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Outstanding Nihal Sarin wins Serbia Open 2021 Masters

by Shahid Ahmed - 09/07/2021

Nihal Sarin once again delivered a stellar performance to win Serbia Open 2021 Masters. He scored an unbeaten 7.5/9 and finished a half point ahead of the strong field. He had decisive advantage against Fedoseev in the final part of the endgame, but he decided to make a draw because it was enough for him to win the event. To deliver two consecutive 2780+ performance, storm into World no.88 and India no.5 in the live ratings list, just days before FIDE World Cup 2021 is something to cause shivers for his opening round opponent at the biggest World Cup in history. Photo: Rupali Mullick

Two in-a-row for Nihal

Nihal Sarin once again delivered a 2780+ performance, crossed 2650 and won his second consecutive tournament. He remained undefeated for 18 consecutive tournament games in Serbia. He is currently ranked World no.88 and India no.5 with a live rating of 2655.

Serbia Open 2021 Masters Winner - Nihal Sarin 7.5/9 | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Top three (L to R): Vladimir Fedoseev (RUS), Nihal Sarin and Manuel Petrosyan (ARM) | Photo: Rupali Mullick
"Don't do that basically!" Nihal Sarin's advice to youngsters after winning the Serbia Open 2021 | Video: ChessBase India

Fedoseev - Nihal: 0.5-0.5

Nihal gained advantage in the final moments of the endgame against Fedoseev (RUS). When he realized a half point was enough for him to win the tournament, he made a draw.

Position after 34.Qd3

White needed to play 34.Nd3 to control the e5-square and prevent Black from getting e5 easily. 34.Qd3 allowed Nc4 and now the e5-idea cannot be stopped. After 35.Kg1 Black played g6 to prepare for e5 break.

Nihal Sarin inspires one and all | Video: ChessBase India

Nihal had Fedoseev on the ropes | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Nihal performed at 2786 and gained 18 Elo rating points

Aditya - Bernadskiy: 0.5-0.5

IM Aditya Mittal made a short 16-move draw with GM Vitaliy Bernadskiy (UKR).

Aditya Mittal scores his maiden GM norm | Video: ChessBase India

Aditya Mittal scored 7.0/9, made his maiden GM-norm, tied for the second place, got tenth position according to tie-breaks| Photo: Rupali Mullick

Aditya receives his GM-norm certificate | Photo: Official site

Pranav - Shevchenko: 0-1

GM Kirill Shevchenko (UKR) had decisive advantage in the game until he made a mistake which Pranav caught easily.

Position after 47...Rb6

Black needed to play either 47...Kg7 or Ke5. Both would have been fine, but 47...Rb6 allows White to get back in the game using tactics 48.Nd5+ Kg7 is forced because 48....Bxd5 will be met with 49.Rxh6+ and it's a skewer, now it should be a comfortable draw for White.

Position after 50...Kg8

50...Kg8 is a mistake because the pawn wedge at f6 is going to be the cause of demise for Black after 51.Nc8. The only way for Black to save the game was to push the kingside pawns 50...g4 or h5. A win would have given Pranav a fifth place finish but eventually he lost the game.

Pranav fought valiantly against Shevchenko | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Pranav Venkatesh became India's latest International Master and also scored his maiden GM-norm | Photo: Official site

Arjun - Nenezik: 1-0

GM Arjun Erigaisi scored a comfortable win against IM Marko Nenezik (SRB).

Position after 19.f3

Things have gone terribly wrong for Black as the position looks crumbling after 19.f3.

Arjun scored 7.0/10 and he secured 7th position | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Abhimanyu - Muradli: 1-0

GM Abhimanyu Puranik scored a fine victory against IM Mahammad Muradli (AZE).

19th Abhimanyu Puranik 6.5/9 | Photo: Rupali Mullick

GM Valentin Dragnev (AUT) was held to a draw by IM Raahil Mullick | Photo: Rupali Mullick

For more photos: Round 9 and Prize distribution ceremony.

