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6th Sharjah Masters 2023 R1: A good start for the Indians

by Shahid Ahmed - 18/05/2023

The top seeds have made a solid start at 6th Sharjah Masters 2023. The Masters event witnesses the participation of 78 GMs from 29 countries across the world. Players are rated 2519 and above, eight 2700+ players are taking part. The reigning Women's World Champion, Wenjun Ju is playing a rated tournament for the first time outside of China since March 2020. D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa and Nihal Sarin made a winning start. Leon Luke Mendonca held Sanan Sjugirov to a draw from an extremely difficult and at one point, totally lost position. Volodar Murzin denied a winning start to Vidit Gujrathi. Round 2 starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 4:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Aditya Sur Roy

Leon makes a great save against Sanan

16 Indian players are taking part out of the total 78 players in the Masters section which is a staggering 20.51% . Total prize fund is US$ 60000, the top three prizes US$ 10000, $8000 and $7000. This tournament will be a good opportunity for players to test themselves before the World Cup which is almost two and a half months away. For those who haven't secured a spot, yet this will be a good proving ground to showcase why they should be there.

GM D Gukesh (pictured) - GM Giovanni Vescovi (BRA): 1-0 | Photo: Niklesh Jain
Gukesh starts with a smooth win against Brazil no. 1 Giovanni Vescovi | Video: ChessBase India
Final moments: Christopher Yoo (USA) vs Parham Maghsoodloo (IRI) | Video: ChessBase India
GM Parham Maghsoodloo (IRI) outplays GM Christopher Yoo (USA) | Video: ChessBase India

GM Vidit Gujrathi was held to a draw by GM Volodar Murzin | Photo: Niklesh Jain

Leon - Sanan: 0.5-0.5

GM Leon Luke Mendonca (2603) was facing GM Sanan Sjugirov (2712) for the first time in a rated game. Sanan made an exchange sacrifice which gave hima positional advantage.

Position after 23.Rea1

Black consolidated his center 22...e4 23.Rea1 allowed the opportunity for Black to sacrifice an exchange 23...Rxc5 24.dxc5 White's weakened pawn structure, combined with Black having a firm control of the center and d-file shifted things in his favor. The position became increasingly difficult to play for White.

Position after 42.gxh4

One of the best chances Black had in the game was after 42.gxh4. 42...Rd7 would have been devastating for White. 42...Bxh2 allowed White to save the game 43.Ke1 Be5 44.Qe2 and Black's chances fizzled out.

GM Leon Luke Mendonca made a good save against GM Sanan Sjugirov | Photo: Niklesh Jain
Hans Niemann outplays Indian talent Harsha Bharathakoti in the first round of Sharjah Masters | Video: ChessBase India
"I am taking one game at a time and trying to give my best"- Arjun Erigaisi | Video: ChessBase India

GM Arjun Erigaisi - GM Kacper Piorun (POL): 1-0 | Photo: Niklesh Jain
Final moments: GM Vahap Sanal (TUR) vs GM R Praggnanandhaa | Video: ChessBase India

GM Vahap Sanal (TUR) ran out of time against GM R Praggnanandhaa | Photo: Niklesh Jain
"I took leave from job for one year" - GM Salem Saleh | Video: ChessBase India

UAE no.1 and last year's runner-up of 5th Sharjah Masters 2022 - GM Salem Saleh made a winning start | Photo: Aditya Sur Roy

GM Nihal Sarin (pictured) - GM Nikolas Theodorou (GRE): 1-0 | Photo: Aditya Sur Roy

Wenjun - Karthikeyan: 1-0

17th Women's World Chess Champion - Ju Wenjun (2550) is playing her first rated tournament outside of China in over three years (1158 days exactly) at this event. She landed herself in a difficult position against Karthikeyan Murali (2627).

Position after 42.g4

42...fxg4 43.hxg4 Rxa4 should have been good enough to push for a win. However, Black went for 42...f4 43.h4 gxh4 44.Nxh4 Rxa4 45.Nf5 the almost inactive knight is now generating some counter-play. 45...f3+ 46.Kh3 Ra2 47.Bh4 Kf7 48.Nxh6+ White created a passed pawn on the g-file which played a crucial role in White's victory. 49.Nf5 a4 50.Rc1 Nec5 51.Ne7+ Kf7?? and Black is lost now. 52.g5 a3 53.g6+ Kg7 54.Rg1 Ne6 55.Nf5+ Kh8 56.g7+ and Black resigned.

