Superbet Rapid 2024 R4-6: Gukesh escapes against Magnus Carlsen
D Gukesh bounced back on the second day of Grand Chess Tour Superbet Rapid and Blitz 2024. D Gukesh won two games in-a-row against R Praggnanandhaa and Vincent Keymer (GER). The teenager finished the day by salvaging a draw after the World no.1 Magnus Carlsen (NOR) missed his winning chances. Praggnanandhaa shook off the cobwebs by crushing Anish Giri (NED) in 21 moves. Then he went on to beat Keymer who suffered his third loss of the event. Magnus won an exciting battle against Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB) in Round 5. Magnus and Wei Yi (CHN) are currently in the lead 8/12, followed by Praggnanandhaa and Kirill Shevchenko (ROU) at 7/12 each. Abdusattorov, Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi are at 6/12 each. Round 7 starts today from 1 p.m. local time, 4:30 p.m. IST. Photos: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
Magnus Carlsen and Wei Yi become the coleaders
After losing to Jan-Krzysztof Duda (POL), Arjun Erigaisi handed Kirill Shevchenko (ROU) his first loss of the event in Round 5. Arjun finished the day with a well-fought draw against Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB).
Round 4: Gukesh - Praggnanandhaa: 2-0
The battle between D Gukesh (2649) and R Praggnanandhaa (2704) are always exciting. Apart from Blitz games, Gukesh has not lost to Praggnanandhaa since April 2022 in either Classical or Rapid rated events.
In a sharp position, Praggnanandhaa decided to break White's kingside wide open 23...fxg3 24.fxe4 computer says Bxf8 was better gxh2+ 25.Kh1 Rf2? turned things in White's favor 26.Qg4+- To maintain the upper hand, Black needed to go 25...Rxf1+ 26.Rxf1 dxe4 27.Qg4 e3+ 28.Kxh2 Bxe5+ would have been winning.
Abdusattorov - Keymer
27.a6?? allowed Black to gain the decisive advantage Rc2 28.Nd2 Nb4 29.Qe3 Rxd2+? instead Qb2 30.Red1 Nd5 31.Qe1 Nc3 would have been winning for Black.
Round 5: Keymer - Gukesh: 0-2
Earlier this year, D Gukesh defeated Vincent Keymer at Prague Masters. Here he repeated the same result when the Germany no.1 increase his own king's vulnerability.
27.Qc6?? left the king to his own vices. Black struck 27...cxd4+ 28.Kf4 Rhf8 29.Qd6+ Ka8 30.Rxf8 Rxf8+ and Black won the game in another ten moves.
Carlsen - Abdusattorov: 2-0
This was the first time in 2024, Magnus Carlsen was facing Nodirbek Abdusattorov in a rated game in any format. Their last battle against each other at World Rapid 2023 ended in a draw.
Where should Black move his queen? If trading the queens is okay, which is the ideal place to do so? These are all difficult questions to answer especially when you have less time. Abdusattorov made a minute inaccuracy 55...Qe6?? 56.Qd4+ Kh7 57.Nf4 e2 58.Nxe2 Qxe2 59.Qxd5 and White went on to win the game eventually.
Praggnanandhaa - Giri: 2-0
R Praggnanandhaa has never defeated Anish Giri in a rated game. That changed yesterday. On the twelfth move, Praggnanandhaa deviated 12.a4 instead of the previously played 12.Be3 by Nikita Petrov. In a volatile position, Giri grabbed a pawn incorrectly.
Exchanging the queen and then grabbing an exchange would have been the best choice for Black 17...Qxc1+ 18.Kxc1 Nf5 19.Bf4 Nxg3 20.hxg3 having a rook for two minor pieces would have continued the battle. 17...Qxa4?? 18.Qb2 Bd7 19.Bf6 Rxg3 20.hxg3 Nf5 21.Rxh7 and White won.
Arjun Erigaisi bounced back and handed Kirill Shevchenko his first loss of the event.
Round 6: Abdusattorov - Arjun: 1-1
Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Arjun Erigaisi had a hard-fought draw.
Gukesh - Carlsen
White needed to play 27.Qe8+ Kh7 before going Nf3. Instead, he played 27.Nf3? directly and Black gained decisive advantage Bxe3+ 28.Kf1 Bc6 29.Qd1 Be4 30.Qd7 Kh7 whereas Bd3+ 31.Ke1 Qb6 would have maintained the decisive advantage.
Photo Gallery
Schedule and Format
Superbet Rapid and Blitz will have three rounds per day in the Rapid portion from 8th to 10 May. The Blitz event will take place on 11th and 12th May. It will be a double round-robin event for the Blitz which means nine rounds will be played on each day. Round 1 starts at 1 p.m. local time, 4:30 p.m. IST. It will be a 10-player Round Robin event. Time control for Rapid will be 25 minutes + 10 seconds increment.
Prize
The total prize fund for each of the Rapid and Blitz event is US$ 175000.
Replay Rapid Round 4-6 games
Round 6 results
Standings after Rapid Round 6
