Nodirbek Abdusattorov triumphs in Letsup presents MCA GP Blitz 2
The newly crowned Asian Junior Online Open champion, Uzbekistan no.2 GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov won Letsup presents MCA GP Blitz 2 on 10th June with an unbeaten score of 9.0/10. The tournament was the second of five events in the Grand Prix. Abdusattorov won ₹6500 cash prize for his efforts. The remaining podium finishers are GM Raunak Sadhwani and GM Vaibhav Suri. They finished at 8.5/10 each and they were placed second and third respectively. Vaibhav currently leads the GP standings with two consecutive podium finishes at 17/20 points, followed by Abdusattorov and GM Arjun Erigaisi at shared second position with 11/20 points each respectively. In case you missed you the first two events, do not worry, you can still play the remaining three. Registration is on for Blitz 3 on 17th June.
Vaibhav Suri leads the GP Standings after MCA GP Blitz 2
Uzbekistan no.2 GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov scored an unbeaten 9.0/10 to win Letsup presents MCA GP Blitz 2. Two players GM Raunak Sadhwani and GM Vaibhav Suri finished at 8.5/10 and they were placed second and third respectively according to their tie-break scores. With two consecutive podium finishes, GM Vaibhav Suri climbed to the top of the GP standings with 17/20 points, champion Abdusattorov and GM Arjun Erigaisi are at shared second position with 11/20 each respectively. Abdusattorov won ₹6500 cash, Raunak earned ₹4000 and Vaibhav got ₹2500 cash for their efforts. That's not all, there is ₹30000 cash up for grabs for the top five finishers in the entire GP.
Total 123 players including 20 GMs, 19 IMs and 6 WIMs from India, Algeria, Argentina, Chile, Egypt, Ireland, Peru, Russia, Serbia, Spain, USA and Uzbekistan took part in this ten round Swiss-League event.
Vaibhav missed a win against Abdusattorov
In Round 4, irus1997 (GM Vaibhav Suri) missed a few winning opportunities after getting a fantastic position against Keramin, Uzbekistan no.2 GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov. Vaibhav had a huge advantage, perhaps time scramble could be the reason behind his misses.
Keramin - Irus1997, Round 4
The game continued with 32...Kf6 which is not a mistake but there was a better move. Can you find it?
The position is still winning for Black as there is no way for white to assist on the d7-pawn promotion.
White is still unable to breakthrough with the d7-pawn unless black takes it then black will lose all advantage and that is what happened in the game. After 39...Bxd7, black's advantage evaporated and the new Asian Junior Online Gold medalist had no trouble saving the game.
A miscue by Hitter1999
In the penultimate round, what was bound to be a spectacular encounter turned out to be a lukewarm one after Hitter1999 (GM Aravindh Chithambaram) misplayed early in the Ruy Lopez opening.
Keramin - Hitter1999, Round 9
How should black react to 14.Qb3+ ?
A close call with the Indian-Lion
Keramin's (GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov) final round game was an exciting one against Indian-Lion (GM Arjun Erigaisi). Indian-Lion was completely winning but he misplayed in the end which cost him the game.
Keramin - Indian-Lion, Round 10
Find out the winning continuation for black after 34.Ng4. The game continued with 34...Re8 and black lost the game in the next seven moves.
Unico almost upstaged Devil1234
Unico (IM Giuseppe Leiva of Peru) almost defeated Devil1234 (GM Raunak Sadhwani) in the very first round of the tournament. Much to the chagrin of Unico, he made an inaccuracy which cost him the full point.
Devil1234 - Unico, Round 1
After getting this position with decisive advantage, black blundered in the next two moves and allowed white to bounce back and snatch the full point away from him.
A devilicious draw with Irus1997
Although Devil1234 (GM Raunak Sadhwani) had advantage for the better part of the game against Irus1997 (GM Vaibhav Suri) in Round 7, however he was unable to create a substantial one and the game eventually turned out into a draw.
