Chessdom Report
Cheparinov and Kasimdzhanov also win in round eight

Alexander Grischuk wins third consecutive game to take over the lead in Elista Grand Prix. His victim was Chinese Wang Yue, who earlier this year cruised undefeated through 85 classical games.

Ivan Cheparinov forced Evgeny Alexeev to resignation with a beautiful Queen sacrifice, while Rustam Kasimdzhanov delicately outplayed Vladimir Akopian to push him down to the endmost of the crosstable.

Round 8 results, 22nd December 2008

Kasimzhanov Rustam 2672 1-0 Akopian Vladimir 2679
Grischuk Alexander 2719 1-0 Wang Yue 2736
Cheparinov Ivan 2696 1-0 Alexeev Evgeny 2715
Bacrot Etienne 2705 0.5-0.5 Eljanov Pavel 2720
Radjabov Teimour 2751 0.5-0.5 Gashimov Vugar 2703
Mamedyarov Shakhriyar 2731 0.5-0.5 Inarkiev Ernesto 2669
Leko Peter 2747 0.5-0.5 Jakovenko Dmitry 2737

Round 9 pairings, 23rd December 2008

Jakovenko Dmitry 2737 - Kasimzhanov Rustam 2672
Inarkiev Ernesto 2669 - Leko Peter 2747
Gashimov Vugar 2703 - Mamedyarov Shakhriyar 2731
Eljanov Pavel 2720 - Radjabov Teimour 2751
Alexeev Evgeny 2715 - Bacrot Etienne 2705
Wang Yue 2736 - Cheparinov Ivan 2696
Akopian Vladimir 2679 - Grischuk Alexander 2719

Round 8 standings:

1. Grischuk Alexander 2719 RUS - 5.5
2. Gashimov Vugar 2703 AZE - 5.0
3. Radjabov Teimour 2751 AZE - 4.5
4. Jakovenko Dmitry 2737 RUS - 4.5
5. Mamedyarov Shakhriyar 2731 AZE - 4.0
6. Cheparinov Ivan 2696 BUL - 4.0
7. Inarkiev Ernesto 2669 RUS - 4.0
8. Bacrot Etienne 2705 FRA - 4.0
9. Leko Peter 2747 HUN - 3.5
10. Wang Yue 2736 CHN - 3.5
11. Alexeev Evgeny 2719 RUS - 3.5
12. Eljanov Pavel 2720 UKR - 3.5
13. Kasimdzhanov Rustam 2672 - 3.5
14. Akopian Vladimir 2679 ARM - 3.0