The third round of Corus 2009 promises to be full of razor sharp opening battles. Will Jan Smeets hold on to his leading position with the Botvinnik Variation? Just like yesterday, ChessVibes will provide regular updates and photos.
Update added 17:45Clearly, the game to start with is Loek van Wely vs. Jan Smeets: a very interesting Botvinnik Variation indeed! Smeets deviated from a rapid game Van Wely-Shirov, Monaco 2005 with 19...Bxe7 and produced a novelty on move 21: before, 21...Qc6 was always played in this position. Both players seems to follow Rybka's main line after this. Its evaluation, meaningless though it may be, is +.0.52 for White after 27.Re2! (Instead, Loek already chose for perpetual check.)Another game to follow closely is Ivanchuk-Radjabov, where Black avoided the main lines by going for 9...Ne8, which was answered by the not so popular 10.a4; 12.Bg5 seems to be the new move here. And what to think of the tactical endgame Aronian and Stellwagen are playing? After 18 moves, a surprisingly dynamic balance seems to have been established. Carlsen-Movsesian is a very principled Bishops vs. Knights fight, reminiscent of some classic Chigorin games.
It looks like a tough round in general, with games that basically still have to start. Karjakin-Wang Yue and Adams-Dominguez are the always-exciting Sicilians of this round. Finally, today's Ruy Lopez comes from
Movsesian Morozevich and Kamsky. That game is analysed
live (in Russian) by Sergey Shipov.
Update 16:40Two games that we were enthusiastic about, have already finished: Van Wely-Smeets and Aronian-Stellwagen. So, again, the Dutch stay out of trouble. Also, Carlsen-Movsesian was a relatively quick draw. Ivanchuk is gaining more and more space against Radjabov, but Black's position looks solid so far. Needless to say, the computer likes White in this kind of positions. Meanwhile, Kamsky has beaten Morozevich, who had made some very dubious decisions in the early middle game (17...Nxg4 and 19...exd4) and susequently had to pay the price. The American showed his game in the press room in record tempo, but we've got it on video. As to the other games in Group A, we''ll really have to wait until time-trouble sets in.
In Group B, Short had an easy day against Erwin L'Ami, who never solved his opening problems. Again, it must be noted, ancient lines seem to do the trick! In an interview with ChessVibes, Short admitted he was extra motivated when he heard that L'Ami is actually Cheparinov's second... And just like last year, this little bit of extra went fine for the Englishman.  
Update 17:45Radjabov caused the first real shock of the day by suddenly beating Ivanchuk with Black. It seems Ivanchuk simply blundered in time trouble (38.Rxc7?? instead of 38.Rg3 which is OK according to the computer) but admittedly, the position was so complicated that Radjabov definitely deserves credit for it. Meanwhile, Adams is still pushing against Dominguez; Karjakin-Wang Yue is still going on, too. Here we find it impossible to say who's better. (In the end, both games ended in a draw.)
