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FIDE World Cup 2021 R2.2: Harikrishna, Adhiban, Pragg, Nihal and Harika advance to Round 3

by Shahid Ahmed - 17/07/2021

Five Indians - Harikrishna, Adhiban, Praggnanandhaa, Nihal and Harika have secured their place in Round 3 of FIDE World Cup and FIDE Women's World Cup respectively. Only Praggnanandhaa won both of his second round games to advance to the next round. Gukesh, Vidit and Padmini drew their respective games. They will have to play tie-breaks today. Aravindh, Iniyan, Bhakti and Vaishali have lost their respective games, thus their journey at the World Cup 2021 comes to an end. Round 2 tie-break games start today at 5:30 p.m. IST. Watch the Live commentary and analysis on ChessBase India youtube channel with IM Sagar Shah and Amruta Mokal. Photo: Anastasiia Korolkova/FIDE

Aravindh, Iniyan, Bhakti and Vaishali get eliminated

Harikrishna, Adhiban, Praggnanandhaa and Nihal won their respective games. Harika advanced to the next round as her opponent Aulia withdrew from the tournament due to the safety concern of all participants.

Praggnanandhaa dominated Sargissian | Photo: Anastasiia Korolkova/FIDE

FIDE World Cup 2021 and FIDE Women's World Cup 2021 Official logo | Photo: Official site

Harikrishna - Quesada Perez: 1-0

It is no secret that Harikrishna has an impeccable knowledge of the endgame. GM Yasser Quesada Perez (CUB) got a taste of it.

Position after 41...Kxd4

Harikrishna was better for the majority of the endgame. 41...Kd4 only made things difficult for Black. The game continued 42.Rb6 Rc7 43.Be2 Rc8 44.e6 Kc5

Position after 44...Kc5

White has more than one way to win, find out the best one.

Harikrishna's two mind boggling positional decisions | Video: ChessBase India

Harikrishna scored a nice technical win against Quesada Perez | Photo: Biel Chess Festival

Vidit-Fier: 0.5-0.5

Vidit drew with GM Alexandr Fier (BRA). They will play tie-breaks today.

Vidit will have to beat Fier to setup a clash with Adhiban in Round 3

Dubov - Gukesh: 0.5-0.5

Gukesh once again held his own against 136 points rated higher opponent, Daniil Dubov. He had a difficult position against the former World Rapid champion.

Position after 43...Bc7

White could have made things a bit more difficult for Black, starting with 44.Rc5 Bb8 45.hxg5 hxg5 46.Rb5 Bh2 47.Kg2 Bf4 48.Kf1 etc. The text 44.Rd7 allowed Gukesh to put his bishop in a safer diagonal 44...Ba5 45.Rd6+ Kh5 46.Ra6 Bc3 47.Nf5 gxh4

Position after 47...gxh4

47.Rc6 probably was a better continuation for White, keeps his chances than to take on h6 directly, let alone with a knight. Gukesh exchanged the rooks at the first opportunity he got and managed to salvage a draw, forcing tie-breaks.

Gukesh can definitely hang with one of the best in the world like Dubov | Photo: Eric Rosen/FIDE

Tomashevsky - Iniyan: 1-0

Iniyan moved his queen strangely which cost him a lot of valuable tempi against GM Evgeny Tomashevsky (RUS).

Position after 17...Qb2

17...Qb2 does not add much. Black is already lacking in development. 17...h5 or Ra8, a5 is what the computer suggests. After 18.Rc2 Qa3 19.Qe3 Qa5 20.c5 the black queen got shut. White won the game in another six moves.

Iniyan would have preferred to put up a better fight against Tomashevsky

Sargissian - Praggnanandhaa: 0-1

Being in a must-win situation, GM Gabriel Sargissian made a desperate sacrifice with the hope of getting something.

Position after 23.Nh6+

23.Nh6+ is nothing but a scare tactic. Pragg is not the one who gets rattled easily. 23.Ne3 is what White needed to play. Black called White's bluff and took the knight as it was forced because declining the sacrifice would only make things worse for Black.

Position after 31...Qxd5

Pragg kept things simple and went for liquidation because the resultant rook ending is completely winning for him.

Praggnanandhaa beats Sargissian (2682) with a 2-0 score | Video: ChessBase India

Praggnanandhaa will face experienced GM Michal Krasenkow in Round 3 | Photo: Anastasiia Korolkova/FIDE

Sjugirov - Nihal: 0-1

Nihal got himself a fantastic position against Sjugirov in the middlegame.

Position after 26...h5

A lot of things have gone wrong for White and almost everything seems to have gone right for Black.

Position after 32...d5

Things started falling apart for White after the 32...d5 break. 33.Nxe5 dxe4 34.fxe4 Bxe4 was fine, but 35.Nd7 gave the opening Black was looking for. 35...Rxf5 36.Nxb8 and White lacks enough resistance as the b8-knight is far away from the action.

Nihal will face Dmitry Andreikin in Round 3 | Photo: Eric Rosen/FIDE

Neuris - Adhiban: 0-1

GM Neuris Delgado Ramirez (PAR) was unable to maintain the tension in the endgame as he decided to take a pawn and damage his own pawn structure.

Position after 33.cxb5

33.cxb5 does not immediately finish the game for White but you get an inkling things will fall apart for White sooner than later, which is exactly what happened.

