Chennai Masters R5: Aronian beats MVL, now in sole second place

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
11/10/2024 – Round 5 of the Chennai Grand Masters Tournament saw Indian grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi remain in the lead in the Masters section, signing a draw with Iran's Parham Maghsoodloo. Arjun now has a half-point edge over Levon Aronian, who defeated Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in the day's only decisive game. In the Challengers section, Pranav Venkatesh's perfect record ended as he drew with Raunak Sadhwani, yet he retained his full-point lead over Leon Luke Mendonca. | Photos: Anmol Bhargav

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Two rounds to go

Arjun Erigaisi continues to lead the Masters section of the Chennai Grand Masters tournament after securing a draw in his fifth-round game against Parham Maghsoodloo. This result leaves Arjun undefeated, maintaining his half-point lead with just two rounds remaining. Saturday’s game saw Maghsoodloo, who lost to Arjun in last year's Chennai tournament, successfully hold off the Indian star. Arjun's position at the top puts him in prime contention for victory, with Levon Aronian emerging as his closest challenger after securing the only decisive result of the round.

Aronian, now in sole second place, defeated Maxime Vachier-Lagrave with the white pieces in a display of precision. Vachier-Lagrave made a few strategic errors, which Aronian capitalised on to clinch the win. The Armenian-born grandmaster, who now represents the United States, has already faced Arjun in this event, holding him to a draw with the black pieces in the second round. With 3½ points, Aronian is just behind Arjun, keeping the race for first place tightly contested as they approach the final rounds.

Amin Tabatabaei and Aravindh Chithambaram remain in the running with outside chances to claim the title, standing at 3 and 2½ points, respectively. Aravindh, who will have the advantage of the white pieces against Arjun in round 6, has quietly climbed the world rankings to an impressive 29th place, now holding a 2706 Elo rating at age 25.

Despite drawing his round-5 game, Arjun remains above the 2800 Elo rating mark in the live rankings. This milestone is especially notable as he just missed achieving a 2800+ rating in the latest official FIDE rankings, ending October with 2799. Arjun's rapid rise through the ranks has been remarkable, largely fuelled by his performance in open tournaments, as he has yet to receive consistent invitations to elite round-robin events.

Arjun Erigaisi

Arjun Erigaisi

Aronian 1 - 0 Vachier-Lagrave

Analysis by Shahid Ahmed

The last decisive game between Levon Aronian and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave occurred over two years ago. Aronian, the only two-time World Cup winner in history, won that game.

Aronian v. Vachier-Lagrave

Black made a questionable decision by trading the knight with 16...Nxe2 - it was not like Nxd4 was a huge threat for Black.

There followed 17.Bxe2 Rf7 18.Qd2 Qf8 19.Nb6 Rd8 20.Rad1 h6 21.Be3 Rc7 22.b4

White improved his position and went on to win the game. Black attempted to generate some counterplay, but it was futile.

The start of the fifth round at the Anna Centenary Library in Chennai

Round 5 results

NameRtg.Nt.Pts.Pts.NameRtgNt.
GM

1
GM
2739
1

2
GM
2739
½

3
GM
2679
1

4
GM
2686
1

5
GM
2712
½

Ø 2711
4/5
2799
½-½
GM


2
GM
2739
1

3
GM
2739
0

4
GM
2679
½


Ø 2739
2/5
2712
GM
GM
2739

1
GM
2679
½



4
GM
2706
½


Ø 2727
3.5/5
2739
1-0
2
GM


2
GM
2706
½

3
GM
2686
0

4
GM
2739
½

5
GM
2739
0

Ø 2716
2/5
2737
GM
GM
2739


Ø 2728
1.5/5
2739
1
½-½
GM

1
GM
2706
½

2
GM
2679
1



5
GM
2739
½

Ø 2732
3/5
2686
GM
GM
2679

1
GM
2739
½

2
GM
2686
0


4
GM
2712
½

5
GM
2706
½

Ø 2728
1.5/5
2679
1
½-½
2
GM

1
GM
2686
½


3
GM
2739
½

4
GM
2739
½

5
GM
2679
½

Ø 2716
2.5/5
2706

Current standings

Rk.NameRtg.Nt.Pts.n
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
TBPerf.
1
GM

