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6th Sharjah Masters 2023 R8: Arjun Erigaisi storms into the title fray, Praggnanandhaa swerves Kuybokarov

by Shahid Ahmed - 25/05/2023

D Gukesh had a solid draw against Grigoriy Oparin (USA) to maintain his lead. Arjun Erigaisi played some inspired chess to crush Vladislav Kovalev. He made his intentions very clear as early as move no.6 that he is playing for only one result - win. The India no.5 launched a brutal attack on the stranded king at the center. A desperate bishop sacrifice did not work out for Kovalev. Nihal Sarin had a well-fought draw against Sanan Sjugirov. R Praggnanandhaa made a massive save and completely turned things around against Temur Kuybokarov (AUS). He showed that if you are willing to win, even in a lost position, you have to put up a fight. Gukesh and Arjun are among eight players in the lead at 5.5/8 each. Who do you think will win the tournament? Final Round 9 starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 4:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Niklesh Jain

Gukesh or Arjun - Who will win?

GM D Gukesh and GM Arjun Erigaisi are the only two Indians among the eight leaders. The remaining six are - GM Samuel Sevian (USA), GM Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB), GM Yangyi Yu (CHN), GM M Amin Tabatabaei (IRI), GM Haik M Martirosyan (ARM) and GM Grigoriy Oparin (USA). Gukesh and Arjun must win their respective games and hope all other results work out in their favor. 

GM Arjun Erigaisi is one of the eight leaders heading into the final round 5.5/8 | Photo: Niklesh Jain

Kovalev - Arjun: 0-1

The only rated game between GM Vladislav Kovalev (2612) and GM Arjun Erigaisi (2701) ended in a draw over two years ago at Bangladesh Premier League.

Position after 6...h5

Arjun made his intentions very clear early in the game that he is playing for only one result. 7.Ndb5 Qb8 8.Bf4 e5 9.Be3 a6 10.Na3 b5 11.Nd5 Nf6 12.Nxf6+ gxf6 13.h4 f5 14.exf5 Bb7 15.Rg1 d4! 17.cxd4 Bb4+ it would not be an understatement to say that White is positionally lost now.

Position after 17...Bb4+

White is forced to play 18.Ke2 as 18.Bd2 leads to a quicker demise after Nxd4! 18...exd4 19.Bf4 Bd6 20.Bg5 f6 21.Bxf6 0-0 22.Qd2 Rxf6 White never got any compensation for the sacrificed bishop and he went on to lose the game in a sharp battle. 

Insane aggressive chess by Arjun Erigaisi | Video: ChessBase India
"I think I found quite good moves today" Arjun Erigaisi on beating Vladislav Kovalev| Video: ChessBase India

GM Arjun Erigaisi played inspired chess to win against GM Vladislav Kovalev | Photo: Niklesh Jain
Final moments: GM Grigoriy Oparin (USA) vs GM D Gukesh | Video: ChessBase India

GM Grigoriy Oparin (USA) - GM D Gukesh: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Niklesh Jain

44th Chess Olympiad Gold medalist GM Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB) showed excellent defensive skills in a rare queen and two knights vs queen and two bishops endgame against GM M Amin Tabatabaei (IRI) | Photo: Niklesh Jain

GM Nihal Sarin had a well contested draw against GM Sanan Sjugirov | Photo: Niklesh Jain

Praggnanandhaa - Kuybokarov

Position after 54.Kf3

Black has been stalling on capturing the rook at g7 because the position is winning in thousand different way, well until it isn't. 54...Bd5+ ? 55.Kg3 now Black cannot take the rook because Ne6+ discover attack drops the black queen. 55...Qd6+ 56.Kf2 Qxe5?? still Kxg7 57.Kxe1 would have been balanced. 57.Rg3+- tables have completely turned now Ke8 58.Rg8+ Kd7 59.Qd8# now that's a checkmate which will haunt Black for a long time.

