FIDE World Rapid Team 2023 R5-8: WR Chess increases their sole lead, Praggnanandhaa wins four in-a-row
After resting the first day, R Praggnanandhaa continued where he left off at the FIDE World Cup 2023. The sensational teenager scored four wins in-a-row for WR Chess at FIDE World Rapid Teams 2023. He defeated GMs Evgeniy Najer (Freedom), Raunak Sadhwani (MGD1), Rasmus Svane (Germany and Friends) and Sebastian Siebrecht (Kompetenzakademie Allstars). Vishy Anand is undefeated so far. He contributed 5/7 for his team Freedom which is currently at second place 13/16. MGD1, Ashdod Elit Chess Club and Six-pack are at 11/16 each. GM D Gukesh (Kompetenzakademie Allstars) defeated GM Vladimir Kramnik (Chess Pensioners) in their first-ever over-the-board rated game. IM Nubairshah Shaikh (Six-pack) missed a win against GM Peter Svidler (Chess Pensioners). Round 9 starts today at 1:30 p.m. local time, 5 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/Niki Riga
Freedom 13/16, MGD1, Ashdod Elit Chess Club and Six-pack at 11/16 each
WR Chess has increased their lead to three points over Freedom. They have already faced and defeated the next four teams on the points table.
Round 5: MGD1 beats ASV AlphaEchecs Linz by a minimum margin
GM Arjun Erigaisi and GM Harika Dronavalli scored the victories for MGD1 against GM Parham Maghsoodloo and GM Kateryna Lagno of ASV AlphaEchecs Linz.
Harika - Lagno
In the endgame when Black went 44...Kf6? Harika seized her opportunity 45.Nxg7 Kxg7 46.Rxe6 although White gained a pawn, it is still not a decisive advantage for White. 46...b4?? is when things went downhill for Black. 47.Rb6+- Rc4 48.f3 e4 49.f4 Rc3 50.Kf2 and White went on to win the game.
Replay MGD1 vs ASV AlphaEchecs Linz games
Round 6: Gukesh and Harikrishna beat Kramnik and So
GM D Gukesh (Kompetenzakademie Allstars, 2629) faced the 14th world champion, GM Vladimir Kramnik (Chess Pensioners, 2739) for the first time in an over-the-board rated game. He made the most out of his opportunity.
Kramnik - Gukesh
34...Ng3+! is a fantastic move 35.hxg3 Qxg3 36.Be5 Bxe5 37.Rxe5 Qxe5 and Black won the game comfortably.
Replay Chess Pensioners vs Kompetenzakademie Allstars games
Round 7: WR Chess barely wins against Germany and Friends, Six-pack draws against Chess Pensioners
WR Chess once again scored a win by a minimum margin, this time against Germany and Friends 3.5-2.5. IM Nubairshah Shaikh (Six-pack) was on the verge of a win against GM Peter Svidler (Chess Pensioners).
Svidler - Nubairshah
One of the best chances Black had in the game was after 31.Kc3. He needed to get rid of the defender knight at b5. So 31...Bxb5 32.cxb5 c4 33.Bxc4 Rc8 was the best choice for Black. Instead, he opted for repetition 31...Qa5+ 32.Kb2 Qa2+ and Svidler escaped with a draw. This win would have earned Six-pack a victory as a team too.
Replay Six-pack vs Chess Pensioners games
Round 8: WR Chess dominates Kompetenzakademie Allstars
WR Chess scored a thumping victory over Kompetenzakademie Allstars 5.5-0.5 in Round 8.
Replay live stream
Video Gallery
Team composition
Each team will consist of at least six and maximum nine players. Apart from having to include at least one female player, for the first time in a high-level team event, teams will have to include a recreational player, who has never achieved a Standard, Rapid or Blitz FIDE rating of 2000 or more. It is not mandatory for the teams to have board order as per rating. For more details, please check the tournament regulations, link provided at the end of the article.
Format
The 12-round Swiss League team event has a time control of 15 minutes + 10 seconds increment from move no.1. There is no default time. No penalty shall be imposed on a player if he/she is late for any of his/her games. Scoring is usual for a team event. Match points: Win = 2, Draw = 1 and Loss = 0.
