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FIDE World Rapid Team 2023 R5-8: WR Chess increases their sole lead, Praggnanandhaa wins four in-a-row

by Shahid Ahmed - 28/08/2023

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.

GM R Praggnanandhaa won all four of his games on the second day of FIDE World Rapid Team Championship | Photo: FIDE/Niki Riga

The inaugural edition of FIDE World Rapid Team Championship will take place from 26th to 28th August 2023

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

Position after 44...Kf6?

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.

MGD1 - ASV AlphaEchecs Linz: 3.5-2.5 | Photo: FIDE/Niki Riga

MGD1 - ASV AlphaEchecs Linz: 3.5-2.5

Replay MGD1 vs ASV AlphaEchecs Linz games

Kompetenzakademie Allstars - Africa: 5.5-0.5 | Photo: FIDE/Niki Riga
GM Evgeniy Najer (Freedom) - GM R Praggnanandhaa (WR Chess) | Video: ChessBase India

WR Chess - Freedom: 5-1 | Photo: FIDE/Niki Riga

Round 5 in progress | Photo: FIDE/Mark Livshitz and Niki Riga

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

Position after 34...Ng3+!

34...Ng3+! is a fantastic move 35.hxg3 Qxg3 36.Be5 Bxe5 37.Rxe5 Qxe5 and Black won the game comfortably.

Vladimir Kramnik (Chess Pensioners) - D Gukesh (Kompetenzakademie Allstars) | Video: ChessBase India

GM D Gukesh (Kompetenzakademie Allstars) scored 3/4 on the second day | Photo: FIDE/Niki Riga

Chess Pensioners - Kompetenzakademie Allstars: 1-5

Chess Pensioners - Kompetenzakademie Allstars: 1-5

Replay Chess Pensioners vs Kompetenzakademie Allstars games

GM Pranesh M celebrate their 0-6 whitewash victory over Mitropa Chess Association with IM Nubairshah Shaikh of Six-pack, their teammate WGM Priyanka Nutakki in the back | Photo: FIDE/Niki Riga
GM R Praggnanandhaa (WR Chess) vs GM Raunak Sadhwani (MGD1) | Video: ChessBase India

MGD1 - WR Chess: 2.5-3.5 | Photo: FIDE/Niki Riga

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

Position after 31.Kc3

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.

Six-pack - Chess Pensioners: 3-3

Replay Six-pack vs Chess Pensioners games

GM R Praggnanandhaa (WR Chess) vs GM Rasmus Svane (Germany and Friends) | Video: ChessBase India

WR Chess - Germay and Friends: 3.5-2.5 | Photo: FIDE/Niki Riga
GM Parham Maghsoodloo (ASV AlphaEchecs Linz) - GM Vidit Gujrathi (Freedom) | Video: ChessBase India

Round 8: WR Chess dominates Kompetenzakademie Allstars

WR Chess scored a thumping victory over Kompetenzakademie Allstars 5.5-0.5 in Round 8.

GM Sebastian Siebrecht (Kompetenzakademie Allstars) - GM R Praggnanandhaa (WR Chess) | Video: ChessBase India

WR Chess - Kompetenzakademie Allstars: 5.5-0.5 | Photo: FIDE/Niki Riga
Vishy Anand (Freedom) vs Alexander Donchenko (Germany and Friends) | Video: ChessBase India

Round 8 in progress | Photo: FIDE/Niki Riga
Harika Dronavalli: "Everyone is motivated to do our best" | Video: FIDE

Replay live stream

Replay Live Commentary of Round 5-8 by GMs Yasser Seirawan, Maurice Ashley and IM Almira Skripchenko (FRA) | Video: FIDE

Video Gallery

Praggnanandhaa: "I really like the confidence of Abdusattorov Nodirbek" | Video: ChessBase India
WGM Keti Tsatsalashvili plays her immortal game against Sara Khadem | Video: ChessBase India
Vidit Gujrathi on bonding with Vishy Anand at the FIDE World Rapid Teams 2023 | Video: ChessBase India
Vladimir Kramnik speaks about Pragg and Gukesh and why he thinks they are the absolute best | Video: ChessBase India

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.SNoTeamMPRes.:Res.MPTeamSNo
11Freedom11:10Germany and Friends10
26Ashdod Elit Chess Club9:11Team MGD13
311Berlin Chess Federation9:9Six-pack12
49Chessbrah OFM8:8ASV AlphaEchecs Linz4
522Wensing & Pöbel80:68Armenia5
628Chess Pensioners8:8Columbus Energy KingsOfChess Kraków8
713Düsseldorfer Schachklub 1914/25 e.V.75:17Schachverein Hemer18
820FIDE Management Board7:7Team Chessemy.com14
92WR Chess *)14:½10Kompetenzakademie Allstars7
1026Aachener Schachverein von 185671:57Rishon LeZion Chess Club15

Details

Standings after Round 8

Rk.SNoTeamGames  +   =   -  TB1  TB2  TB3  TB4 
12WR Chess88001633836,574
21Freedom861113245,53174
33Team MGD185121127630,579
46Ashdod Elit Chess Club85121119728,569
512Six-pack85121119128,565
64ASV AlphaEchecs Linz8503102793269
710Germany and Friends8422102382778
85Armenia8503102353068
97Kompetenzakademie Allstars8503102252971
1028Chess Pensioners83411020425,565

Details

Round 9 pairings

No.SNoTeamMPRes.:Res.MPTeamSNo
16Ashdod Elit Chess Club11:13Freedom1
23Team MGD111:11Six-pack12
310Germany and Friends10:10ASV AlphaEchecs Linz4
45Armenia10:10Kompetenzakademie Allstars7
514Team Chessemy.com9:9Berlin Chess Federation11
615Rishon LeZion Chess Club9:9Düsseldorfer Schachklub 1914/25 e.V.13
78Columbus Energy KingsOfChess Kraków8:8Africa17
821Deutsche Schachjugend 18:8Chessbrah OFM9
928Chess Pensioners10:16WR Chess *)2
1016Ukrainian Amators8:8Wensing & Pöbel22

Details

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.

Links

Official site

Tournament Regulations



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