Oslo Esports Cup R2: Praggnanandhaa superb against Shakh, gains sole lead

Liem beats Carlsen

Praggnanandhaa is in terrific form. He is the only player so far to have won both matches and also taking the minimum number of games to do so. He is followed by Anish Giri at 4 points and $10000 earnings. Pragg has a tough challenge in Round 3 in the form of Liem Quang Le who just beat the world champion in Round 2.

Praggnanandhaa - Mamedyarov: 2.5-0.5

What is the best way to beat an attacking player? You have to take the attack to your opponent before he can manage to launch one himself. That is exactly what Praggnanandhaa did in the first game.

Praggnanandhaa - Mamedyarov, Game 1

24.g6 is a very interesting move. It poses a lot of difficult questions to Black. 24...Ngxe3 would have been the precise way to continue. It was not easy to find. 24...Ncxe3 25.gxf7 and now Black blundered Nxg2

25...Nxg2 puts both knights on the g-file, same as the king. 26.Rhg1 is the obvious choice Rh2 27.Bf4 Nxf4 28.Rxg4+ Ng6 29.Ne5 and it's all over for Black.

Praggnanandhaa made a beautiful finish 32.Rg2!!

The second game was a well-fought draw. In the third game, Pragg beautifully capitalized on his opponent Mamedyarov's inaccuracies.

Praggnanandhaa - Mamedyarov, Game 3

White has a space advantage, well coordinated pieces and a rook already invaded on the seventh rank. 26...Nf6 just makes things that much difficult for Black 27.Ba6 Rab8 28.Rc7 causes the fall of c6-pawn.

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All games will start from 9:30 p.m. IST between 22nd and 28th April 2022.

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