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One has to applaud the tournament format. Even in the last match of the double round-robin stage, if Chingari Gulf Titans had managed to defeat Balan Alaskan Knights by any margin, that would have secured their spot in the finals. Unfortunately for them, they didn't.
A regular team championship scoring system would have probably allowed Ganges Grandmasters and SG Alpine Warriors to advance to the finals in advance, as they scored 15 points first and they were much ahead than others. Just like every other sport, to make things exciting and ensure the maximum number of teams to get a chance to advance to the Finals, this kind of scoring system was required.
If one has to summarise one reason behind Triveni Continental Kings and upGrad Mumba Masters advancing to the Finals, that has to be team chemistry. When both teams were down on points and luck, they did not slow down. Instead, they regrouped and pushed for the maximum, which they managed to achieve.
Vidit, after his first win of the event and the team registering 2-18 — the biggest victory margin both literally and figuratively — against SG Alpine Warriors, hoped for Balan Alaskan Knights to beat Chingari Gulf Titans in the last match. Guess what happened? Vidit's wish came true. Well, they say, if you want something badly, the universe is ready to conspire for you to get it, for a reason.
The first result of the match was a draw between Arjun Erigaisi (SGAW) and Daniil Dubov (CGT). Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (CGT) defeated D Gukesh (SGAW) for a second time at this event. Magnus Carlsen (SGAW) defeated Jan-Krzysztof Duda (CGT). The remaining boards ended in draws, which meant SG Alpine Warriors had lost the match. They still had to win the last match to secure their place in the Finals.
Jan-Krzysztof Duda (CGT) made a questionable exchange sacrifice with 28...Rxe3 29.Ra1 Qb3 30.Rab1 Qxc4 31.Qxe3 Bf5 32.Rc1 Qb3 33.Rxc7 Qxd1+ 34.Kh2 and Black never got any compensation for the exchange. Magnus Carlsen (SGAW) went on to win the game comfortably.
Magnus Carlsen (SGAW) bounced back after yesterday's loss, by scoring an emphatic victory over Jan-Krzysztof Duda (CGT) | Photo: Maria Emelianova
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (CGT) is at an unbeaten 6½/8 | Photo: Maria Emelianova
Arjun Erigaisi (GG) drew against Daniil Dubov (CGT) in a sharp theoretical skirmish | Photo: Maria Emelianova
GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (CGT) missed a win against GM Irina Krush (GG) | Photo: Maria Emelianova
R Praggnanandhaa (GG) had a solid draw against Nihal Sarin (CGT) | Photo: Maria Emelianova
SG Alpine Warriors still have to make a comeback and win their last match against upGrad Mumba Masters to secure their place in the finals | Photo: Maria Emelianova
SG Alpine Warriors - Chingari Gulf Titans: 0-3 (7-8) | Photo: Official site
Magnus is furious, Dubov elated | Video: ChessBase India
A draw on the 'Icons' board between Levon Aronian (TCK) and Vishy Anand (GG) was the first result of the match. IM Sara Khadem (TCK) scored the first win for her team against GM Bella Khotenashvili (GG). Wei Yi (TCK) avenged his loss earlier at this event and beat Leinier Dominguez Perez (GG). Richard Rapport (GG) scored the sole win over Yangyi Yu (GG). Jonas Buhl Bjerre (TCK) scored a crucial draw against Andrey Esipenko (GG) to ensure TCK's spot in the finals.
Levon Aronian (TCK) drew the crucial encounter against Vishy Anand (GG) after losing against the maestro a few days ago | Photo: Maria Emelianova
GM Bella Khotenashvili (GG) was completely dominating and had a decisive advantage against IM Sara Khadem (TCK). 34.Nxd6 Bd4+ Black unfortunately cannot take the queen as 34...Bxc3 35.Bxc3+ is winning for White. The game continued 34...Bd4+ 35.Qxd4 Nxd4 36.Nf7+ Kg7 37.Nxh6 Nxe2+ 38.Kh2 and White won the game in seven more moves. Black needed to play 34...Rxd6 first before going ...Bd4+ and then she would have won the game.
Wei Yi (TCK) arrived at a rook and knight endgame with two extra pawns. It was not easy for his opponent, Leinier Dominguez Perez (GG), to defend. 35...f6? 36.Rg7+ Kd6 37.Rf7 Ra1 38.Ne2 Ke5 39.Rd7 f5 40.f4+ Kf6 41.e5+ and White went on to win the game comfortably.
A topsy-turvy encounter between Kateryna Lagno (TCK) and Yifan Hou (GG) ended in a draw which could have gone either player's way | Photo: Maria Emelianova
Richard Rapport (GG) scored the sole win for his team against Yangyi Yu (TCK) | Photo: Maria Emelianova
Levon Aronian is certainly walking tall after leading his team Triveni Continental Kings to the finals | Photo: Maria Emelianova
Despite a fantastic performance, Vishy Anand's (GG) run has come to an end at this event as his team could not make it to the finals | Photo: Maria Emelianova
Triveni Continental Kings - Ganges Grandmasters: 3-0 (11-6) | Photo: Official site
Triveni Continental Kings win four consecutive matches | Video: ChessBase India
R Praggnanandhaa (SGAW) drew his game against Javokhir Sindarov (uMM) as the first result of the match. GM Harika Dronavalli (uMM) scored the first win for her team against GM Elisabeth Paehtz (GG). Harika Dronavalli, Koneru Humpy, Vidit Gujrathi and Alexander Grischuk won their respective games against Elisabeth Paehtz, Irina Krush, Arjun Erigaisi and D Gukesh to register a completely dominating win.
