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Tata Steel India 2023 Rapid R1-3: Gukesh shows why he is India no.1 with majestic play against Harikrishna

by Shahid Ahmed - 06/09/2023

D Gukesh climbed the ranks and created history after history for reason. He makes a steady progress, plays human chess, makes good decisions on the board. In the first round, he made a great save against his nemesis - Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB). In Round 2, he exchanged his queen for three minor pieces of Harikrishna within first 20 moves. He beautifully played the rest of the game and won it convincingly. In the third round, Gukesh had a great decisive advantage against Alexander Grischuk. However, the teenager pushed the pawn a bit early which lacked support. The three-time World Blitz champion, escaped with a draw. Teimour Radjabov (AZE), Vincent Keymer (GER) and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA) are also at 2/3 along with Gukesh. Round 4 starts today at 3 p.m. IST. Photos: IA Vivek Sohani/Tata Steel Chess India

Radjabov, Keymer, Vachier-Lagrave and Gukesh at 2/3

The field of the fifth edition of Tata Steel Chess India 2023 is stronger than the previous. Last year the average rating was 2674. This year it is 2688. The first day results create a great impression of the field. Four players at 2/3, three at 1.5/3, two at 1/3 and one at 0.5/3. So it is going to be a very closely contested event.

GM D Gukesh would certainly like to show his best at this event

Round 1: Vidit - Harikrishna: 0.5-0.5

The last time GM Vidit Gujrathi (2694) faced GM Pentala Harikrishna (2646) at the very same event was almost five years ago at the first edition. Harikrishna won that game. This time also, it was Harikrishna who had the first opportunity which he missed it. Later, Vidit also missed his chance.

Position after 38.g4

38...Ra3+ 39.Ke2 Bd3+ 40.Kf2 Bc2 41.Rf1 e4 now Black gains material. The game continued 38...Bc2 39.Rc1 Ra3+ and after few moves it was White who got his opportunity.

Position after 52...Bf3??

52...Bf3?? created an opportunity for White 53.Nc4 Ra4 54.Nxe5 Bg2 55.Rf6+ Ke7 56.Rf4 Ra5 57.Kxd4? Rd5+ and Black regains the lost knight immediately. Instead, first 57.Ng6+ intermediate check King moves anywhere and then 58.Rxd4+ would have been winning for White.

Harikrishna had an opportunity to repeat the same result as the first edition before his opponent was presented with a similar chance to win the game

D Gukesh made a great save from a difficult position against Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB)

R Praggnanandhaa started with a comfortable victory against Teimour Radjabov (AZE)

Round 2: Vachier-Lagrave - Praggnanandhaa: 0.5-0.5

GM R Praggnanandhaa (2727) faced World Blitz 2021 champion, GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA, 2755) only twice in a rated game at FIDE World Cup 2021. The teenager got eliminated by the Frenchman. However, we all are well aware of the fact that things have changed a lot. The boy has grown leaps and bounds. There was a tiny window of the opportunity in the queen and same color bishop endgame. It was not easy to spot, especially if you do not have enough time on the clock.

Position after 40.Kh3?

40.Kh3? is a mistake according to the computer. Black needed to go 40...b5 41.axb6 Qxb6 42.Qe6 a5 43.Qxd6 Qg1/b1 gives Black a huge decisive advantage, but of course this is a computer line, something that is not easy for humans to calculate in time scramble. The game ended in a draw soon.

Abdusattorov - Arjun

Position after 35.Kc7

GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov's (UZB, 2731) king-walk was majestic against GM Arjun Erigaisi (2675).

Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB) avenged his last year's loss against Arjun Erigaisi at the very same event

Harikrishna - Gukesh: 0-1

In their very first rated game encounter against each other, GM D Gukesh (2651) showed his class against GM Pentala Harikrishna (2646). There is a reason why he is India no.1 and World no.8.

Position after 17.Bf5+

Black's king, queen and rook all are under attack and it's not even 20 moves yet. The good thing is Black has already gained two minor pieces, so there is no harm in taking other while giving up the queen. 17...Rxf5 18.Rxc1 meant Black had three minor pieces against a queen. Although his king was at the center of the board, still the teenager showed some fine play to win the game eventually.

Round 3: Gukesh - Grischuk: 0.5-0.5

Gukesh is yet to beat GM Alexander Grischuk (2709) in a rated game. This time, he had a great opportunity to beat him and got himself very close to it in a queen and rook endgame.

Position after 55...Re8

White created a passed pawn 56.e7. Generally, passed pawns prefer to have another pawn to its adjacent file. In this case, 56.f5 would have been deadly and White would have won the game in just a matter of few moves. 56...Qd7 allowed Black to get back in the game 57.Qe5 Kxh6 58.Re3 Qd2+ 59.Re2 Qd5 and White's attack fizzled out.

