Evgeny Shtembuliak and Polina Shuvalova are World Junior Champions 2019

by Sagar Shah
10/27/2019 – The World Junior Championships officially came to an end on October 26th 2019 when players from over 50 countries left for home. Two new World Champions were crowned: Evgeny Shtembuliak in the Open section and Polina Shuvalova in the Girls' section. The silver and the bronze medal in the Open section went to the Armenians, Shant Sargsyan and Aram Hakobyan respectively. In the Girls' section it was Mobina Alinasab from Iran who won the silver and Elizaveta Solozhenkina who won the bronze. We take you to the moments of the final rounds where the six medals were decided in a huge report from New Delhi by Sagar Shah, Amruta Mokal, Niklesh Jain and Angela Franco. | Photo: Niklesh Jain

The Slav is a magnificent opening, but for many players there is one little blot on its escutcheon - that is the Exchange Variation. Not only does Black apparently have no prospects of obtaining the full point, but since he has an extra tempo White may well make attempts to win the game. But if you know what you are doing, you can easily do two things as Black: equalise and break the symmetry.

A game of respect

The final round of the World Junior Championships 2019 had a different feel to it. Instead of the usual time, the round began five hours in advance. Most of the players wouldn't even be waking up at 10 a.m. but that's how things are! You form a routine throughout the event to get to the board at 3 p.m. in the best possible shape and when the time comes for the most important game, where just about all your previous efforts are at stake, everything has completely changed! But Champions rise to the occasion and that's what happened at the World Junior Championships 2019.

Shtembuliak gets up from his chair out of respect for his opponent Volodar Murzin, who is just 13 years old! | Photo: Niklesh Jain

The Penultimate Round

Wang Shixu despite getting the right type of position could only manage to hold a draw against the leader, but the untitled Chinese player satisfied the requirements for his maiden GM-norm.

Wang Shixu vs Shtembuliak | Photo: Niklesh Jain

 
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1.e41,179,68254%2421---
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1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.e4 e5 5.d5 a5 6.Be2 Na6 7.Be3 Bd7 8.Nf3 Nh6 9.Qc1 Ng4 10.Bg5 f6 11.Bd2 f5 12.Ng5 Nc5 13.exf5 gxf5 14.h3 Nf6 15.Qc2 h6 16.Ne6 Nxe6 17.dxe6 Bxe6 White's compensation for the pawn may not be objectively enough but practically, it seems like White is doing fine. Mainly because the black king doesn't know where to park itself. 18.0-0-0 0-0 18...Qd7 19.g4! f4 20.Rhg1 20.Rdg1!? 20...Nh7 21.Ne4 Kh8 22.Bd3 Bg8 23.h4 b5 24.g5 bxc4 25.Bxc4 Bxc4 26.gxh6 Bf6 27.Nxf6 Qxf6 28.Qxc4 Qxh6 29.Rg4 Qh5 30.Rdg1 Qf7 31.Rxf4 Qxc4+ White could have played on here. He definitely has a very pleasant position. But they agreed to a draw. 31...Qxc4+ 32.Rxc4 Rxf2 32...Rf7 33.f4+- 33.Rxc7± White is clearly pushing. ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Wang,S2370Shtembuliak,E2577½–½2019A42WORLD JUNIOR (UNDER-20) OPEN CHESS CHAMP10.1

Elsewhere, Aravindh Chithambaram drew with Miguel Santos in an interesting game arising out of Sicilian Dragon. And Aram Hakobyan played a nearly flawless game, giving no chance to his higher rated opponent Karthikeyan Murali.

