Ponomariov, no rival for Nakamura

[Javier]

The exhibition match between Nakamura and GM Ponomariov ended in victory for the American GM.

The event went from the 16th to the 25th of May and it was held in Saitnt Louis, USA.

Nakamura lost the first game, and there's some speculation as to why he didn't resign when he only had a King vs Ponomariov's Bishop and Knight. He actually resigned on move 93, which is kind of odd. Why wait till then? why not play till he got checkmated?

Sore loser? plays all positions till the bitter end? your call!

However, he went on to win the match by 3.5 to 2.5.

Apart from the Standard Time Control games, there was also a blitz match, which Nakamura won also (3-1). Here's one of the blitz games showing that Ponomariov was not exactly in top form:

 

 

[Event "Nakamura-Ponomariov Rapid Match"]

[site "Saint Louis USA"]

[Date "2011.05.25"]

[Round "3"]

[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]

[black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]

[Result "0-1"]

[ECO "D11"]

[WhiteElo "2754"]

[blackElo "2774"]

[PlyCount "54"]

[EventDate "2011.05.24"]

[pgn]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Qb3 {Although this move is seen ocassionally

at GM level, it gives black a pleasent choice of valid moves, such as 4...g6

and 4...dxc. In other words, I do not recommend it.} e6 5. Bf4 dxc4 6. Qxc4 b5

7. Qc2 Bb7 8. e4 Nbd7 9. Nbd2 a6 {Preparing ...c5.} 10. a4 Bb4 11. Bd3 c5 12.

axb5 axb5 13. O-O (13. Rxa8 Qxa8 {And the white Pawn on e4 is under attack,

and black threatens c4 also.}) 13... c4 14. Be2 Rc8 15. d5 Qb6 (15... exd5 16.

e5 Ne4 17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Nd4 {With some compensation for white.} (18. Ng5 Nxe5)

) 16. dxe6 fxe6 17. e5 {A rather dubious move, opening up the b7-h1 diagonal,

and conceding the d5 square for the N. Black is already better} Nd5 18. Bg3 O-O

19. Ng5 Rf5 20. Nxe6 {White wants to play Bg4 next, but he has overlooked a

tactical idea...} Qxe6 21. Bg4 Ne3 {Surprise!} 22. Bxf5 (22. fxe3 Rxf1+ 23.

Rxf1 Qxg4 {Winning.}) 22... Nxf5 23. Nf3 Bxf3 24. gxf3 Nc5 25. Rfd1 h5 26. Ra7

h4 27. Bf4 Qg6+ {And Ponomariov resigned without waiting for 28.Kh1 Ng3, 29.

hxg Qxc2.} 0-1

[/pgn]