Final moments: GM Wenjun Ju (CHN) vs GM Karthikeyan Murali | Video: ChessBase India

Reigning Women's World Champion - Wenjun Ju won her first rated game outside of China | Photo: Aditya Sur Roy

Inaugural moments of 6th Sharjah Masters 2023 | Photo: Niklesh Jain

The tournament hall at Sharjah Cultural & Chess Club | Photo: Niklesh Jain
A tour of Sharjah Chess Club | Video: ChessBase India
6th Sharjah Masters 2023 preview | Video: ChessBase India

Replay the Live stream

Replay Sharjah Masters Round 1 live commentary by Amruta Mokal - Part 1 | Video: ChessBase India
Replay Sharjah Masters Round 1 live commentary by Amruta Mokal - Part 2 | Video: ChessBase India

Replay Round 1 games

Round 1 results

Bo.No. NameRtgPts.ResultPts.NameRtg No.
140
GMYoo, Christopher Woojin260700 - 10GMMaghsoodloo, Parham2734
1
22
GMGukesh, D273201 - 00GMVescovi, Giovanni2606
41
342
GMMurzin, Volodar26040½ - ½0GMVidit, Santosh Gujrathi2731
3
44
GMYu, Yangyi272901 - 00GMMastrovasilis, Dimitrios2603
43
544
GMMendonca, Leon Luke26030½ - ½0GMSjugirov, Sanan2712
5
66
GMNiemann, Hans Moke270801 - 00GMHarsha, Bharathakoti2602
45
746
GMKadric, Denis260101 - 00GMRobson, Ray2704
7
88
GMErigaisi, Arjun270101 - 00GMPiorun, Kacper2601
47
948
GMSanal, Vahap260000 - 10GMPraggnanandhaa, R2688
9
1010
GMPredke, Alexandr26850½ - ½0GMPeralta, Fernando2596
49
1150
GMIvic, Velimir259500 - 10GMSevian, Samuel2684
11
1212
GMEsipenko, Andrey267901 - 00GMDragnev, Valentin2593
51
1352
GMBernadskiy, Vitaliy259200 - 10GMSalem, A.R. Saleh2677
13
1414
GMTabatabaei, M. Amin267701 - 00GMYuffa, Daniil2592
53
1554
GMSocko, Bartosz25910½ - ½0GMMartirosyan, Haik M.2675
15

Details

Standings after Round 1

Rk.SNo NameFEDRtgPts. TB1  TB2  TB3 
11
GMMaghsoodloo, ParhamIRI27341010
2
GMGukesh, DIND27321010
4
GMYu, YangyiCHN27291010
6
GMNiemann, Hans MokeUSA27081010
8
GMErigaisi, ArjunIND27011010
9
GMPraggnanandhaa, RIND26881010
11
GMSevian, SamuelUSA26841010
12
GMEsipenko, AndreyFID26791010
13
GMSalem, A.R. SalehUAE26771010
14
GMTabatabaei, M. AminIRI26771010
16
GMNihal, SarinIND26731010
18
GMKorobov, AntonUKR26641010
20
GMCheparinov, IvanBUL26601010
21
GMNarayanan.S.L,IND26601010
22
GMNguyen, Thai Dai VanCZE26451010

Details

Round 2 pairings

Bo.No. NameRtgPts.ResultPts.NameRtg No.
11
GMMaghsoodloo, Parham273411GMKorobov, Anton2664
18
220
GMCheparinov, Ivan266011GMGukesh, D2732
2
321
GMNarayanan.S.L,266011GMYu, Yangyi2729
4
422
GMNguyen, Thai Dai Van264511GMNiemann, Hans Moke2708
6
523
GMYilmaz, Mustafa264111GMErigaisi, Arjun2701
8
69
GMPraggnanandhaa, R268811GMSadhwani, Raunak2627
32
711
GMSevian, Samuel268411GMKovalev, Vladislav2612
38
825
GMAravindh, Chithambaram Vr.263311GMEsipenko, Andrey2679
12
913
GMSalem, A.R. Saleh267711GMKadric, Denis2601
46
1027
GMSargsyan, Shant263011GMTabatabaei, M. Amin2677
14
1169
GMMchedlishvili, Mikheil255311GMNihal, Sarin2673
16
123
GMVidit, Santosh Gujrathi2731½1GMJu, Wenjun2550
70
135
GMSjugirov, Sanan2712½½GMMurzin, Volodar2604
42
1463
GMCan, Emre2575½½GMPredke, Alexandr2685
10
1515
GMMartirosyan, Haik M.2675½½GMMendonca, Leon Luke2603
44

Details

Links

Official site

Tournament details


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