Hakobyan discusses his win with Sagar Shah

 
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.g3 a6 7.Bg2 Nf6 8.0-0 d6?! 8...Nxd4 9.Qxd4 Bc5 10.Bf4 d6 11.Qd3 is one of the main lines. 9.Re1 Bd7 9...Be7 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.e5 dxe5 12.Rxe5 10.Nxc6 bxc6 10...Bxc6 11.Nd5± 11.Na4 Be7 11...Rd8 12.c4 12.Qe2 12...c5 13.Nc3 12.c4 0-0 13.c5! A very nice pawn sacrifice. dxc5 14.Be3 Rfb8 15.Rc1 e5 16.b3 c4 17.Rxc4 Be6 18.Rc2 Bb4 19.Rf1 Ng4 20.Bc5 20.Bc1 20...a5 20...Rd8 21.Bb6! Rxd1 22.Bxc7 Rxf1+ 23.Bxf1+- 21.Qc1 21.Bxb4 axb4 22.Nc5 Nf6 23.Nxe6 fxe6 24.Bh3± 21...Nf6 22.Be3 22.Bxb4 axb4 23.Rxc6 Qe7 22...Qe7 23.Rxc6 Bd7 24.Rc7 Qe6 25.Nc5 Bxc5 26.Qxc5 a4 27.bxa4 Rxa4 28.Rd1 h6 29.Rcxd7! Nxd7 30.Qc7 Rd4 30...Rxa2 31.h4!+- 31.Qxd7? Qxd7 32.Rxd7 Ra1+-+ 31.Bxd4 exd4 32.h3 Rb2 33.Qd8+ 33.Rxd4 Qf6 33...Kh7 34.Rxd4 Ne5 35.Qd5 35.a4? Qa2-+ 35...Qf6 35...Rxa2 36.Qxe6 fxe6 37.f4± This position should be technically winning for White but perhaps was a better option than what happened in the game. 36.Rd2 Rb1+ 37.Kh2 g5 37...Nf3+ 38.Bxf3 Qxf3 39.Qf5+ Qxf5 40.exf5 38.a4 Ra1 39.Qb3 39.Ra2 Nf3+ 40.Bxf3 Qxf3 41.Rxa1 Qxf2+ 42.Kh1 Qf3+ 43.Kg1 Qxg3+ 44.Kf1 Qf3+ 45.Ke1 Qh1+ 46.Kd2 Qxa1 47.Qxf7+ Kh8± This position is not something you want to get into. 39...Kg7 40.Ra2 Rc1 41.a5 h5 42.a6 Kh7 43.a7 Qh6 44.Bh1 44.a8Q?? Ng4+-+ 44.Qxf7+ Nxf7 45.a8Q+- was also winning. 44...Ng4+ 45.Kg2 1–0
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Hakobyan,A2561Karthikeyan,M26171–02019B47WORLD JUNIOR (UNDER-20) OPEN CHESS CHAMP10.3

The 13-year-old Volodar Murzin continued his fine run with a win over Albornoz Cabrera. Murzin too scored his first GM-norm.

Albornoz Cabrera and Volodar Murzin | Photo: Niklesh Jain

Praggnanandhaa played a very interesting game to beat Sergey Drygalov.

A look at Praggnanandhaa vs Sergey Drygalov

 
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qf3!? 7.f4 is the main move here. 7...Be7 8.0-0-0 Nbd7 9.Bd3 Ne5 10.Qh3 h6 11.Be2 The first new move of the game. Bd7 12.Be3 Rc8 13.f4 Rxc3 14.fxe5 14.bxc3 14...Nxe4 14...Nd5 15.exd5 Rxe3 16.Qg4 16.Qxe3 Bg5-+ 16...Bg5 15.exd6 Qa5 15...Bxd6 16.Bd3∞ 15...Rxe3 16.dxe7+- 16.Kb1 Nf2 17.Qg3 Nxh1? 17...Nxd1 18.Rxd1 Rxe3! 19.Qxe3 Bxd6= 18.Qe1!± 18.Rxh1 Rxe3 19.Qxe3 Bxd6 18...Bg5 18...Rc5 19.b4 19.Nb3 Rxb3 19...Qf5 20.Nd4 20.Qxa5 Rxe3 21.Qe1 Bf4 22.Qf1 Bxh2 23.Qxh1 Bf4 24.g3 Bc6 25.d7+ Kd8 26.Qf1 Be5 27.Bxa6 Bxg3 28.Qg1 Bf4 29.Qxg7 Be5 30.Qg1 Rg3 31.Qa7 Bf3 32.Qa8+ 1–0
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Praggnanandhaa,R2567Drygalov,S24701–02019B95WORLD JUNIOR (UNDER-20) OPEN CHESS CHAMP10.9

One of the most exciting game of the round was Leon's win over Viktor Gazik. Leon is a trained violinist and is used to creating symphonies off the board. But in round ten he managed to create one on it!

Four queens on the board!

