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World Team 2022 R5: Vidit and S L Narayanan propel India to the Quarterfinals

by Shahid Ahmed - 23/11/2022

USA suffered a crushing defeat against India 1-3 in the fifth round of World Team Chess Championship 2022. Vidit Gujrathi and S L Narayanan scored emphatic victories over Hans Niemann and Varuzhan Akobian respectively. Both wins were scored with the black pieces. While Vidit launched a solid attack on the kingside, Narayanan showed his fantastic positional understanding. Nihal Sarin drew his game comfortably and Sethuraman S P escaped all difficulties to salvage a draw. India will face France in the Quarterfinals in a duel starting at 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. IST today. Reigning World Blitz champion, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs Vidit is probably going to be one of the most anticipated matches of the event. Photo: FIDE/Mark Livshitz

India set to clash with France today

Spain joined China, France and Ukraine in Group A and Azerbaijan, India and Poland joined Uzbekistan in Group B in the Knockout stage. It will be China vs Poland, Spain vs Azerbaijan, Ukraine vs Uzbekistan and France vs India in the Quarterfinals.

GM Vidit Gujrathi decimated GM Hans Niemann (USA) | Photo: FIDE/Mark Livshitz

The tournament logo | Photo: Official site

USA - India: 1-3

GM Vidit Gujrathi (2662) got a comfortable position early in the middlegame against GM Hans Niemann (2599).

Hans - Vidit

Position after 25...g4

It is not easy to defend this especially as White's pieces are all over the board. There is a lack of coordination. 26.Re2 g3 crippling White's kingside further. Black needn't open up the g-file with gxh3 as it would have helped White only to defend his king and attack Black's vulnerable king. 27.Rxb7 a5 28.Qb6 Rxb7 29.Qxb7 Qf5 securing the c8-square for the rook. 30.Qc7 Rc8 31.Qe5 Qxe5 32.dxe5 Ne4 and it goes without saying that Black is winning here, thanks to White's bishop taking a nap at f1 and White's weak backrank.

Vidit Gujrathi crushes Hans Niemann | Video: ChessBase India

Akobian - S L Narayanan

Position after 26.Ba3

26.Ba3 allowed Black to jump his knight to f4. 26...Nf4 27.Bd6 Rc8 28.Qa1 Nh3+ 29.Kh1 Ng5 30.Bg2 f4 31.f3 Nd5 and S L Narayanan just weaved magic with knights showcasing his fantastic positional understanding winning the game.

S L Narayanan's positional understanding is too good for Akobian | Video: ChessBase India

Two Keralites - GM Nihal Sarin and GM S L Narayanan battling for team India | Photo: FIDE/Mark Livshitz

USA lost to India 1-3 | Photo: FIDE/Mark Livshitz

Round 5: USA - India: 1-3
World Team 2022 Round 5 Live Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

Ivanchuk - Jorden

Position after 26.Nd7!!

Vasyl Ivanchuk is a genius, a former World Rapid and Blitz champion. He is also an artist. So when he makes a beautiful move like this, it certainly delights the chess universe. The outcome of the game is not important here.

Photo Gallery

It is always a joy to watch Ivanchuk in action | Photo: FIDE/Mark Livshitz

The World Blitz champion - Maxime Vachier-Lagrave eyeing for another Gold? | Photo: FIDE/Mark Livshitz

The tournament hall during round 5 | Photo: FIDE/Mark Livshitz

Replay Group A Round 5 games

Replay Group B Round 5 games

Group A standings after Round 5

Rk.SNoFED TeamGames  +   =   -  TB1  TB2  TB3  TB4 
15CHN
China541091536129
21FRA
France5221611,52198,5
34ESP
Spain5221611,51889,8
43UKR
Ukraine52216112191
52NED
Netherlands511339,5670
66RSA
South Africa500501,5018,8

Details

Group B standings after Round 5

Rk.SNoFED TeamGames  +   =   -  TB1  TB2  TB3  TB4 
16UZB
Uzbekistan531171228113,8
21AZE
Azerbaijan5311711,530110,3
33IND
India52216102695,3
45POL
Poland504149,52497,3
54ISR
Israel512249,51493
62USA
United States510427,5877,5

Details

Quarterfinal pairings

Quarterfinal - Round 1 (2022/11/23)
No. TeamGame 1MatchPts.
6
China0
7
Poland0
5
Spain0
2
Azerbaijan0
3
Ukraine0
8
Uzbekistan0
1
France0
4
India0

Details

Schedule

The Knockout stage comprises a duel starting at 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. IST from 23rd to 25th November 2022. In case of a tie, tie-breaks will take place at 12 a.m. IST. having the time control 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment. For more details, check the tournament regulations.

World Team 2022 schedule | Photo: Official site

Time Control

The time control is 45 minutes + 10 seconds increment for the entire game.

FIDE World Team Championship 2022 Pool Round 5 Live Commentary by GM Vishy Anand and IM and WGM Almira Skripchenko | Video: FIDE

Links

Official site

Tournament Regulations