Grand Swiss 2023 R8: Caruana, Esipenko and Deac join Vidit in a four-way lead

by Shahid Ahmed - 03/11/2023

GM Vidit Gujrathi made a 16-move quick draw against GM Hikaru Nakamura (USA) in the eighth round of FIDE Grand Swiss 2023. The result allowed GM Fabiano Caruana (USA), GM Andrey Esipenko and GM Bogdan-Daniel Deac (ROU) to catch up with Vidit in the lead 6/8. GM Arjun Erigaisi once again missed a good opportunity against GM Yuriy Kuzubov (UKR). While it was not a definite win unlike the last round, he had a promising position. GM R Praggnanandhaa would be disappointed after grinding a relatively balanced rook endgame for seven hours and 127 moves. When his opponent GM Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB) blundered, Praggnanandhaa could not seize his chance. Round 9 starts today at 11:30 a.m. local time, 4 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Vaishali, Anna Muzychuk and Stefanova remain at the top

IM Vaishali R spotted a nice tactic against IM Sophie Milliet (FRA). However, she was unable to follow through. Thus, allowing her opponent to escape with a draw. GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR) and GM Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL) had a relatively calm draw. Vidit-Nakamura is third shortest game of the day and the event in terms of moves. GM Sandro Mareco (ARG) lost to GM Jeffery Xiong (USA) in 14 moves. GM Anna Ushenina (UKR) drew against IM Cori T Deysi (PER) in 11 moves. All of them happened in the eighth round.

GM Vidit Gujrathi made a quick 16-move draw against GM Hikaru Nakamura (USA) | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

FIDE Grand Swiss 2023 official logo | Photo: Official site

Vidit's shortest draw of the event so far | Video: ChessBase India

Vidit Gujrathi's thoughts on his 16-move draw against Hikaru Nakamura | Video: ChessBase India

"When streamers play over the board chess, they draw huge numbers" - Hikaru Nakamura | Video: ChessBase India

GM Hikaru Nakamura (USA) analyzes his game against GM Vidit Gujrathi | Video: GMHikaru

GM Vidit Gujrathi and GM Hikaru Nakamura (USA) analyze their game | Video: FIDE

GM Vidit Gujrathi and GM Hikaru Nakamura (USA) analyzes their game | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Arjun - Kuzubov: 0.5-0.5

GM Arjun Erigaisi (2712) was facing GM Yuriy Kuzubov (UKR, 2625) for the first time in a rated game. He got a good position in the middlegame. However, he delayed seizing his opportunity.

Position after 32...Qb4

White needed to go 33.e5 immediately to seize his advantage. 33.Re3 Ne6 34.e5 is just not the same. Black got time to regroup 31...fxe5 32.Be1 Qf8 33.Qxf8+ Nhxf8 Black is now completely out of the woods.

GM Arjun Erigaisi had a promising position against GM Yuriy Kuzubov (UKR) | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

GM Samuel Sevian (USA) vs GM Alireza Firouzja (FRA) | Video: ChessBase India

GM Sam Sevian (USA) on how he effortlessly managed to beat GM Alireza Firouzja (FRA) | Video: ChessBase India

Yakubboev - Praggnanandhaa: 0.5-0.5

The only Classical rated game between GM Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB, 2616) and GM R Praggnanandhaa (2738) took place earlier this year at Sharjah Masters. The Uzbek won that encounter. Praggnanandhaa was determined to equalize the score. He grinded a balanced rook endgame and found himself on the verge of victory when his opponent blundered.

Position after 92.Ra8??

92.Ra8?? created the opportunity Black was hoping for. 92...Kf2 93.Ra1 Re1 94.Ra2+ Kf1 95.Ra3 Re2+ 96.Kh1 Kf2 97.Kh2 Re8?! 98.Ra2+ Kf3? and Black just lost his only chance in the game. 96...Re3 was what Black needed to play to win the game. It was possible to execute the same idea after 97.Kh2 Kf1+ 98.Kh1 Re3

Final moments: GM Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB) vs GM R Praggnanandhaa | Video: ChessBase India

GM R Praggnanandhaa would be disappointed for missing out on his win after grinding for over seven hours and 127 moves | Photo: Maria Emelianova/chess.com

GM Nihal Sarin turned things around against GM Niclas Huschenbeth (GER) to score a win | Photo: Maria Emelianova/chess.com

GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR, pictured) - GM Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Vaishali - Sophie: 0.5-0.5

IM Vaishali R (2448) was facing IM Sophie Milliet (FRA, 2391) for the first time in a rated game. She found herself in a commanding position in the middlegame after the Frenchwoman erred.

Position after 17.Ng6!

