Russia's Grischuk makes the right moves to win Sharjah FIDE Grand Prix chess title

Grischuk finished with 5.5 points together with Vachier and Mamedyarov, but the Russian prevailed by tie break by virture of his win over the Azerbaijani in the previous round

Sharjah - GM Alexander Grischuk of Russia drew with co-leader Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France in the final round to win the ?130,000 Sharjah FIDE Grand Prix at the Sharjah Chess Club.
Sheikh Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Mualla, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov feted the winners.
Sheikh Saud thanked the 18 Grandmasters who were competing at the Grand Prix. They included Salem Saleh, the first Grandmaster from UAE to compete in an official World Chess Championship event.
Sheikh Saud presented Maxime with the silver medal while Ilyumzhinov awarded Grischuk with the gold medal and the grand Cup.
Grischuk, playing black, essayed the Ruy Lopez game against the Frenchman. After an exchange
of both Rooks and Queens, the two leaders agreed to split the point on the 23rd move. Grischuk, former World Championship semifinalist and 3-time World blitz chess champion, finished with 5.5 points together with Vachier and Shakriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan but the Russian prevailed by tie break by virture of his win over the Azerbaijani in the previous round. Maxime placed second followed by Mamedyarov in third.
Mamedyarov crushed the Nimzo-Indian defense of women's world champion Hou Yifan of China in 32 moves to climb back after his previous round loss. The Azerbaijani opened up the center to maximize his advantage of the Bishop pair. All of his pieces were bearing down on the Black king when Hou Yifan resigned on the 32nd move unable to stop the attack.
Finishing with 5 points each are, in tie break order, Ding Lliren of China, Michael Adams of England, Dmitry Jakovenko, Hikaru Nakamura of the USA and Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia, Ding Liren essayed the Open Catalan to draw with Aronian. Seeing that they would have to exchange Queens and most pieces, the two agreed to a draw on the 44th move.
Nakamura used the English opening against Englishman Michael Adams and drew in 56 moves after reaching a king and pawn endgame. Jakovenko drew with Nepomniachtchi in 28 moves of a Symmetrical English opening.
Sharing 9th to 12th place at 4.5 points each are Richard Rappport of Hungary, Eljanov Pavel of Ukraine, Li Chao of China and Franciso Vallejo Pons of Spain.
Rapport also used the English opening to draw with Li Chao in 26 moves. Pavel Eljanov used the Moscow variation against the Sicilian defense of Salem AR Saleh of the UAE. The Ukrainian penetrated the seventh rank with his Rook and weaved a mating net with Bishop and Knight.
Facing loss of material, the Emirati resigned on the 38th move.
Levon Aronian of Armenia and Hou Yifan follow with 4 points each. Trailing at 3.5 points each are Saleh AR Salem of the UAE, Jon Ludvig Hammer of Norway and Evgeny Tomashevsky of Russia. Alexander Riazantsev of Russia hugs the cellar at 3 points.
Hammer used the Semi Slav defense against Riazantsev to draw in 43 moves of a minor piece endgame. Tomashevky used the Nimzo-Indian defense to draw with Francisco Vallejo Pons in 27 moves.