FIDE Chess World Cup 2009

2009 FIDE World Cup winner Boris Gelfand
Tournament information
Sport	Chess
Location	Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia
Dates	20 November 2009–14 December 2009
Administrator	FIDE
Tournament format(s)	Single-elimination tournament
Host(s)	Chess Federation of Russia
Final positions
Champion	Boris Gelfand
Runner-up	Ruslan Ponomariov
← Chess World Cup 2007 Chess World Cup 2011 →

The Chess World Cup 2009 was a 128-player single-elimination tournament, played between 20 November and 14 December 2009, in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.^[1] The Cup winner qualified for the Candidates stage of the World Chess Championship 2012. Boris Gelfand defeated Ruslan Ponomariov in the final.

The winner of the Chess World Cup 2007, Gata Kamsky, was defeated by Wesley So in the third round.

Format

Matches consisted of two games (except for the final, which consisted of four). Players had 90 minutes for the first 40 moves followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an addition of 30 seconds per move from move one. If the match was tied after the regular games, tie breaks were played on the next day. The format for the tie breaks was as follows:^[2]

• Four rapid games (25 minutes plus 10 second increment) were played. According to chess journalist Mig Greengard, a "high FIDE official" admitted off the record that this unusual decision of playing four games instead of two was actually a mistake that was spotted too late to correct it.^[3]
• If the score was still tied, up to five pairs of blitz games (5 minutes plus 3 second increment) were played. If one player led after a pair of blitz games, that player was declared the winner. This was a change from previous events, for instance at the Chess World Cup 2007 the match went to an armageddon game after a single pair of blitz games.
• If the score was still tied after five pairs of blitz games, a single armageddon game (white must win, black only needs to draw) would be played. White had 5 minutes, black had 4 minutes, and both players had three-second increments beginning with move 61. Ultimately, no Armageddon games were played, as all matches were decided before that stage.

Participants

The players qualified for the event were:^[4]

All players are grandmasters unless indicated otherwise. The pairings of the 1st round (players were seeded according to their ratings) were announced on 2 November 2009, immediately after the publishing of the November rating list. The list of players who declined participation: Anand, Carlsen, Topalov, Aronian, Kramnik, Leko, Adams, Nakamura, and Ni Hua. Among them, Anand, Topalov and Aronian had already qualified for the Candidates or the Championship match; Carlsen, Kramnik, Nakamura, Adams and Ni had committed to play in the London Chess Classic on 7–15 December 2009.^[5]

Qualification paths:

Calendar

Summary of results

Round one

In the first round of the tournament all of the top 30 seeded players progressed, with the sole exception of Slovakian Sergei Movsesian (16), who was eliminated by the Chinese 113th seed Yu Yangyi. Judit Polgár achieved a walkover, due to her opponent Duško Pavasovič withdrawing from the competition due to injury.^[6] The round was notable for the 16-game match between Pavel Tregubov and Varuzhan Akobian: after each winning with white over the first two days, their tiebreak held a marathon of four rapid games followed by ten blitz games. The two players fought until near 1 a.m. local time for the right to face Ruslan Ponomariov in the second round (which would start the next morning), Akobian finally achieving the decisive two-point advantage in the final bout before an Armageddon game would have been required.

Round two

The first day of Round Two included a number of upsets. The highest seed to have won their match was Alexander Grischuk (8), as Peter Svidler (3), Alexander Morozevich (4), Teimour Radjabov (5) and Vassily Ivanchuk (6) all lost and the remaining highest seeds (Gelfand, Gashimov and Ponomariov) drew. On the next day of matches, Morozevich, Radjabov and Ivanchuk were all eliminated, and exactly half of the matches went to tie-breaks.^[7] Of the 32 players to reach Round Three, all but seven players had been originally seeded in the top 32.

Round three

Sixteen-year-old Wesley So, who had upset Ivanchuk in Round Two, achieved another major upset, defeating Gata Kamsky, the 2007 winner, 1½-½.^[8] In the second rapid tiebreak, Chinese players Wang Yue and Li Chao were not at their seats for the start of the round, and lost the game, and their matches against Bacrot and Gashimov.^[9]

Round four

This round marked the departure of most of the youthful players from the World Cup. Wesley So (16), Fabiano Caruana (17) and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (19) were eliminated by the more experienced Malakhov, Gashimov and Gelfand respectively, leaving Sergey Karjakin the only under-20 player left in contention.

