Download PGN of August ’25 Open Sicilian games
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Sveshnikov 7.Be2 [B33]
We start with Abdusattorov, N - Carlsen, M, where Nodirbek managed to surprise his great opponent with the rare 7.Be2!?:
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As we can see in the notes, this somewhat modest way of developing hardly offers White anything special. Still, it turned out to be a decent practical choice: Magnus didn't take any opportunities of simplifying matters and went for 10...Be7. This led to a slightly passive position, and Black's attempts to complicate the position with a pawn sacrifice didn't really work.
Sveshnikov 7.Nd5 Nxd5 8.exd5 Nb8 9.a4 [B33]
The next game, Degraeve, R - Bazakutsa, V, saw White employ the rare 10.b4!?:
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Black reacted with 10...Bf5, and the players soon entered an interesting position that was previously seen in Cheparinov - Gukesh. Svyatoslav was the first to deviate with the prophylactic 15...Rc8 that seems to offer Black acceptable play. At some point White didn't manage to withstand the pressure, and after 26.Bxd3?, followed by 29.Qxf5? Black scored a full point.
Kan 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Bb4 7.Qd3 [B41]
The game Sokolovsky, Y - Castellanos Rodriguez, R saw Black deviate from the main paths with 7...Qc7:
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which leads to a solid but somewhat passive position. This game illustrates Black's permanent issues with space: although Yahli's play wasn't perfect, Renier still came under strong pressure (after missing 20...Qa7!). The critical point came on move 31: the careless 31...R5c7? allowed White to easily convert his advantage.
The Four Knights 6.Qd3 [B45]
In the next game, Volokitin, A - Klimkowski, J, Jan illustrated his decent preparation in this rare line with 6.Qd3: Black played the new (for our site) 6...Qc7!? followed by 10...h5!?:
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and the players soon liquidated into a roughly equal endgame. A well-played game by both. At the moment, the ball is in White's court.
The Four Knights 6.Bf4 d6 [B45]
The next game, Park, E - Ghazarian, K has a certain theoretical value. The position after 9.Ba4 recently covered in Abdusattorov - Praggnanandhaa. Kirk played the new 9...d5:
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and it looks like it the players were equipped with home analyses - the balance was kept till move 18 after optimal play by both. Unfortunately, the intrigue was killed by 2 White mistakes, especially 22.b4?
I expect further tests of 9...d5 soon.
Classical Richter-Rauzer 6.Bg5 e6 7.Bb5 [B62]
The game Zanan, E - Korobov, A is a sort of opening disaster. In the position after 10.0-0-0 Anton went for the rare and risky 10...Qb6!
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Evgeny reacted well with the novelty 11.Nxc6, when 11...bxc6? turned out to be nearly the decisive mistake. White was able to defeat his experienced opponent in great style.
Najdorf 6.Qd3 e6 [B90]
The game Pulvett Marin, D - Mendonca, L saw an interesting theoretical discussion in the 6.Qd3 line, when White played the most aggressive 7.g4!?:
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Black bravely accepted the challenge, and it was followed by the ambitious 9...b5 with 10...b4. At this point White went astray with the timid 11.Na4? that could have invited big trouble. Luckily for Daniel Eduardo, his higher-rated opponent returned the favor with 17...Kxd7?? Eventually it is GM Mendonca who should be happy with sharing a point.
Najdorf 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3 h5 9.Nd5...11...Qc7 [B90]
The last game, Vaishali, R - Iniyan, P, saw Black opt for a risky approach with 11...Qc7, followed by advancing the a-pawn. In the critical Diagram position after 16...Rxa5:
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White came up with a novelty, 17.b4?!, that seems to spoil the lion's part of his advantage. Even so, had she played 23.Bc4! GM Iniyan would have faced definite problems in the endgame. All in all it was a well-played game by both, where White had no risk.
See you next month, Michael
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