Praggnanandhaa R. File.
| Photograph Credit score: AP
Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa performed out a second straight draw towards Turkey’s Gurel Ediz whereas Aravindh Chithambaram crashed by way of the defences of Germany’s Vincent Keymer within the second spherical of the Prague Masters.
Chithambaram, who has been knocking laborious on the doorways of elite circles, scored his first victory with black items after squeezing himself out of hazard zone in his first-round sport towards Czech Grandmaster Nguyen Thai Dai Van.
The Indian was concerned within the sole decisive sport of the day within the 10-players round-robin format, whereas the opposite matches resulted in attracts.
Dai Van drew his second sport on the trot with Sam Shankland of the USA, high seeded Wei Yi from China opened his account after splitting the purpose with Dutchman Anish Giri, and Quang Leim Le of Vietnam achieved the identical end result towards Navara David from Czech Republic.
With seven rounds to go, Chithambaram joined Shankland in lead on 1.5 factors out of two video games. They’re adopted by Giri, Le, Dai Van, David, Keymer and Praggnanandhaa.
Ediz and Wei Yi share the final spot on a half level apiece from their two video games.
On a day when world champion Boris Spassky breathed his final, Chithambaram’s victory had traits of the Russian’s fashion of play to go for the kill on the first alternative and never let it slip.
The Queen’s gambit accepted might have a strong popularity with black items however the younger Indian cavalry is all out to breakout of that stereotype.
How else may one clarify Chithambaram’s alternative of transfer order that gave white the luxurious of a dynamic centre? It was an inch-by-inch invasion that gained Chithambaram a pawn within the center sport and the commerce of queens was later compelled by the Indian to harp on the higher potentialities for his troupe.
Chithambaram was fairly unstoppable as he stored growing the strain until Keymer walked in to a misplaced rook and pawns endgame — it took 45 strikes in all.
Praggnanandhaa has proven his means to play all openings with both color and his alternative of French defence turned out to be a great one guaranteeing an equal sport.
The lone downside was to make one thing out of an equal place and the 16-year previous Turk proved why he’s hailed as one of many brightest amongst younger Europeans, as he gave a little bit away.
The gamers signed the peace on transfer 46 when it was evident the rook endgame didn’t supply probabilities for both of them.
Within the challengers’ part which is being held concurrently, Divya Deshmukh broke out of her shackles to attain a formidable victory over Richard Stalmach of Czech Republic.
The adage concerning the King being a robust piece within the endgame got here proper for Divya, despite the fact that her place oscillated between higher and successful.
Ultimately, Divya had two related handed pawns in the midst of the board, effectively aided by her marching king. The sport lasted 50 strikes.
Outcomes (spherical 2): Vincent Keymer (GER, 1) misplaced to Aravindh Chithambaram (IND, 1.5); Wei Yi (CHN, 0.5) drew with Anish Giri (Ned, 1); Nguyen Thai Dai Van (CZE, 1) drew with Sam Shankland (USA, 1.5); Gurel Ediz (TUR, 0.5) drew with R Praggnanandhaa (IND, 1); David Navara (CZE, 1) drew with Le Quang Leim (VIE, 1).
Challengers: Vaclav Finek (CZE, 1) drew with Ma Qun (CHN, 1); Marc`andria Maurizzi (FRA, 0.5) drew with Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB, 1.5); Divya Deshmukh (IND, 1) beat Richard Stalmach (CZE, 0.5); Jonas Buhl Bjerre (DEN, 1.5) drew with Ivan Salgado Lopez (ESP, 1.5); Jachym Nemec (CZE, 0.5) drew with Stamatis Kourkoulous-Arditis (GER, 0.5).
Printed – February 28, 2025 10:17 am IST
