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European Club Cup 2022 R5: Harikrishna beats Vishy Anand for the very first time

by Shahid Ahmed - 08/10/2022

How did Pentala Harikrishna bounce back after losing to Magnus Carlsen? By winning against Vishy Anand for the very first time in his career. Harikrishna played to his strength and outplayed the maestro in the endgame. Vidit Gujrathi scored his fifth win in-a-row. He defeated the new Romania no. Richard Rapport to become World no.24 in the live ratings. Novy Bor Chess Club defeated CSU ASE Superbet convincingly 4.5-1.5 to maintain their sole lead 10/10. They will face Schachclub Viernheim 1934e.V. who is currently in sole second place, in the penultimate round. Round 6 starts today at 2 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. Photo: WIM Fiona Steil-Antoni/European Chess Club Cup 2022

Novy Bor Chess Club bests the top seed CSU ASE Superbet

There is a reason Novy Bor Chess Club has claimed a podium finish in the last three editions of European Chess Club Cup 2022. One of the reason could possibly be that most of the players are playing for the team for a very long time. Harikrishna is playing for Novy Bor since 2014. He will face Shakhriyar Mamedyarov in the penultimate sixth round, while Vidit Gujrathi who is back in his form, will be up against Yuriy Kryvoruchko.

Pentala Harikrishna scored his first-ever victory over Vishy Anand | Photo: WIM Fiona Steil-Antoni/European Chess Club Cup 2022

Novy Bor Chess Club - CSU ASE Superbet: 4.5-1.5

Pentala Harikrishna (2717) and Vidit Gujrathi (2710) defeated Vishy Anand (2756) and Richard Rapport (2754) respectively. This was Harikrishna's first win ever against Anand of his career. D Gukesh (2732) drew with David Navara (2676).

Harikrishnha - Anand

Position after 31.e5

Harikrishna played to his strength. It is well-known that he is very strong in the endgame. He exchanged pieces at a regular interval, arrived into a bishop and knight endgame in less than 25 moves. The endgame was very much equal. However, 31.e5 posed an innocuous question of where should the knight retreat. Both f7 and b5 are fine for Black. Yet, the maestro displaced it to e8 which was not the best choice. 31...Ne8 32.Nd4 Ng7 33.Kf2 h6 34.Ke3 Be8 35.Bc4 Bd7 36.b4 and soon the lack of squares for the black knight to move around freely became evident. It was almost trapped. White improved his position slowly and at an opportune moment exchanged his bishop with his opponent's knight which gave him a completely winning knight vs bishop endgame.

Harikrishna beats Vishy Anand for the first time in his chess career | Analysis by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India
"This is my first win against Anand, so I'm very happy!" | Video: European Chess Club 2022

The Berlin Defence in Ruy Lopez is a solid opening for Black. It is considered drawish due to the nature of the opening. A draw with the black pieces against a strong opponent is often considered to be a good result. The last time Vidit Gujrathi defeated Richard Rapport with the black pieces in a rated game was in World Team 2015, over seven years ago.

Rapport - Vidit

Position after 29.Kf2

Before playing Kf2, White needed to trade the pawns at b4. The difference is, exchanging the pawns first does not give Black the opportunity to get rid of the doubled c-pawns which is what happened in the game. 29.Kf2 c5 30.Ndc2 Bf5 31.cxb4 cxb4 32.Ke3 c5 and the position is completely in favor of Black. 33.h3 c4 34.bxc4 Nxc4+ and Vidit has shown over the years that he does not miss these opportunities of converting substantial advantages in the endgame.