Replay Round 5-8 games
Round 8 results
No. | SNo | Team | MP | Res. | : | Res. | MP | Team | SNo |
1 | 1 | Freedom | 11 | 4½ | : | 1½ | 10 | Germany and Friends | 10 |
2 | 6 | Ashdod Elit Chess Club | 9 | 3½ | : | 2½ | 11 | Team MGD1 | 3 |
3 | 11 | Berlin Chess Federation | 9 | 2½ | : | 3½ | 9 | Six-pack | 12 |
4 | 9 | Chessbrah OFM | 8 | 2½ | : | 3½ | 8 | ASV AlphaEchecs Linz | 4 |
5 | 22 | Wensing & Pöbel | 8 | 0 | : | 6 | 8 | Armenia | 5 |
6 | 28 | Chess Pensioners | 8 | 3½ | : | 2½ | 8 | Columbus Energy KingsOfChess Kraków | 8 |
7 | 13 | Düsseldorfer Schachklub 1914/25 e.V. | 7 | 5 | : | 1 | 7 | Schachverein Hemer | 18 |
8 | 20 | FIDE Management Board | 7 | 2½ | : | 3½ | 7 | Team Chessemy.com | 14 |
9 | 2 | WR Chess *) | 14 | 5½ | : | ½ | 10 | Kompetenzakademie Allstars | 7 |
10 | 26 | Aachener Schachverein von 1856 | 7 | 1 | : | 5 | 7 | Rishon LeZion Chess Club | 15 |
Standings after Round 8
Rk. | SNo | Team | Games | + | = | - | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | TB4 |
1 | 2 | WR Chess | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 338 | 36,5 | 74 |
2 | 1 | Freedom | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 245,5 | 31 | 74 |
3 | 3 | Team MGD1 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 276 | 30,5 | 79 |
4 | 6 | Ashdod Elit Chess Club | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 197 | 28,5 | 69 |
5 | 12 | Six-pack | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 191 | 28,5 | 65 |
6 | 4 | ASV AlphaEchecs Linz | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 279 | 32 | 69 |
7 | 10 | Germany and Friends | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 238 | 27 | 78 |
8 | 5 | Armenia | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 235 | 30 | 68 |
9 | 7 | Kompetenzakademie Allstars | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 225 | 29 | 71 |
10 | 28 | Chess Pensioners | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 204 | 25,5 | 65 |
Round 9 pairings
No. | SNo | Team | MP | Res. | : | Res. | MP | Team | SNo |
1 | 6 | Ashdod Elit Chess Club | 11 | : | 13 | Freedom | 1 | ||
2 | 3 | Team MGD1 | 11 | : | 11 | Six-pack | 12 | ||
3 | 10 | Germany and Friends | 10 | : | 10 | ASV AlphaEchecs Linz | 4 | ||
4 | 5 | Armenia | 10 | : | 10 | Kompetenzakademie Allstars | 7 | ||
5 | 14 | Team Chessemy.com | 9 | : | 9 | Berlin Chess Federation | 11 | ||
6 | 15 | Rishon LeZion Chess Club | 9 | : | 9 | Düsseldorfer Schachklub 1914/25 e.V. | 13 | ||
7 | 8 | Columbus Energy KingsOfChess Kraków | 8 | : | 8 | Africa | 17 | ||
8 | 21 | Deutsche Schachjugend 1 | 8 | : | 8 | Chessbrah OFM | 9 | ||
9 | 28 | Chess Pensioners | 10 | : | 16 | WR Chess *) | 2 | ||
10 | 16 | Ukrainian Amators | 8 | : | 8 | Wensing & Pöbel | 22 |
Schedule
Venue
The venue for the event will be Rheinterrasse, Düsseldorf by Stockheim
Prize
The total prize fund is €250000. There are six prizes in total - top five and one rating category. The top three prizes are: €100000, 60000 and 40000 each respectively. Best U2400 will earn €12500.