Seventh day of the Miguel Najdorf Memorial didn’t bring many changes in the leading group – we had draws on first two boards.

And while we cannot complain about the performance of the leaders, the other dimension isn’t that pleasant. A quick draw after fifteen minutes without even pretending to fight. Players shouldn’t do that to their supporters.

Understandably, GM Julian Radulski, as soon as Mista and Dziuba drew, also offered a draw. But his opponent, Mikhail Brodsky refused and tried to breech the defences in a position with isolated pawn. Player from Bulgaria was defending skillfully, then sacrificed an exchange for a pawn and bishop pair. Only then Brodski agreed for a draw.

Monika Socko suffered her first defeat. But I have to admit that Vadim Malakhatko was simply better. Monika played the opening too ambitiously and her position just fell apart.

On further boards there were a couple of weaker games. GM Jakubowski didn’t play well and lost to the experienced GM Sveshnikov, and GM Simonian lost in a terrible way to GM Olszewski. Player from Armenia was slightly worse after opening, but then his opponent blundered a pawn in the time trouble. It was transformed into completely winning endgame. I still can’t understand how he could have played 42.g4?? After that move his position turned from winning into much worse. Eventually he lost.

Grandmasters Macieja and Erdos still have some chances for joining the fight for the first place. They both won quite easily. Draws of Zhigalko and Hammer definitively sealed their destiny.

Report by IM Stanislaw Zawadzki. More information on the official website.