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Grand Swiss R2: Tenacious Nihal survives the Caruana challenge

by Shahid Ahmed - 29/10/2021

Nihal Sarin managed to survive against the former world championship challenger, Fabiano Caruana in their first-ever Classical encounter in the second round of FIDE chess.com Grand Swiss 2021. The 17-year-old persevered where many would have crumbled under sheer pressure of playing against the world no.2. Arjun Erigaisi also showed the world that his win against Dubov four months ago at Goldmoney Asian Rapid was not a fluke, as he put up a very good fight in the Classical game to make a draw. Praggnanandhaa played the role of 'The Beastmaster' as he beat Adhiban in his own game. Round 3 starts today at 4:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Mark Livshitz/FIDE

Arjun Erigaisi draws with Dubov

Sasikiran and Padmini defeated Shamsiddin Vokhidov (UZB) and Pia Cramling (SWE); D Gukesh, Sethuraman and Surya Sekhar Ganguly drew with Parham Maghsoodloo (IRI), Gabriel Sargissian (ARM) and Ivan Cheparinov (BUL); Harikrishna, Raunak and Vaishali lost to Alexey Dreev (RUS), Sanan Sjugirov (RUS) and Nino Batsiashvili (GEO) respectively. Harika was too strong for Divya.

Nihal Sarin showed his calmness in a perilous situation | Photo: Mark Livshitz/FIDE

FIDE Grand Swiss 2021 official logo | Photo: FIDE

Nihal - Caruana: 0.5-0.5

Caruana opted for the Tarrasch Defence against Nihal. During the middlegame, Nihal put his knight on the edge which made things slightly difficult for him.

Position after 19.Nh4

According to the computer, 19.Nxc6 bxc6 20.Bxe4 dxe4 21.Ne1 Bxh3 22.Rxd8 Rxd8 23.Qxa6 and the position is equal but it is quite obvious to understand that in a practical game, a human would not prefer to opt for this, especially against the world no.2. 19.Nh4 Nxd4 20.Bxd4 Qh6 21.Nf3 Bxh3 22.gxh3 Qxh3 23.Qf1 Qxf3 24.Qg2 Qxg2+ 25.Kxg2 and now White is down by two pawns. Nihal had to return the piece via 23.Qf1 as Re6-g6 threat was looming large. Nihal showed a great tenacity in the endgame by recovering one of the lost pawns and steering the game to a draw.

Many would have simply crumbled! | Video: ChessBase India

Laser focused Nihal | Photo: Mark Livshitz/FIDE

Gukesh had a solid draw with Parham Maghsoodloo | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Dubov - Arjun: 0.5-0.5

The best way to make sure Dubov does not go all creative on you is by taking the role of an aggressor which is what Arjun Erigaisi did against him.

Position after 14...b5

It is clear from the above position that Arjun is the one who is in control of the position. He managed to play solid till the end and not give any chance to his opponent. The game ended in a draw by threefold repetition.

Arjun Erigaisi held his own against Daniil Dubov | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Praggnanandhaa - Adhiban: 1-0

Praggnanandhaa unleashed an attack like his opponent Adhiban usually does.

Position after 24.g4

24.g4 left Black no choice but to take on f3 as the threat of exf6 cannot be prevented, only delayed. The game continued 24...Qxf3 25.exf6 Be2 26.Rf2 and Black made the bold decision of taking the g4-pawn 26...Qxg4+ 27.Rg2 Qf4 28.Rxe6 gives White the decisive advantage, as the bishop is much more dangerous than Black's scattered three pawns. Praggnanandhaa showcased fantastic technique to convert his advantage into a win.

The Beastslayer | Praggnanandhaa vs Adhiban | Video: ChessBase India

The acknowledgement from the world champion can do wonders | Photo: Mark Livshitz/FIDE

Sethuraman - Gabriel: 0.5-0.5

Sethuraman and Gabriel Sargissian (ARM) had a roller-coaster game where both players had their fair share of substantial advantage.

Position after 32...Qa3

Black's intention is simple, to play c5 and get rid of the passed a-pawn. To prevent that from happening, White needed to play 33.c5 and then play a6 which would have kept good chances for White. Unfortunately, 33.Bf1 was played and Black got 33...c5 in place and the a-pawn fell in a few moves. Eventually Black got a winning opportunity too which he missed and the game ended in a draw.

Sethuraman has had two 70+ move long games | Photo: Mark Livshitz/FIDE

Divya - Harika: 0-1

GM Harika got a better position out of the opening against WGM Divya Deshmukh.

Position after 16...c4

16...c4 gives a clue that something has gone terribly wrong for White in the opening. White could not get back for the rest of the game.

