Indian contingent have made a great start at FIDE World Cup and Women's World Cup 2023. Nine out of 17 Indians are playing in the first round. All of them remained undefeated. GM Harsha Bharathakoti, GM S L Narayanan, GM Abhimanyu Puranik, WGM Mary Ann Gomes and IM Divya Deshmukh have won their respective first game. They all need a draw each in the second game to advance to the second round. GM Adhiban B, GM Karthik Venkataraman, WGM Nandhidhaa P V and WGM Priyanka Nutakki drew their respective games. Who all do you think will advance to the next round without needing tie-breaks? Round 1.2 starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 4:30 p.m. IST. All photos are by Shahid Ahmed unless stated otherwise.
Harsha was playing on the last board, which is actually the strongest board as the rating difference was minimum among all 76 boards. The same logic is applicable in the Women's event too. There were a quite a few lower rated players who held their stronger opponent to either a draw or defeated them.
GM Harsha Bharathakoti defeated GM Levan Pantsulaia (GEO) to make an excellent start
FIDE World Cup 2023 and FIDE Women's World Cup 2023 Official logo | Photo: Official site
Harsha - Levan: 1-0
GM Harsha Bharathakoti (2563) had a tough challenge in the form of GM Levan Pantsulaia (GEO, 2564). Their head-to-head score in Classical rated games was 1-1 before this game. Both of them have crossed 2600 before, so it was going to be a great battle.
Position after 17...Qxf5?
Harsha likes to play imbalanced/volatile positions. So 17...Qxf5 created the opportunity he was looking for 18.Ng5 Qg6 19.Ne6 Nb6 20.Bd3 e4 21.Nc7+ the position was absolutely in White's wheelhouse. He had no trouble converting his advantage into a win.
GM Harsha Bharathakoti made a great start by winning against GM Levan Pantsulaia (GEO)
GM S L Narayanan defeated IM Providence Oatlhotse (BOT) comfortably
I want to play against the stronger player in Round 2 - GM S L Narayanan | Video: ChessBase India
An incorrect exchange sacrifice by GM Luis Fernando Ibarra Chami (MEX) helped GM Abhimanyu Puranik score a win in his debut at the World Cup
GM Lance Henderson de La Fuente (AND) - GM B Adhiban (pictured): 0.5-0.5
WGM Nandhidhaa P V (2329) got herself a great opportunity to win against WIM Tianqi Yan (CHN, 2277). However, she missed it. White played 50.Re6 Rg3 and the game meandered into a draw. 51.Rg7is what White needed to play to win the game.
WGM Nandhidhaa P V had a great opportunity to make a winning start | Photo: Maria Emelianova/chess.com
WGM Mary Ann Gomes (pictured) somehow managed to survive a difficult position and beat WGM Yaniela Forgas Moreno (CUB)
IM Marina Brunello (ITA) - WGM Priyanka Nutakki (pictured): 0.5-0.5
IM Divya Deshmukh (pictured) defeated WIM Puteri Munajjah Az-Zahraa Azhar (MAS) with ease
Highlights
One of the most exciting win of the round 1.1 was scored by 14-year-old IM Ediz Gurel (TUR, 2500) against GM Velimir Ivic (SRB, 2590).
Position after 21...Bxc5
21...Bxc5 was a mistake. Try to think like the strong teenager and find out the best continuation.
IM Gurel Ediz: "I like thinking, this is what I like about chess" | Video: FIDE
IM Ediz Gurel (TUR) is a future GM and already caused an upset in his first game | Photo: Maria Emelianova/chess.com
GM Jules Moussard (FRA) was held to a draw after 109-moves by Uganda no.3 FM Haruna Nsubuga
Video Gallery
First move of FIDE World Cup and Women's World Cup 2023 Round 1.1
| Video: ChessBase India
FIDE World Cup 2023 Round 1.1 starting moments
| Video: ChessBase India
Fabi's 31st birthday surprise celebrations! | Video: ChessBase India
Some nice finishes
FM Massinas Djabri (ALG) - GM Laurent Fressinet (FRA): 0-1
GM Alexandr Predke (SRB) - IM Oluwafemi Daniel Balogun (NGR): 1-0
IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul (MGL) - Ye Yuan (CHN): 0.5-0.5
FIDE World Cup 2023 Round 1.1 Live Commentary by IM Irine Sukandar (INA) and IM Sagar Shah | Video: FIDE
FIDE World Cup 2023 Round 1.1 Live Commentary by Amruta Mokal | Video: ChessBase India
Photo Gallery
Farid Gayibov, Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Azerbaijan made the first move on GM Ivan Cheparinov (BUL) and Yousef A Alhassadi's (LBA) board
Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE President, made the first move on IM Eline Roebers (NED) and WCM Yamama Asif Abdulla Al-Fayyadh (IRQ) board no.1 at FIDE Women's World Cup 2023
The All-Pole battle between Igor Janik and Szymon Gumularz ended in a draw
Are you wondering what the great photographer Stev Bonhage doing?
Here is the photo which he was creating | Photo: FIDE / Stev Bonhage
