6 months ago
4
A runner-up successful the past edition, R. Praggnanandhaa began arsenic 1 of the strongest favourites astatine the Chess World Cup. He has had immoderate fabulous results this twelvemonth too, but not connected Thursday.
The 3rd effect from Chennai was knocked retired successful the 4th circular by Russia’s Daniil Dubov at Resort. After settling for a 12-move gully successful the archetypal tie-breaker game, Praggnanandhaa mislaid with achromatic pieces successful the second, erstwhile helium needed astatine slightest a draw.
But 2nd seed Arjun Erigaisi and P. Harikrishna have ensured determination is inactive an Indian beingness successful the tourney contempt the farewells from Praggnanandhaa and apical effect D. Gukesh.
Russians rule
Praggnanandhaa wasn’t the lone large effect to autumn connected this day. Nor was Dubov the lone Russian to prevail. Sixth effect Vincent Keymer of Germany and the 11th-seeded Frenchman Maxime Vachier-Lagrave were ousted by Andrey Esipenko and Aleksey Grebnev, respectively.
Arjun, who needs to decorativeness wrong the apical 3 present successful bid to unafraid a spot successful the Candidates, won some his games against his much-experienced Hungarian hostile Peter Leko.
“For the 2 classical games, we some were truly prepared, though I had a flimsy borderline successful the 2nd game, but Peter showed his people by defending rather comfortably,” said the 22 year-old. “I was blessed with the mode I played the tie-breakers. I was beauteous dominant.”
Harikrishna may not person been arsenic ascendant against Nils Grandelius of Sweden, but helium excessively booked his summons for the 5th circular from the archetypal acceptable of tie-breaks. After drafting the opening game, helium won the 2nd successful 34 moves.
The 39-year-old, who present lives successful Prague, said helium was playing a classical chess tourney successful India aft a agelong time. “And I hadn’t got overmuch clip to prepare,” helium said. “It was lone successful September that I signed the declaration for the World Cup.”
In the round-of-16, Harikrishna will play Jose Martínez Alcantara of Mexico, while Arjun will instrumentality on Levon Aronian of the United States.
The results: Fourth circular (tie-breaks): Arjun Erigaisi bt Peter Leko (Hun) 2-0; P. Harikrishna bt Nils Grandelius (Swe) 1.5-0.5; Frederik Svane (Ger) bt Shant Sargsyan (Arm) 1.5-0.5; Andrey Esipenko (Rus) bt Vincent Keymer (Ger) 1-1, 2-0; Sam Shankland (USA) bt Richard Rapport (Hun) 2-0; Aleksey Grebnev (Rus) bt Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (Fra) 1.5-0.5; Danill Dubov (Rus) bt R. Praggnanandhaa 1.5-0.5; Gabriel Sargissian (Arm) 1 drew with Awonder Liang (USA) 1; Wei Yi (Chn) bt Parham Maghsoodloo (Ira) 1-1, 1-1, 2-0; Javokhir Sindarov (Uzb) bt Yu Yangyi (Chn) 1.5-0.5; (Uzb); Vincent Keymer (Ger) 1 drew with Andrey Esipenko (Rus) 1; Samuel Sevian (USA) bt Lorenzo Lodici (Ita) 1-1, 1-1, 2-0.