 
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f4 Be7 9.f5 Bc8 10.g4 h6 11.a4 b6 12.Bg2 Bb7 13.Qe2 Nbd7 14.Bd2 b5 15.axb5 axb5 16.Rxa8 Qxa8 17.0-0 b4 18.Nb5 0-0 19.Ra1 Qb8 20.Bxb4 Bxe4 21.Bxe4 Nxe4 22.c4 Ndf6 23.Kh2 Re8 24.Ra7 Bf8 25.Ba5 d5 26.Bc7 Qc8 27.cxd5 Nc5 27...Qd7 28.Qc4 28.Nd2= 28...Nxb3 29.Qxb3 Bc5 30.Ra1 Qd7 31.d6 e4 32.Re1?! 32.Qc4∞ 32...e3 33.Qd3 Qc6 34.Nc3 Qf3 35.Re2 Qf4+ 36.Kg2 Ra8 37.Nd5? 37.Qd1= 37...Nxd5 38.Qxd5 Ra1 39.d7 39.Qxc5 Qf1+ 40.Kg3 Qxe2-+ 39...Qf1+ 39...Qxc7 40.d8Q+ 40.Kg3 Qxe2 41.d8Q+ Kh7 Quite an amazing position. White has a queen for Black's rook, but cannot do much. His king is very weak. 42.Kh4 42.Qf3 Rg1+-+ 42.Qg2 Qf2+ 43.Qxf2 43.Kh2 Rg1 44.Qxf2 exf2-+ 43...exf2 44.Qd3 f1Q-+ 42...Qf2+ 43.Bg3 e2 44.Qc7 44.Bxf2 Bxf2+ 45.Kh5 g6+ 46.fxg6+ fxg6# 44...e1Q 44...Qxg3+ 45.Bxf2 Bxf2+ 46.Kh5 Qe3 46...g6+ 47.fxg6++- 46...Qc1!? 47.h4 Qg3! 48.Qdd8 48.Qxg3 g6+ 49.fxg6+ fxg6# 48...Rh1 48...Ra8 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Gazik,V2546Mendonca,L23880–12019B90WORLD JUNIOR (UNDER-20) OPEN CHESS CHAMP10.13

A great gesture by the organizers to provide mugs to all participants with their name and photo engraved on it | Photo: Niklesh Jain


In the Girls' tournament, for the first time in the tournament it seemed like Shuvalova was in danger of losing. But Berdnyk didn't take her chances, and she eventually lost the game.

Berdnyk and Shuvalova | Photo: Niklesh Jain

 
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.c3 Ngf6 5.Qe2 a6 6.Ba4 b5 7.Bc2 Bb7 8.0-0 g6 9.d4 Bg7 10.Rd1 10.Re1 0-0 11.e5 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 10...0-0 11.e5 Bxf3 12.gxf3?! 12.Qxf3 dxe5 13.dxc5± 12...Nh5! Black is now better. 13.f4 e6 14.dxc5 d5 15.Qg4 Nxc5 16.Be3 Nd7 17.Nd2 Qe7 17...f5!? 18.Qh3 18.Qf3 Qh4 19.Nf1 g5-+ 18.exf6 Rxf6 18...Bh6 18.Nf1 f6 19.exf6 Qxf6 19...Ndxf6 20.Ng3 Nxf4 21.Bxf4 Qxf4 22.Qxe6+ Kh8 23.Qe3 Qf7 23...Qh4 24.Rxd5 Rae8! 24...Nf6 25.Qg5 25.Qg5 Qxg5 26.Rxg5 Ne5 24.Bb3 Rae8 25.Bxd5 Rxe3?! 25...Qf6 26.Bxf7 Rxg3+ 27.hxg3 Rxf7 28.a4 The resulting position is slightly better for White because the black minor pieces do not coordinate with each other. White on the other hand has two rooks who will create chaos on the board. While the position is still within the realms of a draw, Berdnyk couldn't hold on to it. As Shuvalova said after the game, she enjoyed playing this position as White. b4 29.cxb4 Bxb2 30.Rab1 Be5 31.Rbc1 Kg7 32.Rc6 Nb8 33.Re6 Bc7 34.Kg2 Kf8 35.b5 axb5 36.axb5 Nd7 37.Rc1 Bb6 38.Rc8+ Kg7 39.f4 Rf6 40.Re7+ Rf7 41.Rxf7+ Kxf7 42.Rc6 Be3 43.Kf3 Bg1 44.g4 Ke7 45.g5 Nb6 45...Kf7 46.Rc1 Bb6 47.Rh1 Nf8 and it was still not so easy to breakthrough. 46.Rc1 Bd4 47.Rh1 Ke6 48.Rxh7 Nd5 49.Ke4 Bg1 50.Rh1 Ba7 51.Rh6 Nc3+ 52.Kf3 Kf5 53.Rh7 Nxb5 54.Rf7+ Ke6 55.Rf6+ Ke7 56.Rxg6 Bd4 57.f5 Nd6 58.Re6+ Kd7 59.Kg4 Bc3 60.Re2 Ne8 61.Kh5 Nc7 62.f6 Nd5 63.f7 Bb4 64.Kh6 Bf8+ 65.Kh7 Nf4 66.Re8 1–0
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Shuvalova,P2412Berdnyk,M23491–02019B51FIDE WORLD JUNIOR (UNDER-20) GIRLS CHESS10.1

