Mamedyarov and Ponomariov open up early lead

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Dortmund 2010 (3)

Mamedyarov and Ponomariov open up early lead

IM Malcolm Pein - Tuesday 20th July 2010

Malcolm Pein reports on Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Ruslan Ponomariov's early lead at the Dortmund tournament after 3 rounds.

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. Photo © Georgios Souleidis.

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. Photo © Georgios Souleidis. | http://www.sparkassen-chess-meeting.de/2010/

Rarely does a player establish a 1.5 point lead after three rounds but Ruslan Ponomariov and Shak Mamedyarov have both done it at Dortmund. The pair have amassed 2.5 points while the four others, who include former world champion Vladimir Kramnik, have just 1/3.

Ponomariov was worse, then better, then worse against Arkady Naiditsch before successfully defending rook against rook and bishop. Kramnik grabbed a hot pawn against Peter Leko and was lucky not to lose against the man who drew a world title match against him in 2003. Leko missed two winning ideas on the last move of the time control, neither of them hard to see. The Hungarian also threw away a win in round two against Mamedyarov and looks out of sorts.

Mamedyarov took advantage of his good fortune in round two and defeated debutante Le Quang Liem of Vietnam who qualified by virtue of winning the Aeroflot Open. Mamedyarov created a strong passed pawn but needed to suppress his opponent's counterplay. The most expedient way to do this was to force an exchange of queens.

Le Quang Liem