Harika is too strong for Divya for now | Photo: Mark Livshitz/FIDE

Vantika played well against IM Meri Arabidze | Photo: Mark Livshitz/FIDE

Pia Cramling - Padmini: 0-1

IM Padmini Rout struck at the right moment when the legendary GM Pia Cramling (SWE) made an error.

Position after 30.Nd6

Find out the winning continuation for Black after 30.Nd6

Padmini defeated Pia Cramling in her second ever encounter | Photo: Mark Livshitz/FIDE

Highlights

A few interesting finishes from Round 2

Alexandr Predke (RUS) defeated Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB)

Manuel Petrosyan (ARM) drew with Pavel Ponkratov (RUS)

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA) defeated M Amin Tabatabaei (IRI)

Jorden van Foreest (NED) lost to Robert Hovhannisyan (ARM)

Photo Gallery

The tournament hall | Photo: Mark Livshitz/FIDE

A black and white look of the hall | Photo: Mark Livshitz/FIDE

Praggnanandhaa and Adhiban in action | Photo: Mark Livshitz/FIDE

Schedule

Everyday game starts at 2 p.m. local time (4:30 p.m. IST) between 27th October and 7th November 2021. Rest day is on Tuesday 2nd November 2021.

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 top two players in the open event will qualify for the FIDE Candidates 2022. The next six players will earn their spots in the FIDE Grand Prix. The Women's Grand Swiss winner will qualify to the Women's Candidates. The following four best players will qualify for the FIDE Women's Grand Prix.

Prizes

The total prize fund in the Open is US$ 425,000 with the first prize being $70,000. For Women's the total prize fund is $125,000, first prize $20,000. Total numbers of prizes are 60, Open - 40 and Women - 20.

Replay Round 2 Open games

Replay Round 2 Women games

Replay the live stream

FIDE chess.com Grand Swiss Round 2 | Live commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

Round 2 results

Rd.Bo.No. NameFEDRtgPts.ResultPts.NameFEDRtg No.
2141
GMNihal SarinIND26521½ - ½1GMCaruana FabianoUSA2800
1
2412
GMMaghsoodloo ParhamIRI27011½ - ½1GMGukesh DIND2640
53
21559
GMDreev AlekseyRUS2635½1 - 0½GMHarikrishna PentalaIND2719
7
2168
GMDubov DaniilRUS2714½½ - ½½GMErigaisi ArjunIND2634
60
22581
GMPraggnanandhaa RIND2618½1 - 0½GMAdhiban B.IND2672
25
22679
GMSethuraman S.P.IND2620½½ - ½½GMSargissian GabrielARM2664
27
22728
GMSjugirov SananRUS2663½1 - 0½GMSadhwani RaunakIND2609
84
22930
GMCheparinov IvanBUL2659½½ - ½½GMGanguly Surya ShekharIND2617
82
24454
GMSasikiran KrishnanIND2640½1 - 0½GMVokhidov ShamsiddinUZB2521
104
2525
WGMVaishali RIND241910 - 11GMBatsiashvili NinoGEO2484
10
21147
WIMDivya DeshmukhIND2305½0 - 1½GMHarika DronavalliIND2511
4
21419
IMArabidze MeriGEO2441½½ - ½½WIMVantika AgrawalIND2322
46
22017
GMCramling PiaSWE244700 - 10IMPadmini RoutIND2380
40

Details

Round 3 pairings

Rd.Bo.No. NameFEDRtgPts.ResultPts.NameFEDRtg No.
3754
GMSasikiran KrishnanIND2640GMMaghsoodloo ParhamIRI2701
12
3853
GMGukesh DIND2640GMArtemiev VladislavRUS2699
14
31581
GMPraggnanandhaa RIND2618GMHowell David W LENG2658
34
319101
GMKuybokarov TemurAUS2549GMNihal SarinIND2652
41
32517
GMNavara DavidCZE269111GMSethuraman S.P.IND2620
79
32660
GMErigaisi ArjunIND263411GMMamedov RaufAZE2673
24
33482
GMGanguly Surya ShekharIND261711GMSwiercz DariuszUSA2647
46
3387
GMHarikrishna PentalaIND2719½1GMMorovic Fernandez IvanCHI2510
105
34184
GMSadhwani RaunakIND2609½½GMVan Foreest JordenNED2691
18
34425
GMAdhiban B.IND2672½½GMOnyshchuk VolodymyrUKR2622
75
354
GMHarika DronavalliIND2511GMStefanova AntoanetaBUL2475
11
31740
IMPadmini RoutIND238011WGMVaishali RIND2419
25
32046
WIMVantika AgrawalIND23221½WIMDivya DeshmukhIND2305
47

Details

Links

Official site

Chess-results: Open and Women

Tournament Regulations: Open and Women