Master Report 3

Starting from the third round, the games are being transmitted live on the Chessbase server, reaching a worldwide audience. In IM Jose Luis Vilela De Acuna versus IM Thomas Willemze, a closed kind of Benoni position didn't leave much space to make progress for either side. Neither of the players decided to risk it and thus a draw was agreed. This gave GM Jha Sriram the chance to join the tournament lead with 2.5 out of 3, by beating FM Dewperkash Gajadin. In the classical Queen's Gambit Declined the grandmaster from India systematically increased the pressure.

The Cuban derby between IM Gerardo Lebredo Zaragoitia and IM Luis Lazaro Aguero Jimenez saw a Grünfeld Indian opening in which Black slowly but surely got the initiative. White tried to confuse the issue with an exchange sacrifice, but Black never let go of his winning advantage.

FM Roger Matoewi is not an expert on opening theory, but this man certainly knows how to fight for the initiative. With an enterprising positional exchange sacrifice, he managed to steal the initiative from WGM Alina L’Ami, and went on to create a totally winning position. Just like in the first round, Matoewi let his opponent escape though, this time resulting in a draw.

FM Ryan Harper recovered from his loss in the second round by beating Romario Sanches. The e5-e6 positional pawn sacrifice in the opening was highly instructive, and although the young man from Surinam fought hard, a fierce mating attack based on opposite coloured bishops decided the game.

1st Srefidensi standings after round 3:
1-2 Sriram, Willemze (2.5)
3-5 Aguero Jimenez, L'Ami, Harper (2)
6 Vilela De Acuna (1.5)
7-8 Matoewi, Lebredo Zaragoitia (1)
9 Saches (0.5)
10 Gajadin (0)

IM Merijn van Delft