From completely losing to checkmate - Praggnanandhaa's big swerve | Video: ChessBase India
"He probably thought it was just a mate" - Praggnanandhaa| Video: ChessBase India

GM R Praggnanandhaa showed his never-give-up attitude even in extreme adverse position against GM Temur Kuybokarov (AUS) | Photo: Niklesh Jain
Round 8 starting moments | Video: ChessBase India

Replay the Live stream

Replay Sharjah Masters Round 8 live commentary by Amruta Mokal - Part 1 | Video: ChessBase India
Replay Sharjah Masters Round 8 live commentary by Amruta Mokal - Part 2 | Video: ChessBase India
Replay Sharjah Masters Round 8 live commentary by Amruta Mokal - Part 3 | Video: ChessBase India
Replay Sharjah Masters Round 8 live commentary by GM FST Ivan Sokolov (NED) and GM FST Dimitri Komarov (UKR) | Video: Sharjah Chess

Replay Round 8 games

Round 8 results

Bo.No. NameRtgPts.ResultPts.NameRtg No.
117
GMOparin, Grigoriy26675½ - ½5GMGukesh, D2732
2
215
GMMartirosyan, Haik M.26755½ - ½5GMSevian, Samuel2684
11
328
GMYakubboev, Nodirbek26305½ - ½5GMTabatabaei, M. Amin2677
14
418
GMKorobov, Anton26640 - 1GMYu, Yangyi2729
4
55
GMSjugirov, Sanan2712½ - ½GMNihal, Sarin2673
16
638
GMKovalev, Vladislav26120 - 1GMErigaisi, Arjun2701
8
746
GMKadric, Denis2601½ - ½GMEsipenko, Andrey2679
12
89
GMPraggnanandhaa, R268841 - 0GMKuybokarov, Temur2566
64
931
GMKarthikeyan, Murali262740 - 14GMNiemann, Hans Moke2708
6
1035
GMAryan, Chopra26174½ - ½4GMCheparinov, Ivan2660
20
1139
GMVakhidov, Jakhongir26074½ - ½4GMNarayanan.S.L,2660
21
1258
GMVokhidov, Shamsiddin258640 - 14GMNguyen, Thai Dai Van2645
22
1323
GMYilmaz, Mustafa26414½ - ½4GMSuleymanli, Aydin2560
67
1476
GMAditya, Mittal25224½ - ½4GMAbasov, Nijat2634
24
1569
GMMchedlishvili, Mikheil25534½ - ½4GMDardha, Daniel2631
26

Details

Standings after Round 8

Rk.SNo NameFEDRtgPts. TB1  TB2  TB3  TB4  TB5 
111
GMSevian, SamuelUSA26845,5035,53112777
22
GMGukesh, DIND27325,5033,53002794
328
GMYakubboev, NodirbekUZB26305,5032,52912779
44
GMYu, YangyiCHN27295,503228,512790
514
GMTabatabaei, M. AminIRI26775,5031,527,502752
615
GMMartirosyan, Haik M.ARM26755,503127,512763
78
GMErigaisi, ArjunIND27015,50312712747
817
GMOparin, GrigoriyUSA26675,5030,527,522786
916
GMNihal, SarinIND2673503530,502745
106
GMNiemann, Hans MokeUSA27085032,528,512724
1146
GMKadric, DenisMNE26015032,528,502772
1222
GMNguyen, Thai Dai VanCZE264550322812720
135
GMSjugirov, SananRUS271250322812702
149
GMPraggnanandhaa, RIND268850312812710
1512
GMEsipenko, AndreyFID2679503026,502711

Details

Round 9 pairings

Bo.No. NameRtgPts.ResultPts.NameRtg No.
12
GMGukesh, D2732GMTabatabaei, M. Amin2677
14
24
GMYu, Yangyi2729GMMartirosyan, Haik M.2675
15
38
GMErigaisi, Arjun2701GMYakubboev, Nodirbek2630
28
411
GMSevian, Samuel2684GMOparin, Grigoriy2667
17
512
GMEsipenko, Andrey267955GMSjugirov, Sanan2712
5
66
GMNiemann, Hans Moke270855GMKadric, Denis2601
46
722
GMNguyen, Thai Dai Van264555GMPraggnanandhaa, R2688
9
816
GMNihal, Sarin26735GMKorobov, Anton2664
18
91
GMMaghsoodloo, Parham2734GMMchedlishvili, Mikheil2553
69
1020
GMCheparinov, Ivan2660GMKovalev, Vladislav2612
38
1121
GMNarayanan.S.L,2660GMAditya, Mittal2522
76
1257
GMAdhiban, B.2589GMYilmaz, Mustafa2641
23
1324
GMAbasov, Nijat2634GMVakhidov, Jakhongir2607
39
1426
GMDardha, Daniel2631GMMurzin, Volodar2604
42
1564
GMKuybokarov, Temur2566GMSargsyan, Shant2630
27

Details

Links

Official site

Tournament details


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