Results, rounds 1–4

Section 1

First round

Quarter-finals

Third round

Fourth round

1

Boris Gelfand (ISR)

1½

128

Andrei Obodchuk (RUS)

½

1

Boris Gelfand (ISR)

1½

64

Farrukh Amonatov (TJK)

½

64

Farrukh Amonatov (TJK)

1½

65

Sergey Volkov (RUS)

½

1

Boris Gelfand (ISR)

3½

32

Judit Polgár (HUN)

2½

32

Judit Polgár (HUN)

w/o

97

Duško Pavasovič (SLO)

32

Judit Polgár (HUN)

4½

33

Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu (ROU)

3½

33

Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu (ROU)

1½

96

Constantin Lupulescu (ROU)

½

1

Boris Gelfand (ISR)

4½

17

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA)

3½

16

Sergei Movsesian (SVK)

½

113

Yu Yangyi (CHN)

1½

113

Yu Yangyi (CHN)

1½

80

Mateusz Bartel (POL)

½

49

Boris Grachev (RUS)

3

80

Mateusz Bartel (POL)

5

113

Yu Yangyi (CHN)

½

17

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA)

1½

17

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA)

1½

112

Yu Shaoteng (CHN)

½

17

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA)

3½

48

Georg Meier (GER)

2½

48

Georg Meier (GER)

1½

81

Tigran L. Petrosian (ARM)

½

Section 2

	First round					Quarter-finals					Third round					Fourth round
	8	Alexander Grischuk (RUS)	1½
	121	Sriram Jha (IND)	½
						8	Alexander Grischuk (RUS)	1½
						57	Vladislav Tkachiev (FRA)	½
	57	Vladislav Tkachiev (FRA)	3½
	72	Lê Quang Liêm (VIE)	1½
											8	Alexander Grischuk (RUS)	5
											25	Baadur Jobava (GEO)	3
	25	Baadur Jobava (GEO)	1½
	104	Ray Robson (USA)	½
						25	Baadur Jobava (GEO)	1½
						89	Eduardo Iturrizaga (VEN)	½
	40	Sergei Tiviakov (NED)	2½
	89	Eduardo Iturrizaga (VEN)	3½
																8	Alexander Grischuk (RUS)	3
																9	Dmitry Jakovenko (RUS)	5
	9	Dmitry Jakovenko (RUS)	1½
	120	Aimen Rizouk (ALG)	½
						9	Dmitry Jakovenko (RUS)	2
						73	Chanda Sandipan (IND)	0
	56	Mikhail Kobalia (RUS)	½
	73	Chanda Sandipan (IND)	1½
											9	Dmitry Jakovenko (RUS)	4
											41	Alexander Areshchenko (UKR)	2
	24	Sergei Rublevsky (RUS)	1½
	105	Iván Morovic (CHI)	½
						24	Sergei Rublevsky (RUS)	2½
						41	Alexander Areshchenko (UKR)	3½
	41	Alexander Areshchenko (UKR)	1½
	88	Fidel Corrales Jimenez (CUB)	½

Section 3

	First round					Quarter-finals					Third round					Fourth round
	4	Alexander Morozevich (RUS)	2
	125	Khaled Abdel Razik (EGY)	0
						4	Alexander Morozevich (RUS)	0
						61	Viktor Láznička (CZE)	2
	61	Viktor Láznička (CZE)	1½
	68	Ioánnis Papaïoánnou (GRE)	½
											61	Viktor Láznička (CZE)	3½
											29	Viktor Bologan (MDA)	1½
	29	Viktor Bologan (MDA)	1½
	100	Ahmed Adly (EGY)	½
						29	Viktor Bologan (MDA)	4
						36	Ivan Cheparinov (BUL)	2
	36	Ivan Cheparinov (BUL)	3½
	93	Yuriy Kryvoruchko (UKR)	2½
																61	Viktor Láznička (CZE)	½
																13	Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE)	1½
	13	Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE)	2
	116	Alexandra Kosteniuk (RUS)	0
						13	Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE)	2
						52	Vadim Milov (SUI)	0
	52	Vadim Milov (SUI)	3½
	77	Parimarjan Negi (IND)	1½
											13	Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE)	1½
											20	Wang Hao (CHN)	½
	20	Wang Hao (CHN)	2
	109	Joshua Friedel (USA)	0
						20	Wang Hao (CHN)	2
						45	Surya Shekhar Ganguly (IND)	0
	45	Surya Shekhar Ganguly (IND)	2
	84	Anton Filippov (UZB)	0

