World Rapid Teams R5-8: Hexamind hexes MGD1 to join the lead

Atharvaa P Tayade wins eight in-a-row

For the second consecutive day, the tournament was marred by a touch-move incident, except this one was much worse. It was absolutely clear who was in the wrong and wasted everyone's time but surprisingly it took a lot longer to execute the correct decision after initially making an incorrect judgment.

Round 5: Freedom halts MGD1's winning streak

Team MGD1's winning streak was brought to a halt by Freedom as they drew 3-3. Both GM Arjun Erigaisi and Atharvaa P Tayade arrived late for their respective games against GM Vishy Anand (2719) and Sarbartho Mani (1871). Sarbartho missed an opportunity to get back in the game against Atharvaa when the former was in trouble for the better part of the middlegame. Those two games were the only two decisive ones in this match.

Arjun - Anand

Arjun needed to trade the queens immediately 25.Qf7+ Qxf7 26.exf7+ Kxf7 would have alleviated the pressure. Keeping the queens on the board meant playing with fire. 25.Qe5?? Rxb2!-+ 26.Qxb2 Qg5 27.g3 Qg4 28.Qf6 Rf8 29.e7 Rxf6 30.e8Q+ Rf8 31.Qe2 Bf3 and White resigned as he cannot stop checkmate and keep his queen alive on the board at the same time.

Replay MGD1 - Freedom games

Hexamind Chess Team drew against Uzbekistan 3-3. GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov (2732) and GM Javokhir Sindarov (2668) scored the wins for Uzbekistan, IM Divya Deshmukh (2386) and David Muradyan scored the equalizers for Hexamind.

Replay Hexamind Chess Team - Uzbekistan games

Round 6: MGD1 beats WR Chess, touch to move rule

MGD1 defeated WR Chess 4-2. GM David Anton Guijarro (2625) and Atharvaa P Tayade (1952) scored the crucial wins for the team against GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda (2718) and Wadim Rosenstein (1704). GM Hikaru Nakamura (2734) missed a lot of winning chances against GM Pentala Harikrishna (2634) in the major piece endgame.

Wadim - Atharvaa

Wadim left his rook on a1 and then immediately moved held it again as if he did not let go. Initial decision surprisingly was to continue the game. It was only after the Captain of MGD1, GM Srinath Narayanan who replayed the official live stream and then informed it to the Chief Arbiter, the decision was reversed and the game continued after 21.Ra1?? White had compensation for the lost exchange for some time. However, as the game continued White lost his compensation and eventually losing the critical game, helping team MGD1 to score a 4-2 victory.

Replay MGD1 - WR Chess Team games

Freedom suffered their first and only loss of the tournament against Germany and Friends by a minimum margin 2.5-3.5.

Replay Freedom - Germany and Friends games

Ashdod Elit Chess Club lost to Generation XYZA by 2.5-3.5. However, GM Nihal Sarin (2676) bounced back by winning an exciting game against GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2701), after losing the previous round game against IM Fautino Oro (2457) of Turkish Airlines Sports Club.

Replay Ashdod Elit Chess Club - Generation XYZA games

Turkish Airlines Sports Club lost to Hexamind Chess Team 2-4. GM Levon Aronian (2746), GM Volodar Murzin (2637) and GM Leinier Dominguez Perez (2708) won their respective games. GM Anish Giri (2688) and IM Divya Deshmukh (2386) drew to ensure the team's fourth win.

Replay Turkish Airlines Sports Club - Hexamind Chess Team games

Round 7: WR Chess bows down to Hexamind

Germany and Friends lost to MGD1 by 2.5-3.5. GM Pentala Harikrishna, GM Leon Luke Mendonca and Atharvaa P Tayade scored the wins for MGD1. WR Chess suffered their second consecutive loss of the day. It was against Hexamind Chess Team in Round 7. For Hexamind, GM Volodar Murzin, GM Vidit Gujrathi and David Muradyan scored the full points.

Replay Germany and Friends - MGD1 games

Replay WR Chess - Hexamind Chess Team games

After suffering their sole loss of the event so far, Freedom bounced back with a 1.5-4.5 victory over Hetman GKS Katowice. Sarbartho Mani bounced back with a win after suffering two consecutive losses.

Replay Hetman GKS Katowice - Freedom games

Round 8: Hexamind humbles MGD1

Hexamind Chess Team ended Team MGD1's unbeaten streak. They defeated the sole leader by 4-2 to join the lead. Atharvaa P Tayade scored the sole win for MGD1, while GM Volodar Murzin, GM Leinier Dominguez Perez and IM Divya Deshmukh scored the key wins for Hexamind.

Replay Hexamind - MGD1 games

KazChess got crushed by Freedom 1-5.

Replay KazChess - Freedom games

Rishon LeZion Chess Club lost to Ashdod Elit Chess Club 2.5-3.5. GM Nihal Sarin completed a hat-trick of wins by defeating the legend, GM Boris Gelfand.

Replay Rishon LeZion Chess Club - Ashdod Elit Chess Club games

For more photos, click here.

Replay live stream

Venue

The venue for the event is Novotel London West in London, England.

Prize

The total prize fund is €500000 combining Rapid and Blitz, €310000 in Rapid and €190000 in Blitz. There are six prizes in Rapid - top five and two rating categories. The top three prizes are: €110000, 70000 and 50000 each respectively. Best U2400 and U2200 will earn €10000 and €5000 each respectively. For Blitz, the number of prizes got increased to five from four. The top three are - €75000, €50000 and €30000 each.

Replay Round 5-8 games

Round 8 results

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Standings after Round 8

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Round 9 pairings

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Links

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Official site

Tournament Regulations

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