Vishy Anand inaugurates Chennai Grand Masters 2023

by Shahid Ahmed
12/16/2023 – Vishy Anand inaugurated the Chennai Grand Masters 2023 by making the first move on D Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi's board. They had a relatively calm draw. Alexandr Predke (SRB) had good chances against Pentala Harikrishna. However, he blundered away his advantage. The endgame expert, Harikrishna, does not miss these chances to secure a half point. Pavel Eljanov (UKR) made an incorrect offer of queen trades, which resulted in him losing an exchange. The already difficult endgame turned worse for him and his opponent Sanan Sjugirov (HUN) scored his first-ever classical win over his opponent. Parham Maghsoodloo (IRI) was determined to push for a win, but a draw was the maximum result he could get. | Photos: Shahid Ahmed

Master Class Vol. 12: Viswanathan Anand Master Class Vol. 12: Viswanathan Anand

This DVD allows you to learn from the example of one of the best players in the history of chess and from the explanations of the authors how to successfully organise your games strategically, consequently how to keep your opponent permanently under press

More...

Sjugirov scores the sole victory

Vishy Anand makes the inaugural first move on D Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi's board | Video: ChessBase India

Vishy Anand on India's strongest classical super tournament, Vaishali becoming GM, Vidit and S L Narayanan in their phenomenal form, and more | Video: ChessBase India

Chennai Grand Masters 2023 official logo

D Gukesh - Arjun Erigaisi: 0.5-0.5

Predke - Harikrishna: 0.5-0.5

GM Pentala Harikrishna (2696) faced GM Aleksandr Predke (SRB, 2689) for the first time in a rated game.

White blundered in the endgame with 26.Kf3??. It allowed Ng4 27.h3 Rxa3+! an if White takes with Bxa3 then Ne5+ forks the king and rook — Black has managed to avert a difficult endgame.

Aleksandar Predke missed a good opportunity against endgame expert Pentala Harikrishna

Eljanov - Sjugirov: 0-1

The sole classical rated game between GM Sanan Sjugirov (HUN, 2703) and GM Pavel Eljanov (UKR, 2691) ended in a draw earlier this summer in Budapest, Hungary.

34.Qd6 was probably the final mistake by White. Trading queens only helps Black to push his c-pawn faster with little to no resistance. 34...Qxd6 35.Rxd6 c4 36.Rxb6 c3 37.Rxb7 Rc8 38.Ra7 c2 39.Ra1 c1Q 40.Rxc1 Rxc1 and the resultant exchange-down endgame was difficult to defend. Soon, White misplayed and went on to lose the game.

Sanan Sjugirov scored his first-ever classical victory over Pavel Eljanov

Levon Aronian (USA) - Parham Maghsoodloo (IRI): 0.5-0.5

D Gukesh and Vishy Anand met at a tournament hall for the first time since trading India's number one position in the rankings

Vishy Anand joined IM Sagar Shah and Amruta Mokal for a brief while for the live commentary of the second round

Vishy Anand is such a gentleman of the sport that he waited for Pavel Eljanov's fair-play check to be over to make his inaugural first move

Live audience following the commentary in-person at the venue. Can you spot the titled players in the audience?

For more photos, please click here.

Those who wish to spectate the tournament at the venue, please click here and check the procedure.

Video Gallery

Vishy Anand's huge fan Base in Chennai | Video: ChessBase India

The day of Gukesh vs Arjun - IM Sagar Shah's Round 2 recap of Chennai Grand Masters 2023 | Video: ChessBase India

The amazing breakfast spread at the Leela Palace Hotel | Video: ChessBase India

Replay Round 2 live stream

Replay the round-2 live commentary by IM Sagar Shah, Amruta Mokal with guest commentators GM Anish Giri and IM Sopiko Guramishvili | Video: ChessBase India

Replay Round 2 games

Round 2 results

Bo. No. Rtg Name Result Name Rtg No. PGN
1 8 2720
GM Gukesh, D ½ - ½ GM Erigaisi, Arjun
2727 5 PGN
2 6 2689
GM Predke, Alexandr ½ - ½ GM Harikrishna, Pentala
2696 4 PGN
3 7 2691
GM Eljanov, Pavel 0 - 1 GM Sjugirov, Sanan
2703 3 PGN
4 1 2723
GM Aronian, Levon ½ - ½ GM Maghsoodloo, Parham
2742 2 PGN

Details

Standings after Round 2

Rk. SNo Name FED Rtg Pts.  TB1   TB2   TB3   TB4 
1 Sjugirov, Sanan 1,5 0
2 Harikrishna, Pentala 1,5 0
3 Predke, Alexandr 1 0
4 Aronian, Levon 1 0
Gukesh, D 1 0
6 Eljanov, Pavel 1 0
7 Maghsoodloo, Parham 0,5 0
Erigaisi, Arjun 0,5 0

Details

Round 3 pairings

Bo. No. Rtg Name Result Name Rtg No. PGN
1 2 2742
GM Maghsoodloo, Parham GM Gukesh, D
2720 8
2 3 2703
GM Sjugirov, Sanan GM Aronian, Levon
2723 1
3 4 2696
GM Harikrishna, Pentala GM Eljanov, Pavel
2691 7
4 5 2727
GM Erigaisi, Arjun GM Predke, Alexandr
2689 6

Details

Links


Shahid Ahmed is the senior coordinator and editor of ChessBase India. He enjoys covering chess tournaments and also likes to play in chess events from time to time.