A marathon draw with Argentina no.1
In the penultimate round, Devil1234 was up against Argentina no.1 Alanp (GM Alan Pichot). Despite getting an advantage in the minor piece endgame, it is difficult to say if there was any practical chances of winning for white.
Babysnake missed a win against the Devil
Babysnake (IM Mitrabha Guha) got a winning position against Devil1234 (GM Raunak Sadhwani) in the endgame but he completely missed it.
Babysnake - Devil1234, Round 11
Find out the winning continuation for white after 28...Bf6
A Fighter always fights till the end
Reigning National Triple Crown champion Hitter1999 (GM Aravindh Chithambaram) had an opportunity to settle for an easy draw with Irus1997 (GM Vaibhav Suri) but he is not the one to take draws without giving his all. Being a fighter he fought till the end not because of the clock situation but because there was a lot of game left to be played. The result did not change, but he played for another 58 moves because it was definitely worth a fight.
Hitter1999 - Irus1997, Round 7
White can easily move the g6-rook between f6 and h6 to force a draw by perpetual check but Aravindh kept fighting to see what happens. There is nothing wrong with taking a draw especially when you have two more crucial games left in the tournament, that is why Aravindh is the National Triple Crown champion.
An emphatic victory against Rasulov
Irus1997 (GM Vaibhav Suri) scored a fantastic victory by opting for the exchange sacrifice line in the Open Catalan against the MCA GP Blitz 1 winner GM Vugar Rasulov of Azerbaijan in Round 9.
Final Standings:
GP Standings after Blitz
Main Prize winners (Top 20)
| Rank | Name | Score | Prize money |
| 1 | GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov | 9 | ₹6500 |
| 2 | GM Raunak Sadhwani | 8.5 | ₹4000 |
| 3 | GM Vaibhav Suri | 8.5 | ₹2500 |
| 4 | GM Arjun Erigaisi | 7.5 | ₹2000 |
| 5 | GM Alan Pichot | 7.5 | ₹1000 |
| 6 | GM Aravindh Chithambaram | 7 | ₹800 |
| 7 | GM Dusan Popovic | 7 | ₹700 |
| 8 | IM Terry Renato | 7 | ₹600 |
| 9 | GM D Gukesh | 7 | ₹500 |
| 10 | IM Arjun Kalyan | 7 | ₹500 |
| 11 | IM Aronyak Ghosh | 7 | ₹500 |
| 12 | GM Vishnu Prasanna | 7 | ₹400 |
| 13 | GM Laxman R R | 7 | ₹400 |
| 14 | IM Mitrabha Guha | 7 | ₹400 |
| 15 | Vaibhav Jayant Raut | 7 | ₹300 |
| 16 | GM Diptayan Ghosh | 6.5 | ₹300 |
| 17 | GM Harsha Bharathakoti | 6.5 | ₹300 |
| 18 | GM Deep Sengupta | 6.5 | ₹300 |
| 19 | Aditya Samant | 6.5 | ₹300 |
| 20 | GM Debashis Das | 6.5 | ₹300 |
Best Women
| 1 | WIM Priyanka Nutakki | 6 | ₹700 |
| 2 | Potluri Saye Srreezza | 6 | ₹500 |
Best Unrated
| 1 | Ishwar Lal Patel | 3 | ₹700 |
| 2 | Mayur Gondhalekar | 3 | ₹500 |
Feedback of the participants
GM Alan Pichot, Argentina no.1
Excellent tournament! It is a pleasure to play every week!
Aradhya Garg, Reigning National Junior (Under-19 Open) Champion
Really enjoyed playing the evening! It was a smoothly conducted event with very good quality of players and a handsome prize fund. I tremendously enjoyed playing the event and am aiming to play more of the events organised by Chessbase India in the future. Chessbase India has made a name for itself for conducting online events well and donating a good part of it in charity. I wish that it continues and that Chessbase India keeps empowering Chess in India.
Rishabh Gokhale
It was great!
Vaibhav Jayant Raut
Your tournament is really well arranged and fantastic
Mayur Gondhalekar
A lot of strong players in the tournament. No respite when hoping for a breather/easy win. This is good for my improvement!
