Tech Mahindra GCL: Triveni Continental Kings will face upGrad Mumba Masters in the Finals
The final day of the Double Round-Robin stage started by SG Alpine Warrior's loss against Chingari Gulf Titans 0-3 (7-8). Magnus Carlsen won the sole game for his team against Jan-Krzysztof Duda. However, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov's win over Gukesh turned gave CGT a crucial win as all other games ended in draws. Then Triveni Continental Kings eliminated Ganges Grandmasters 3-0 (11-6). Wei Yi, Sara Khadem and Jonas Buhl Bjerre scored the crucial win which helped the team secure a spot in the Finals for TCK. SG Alpine Warriors suffered the shocking huge defeat 0-3 (2-18) against upGrad Mumba Masters. Alexander Grischuk, Vidit Gujrathi, Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli's wins ensured the top seed and tournament favorite SGAW's elimination. In the last match of the stage, Chingari Gulf Titans went down in flames against Balan Alaskan Knights 0-3 (4-12). Thus, TCK will face uMM tomorrow from 5:30 p.m. local time, 7 p.m. IST. Photo: Maria Emelianova
The hunters got hunted
One has to applaud the tournament format. That even in the last match of the Double Round-Robin stage, if Chingari Gulf Titans had managed to defeat Balan Alaskan Knights by any margin, that would have secured their spot in the finals. Unfortunately for them, it didn't. A regular team championship scoring system would have probably allowed Ganges Grandmasters and SG Alpine Warriors to advance to the finals as they scored 15 points first and they were much ahead than others. Just like every other sport, to make things exciting and ensure the maximum number of teams has a chance to advance to the Finals, this kind of scoring system was required.
If one has to summarise one reason behind Triveni Continental Kings and upGrad Mumba Masters advancing to the Finals, that has to be - team chemistry. When both teams were down on points and luck, they did not slow down. Instead, they regrouped and pushed for maximum which they managed to achieve. Vidit after his first win of the event and the team registering 2-18, biggest victory margin both literally and figuratively against SG Alpine Warriors, hoped for Balan Alaskan Knights to beat Chingari Gulf Titans in the last match. Guess what happened? Vidit's wish came true. Well, they say, if you want something badly, the universe is ready to conspire for you to get it, for a reason.
Match #27: SG Alpine Warriors - Chingari Gulf Titans: 0-3 (7-8)
The first result of the match is a draw between Arjun Erigaisi (SGAW) and Daniil Dubov (CGT). Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (CGT) defeated D Gukesh (SGAW) for the second time at this event. Magnus Carlsen (SGAW) defeated Jan-Krzysztof Duda (CGT). The remaining boards ending in a draw means SG Alpine Warriors have lost the match. They still have to win the last match to secure their place in the Finals.
Carlsen - Duda
Jan-Krzysztof Duda (CGT) made a questionable exchange sacrifice 28...Rxe3 29.Ra1 Qb3 30.Rab1 Qxc4 31.Qxe3 Bf5 32.Rc1 Qb3 33.Rxc7 Qxd1+ 34.Kh2 Black never got any compensation for the exchange. Magnus Carlsen (SGAW) went on to win the game comfortably.
Replay SGAW vs CGT games
Match #28: Triveni Continental Kings - Ganges Grandmasters: 3-0 (11-6)
A draw on the 'Icons board' among Levon Aronian (TCK) and Vishy Anand (GG) is the first result of the match. IM Sara Khadem (TCK) scored the first win for her team against GM Bella Khotenashvili (GG). Wei Yi (TCK) avenged his loss earlier at this event and beat Leinier Dominguez Perez (GG). Richard Rapport (GG) scored the sole win over Yangyi Yu (GG). Jonas Buhl Bjerre (TCK) scored a crucial draw against Andrey Esipenko (GG) to ensure GG secures the first spot in the finals.
Sara - Bella
GM Bella Khotenashvili (GG) was completely dominating and had a decisive advantage against IM Sara Khadem (TCK). 34.Nxd6 Bd4+ Black cannot unfortunately take the queen as 34...Bxc3 35.Bxc3+ is winning for White. The game continued 34...Bd4+ 35.Qxd4 Nxd4 36.Nf7+ Kg7 37.Nxh6 Nxe2+ 38.Kh2 and White won the game in seven more moves. Black needed to play 34...Rxd6 first before going Bd4+ and then she would have won the game.
Wei - Leinier
Wei Yi (TCK) arrived at a rook and knight endgame with two extra pawns. It was not easy for his opponent Leinier Dominguez Perez (GG) to defend. 35...f6? 36.Rg7+ Kd6 37.Rf7 Ra1 38.Ne2 Ke5 39.Rd7 f5 40.f4+ Kf6 41.e5+ and White went on to win the game comfortably.
