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Sensational Nihal clinches Silver Lake Open 2021

by Shahid Ahmed - 01/07/2021

Nihal Sarin scored a victory in the last round to win Silver Lake Open 2021 with an unbeaten 8.0/9, a full point ahead of the competition. Nihal performed at 2807, gained 17 Elo rating points. He needed to win the last round to become a clear champion because a draw meant Raunak's result would decide his fate. Both runner-up Raunak Sadhwani and second runner-up Abhimanyu Puranik scored 7.0/9 each and they were also undefeated. They were placed second and third respectively according to their tie-breaks. IM Harshit Raja scored 6.5/9 and he secured tenth position. IM Raahil Mullick finished at 16th position with 6.0/9. Photo: Rupali Mullick

Invincible Indians claim top three places

Top three places were claimed by Indian players at Silver Lake Open 2021. Nihal Sarin, Raunak Sadhwani and Abhimanyu Puranik secured first, second and third place. Harshit Raja secured tenth place and Raahil Mullick was placed 16th.

Nihal Sarin is the winner of Silver Lake Open 2021 | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Top three finishers (L to R): Raunak Sadhwani - 3rd, Nihal Sarin - 1st and Abhimanyu Puranik - 2nd | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Nihal performed at 2807 and gained 17 Elo rating points

Round 8: Nihal - Puranik: 0.5-0.5

Nihal made a short 17-move draw with compatriot Abhimanyu Puranik.

Nihal Sarin vs Abhimanyu Puranik - Round 8 | Video: ChessBase India

Nihal faced Abhimanyu Puranik in the penultimate round | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Perunovic - Harshit: 0.5-0.5

IM Harshit Raja had an interesting draw with GM Milos Perunovic.

Harshit moved to 6.0/8 | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Boskovic - Raunak: 0-1

IM Drasko Boskovic's king was already dangling in danger. Then he made a tactical error which Raunak capitalized.

Position after 27.Qf3

27.Qf3 is a big mistake, as after 27...Qc4+ White is forced to play 28.Bd3 Rxe1+ 29.Kxe1 Qxb2 and it is all over. White went 29.Kg2 fxg4 and it is all over.

Raunak moved to 6.5/8 | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Stamatis - Raahil: 1-0

IM Raahil Mullick needed to go all-in with his plan against IM Stamatis Kourkoulos-Arditis.

Position after 28.a3

Instead of the text 28...Rh4, find out where Black should have moved the rook to maintain threats on White king?

Raahil suffered his third loss of the event | Photo: Rupali Mullick

GM Aleksa Strikovic defeated WIM Rakshitta Ravi | Photo: Rupali Mullick

WIM Isha Sharma drew with Dimitrios Papaioannou | Photo: Rupali Mullick

For more photos, click here.

Round 9: Damljanovic - Nihal: 0-1

Nihal got a good position out of the opening against GM Branko Damljanovic. He had to go for a win because a draw meant if Raunak wins then he may become champion because of better tie-breaks.

Position after 13...h5

It is evident from 13...h5 that Nihal is ready to maximize the opportunity that was presented.

Position after 27...b5

Now that all ideas on the kingside is exhausted, Black shifts his focus to the queenside. White's response of 28.a4 bxc4 29.Nxc4 Bxc4 30.bxc4 Rxb1 31.Rxb1 Nb4 gave Black the complete control. Soon Nihal gained a couple of pawns and rest was just a matter of technique.

Nihal Sarin wins Silver Lake Open 2021 with a full point ahead | Video: ChessBase India

Nihal scored a fantastic win in the final round | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Raunak - Stamatis: 0.5-0.5

Raunak made a solid draw with IM Stamatis Kourkoulos-Arditis in the final round.

Raunak Sadhwani gains 12 Elo points, moves to 2567 after 2nd place finish at the Silver Lake Open | Video: ChessBase India

Raunak remained undefeated in the entire tournament | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Puranik - Radovanovic: 1-0

GM Abhimanyu Puranik beat IM Nikola Radovanovic convincingly in the final round to secure third place.

Position after 24...Qb8

24...Qb8 is a mistake. Can you find out why?

"2600 is just a mental barrier for me" - Abhimanyu Puranik after 3rd place at the Silver Lake Open | Video: ChessBase India

Abhimanyu also had an unbeaten run | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Harshit - Sadikhov: 0.5-0.5

IM Harshit Raja had a relatively quiet draw with GM Ulvi Sadikhov.

