Paracin Open 2021 R4-6: Arjun Erigaisi in the championship fray

by Shahid Ahmed - 14/07/2021

Arjun Erigaisi is the only Indian who is closest to the sole leader IM Raven Sturt at the conclusion of Round 6 of Paracin Open 2021. Arjun is a half point behind the leader, along with three other players. Both IM Sankalp Gupta and IM Aditya Mittal are at an unbeaten 4.5/6, Pranav Venkatesh also has the same score. Sankalp is on his way to score a GM-norm if he can maintain his form in the last three rounds. Aditya and Pranav will also be eyeing to score their second GM-norm. Untitled Shantanu Bhambure had a good opportunity against GM Misratdin Iskandarov, but unfortunately for the former, it ended in a draw. The tournament can still be won by anybody. Round 7 starts today at 8 p.m. IST. Photo: Rupali Mullick

Raven Sturt takes sole lead 5.5/6

IM Raven Sturt (USA) has taken a sole lead at the end of the sixth round. Four players are at a half point behind him. They are - IM Muradli Mahammad (AZE), IM Mikhail Bryakin (RUS), GM Arjun Erigaisi and IM Mamikon Gharbiyan (ARM). Arjun faces the top seed of the tournament GM Samvel Ter-Sahakyan (ARM) in the seventh round.

Arjun Erigaisi scored a hat-trick of wins before making a draw in Round 6| Photo: Rupali Mullick

Round 4: Safarli - Sankalp: 0.5-0.5

IM Sankalp Gupta had a well-fought draw against GM Eltaj Safarli (AZE).

Sankalp is performing at 2604 and undefeated so far| Photo: Rupali Mullick

Arjun - Agibileg: 1-0

Arjun got a fantastic position in the middlegame against IM Uurtsaikh Agibileg (MGL).

Position after 26...Bg7

The game continued 27.Nf1. However, there was a better continuation. Find out what it is.

Arjun Erigaisi moves to 3.5/4 | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Rithvik drew with Aleksandrov in 20 moves | Photo: Rupali Mullick

IM Raahil Mullick drew with IM Meilis Annaberdiev (TKM) | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Pikula - Aditya: 0.5-0.5

IM Aditya Mittal was completely winning against GM Dejan Pikula (SRB).

Position after 37.Re1

The text 37...Rb2 is not the best move here. There is a better and definitive continuation for Black. Find out what was it.

Position after 43.g4

Black has got one more chance to push for a win. The king at g2 is vulnerable, how can Black capitalize on that fact?

Aditya definitely would have liked to win this game | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Abhimanyu Puranik beat FM Lachezar Yordanov (BUL) | Photo: Rupali Mullick

IM Harshit Raja defeated IM Jacob Sylvan (DEN) | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Round 5: Gavrilescu - Arjun: 0-1

Arjun won the rook and opposite color bishop by showcasing the correct technique against GM David Gavrilescu (ROU).

Position after 32.Rfc1

32.Rfc1 was not a good idea as the resultant rook and opposite color bishop ending is winning for Black because after 32...Rxc1 33.Rxc1 Rxb2, Black not only gains the b2-pawn but h2 also falls.

Arjun scored his third consecutive victory of the event | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Rithvik - Abhimanyu: 0.5-0.5

GM Abhimanyu Puranik provided strong resistance against IM Rithvik Raja R's attack in the middlegame. However, in the endgame, it was Rithvik who once again got the upper hand and this time there was a clear way to make the most out of it.

Position after 52...Bd3

Black's king is in a precarious situation. White would like to gain the e6-pawn, but how? 53.Rf8+ Rf7 54.Rxf7+ Kxf7 and the pressure got relieved for Black. Puranik got rewarded with a draw.

Rithvik had a good chance at the end | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Raahil - Harshit: 1-0

IM Harshit Raja cornered his own rook and got it trapped against IM Raahil Mullick.

Position after 18...Ra1

The rook at a1 is trapped. Find out the best way to capture it. Black should have played 18...Rb6 and things would have been fine.

Raahil won against compatriot Harshit | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Nikitenko - Vatsal: 0.5-0.5

FM Vatsal Singhania was completely winning against IM Mihal Nikitenko (BLR).

Position after 18.Rfd1

Find out the correct continuation for Black in the above position. The text 18...Rf6 was also good, but it was not the optimum one and White got a chance to get back in the game and salvage a draw eventually.

Vatsal was on the brink of a victory | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Aditya Mittal won against WFM Meruert Kamalidenova (KAZ) with ease | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Pranav - Savic: 1-0

Pranav beat his first GM of the event in Round 5, against Miodrag R Savic (SRB).

Position after 34...Bf6

Find out the winning combination for White, which Pranav did in the game.

Pranav scored a fine victory with a beautiful maneuvering, resulting in a combination | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Round 6: Arjun - Muradli: 0.5-0.5

Arjun Erigaisi had a well-fought draw against IM Mahammad Muradli (AZE). However, it was not without chances.

