Global Chess League becomes open race after day of upsets

Day nine of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League proved to be a roller-coaster ride for the participating teams, with five out of six teams now within a chance to move into the top two and contest the final. Making a big move were Triveni Continental Kings while Balan Alaskan Knights being the only ones heading out of the exit door in the exciting inaugural edition of the tournament.

Kings had to play two matches on the day – against SG Alpine Warriors and Balan Alaskan Knights – and they won both, with LevonAronian of Armenia showing the way. The icon player proved to be a giant-killer as he defeated the world’s best player Magnus Carlsen of Warriors and two-time world candidate Ian Nepomniachtchi.

On the other hand, upGradMumba Masters, after losing their first game to Chingari Gulf Titans, upset the applecart of Ganges Grandmasters. The latter and Warriors looked set and headed to the final past the halfway mark. VishwanathanAnand’s team were in pole position to capitalise on Warriors’ defeat to the Kings but the Masters outclassed them 10-4.

The famous Indian tennis player, Mahesh Bhupathi, a long-time friend of Anand, visited the event and made a ceremonial move in the match between Warriors and Kings.

Chingari Gulf Titans vsupGradMumba Masters (12:3)

The upGradMumba Masters were the slight favorites. The team led by Maxime-VachierLagrave was always around the top but slipped in the final days. Chingari Gulf Titans were on the bottom of the board and went all out using the advantage of white pieces.

The Titans’ ViditGujrathi made a blunder giving a dominant position to DaniilDubov, who soon converted this into a victory in just 23 moves.ShakhriyarMamedyarov and Alexander Grischukdrew their game.More bad news followed for team Mumba as Alexandra Kosteniuk and PolinaShuvalova defeated their opponents. With a final tally of 12:3, Titans staged a huge upset and opening up the mid-table field.

SG Alpine Warriors vsTriveni Continental Kings (8:10)

Kings, who were on the brink of exit before Thursday,started with black pieces against one of the top teams in the league with the formidable Magnus Carlsen in charge. In their second head-to-head clash, Carlsen again lost to Aronian. After opening with the unusual move 1.b3, Carlsen gained more special initiative but in a relatively stable position made a blunder leading directly into a defeat. He laughed it off but was clearly unhappy.

Warriors’ Gukesh D managed to take the initiative against Yu Yangyi. The Chinese Grandmaster found himself in a lot of trouble trying to fend off checkmate. Despite avoiding a mate, his position was lost and he resigned. Kings quickly hit back with a victory on board three where Wei Yi outplayed Arjun Erigaisi in a queen and rook endgame.

In a duel between Praggnanandhaa R and Jonas Bjerre, the talented player from India managed to win what was a completely lost position. After misplaying in the middlegame, Praggnanandhaa defended the best he could. In a queen and rook endgame, he managed to take over the advantage and win. With seven wins and two draws, Praggnanandhaa is continuing his amazing performance in the league.Elisabeth Paehtz and Sara Khadem made a relatively quick draw in 36 moves, as did Irina Krush and KaterynaLagno.

upGradMumba Masters vs Ganges Grandmasters (10:4)

With Warriors losing, it was Ganges Grandmasters chance to seize the opportunity. Instead it was the upGradMumba Masters and the first to blink was GG’s hero from the previous round – AndreyEsipenko. He allowed JavokhirSindarovin Black to get into a better position, undermined the threats from the two bishops pinning his king and in the end overlooked checkmate.

Although a pawn up, former world champion VishwanathanAnand knew that the position in his game is drawn and there was no need to push it against the likes of MaximeVachier-Lagrave so the two decided to call it a day.The match saw a huge upset on board four as former women’s world champion HouYifan went for a combination which completely overlooked the threat of checkmate from Koneru Humpy.

Triveni Continental Kings vsBalan Alaskan Knights (10:9)

With other teams showing the way, the final contest of the day also saw a spirited challenge mounted by Balan Alaskan Knights and the job was not yet done for the Kings.

With just three victories and five defeats, the team of Balan Alaskan Knights also needed to win. Kings’ late substitute entrant Sara Khadem defeated Nino Bastiashvili, after she overlooked a piece in an even endgame.Tan Zhongyi then levelled for the Knights when KaterynaLagnoLagno chose the wrong continuation from an even position and eventually lost.

The sharpest game of the match was played between TeimourRadjabov and Wei Yi. At one point, Kings’ Wei forced too much and blundered, but in time trouble Radjabov misplayed and went down.

Then came the winning stroke from Aronian as he defeated the two-time candidate for world champion, Ian Nepomniachtchi. In the endgame, Nepomniachtchi lost a pawn and his position weakened in a knight for a rook exchange and completely lost. The Knights reduced the margin when RaunakSadhwani beat Jonas Buhl Bjerre.

Results round-up – 30 June 2023

Match 23

Chingari Gulf Titans 12-3 upGradMumba Masters

Queen of the match – PolinaShuvalova

King of the match – DaniilDubov

Match 24

SG Alpine Warriors 8-10 Triveni Continental Kings

Queen of the match – Elisabeth Pähtz

King of the match – Gukesh D

Match 25

upGradMumbaMasters 10-4 Ganges Grandmasters

Queen of the match – Koneru Humpy

King of the match – JavokhirSindarov

Match 26

Triveni Continental Kings 10-9 Balan Alaskan Knights

Queen of the match – Tan Zhongyi

King of the match – Wei Yi