Replay TCK vs GG games
Match #29: SG Alpine Warriors - upGrad Mumba Masters: 0-3 (2-18)
R Praggnanandhaa (SGAW) drew his game against Javokhir Sindarov (uMM) as the first result of the match. GM Harika Dronavalli (uMM) scored the first win for her team against GM Elisabeth Paehtz (GG). Harika Dronavalli, Koneru Humpy, Vidit Gujrathi and Alexander Grischuk won their respective games against Elisabeth Paehtz, Irina Krush, Arjun Erigaisi and D Gukesh to register a completely dominating win. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (uMM) held the fort against Magnus Carlsen (SGAW). This was the simply the biggest victory both in terms of literally and figuratively. The 2-18 win is the biggest margin victory for any match out of 29 matches so far. Figuratively, this is also the biggest, because this huge win eliminated the top seed, star studded and fan favorite team, SG Alpine Warriors.
Carlsen - Vachier-Lagrave
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (uMM) is a World Blitz 2021 champion. One should not forget that. He just reminded the universe once again, why he won that. 34...Qe4!? is an interesting exchange sacrifice in the endgame. Magnus Carlsen (SGAW) accepted it 35.Qxd6 Qxe2 36.Ra1 Qxb2 37.Re1 Qd4 38.Qe8 Qc3 and the game ended in a draw via perpetual check in six more moves.
Arjun - Vidit
Arjun Erigaisi (SGAW) made a strategical mistake of giving up the f-file. 44.Re1? Rf8 45.Ke2 g4 46.hxg4 hxg4 47.a6 bxa6 48.Ra5 Rf3 49.Kd3 Rxg3 50.Rxa6 Rf3 Vidit (uMM) went on to win the game comfortably.
Elisabeth - Harika
Harika (uMM) found the only break available in the position 37...c5! 38.Qd1 Qc7 39.Qd5 cxb4 40.cxb4 Qc1+ and she converted her advantage with ease.
Replay SGAW vs uMM games
Match #30: Chingari Gulf Titans - Balan Alaskan Knights: 0-3 (4-12)
The first result of the final match of the double round-robin stage is a tepid draw between Jan-Krzysztof Duda (CGT) and Ian Nepomniachtchi (BAK). The second result is also a draw between Daniil Dubov (CGT) and Teimour Radjabov (BAK). The third result is also a draw between Nihal Sarin (CGT) and Raunak Sadhwani (BAK). Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (CGT) lost a winning game against Nodirbek Abdusattorov (BAK).
Mamedyarov - Abdusattorov
Mamedyarov (CGT) had a decisive advantage for the majority against Abdusattorov (BAK). 35.Bh7+ Kxh7 36.Qxf8 was one of the many ways White could have finished things off. Unfortunately for him, he made a few inaccuracies and went on to lose the game.
Replay CGT vs BAK games
Final standings after Double Round Robin stage
Finals
Final 1: Triveni Continental Kings vs upGrad Mumba Masters from 5:30 p.m. local time, 7 p.m. IST
Final 2: upGrad Mumba Masters vs Triveni Continental Kings
What is the Scoring System?
Each team will have six players and a manager, who will be competing on six boards which will be played simultaneously. While each board will be called a game, all six combined boards will be termed one match. Once the board order is decided, it cannot be altered after drawing lots while deciding the run order of play. And in each match, all the players of one team will play with the same colour.
A game won with Black pieces will result in 4 Game Points (GP) to the winning player. A victory for a player with White pieces will see them win 3 GP. A draw will be rewarded with 1 GP, and a defeat gets the player 0 GP. Each players’ GP will contribute to the Team’s total Match Points (MP).
With regards to the calculations on Match Points (MP), a Team which scores more GP than their opposition will be rewarded with a bonus of 3 MP. If both the Teams are level on GP, they will be awarded 1 MP each. However, if a team scores lesser GP than the opposing team, they won’t get any MP for that Match.
Scoring System for Game Points (GP)
4 GP (3+1) | A player wins the Game with Black Pieces |
3 GP | A player wins the Game with White Pieces |
1 GP | Draw |
0 GP | Defeat |
Scoring System for Match Points (MP)
3 MP | The team that scores more Game Points |
1 MP | If both teams are level on Game Points |
0 MP | The team that scores lesser Game Points than the opponent |
The Final will be played over best-of-2 matches. There will be a drawing of lots to determine which Team is White in Match 1, this team will then be black in Match 2. The team who wins more matches will be the Champion. In the event of a tie:
• There will be a playoff blitz fixture, which will be a best-of-2 match. The team that was white in Match 1 and black in Match 2 will play white in Match 3 and black in Match 4. The time limit for each game will be all moves in 3 minutes plus 2 seconds. The Team that wins the most matches in the fixture will be the Champion.
• If the Teams remain tied, there shall be a drawing of lots to determine a board from 1 to 6. The player from each Team on this board will then participate in a sudden-death blitz game. The time limit for this game will be 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move. The player from the Team who was white in Matches 1 and 3, will play white in this game.
• If the sudden death blitz game is drawn, then the procedure is repeated except that the colour of the player from each team alternates from the colour the team had in the preceding sudden death blitz game.
• If the tie remains unbroken, the above procedure is repeated until a sudden death blitz game has a winner.
Links
Chess-results: Round 9 and Round 10
Tech Mahindra Global Chess League: Official site, facebook, twitter, instagram, youtube and linkedin
Tech Mahindra: Official site, facebook, twitter, youtube and linkedin