Position after 28...Nd7

White could have tried to extract something out of this position. How should have White capitalized here?

Arjun had a good opportunity to push for a win | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Raahil played too passive and paid a heavy price for it | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Two in-form kids - Pranav and Aditya, drew their game against each other | Photo: Rupali Mullick

IM Raja Rithvik R held GM Eltaj Safarli (AZE) to a draw | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Shantanu Bhambure held GM Misratdin Iskandarov (AZE) to a draw | Photo: Rupali Mullick

FM Vatsal Singhania held IM David Gavrilescu (ROU) to a draw | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Photos: Round 4, 5 and 6.

Highlights

Here are a couple of interesting finishes from Round 6.

IM Uurtsaikh Agibileg (MGL) lost to GM Samvel Ter-Sahakyan (ARM)

GM Thal Abergel (FRA) beat FM Read Samadov (AZE)

Replay Round 4-6 games

Round 4 results

Rd.	Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
4	5	3	GM	Safarli Eltaj	2604	2½	½ - ½	2½	IM	Sankalp Gupta	2429	26
4	7	6	GM	Erigaisi Arjun	2567	2½	1 - 0	2½	IM	Agibileg Uurtsaikh	2413	33
4	8	8	GM	Aleksandrov Aleksej	2535	2½	½ - ½	2½	IM	Raja Rithvik R	2408	35
4	9	10	IM	Annaberdiev Meilis	2532	2½	½ - ½	2½	IM	Mullick Raahil	2386	43
4	13	22	FM	Dudin Gleb	2439	2½	1 - 0	2½		Phatak Aanjaneya	1769	178
4	14	44	GM	Pikula Dejan	2384	2½	½ - ½	2½	IM	Aditya Mittal	2438	23
4	16	4	GM	Puranik Abhimanyu	2589	2	1 - 0	2	FM	Yordanov Lachezar	2325	61
4	18	14	IM	Raja Harshit	2484	2	1 - 0	2	IM	Sylvan Jacob	2322	64
4	20	16	GM	Prithu Gupta	2472	2	0 - 1	2	FM	Kurmangaliyeva Liya	2322	65
4	26	34	FM	Babazada Khazar	2409	2	1 - 0	2		Tanmay Chopra	2273	77
4	30	46	FM	Vatsal Singhania	2371	2	1 - 0	2	FM	Ivic Matija	2226	97
4	31	147		Ilijic Mihajilo	2058	2	0 - 1	2		Pranav V	2366	47
4	37	24	IM	Mohammad Nubairshah Shaikh	2436	1½	1 - 0	1½	WIM	Sharma Isha	2213	100
4	39	111	FM	Zhukov Anton	2174	1½	0 - 1	1½		Bhambure Shantanu	2391	41
4	40	115	CM	Rowe Duane	2157	1½	0 - 1	1½		Souhardo Basak	2364	49
4	41	50	FM	Baglan Esat	2359	1½	1 - 0	1½		Ojas Kulkarni	2216	98
4	53	78	CM	Dev Shah	2270	1½	1 - 0	1½		Ferey Antonin	2148	116
4	65	163		Shoshin Kirill	2001	1	0 - 1	1	WGM	Varshini V	2226	96
4	77	149		Tisma Ivan	2055	½	0 - 1	½	WIM	Rakshitta Ravi	2190	108
4	78	157	WFM	Bommini Mounika Akshaya	2029	½	½ - ½	½		Krivenko Dion	2115	130

Details

Round 5 results

Rd.	Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
5	3	18	IM	Gavrilescu David	2470	3½	0 - 1	3½	GM	Erigaisi Arjun	2567	6
5	6	35	IM	Raja Rithvik R	2408	3	½ - ½	3	GM	Puranik Abhimanyu	2589	4
5	11	43	IM	Mullick Raahil	2386	3	1 - 0	3	IM	Raja Harshit	2484	14
5	12	17	IM	Nikitenko Mihail	2472	3	½ - ½	3	FM	Vatsal Singhania	2371	46
5	14	23	IM	Aditya Mittal	2438	3	1 - 0	3	WFM	Kamalidenova Meruert	2334	56
5	16	26	IM	Sankalp Gupta	2429	3	½ - ½	3	IM	Sredojevic Ivan	2284	74
5	17	47		Pranav V	2366	3	1 - 0	3	GM	Savic Miodrag R	2421	28
5	24	63	FM	Vetokhin Savva	2324	2½	½ - ½	2½	IM	Mohammad Nubairshah Shaikh	2436	24
5	26	33	IM	Agibileg Uurtsaikh	2413	2½	1 - 0	2½	CM	Dev Shah	2270	78
5	29	41		Bhambure Shantanu	2391	2½	1 - 0	2½		Zhukenov Aituar	2241	88
5	30	49		Souhardo Basak	2364	2½	0 - 1	2½		Samaridis Konstantinos	2081	143
5	35	178		Phatak Aanjaneya	1769	2½	0 - 1	2	IM	Aitbayev Aslan	2475	15
5	36	96	WGM	Varshini V	2226	2	0 - 1	2	GM	Prithu Gupta	2472	16
5	46	77		Tanmay Chopra	2273	2	½ - ½	2	AIM	Ciric Pavle	2078	145
5	62	98		Ojas Kulkarni	2216	1½	½ - ½	1½		Konyves Almos	2102	135
5	63	100	WIM	Sharma Isha	2213	1½	1 - 0	1½		Stankovic Boris	2084	141
5	66	108	WIM	Rakshitta Ravi	2190	1½	1 - 0	1½		Acarbay Algi	1972	167
5	75	94	FM	Strugnell Carl	2229	1	0 - 1	1	WFM	Bommini Mounika Akshaya	2029	157

