After losing the first playoff game, Ponomariov scored 3 straight wins to earn a spot in the 2009 World Cup final against Boris Gelfand.
[Event “World Cup 2009”]
[Date “2009.12.08”]
[Round “66”]
[White “Malakhov, Vladimir”]
[Black “Ponomariov, Ruslan”]
[Result “0-1”]
[WhiteElo “2706”]
[WhiteCountry “RUS”]
[BlackElo “2739”]
[BlackCountry “UKR”]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 c5 7. Nf3 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Bg3 Ne4 10. e3 Bf5 11. Bd3 c4 12. Bxe4 Bxe4 13. Qa4+ Nc6 14. Ne5 Bxg2 15. Nxc6 Bxc3+ 16. bxc3 Qd7 17. Rg1 Be4 18. Be5 Rg8 19. f3 Bd3 20. e4 Qxc6 21. Qa5 dxe4 22. Kf2 f6 23. Bg3 b6 24. Qb4 e3+ 25. Ke1 Qxf3 0-1
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Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Susan!!
You have to appreciate me of my prediction before Rnd of 16. During Semifinal I had added to that Ponomariov will win against Gelfand in the final.
My only doubt was on Maxim Lagrave of France against Gelfand. Other wise from the earlier rnds it was pretty clear where the tourney is going.
By the by PONO deserves it as FIDE and Kasparov together deprived him of his rights as FIDE world champion
Interestin stuff ! i thought white was suppose to be winnin all da games! whats happenin Susan? “they mixin me up” hehe.
Dear Susan,
We sort of got used to that your amazing blog, reporting almost minute to minute what is happening in the world of chess, available for us. Let me remind all visitors how much work this takes and I thank you in the name of everybody that you are continuing to do this for us.
Knockout Performance
—————
Some of the best performance in KO format
Anand
——–
1997-Winner
2000-Winner
2000-Winner(World cup)
2002-Winner(World cup)
2002-Semifinal
Ponomariov
————-
2002-Winner
2005-Final(World cup)
2007-Quarterfinal(World cup)
2009-Final(World cup)
Gelfand
———
1997-semifinal
2000-semifinal(World cup)
2002-Quarterfinal
2005-Quarterfinal(World cup)
2009-Final(World cup)
Shirov
——-
1997-Quarterfinal
1999-Quarterfinal
2000-Final
2002-Quarterfinal
2007-Final(World cup)
Adams
——
1997-Final
2000-semifinal
2004-Final
2007-Pre-quarterfinal(World cup)
Kasimdzhanov
————-
2002-Final(World cup)
2004-Winner
Karjakin
———
2007-semifinal(World cup)
2009-semifinal(World cup)
Malakhov
———-
2002-Quarterfinal(World cup)
2005-Pre-quarterfinal(World cup)
2009-semifinal(World cup)
Knockout Performance
—————
Some of the best performance in KO format
Anand
——–
1997-Winner
2000-Winner
2000-Winner(World cup)
2002-Winner(World cup)
2002-Semifinal
Ponomariov
————-
2002-Winner
2005-Final(World cup)
2007-Quarterfinal(World cup)
2009-Final(World cup)
Gelfand
———
1997-semifinal
2000-semifinal(World cup)
2002-Quarterfinal
2005-Quarterfinal(World cup)
2009-Final(World cup)
Shirov
——-
1997-Quarterfinal
1999-Quarterfinal
2000-Final
2002-Quarterfinal
2007-Final(World cup)
Adams
——
1997-Final
1999-semifinal
2000-semifinal
2004-Final
2007-Pre-quarterfinal(World cup)
Kasimdzhanov
————-
2002-Final(World cup)
2004-Winner
Karjakin
———
2007-semifinal(World cup)
2009-semifinal(World cup)
Malakhov
———-
2002-Quarterfinal(World cup)
2005-Pre-quarterfinal(World cup)
2009-semifinal(World cup)
Well said Gabor.
Pradeep , I think you missed Kamsky, 2007 winner and Ivanchuk 2002 runnerup
Gutsy win by Ponomariov. Surprising, too – I would have thought that it wouldn’t be that hard for White to hold a draw in the 4.Qc2 d5 line if he was content with that. I don’t know where White first went wrong, but obviously it was a bad mistake not to trade queens and go into the pawn-down opposite-colored bishops ending.
Oh, I think I misunderstood in my previous comment. I thought this was game 2 for Malakhov (which he could draw and still win the match) rather than a must-win game after he was behind in the rapid playoffs.
Go Pono,Go!
America is behind you!