The final round

A draw was enough for Evgeny Shtembuliak to become the World Junior Champion. If you look at it, becoming the World Junior Champion not only gives you 3000 euros as the winner, but it also opens up new avenues for you. For example, the winner qualifies for the next World Cup, he also tends to get invited to several prestigious events like Tata Steel B-group, Biel Masters, Tepe Sigeman & Co. and others. Overall, you become a recognized figure in the chess world. So, quite a lot was at stake here. But Shtembuliak had two contradicting thoughts in his mind while he was playing: a draw meant the title, but he would tie with someone (Shant Sargsyan later won his game), a win would mean he would be the sole champion. The latter was tempting, but it involved fighting his demons on the board. And that he did with great self-confidence, taking a page out of Fabiano Caruana's book. When Caruana was at the Candidates 2018, he only needed a draw in the last round against Grischuk to get his match against Carlsen. But once the American got a winning position, he did not back down. He decided to go full throttle and scored the win! The same happened with Shtembuliak. Once he won the pawn and realized that things were going his way, he played with confidence and brought home the full point. With 9.0/11, he deservedly became the sole World Junior Champion.

Evgeny Shtembuliak shows his win over Volodar Murzin from the final round

 
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1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 Usually Volodar doesn't play this opening. 2...c6 3.cxd5 cxd5 3.Nc3 c6 4.cxd5 4.e4 is what Shtembuliak would have played on some other occasion. 4...exd5 5.Qc2 Nf6 5...Bd6 is another way to continue. 6.Bg5 Nbd7 7.e3 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 Nh5 10.Bd3 Nxg3 11.hxg3 Qe7 12.0-0-0 Nb6 13.e4 dxe4 14.Bxe4 Bg7 15.Nf3 Be6 16.Rhe1 g4! Excellent play by the youngster. He is matching move for move against his experienced rival. 16...0-0-0? 17.d5 Bxc3 18.Qxc3 Nxd5 19.Bxd5 Rxd5 20.Rxd5+- 16...0-0?! 17.Bh7+ Kh8 18.Bf5 17.Ne5 0-0-0 18.Nxf7!? Qxf7 19.Bg6 Qc7 19...Qd7 20.Rxe6± 20.Rxe6 Bxd4 21.Bf5 Kb8 22.Bxg4 White has won a pawn, but Black has a strong bishop on d4, a safe king on b8, and hence good compensation. Qg7 23.Bf3 Rd7!? 23...Nc4! 24.Ne4 24.Kb1 Rhd8 25.Rg6 Qf7 26.Bg4 24...Rhd8 25.Kb1 Nd5?! 25...Qf7!? 26.Bg4 26.Rxh6 Nc4 26...h5 27.Bh3∞ 26.Nc5! Bxc5 26...Nc3+ is what Murzin might have wanted to play but now 27.Qxc3 27.bxc3 Bxc5 27...Bxc3 28.Rxd7 Rxd7 28...Qh8 29.Rxb7+ Ka8 30.Bxc6+- 29.Re8+ Kc7 30.Ne6+ Kb6 31.Nxg7 Bxg7 32.Kc2± White should have good winning chances. 27.Qxc5 Qh7+ 28.Kc1 Nc7 29.Ree1 Nb5 30.Qe5+ Ka8 31.Bg4 31.a4 Nd4 31...Nc7 32.Qxc7 Rxd1+ 33.Rxd1 Qxc7 32.Rxd4 Rxd4 33.Qxd4 Rxd4 34.Re8+ 31...Rxd1+ 32.Rxd1 Qg8 33.Rxd8+ Qxd8 34.Bh5 White is now a piece up and it is instructive to see how Shtembuliak slowly but steadily converts this position into a win. Nd6 35.Bg6 a6 36.f4 Ka7 37.Bd3 Ne8 38.Qe3+ Ka8 39.Be2 Nf6 40.a3 Nd5 41.Qd4 Qe8 42.Kd2 h5 42...Qe7 43.Bf3 Nf6 44.g4± 43.Bf3 Qg6 44.Bxd5 cxd5 45.Qxd5 Qxg3 46.f5 h4 47.Ke2 Qf4 48.b4 h3 49.gxh3 Qh2+ 50.Ke3 Qxh3+ 51.Ke4 Qh4+ 52.Ke5 Qe7+ 53.Qe6 Qc7+ 54.Kd5 Qd8+ 55.Qd6 Qg8+ 56.Kc5 Qg1+ 57.Qd4 Qc1+ 58.Kd6 Qc6+ 59.Ke7 Qc7+ 60.Ke8 Qc6+ 61.Qd7 Qe4+ 62.Qe6 Qg4 63.Kf8 1–0
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Shtembuliak,E2577Murzin,V24331–02019D36open11.1