Kasimdzhanov proved his good form by scoring another fine victory in Group B, and in C, of course, Ali Bitalzadeh's win over Gupta cannot go unnoticed on our site. Manuel Bosboom, who must be the most popular Dutchman in all three groups, retains his leading position in Group C by drawing Romanishin with Black. He was joined by ICC qualifier Eduardo Iturrizaga, who's also on 2.5/3. Here are all of today's games for replay:
GM Group A | | GM Group B |
| | |
GM Group C |
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|
Schedule & results Grandmaster Group A
| Round 1 - Saturday 17.01.2009 |
| D. Stellwagen - S. Movsesian ¬?-¬? |
  |
| M. Carlsen - T. Radjabov ¬?-¬? |
  |
| L. Aronian - Wang Yue ¬?-¬? |
  |
| V. Ivanchuk - J. Smeets 0-1 |
  |
| S. Karjakin - A. Morozevich 1-0 |
  |
| L. van Wely - L. Dominguez ¬?-¬? |
  |
| G. Kamsky - M. Adams ¬?-¬? |
  |
|
| Round 2 - Sunday 18.01.2009 |
| S. Movsesian - M. Adams 1-0 |
  |
| L. Dominguez - G. Kamsky ¬?-¬? |
  |
| A. Morozevich - L. van Wely 1-0 |
  |
| J. Smeets - S. Karjakin ¬?-¬? |
  |
| Wang Yue - V. Ivanchuk 0-1 |
  |
| T. Radjabov - L. Aronian ¬?-¬? |
  |
| D. Stellwagen - M. Carlsen ¬?-¬? |
  |
|
| Round 3 - Monday 19.01.2009 |
| M. Carlsen - S. Movsesian ¬?-¬? |
  |
| L. Aronian - D. Stellwagen ¬?-¬? |
  |
| V. Ivanchuk - T. Radjabov 0-1 |
  |
| S. Karjakin - Wang Yue ¬?-¬? |
  |
| L. van Wely - J. Smeets ¬?-¬? |
  |
| G. Kamsky - A. Morozevich 1-0 |
  |
| M. Adams - L. Dominguez ¬?-¬? |
  |
|
| Round 4 - Tuesday 20.01.2009 |
| S. Movsesian - L. Dominguez |
  |
| A. Morozevich - M. Adams |
  |
| J. Smeets - G. Kamsky |
  |
| Wang Yue - L. van Wely |
  |
| T. Radjabov - S. Karjakin |
  |
| D. Stellwagen - V. Ivanchuk |
  |
| M. Carlsen - L. Aronian |
  |
|
| Round 5 - Thursday 22.01.2009 |
| L. Aronian - S. Movsesian |
  |
| V. Ivanchuk - M. Carlsen |
  |
| S. Karjakin - D. Stellwagen |
  |
| L. van Wely - T. Radjabov |
  |
| G. Kamsky - Wang Yue |
  |
| M. Adams - J. Smeets |
  |
| L. Dominguez - A. Morozevich |
  |
|
| Round 6 - Friday 23.01.2009 |
| S. Movsesian - A. Morozevich |
  |
| J. Smeets - L. Dominguez |
  |
| Wang Yue - M. Adams |
  |
| T. Radjabov - G. Kamsky |
  |
| D. Stellwagen - L. van Wely |
  |
| M. Carlsen - S. Karjakin |
  |
| L. Aronian - V. Ivanchuk |
  |
|
| Round 7 - Saturday 24.01.2009 |
| V. Ivanchuk - S. Movsesian |
  |
| S. Karjakin - L. Aronian |
  |
| L. van Wely - M. Carlsen |
  |
| G. Kamsky - D. Stellwagen |
  |
| M. Adams - T. Radjabov |
  |
| L. Dominguez - Wang Yue |
  |
| A. Morozevich - J. Smeets |
  |
|
| Round 8 - Sunday 25.01.2009 |
| S. Movsesian - J. Smeets |
  |
| Wang Yue - A. Morozevich |
  |
| T. Radjabov - L. Dominguez |
  |
| D. Stellwagen - M. Adams |
  |
| M. Carlsen - G. Kamsky |
  |
| L. Aronian - L. van Wely |
  |
| V. Ivanchuk - S. Karjakin |
  |
|
| Round 9 - Tuesday 27.01.2009 |
| S. Karjakin - S. Movsesian |
  |
| L. van Wely - V. Ivanchuk |
  |
| G. Kamsky - L. Aronian |
  |
| M. Adams - M. Carlsen |
  |
| L. Dominguez - D. Stellwagen |
  |
| A. Morozevich - T. Radjabov |