Details

Round 6 results

Rd.	Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
7	3	1	GM	Ter-Sahakyan Samvel	2643	4½		5	GM	Erigaisi Arjun	2567	6
7	5	5	GM	Postny Evgeny	2578	4½		4½	IM	Sankalp Gupta	2429	26
7	9	23	IM	Aditya Mittal	2438	4½		4½	GM	Abergel Thal	2414	32
7	10	25	IM	Ahmadzada Ahmad	2431	4½		4½		Pranav V	2366	47
7	15	13	GM	Sadikhov Ulvi	2490	4		4		Bhambure Shantanu	2391	41
7	16	35	IM	Raja Rithvik R	2408	4		4	IM	Raja Harshit	2484	14
7	18	18	IM	Gavrilescu David	2470	4		4	IM	Mullick Raahil	2386	43
7	19	22	FM	Dudin Gleb	2439	4		4	FM	Vatsal Singhania	2371	46
7	20	24	IM	Mohammad Nubairshah Shaikh	2436	4		4	FM	Grieve Harry	2351	53
7	23	80	WIM	Beydullayeva Govhar	2264	3½		3½	GM	Puranik Abhimanyu	2589	4
7	24	81	FM	Jocev Milan	2260	3½		3½	GM	Prithu Gupta	2472	16
7	35	67	FM	Barseghyan Armen Ar.	2316	3½		3½	WIM	Rakshitta Ravi	2190	108
7	37	178		Phatak Aanjaneya	1769	3½		3½	CM	Dev Shah	2270	78
7	39	100	WIM	Sharma Isha	2213	3		3	WFM	Kamalidenova Meruert	2334	56
7	50	96	WGM	Varshini V	2226	3		3	CM	Aslanov Umid	2019	159
7	51	98		Ojas Kulkarni	2216	3		3		Gusev Mikhail	1859	177
7	52	157	WFM	Bommini Mounika Akshaya	2029	3		3	CM	Kostov Deyan Samuil	2215	99

Details

Round 7 pairings

Rd.	Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
7	3	1	GM	Ter-Sahakyan Samvel	2643	4½		5	GM	Erigaisi Arjun	2567	6
7	5	5	GM	Postny Evgeny	2578	4½		4½	IM	Sankalp Gupta	2429	26
7	9	23	IM	Aditya Mittal	2438	4½		4½	GM	Abergel Thal	2414	32
7	10	25	IM	Ahmadzada Ahmad	2431	4½		4½		Pranav V	2366	47
7	15	13	GM	Sadikhov Ulvi	2490	4		4		Bhambure Shantanu	2391	41
7	16	35	IM	Raja Rithvik R	2408	4		4	IM	Raja Harshit	2484	14
7	18	18	IM	Gavrilescu David	2470	4		4	IM	Mullick Raahil	2386	43
7	19	22	FM	Dudin Gleb	2439	4		4	FM	Vatsal Singhania	2371	46
7	20	24	IM	Mohammad Nubairshah Shaikh	2436	4		4	FM	Grieve Harry	2351	53
7	23	80	WIM	Beydullayeva Govhar	2264	3½		3½	GM	Puranik Abhimanyu	2589	4
7	24	81	FM	Jocev Milan	2260	3½		3½	GM	Prithu Gupta	2472	16
7	35	67	FM	Barseghyan Armen Ar.	2316	3½		3½	WIM	Rakshitta Ravi	2190	108
7	37	178		Phatak Aanjaneya	1769	3½		3½	CM	Dev Shah	2270	78
7	39	100	WIM	Sharma Isha	2213	3		3	WFM	Kamalidenova Meruert	2334	56
7	50	96	WGM	Varshini V	2226	3		3	CM	Aslanov Umid	2019	159
7	51	98		Ojas Kulkarni	2216	3		3		Gusev Mikhail	1859	177
7	52	157	WFM	Bommini Mounika Akshaya	2029	3		3	CM	Kostov Deyan Samuil	2215	99

Details

Links

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