King's Tournament: King's Indian Classical with 7...Na6

The last round of the King's Tournament in Medias saw all three games end with a Black victory.  In the game Gelfand-Radjabov, Radjabov played 6...Na6 in the Classical Variation, a move he's only played once previously.  The notion behind this move is usually to avoid the body of theory after 6...e5 and 7...Nc6.  Radjabov likely knows this theory better than anyone, having played into the line more than 70 times, but even Radjabov is not above side-stepping an opponent's preparation.  Oftentimes 6...Na6 simply transposes to the more mainstream move order 6...e5 7.O-O Na6, and that's what happens here.  The verdict is out on 7...Na6 (which is this game by transposition), but the general thought is that White has additional options due to a lack of pressure on the White center.  Here, the novelty is 12...d3 and it would seem that White has won the opening phase, but it's never quite so simple....

Linares 2010: Nimzowitsch, Rubinstein

Grischuk beat Gelfand today and Topalov bested Gashimov. They take the early lead at Linares.

World Team Championship: US Defeats Israel

The US defeated Israel today 2.5 - 1.5 behind Nakamura and Onischuk. Nakamura mixed it up with Gelfand in a wild variation of the King's Indian, and it was the World Cup champ who lost his way.

Semi-Slav 101: 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Bd3--Gelfand is through to finals

Gelfand's game today from the World Cup continues the Semi-Slav discussion whereby White avoids both the Meran and the sharper Bg5 lines. It's hard to say what Karjakin had in mind in a must-win situation. Gelfand is almost impossible to predict as White against the Semi-Slav, but Karjakin couldn't have anticipated that Gelfand would be willing to play one of the sharpest lines.

The Bishop's Opening: Gelfand puts Karjakin on the ropes

In today's World Cup, Gelfand delivers a yeoman-like win with the black pieces in a throwback game.