1st Bikaner GM Open R2-3: Kushagra conquers Krasenkow, Ram Aravind superb against Luka

A good day for Arhan Chethan Anand

Six players are currently in the lead with a 100% score - GM Abhijeet Gupta, GM Boris Savchenko, Arya Omidi (IRI), IM Tahbaz Arash (IRI), IM Kushagra and FM Ram Aravind.

Round 2: Dhananjay - Abhijeet: 0-1

Dhananjay S (2181) was completely winning against GM Abhijeet Gupta (2607).

28.Rde1 Bg7 29.Re7 Qf6 30.Bf5 is the primary way for White to convert his advantage into a win. However, the game continued 28.Be6 Qf6 29.g3 Ba6 30.Rfe1?? Bd3 31.Qb4 Qxf2+ 32.Kh1 Rxa2 and it's over.

Aaditya Dhingra - Savchenko: 0-1

Aaditya Dhingra's (2154) tenacious play in the double rook endgame almost earned him a half point against GM Boris Savchenko (2550).

41.g6 was White's final attempt of grasping at straws. 41...Kg7 42.Rxh7+ Kxg6 and it's over for White. However, White did not gauge the potential harm the pawn can cause and simply continued with his f-pawn push f3 42.gxh7+ now suddenly White is very much back in the game.

The b2-pawn cannot be defended as 57.Rb1 runs into Rdxb2+ 58.Rxb2 Rxb2+ 59.Kxb2 f1Q and Black wins. Thus, the only saving grace for White was 57.Ka3. It is certainly not easy to find. 57.Rh1 was played in the game Rbxb2+ 58.Ka3 Ra2+ 59.Kb4 Rd8 60.Rf1 Rb8+ and now White needed to keep his king in the open instead of the edge to continue the fight. 61.Ka5 meant Black is now completely winning after a3.

Dhyey - Rajesh: 1-0

12-year-old Dhyey Agarwal (1739) showed fantastic understanding in the endgame against IM Rajesh Vav (2334). He beautifully maneuevered his knight with whatever space he had left on the board.

If you would shake hands and call it a day after getting the above position, you are not thinking like the boy did in the game. He saw that h4-pawn is the sole weakness in Black's camp, so it once falls, there is a good chance f5 will also fall and well that only means one thing - White can and should push for a win. That is exactly what he did and won his game. Try to figure out the path White should take and whether it is possible for Black to save the game.

Round 3: Anuj - Pantsulaia: 0.5-0.5

IM Anuj Shrivatri (2407) got himself a great opportunity to win against GM Levan Pantsulaia (GEO, 2609).

Ideally, White would want to play 32.Ne7+. However, that is not possible immediately as it will get captured. There is a way to facilitate that idea 32.f6! Ne8 33.Ne7+ and now White is completely winning, whether Black plays Rxe7 or goes Kf8 34.Nxc8+ Re2+ 35.Qxe2 Nxf4+ 36.Kf2, in both cases Black cannot deny a win for White. Anuj missed it and went with 32.Qa5. The game meandered into a draw soon.

Kushagra - Krasenkow: 1-0

IM Kushagra Mohan (2395) got a pleasant position out of the Pirc Defence opening against GM Michal Krasenkow (POL, 2550).

Black was already in trouble. 16...Nfd5 did not help his case either. 17.Nxd5 exd5 18.Bb5 Bxe5 19.Rxe5 Qb6 20.c3 Nc6 21.Rexd5 Nd4 22.Rd6 Qxb5 23.axb5 Ne2+ 24.Kh2 Nxc1 25.Rxc1+-. White had no trouble converting his decisive advantage into a win.

Ram Aravind - Luka: 1-0

FM Ram Aravind L N (2218) won a back and forth battle against GM Luka Paichadze (GEO, 2527).

White is completely winning in the above position. Find out the winning continuation for White after 34...Qb7.

Arhan - Nitin: 1-0

Arhan Chethan Anand (2126) won an interesting game against IM Nitin S (2407). The former had a firm grip of the position in the middlegame, once he loosened his grip, the teenager seized his opportunity to turn things in his favor.

White is making a couple of threats - Rd6+ and Ra7+. Find out the best way for Black to get out of them. After a bit of back and forth play, Black's knight eventually got trapped at g2.

For more Round 2 and Round 3 photos, please click on the respective links.

Video Gallery

A total of 75 players including 10 GMs, 7 IMs and 4 WIMs are taking part from 13 countries across the world in the Category A. The nine-day ten-round Swiss league tournament is organized by Rajasthan Chess Association from 1st to 9th October 2022. The ten-round Swiss league tournament has a time control of 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move 1. Category B witnesses the participation of 304 players from various parts of India along with players from Bangladesh and Nepal.

Replay Round 2-3 games

Round 3 results

Details

Round 4 pairings

Details

Related news:

	अभिजीत गुप्ता बने बीकानेर ओपन 2022 के सरताज @ 10/10/2022 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
	Abhijeet Gupta deservedly clinches 1st Bikaner GM Open 2022 @ 10/10/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Abhijeet Gupta on the verge of winning 1st Bikaner GM Open 2022 @ 09/10/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	बीकानेर ओपन : अभिजीत गुप्ता खिताब के करीब @ 08/10/2022 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
	1st Bikaner GM Open R8: Can Ram Aravind stop Abhijeet Gupta? @ 08/10/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	1st Bikaner GM Open R7: Abhijeet Gupta is on a roll @ 07/10/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Dinesh Kumar Jaganathan clinches 1st Bikaner International GM Category B Below 2000 Rating @ 06/10/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	1st Bikaner GM Open R6: Abhijeet Gupta endures an epic battle against Levan Pantsulaia @ 06/10/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	बीकानेर ओपन : अभिजीत गुप्ता एकल बढ़त पर @ 05/10/2022 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
	1st Bikaner GM Open R5: Abhijeet Gupta emerges sole leader @ 05/10/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	1st Bikaner GM Open R4: Abhijeet and Tahbaz in the lead @ 04/10/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	1st Bikaner GM Open R1: Swayham and Pritam score big upsets @ 02/10/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en)