Vidit Gujrathi beats Richard Rapport, moves to Elo 2725 in the live ratings, now world no.24 | Video: ChessBase India

Novy Bor Chess Club - CSU ASE Superbet: 4.5-1.5

Replay Novy Bor Chess Club - CSU ASE Superbet games

We do not get to see Harikrishna and Anand get to battle on the board often | Photo: Walter Kastner/European Chess Club Cup 2022

Vidit Gujrathi is certainly back in form as he registered his fifth consecutive victory | Photo: Walter Kastner/European Chess Club Cup 2022

Novy Bor Chess Club - CSU ASE Superbet: 4.5-1.5 | Photo: WIM Fiona Steil-Antoni/European Chess Club Cup 2022
"Soon I'll have no WCh. titles, so it's time to start winning some of them back!" - Magnus Carlsen | Video: European Chess Club Cup 2022

Magnus Carlsen tweeted on his game, replying to a GM Peter Svidler's analysis during the live stream

TAJFUN - SK Ljubljana - Schachclub Viernheim 1934 e.V. : 2.5-3.5

Arjun Erigaisi (2728) drew with Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2747). Nihal Sarin (2673) missed a win against Yuriy Kuzubov (2612).

Nihal - Kuzubov

Position after 63...Rxh6

Black was completely lost after 63...Rxh6. White does not need to rush and take the g5-pawn. Instead, use it as a blockade to keep his g4-pawn alive. 64.Rxh6 + Kxh6 65.Nxc5 Kg6/7 66.Nb3 Kf6 67.Nxa5 Be1 68.Nc6+-. Black cannot even easily attack the g4-pawn, let alone capture it. A half point more would have drawn the match for the team.

TAJFUN - SK Ljubljana - Schachclub Viernheim 1934 e.V. : 2.5-3.5

Replay TAJFUN - SK Ljubljana - Schachclub Viernheim 1934 e.V. games

Round 5 in progress | Photo: Walter Kastner/European Chess Club Cup 2022
Replay European Chess Club Cup 2022 Round 5 Live Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

Everyday round starts at 3 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST from 3rd to 8th October 2022. The final round on 9th October starts 11 a.m. local time, 2:30 p.m. IST. The seven-round Swiss system tournament has a time control of 90min/40moves+30min/end+30sec increment per move starting from move 1. It is organized by SK Mayrhofen Zell/Zillertal and currently taking place at Europahaus Mayrhofen - Congress Zillertal in Austria.

Replay Round 5 Open games

Replay Round 5 Women games

Round 5 Open results

No.SNo TeamPts.MPRes.:Res.MPPts.Team SNo
12
Novy Bor Chess club188:717½CSU ASE Superbet
1
25
Clichy-Echecs-921973:3717½Asnieres Le Grand Echiquier
3
34
TAJFUN - SK Ljubljana18½7:718Schachclub Viernheim 1934e.V.
6
48
Silla - València Origin of Chess19½7:617½Offerspill Chess Club
7
516
Moravská Slavia Brno16½6:616½Vugar Gashimov
9
610
Beer Sheva Chess Club16½65:1613½SK Dunajska Streda
19
720
LSG Leiden 1156:615FC Bayern München
12
814
Kfar Saba Chess Club16½62:4614Schach ohne Grenzen
21
915
Schachgesellschaft Riehen13½6:611SK König Tegel 1949
43
1011
Sentimento Ajka BSK13½53:3513SK Rockaden
22

Details

Round 6 Open pairings

No.SNo TeamPts.MPRes.:Res.MPPts.Team SNo
16
Schachclub Viernheim 1934e.V.21½9:1022½Novy Bor Chess club
2
23
Asnieres Le Grand Echiquier20½8:821½Beer Sheva Chess Club
10
312
FC Bayern München19½8:822Clichy-Echecs-92
5
47
Offerspill Chess Club218:818Schach ohne Grenzen
21
59
Vugar Gashimov208:817Schachgesellschaft Riehen
15
61
CSU ASE Superbet197:722Silla - València Origin of Chess
8
74
TAJFUN - SK Ljubljana217:720Schachgesellschaft Zürich
17
825
Paul Keres156:616½Sentimento Ajka BSK
11
913
Gokturk Satranc Spor Kulubu17½6:614Schachklub Absam
27
1029
KBSK Brugge13½6:618½Kfar Saba Chess Club
14

Details

Links

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Tournament Regulations



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