With just one round to go Russian GM Evgeny Najer is a sole leader in the European championship following his victory in the tenth round on Ukrainian Anton Korobov.
The thriller of the round was the final phase of the game between Russian Denis Khismatullin and Ukrainian Pavel Eljanov (see below). The remaining top games Sjugirov vs Navara; Nepomnianchtchi vs Popov; Illijushenok vs Sargissian; Volokitin vs Motylev; Rodshtein vsBartelended in a draw. Behind the new leader Khismatullin& Navara are now the runners up. The great local story of the tenth round still belongs to two untitled Israelis who have already experienced here quite a few glorious moments. Pinchas Kantarji carried on his stunning achievements beating Georgian GM Levan Pantsulaia thus he is now on 6.5 points and in addition to his third IM norm he has already secured a second GM norm! Ohad Kraus, who had already scored an IM norm in the previous round surprised again, this time beating current Israel champion GM Victor Mikhalevski and he has scored already 6 points! Another Israeli youngster Ori Kobo drew with GM Artyom Timofeev and consequently he is on 5 points scoring his final IM norm.
The standings at the top is as follows: Najer 8; Navara & Khismatullin 7.5 eac. 15 players have 7 points and 25 other players are on 6.5 points. Saturday is a day off and the majority of the participants are to join a city tour in Jerusalem. The last round will start on Sunday at 13.00 in hotel Ramada. The fate of the continental title will be decided in the games Khismatullin vs Najer and Navara vs Cheparinov.
(4) Khismatullin,Denis (2653) – Eljanov,Pavel (2727) [E46]
16th ch-EUR Indiv 2015 Jerusalem ISR (10.3), 06.03.2015
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0–0 5.Nge2 Re8 6.a3 Bf8 7.Ng3 d5 8.Be2 a6 9.0–0 c5 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.cxd5 exd5 12.Bf3 Be6 13.b4 Bd6 14.Bb2 Be5 15.Na4 Bxb2 16.Nxb2 Nc6 17.Nd3 Qb6 18.Rc1 a5 19.Rb1 axb4 20.axb4 Rad8 21.b5 Na5 22.Ne2 Ne4 23.Ndf4 Nc4 24.Bxe4 dxe4 25.Nd4 Bc8 26.Rc1 Ne5 27.Qb3 Qh6 28.Rc5 b6 29.Rd5 Bb7 30.Rxd8 Rxd8 31.Rd1 Qg5 32.Kf1 g6 33.h3 Nd3 34.Nc6 Bxc6 35.bxc6 Qc5 36.Qa4 Kg7 37.Qa1+ Kg8 38.Qa4 Rd6 39.Qa8+ Kg7 40.Qa1+ Kh6 41.Nxd3 exd3 42.Qh8 Qc2 43.Qf8+ Kg5 (diagram)
44.Kg1!! Qxd1+? 45.Kh2 Rxc6 46.Qe7+ Kh6 47.Qf8+ Kg5 48.Qxf7!! Rf6 49.f4+ Kh6 50.Qxf6 Qe2 51.Qf8+ Kh5 52.Qg7 h6 53.Qe5+ Kh4 54.Qf6+ Kh5 55.f5! gxf5 56.Qxf5+ Kh4 57.Qg6 1–0
By Yochanan Afek
Photos by Yoav Nis