Sasikiran beats Donchenko to clinch Fagernes Open

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
4/18/2022 – Krishnan Sasikiran was one of three players who entered the final round of the Fagernes Open a half point behind sole leader Aryan Chopra. Sasikiran beat Alexander Donchenko with black to catch up with Aryan, who drew Frode Urkedal on top board. Out of the two Indians, it was Sasikiran who claimed the title, as he had the better tiebreak score at the end of the event. | Photo: Anna Shtourman

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Aryan and Urkedal reach the podium

A strong open tournament took place at the Norwegian city of Fagernes on April 10-17. The lineup was headed by three Indian players: Arjun Erigaisi, Krishnan Sasikiran and Nihal Sarin. They were closely followed rating-wise by Alexander Donchenko from Germany, Aram Hakobyan from Armenia and S.P. Sethuraman, also from India.

With such a well-represented Indian contingent, it is not surprising that five players from the South Asian country finished in the top 10. However, it was not the in-form Arjun who claimed first place, but 41-year-old Sasikiran. The experienced grandmaster from Madras was only the second player from India to reach a 2700 Elo rating, and is currently one of seven Indians belonging to the world top 100 in the official FIDE ratings list.

Sasikiran entered the final round in Fagernes a half point behind Aryan Chopra, the sole leader of the event. Facing Donchenko with black, Sasikiran showcased great tactical awareness to take down his German opponent in 55 moves. 

Aryan, a 20-year-old grandmaster from Delhi, drew Frode Urkedal with the white pieces on top board, which meant he and his older compatriot finished tied atop the standings table on 7 out of 9 points. Sasikiran was declared tournament winner thanks to his better tiebreak score. 

It was notwithstanding a strong performance by Aryan, who beat two grandmasters throughout the event — Stellan Brynell from Sweden and Kaido Kulaots from Estonia. Also satisfied with his performance must be Urkedal, who finished undefeated with a 2672 TPR to claim third place.

Ukrainian FM Semen Mitusov grabbed an IM norm, as he scored 5½ points after beating, among others, Sethuraman and Erik Blomqvist.

Fagernes Chess Open 2022

Top 4 in the GM group: Frode Urkedal (3rd), Aram Hakobyan (4th), Krishnan Sasikiran (1st) and Aryan Chopra (2nd) | Photo: Tom Eriksen

 
Donchenko, Alexander26360–1Sasikiran, Krishnan2650
Fagernes GM 2022
17.04.2022[TA + CC]
1.c4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.0-0 e5 6.d3 Ne7 7.Nc3 7.e4 gains popularity. 0-0 A07: Reti Opening: New York and Capablanca Systems. 8.Qb3 Na6 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.Bg5 f6 11.Bd2 Kh8 12.Rfc1 Nc7N Predecessor: 12...b6 13.a4 Be6 14.d4 e4 15.Ne1 Nc6 16.Nc2 Na5 17.Qa2 Nc4 18.Bf4 Qd7 ½-½ (43) Holtorf,P-Segeth,A DESC email 2010 13.Ne1 Rb8 14.a4 Nc6 15.Nc2 15.Nxd5? Nd4! 16.Qc4 Nxd5 17.Bxd5 Nxe2+ 18.Kg2 Nxc1 19.Rxc1 Bf5-+ 15...Be6 16.Nb5 Rf7 16...d4!? 17.Qa3 Nd5= 17.d4 a6 18.Nxc7 Rxc7 19.e4 Donchenko fights for the centre.
19...Rd7 20.Rd1 20.exd5 Bxd5 21.Bxd5 Rxd5 20.Bc3= 20...Bf7 Strongly threatening ...dxe4. Don't play 20...Nxd4 21.Nxd4 exd4 22.Bf4= 21.exd5 Bxd5 22.Bxd5 Rxd5 23.Ne3 Rxd4 23...Rd7!? 24.d5 Nd4 24.Bc3 Rd7 25.Nd5?
Loses the game. 25.Rxd7 Qxd7 26.Rd1 25...Qg8!-+ 26.Rd2 Rbd8 Worse is 26...Nd4 27.Bxd4 Rxd5 28.Be3 Rxd2 29.Qxg8+ Kxg8 30.Bxd2 27.Rad1 Nd4 28.Bxd4 And now Be3 would win. Rxd5 Pin Stronger than 28...Qxd5 29.Qxd5 Rxd5 30.Be3 Rxd2 31.Rxd2 Rxd2 32.Bxd2 29.Be3 Rxd2 30.Qxg8+ Kxg8 31.Rxd2 Rxd2 32.Bxd2 Endgame KB-KB Kf7 33.f3? Ke6 34.b3 Kd5 35.Bc3 Bh6 36.Kf2 f5 37.Ke2 e4 38.h3 Bc1 39.g4? 39.Bf6 Ba3 40.g4 39...exf3+ 40.Kxf3 fxg4+ 41.hxg4 Bg5 The time control has passed, and there is very little White can do to fight for a draw. 42.Bb2 h5 43.gxh5 gxh5 44.Bc3 Be7 45.Kf4 h4 46.Kf3 Bd6 47.Kg4 Bg3 47...Ke4 48.Ba5 Kd3 49.Kxh4 Bf4 50.Kg4 Bd2 51.Bb6 Kc3 52.Kf5 Kxb3 53.a5 Ka4 54.Ke4 Bxa5 55.Be3 48.Kf3 Be5 Black wins. 49.Be1 h3 50.Bf2 Bd6 51.Be3 h2 52.Kg2 Ke4 53.Bd2 Kd3 54.Be1 Kc2 55.b4 b5 Weighted Error Value: White=0.51/Black=0.12 (very precise)
0–1

Final standings

Pl Name i-Elo Points TPR
1 GM Krishnan Sasikiran 2650 7 2621 (+1,00)
2 GM Chopra Aryan 2592 7 2618 (+4,60)
3 GM Frode Olav Olsen Urkedal 2539 2672 (+17,60)
4 GM Aram Hakobyan 2612 2642 (+5,90)
5 GM Arjun Erigaisi 2675 6 2661 (-0,20)
6 GM Emre Can 2578 6 2630 (+8,10)
7 GM Kaido Kulaots 2529 6 2618 (+12,30)
8 GM Alexander Donchenko 2619 6 2593 (-0,90)
9 GM Nihal Sarin 2648 6 2582 (-5,10)
10 GM S.P. Sethuraman 2610 6 2543 (-5,50)
11 GM Erik Blomqvist 2550 6 2497 (-3,20)
12 CM Ludvig Carlsson 2411 6 2479 (+7,40)
13 IM Mads Vestby-Ellingsen 2370 6 2374 (+1,40)
14 GM Tiger Hillarp 2511 2550 (+6,50)
15 FM Semen Mitusov 2274 2516 (+53,60)

...71 players


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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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