Shuvalova fought back from a difficult position to salvage a draw | Photo: Niklesh Jain

Shuvalova had a one point lead over the field. She was up against Song Yuxin from China. She landed in a tough situation after she lost a pawn around move 20, but fought back when her opponent made some mistakes and held a draw quite easily.

 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.a4 b4 9.d4 d6 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Nxe5 dxe5 12.Qxd8 Rxd8 13.Nd2 Bc5 14.Nf3 Ng4 15.Be3 Bxe3 16.fxe3 Be6 17.Bxe6 fxe6 18.h3 Nf6 19.Rad1 Rd6?! 19...Nxe4= 20.Nxe5 Rad8 21.Rxd6 Rxd6 22.Nd3 Nxe4 23.Nxb4 c5 24.Nd3 White is a pawn up. c4 25.Nf2 25.Ne5 Rd2 26.Rc1 c3 27.b4± White has her chances. 25...Nc5 26.Rd1?! 26.a5 26...Rb6 26...Rxd1+ 27.Nxd1 Nxa4= 27.Rd4 Nxa4 28.Nd1 Nxb2 29.Nxb2 Rxb2 30.Rxc4 Kf7 With this draw Shuvalova won the World Junior Girls title. ½–½
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Song,Y2292Shuvalova,P2412½–½2019C88FIDE WORLD JUNIOR (UNDER-20) GIRLS CHESS11.1

The fight for the silver medal in the open section was quite intense. Aram Hakobyan had the best tiebreak score, but he had the black pieces against Aravindh Chithambaram. This was not going to be an easy game for the Armenian. On the second board Shant Sargsyan faced Miguel Santos Ruiz with the black pieces. Fighting for a win in the final round with the black pieces is never easy, that too against a 2560 opponent. But Sargsyan managed to create imbalances right out of the opening. Playing 5...d7, he took his opponent out of theory. And then came the blackout moment.

 
Ruiz - Sargsyan
Position after 16...♛b7

Black has just played 16...b7 attacking the pawn on e4. 17.♘d5 or f3 are the natural moves to be played. Instead, Miguel just went 17.d2? completely forgetting about the e4 pawn. It's quite amazing that he could drag the game on for 94 moves. The above position is quite lost!

