Praggnanandhaa on the verge of winning V Géza Hetényi Memorial 2023

by Shahid Ahmed - 19/07/2023

17-year-old R Praggnanandhaa continues his good form from Tech Mahindra Global Chess League. He crossed 2700 in the live ratings when he beat Parham Maghsoodloo in the second round on 12th July at V Géza Hetényi Memorial 2023. The teenager won the next two games before suffering his first loss against M Amin Tabatabaei. Immediately in the following round, he bounced back with a victory against Peter Prohaszka. The next two games ended in draws against Pavel Eljanov and Maxim Matlakov. Praggnanandhaa needs a draw in the last round against Poland no.2 Radoslaw Wojtaszek to become a clear champion. He is heading into the final round with a full point lead at 6/8 with a performance of 2859. Photos: Zoltan Fulop/Official site

Pragg continues his great momentum

R Praggnanandhaa has gained a strong momentum at the right time. The FIDE World Cup 2023 is just a few days away. So it is very important for him to continue this momentum and great form into one of the most important tournaments of the year. The inaugural edition of this Super GM Round-Robin tournament has a total prize fund of €10700. The top three prizes are €5000, €2500 and €1500 each respectively.

Sjugirov - Praggnanandhaa, Round 1

Position after 47...Kh3

It was a tricky knight endgame where GM Sanan Sjugirov (2699) went wrong 48.Ne7?? Praggnanandhaa (2690) correctly capitalized on his opportunity 48...Nd3+ 49.Ke2 Kg4 50.b5 a5 51.Nc8 Nb2 52.Nd6 b6 53.Kf2 Nxa4 54.Nc4 Kh3 55.Nd6 Nc3 and it's over for White.

Praggnanandhaa - Parham, Round 2

Position after 27.N4b3

Praggnanandhaa (2690) played sublime chess to outplay Parham Maghsoodloo (IRI, 2719) and cross 2700 in the live ratings.

Praggnanandhaa breaks into 2700 at the age of 17 years! Eighth Indian to do so! | Video: ChessBase India

Vishy Anand on Praggnanandhaa reaching 2700 at the age of 17 years | Video: ChessBase India

Round 2: Praggnanandhaa defeated Parham Maghsoodloo (IRI) to cross 2700 in the live ratings

Kozak - Praggnanandhaa, Round 3

Position after 56.Qc8??

Queen endings are quite complex. Adam Kozak (HUN, 2571) went wrong with 56.Qc8?? allowing his opponent to invade with his queen and king 56...Qf4+ 57.Kg2 Kg5 58.Qd8+ f6 59.Qe8 Qd2+ 60.Kg1 Kf4 61.g5 Kg3 and checkmate is unstoppable.

Praggnanandhaa reaches 2704! 3/3 in Budapest | Video: ChessBase India

Round 3: Adam Kozak (HUN) - R Praggnanandhaa: 0-1

Praggnanandhaa - Shevchenko, Round 4

Position after 24...Rbc8??

Kirill Shevchenko (ROU, 2694) made a positional error 24...Rbc8?? 25.Bh3 Nf5 26.Bxf5 exf5 27.Qe7 dxc4 28.Nxc4 Qxe7 29.Rxe7 Rc7 30.Rc2 preparing to capture b6 30...Kg8 31.Ne1 Rb8 32.Nxb6 Rxc2 33.Nxd7 Rc7 34.Nxf6+ gxf6 35.Rxc7 and White won.

Hurricane Praggnanandhaa reaches 4.0/4 and 2709 in Budapest | Video: ChessBase India

Praggnanandhaa reached 4/4 with a victory over Kirill Shevchenko (ROU)

Amin Tabatabaei stops Praggnanandhaa's winning streak! | Video: ChessBase India

Prohaszka - Praggnanandhaa, Round 6

Position after 23...Rxc6!

Praggnanandhaa decided to go for double rook vs queen endgame against Peter Prohaszka (HUN, 2585) 23...Rxc6! 24.Nxc6 Rxe3 25.Qxe3 Bc5 26.Rxc3 Bxe3+ 27.Rxe3 Qxc6 Black displayed fine technique and went on to win the game.

Peter Prohaszka blunders checkmate against Praggnanandhaa | Video: ChessBase India

Praggnanandhaa's phenomenal understanding of queen vs two rooks endgame | Video: ChessBase India

The greatest female chess player of all time - Judit Polgar made the ceremonial first move of Round 6 on Prohaszka-Praggnanandhaa's board

Judit Polgar also shared her valuable insights during live commentary

Round 8: R Praggnanandhaa - Pavel Eljanov (UKR): 0.5-0.5

Round 9: Maxim Matlakov - Praggnanandhaa: 0.5-0.5

Photo Gallery

Players, Organizers and Chief Arbiter with Judit Polgar

The playing arena at Danubius Hotel Astoria City Center in Budapest, Hungary

Radoslaw Wojtaszek signing autographs for his fans

Hungary's top players - GM Peter Prohaszka and...

GM Adak Kozak signing autographs for their young fans

Replay Round 8 Live Commentary by GM Csaba Balogh (HUN) and GM Zoltán Almási (HUN) | Video: Hello Sakk

The inaugural edition of V Géza Hetényi Tournament is being organized by GM FT Attila Czebe at Danubius Hotel Astoria City Center in Budapest, Hungary from 11th to 18th July 2023. The time control is 90 minutes / 40 moves + 30 minutes for the rest of game + 30 seconds increment for each move.

Replay Round 1-8 games

Round 8 results

Bo.	No.	Rtg		Name	Result		Name	Rtg	No.	PGN
1	10	2585	GM	Prohaszka, Peter	½ - ½	GM	Eljanov, Pavel	2694	9	PGN
2	1	2673	GM	Matlakov, Maxim	½ - ½	GM	Praggnanandhaa, R	2690	8	PGN
3	2	2676	GM	Wojtaszek, Radoslaw	½ - ½	GM	Tabatabaei, M. Amin	2689	7	PGN
4	3	2699	GM	Sjugirov, Sanan	½ - ½	GM	Shevchenko, Kirill	2694	6	PGN
5	4	2719	GM	Maghsoodloo, Parham	0 - 1	GM	Kozak, Adam	2571	5	PGN

Details

Standings after Round 8

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	8	GM	Praggnanandhaa, R	IND	2690	India	6	20,00	0	0
2	7	GM	Tabatabaei, M. Amin	IRI	2689	Iran	5	18,25	0	0
3	3	GM	Sjugirov, Sanan	RUS	2699	Russia	5	16,00	0	0
4	9	GM	Eljanov, Pavel	UKR	2694	Ukraine	4,5	17,75	0	0
5	2	GM	Wojtaszek, Radoslaw	POL	2676	Poland	4,5	17,50	0	0
6	1	GM	Matlakov, Maxim	RUS	2673	Russia	4,5	15,25	0	0
7	4	GM	Maghsoodloo, Parham	IRI	2719	Iran	3	12,75	0	0
8	6	GM	Shevchenko, Kirill	ROU	2694	Romania	2,5	9,75	0	0
9	10	GM	Prohaszka, Peter	HUN	2585	Hungary	2,5	9,50	0	0
10	5	GM	Kozak, Adam	HUN	2571	Hungary	2,5	8,75	0	0