1
GM
2739
1

2
GM
2739
½

3
GM
2679
1

4
GM
2686
1

5
GM
2712
½

Ø 2711
4/5
2799
4.0
5
8.75
2951
2
GM
GM
2739

1
GM
2679
½



4
GM
2706
½


Ø 2727
3.5/5
2739
3.5
5
8.00
2876
3
GM

1
GM
2706
½

2
GM
2679
1



5
GM
2739
½

Ø 2732
3/5
2686
3.0
5
5.50
2804
4
GM

1
GM
2686
½


3
GM
2739
½

4
GM
2739
½

5
GM
2679
½

Ø 2716
2.5/5
2706
2.5
5
5.75
2716
5
GM


2
GM
2739
1

3
GM
2739
0

4
GM
2679
½


Ø 2739
2/5
2712
2.0
5
4.25
2667
6
GM


2
GM
2706
½

3
GM
2686
0

4
GM
2739
½

5
GM
2739
0

Ø 2716
2/5
2737
2.0
5
4.00
2644
7
GM
GM
2679

1
GM
2739
½

2
GM
2686
0


4
GM
2712
½

5
GM
2706
½

Ø 2728
1.5/5
2679
1.5
5
4.00
2579
8
GM
GM
2739


Ø 2728
1.5/5
2739
1.5
5
3.75
2579
TBs: Sonneborn-Berger

All games

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MoveNResultEloPlayers
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1.d4 5 d5 32 2.c4 11 e6 7 3.Nc3 12 Nf6 9 4.cxd5 31 exd5 10 5.Bg5 13 Be7 27 6.e3 19 h6 10 7.Bh4 13 Bg4 8 8.Be2 3:57 Bxe2 35 9.Ngxe2 9 Nbd7 25 10.Qc2 5:01 c6 34 11.f3 2:17 0-0 2:50 12.Bf2 7:23 Re8 1:27 13.0-0 13:46 Bd6 4:46 14.Kh1 10 Rc8 1:29 15.Rad1 12:19 b5 30 16.Nc1 21 b4 10:58 17.Na4 1:48 c5 42 18.dxc5 12 Nxc5 14 19.Nxc5 13 Bxc5 10:11 20.Qd2 1:15 Qb6 5:39 21.Rfe1 1:28 b3 3:53 22.Re2 6:41 bxa2 18:06 23.Nxa2 6 a5 1:34 24.h3 6:46 Re6 13:28 25.Nc3 4:55 Bb4 23 26.Nxd5 16:14 Nxd5 5:00 27.Qxd5 4 Rd6 16 28.Qb3 5 Qa6 2:12 29.Rxd6 38 Qxd6 28 30.Bg1 1:20 a4 3:32 31.Qxa4 6:26 Qd3 15 32.Qxb4 12 Qxe2 10 33.Kh2 2:28 Rc2 3:41 34.Qg4 22 h5 7:54 35.Qg5 1:36 Rxb2 2:07 36.e4 42 Rd2 51 37.h4 1:48 Rd6 1:16 38.Qc5 19 Rd2 1:24 39.Qc8+ 10 Kh7 4 40.Qf5+ 4 Kg8 8 41.Qc8+ 30:06 Kh7 30:02 42.Qf5+ 5 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Aravindh,C2706Tabatabaei,M2686½–½2024D35Chennai Grand Masters 20241.1
Vachier-Lagrave,M2737Maghsoodloo,P27121–02024B43Chennai Grand Masters 20241.2
Vidit,S2739Erigaisi Arjun27990–12024B44Chennai Grand Masters 20241.3
Aronian,L2739Sarana,A2679½–½2024C90Chennai Grand Masters 20241.4
Tabatabaei,M2686Sarana,A26791–02024C55Chennai Grand Masters 20242.1
Erigaisi Arjun2799Aronian,L2739½–½2024E15Chennai Grand Masters 20242.2
Maghsoodloo,P2712Vidit,S27391–02024C65Chennai Grand Masters 20242.3
Aravindh,C2706Vachier-Lagrave,M2737½–½2024D27Chennai Grand Masters 20242.4
Vachier-Lagrave,M2737Tabatabaei,M26860–12024C55Chennai Grand Masters 20243.1
Vidit,S2739Aravindh,C2706½–½2024D25Chennai Grand Masters 20243.2
Aronian,L2739Maghsoodloo,P27121–02024B51Chennai Grand Masters 20243.3
Sarana,A2679Erigaisi Arjun27990–12024E43Chennai Grand Masters 20243.4
Tabatabaei,M2686Erigaisi Arjun27990–12024C54Chennai Grand Masters 20244.1
Maghsoodloo,P2712Sarana,A2679½–½2024C77Chennai Grand Masters 20244.2
Aravindh,C2706Aronian,L2739½–½2024D03Chennai Grand Masters 20244.3
Vachier-Lagrave,M2737Vidit,S2739½–½2024E08Chennai Grand Masters 20244.4
Vidit,S2739Tabatabaei,M2686½–½2024A14Chennai Grand Masters 20245.1
Aronian,L2739Vachier-Lagrave,M27371–02024E60Chennai Grand Masters 20245.2
Sarana,A2679Aravindh,C2706½–½2024D37Chennai Grand Masters 20245.3
Erigaisi Arjun2799Maghsoodloo,P2712½–½2024D61Chennai Grand Masters 20245.4
Tabatabaei,M2686Maghsoodloo,P2712½–½2024E09Chennai Grand Masters 20246.1
Aravindh,C2706Erigaisi Arjun27991–02024D03Chennai Grand Masters 20246.2
Vachier-Lagrave,M2737Sarana,A2679½–½2024C97Chennai Grand Masters 20246.3
Vidit,S2739Aronian,L2739½–½2024C55Chennai Grand Masters 20246.4
Aronian,L2739Tabatabaei,M2686½–½2024B51Chennai Grand Masters 20247.1
Sarana,A2679Vidit,S2739½–½2024D38Chennai Grand Masters 20247.2
Erigaisi Arjun2799Vachier-Lagrave,M2737½–½2024D81Chennai Grand Masters 20247.3
Maghsoodloo,P2712Aravindh,C27060–12024D31Chennai Grand Masters 20247.4

