Oslo Esports Cup R5: Minimalist Praggnanandhaa strikes again, regains sole lead
Praggnanandhaa got back to his winning ways as he beat Eric Hansen in minimum number of games, just like his previous three wins. The wunderkind is back in the sole lead at Meltwater Champions Chess Tour Oslo Esports Cup. He started the day with a victory against the popular streamer. The second game ended in a draw after the Canadian could not find a way to capitalize on his advantage. Pragg won the third game to win the match and get back to the top of the points table. Magnus Carlsen was befuddled about how he blundered a rook in the second game. He eventually lost the match against Jorden van Foreest. Pragg will face FIDE World Cup 2021 winner Jan-Krzysztof Duda in the penultimate round, which starts tonight at 9:30 p.m. IST. Photo: chess24
Jorden beats Carlsen
Magnus Carlsen suffered a shocking loss against one of his seconds, Jorden van Foreest in the second game of Round 5. The world champion blundered a complete rook and he was flabbergasted by it.
Praggnanandhaa - Hansen: 2.5-0.5
Eric Hansen went wrong early in the Slav opening against Praggnanandhaa in the first game.
Praggnanandhaa - Hansen, Game 1
9...Bb4 causes Black to lose material after 10.Nxd7 Qxd7 11.h5 Be4 12.f3 drops the light square bishop. There is not enough compensation either. 9...dxc4 is what Black needed to play.
Hansen had a decent advantage in the middlegame of the second game. However, he was unable to capitalize on it and Praggnanandhaa managed to equalize, eventually draw the game. In the third game, Hansen did not respond correctly to Praggnanandhaa's attack.
Praggnanandhaa - Hansen, Game 3
24...gxh4 would have ensured that Black's kingside does not get cramped. 24...h6 blindsided the g7-bishop further. 25.hxg5 hxg5 26.Qc1 Bg6 27.f4 Bh6 28.fxg5 fxg5 29.e6 and it's all over for Black. A beautiful positional squeeze by Praggnanandhaa.
Replay the live stream
Replay Round 5 games
Round 5 results
Standings after Round 5
Round 6 pairings
All games will start from 9:30 p.m. IST between 22nd and 28th April 2022.