Tata Steel 2023 R4: Praggnanandhaa stuns World no.2 Ding Liren, Giri beats Carlsen

by Shahid Ahmed - 18/01/2023

R Praggnanandhaa scored his biggest Classical win of his career in the fourth round of 85th Tata Steel Masters 2023. The teenager grinded a relatively balanced rook, knight and many pawns endgame to beat the World no.2 and World Championship Contender, Ding Liren. Anish Giri beat Magnus Carlsen for the second time in his career in a Classical encounter, exactly after 12 years. The World no.7 has beaten the World no.1 in Blitz but Classical chess is what matters the most to any strong player. This event is called the 'Wimbledon of Chess' for a reason - it is where the mighty fall and new heroes are born. Abdusattorov defeated Parham to join the lead with Giri 3/4. Today is a rest day for the Masters. Challengers Round 5 starts today at 6:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2023

History repeats exactly after 12 years

The only time Anish Giri had defeated Magnus Carlsen in a Classical battle was when the former was just 16 years old. It did make an impact back then but he was not content with that victory. Finally, he got to beat the world triple crown champion in a full-fledged game is what made him happy, Giri shared in a post-match interview.

R Praggnanandhaa scored his biggest win in Classical chess against the World no.2 and World Championship Contender, Ding Liren | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2023

Giri - Carlsen: 1-0

Anish Giri (NED, 2784) pulled off a huge upset against the world no.1 Magnus Carlsen (NOR, 2859). The world no.7 got a pleasant position out of the Queen's Indian opening. Black's position seemed to be fine, until he decided to take the d7-pawn in a strange way.

Position after 22...Nd4

22...Ne5 was the simplest way for Black to capture the d7-pawn. However, sometimes we do not like to go for the obvious ones. After 22...Nd4, Giri found the nice hook 23.b4. Black made another mistake 23...Rxd7. This was the significant one. 24.Bd5 and Black's position is falling apart. It is not everyday we see Carlsen's position is crumbling in 25 moves, that also in a Classical game. White won the game in another eleven moves.

Final position after 35.Ba5

Anish Giri delivers a big win against Carlsen | Video: Tata Steel Chess Tournament

12 years later on the same date Anish Giri beats Magnus Carlsen again! | Video: ChessBase India

Anish Giri scores a huge win against Magnus Carlsen | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2023

Spectator's view after 26...Ke7 | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2023

Ding Liren - Praggnanandhaa: 0-1

R Praggnanandhaa (2684) grinded a relatively balanced rook, knight and many pawns endgame against the World no.2 Ding Liren (CHN, 2684).

Position after 39...Kf7

Praggnanandhaa found this fantastic idea of brining his king to h5 via g6. His rook at c1 keeps the c7-pawn protected as well as keep the white king cut-off from accessing the center of the board. The teenager beautifully converted his advantage into a win without allowing his opponent to make a comeback.

Praggnanandhaa beats World no.2 Ding Liren in Round 4 | Video: Tata Steel Chess Tournament

Praggnanandhaa beats the first 2800+ player of his life in classical chess - World no.2 Ding Liren | Video: ChessBase India

Praggnanandhaa scored his biggest win in Classical chess against Ding Liren | Photo: Jurriaan Hoefsmit/Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2023

Nodirbek Abdusatttorov (UZB) defeated Parham Maghsoodloo (IRI) to join the lead with Anish Giri 3/4 | Photo: Jurriaan Hoefsmit/Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2023

Abdusattorov beats Parham in Round 4 | Video: Tata Steel Chess Tournament

Vincent Keymer (GER) - Arjun Erigaisi: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Jurriaan Hoefsmit/Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2023

Jorden van Foreest (NED) - D Gukesh: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Jurriaan Hoefsmit/Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2023

B Adhiban - Javokhir Sindarov (UZB): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Jurriaan Hoefsmit/Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2023

The playing arena and spectators Photo: Jurriaan Hoefsmit/Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2023

A little girl with a handwritten note and a lot of patience to get an autograph from Magnus Carlsen | Photo: Jurriaan Hoefsmit/Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2023

Tata Steel Chess 2023 Round 4 Live Commentary by IM Sagar Shah and Amruta Mokal | Video: ChessBase India

Replay Round 4 Masters games

Replay Round 4 Challengers games

Round 4 results

Praggnanandhaa, Giri and Abdusattorrov were the victors | Photo: Tata Steel Chess

Ivic, Donchenko, Mustafa and Erwin scored wins | Photo: Tata Steel Chess

Round 5 pairings

Masters Round 5 pairings | Photo: Official site

Challengers Round 5 pairings | Photo: Official site

Standings after Round 4

Giri and Abdusattorov are the coleaders 3/4 in the Masters section | Photo: Official site

Mustafa, Ivic and Donchenko in a three-way lead 3/4 | Photo: Official site

Schedule

Starting from Saturday, 14th January, all round starts at 6:30 p.m. IST, only Sunday 29th January, the final round will start at 4:30 p.m. IST. Rest days are - 18th (Masters), 19th (Challengers), 23rd and 26th January.

Time Control

100 minutes for 40 moves, followed by 50 minutes for 20 moves, then 15 minutes for the remaining moves with 30 seconds cumulative increment for each move starting from the first move.