.5 drew with V. Kramnik (Rus) 2.5, V. Ivanchuk (Ukr) 2.5 bt Arkady Naiditch (Ger) 2, Loek Van Wely (Ned) 1 lost to Jan Gustafsson (Ger) 3.5.

Home                                                            Published on 05^th July, 2008