16...Nxd5? 17.Ng6! Nxe3 18.Rxf7! Rxf7 19.Qf3 Qf6 20.Nxe5 Qxf3 21.Ndxf3 bxc3 22.bxc3 c5 23.Bxf7+ Kf8 24.Re1 would have maintained a firm grip on the position. 24.Bb3 Rb8 25.Ng6+ Ke8 26.Ba4+ Bd7 27.Re1 cxd4 28.cxd4 Bxa4 29.Rxe3 White's attack diminished and Black eventually escaped with a draw.

IM Vaishali R missed a win against IM Sophie Milliet (FRA) | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Round 8 in progress | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Video Gallery

The atmosphere when Vidit Gujrathi took on Hikaru Nakamura | Video: ChessBase India

"I need to be even more professional to reach 2700" - Aravindh Chithambaram | Video: ChessBase India

Tania Sachdev beats an Armenian talent - Mariam Mkrtchyan | Video: ChessBase India

Replay Live stream

Replay FIDE Grand Swiss 2023 Round 8 Live Commentary by IM V Saravanan and Amruta Mokal | Video: ChessBase India

Replay FIDE Grand Swiss and Women's Grand Swiss 2023 Round 8 Live Commentary by GM David Howell (ENG) and IM Jovanka Houska (ENG) | Video: FIDE

Schedule

Every day game starts at 2:30 p.m. local time, 7 p.m. IST between 25th October and 4th November 2023, except on 3rd when the game starts at 11:30 a.m. local time, 4 p.m. IST. Rest day is on Tuesday 31st October 2023. The last round on 5th November will start at 2 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST.

Time Control

The time control for each game is: 100 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 50 minutes for the next 20 moves, followed by 15 minutes for the rest of the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move 1.

Qualification

The winner and the runner-up of Grand Swiss shall qualify for the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024. If one or both these players has (-ve) already qualified to the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024 at the moment of the beginning of Grand Swiss via different qualification track or do (-es) not need to qualify for the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024, the qualification spot(s) shall go to the highest-placed player(s) in the final standings who has (-ve) not yet qualified to the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024 at the moment of the beginning of Grand Swiss

Prizes

The total prize fund in the Open is US$ 460,000 with the first prize being $80,000. For Women's the total prize fund is $140,000, first prize $25,000. Total numbers of prizes are 69, Open - 46 and Women - 23.

Replay Round 8 Open games

Replay Round 8 Women games

Round 8 Open results

Rd.	Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
8	1	15	GM	Vidit Santosh Gujrathi	2716	5½	½ - ½	5	GM	Nakamura Hikaru	2780	2
8	4	16	GM	Erigaisi Arjun	2712	5	½ - ½	5	GM	Kuzubov Yuriy	2625	75
8	14	81	GM	Yakubboev Nodirbek	2616	4	½ - ½	4	GM	Praggnanandhaa R	2738	8
8	20	25	GM	Nihal Sarin	2694	4	1 - 0	4	GM	Huschenbeth Niclas	2605	86
8	23	93	GM	Jumabayev Rinat	2585	4	½ - ½	3½	GM	Harikrishna Pentala	2716	14
8	28	65	GM	Aryan Chopra	2634	3½	½ - ½	3½	GM	Bluebaum Matthias	2668	40
8	32	77	GM	Tari Aryan	2619	3½	½ - ½	3½	GM	Narayanan S L	2651	52
8	34	56	GM	Aravindh Chithambaram Vr.	2649	3½	1 - 0	3½	GM	Maurizzi Marc`andria	2555	103
8	36	5	GM	Gukesh D	2758	3	½ - ½	3	GM	Theodorou Nikolas	2619	78
8	37	84	GM	Gupta Abhijeet	2609	3	½ - ½	3	GM	Martirosyan Haik M.	2696	24
8	40	31	GM	Tabatabaei M. Amin	2685	3	1 - 0	3	GM	Karthikeyan Murali	2611	83
8	45	61	GM	Sadhwani Raunak	2641	3	½ - ½	3	IM	Royal Shreyas	2407	112
8	46	104	GM	Adhiban B.	2551	2½	½ - ½	2½	GM	Donchenko Alexander	2676	36
8	52	107	IM	Samunenkov Ihor	2531	2½	½ - ½	2½	GM	Mendonca Leon Luke	2622	76