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| J. Smeets - Wang Yue |
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|
| Round 10 - Wednesday 28.01.2009 |
| S. Movsesian - Wang Yue |
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| T. Radjabov - J. Smeets |
  |
| D. Stellwagen - A. Morozevich |
  |
| M. Carlsen - L. Dominguez |
  |
| L. Aronian - M. Adams |
  |
| V. Ivanchuk - G. Kamsky |
  |
| S. Karjakin - L. van Wely |
  |
|
| Round 11 - Friday 30.01.2009 |
| L. van Wely - S. Movsesian |
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| G. Kamsky - S. Karjakin |
  |
| M. Adams - V. Ivanchuk |
  |
| L. Dominguez - L. Aronian |
  |
| A. Morozevich - M. Carlsen |
  |
| J. Smeets - D. Stellwagen |
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| Wang Yue - T. Radjabov |
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|
| Round 12 - Saturday 31.01.2009 |
| S. Movsesian - T. Radjabov |
  |
| D. Stellwagen - Wang Yue |
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| M. Carlsen - J. Smeets |
  |
| L. Aronian - A. Morozevich |
  |
| V. Ivanchuk - L. Dominguez |
  |
| S. Karjakin - M. Adams |
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| L. van Wely - G. Kamsky |
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|
| Round 13 - Sunday 1.02.2009 |
| G. Kamsky - S. Movsesian |
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| M. Adams - L. van Wely |
  |
| L. Dominguez - S. Karjakin |
  |
| A. Morozevich - V. Ivanchuk |
  |
| J. Smeets - L. Aronian |
  |
| Wang Yue - M. Carlsen |
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| T. Radjabov - D. Stellwagen |
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|
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[TABLE=567]
Schedule & results Grandmaster Group B
| Round 1 - Saturday 17.01.2009 |
| Hou Yifan - R. Kasimdzhanov 0-1 |
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| K. Sasikiran - E. l'Ami ¬?-¬? |
  |
| D. Reinderman - F. Vallejo Pons 0-1 |
  |
| N. Short - J. Werle ¬?-¬? |
  |
| A. Volokitin - F. Caruana ¬?-¬? |
  |
| H. Mecking - Z. Efimenko 0-1 |
  |
| A. Motylev - D. Navara 0-1 |
  |
|
| Round 2 - Sunday 18.01.2009 |
| R. Kasimdzhanov - D. Navara ¬?-¬? |
  |
| Z. Efimenko - A. Motylev ¬?-¬? |
  |
| F. Caruana - H. Mecking 1-0 |
  |
| J. Werle - A. Volokitin ¬?-¬? |
  |
| F. Vallejo Pons - N. Short 0-1 |
  |
| E. l'Ami - D. Reinderman ¬?-¬? |
  |
| Hou Yifan - K. Sasikiran 1-0 |
  |
|
| Round 3 - Monday 19.01.2009 |
| K. Sasikiran - R. Kasimdzhanov 0-1 |
  |
| D. Reinderman - Hou Yifan 1-0 |
  |
| N. Short - E. l'Ami 1-0 |
  |
| A. Volokitin - F. Vallejo Pons ¬?-¬? |
  |
| H. Mecking - J. Werle ¬?-¬? |
  |
| A. Motylev - F. Caruana ¬?-¬? |
  |
| D. Navara - Z. Efimenko 1-0 |
  |
|
| Round 4 - Tuesday 20.01.2009 |
| R. Kasimdzhanov - Z. Efimenko |
  |
| F. Caruana - D. Navara |
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| J. Werle - A. Motylev |
  |
| F. Vallejo Pons - H. Mecking |
  |
| E. l'Ami - A. Volokitin |
  |
| Hou Yifan - N. Short |
  |
| K. Sasikiran - D. Reinderman |
  |
|
