Chennai Masters R4: Gukesh beats Predke, joins Harikrishna in the lead

by Shahid Ahmed
12/18/2023 – D Gukesh scored his first win of the event against Alexandr Predke in the fourth round of the Chennai Grand Masters. Gukesh joined Pentala Harikrishna in the lead with 2.5/4 points each. Harikrishna had a well contested draw against Levon Aronian. Parham Maghsoodloo also scored his first win of the event, against Sanan Sjugirov. Arjun Erigaisi had a well contested draw against Pavel Eljanov. Five players are trailing the leaders at 2/4 each. They are Aronian, Eljanov, Maghsoodloo, Sjugirov and Arjun. | Photos: Shahid Ahmed

Attack like a Super Grandmaster Attack like a Super Grandmaster

In this Fritztrainer: “Attack like a Super GM” with Gukesh we touch upon all aspects of his play, with special emphasis on how you can become a better attacking player.

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Gukesh and Maghsoodloo score

Levon Aronian elaborated on his previous day's tweet reply. He shared,

...I think serving more than two terms always leads to trouble. Because you know leadership is something that is very infectious. It's something you want to do forever. But no matter how good of a leader you are. You know eventually you are going to start developing those bad traits, that belonged to all of the leaders that stayed for too long. So it's my personal opinion and I think that when you make such decisions, lot of good things that you do, get undone... I don't like the decision and I am disappointed in FIDE, which I was not up to that moment.

Chennai Grand Masters 2023 Official logo

Gukesh - Predke: 1-0

GM D Gukesh and GM Alexandr Predke played only two rated games against each other. Both occurred in 2019 and ended in draws.

Gukesh hadn't started using an engine until recently. So he plays humane moves like 24.Kg3 which is safe for the moment because it cannot be harmed for now. Of course, it will not stay like that for the rest of the game, as it is prone to future attacks.

The final mistake by Black was 33...h5?? Despite the white king seeming to be quite vulnerable, it's the e6-pawn which decides the fate of the game. 34.e7 Rxg4 35.e8Q+ Kh7 36.Bxf7 and White won the game in the next few moves.

Gukesh on his first win at the Chennai Grand Masters 2023 | Video: ChessBase India

Gukesh = Human AlphaZero - Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

Gukesh handed Alexandr Predke his second consecutive loss of the event

Ukraine no.1 Pavel Eljanov vs India no.4 Arjun Erigaisi | Video: ChessBase India

Pavel Eljanov and Arjun Erigaisi had a well contested draw

Levon Aronian - Pentala Harikrishna: 0.5-0.5 

Harikrishna draws against Aronian to maintain lead | Video: ChessBase India

More than two terms always leads to trouble - Levon Aronian | Video: ChessBase India

Maghsoodloo - Sjugirov: 1-0

GM Parham Maghsoodloo and GM Sanan Sjugirov have defeated each other once in Classical and Rapid games. Both took place in Hungary. Maghsoodloo, in search of his first win of the event, was determined to score one in this round.

After 22.Rc3 one can see the white king being surrounded by pawns only, whereas the black king is under heavy fire by queen, rook and bishop. 22...Qe7 23.Kg1 Re6 24.Bd3 Rxe3 25.Kh2 and White found a nice shelter for his king. Rd6 26.Rf1 Rxd3 — a desperate exchange sacrifice did not help Black. White soon went on to realize his advantage.

I ate an ice cream so I was 99% sure that I would win — Parham Maghsoodloo | Video: ChessBase India

Parham's classy opening preparation in the Ragozin - Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

GM Parham Maghsoodloo - GM Sanan Sjugirov: 1-0

Round 4 in progress

For more photos, please click here.

Gukesh unleashed - IM Sagar Shah's Chennai Grand Masters 2023 Round 4 summary | Video: ChessBase India

The Amazing Setup Tour of the Production of Chennai Grand Masters 2023 | Video: ChessBase India

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

Replay Round 4 live stream

Replay the round-4 live commentary by IM Sagar Shah, Amruta Mokal with guest commentators GM Anish Giri and IM Sopiko Guramishvili | Video: ChessBase India

Replay Round 4 games

Round 4 results

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

Details

Standings after Round 4

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

Details

Round 5 pairings

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

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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.