 
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bd7 6.g3 e5 7.Nde2 Bc6 8.Bg2 Nbd7 9.Nd5 Be7 10.Nec3 Rc8 11.0-0 0-0 12.b3 b5 13.Nxe7+ Qxe7 14.Qe2 Nc5 15.Rd1 Rfd8 16.Bb2 Qb7 Black already has a preferable position. But things aren't so bad for White. 17.Rd2? 17.f3 b4 18.Nb1 d5 19.exd5 Nxd5 20.Nd2 Yes, White has poor development, but it is much better than losing a pawn as he did in the game. 17...Ncxe4 18.Nxe4 Nxe4 19.Bxe4 Bxe4-+ Just a simple pawn up. 20.Rad1 Re8 20...Bf3 21.Qxe5! 21.Re1 21.Rxd6 Bf3-+ 21...Bf3 22.Qd3 Re6 23.Re3 e4 24.Qd4 Rg6 25.Qd5 Qd7 26.Rxf3 exf3 27.Qxf3 Qc6 28.Qd1 Re6 29.Bd4 a6 30.Be3 h6 31.Qg4 Rce8 32.h4 Rg6 33.Qf4 Rf6 34.Qg4 Re4 35.Qd1 Rfe6 36.Kh2 Qc7 37.Rd3 Qe7 38.Rc3 Qf6 39.Qd3 Qf3 40.Qd2 Qf5 41.Rd3 Qe5 42.Rd5 Rxh4+ 43.Kg2 Qe4+ 44.f3 Qxe3 44...Qg6-+ 45.Qxe3 Rxe3 46.gxh4 Re2+ 47.Kg3 Rxc2 48.Rxd6 Rxa2 Black is now two pawns up in the rook endgame. But as we know, these endgames are always tricky. Shant converts this well until a point. 49.Rd8+ Kh7 50.h5 g6 51.Rd7 Kg7 52.hxg6 Kxg6 53.Rd6+ f6 54.b4 Rb2 55.Rxa6 Rxb4 56.Rb6 h5 57.Rb8 Kf5 58.Rh8 h4+ 59.Kf2 Kg6 60.Ke3 Rc4 61.Rb8 b4 62.Kd3 Rc3+ 63.Ke4 b3 64.Kf4 h3 65.Kg3 h2 66.Kxh2 Rxf3 67.Kg2 Rc3 68.Rb5 f5 69.Kf2 Kg5 70.Rb4 f4 71.Rb8 Kg4 72.Rg8+ Kf5 73.Rb8 Ke4 74.Ke2 f3+ 75.Kd2 Rc2+ 76.Kd1 f2?! 76...Ra2! 77.Rxb3 f2-+ 77.Re8+ Kd3 78.Rd8+ Kc3 79.Rd3+ Kb4 80.Rxb3+ Kc4 81.Rf3 81.Kxc2 f1Q 82.Rc3+ Practically could have been a good idea as winning the queen versus rook endgame does require some effort. 81...Ra2 82.Rf8 Kd3 83.Rf3+ Ke4 84.Rf8 Ke3 85.Re8+ Kf3 86.Rf8+ Kg2 87.Rg8+ Kf1 88.Rg7 Ra8 89.Kd2 Rd8+ It's not usual to see the Lucena position cropping up in a game between two strong GMs. 90.Kc2 Rd5 91.Rg8 Ke2 92.Re8+ Kf3 93.Rf8+ Ke3 94.Kc3 Rc5+ A game of nerves that was won by Shant. 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Santos Ruiz,M2560Sargsyan,S25800–12019B56WORLD JUNIOR (UNDER-20) OPEN CHESS CHAMP11.2

With this win Sargsyan moved to 8½/11, just half a point behind the leader. Miguel Santos Ruiz on 7½/11 had to settle for the fourth place.

Armenian youngster Shant Sargsyan had a successful trip | Photo: Niklesh Jain

Sargsyan also won Silver at World Youth under-18 and now another Silver at World Junior.

Aram Hakobyan faced a few tense moments before holding Aravindh Chithambaram to a draw | Photo: Niklesh Jain