Highlights

Here are a few interesting finishes from Round 9

Final position - GM Igor Kovalenko (LAT) vs GM Max Warmerdam (NED) 0-1

Final position - GM Aleksandar Indjic (SRB) - GM Ulvi Sadikhov (AZE) 0-1

Replay Round 9 games

Round 9 results

Rd.Bo.No. NameFEDRtgPts.ResultPts.NameFEDRtg No.
911
GMFedoseev VladimirRUS2696½ - ½7GMNihal SarinIND2620
8
9264
IMAditya MittalIND2438½ - ½GMBernadskiy VitaliyUKR2606
10
98113
Pranav VIND236660 - 16GMShevchenko KirillUKR2605
12
91021
GMErigaisi ArjunIND256761 - 06IMNenezic MarkoSRB2531
34
91115
GMPuranik AbhimanyuIND25891 - 06IMMuradli MahammadAZE2461
57
92419
GMDragnev ValentinAUT25695½ - ½5IMMullick RaahilIND2386
101
93085
IMRaja Rithvik RIND240850 - 15IMErenberg ArielISR2506
40
934111
IMVardaan NagpalIND23665½ - ½5IMSchreiner PeterAUT2441
62
938115
Souhardo BasakIND2364½ - ½GMSedlak NikolaSRB2519
36
942135
FMIrizanin RadojeSRB23300 - 1IMRaja HarshitIND2484
48
94866
IMMohammad Nubairshah ShaikhIND24361 - 0IMOzenir Ekin BarisTUR2331
133
95071
IMSankalp GuptaIND24291 - 0FMVetokhin SavvaRUS2324
141
951209
WIMBlagojevic TijanaSRB22220 - 1IMBharath Subramaniyam HIND2426
72
95686
IMAkshat KhampariaIND24061 - 0FMDolgun CanTUR2133
253
967107
FMVatsal SinghaniaIND23714½ - ½4Ivanovic MarkoSRB2245
192
970127
FMVolkov DmitriyUSA234341 - 04WGMVarshini VIND2226
208
986153
FMKalogeris IoannisGRE2307½ - ½WIMSharma IshaIND2213
214
993175
CMDev ShahIND22701 - 0De Boer BasNED2143
245
9102221
FMToncheva NadyaBUL22013½ - ½3Tanmay ChopraIND2273
174
9118211
Ojas KulkarniIND2216½ - ½WIMDemchenko SvitlanaCAN2089
277

Details

Final Standings

Rk.SNo NameFEDRtgPts. TB1  TB2  TB3  TB4 Rpnwwew-weKrtg+/-
18
GMNihal SarinIND26207,50,046,540,256278697,55,741,761017,6
26
GMPetrosyan ManuelARM26327,00,049,541,0052719976,030,97109,7
31
GMFedoseev VladimirRUS26967,00,049,539,5062731976,570,43104,3
412
GMShevchenko KirillUKR26057,00,047,539,2552730975,561,441014,4
510
GMBernadskiy VitaliyUKR26067,00,047,539,0052636976,610,39103,9
645
GMSadikhov UlviAZE24907,00,045,034,2562699974,592,411024,1
721
GMErigaisi ArjunIND25677,00,044,537,0062670975,891,111011,1
832
GMIskandarov MisratdinAZE25337,00,044,533,7562679975,281,721017,2
930
GMWarmerdam MaxNED25357,00,043,537,0062648975,751,251012,5
1064
IMAditya MittalIND24387,00,040,033,0062626974,882,121021,2
1129
GMAleksandrov AleksejBLR25356,50,049,537,504265396,55,021,481014,8
124
GMTer-Sahakyan SamvelARM26436,50,047,536,754264496,56,400,10101,0
1313
GMSafarli EltajAZE26046,50,046,034,504261296,56,290,21102,1
1418
GMAsadli VugarAZE25746,50,045,534,255260396,56,100,40104,0
1552
IMNikitenko MihailBLR24726,50,045,533,254267396,54,052,451024,5
1647
IMKourkoulos-Arditis StamatisGRE24856,50,044,533,006262296,54,851,651016,5
1749
IMMakhnev DenisKAZ24806,50,044,033,505262096,54,801,701017,0
18109
FMDamjanovic VukSRB23696,50,043,530,256248785,54,221,282025,6
1915
GMPuranik AbhimanyuIND25896,50,042,533,505255196,56,76-0,2610-2,6
207
GMPichot AlanARG26306,50,042,529,756255496,57,12-0,6210-6,2
2122
GMPerunovic MilosSRB25676,50,041,531,255253285,55,83-0,3310-3,3
2231
GMZanan EvgenyISR25356,50,041,030,755255096,56,300,20102,0
2351
GMNestorovic NikolaSRB24776,50,038,030,005249296,56,300,20102,0
243
GMKovalenko IgorLAT26436,00,052,035,7552646965,890,11101,1
259
GMIndjic AleksandarSRB26076,00,048,032,0042627965,710,29102,9
26113
Pranav VIND23666,00,047,531,0042646962,693,312066,2
275
GMHovhannisyan RobertARM26326,00,046,031,5042560966,64-0,6410-6,4
2825
GMSanal VahapTUR25566,00,046,031,0042560965,910,09100,9
2940
IMErenberg ArielISR25066,00,044,031,0052556965,380,62106,2
3028
GMBjerre Jonas BuhlDEN25466,00,044,030,0052573965,610,39103,9

Details

Links

Official site