A lower above: Aleksandra Goryachkina and Magnus Carlsen each completed with 7.5 factors from 9 rounds, two factors greater than their nearest rivals. | Photograph: DEBASISH BHADURI
They have been simply too good.
Magnus Carlsen and Aleksandra Goryachkina have been so good, the ultimate spherical of the speedy part of the Tata Metal Chess India match was solely in regards to the runner-up spots. They emerged because the champions on the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium on Friday in spectacular fashion certainly, each ending with 7.5 factors from 9 rounds, two factors greater than their nearest rivals.
Carlsen, in truth, had elevated his result in two factors on the finish of the eighth spherical. That’s some efficiency at this stage of elite chess.
The World No. 1 had begun the day with simply half-a-point lead over Nordibek Abdusattorov although, however his back-to-back wins, and glorious ones at that, over Vincent Keymer and Daniil Dubov, meant the race for the title was over. In sharp distinction, Adbusattorov had misplaced each his video games – to Wesely So and Arjun Erigaisi.
The Uzbek teenager, nevertheless, prevented Carlsen from posting his eighth win in a row. However he will not be pleased with that draw although – he had a successful place till blundering together with his queen on the thirty eighth transfer.
R. Praggnanandhaa introduced some cheer to the complete home, as he took the second spot, with 5.5 factors, after beating compatriot Arjun within the remaining spherical. Wesley So, who additionally scored 5.5, completed third when the tie-breakers have been utilized.
Within the girls’s occasion, the second-seeded Goryachkina, who had an in a single day lead of 1 level, took a fast draw within the day’s first spherical, from Koneru Humpy, however scored an important win in opposition to one other Indian rival, Divya Deshmukh, within the subsequent. She completed her marketing campaign with a win in opposition to fellow-Russian Valentina Gunina.
Nana Dzagnidze completed second with 5.5 factors, whereas Vantika Agrawal ensured an Indian girl was on the rostrum. She took third place, with 5 factors.
The outcomes:
Males:
Ninth spherical: Daniil Dubov (Rus) misplaced to Vincent Keymer (Ger); Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzb) drew with Magnus Carlsen (Nor); R. Praggnanandhaa bt Arjun Erigaisi; Nihal Sarin drew with Wesley So (USA); Vidit Gujrathi bt S.L Narayanan.
Eighth spherical: Keymer bt Gujrathi; Narayanan drew with Nihal; So drew with Praggnanandhaa; Arjun bt Abdusattorov; Carlsen bt Dubov.
Seventh spherical: Carlsen bt Keymer; Dubov drew with Arjun; Abdusattorov misplaced to So; Praggnanandhaa bt Narayanan; Nihal bt Gujrathi.
The standings: 1. Carlsen 7.5; 2-3. Praggnanandhaa and So 5.5; 4. Abdusattorov 5; 5. Keymer 4.5; 6. Nihal 4; 7-8. Dubov and Arjun 3.5; 9-10. Gujrathi and Narayanan 3.
Girls:
Ninth spherical: Kateryna Lagno (Rus) bt D. Harika; Koneru Humpy drew with R. Vaishali; Divya Deshmukh bt Vantika Agrawal; Valentina Gunina (Rus) misplaced to Aleksandra Goryachkina (Rus); Alexandra Kosteniuk (Swi) drew with Nana Dzagnidze (Geo).
Eighth spherical: Harika bt Kosteniuk; Dzagnidze misplaced to Gunina; Goryachkina bt Divya; Vantika bt Humpy; Vaishali bt Lagno.
Seventh spherical: Vaishali bt Harika; Lagno drew with Vantika; Humpy drew with Goryachkina; Divya misplaced to Dzagnidze; Gunina misplaced to Kosteniuk.
The standings: 1. Goryachkina 7.5; 2. Dzagnidze 5.5; 3. Vantika 5, 4-6. Lagno, Harika and Gunina 4.5; 7-9. Divya, Vaishali and Kosteniuk 3.5; 10. Humpy 3.
EOM
Printed – November 15, 2024 08:14 pm IST
