Vassily Ivanchuck is an Ukrainian Grandmaster born in 1969. He won several super tournaments, including Linares, Tilburg and Corus. He was ranked as high as 2nd in the 90s and as late as 2007.He is known as eccentric and for his unpredictable temperament.
Loek van Wely is a Dutch Grandmaster born in 1972. He won 6 consecutive Dutch Championships starting in 2000. He worked as a second for Vladimir Kramnik and reached his peak rating of 2714 in 2001.
They met 44 times in official games with Ivanchuck scoring 15 wins, 6 loses and 22 draws.
The game saw the a Sicilian Najdorf. Van Wely gives up the exchange for a pawn and positional compensation. In the following midgame both players damage each others Pawn Structure. Ivanchuck is able to simplifiy the position and when van Wely blunders, the game is over after only 23 moves.
| Enlarge view |
