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RTU Open 2021 R5-6: Nihal's missed opportunities

by Shahid Ahmed - 13/08/2021

Nihal Sarin played a fantastic game against Aram Hakobyan by sacrificing two minor pieces in the fifth round of Riga Technical University Open 2021. He was on the brink of a win, but he missed it and had to repeat the moves to make a draw. In the following round, he missed a simple tactic against Pultinevicius and that game also led to a draw. Narayanan S L also had Arjun Erigaisi on the ropes, but he let him loose, and he escaped with a draw. With just three rounds to go and seven players sharing the lead, the tournament can be won by anyone. Round 7 starts today at 5:30 p.m. IST respectively. Photo: Rupali Mullick

Gukesh, Narayanan and Arjuns in a seven-way lead

Seven players share the lead 5.0/6 at the conclusion of Round 6. They are - Kovalenko, Narayanan, Hakobyan, Arjun Erigaisi, Arjun Kalyan, Budisavljevic and Gukesh. Nihal, Aravindh, Karthikeyan, Pranav Anand and Aditya are just a half point behind at 4.5/6 along with 17 other players.

Nihal missed winning chances against Hakobyan and Pultinevicius | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Round 5: Nihal - Hakobyan: 0.5-0.5

Nihal sacrificed two minor pieces and got himself a promising position.

Position after 29...Kg7

The game continued 30.fxe6 which allowed 30...Qg3. Instead of 30.fxe6, White could have prevented Qg3 with 30.e5, a blockade as well as a threat on f6. Even after 30...Qg3 31.Rf1 would have kept the chances. Time scramble probably forced Nihal to repeat moves and take a draw.

Narayanan - Kulaots: 1-0

Narayanan S L scored a fine victory over GM Kaido Kulaots (EST) after the latter made a strange retreat in the endgame.

Position after 29..Ba5

29...Ba5 instantly loses the game for Black. Find out why.

Visakh - Erigaisi: 0-1

Visakh N R succumbed to Arjun Erigaisi's devastating attack.

Position after 19.Bc2

The e4-knight was en prise for five moves, yet taking it would have led to a quicker disaster. Black is ready to wreak havoc in the above position. How?

Round 6: Arjun Erigaisi - Narayanan: 0.5-0.5

Arjun Erigaisi had an interesting draw with compatriot Narayanan S L. Initially he had an opportunity to gain the upper hand which he missed and it was Narayanan who was better for the most part of the game.

Position after 20.Bc3

Perhaps Black's best chance in the game occurred in the above position when White played 20.Bc3. Find out the best continuation for Black.

Pultinevicius - Nihal: 0.5-0.5

Nihal missed a win against GM Paulius Pultinevicius (LTU).

Position after 34.Rb5

It is not every day Nihal misses simple tactics like this. He probably overlooked it due to time pressure, which cost him an important half point. Find out the winning continuation for Black in the above position.

Praggnanandhaa - Arjun Kalyan: 0-1

Praggnanandhaa lost to GM Arjun Kalyan after struggling to find balance for the better part of the game.

Highlights

Here are a few interesting finishes from Round 5 and 6:

GM Nihal Sarin drew with GM Aram Hakobyan (ARM), Round 5

GM Ilia Smirin (ISR) drew with GM Paulius Pultinevicius (LTU), Round 5

GM Karthikeyan Murali drew with IM Aditya Mittal, Round 5

GM Velimir Ivic (SRB) defeated IM Ravi Haria (ENG), Round 5

GM D Gukesh drew with GM Ilia Smirin (ISR), Round 6

IM Pranav Anand defeated GM Visakh N R, Round 6

Replay Round 5-6 games

Round 5 results

Bo.No. NameRtgPts.ResultPts.NameRtg No.
12
GMNihal Sarin2655½ - ½4GMHakobyan Aram2612
7
23
GMKovalenko Igor26441 - 0GMYuffa Daniil2556
17
36
GMNarayanan.S.L26241 - 0GMKulaots Kaido2548
19
48
GMSmirin Ilia2610½ - ½GMPultinevicius Paulius2528
21
520
GMKantor Gergely2533½ - ½GMPraggnanandhaa R2608
9
622
GMVisakh N R25160 - 1GMErigaisi Arjun2597
11
774
CMVardanyan Aras22550 - 1GMGukesh D2578
13
816
GMSanal Vahap2557½ - ½GMGrigorov Grigor2507
23
936
IMDmitrenko Viktor244430 - 13GMAravindh Chithambaram Vr.2641
5
1010
GMKarthikeyan Murali26063½ - ½3IMAditya Mittal2464
35
1112
GMPuranik Abhimanyu25803½ - ½3IMPetkov Momchil2443
37
1214
GMIvic Velimir257131 - 03IMHaria Ravi2440
39
1342
IMPlotkin Mark243030 - 13GMMeshkovs Nikita2568
15
1418
IMLaurusas Tomas25493½ - ½3IMPranav Anand2417
46
1524
IMArjun Kalyan250331 - 03IMRaja Rithvik R2433
41

Details

Round 6 results

Bo.No. NameRtgPts.ResultPts.NameRtg No.
17
GMHakobyan Aram2612½ - ½GMKovalenko Igor2644
3
211
GMErigaisi Arjun2597½ - ½GMNarayanan.S.L2624
6
313
GMGukesh D2578½ - ½4GMSmirin Ilia2610
8
421
GMPultinevicius Paulius25284½ - ½4GMNihal Sarin2655
2
55
GMAravindh Chithambaram Vr.26414½ - ½4GMSanal Vahap2557
16
69
GMPraggnanandhaa R260840 - 14IMArjun Kalyan2503
24
723
GMGrigorov Grigor25074½ - ½4GMIvic Velimir2571
14
815
GMMeshkovs Nikita25684½ - ½4GMKantor Gergely2533
20
927
GMBudisavljevic Luka249541 - 0GMSethuraman S.P.2644
4
101
GMDonchenko Alexander26571 - 0IMBerzinsh Roland2373
52
1143
IMVignesh N R24280 - 1GMKarthikeyan Murali2606
10
1244
IMIoannidis Evgenios24221 - 0GMPuranik Abhimanyu2580
12
1317
GMYuffa Daniil25561 - 0GMAkesson Ralf2395
48
1445
FMDudin Gleb24220 - 1IMLaurusas Tomas2549
18
1519
GMKulaots Kaido25480 - 1FMChukavin Kirill2370
54

Details

Round 7 pairings

Bo.No. NameRtgPts.ResultPts.NameRtg No.
13
GMKovalenko Igor264455GMGukesh D2578
13
26
GMNarayanan.S.L262455GMBudisavljevic Luka2495
27
324
IMArjun Kalyan250355GMHakobyan Aram2612
7
410
GMKarthikeyan Murali26065GMErigaisi Arjun2597
11
526
GMKantans Toms2501GMDonchenko Alexander2657
1
62
GMNihal Sarin2655GMGrigorov Grigor2507
23
738
FMStukan Martin2443GMAravindh Chithambaram Vr.2641
5
88
GMSmirin Ilia2610IMRoshka Yevgeniy2476
31
914
GMIvic Velimir2571GMPultinevicius Paulius2528
21
1078
Kugler Florian2223GMMeshkovs Nikita2568
15
1116
GMSanal Vahap2557GMMiezis Normunds2468
33
1254
FMChukavin Kirill2370GMYuffa Daniil2556
17
1318
IMLaurusas Tomas2549IMAditya Mittal2464
35
1420
GMKantor Gergely2533IMIoannidis Evgenios2422
44
1546
IMPranav Anand24174GMPraggnanandhaa R2608
9

Details

Links

Official site

Tournament details