| Round 5 - Thursday 22.01.2009 |
| D. Reinderman - R. Kasimdzhanov |
  |
| N. Short - K. Sasikiran |
  |
| A. Volokitin - Hou Yifan |
  |
| H. Mecking - E. l'Ami |
  |
| A. Motylev - F. Vallejo Pons |
  |
| D. Navara - J. Werle |
  |
| Z. Efimenko - F. Caruana |
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|
| Round 6 - Friday 23.01.2009 |
| R. Kasimdzhanov - F. Caruana |
  |
| J. Werle - Z. Efimenko |
  |
| F. Vallejo Pons - D. Navara |
  |
| E. l'Ami - A. Motylev |
  |
| Hou Yifan - H. Mecking |
  |
| K. Sasikiran - A. Volokitin |
  |
| D. Reinderman - N. Short |
  |
|
| Round 7 - Saturday 24.01.2009 |
| N. Short - R. Kasimdzhanov |
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| A. Volokitin - D. Reinderman |
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| H. Mecking - K. Sasikiran |
  |
| A. Motylev - Hou Yifan |
  |
| D. Navara - E. l'Ami |
  |
| Z. Efimenko - F. Vallejo Pons |
  |
| F. Caruana - J. Werle |
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|
| Round 8 - Sunday 25.01.2009 |
| R. Kasimdzhanov - J. Werle |
  |
| F. Vallejo Pons - F. Caruana |
  |
| E. l'Ami - Z. Efimenko |
  |
| Hou Yifan - D. Navara |
  |
| K. Sasikiran - A. Motylev |
  |
| D. Reinderman - H. Mecking |
  |
| N. Short - A. Volokitin |
  |
|
| Round 9 - Tuesday 27.01.2009 |
| A. Volokitin - R. Kasimdzhanov |
  |
| H. Mecking - N. Short |
  |
| A. Motylev - D. Reinderman |
  |
| D. Navara - K. Sasikiran |
  |
| Z. Efimenko - Hou Yifan |
  |
| F. Caruana - E. l'Ami |
  |
| J. Werle - F. Vallejo Pons |
  |
|
| Round 10 - Wednesday 28.01.2009 |
| R. Kasimdzhanov - F. Vallejo Pons |
  |
| E. l'Ami - J. Werle |
  |
| Hou Yifan - F. Caruana |
  |
| K. Sasikiran - Z. Efimenko |
  |
| D. Reinderman - D. Navara |
  |
| N. Short - A. Motylev |
  |
| A. Volokitin - H. Mecking |
  |
|
| Round 11 - Friday 30.01.2009 |
| H. Mecking - R. Kasimdzhanov |
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| A. Motylev - A. Volokitin |
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| D. Navara - N. Short |
  |
| Z. Efimenko - D. Reinderman |
  |
| F. Caruana - K. Sasikiran |
  |
| J. Werle - Hou Yifan |
  |
| F. Vallejo Pons - E. l'Ami |
  |
|
| Round 12 - Saturday 31.01.2009 |
| R. Kasimdzhanov - E. l'Ami |
  |
| Hou Yifan - F. Vallejo Pons |
  |
| K. Sasikiran - J. Werle |
  |
| D. Reinderman - F. Caruana |
  |
| N. Short - Z. Efimenko |
  |
| A. Volokitin - D. Navara |
  |
| H. Mecking - A. Motylev |
  |
|
| Round 13 - Sunday 1.02.2009 |
| A. Motylev - R. Kasimdzhanov |
  |
| D. Navara - H. Mecking |
  |
| Z. Efimenko - A. Volokitin |
  |
| F. Caruana - N. Short |
  |
| J. Werle - D. Reinderman |
  |
| F. Vallejo Pons - K. Sasikiran |
  |
| E. l'Ami - Hou Yifan |
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|
  |
[TABLE=568]
Schedule & results Grandmaster Group C
| Round 1 - Saturday 17.01.2009 |
| T. Hillarp Persson - R. Pruijssers ¬?-¬? |
  |
| D. Howell - M. Bosboom 0-1 |
  |
| F. Nijboer - W. So 0-1 |
  |
| O. Romanishin - A. Bitalzadeh 1-0 |
  |
| A. Giri - F. Holzke ¬?-¬? |
  |