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (uMM) held the fort against Magnus Carlsen (SGAW). This was simply the biggest victory both literally and figuratively. The 2-18 win is the biggest margin victory for any match out of 29 matches so far. Figuratively, this is also the biggest because this huge win eliminated the top seed, a star-studded squad which was the fans' favourite as well, SG Alpine Warriors.
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (uMM) is the 2012 World Blitz champion. One should not forget that. He reminded the universe once again why he won it. 34...Qe4!? is an interesting exchange sacrifice in the endgame. Magnus Carlsen (SGAW) accepted it: 35.Qxd6 Qxe2 36.Ra1 Qxb2 37.Re1 Qd4 38.Qe8 Qc3 and the game ended in a draw via perpetual check in six more moves.
Apart from Levon Aronian, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (uMM) is the only player to score 1½/2 against Magnus Carlsen | Photo: Maria Emelianova
Arjun Erigaisi (SGAW) made a strategical mistake of giving up the f-file. 44.Re1? Rf8 45.Ke2 g4 46.hxg4 hxg4 47.a6 bxa6 48.Ra5 Rf3 49.Kd3 Rxg3 50.Rxa6 Rf3 Vidit (uMM) went on to win the game comfortably.
Koneru Humpy (uMM) won her second game in-a-row | Photo: Maria Emelianova
Harika (uMM) found the only break available in the position: 37...c5! 38.Qd1 Qc7 39.Qd5 cxb4 40.cxb4 Qc1+ and she converted her advantage with ease.
GM Harika Dronavalli (uMM) is still the top female performer so far with 6½/9 points | Photo: Maria Emelianova
upGrad Mumba Masters registered the single biggest match victory of the event to eliminate the top seed and tournament favourite, SG Alpine Warriors | Photo: Maria Emelianova
SG Alpine Warriors - upGrad Mumba Masters: 0-3 (2-18) | Photo: Official site
upGrad Mumba Masters eliminate SG Alpine Warriors | Video: ChessBase India
The first result of the final match of the double round-robin stage was a tepid draw between Jan-Krzysztof Duda (CGT) and Ian Nepomniachtchi (BAK). The second result was also a draw between Daniil Dubov (CGT) and Teimour Radjabov (BAK). The third result was also a draw between Nihal Sarin (CGT) and Raunak Sadhwani (BAK). Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (CGT) lost from a winning position against Nodirbek Abdusattorov (BAK).
Mamedyarov (CGT) had a decisive advantage for the majority of the game against Abdusattorov (BAK). 35.Bh7+ Kxh7 36.Qxf8 was one of the many ways White could have finished things off. Unfortunately for him, he made a few inaccuracies and went on to lose the game.
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (CGT) suffered a painful sole loss at this event against Nodirbek Abdusattorov (BAK) | Photo: Maria Emelianova
GM Nino Batsiashvili (BAK) finished her tournament on a winning note | Photo: Maria Emelianova
Nihal Sarin (CGT) - Raunak Sadhwani (BAK): 1-1 | Photo: Maria Emelianova
Chingari Gulf Titans - Balan Alaskan Knights: 0-3 (4-12)
It will be Aronian vs MVL | Video: ChessBase India
Triveni Continental Kings and upGrad Mumba Masters are the finalists | Photo: Official site
Each team will have six players and a manager, who will be competing on six boards which will be played simultaneously. While each board will be called a game, all six combined boards will be termed one match. Once the board order is decided, it cannot be altered after drawing lots while deciding the run order of play. And in each match, all the players of one team will play with the same colour.
A game won with Black pieces will result in 4 Game Points (GP) to the winning player. A victory for a player with White pieces will see them win 3 GP. A draw will be rewarded with 1 GP, and a defeat gets the player 0 GP. Each players’ GP will contribute to the Team’s total Match Points (MP).
With regards to the calculations on Match Points (MP), a Team which scores more GP than their opposition will be rewarded with a bonus of 3 MP. If both the Teams are level on GP, they will be awarded 1 MP each. However, if a team scores lesser GP than the opposing team, they won’t get any MP for that Match.
|
4 GP (3+1) |
A player wins the Game with Black Pieces |
|
3 GP |
A player wins the Game with White Pieces |
|
1 GP |
Draw |
|
0 GP |
Defeat |
|
3 MP |
The team that scores more Game Points |
|
1 MP |
If both teams are level on Game Points |
|
0 MP |
The team that scores lesser Game Points than the opponent |
The Final will be played over best-of-2 matches. There will be a drawing of lots to determine which Team is White in Match 1, this team will then be black in Match 2. The team who wins more matches will be the Champion. In the event of a tie:
• There will be a playoff blitz fixture, which will be a best-of-2 match. The team that was white in Match 1 and black in Match 2 will play white in Match 3 and black in Match 4. The time limit for each game will be all moves in 3 minutes plus 2 seconds. The Team that wins the most matches in the fixture will be the Champion.
• If the Teams remain tied, there shall be a drawing of lots to determine a board from 1 to 6. The player from each Team on this board will then participate in a sudden-death blitz game. The time limit for this game will be 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move. The player from the Team who was white in Matches 1 and 3, will play white in this game.
• If the sudden death blitz game is drawn, then the procedure is repeated except that the colour of the player from each team alternates from the colour the team had in the preceding sudden death blitz game.
• If the tie remains unbroken, the above procedure is repeated until a sudden death blitz game has a winner.