 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bf4 c5 7.dxc5 Qa5 8.e3 Nbd7 9.Nge2 Nxc5 10.a3 Nce4 11.Rc1 11.Qb3 Bxc3+ 12.Nxc3 Nxc3 13.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 14.bxc3 11...Bxc3+ 12.Nxc3 0-0 13.Bd3?! 13.f3 Nxc3 14.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 15.bxc3 As this pawn structure is better for White, it may have been better to play this immediately and avoid the move Rc1 as the rook is anyway doing nothing much on c1. 13...Nxc3 14.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 15.Rxc3 d4! A nice move that helps Black come closer to equality. 16.Rc4 dxe3 17.Bxe3 Be6 18.Rh4 h6 19.f3 Rfd8 20.Ke2 Nd5 21.Rc1 Nxe3 22.Kxe3 Rd7 23.Rd4 Re7 24.Kf2 Kf8 25.Bb5 a6 26.Ba4 b5 27.Bd1 Rd7 28.Rxd7 Bxd7 29.Rc7 Ke7 30.f4 Kd8 31.Rc5 Rc8 32.Rxc8+ Bxc8= 33.Ke3 Kc7 34.Kd4 Kd6 35.b4 Bd7 36.Bf3 Bc8 37.h4 f6 38.Be4 Bd7 39.Bg6 Bc8 40.Bc2 Bd7 41.Bb1 Be6 42.Be4 Bd7 43.g3 Bc8 44.Bd5 Bd7 45.Bg8 Bf5 46.Bb3 Bc8 47.Ke4 Bd7 48.Bg8 Bc8 49.Bh7 Bd7 50.Bf5 Be6 51.g4 Bf7 52.Kd4 g5 53.fxg5 fxg5 54.hxg5 hxg5 55.Bc8 Be8 56.Ke4 Bg6+ 57.Ke3 Be8 58.Kd4 Bc6 59.Bxa6 Bd7 60.Ke4 Kc6 61.Ke5 Kb6 62.Bxb5 Kxb5 63.a4+ Kxb4 64.Kf6 Kxa4 ½–½
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Aravindh,C2609Hakobyan,A2561½–½2019E35WORLD JUNIOR (UNDER-20) OPEN CHESS CHAMP11.3

Aram speaks after winning the Bronze medal

Mobina Alinasab Bibisara Assaubayeva

Alinasab swindled Assaubayeva in the final round | Photo: Niklesh Jain

Mobina Alinasab had absolutely no chances against Bibisara Assaubayeva as she landed in an utterly lost position. But the Iranian girl didn't give up and managed to swindle her opponent!

The final moments of Alinasab's win

 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.d4 Bg4 10.Be3 Bh5 11.Nbd2 Na5 12.Bc2 Ng4 13.Nf1 Nxe3 14.Nxe3 Bg5 15.b3 exd4 16.cxd4 Nc6 17.g4 Bxe3 18.gxh5 Bf4 19.Kh1 Qd7 20.e5 dxe5 21.Qd3 f5 22.dxe5 Qe8 22...Qxd3 23.Bxd3 Rae8 23.Qc3 Ne7 24.Qd4 24.Rad1= 24...Bh6 25.Rad1 Qc6 26.Qd3 Rad8 27.Qe2 Bf4 28.a4 Bd2 29.axb5 axb5 30.Rg1 Qxc2 31.Rxd2 Rxd2 32.Qxd2 Qxd2 33.Nxd2 Rd8 34.Nf3 h6 35.Rc1 c6 36.e6 Rd6 37.Re1 Kf8 38.Kg2 g5 39.hxg6 Nxg6 40.Ra1 Nf4+ 41.Kg3 Nxe6 Black is now a clean pawn up. 42.Ne5 Nd4 43.Kf4 Nxb3 44.Ra8+ Ke7 45.Kxf5 Rf6+ 46.Ke4 Nc5+ 46...Rxf2 47.Nxc6+ Kd6 47.Ke3 Kd6 48.f4 Ne6 49.Nd3 Rf5 50.Ra2 Nc7 51.Ke4 Rf8 52.Rg2 Nd5 53.Rg6+ Rf6 54.f5 c5 55.Rg8 Nc3+ 55...Re6+! would have sealed the deal. 56.fxe6 56.Kf3 Re3+-+ 56...Nf6+ 57.Kf5 Nxg8-+ White can already resign here. 56.Kf4 c4 57.Ne5 Kd5 58.Ng4 Rd6 58...Rf7 59.f6 The f-pawn becomes too strong now. There is no time for Bibisara to save herself! Ke6 60.Re8+ Kf7 61.Re7+ Kf8 62.Rb7 h5 63.Ke5 Rd1 64.Ke6 Rd8 65.Rf7+ Ke8 66.Re7+ Kf8 67.Ne5 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Alinasab,M2239Assaubayeva,B23811–02019C91FIDE WORLD JUNIOR (UNDER-20) GIRLS CHESS11.2

Iranian players who faced quite a tough event in Delhi with both Aryan Gholami and Amin Tabatabaei withdrawing, Mobina's silver medal was a silver lining! She gave the fans of her country something to cheer about.

