Game of the Week: Tkachiev, Dobrov

Game of the Week: Tkachiev, Dobrov

Tournament: Meurthe et Moselle Festival Rapid

ECO: A51: Budapest Gambit declined

In the Meurthe and Moselle Festival Rapid tournament in Nancy, France, most of the usual suspects made it through the prelims into the sixteen player knockout. But a dark horse emerged, as Vladimir Dobrov knocked out Etienne Bacrot, Yannick Pelletier, and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave to make it into the finals. Dobrov met his match in the finale; Vladislav Tkachiev is not only a strong, experienced grandmaster but a specialist at fast time controls as well. In the decisive encounter, Tkachiev built up an attack and let the pieces fly, producing a spectacular and entertaining attack.