Details

Standings after Round 8

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4	Rp	K	rtg+/-
1	32	GM	Esipenko, Andrey	FID	2683	6	2691	35,5	38	0	2867	10	19,1
2	15	GM	Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi	IND	2716	6	2667	32	35	0	2853	10	13,9
3	1	GM	Caruana, Fabiano	USA	2786	6	2663	35	39	0	2851	10	6,2
4	20	GM	Deac, Bogdan-Daniel	ROU	2701	6	2638	32	34,5	0	2824	10	12,3
5	47	GM	Predke, Alexandr	SRB	2656	5,5	2715	36,5	39,5	0	2836	10	19,4
6	44	GM	Cheparinov, Ivan	BUL	2658	5,5	2685	31	34,5	0	2801	10	15,5
7	2	GM	Nakamura, Hikaru	USA	2780	5,5	2673	34,5	38	0	2809	10	2,8
8	75	GM	Kuzubov, Yuriy	UKR	2625	5,5	2669	32,5	34,5	0	2784	10	17
9	33	GM	Sarana, Alexey	SRB	2682	5,5	2668	31,5	34,5	0	2777	10	10,7
10	16	GM	Erigaisi, Arjun	IND	2712	5,5	2664	36	40,5	0	2795	10	8,6
11	21	GM	Sevian, Samuel	USA	2698	5,5	2648	31	34,5	0	2764	10	7
12	18	GM	Maghsoodloo, Parham	IRI	2707	5,5	2646	31,5	35	0	2784	10	7,9
13	27	GM	Fedoseev, Vladimir	SLO	2691	5,5	2623	29	32	0	2742	10	5,4
14	39	GM	Bacrot, Etienne	FRA	2669	5	2705	32	35	0	2784	10	12,1
15	46	GM	Sindarov, Javokhir	UZB	2658	5	2704	35,5	38,5	0	2777	10	12,8
16	42	GM	Niemann, Hans Moke	USA	2667	5	2703	33	35,5	0	2771	10	11,1
17	41	GM	Wojtaszek, Radoslaw	POL	2668	5	2653	29,5	31,5	0	2736	10	7,1
18	12	GM	Keymer, Vincent	GER	2717	5	2652	32	35	0	2742	10	2,3
19	7	GM	Aronian, Levon	USA	2742	5	2652	31	34	0	2744	10	-0,2
20	17	GM	Vitiugov, Nikita	ENG	2711	5	2647	31,5	35,5	0	2739	10	2,6

Details

Round 9 pairings

Rd.	Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
9	2	15	GM	Vidit Santosh Gujrathi	2716	6		6	GM	Esipenko Andrey	2683	32
9	4	27	GM	Fedoseev Vladimir	2691	5½		5½	GM	Erigaisi Arjun	2712	16
9	10	12	GM	Keymer Vincent	2717	5		5	GM	Nihal Sarin	2694	25
9	12	3	GM	Firouzja Alireza	2777	4½		4½	GM	Aravindh Chithambaram Vr.	2649	56
9	15	8	GM	Praggnanandhaa R	2738	4½		4½	GM	Jumabayev Rinat	2585	93
9	25	14	GM	Harikrishna Pentala	2716	4		4	GM	Melkumyan Hrant	2650	53
9	26	19	GM	Van Foreest Jorden	2707	4		4	GM	Aryan Chopra	2634	65
9	34	52	GM	Narayanan S L	2651	4		4	GM	Bachmann Axel	2604	87
9	35	94	GM	Kuybokarov Temur	2584	4		3½	GM	Gukesh D	2758	5
9	42	60	GM	Ponomariov Ruslan	2641	3½		3½	GM	Gupta Abhijeet	2609	84
9	43	103	GM	Maurizzi Marc`andria	2555	3½		3½	GM	Sadhwani Raunak	2641	61
9	47	83	GM	Karthikeyan Murali	2611	3		3	GM	Santos Latasa Jaime	2650	55
9	49	68	GM	Kollars Dmitrij	2633	3		3	GM	Adhiban B.	2551	104
9	50	76	GM	Mendonca Leon Luke	2622	3		3		Wu Li	2303	11

Details

Round 8 Women results

Rd.	Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
8	2	12	IM	Vaishali Rameshbabu	2448	5½	½ - ½	5	IM	Milliet Sophie	2391	30
8	11	7	GM	Dronavalli Harika	2502	3½	½ - ½	3½	IM	Injac Teodora	2426	20
8	18	32	IM	Tania Sachdev	2389	3	1 - 0	3	WIM	Mkrtchyan Mariam	2343	44
8	19	18	IM	Vantika Agrawal	2435	2½	½ - ½	2½	WGM	Savitha Shri B	2375	38
8	24	50	WIM	Nassr Lina	2066	1	0 - 1	2	WGM	Divya Deshmukh	2408	24

