Anton Korobov beats the surprising leader in the A-Open, GM Quesada Perez (photo) seems very strong
After three games, the match between Elisabeth Pähtz and Dinara Wagner at the Dortmund International Chess Days is still equal. Wagner opened the third game with White, Pähtz played the King's Indian Defence. The game quickly turned into a Benoni structure in which the opening phase turned negative for White. Pähtz had a slight advantage, with an open e-file in the position and afterwards she subsequently regretted not having got more out of the middlegame.
However, Wagner realised that he would not be able to get more than half a point today, defended skilfully and ultimately achieved a drawn endgame. With the draw, the score is now 1.5 - 1.5 after 3 games. Tomorrow, Pähtz will try to utilise the first mover advantage with White.
Lead changes in the A-Open
In the A-Open, the leading Nadav Zemach actually lost unnecessarily against Ukrainian grandmaster Anton Korobov. Rather than ending in a drawn rook ending, Zemach let the game slip out of his hands and Korobov took the chance he had been patiently waiting for. On the second board, IM Vadym Petrovskyi was satisfied with a white draw against GM Frederik Svane and took it from him by forcing a perpetual check.
Two other grandmasters are level with Korobov at the top: GM Luis Ernesto Quesada Perez (Cuba) and GM David Gavrilescu (Romania) won their games in the fifth round. Meanwhile, GM Christopher Woijn Yoo recovered from his defeat on the previous day. He won against FM Jonas Gallasch and is half a point behind the leading trio.
In the B-Open, 5 players are still without points after 4 rounds. Among them is 10-year-old Harshill Pradeep from SK Bickenbach. The second half of the tournament, starting on Thursday, will be about the best placings before the final weekend.