Arjun - Harikrishna

Position after 24...Rxd5??

24...Rxd5?? is a blunder. Find out why. Arjun won his first-ever rated game encounter against Harikrishna.

Arjun Erigaisi scored his first win of the day against Harikrishna
Tata Steel Chess India 2023 Men Rapid | Round 1-3 Live commentary by GM Robert Hess (USA) and IM Tania Sachdev | Video: chess.com

Replay Round 1-3 games

Round 1-3 results

Round 1 on 2023/09/05 at 1500 h
Bo.No.Rtg NameResultName RtgNo.
112709
GMGrischuk, Alexander½ - ½GMVachier-Lagrave, Maxime
275510
222694
GMVidit, Santosh Gujrathi½ - ½GMHarikrishna, Pentala
26469
332651
GMGukesh, D½ - ½GMAbdusattorov, Nodirbek
27318
442675
GMErigaisi, Arjun0 - 1GMKeymer, Vincent
26337
552680
GMRadjabov, Teimour0 - 1GMPraggnanandhaa, R
27036
Round 2 on 2023/09/05 at 1630 h
Bo.No.Rtg NameResultName RtgNo.
1102755
GMVachier-Lagrave, Maxime½ - ½GMPraggnanandhaa, R
27036
272633
GMKeymer, Vincent0 - 1GMRadjabov, Teimour
26805
382731
GMAbdusattorov, Nodirbek1 - 0GMErigaisi, Arjun
26754
492646
GMHarikrishna, Pentala0 - 1GMGukesh, D
26513
512709
GMGrischuk, Alexander½ - ½GMVidit, Santosh Gujrathi
26942
Round 3 on 2023/09/05 at 1800 h
Bo.No.Rtg NameResultName RtgNo.
122694
GMVidit, Santosh Gujrathi0 - 1GMVachier-Lagrave, Maxime
275510
232651
GMGukesh, D½ - ½GMGrischuk, Alexander
27091
342675
GMErigaisi, Arjun1 - 0GMHarikrishna, Pentala
26469
452680
GMRadjabov, Teimour1 - 0GMAbdusattorov, Nodirbek
27318
562703
GMPraggnanandhaa, R0 - 1GMKeymer, Vincent
26337

Details

Standings after Round 3

Rk.SNo NameFEDRtgPts. TB1  TB2  TB3  TB4  TB5 
15
GMRadjabov, TeimourAZE26802003,5021
27
GMKeymer, VincentGER26332002,5022
310
GMVachier-Lagrave, MaximeFRA27552002,5011
43
GMGukesh, DIND26512002,0011
56
GMPraggnanandhaa, RIND27031,5003,0011
61
GMGrischuk, AlexanderFID27091,5002,5000
78
GMAbdusattorov, NodirbekUZB27311,5002,0010
82
GMVidit, Santosh GujrathiIND26941001,0000
94
GMErigaisi, ArjunIND26751000,5010
109
GMHarikrishna, PentalaIND26460,5000,5000

Details

Round 4-6 pairings

Round 4 on 2023/09/06 at 1500 h
Bo.No.Rtg NameResultName RtgNo.
1102755
GMVachier-Lagrave, MaximeGMKeymer, Vincent
26337
282731
GMAbdusattorov, NodirbekGMPraggnanandhaa, R
27036
392646
GMHarikrishna, PentalaGMRadjabov, Teimour
26805
412709
GMGrischuk, AlexanderGMErigaisi, Arjun
26754
522694
GMVidit, Santosh GujrathiGMGukesh, D
26513
Round 5 on 2023/09/06 at 1630 h
Bo.No.Rtg NameResultName RtgNo.
132651
GMGukesh, DGMVachier-Lagrave, Maxime
275510
242675
GMErigaisi, ArjunGMVidit, Santosh Gujrathi
26942
352680
GMRadjabov, TeimourGMGrischuk, Alexander
27091
462703
GMPraggnanandhaa, RGMHarikrishna, Pentala
26469
572633
GMKeymer, VincentGMAbdusattorov, Nodirbek
27318
Round 6 on 2023/09/06 at 1800 h
Bo.No.Rtg NameResultName RtgNo.
1102755
GMVachier-Lagrave, MaximeGMAbdusattorov, Nodirbek
27318
292646
GMHarikrishna, PentalaGMKeymer, Vincent
26337
312709
GMGrischuk, AlexanderGMPraggnanandhaa, R
27036
422694
GMVidit, Santosh GujrathiGMRadjabov, Teimour
26805
532651
GMGukesh, DGMErigaisi, Arjun
26754

Details

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Information

Gameplan


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