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Superb Sethuraman clinches Barcelona Open 2021

by Shahid Ahmed - 27/08/2021

Top seed Sethuraman made three consecutive draws between round four and six, which put him 1.5 points behind the sole leader Aram Hakobyan 6.0/6. However, Sethuraman showed his strength and won the last three rounds including a win on-demand in the final round to beat Hakobyan and win Ciutat de Barcelona 2021 Open. Things would have been different if Aravindh lost his final game against Yuffa in the last round. Aravindh showed his tenacity to salvage a draw ensuring Sethuraman wins the tournament on tie-breaks as both him and Yuffa finished at 7.5/9. Five players finished at 7.0/9. Karthikeyan Murali and Aravindh were placed third and fifth according to tie-breaks. Photo: Catalan Chess Federation

Karthikeyan finishes third

Sethuraman S P has done what he does best, that is win on demand in the final round to clinch Barcelona Open 2021. He won a trophy and €5000 for his efforts. Karthikeyan Murali finished third. He also received a trophy and €2000. Aravindh Chithambaram made a brilliant save in the last round to spoil it for his opponent Yuffa and secure fifth place.

Top three (L to R): 2nd GM Daniil Yuffa (RUS), 1st Sethuraman S P and 3rd Karthikeyan Murali | Photo: Catalan Chess Federation

The tournament logo | Photo: Official site
Sethuraman after his Barcelona Open 2021 win | Video: ChessBase India

Champion - GM Sethuraman S P 7.5/9 | Photo: Catalan Chess Federation

Sethuraman tweeted the following on his victory

Runner-up - GM Daniil Yuffa (RUS) 7.5/9 | Photo: Catalan Chess Federation

Second Runner-up - GM Karthikeyan Murali 7.0/9 | Photo: Catalan Chess Federation

Round 6: Hakobyan - Karthikeyan: 1-0

Karthikeyan attempted to launch an attack on the kingside, but his pieces were not placed well enough to cause a dent against GM Aram Hakobyan (ARM).

Position after 14...f5

14...f5 is a thematic break but the bishop's misplacement at g7 instead of a7-g1 made the attack less effective. Perhaps 14...g4 followed by h5 was a better alternative, which keeps black's light-squared bishop and white's d3-bishop remains blocked. Hakobyan went on to win the game and extended his sole lead by a full point 6.0/6.

Hamitevici - Sethuraman: 0-1

Sethuraman was completely winning in the sixth round against GM Vladimir Hamitevici (MDA). However he probably missed the win in the endgame due to time scramble.

Position after 51.Re8

White is making a checkmate threat at h8. 51...Rg7 is also winning for Black, however you have to find the correct plan after 52.Rg7. Find out the winning idea for Black here.

Sethuraman moved to 4.5/6, 1.5 point behind the sole leader Hakobyan | Photo: Catalan Chess Federation

Round 7: O'gorman - Aravindh: 0.5-0.5

Sometimes you have to keep fighting till the end and not give up. GM Aravindh Chithambaram showed his never-give-up attitude against FM Tom O'gorman (IRL).

Position after 50.Rc6

Black was completely lost for the better part of the endgame. However, White blundered 50.Rc6 which allows Black to get back in the game. Find out how.

Round 8: Visakh - Sethuraman: 0-1

Sethuraman launched a devastating attack on the kingside after Visakh N R made an incorrect pawn exchange.

Position after 17...f4

There is no good defence for White here. 17.Nh2 could have reduced the damage.

Sethuraman moved to 6.5/8 | Photo: Catalan Chess Federation

Aravindh - Lopez Martinez: 1-0

There are some tactical patterns one must know to be alert and execute them when an opportunity arises. Aravindh Chithambaram found himself a tactical opportunity against GM Josep Manuel Lopez Martinez (ESP).

Position after 16...Rfd8

16...Rfd8 is a mistake. How should White capitalize on it?

Round 9: Yuffa - Aravindh: 0.5-0.5

Aravindh once again showed his resourcefulness as he saved the game from a lost position after his opponent Yuffa misplayed in the final moments of the game.

Position after 35.Nd4

White could have won the game if he opted for 35.Nc1 instead of 35.Nd4. Find out the key difference between them and also how can Black make a comeback in the above position.

Sethuraman - Hakobyan: 1-0

Hakobyan's woes continued as he lost his second consecutive game of the event and this one cost him a podium finish.

Position after 39.Re8+

Black's only move in this position is 39...Kg7. Both 39...Rxe8 and Rf8 are completely lost for Black. Find out why. This win, combining with Aravindh's draw against Yuffa in the final round, helped Sethuraman clinch the championship.

Sethuraman en route his victory against Hakobyan | Photo: Catalan Chess Federation

Vaishali - Karthikeyan: 0-1

IM Vaishali made an incorrect decision at a critical moment against GM Karthikeyan Murali.

Position after 16...a6

White needed to take the b4-knight here. Vaishali opted for 17.Nc7 which caused her material deficit. After 17...Qxd4 18.Nxa8 Rxa8, White could not overcome it for the rest of the game.

Karthikeyan Murali scored a comfortable win to secure third place | Photo: Catalan Chess Federation

Photo Gallery

5th GM Aravindh Chithambaram 7.0/9 | Photo: Catalan Chess Federation

9th GM Arjun Kalyan 6.5/9 | Photo: Catalan Chess Federation

10th GM Visakh N R 6.5/9 | Photo: Catalan Chess Federation

The tournament hall | Photo: Catalan Chess Federation

Replay Round 6-9 games

Round 9 results

Bo.No.NameRtgPts.ResultPts.NameRtgNo.
110GMYuffa Daniil25567½ - ½GMAravindh Chithambaram Vr.26412
21GMSethuraman S.P.26441 - 0GMHakobyan Aram26124
37GMPeralta Fernando2570½ - ½6IMArjun Kalyan250313
43GMMoussard Jules262161 - 06IMSosa Tomas25658
525WGMVaishali R239360 - 16GMKarthikeyan Murali26066
69GMFier Alexandr255861 - 06IMSochacki Christophe249014
711GMLopez Martinez Josep Manuel25241 - 0WIMGomez Barrera Javiera Belen208377
876Alcala Gonzalez Cesar20890 - 1GMVisakh N R251612
915GMDvirnyy Danyyil24881 - 0FMO`gorman Tom237730
1023IMVignesh N R2428½ - ½GMVasquez Schroeder Rodrigo245920
1143FMBoix Moreno Daniel22521 - 0IMPranav Anand241724
1254FMCastillo Dalmau Albert220351 - 05GMHamitevici Vladimir247116
1355CMBlasco Coll Andreu219850 - 15IMAditya Mittal246419
1463Tanmay Chopra216651 - 05FMBarbero Sendic Alejandro232234
1598Lohia Sohum199450 - 15FMDalaud Dorian228640

Details

Final standings

Rk.SNoNameTypFEDRtgIRtgNClub/CityPts. TB1  TB2  TB3 
11GMSethuraman S.P.IND264407,50,047,051,5
210GMYuffa DaniilRUS25560Andreu Paterna7,50,045,049,0
36GMKarthikeyan MuraliIND260607,00,049,553,5
49GMFier AlexandrBRA255807,00,047,051,5
52GMAravindh Chithambaram Vr.IND264107,00,047,051,0
63GMMoussard JulesFRA26212634Barcelona, Club Escacs7,00,044,548,0
77GMPeralta FernandoARG25702547Valls C.E.7,00,043,547,5
84GMHakobyan AramARM261206,50,051,056,0
913IMArjun KalyanIND250306,50,049,553,5
1012GMVisakh N RIND251606,50,048,552,5
1111GMLopez Martinez Josep ManuelESP25242546Barbera C.E.6,50,047,551,5
1215GMDvirnyy DanyyilITA248806,50,044,548,5
1343FMBoix Moreno DanielAESP22522341Tres Peons C.E.6,50,040,543,5
1420GMVasquez Schroeder RodrigoCHI24590tropic6,00,049,554,0
1523IMVignesh N RIND242806,00,049,053,0
1625WGMVaishali RIND23930CHESS GURUKKUL6,00,047,051,0
1714IMSochacki ChristopheFRA24900Villejuif6,00,046,551,0
1819IMAditya MittalIND246406,00,046,549,5
198IMSosa TomasARG256506,00,042,046,0
2054FMCastillo Dalmau AlbertAESP22032365Vila Olimpica, Club D'escacs6,00,040,543,0

Details

Manmay Chopra wins Group B

Manmay Chopra scored an impressive 8.0/9, remained undefeated and finished a half point ahead of the competition to win the Group B. He received €500 and a trophy for his efforts.

Manmay Chopra won the B-category (below 2000) of the Barcelona Open 2021 | Photo: Catalan Chess Federation

Manmay gained 183 Elo points and won the tournament with 8.0/9 | Photo: Catalan Chess Federation

Final Standings

Rk.SNoNameTypFEDRtgIRtgNClub/CityPts. TB1  TB2  TB3 
172Manmay ChopraCIND161008,00,048,052,0
210Pujante Martinez RafaelESP18890Club Ajedrez V Centenario7,50,048,552,5
334Silva Pena Angel DavidCESP17550Wimbledon7,00,048,052,0
43Gutierrez Palomino AlbertESP19652138Espiga De Les Corts7,00,047,551,0
521Walter Travella GermanESP18142007Sant Adria C.E.7,00,047,050,5
618Ortiz Padro PolESP18242098Figueres C.E.7,00,046,549,5
725Delgadillo Torrico FelipeCESP17952006Peon Doblado7,00,040,544,0
816Fernandez Egea AndresESP18282038Sant Adria C.E.7,00,037,541,0
923Pardina Domenech VictorESP18092046Foment Martinenc C.E.6,50,047,551,5
1033Escribano Rodriguez PedroCESP17571968Calella C.E.6,50,045,550,0
1190Karapetyan Hakobyan DanielCESP154606,50,044,548,5
1285Bogdanov ArtyomCKAZ15670ChessAcademy of Zhansaya Abdumalik6,50,043,547,5
1347Costa Trave JaumeCESP17101924Granollers-Canovelles6,50,041,043,5
1443Pinyol I Llora JuliaCESP17291968Peona I Peo, C.E.6,50,040,043,0
1537Sanchez Romeralo JaimeCESP17480La didactica6,00,048,552,5

Details

Links

Official site

Tournament details


Related news:
Barcelona Open 2021 R1-5: Hakobyan halts the Jeevitesh juggernaut

@ 23/08/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)