Challengers: A first draw for Pranav

Pranav Venkatesh's winning streak came to a pause in round 5 of the Challengers section, as he drew his game against Raunak Sadhwani. Playing with the white pieces, Pranav, affectionately known as Buddy Pranav, was unable to break through Sadhwani's solid defence. Despite this, Pranav remains firmly at the top of the standings, holding a one-point lead over his closest rival, Leon Luke Mendonca, who sits in sole second place.

Round 5 saw only one decisive game in the Challengers section, mirroring the single win recorded in the Masters. Karthikeyan Murali claimed victory against Abhimanyu Puranik with the black pieces, marking his second consecutive win. This result brings Karthikeyan back to an even score, with 2½ points out of 5, placing him in a tie for fourth alongside Pranesh M.

In the last two rounds, Pranav will face Pranesh with the black pieces and Mendonca with white, in games that could prove pivotal to his prospects of clinching a spot in next year's Masters section. With a strong start and clear determination, Pranav aims to consolidate his lead and secure the promotion.

Karthikeyan Murali

Karthikeyan Murali

Round 5 results

NameRtg.Nt.Pts.Pts.NameRtgNt.
GM
GM
2602


2
GM
2652
1


4
GM
2490
1

5
GM
2677
½

Ø 2587
4.5/5
2602
4
½-½
GM


2
GM
2490
½

3
GM
2631
½

4
GM
2580
½

5
GM
2602
½

Ø 2586
3/5
2677
GM
GM
2580

1
GM
2652
0

2
GM
2625
½

3
GM
2490
1

4
GM
2677
½

5
GM
2631
½

Ø 2615
2.5/5
2580
2
½-½
3
GM

1
GM
2490
1


3
GM
2677
½

4
GM
2652
½

5
GM
2580
½

Ø 2578
3.5/5
2631
GM
GM
2652

1
GM
2580
1

2
GM
2602
0


4
GM
2631
½


Ø 2586
2/5
2652
2
0-1
GM

1
GM
2677
0

2
GM
2580
½

3
GM
2602
0


5
GM
2652
1

Ø 2601
2.5/5
2625
2493
½
½-½
½
GM

1
GM
2631
0

2
GM
2677
½

3
GM
2580
0

4
GM
2602
0


Ø 2597
1/5
2490

Current standings

Rk.NameRtg.Nt.Pts.n
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
TBPerf.
1
GM
GM
2602


