Paco Vallejo takes the lead, Sergei Movsesian moves back to his fatherland
The games between Fabiano Caruana and Nigel Short are already becoming a classic in tournaments, we all still remember their dramatic clash in the last round of the 2009 Corus B 2009, after which Caruana qualified to play in the main group in 2010. Before today Short was the leader in Reggio Emilia, with two victories in the first two rounds.
The opening was a quiet French Tarrasch variation, but black’s move f5 later brought some life into the position. After some exchanges, Caruana takes the game into a promising Queens’ endgame, where eventually he was able to collect a full point.
Sergei Movsesian – Michele Godena was a theoretic encounter in Michele’s “pet line”. The Armenian Grandmaster (from today he returns to represent Armenia, more bellow) decided to play 15. Na3 instead of 15. Qg3. It was a very complicated game but during the time pressure many pieces were exchanged and in the end Godena was a pawn up, however he couldn’t convert it into a victory.

The playing venue is at the Hotel Mercure Astoria (photos by Maria Bolshakova)
Paco Vallejo is inspired! In the opening his Queen took the poisonous-looking b7-pawn, but a brilliant exchange sacrifice gave him the possibility to attack and finally force David Navara into a very inferior endgame. In analysis room both players gave great commentary. Vallejo now leads with 2.5 out of 3.
Alexander Morozevich and Vugar Gashimov were involved in a very long game where white stood slightly better but couldn’t break through. A draw was agreed after the six-hours long combat.

Alexander Morozevich
Round 3 standings:
1. Francisco Vallejo Pons ESP 2698 – 2.5
2. Nigel Short ENG 2680 – 2.0
3-6. Fabiano Caruana ITA 2709, Sergei Movsesian SVK 2721, Vassily Ivanchuk UKR 2764 and Alexander Onischuk USA 2683 – 1.5
7-9. Michele Godena ITA 2549, Vugar Gashimov AZE 2733 and David Navara CZE 2708 (-1) – 1.0
10. Alexander Morozevich RUS 2700 – 0.5 (-1)
Live/replay games with computer analysis
Official website / Interview with Caruana and Ivanchuk
Sergei Movsesian becomes member of the Armenian Chess Federation from today. He wrote an official letter to the Board of the Slovakian Chess Federation and said that he is coming back to his fatherland. He hesitated for a while and waited for a move from the new Slovakian Board, but finally realised that no big changes will happen. Armenia on the contrary has a great program for its best players and offers ideal conditions for the individual improvement.
Source: Šachový týdeník (Chess weekly), thanks to Viktor Novotny. Armenian Chess Federation and FIDE transfers page confirm the information.

Chief organiser Silvano Ferraroni, President of Circolo Ippogrifo di Scacchi, and Roberto Mogranzini, Director of Reggio Emilia tournament

WGM Olga Zimina, member of the Italian Women Olympic team, WGM Yulia Kochetkova, and WGM Martha Fierro, from Ecuador, reigning Women Continental Champion