Elizaveta Solozhenkina beat her compatriot Dinara Dordzhieva in the final round to clinch the bronze medal | Photo: Amruta Mokal

 
Solozhenkina - Dordzhieva
Position after 9...Nge7

As we have already seen, last round pressure can make people blunder big time. White to play and win some material.

Although Solozhenkina won a pawn early on in the game with 10.xb5! in the above position, she couldn't keep her advantage intact. Black got quite a bit of counterplay. However, Dordzhieva could not manage to keep the accuracy level going and after a long struggle, it ended in Solozhenkina's favour.

Annotated games by WIM Angela Franco
 
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3 a6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 b5 6.Bd3 Qb6 7.Nf3 Qc7 8.0-0 Nc6 9.Re1 Nge7 10.Bxb5! Very alert. Ng6 10...axb5 11.Nxb5 Qb8 12.Nd6+ Kd8 13.Nxf7++- 11.Bf1 Bd6 12.h3 Bb7 13.Be3 0-0 14.a3 Nce5 15.Nxe5 Bxe5 16.Bd4 Bh2+ 17.Kh1 f5 18.Qd3 Bd6 19.Rad1 fxe4 20.Nxe4 Be7 21.Qc3 Qf4 22.Ng3 Rac8 23.Qb3 Bd5 24.c4 Bc6 25.Bxg7?! Qxf2 25...Kxg7 26.Nh5++- 25...Bc5!∞ 26.Bxf8 Rxf8 27.Ne4 Qh4 28.Qg3 Rf4 29.Qxh4 Bxh4 30.Nc5 Bxe1 31.Rxe1 a5 32.Kg1 a4 33.Bd3 Rd4 34.Be4 Rxc4 35.Bxc6 dxc6 36.Nxe6 Rc2 37.Re4 Rxb2 38.Rxa4 Ne5 39.Ra7 h6 40.a4 Nc4 41.a5 Ra2 42.a6 Nd6 43.Rg7+ Kh8 44.Rg6 Rxa6 45.Rxh6+ Kg8 46.Kh2 Nf5 47.Rf6 Ne3 48.Rf3 Nd5 49.Rf8+ Kh7 50.Rc8 Ne3 51.g4 Nd5 52.Nd4 Ra2+ 53.Kg3 Ra3+ 54.Nf3 Rc3 55.h4 c5 56.h5 Nf6 57.Rc7+ Kg8 58.h6 Rc4 59.Rg7+ Kf8 60.Ne5 Re4 61.Rf7+ Kg8 62.Rxf6 Rxe5 63.Kf4 Rd5 64.Rf5 Rd6 65.g5 Rc6 66.Rf6 Rc8 67.Ke3 c4 68.Kd2 Kh7 69.Kc3 Rc5 70.Rf7+ Kg8 71.h7+ Kh8 72.g6 Rc8 73.Re7 Rd8 74.Re6 Rc8 75.Re4 Kg7 76.Rxc4 Rd8 77.Rc6 Kh8 78.Kc4 Kg7 79.Kc5 Kh8 80.Kb6 Kg7 81.Kb7 Rd7+ 82.Rc7 Kh8 83.Kb8 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Solozhenkina,E2283Dordzhieva,D23351–02019FIDE WORLD JUNIOR (UNDER-20) GIRLS CHESS11.4
Aakanksha,H2181Antova,G23181–02019girls11.5
Berdnyk,M2349Priyanka,N22481–02019girls11.3

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Such a dynamic and popular opening as the Najdorf is developing the whole time. On this download, Daniel King updates lines that were included on his DVD but also responds to viewers’ requests, considering lines that he omitted from his original repertoir


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Sagar is an International Master from India with two GM norms. He loves to cover chess tournaments, as that helps him understand and improve at the game he loves so much. He is the co-founder and CEO of ChessBase India, the biggest chess news portal in the country. His YouTube channel has over a million subscribers, and to date close to a billion views. ChessBase India is the sole distributor of ChessBase products in India and seven adjoining countries, where the software is available at a 60% discount. compared to International prices.

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