| A. Gupta - D. Harika 0-1 |
  |
| E. Iturrizaga - M. Leon Hoyos 1-0 |
  |
|
| Round 2 - Sunday 18.01.2009 |
| R. Pruijssers - M. Leon Hoyos 1-0 |
  |
| D. Harika - E. Iturrizaga ¬?-¬? |
  |
| F. Holzke - A. Gupta ¬?-¬? |
  |
| A. Bitalzadeh - A. Giri ¬?-¬? |
  |
| W. So - O. Romanishin ¬?-¬? |
  |
| M. Bosboom - F. Nijboer 1-0 |
  |
| T. Hillarp Persson - D. Howell 1-0 |
  |
|
| Round 3 - Monday 19.01.2009 |
| D. Howell - R. Pruijssers 1-0 |
  |
| F. Nijboer - T. Hillarp Persson ¬?-¬? |
  |
| O. Romanishin - M. Bosboom ¬?-¬? |
  |
| A. Giri - W. So ¬?-¬? |
  |
| A. Gupta - A. Bitalzadeh 0-1 |
  |
| E. Iturrizaga - F. Holzke 1-0 |
  |
| M. Leon Hoyos - D. Harika 1-0 |
  |
|
| Round 4 - Tuesday 20.01.2009 |
| R. Pruijssers - D. Harika |
  |
| F. Holzke - M. Leon Hoyos |
  |
| A. Bitalzadeh - E. Iturrizaga |
  |
| W. So - A. Gupta |
  |
| M. Bosboom - A. Giri |
  |
| T. Hillarp Persson - O. Romanishin |
  |
| D. Howell - F. Nijboer |
  |
|
| Round 5 - Thursday 22.01.2009 |
| F. Nijboer - R. Pruijssers |
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| O. Romanishin - D. Howell |
  |
| A. Giri - T. Hillarp Persson |
  |
| A. Gupta - M. Bosboom |
  |
| E. Iturrizaga - W. So |
  |
| M. Leon Hoyos - A. Bitalzadeh |
  |
| D. Harika - F. Holzke |
  |
|
| Round 6 - Friday 23.01.2009 |
| R. Pruijssers - F. Holzke |
  |
| A. Bitalzadeh - D. Harika |
  |
| W. So - M. Leon Hoyos |
  |
| M. Bosboom - E. Iturrizaga |
  |
| T. Hillarp Persson - A. Gupta |
  |
| D. Howell - A. Giri |
  |
| F. Nijboer - O. Romanishin |
  |
|
| Round 7 - Saturday 24.01.2009 |
| O. Romanishin - R. Pruijssers |
  |
| A. Giri - F. Nijboer |
  |
| A. Gupta - D. Howell |
  |
| E. Iturrizaga - T. Hillarp Persson |
  |
| M. Leon Hoyos - M. Bosboom |
  |
| D. Harika - W. So |
  |
| F. Holzke - A. Bitalzadeh |
  |
|
| Round 8 - Sunday 25.01.2009 |
| R. Pruijssers - A. Bitalzadeh |
  |
| W. So - F. Holzke |
  |
| M. Bosboom - D. Harika |
  |
| T. Hillarp Persson - M. Leon Hoyos |
  |
| D. Howell - E. Iturrizaga |
  |
| F. Nijboer - A. Gupta |
  |
| O. Romanishin - A. Giri |
  |
|
| Round 9 - Tuesday 27.01.2009 |
| A. Giri - R. Pruijssers |
  |
| A. Gupta - O. Romanishin |
  |
| E. Iturrizaga - F. Nijboer |
  |
| M. Leon Hoyos - D. Howell |
  |
| D. Harika - T. Hillarp Persson |
  |
| F. Holzke - M. Bosboom |
  |
| A. Bitalzadeh - W. So |
  |
|
| Round 10 - Wednesday 28.01.2009 |
| R. Pruijssers - W. So |
  |
| M. Bosboom - A. Bitalzadeh |
  |
| T. Hillarp Persson - F. Holzke |
  |
| D. Howell - D. Harika |
  |
| F. Nijboer - M. Leon Hoyos |
  |
| O. Romanishin - E. Iturrizaga |
  |
| A. Giri - A. Gupta |
  |
|
| Round 11 - Friday 30.01.2009 |
| A. Gupta - R. Pruijssers |
  |
| E. Iturrizaga - A. Giri |
  |
| M. Leon Hoyos - O. Romanishin |
  |
| D. Harika - F. Nijboer |
  |
| F. Holzke - D. Howell |
  |
| A. Bitalzadeh - T. Hillarp Persson |
  |
| W. So - M. Bosboom |
  |
|
| Round 12 - Saturday 31.01.2009 |
| R. Pruijssers - M. Bosboom |
  |
| T. Hillarp Persson - W. So |
  |
| D. Howell - A. Bitalzadeh |
  |
| F. Nijboer - F. Holzke |
  |
| O. Romanishin - D. Harika |