Section 4

First round

Quarter-finals

Third round

Fourth round

5

Teimour Radjabov (AZE)

2

124

Mohamed Ezat (EGY)

0

5

Teimour Radjabov (AZE)

½

69

Konstantin Sakaev (RUS)

1½

60

Julio Granda (PER)

½

69

Konstantin Sakaev (RUS)

1½

69

Konstantin Sakaev (RUS)

½

28

Nikita Vitiugov (RUS)

1½

28

Nikita Vitiugov (RUS)

1½

101

Abhijeet Gupta (IND)

½

28

Nikita Vitiugov (RUS)

4½

92

Gilberto Milos (BRA)

3½

37

Zahar Efimenko (UKR)

½

92

Gilberto Milos (BRA)

1½

28

Nikita Vitiugov (RUS)

½

12

Sergey Karjakin (UKR)

1½

12

Sergey Karjakin (UKR)

1½

117

Andrés Rodríguez (URU)

½

12

Sergey Karjakin (UKR)

3½

53

Artyom Timofeev (RUS)

2½

53

Artyom Timofeev (RUS)

3½

76

Rafael Leitão (BRA)

2½

12

Sergey Karjakin (UKR)

4

21

David Navara (CZE)

1

21

David Navara (CZE)

4

108

Darwin Laylo (PHI)

2

21

David Navara (CZE)

3½

85

Alexander Shabalov (USA)

2½

44

Vladimir Baklan (UKR)

3½

85

Alexander Shabalov (USA)

4½

Section 5

	First round					Quarter-finals					Third round					Fourth round
	2	Vugar Gashimov (AZE)	2
	127	Walaa Sarwat (EGY)	0
						2	Vugar Gashimov (AZE)	1½
						66	Zhou Jianchao (CHN)	½
	63	Rauf Mamedov (AZE)	½
	66	Zhou Jianchao (CHN)	1½
											2	Vugar Gashimov (AZE)	3½
											95	Li Chao (CHN)	1½
	31	Bu Xiangzhi (CHN)	½
	98	Yannick Pelletier (SUI)	1½
						98	Yannick Pelletier (SUI)	3½
						95	Li Chao (CHN)	4½
	34	Gabriel Sargissian (ARM)	3
	95	Li Chao (CHN)	5
																2	Vugar Gashimov (AZE)	3½
																50	Fabiano Caruana (ITA)	1½
	15	Leinier Domínguez (CUB)	3½
	114	David Smerdon (AUS)	2½
						15	Leinier Domínguez (CUB)	2
						50	Fabiano Caruana (ITA)	4
	50	Fabiano Caruana (ITA)	1½
	79	Lázaro Bruzón (CUB)	½
											50	Fabiano Caruana (ITA)	3½
											18	Evgeny Alekseev (RUS)	2½
	18	Evgeny Alekseev (RUS)	1½
	111	Aleksei Pridorozhni (RUS)	½
						18	Evgeny Alekseev (RUS)	3½
						47	Laurent Fressinet (FRA)	1½
	47	Laurent Fressinet (FRA)	2
	82	Sanan Sjugirov (RUS)	0

Section 6

	First round					Quarter-finals					Third round					Fourth round
	7	Ruslan Ponomariov (UKR)	1½
	122	Essam El-Gindy (EGY)	½
						7	Ruslan Ponomariov (UKR)	4
						71	Varuzhan Akobian (USA)	2
	58	Pavel Tregubov (RUS)	7
	71	Varuzhan Akobian (USA)	9
											7	Ruslan Ponomariov (UKR)	1½
											26	Alexander Motylev (RUS)	½
	26	Alexander Motylev (RUS)	1½
	103	Robert Hess (USA)	½
						26	Alexander Motylev (RUS)	1½
						39	Evgeniy Najer (RUS)	½
	39	Evgeniy Najer (RUS)	1½
	90	Ehsan Ghaem Maghami (IRI)	½
																7	Ruslan Ponomariov (UKR)	3½
																23	Étienne Bacrot (FRA)	2½
	10	Wang Yue (CHN)	2
	119	Nikolai Kabanov (RUS)	0
						10	Wang Yue (CHN)	2
						55	Boris Savchenko (RUS)	0
	55	Boris Savchenko (RUS)	4½
	74	Yury Shulman (USA)	3½
											10	Wang Yue (CHN)	1½
											23	Étienne Bacrot (FRA)	3½
	23	Étienne Bacrot (FRA)	3½
	106	Friso Nijboer (NED)	1½
						23	Étienne Bacrot (FRA)	2
						42	Krishnan Sasikiran (IND)	0
	42	Krishnan Sasikiran (IND)	3½
	87	Erwin l'Ami (NED)	1½

