Sparkassen Chess Trophy 2023 R5: Leon joins Aryan and Donchenko at the top
by Shahid Ahmed - 29/06/2023
GM Leon Luke Mendonca defeated fellow compatriot GM Pranav Anand in the fifth round of Sparkassen Chess Trophy of 50th International Dortmund Chess Days. Pranav erred in a complex rook and same color bishop endgame. GM Aryan Chopra had a quick 16-move draw against GM Alexander Donchenko (GER). Aryan, Donchenko and Leon are currently at 4.5/5 each. Aryan will face Leon in Round 6. GM Karthik Venkataraman drew against WGM Dinara Wagner (GER) to move his score 3/5. Mr. Dortmund Vladimir Kramnik bounced back by winning against Fabiano Caruana. Pavel Eljanov (UKR) defeated the defending champion Dmitrij Kollars (GER). Round 6 Open and Sportland NRW Cup starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST. Today is a rest day for the NC World Masters. Photo: IM Patrick Zelbel
Kramnik beats Caruana
After Aryan, Donchenko and Leon, 16 players including the top seed GM Matthias Bluebaum (GER), GM Raja Rithvik R, IM Rathanvel V S and IM Aditya S Samant are at 4/5 each.
GM Leon Luke Mendonca defeated GM Pranav Anand to move to 4.5/5 | Photo: IM Patrick Zelbel
Sparkassen Chess Trophy 2023 - 50th International Dortmund Chess Days | Photo: Official site
GM Aryan Chopra made a quick 16-move draw against GM Alexander Donchenko (GER) | Photo: IM Patrick Zelbel
Open Round 5: Pranav Anand - Leon: 0-1
In the first-ever rated game between GM Pranav Anand (2510) and GM Leon Luke Mendonca (2623), the latter prevailed. It was a complex rook and same color bishop endgame.
Position after 50...Kf6
White needed to go 51.Kf4 to prevent Re5. 51.f4? turned out to be the incorrect way to achieve that Rc1 52.Re8 Rc3 53.Kg4 Bc4 even Rxa3 was also fine as there is no checkmate threat via Rf8+. Black soon went on to win the game.
GM-elect IM Rathanvel V S drew against GM Rasmus Svane (GER) | Photo: IM Patrick Zelbel
IM Moksh Amit Doshi (pictured) - GM Pierre Bailet (FRA): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed
IM Aditya S Samant (pictured) - GM Ralf Akesson (SWE): 1-0 | Photo: Aditya Sur Roy
Sportland NRW Cup 2023: GM Karthik Venkataraman 3/5 | Photo: IM Patrick Zelbel
Mayor of Dortmund, Norbert Schilff made the ceremonial first move of NC World Masters on Kramnik-Caruana's board | Photo: Official site
Kramnik - Caruana, NC World Masters Round 3
Position after 41.c6
White is threatening to runaway with both his passed c6 and e5-pawns. Black should not forget that he has his own at g3. 41...Nb5? 42.Ne6 Na7 43.c7 allowed White to get away with a win. Instead 41...Nf4 42.Bxg3 Nd5 43.e6 Nb5 44.Ke2 Kg6 would have saved the half point for Fabiano Caruana (USA).
Mr. Dortmund Vladimir Kramnik bounced back with a win over Fabiano Caruana (USA) | Photo: Official site
GM Pavel Eljanov (UKR) handed the defending champion GM Dmitrij Kollars (GER) his second loss of the event | Photo: Official site
Replay 50th International Dortmund Chess Days 2023 Day 5 Live commentary by GM Artur Yusupov and WIM Fiona Steil-Antoni | Video: Dortmund Chess Channel
Replay Sportland NRW Cup Round 5 games
Replay Sparkassen Chess Trophy Open A Round 5 games