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Prague Chess Festival 2022 Masters R1: Harikrishna beats Vidit

by Shahid Ahmed - 09/06/2022

The battle between India no.3 Pentala Harikrishna and India no.2 Vidit Gujrathi ended in favor of the former. It was an interesting battle where Harikrishna sacrificed pawns for initiative in the first round of Prague International Chess Festival 2022 Masters. Vidit exchanged first a bishop then a rook for four pawns. However, he never got enough compensation for it and eventually lost the game. Sasikiran started his campaign in the Challengers section with a draw against Max Warmerdam (NED). He will face Vincent Keymer (GER) in Round 2. Vidit and Harikrishna will be up against top Spanish players David Anton Guijarro and Francisco Vallejo Pons respectively. Round 2 starts today at 3 p.m. local time (6:30 p.m. IST). Photo: Prague International Chess Festival

Sasikiran draws with Warmerdam

Both Masters and Challengers section had an identical three decisive games and two draws. White won them all.

Harikrishna got the better of Vidit | Photo: Petr Vrabec/Prague International Chess Festival

Masters: Harikrishna - Vidit: 1-0

Pentala Harikrishna sacrificed two pawns to gain control in the center. Vidit Gujrathi decided to give up his bishop for two central pawns which means he had four pawns for a bishop. Although one of the pawns was a goner.

Position after 16.e5

Black played the obvious 16...Bxe5 17.dxe5 Rxe5. However, after 18.Bc3 instead of Nc6, the better option was 18...Bxb5. The game continued 19.Rd1 Qe7 20.Bxe5 Nxe5 21.0-0 and White went on to win the game. Giving up the entire rook for four pawns was a bit too much as Black did not have enough compensation for it.

Harikrishna vs Vidit | 43 minutes for one move?! | Video: ChessBase India
Prague International Chess Festival 2022 Masters Round 1 Live Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

Krishnan Sasikiran drew with Max Warmerdam (NED) | Photo: Vladimir Jagr/Prague International Chess Festival

Inaugural first move is being made on Navara-Anton's board | Photo: Vladimir Jagr/Prague International Chess Festival

The playing arena at Don Giovanni Hotel at Prague, Czech Republic | Photo: Vladimir Jagr/Prague International Chess Festival

Replay Round 1 Masters games

Replay Round 1 Challengers games

Schedule

The Round-Robin tournament will take place from 8th to 17th June 2022. Every day except the last round, games will start at 3 p.m. local time (6:30 p.m. IST). Sunday 12th June is a rest day. The ninth round game on 17th June will start at 11 a.m. local time (2:30 p.m. IST).

Masters Round 1 results

Bo.No.Rtg NameResultName RtgNo.
112681
GMNavara David1 - 0GMAnton Guijarro David
269210
222610
GMNguyen Thai Dai Van½ - ½GMMaghsoodloo Parham
27169
332709
GMLe Quang Liem1 - 0GMShankland Sam
27188
442679
GMSalem A.R. Saleh½ - ½GMVallejo Pons Francisco
27037
552701
GMHarikrishna Pentala1 - 0GMVidit Santosh Gujrathi
27236

Round 2 pairings

Bo.No.Rtg NameResultName RtgNo.
1102692
GMAnton Guijarro DavidGMVidit Santosh Gujrathi
27236
272703
GMVallejo Pons FranciscoGMHarikrishna Pentala
27015
382718
GMShankland SamGMSalem A.R. Saleh
26794
492716
GMMaghsoodloo ParhamGMLe Quang Liem
27093
512681
GMNavara DavidGMNguyen Thai Dai Van
26102

Complete pairings

Challengers Round 1 results

Bo.No.Rtg NameResultName RtgNo.
112675
GMKeymer Vincent1 - 0GMHracek Zbynek
256410
222635
GMSasikiran Krishnan½ - ½GMWarmerdam Max
26139
332598
GMPechac Jergus1 - 0GMStocek Jiri
25418
442678
GMNiemann Hans Moke½ - ½GMAbdusattorov Nodirbek
26617
552577
GMMichalik Peter1 - 0GMKrzyzanowski Marcin
25356

Round 2 pairings

Bo.No.Rtg NameResultName RtgNo.
1102564
GMHracek ZbynekGMKrzyzanowski Marcin
25356
272661
GMAbdusattorov NodirbekGMMichalik Peter
25775
382541
GMStocek JiriGMNiemann Hans Moke
26784
492613
GMWarmerdam MaxGMPechac Jergus
25983
512675
GMKeymer VincentGMSasikiran Krishnan
26352

Complete pairings

Time Control

The time control is 90'/40 moves + 30'/end & 30"/move.

Links

Official site

Prague Chess Festival: fbtwitter, instagram and youtube



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