Section 7

	First round					Quarter-finals					Third round					Fourth round
	3	Peter Svidler (RUS)	2
	126	Jean Hébert (CAN)	0
						3	Peter Svidler (RUS)	3½
						67	Tomi Nybäck (FIN)	1½
	62	Dmitry Andreikin (RUS)	3½
	67	Tomi Nybäck (FIN)	4½
											3	Peter Svidler (RUS)	5
											30	Arkadij Naiditsch (GER)	3
	30	Arkadij Naiditsch (GER)	3½
	99	Hou Yifan (CHN)	2½
						30	Arkadij Naiditsch (GER)	1½
						35	Alexander Onischuk (USA)	½
	35	Alexander Onischuk (USA)	1½
	94	Diego Flores (ARG)	½
																3	Peter Svidler (RUS)	1½
																14	Alexei Shirov (ESP)	½
	14	Alexei Shirov (ESP)	1½
	115	Abhijit Kunte (IND)	½
						14	Alexei Shirov (ESP)	4
						78	Sergey Fedorchuk (UKR)	1
	51	Ivan Sokolov (BIH)	0
	78	Sergey Fedorchuk (UKR)	2
											14	Alexei Shirov (ESP)	1½
											19	Evgeny Tomashevsky (RUS)	½
	19	Evgeny Tomashevsky (RUS)	1½
	110	Alexander Ivanov (USA)	½
						19	Evgeny Tomashevsky (RUS)	3½
						83	Alexander Khalifman (RUS)	2½
	46	Alexandr Fier (BRA)	2½
	83	Alexander Khalifman (RUS)	3½

Section 8

	First round					Quarter-finals					Third round					Fourth round
	6	Vassily Ivanchuk (UKR)	2
	123	Alexei Bezgodov (RUS)	0
						6	Vassily Ivanchuk (UKR)	½
						59	Wesley So (PHI)	1½
	59	Wesley So (PHI)	4
	70	Gadir Guseinov (AZE)	1
											59	Wesley So (PHI)	1½
											27	Gata Kamsky (USA)	½
	27	Gata Kamsky (USA)	1½
	102	Rogelio Antonio Jr. (PHI)	½
						27	Gata Kamsky (USA)	1½
						91	Zhou Weiqi (CHN)	½
	38	Emil Sutovsky (ISR)	1½
	91	Zhou Weiqi (CHN)	3½
																59	Wesley So (PHI)	1
																22	Vladimir Malakhov (RUS)	4
	11	Pavel Eljanov (UKR)	1½
	118	Mohamad Al Sayed (QAT)	½
						11	Pavel Eljanov (UKR)	3½
						54	Ernesto Inarkiev (RUS)	2½
	54	Ernesto Inarkiev (RUS)	3½
	75	Jan Gustafsson (GER)	1½
											11	Pavel Eljanov (UKR)	1
											22	Vladimir Malakhov (RUS)	4
	22	Vladimir Malakhov (RUS)	2
	107	Bassem Amin (EGY)	0
						22	Vladimir Malakhov (RUS)	3½
						43	Ilya Smirin (ISR)	1½
	43	Ilya Smirin (ISR)	1½
	86	Jaan Ehlvest (USA)	½

Results, rounds 5–7

	Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Final (best of 4)
	1	Boris Gelfand	3½
	9	Dmitry Jakovenko	1½
						1	Boris Gelfand	2
						12	Sergey Karjakin	0
	13	Shakhriyar Mamedyarov	½
	12	Sergey Karjakin	1½
											1	Boris Gelfand	7
											7	Ruslan Ponomariov	5
	2	Vugar Gashimov	1½
	7	Ruslan Ponomariov	3½
						7	Ruslan Ponomariov	4
						22	Vladimir Malakhov	2
	3	Peter Svidler	½
	22	Vladimir Malakhov	1½

Final, 10–14 December

Seed	Name	Rating	1	2	3	4	R1	R2	R3	R4	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4	Total
1	Boris Gelfand (ISR)	2758	½	½	½	½	½	1	½	0	1	0	1	1	7
7	Ruslan Ponomariov (UKR)	2739	½	½	½	½	½	0	½	1	0	1	0	0	5