Adhiban will face either Vidit or Fier in Round 3 | Photo: David Llada

Aravindh - Abdusattorov: 0-1

Aravindh's first loss against GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB) in over a year cost him dearly.

Position after 21.Rxd5

Perhaps 21.Rxd5 was an incorrect practical decision because playing with a queen against two rooks without much to go on, is definitely going to be quite a daunting task.

Aravindh's first loss against Abdusattorov in over a year proved costly | Photo: Eric Rosen/FIDE

Padmini - Khadem: 0.5-0.5

Padmini had a well-contested draw with Iran no.1 woman IM Sara Khadem.

Padmini will play tie-breaks today | Photo: Eric Rosen/FIDE

Pogonina-Bhakti: 1-0

Bhakti once again got eliminated by WGM Natalija Pogonina (RUS), just like the previous knockout Women's World Championship in 2018.

Position after 21...Ra8

Black was already having a difficulty position. 21...Ra8 invited more trouble 22.b5 Nd8 23.b6. Black managed to get out of trouble, but the eventual rook ending was completely winning for White.

FIDE Women's World Cup has come to an end for Bhakti | Photo: Anastasiia Korolkova/FIDE

Vaishali - Khotenashvili: 0-1

Vaishali started aggressively, but then she suddenly took her foot off the accelerator.

Position after 14.Bf3

In a must-win situation, White needed to continue what she started. 14.f5 seemed more logical than 14.Bf3 which allowed Black enough time to regroup.

Vaishali lost both of her games against GM Bela Khotenashvili | Photo: Eric Rosen/FIDE

Results:

Open

GM Daniil Dubov (RUS) - D Gukesh: 1-1

GM Evgeny Tomashevsky (RUS) - Iniyan P: 2-0

Vidit Gujrathi - GM Alexandr Fier (BRA): 1-1

GM Neuris Delgado Ramirez (PAR) - B Adhiban: 0-2

Pentala Harikrishna - GM Yasser Quesada Perez (CUB): 1.5-0.5

Aravindh Chithambaram - GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB): 0.5-1.5

GM Sanan Sjugirov (RUS) - Nihal Sarin: 0.5-1.5

GM Gabriel Sargissian (ARM) - R Praggnanandhaa: 0-2

 

Women

IM Medina Warda Aulia (INA) - GM Dronavalli Harika: 0-2

IM Padmini Rout IM - Sara Khadem (IRI): 1-1

WGM Natalija Pogonina (RUS) - IM Bhakti Kulkarni: 1.5-0.5

WGM Vaishali R - GM Bela Khotenashvili (GEO): 0-2

Round 3 pairings

Open

Adhiban's opponent will be decided today between Vidit or Alexandr Fier.

Harikrishna vs. GM Constantin Lupulescu (ROU)

Praggnanandhaa vs. GM Michal Krasenkow (POL)

Nihal vs. GM Dmitry Andreikin (RUS)

 

Women

GM Valentina Gunina (RUS) vs. Harika

Krasenkow - Alekseenko: 1-0

Arguably the best game of the day was played between GM Michal Krasenkow (POL) who eliminated GM Kirill Alekseenko (RUS).

Position after 29.Rxh6

A beautiful move like 29.Rxh6 can only be spotted and played by humans. The rest of the game is just a pure bliss for White and a nightmare for Black.

Highlights

Here are a few interesting finishes from Round 2.2

Magnus Carlsen (NOR) defeated GM Sasa Martinovic (SRB)

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave won against GM Elshan Moradiabadi (USA)

GM Michal Krasenkow (POL) defeated GM Kirill Alekseenko (RUS)

GM Sam Shankland (USA) defeated GM Baadur Jobava (GEO)

WGM Teodora Injac (SRB) lost to GM Kateryna Lagno (RUS)

GM Mariya Muzychuk (UKR) defeated IM Inna Gaponenko (UKR)
FIDE World Cup 2021 Round 2.2 Live Commentary by IM Sagar Shah and Amruta Mokal | Video: ChessBase India

Photo Gallery

Carlsen arrives in a supercar | Photo: Anastasiia Korolkova/FIDE

Fans ask for an autograph to the world champion | Photo: Anastasiia Korolkova/FIDE

Nihal and Praggnanandhaa are still hanging in there | Photo: Eric Rosen/FIDE

Anna and Mariya - The Muzychuk sisters are through to Round 3 | Photo: Anastasiia Korolkova/FIDE

First move is being made on Carlsen's board | Photo: Eric Rosen/FIDE

Guiness Book of World Records holder - GM Timur Gareyev arrives in style | Photo: Anastasiia Korolkova/FIDE

IM Volodar Murzin has already made fans | Photo: Anastasiia Korolkova/FIDE

Can you guess what Carlsen is drinking? | Photo: Anastasiia Korolkova/FIDE

Forfeits

Levon Aronian pulled out of the FIDE World Cup 2021 citing health concerns. He announced it on his facebook much before Round 2.2

Aronian is always truly a gentleman of the game both on and off the board | Source: Aronian's fb

IM Irine Kharisma Sukandar (INA) tweeted about her and her compatriot IM Medina Warda Aulia's withdrawal from the event, resulting in Gunina and Harika advancing to Round 3.

Replay Round 2.2 Open games

Replay Round 2.2 Women games

Links:

Results

Schedule

Official site

Men's Regulations

Women's Regulations


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