IM Harshit Raja on beating 2519 rated GM in just 26 moves and balancing chess with education | Video: ChessBase India

Harshit moves closer to 2500 | Photo: Rupali Mullick

IM Raahil Mullick won his final round game against Nikolaos Koutlas | Photo: Rupali Mullick

FM Luka Ristic defeated WIM Rakshitta Ravi | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Prize distribution ceremony

Runner-up - GM Raunak Sadhwani 7.0/9 | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Second Runner-up - GM Abhimanyu Puranik 7.0/9 | Photo: Rupali Mullick

10th - IM Harshit Raja 6.5/9 | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Top five Indian finishers (L to R) - Raunak, Harshit, Nihal, Abhimanyu and Raunak | Photo: Rupali Mullick

For more photos, click here.

Replay Round 8-9 games

Round 8 results

Rd.Bo.No. NameRtgPts.ResultPts.NameRtg No.
813
GMNihal Sarin2620½ - ½GMPuranik Abhimanyu2589
4
835
GMPerunovic Milos2567½ - ½IMRaja Harshit2459
13
8414
IMBoskovic Drasko24510 - 1GMSadhwani Raunak2555
6
8610
IMKourkoulos-Arditis Stamatis248551 - 05IMMullick Raahil2386
22
81112
GMStrikovic Aleksa24691 - 0WIMRakshitta Ravi2190
58
83450
WIMSharma Isha2237½ - ½Papaioannou Dimitrios1924
106
85188
Parkajic Branislav20781 - 0Rajveer Pinkesh Nahar1598
131
854123
Phatak Aanjaneya17691 - 0Tomic Stjepan1928
103
858114
Devnani Kush185521 - 02Tisma Ivan2055
92
81972
Anaishaa Pinkesh Nahar115540 - 14Milunovic Sasa1865
25

Details

Round 9 results

Rd.Bo.No. NameRtgPts.ResultPts.NameRtg No.
918
GMDamljanovic Branko25010 - 17GMNihal Sarin2620
3
926
GMSadhwani Raunak2555½ - ½6IMKourkoulos-Arditis Stamatis2485
10
934
GMPuranik Abhimanyu258961 - 06IMRadovanovic Nikola2395
19
9513
IMRaja Harshit24596½ - ½6GMSadikhov Ulvi2490
9
91322
IMMullick Raahil238651 - 05Koutlas Nikolaos2078
87
92040
FMRistic Luka23001 - 0WIMRakshitta Ravi2190
58
940123
Phatak Aanjaneya17691 - 0Horvat Damjan2167
66
94584
Herega Nejc20993- - +3Devnani Kush1855
114
952131
Rajveer Pinkesh Nahar1598+ - -Anacoglu Cisel1924
105
96650
WIMSharma Isha223740not paired 
92536
Jankovic Igor176540 - 14Anaishaa Pinkesh Nahar1155
72

Details

Final Standings

Rk.SNo NameTypsexGrFEDRtg TB1  TB2  TB3 Rpnwwew-weKrtg+/-
13
GMNihal SarinU18IND26208,049,50,02807986,261,741017,4
26
GMSadhwani RaunakU18IND25557,051,00,02660975,751,251012,5
34
GMPuranik AbhimanyuIND25897,048,50,02581976,920,08100,8
411
IMMakhnev DenisKAZ24807,044,50,02562976,020,98109,8
59
GMSadikhov UlviAZE24906,547,00,0251696,56,050,45104,5
61
GMTer-Sahakyan SamvelARM26446,546,00,0255996,57,17-0,6710-6,7
718
IMAgmanov ZhandosKAZ24046,546,00,0246096,55,730,77107,7
810
IMKourkoulos-Arditis StamatisGRE24856,545,50,0250896,56,130,37103,7
914
IMBoskovic DraskoSRB24516,545,50,0251496,55,600,90109,0
1013
IMRaja HarshitIND24596,544,50,0250896,55,780,72107,2
117
GMSedlak NikolaSRB25196,544,00,0251696,56,370,13101,3
1231
FMVetokhin SavvaU18RUS23246,541,50,0247096,54,711,792035,8
138
GMDamljanovic BrankoS60SRB25016,539,00,0246796,56,480,02100,2
1419
IMRadovanovic NikolaSRB23956,048,00,02557964,021,981019,8
155
GMPerunovic MilosSRB25676,045,00,0246985,56,25-0,7510-7,5
1622
IMMullick RaahilU18IND23866,044,00,02445965,210,792015,8
1734
FMPasti AronU18HUN23186,039,51,02260966,50-0,5020-10,0
1876
WFMBalabayeva XeniyaU18wKAZ21166,039,50,02390962,823,1840127,2
19102
Erdogmus Yagiz KaanU18TUR19556,039,00,02303851,533,4740138,8
2020
IMMegalios KonstantinosGRE23905,546,00,0241695,55,060,44104,4

Details

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