  |
| A. Giri - M. Leon Hoyos |
  |
| A. Gupta - E. Iturrizaga |
  |
|
| Round 13 - Sunday 1.02.2009 |
| E. Iturrizaga - R. Pruijssers |
  |
| M. Leon Hoyos - A. Gupta |
  |
| D. Harika - A. Giri |
  |
| F. Holzke - O. Romanishin |
  |
| A. Bitalzadeh - F. Nijboer |
  |
| W. So - D. Howell |
  |
| M. Bosboom - T. Hillarp Persson |
  |
|
  |
[TABLE=569]Links:
The third round of Corus 2009 promises to be full of razor sharp opening battles. Will Jan Smeets hold on to his leading position with the Botvinnik Variation? Just like yesterday, ChessVibes will provide regular updates and photos. Update added 17:45Clearly, the game to start with is Loek van Wely vs. Jan Smeets: a very interesting Botvinnik Variation indeed! Smeets deviated from a rapid game Van Wely-Shirov, Monaco 2005 with 19...Bxe7 and produced a novelty on move 21: before, 21...Qc6 was always played in this position. Both players seems to follow Rybka's main line after this. Its evaluation, meaningless though it may be, is +.0.52 for White after 27.Re2! (Instead, Loek already chose for perpetual check.)Another game to follow closely is Ivanchuk-Radjabov, where Black avoided the main lines by going for 9...Ne8, which was answered by the not so popular 10.a4; 12.Bg5 seems to be the new move here. And what to think of the tactical endgame Aronian and Stellwagen are playing? After 18 moves, a surprisingly dynamic balance seems to have been established. Carlsen-Movsesian is a very principled Bishops vs. Knights fight, reminiscent of some classic Chigorin games.
It looks like a tough round in general, with games that basically still have to start. Karjakin-Wang Yue and Adams-Dominguez are the always-exciting Sicilians of this round. Finally, today's Ruy Lopez comes from 
In Group B, Short had an easy day against Erwin L'Ami, who never solved his opening problems. Again, it must be noted, ancient lines seem to do the trick! In an interview with ChessVibes, Short admitted he was extra motivated when he heard that L'Ami is actually Cheparinov's second... And just like last year, this little bit of extra went fine for the Englishman.  Update 17:45Radjabov caused the first real shock of the day by suddenly beating Ivanchuk with Black. It seems Ivanchuk simply blundered in time trouble (38.Rxc7?? instead of 38.Rg3 which is OK according to the computer) but admittedly, the position was so complicated that Radjabov definitely deserves credit for it. Meanwhile, Adams is still pushing against Dominguez; Karjakin-Wang Yue is still going on, too. Here we find it impossible to say who's better. (In the end, both games ended in a draw.)
Kasimdzhanov proved his good form by scoring another fine victory in Group B, and in C, of course, Ali Bitalzadeh's win over Gupta cannot go unnoticed on our site. Manuel Bosboom, who must be the most popular Dutchman in all three groups, retains his leading position in Group C by drawing Romanishin with Black. He was joined by ICC qualifier Eduardo Iturrizaga, who's also on 2.5/3. Here are all of today's games for replay:
