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Croatia Rapid and Blitz Day 2: Saric stuns Nepomniachtchi

by Shahid Ahmed - 09/07/2021

Croatia no.1 Ivan Saric once again played another fantastic endgame, this time he defeated the Croatia Rapid and Blitz GCT sole leader Ian Nepomniachtchi. The world championship challenger was undefeated until he faced Saric. Vachier-Lagrave, Saric and Anand remained unbeaten throughout the day as they share the second place with 7.0/12 each. Saric only has three more games left today to finish his rapid event on a high note and make sure his replacement, the legend Kasparov gets a fantastic headstart for the Blitz. Round 7 starts today from 6:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

No one remains invincible

Anand remained unbeaten on the second day along with Vachier-Lagrave and Saric. Each of them scored a win and two draws, finishing the day with 7.0/12. Saric once again played the game of the day as he beat the tournament leader Nepomniachtchi in the final round of the day.

Saric finishes second consecutive day on a high note | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Round 4: Korobov - Giri: 0-2

Korobov got a good opportunity to gain the upper hand against Giri.

Position after 17...Qd3

18.Bxc6 leads to advantageous position for White but Korobov played 18.Bd4 and Giri immediately shifted things in his favor with 18...Bf3 and won the game eventually.

Korobov missed a good opportunity | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Jorden - Saric: 1-1

There is a reason behind Jorden van Foreest winning Tata Steel Chess 2021 early this year. He is unafraid of taking risks and does what needs to be done.

Position after 26.Bxg6

Sure 26.Bxg6 does not allow White to win or gain substantial advantage immediately, but it is definitely worth a try.

Postion after 28...Rce5

White needed to play 29.c5 in the above diagram to maintain the pressure. Queen's got exchanged in a few moves and White's advantage dwindled.

Jorden could have started with a win | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Vachier-Lagrave - Duda: 2-0

Vachier-Lagrave got himself in a bit of a pickle as the tactically alert Duda struck first.

Position after 22.Bb3

22.Bb3 is an incorrect retreat as Black gets to do some tactics here. Try to think like Duda and find it.

Position after 33...Ne3

33...Ne3 is the final mistake by Black which cost him the game. What should have Black played instead? Vachier-Lagrave was unable to do a clean finish which allowed Duda to get back in the game, until he blundered in the king-pawn endgame.

Position after 58.Kc3

Even top players make simple mistakes in elementary endgames. That is why it is very important to know the basics of endgame so that one can avoid blundering in the time trouble. Black played 58...Kc6 which is a blunder. What is the only way for Black to save the game here?

MVL is still struggling with his form | Photo: Bryan Adams/Grand Chess Tour

Nepomniachtchi - Grischuk: 2-0

Grischuk made a simple tactical oversight which cost him a pawn in the endgame. Eventually that turned out to be the deciding factor in Nepomniachtchi scoring a victory.

Nepomniachtchi started the day with a relatively easy victory | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Mamedyarov - Anand: 1-1

Anand could have started the day with a win over Mamedyarov if he pressed on his advantage.

Position after 33.Qh5

Black needed to play 33...c4 with the idea of Rf3 attacking the f3-knight. Taking the f7-pawn is only perilous for White. 34.Rc4 is met with Nd5. 33...Kg8 was played and White forced the queen exchange with 34.Qxc5. The game eventually ended in a draw.

Mamedyarov averted a danger | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Round 5: Anand - Korobov: 2-0

Anand played a beautiful game showcasing his positional understanding against Korobov.

Position after 27.Nf5

You know when there is a move like 27.Nf5 on the board, you can be rest assured that your opponent is in top shape and it will be very difficult to make a comeback for the rest of the game.

Anand and his love for his knights | Video: ChessBase India

A fantastic like that will definitely brighten anyone's day | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Grischuk-Mamedyarov had a relatively quiet draw | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Duda - Nepomniachtchi: 1-1

Duda and Nepomniachtchi had a solid draw.

Duda loves to play fighting and interesting chess | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Saric - Vachier-Lagrave: 1-1

Vachier-Lagrave once again had a tactical oversight, this time it could have proved to be a pricey one.

Position after 19...Ne4

19...Ne4 is a big mistake as it invites trouble 20.Rxe4 dxe4 21.Qxe6+ Kh8 and now White needed to find 22.Bg5 but 22.Nf7 was played. Find out why Bg5 was better than Nf7. The game eventually petered out to a draw.

Saric is playing fantastic in this event | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Giri - Jorden: 1-1

Giri missed a win against Jorden van Foreest in the endgame.

Position after 40...Rd1

Find out the winning continuation for White here. White played 41.Rxa5 and Black escaped with a draw.

Jorden escaped with a draw | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Round 6: Korobov - Jorden: 2-0

After losing two games consecutively, Korobov picked up his sole victory of the day over Jorden.

Position after 18...Red8

Black's quest to a create a strong battery on the d-file turned out to be futile, as it cost him the e5-pawn. Soon Korobov grabbed another pawn and won the game comfortably.

Korobov ended the day on a happy note | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Vachier-Lagrave - Giri: 1-1

Vachier-Lagrave and Giri had a well-fought draw.

Vachier-Lagrave remained undefeated on the second day | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Nepomniachtchi - Saric: 0-2

To beat the in-form Nepomniachtchi is no easy task, something which was not accomplished until Croatia no.1 Ivan Saric did in the sixth round.

Position after 31...b4

Saric once again showed that if opportunity is presented, he can go the distance.

Position after 36...Rd4

For the second consecutive day, Saric won an endgame by converting his advantage and showcasing beautiful technique. He is not afraid of losing his rook for the passed a-pawn. He is confident that he will take the b2-pawn and win the game convincingly. That is exactly what he did.

Saric is in a fantastic form | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Mamedyarov - Duda: 0-2

Duda scored his first win of the event against Mamedyarov.

Position after 21.e4

White's position was difficult, no doubt. Things fell apart for White after 21.e4.

Anand - Grischuk: 1-1

Anand made things interesting by sacrificing his queen for a rook and bishop against Grischuk.

Position after 22.Nd7

There was not much for White to go on. In fact, if anyone it was Black who could have pushed for a full point but the game eventually ended in a draw.

Grischuk is still in search of his first win of the event | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Scoring for the Rapid section: Win - 2 points, Draw - 1 and Loss - 0.

Scoring for the Blitz section will be usual, Win - 1 point, Draw - 0.5 and Loss - 0

Replay Round 4-6 games

Replay the livestream

Croatia Rapid and Blitz GCT - Day 2 | Video: ChessBase India

Standings after Round 6

Nepomniactchi maintains his sole lead 8.0/12 | Photo: Grand Chess Tour

Links

Grand Chess Tour official site

LIVE coverage on Kasparov chess

Tournament regulations


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