2
GM
2652
1


4
GM
2490
1

5
GM
2677
½

Ø 2587
4.5/5
2602
4.5
5
8.00
2953
2
GM

1
GM
2490
1


3
GM
2677
½

4
GM
2652
½

5
GM
2580
½

Ø 2578
3.5/5
2631
3.5
5
5.75
2727
3
GM


2
GM
2490
½

3
GM
2631
½

4
GM
2580
½

5
GM
2602
½

Ø 2586
3/5
2677
3.0
5
8.25
2658
4
GM
GM
2580

1
GM
2652
0

2
GM
2625
½

3
GM
2490
1

4
GM
2677
½

5
GM
2631
½

Ø 2615
2.5/5
2580
2.5
5
5.50
2615
5
GM

1
GM
2677
0

2
GM
2580
½

3
GM
2602
0


5
GM
2652
1

Ø 2601
2.5/5
2625
2.5
5
4.25
2601
6
GM
GM
2652

1
GM
2580
1

2
GM
2602
0


4
GM
2631
½


Ø 2586
2/5
2652
2.0
5
4.75
2514
7
GM

1
GM
2631
0

2
GM
2677
½

3
GM
2580
0

4
GM
2602
0


Ø 2597
1/5
2490
1.0
5
2.00
2357
8
2493
1.0
5
1.50
2360
TBs: Sonneborn-Berger

All games

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MoveNResultEloPlayers
1.e41,157,09954%2422---
1.d4940,74255%2434---
1.Nf3279,27256%2441---
1.c4180,87056%2443---
1.g319,62256%2427---
1.b314,03354%2427---
1.f45,81948%2377---
1.Nc33,70851%2384---
1.b41,73148%2378---
1.a31,17753%2402---
1.e31,05448%2407---
1.d392750%2376---
1.g464846%2360---
1.h443852%2371---
1.c341851%2423---
1.h326055%2413---
1.a410159%2476---
1.Nh38866%2510---
1.f38247%2435---
1.Na33862%2477---
1.e4 10 c5 6 2.Nf3 6 d6 5 3.Bb5+ 6 Nd7 1:30 4.0-0 13 a6 21 5.Bd3 22 Ngf6 40 6.c3 40 e6 5:28 7.Bc2 48 b5 12 8.d4 31 Bb7 8 9.Re1 13 Be7 43 10.e5 1:21 dxe5 7:50 11.dxe5 23 Nd5 25 12.Nbd2 9:43 Qc7 11:08 13.a4 16:58 0-0 5:25 14.Nf1 10:53 Rad8 8:26 15.axb5 10:19 axb5 1:02 16.Qe2 26:54 c4 18:47 17.Qe4 1:01 g6 1:25 18.Qg4 10 Ra8 3:23 19.Rxa8 3:26 Rxa8 7 20.h4 59 b4 6:50 21.h5 44 Nf8 5:05 22.Bg5 4:38 Ra2 2:45 23.hxg6 1:54 hxg6 5:20 24.Bxe7 2:39 Qxe7 2:50 25.cxb4 7:06 Rxb2 5 26.Qxc4 40 Rxb4 2 27.Qa2 23 Qc5 1:26 28.N1h2 36 Nf4 1:30 29.Rb1 32 Ne2+ 16 30.Kh1 4 Qxf2 38 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Vaishali,R2490Mendonca,L26310–12024B51Chennai GM Challengers 20241.1
Sadhwani,R2677Karthikeyan,M26251–02024B40Chennai GM Challengers 20241.2
Pranesh M2580Puranik,A26520–12024C11Chennai GM Challengers 20241.3
Pranav,V2602Dronavalli,H24931–02024C01Chennai GM Challengers 20241.4
Mendonca,L2631Dronavalli,H24931–02024C02Chennai GM Challengers 20242.1
Puranik,A2652Pranav,V26020–12024C55Chennai GM Challengers 20242.2
Karthikeyan,M2625Pranesh M2580½–½2024E04Chennai GM Challengers 20242.3
Vaishali,R2490Sadhwani,R2677½–½2024C02Chennai GM Challengers 20242.4
Sadhwani,R2677Mendonca,L2631½–½2024A15Chennai GM Challengers 20243.1
Pranesh M2580Vaishali,R24901–02024B35Chennai GM Challengers 20243.2
Pranav,V2602Karthikeyan,M26251–02024B22Chennai GM Challengers 20243.3
Dronavalli,H2493Puranik,A2652½–½2024B32Chennai GM Challengers 20243.4
Mendonca,L2631Puranik,A2652½–½2024C54Chennai GM Challengers 20244.1
Karthikeyan,M2625Dronavalli,H24931–02024C11Chennai GM Challengers 20244.2
Vaishali,R2490Pranav,V26020–12024C70Chennai GM Challengers 20244.3
Sadhwani,R2677Pranesh M2580½–½2024D43Chennai GM Challengers 20244.4
Pranesh M2580Mendonca,L2631½–½2024B23Chennai GM Challengers 20245.1
Pranav,V2602Sadhwani,R2677½–½2024C48Chennai GM Challengers 20245.2
Dronavalli,H2493Vaishali,R2490½–½2024B33Chennai GM Challengers 20245.3
Puranik,A2652Karthikeyan,M26250–12024B31Chennai GM Challengers 20245.4
Mendonca,L2631Karthikeyan,M26251–02024D60Chennai GM Challengers 20246.1
Vaishali,R2490Puranik,A26520–12024C02Chennai GM Challengers 20246.2
Sadhwani,R2677Dronavalli,H2493½–½2024D06Chennai GM Challengers 20246.3
Pranesh M2580Pranav,V2602½–½2024C28Chennai GM Challengers 20246.4
Pranav,V2602Mendonca,L2631½–½2024B31Chennai GM Challengers 20247.1
Dronavalli,H2493Pranesh M2580½–½2024B06Chennai GM Challengers 20247.2
Puranik,A2652Sadhwani,R2677½–½2024E11Chennai GM Challengers 20247.3
Karthikeyan,M2625Vaishali,R24901–02024B30Chennai GM Challengers 20247.4

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Carlos Colodro is a Hispanic Philologist from Bolivia. He works as a freelance translator and writer since 2012. A lot of his work is done in chess-related texts, as the game is one of his biggest interests, along with literature and music.

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