Game Of the Week: GM Alexander Ipatov vs. GM Nils Grandelius

Opening: E10: Queen's pawn game: Black Knight Tango

Player(s): Grandelius, Ipatov

Three-time U.S. Champion GM Joel Benjamin brings you a new show every Friday at 15:00 Server Time. Joel is regarded by many as one of the best commentators and analysts' we have in the game today -- so if you want to get ahead of the game, get ready to tune-in!

When GM Joel played in his second World Junior Championship in 1982, so few players even had FIDE ratings that the pairings were made randomly within the score groups. Now, one has to run a gauntlet of grandmasters to win the title. 
 

With such strong opposition any number of players can get hot and go on a run, making the tournament one of the most unpredictable in the world. In the 2012 edition the winner is a grandmaster from the Ukraine who now plays under the Turkish flag, Alexander Ipatov. With a rating of 2577 Ipatov would have been a clear favorite in many years but here he was just seeded sixth. Knowing his tiebreaks were superior, he offered a draw in a winning position in the last round, settling for a still impressive score of 10 from 13.

Ipatov drew with most of his highly rated opponents but scored a big win over the pony-tailed Swedish star Nils Grandelius. Out of the opening Ipatov was banking on his pawns, all eight of them, making a big impression.  In the end, the smallest pieces did the heaviest lifting. Let’s see how it happened.

		White:	GM Alexander Ipatov
		Black:	GM Nils Grandelius
		Description:	World Junior
		ECO:	ECO: E10: Queen's pawn opening
		Run Time:	00:47:59

Teacher's library (449) E10 Grandelius Ipatov game analysis