Game Of the Week: GM Navara vs. GM Durarbayli

GM Navara vs. GM Durarbayli

Opening: C60: Ruy Lopez: fianchetto variation

Player(s): Navara, Durarbayli

Three-time U.S. Champion GM Joel Benjamin brings you a new show every Friday at 15:00 Server Time. Joel is regarded by many as one of the best commentators and analysts' we have in the game today -- so if you want to get ahead of the game, get ready to tune-in!

SOCAR Azerbaijan easily won the European Club Championship with a clean sweep of their seven matches. Veselin Topalov was the heaviest hitter with 4 1/2 from 6, and he may see his rating climb back to the 2800 mark.

Caruana will also improve with his +4 tally, while Anish Giri moves his rating into the upper quadrant of the 2700s. Not all big names were consistent, but some showed particular fighting spirit. Alexander Morozevich saw a decisive result in 5 out of his six games, but his last round opponent, David Navara went one better. The board two for G-Team Novy Bor, last year's surprise winners and this year's second place finisher, played seven games without a draw, winning five of them. Such determination cuts both ways of course, and in this week's featured game, against Vasif Durarbayli of Odlar Yourdu, we will see if Navara squeezed one out or pushed too far.