Details

Standings after Round 8

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4	Rp	K	rtg+/-
1	12	IM	Vaishali, Rameshbabu	IND	2448	6	2463	34,5	38	0	2645	10	20,5
2	5	GM	Muzychuk, Anna	UKR	2510	6	2461	38	42,5	0	2645	10	13,6
3	21	GM	Stefanova, Antoaneta	BUL	2424	6	2438	33	35,5	0	2614	10	19,7
4	25	IM	Garifullina, Leya	FID	2402	5,5	2469	33	34	0	2560	10	17,5
5	30	IM	Milliet, Sophie	FRA	2391	5,5	2466	33,5	35,5	0	2572	10	19,5
6	4	GM	Tan, Zhongyi	CHN	2517	5,5	2452	36,5	39,5	0	2585	10	6,9
7	40	IM	Munguntuul, Batkhuyag	MGL	2366	5,5	2441	34,5	37,5	0	2577	10	22,6
8	34	IM	Tsolakidou, Stavroula	GRE	2385	5	2479	32,5	35,5	0	2564	10	19,2
9	27	IM	Narva, Mai	EST	2399	5	2462	28	30,5	0	2536	10	14,7
10	39	IM	Cori T., Deysi	PER	2367	5	2460	30,5	33	0	2531	10	17,5
11	10	IM	Assaubayeva, Bibisara	KAZ	2469	5	2453	36	39,5	0	2537	10	7
12	1	GM	Goryachkina, Aleksandra	FID	2558	5	2433	33	35,5	0	2518	10	-4,4
13	13	IM	Efroimski, Marsel	ISR	2447	5	2396	31	34	0	2487	10	3,9
14	19	GM	Ushenina, Anna	UKR	2434	5	2382	29	32	0	2472	10	3,9
15	42	IM	Guichard, Pauline	FRA	2358	4,5	2463	31,5	34,5	0	2497	10	15,2
16	36	GM	Socko, Monika	POL	2380	4,5	2437	28	30,5	0	2463	10	9,5
17	22	IM	Bulmaga, Irina	ROU	2423	4,5	2419	32,5	34,5	0	2443	10	2,4
18	14	GM	Cramling, Pia	SWE	2446	4,5	2398	29	31	0	2436	10	-0,9
19	6	IM	Shuvalova, Polina	FID	2506	4,5	2389	30,5	32,5	0	2427	10	-8,3
20	15	IM	Mammadzada, Gunay	AZE	2441	4,5	2387	33,5	36,5	0	2415	10	-2,4

Details

Round 9 pairings

Rd.	Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
9	1	21	GM	Stefanova Antoaneta	2424	6		6	IM	Vaishali Rameshbabu	2448	12
9	11	36	GM	Socko Monika	2380	4½		4	GM	Dronavalli Harika	2502	7
9	13	8	GM	Paehtz Elisabeth	2484	4		4	IM	Tania Sachdev	2389	32
9	19	38	WGM	Savitha Shri B	2375	3		3½	IM	Kiolbasa Oliwia	2375	37
9	20	24	WGM	Divya Deshmukh	2408	3		3	GM	Danielian Elina	2416	23
9	22	49	WIM	Kanyamarala Trisha	2184	2		3	IM	Vantika Agrawal	2435	18

Details

Links

Official site

Tournament Regulations: Open and Women

Related news:

	"It's the biggest win of my career" - Vidit Gujrathi on winning FIDE Grand Swiss 2023 @ 14/11/2023 by Sagar Shah (en)
	Victory for Valiant Vidit Gujrathi and R Vaishali at FIDE Grand Swiss 2023, Qualify to the Candidates 2024 @ 06/11/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Grand Swiss 2023 R10: Vaishali vanquishes Zhongyi Tan, secures her place in the Women's Candidates 2024 @ 05/11/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Grand Swiss 2023 R9: Vaishali beats Stefanova, emerges sole leader @ 04/11/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Grand Swiss 2023 R7: Vidit outplays Sindarov, emerges sole leader @ 02/11/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Grand Swiss 2023 R6: Vidit Gujrathi joins the eight-way lead @ 31/10/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Grand Swiss 2023 R5: Nakamura, Esipenko and Arjun Erigaisi in a three-way lead @ 30/10/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Grand Swiss 2023 R4: Vaishali crushes Mariya in 23 moves @ 29/10/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Grand Swiss 2023 R3: Vaishali sets the board on fire @ 28/10/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Grand Swiss 2023 R2: Arjun Erigaisi wins two in-a-row, Raunak holds Nakamura to a draw @ 27/10/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Grand Swiss 2023 R1: Raunak Sadhwani starts with a solid draw against the World no.7 - Anish Giri @ 26/10/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	20 Indians are set for FIDE Grand Swiss 2023 starting today @ 25/10/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	FIDE Grand Swiss Open and Women 2023 to take place at Isle of Man from 24th October to 5th November @ 21/03/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)