Gukesh wins the Chennai Masters, Arjun second and Harikrishna third

by Shahid Ahmed
12/21/2023 – D Gukesh drew his final-round game against Pentala Harikrishna. Arjun Erigaisi defeated Sanan Sjugirov. Both Gukesh and Arjun ended up with the same 4½/7 score. Gukesh won the Chennai Masters on tie-breaks, Arjun was placed second. Pavel Eljanov drew against Levon Aronian. Thus, Harikrishna and Eljanov finished with 4/7 each. Harikrishna secured third place. The objective of organizing this event was certainly a huge success. The top three places were claimed by Indian players. This triumph has moved Gukesh ahead of Anish Giri in the FIDE Circuit leaderboard. Sai Akhil Anand designed and helped with the 'Draw of Lots' in the opening ceremony and the closing ceremony was graced by the one and only Vishy Anand. It goes without saying that the tournament brought a lot of Anand (meaning joy) to all. | Photos: Shahid Ahmed
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.

Making the most out of the opportunity

The final standings were decided based on tie-breaks. However, the prize money was shared between the players of the same point group. The top three prizes were - ₹1500000 (US$18000), ₹1000000 (US$12000) and ₹800000 (US$9,600) along with a trophy each respectively.

Champion - D Gukesh 4½/7

He believed in me when I didn't in this period - D Gukesh after winning Chennai Grand Masters 2023 | Video: ChessBase India

I had almost given up for the Candidates spot - Gukesh | Video: ChessBase India

Runner-up - Arjun Erigaisi 4½/7

It could have been better or worse - Arjun Erigaisi finishes second on tie-breaks at Chennai Masters | Video: ChessBase India

Second runner-up - Pentala Harikrishna 4/7

It is one of those moments, whatever you do, you will be the villain - Pentala Harikrishna | Video: ChessBase India

Gukesh wins the Chennai Grand Masters 2023, Arjun finishes second and Harikrishna third | Video: ChessBase India

Chennai Grand Masters 2023 official logo

The game that could decide Gukesh's Candidates spot - Harikrishna vs Gukesh | Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

Gukesh survived the Harikrishna challenge to win the tournament

Arjun - Sjugirov: 1-0

Arjun Erigaisi had never beaten Sanan Sjugirov until today. He was determined to score the full point, and that's what he played for.

Arjun - Sanan
Position after 10.Kf2

9.Ra2 followed by 10.Kf2 certainly showed Arjun's intent early in the game.

Position after 31...Qe7

Here Arjun missed 32.f6 and played 32.Rb2 instead. While f6 in the above position would have ended things a bit earlier, nevertheless he executed it three moves later and the outcome went in his favor as the position demanded.

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Nc6 7.e4 d6 8.Ne2 h6 9.Ra2 Qa5 10.Kf2 Qc7 11.d5 Ne5 12.Ng3 0-0 13.a4 Qa5 14.Qc2 Qa6 15.Ra3 Re8 16.Qa2 Qa5 17.Be2 Ng6 18.Rd1 e5 19.Bd3 Nh7 20.Nf5 Qd8 21.g3 Ne7 22.Kg2 h5 23.Ne3 Rf8 24.Qb1 Bd7 25.Ra2 h4 26.Nf5 Nxf5 27.exf5 Qf6 28.g4 Rab8 29.Rf1 Kh8 30.h3 Rg8 31.a5 Qe7 32.Rb2 32.f6 Nxf6 33.Bg5 32...Bc8 33.Be3 Qd8 34.Qe1 Qxa5 35.f6 g6 36.Rb5 Qa3 37.Bc1 Qa1 38.Kh1 Bd7 39.Rb3 Qa5 40.Qxh4 Qd8 41.g5 Bf5 42.Be2 a6 43.Rg1 b5 44.cxb5 axb5 45.Bxb5 Qa5 46.c4 Ra8 47.Bc6 Rab8 48.Ra3 Qb4 49.Ra7 Rbf8 50.Kh2 Qc3 51.Qf2 e4 52.Bf4 exf3 53.Bxd6 Rb8 54.Bb5 Rbe8 55.Bxe8 Rxe8 56.Re7 Ra8 57.Rge1 1–0
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Erigaisi,A2727Sjugirov,S27031–02023E20Chennai Grand Masters 20237.2

Arjun Erigaisi on his epic comeback at the Chennai Grand Masters | Video: ChessBase India

Arjun Erigaisi vs Sanan Sjugirov | Video: ChessBase India

Arjun Erigaisi registered his third win of the event, allowing him to gain 8.3 rating points

GM Pavel Eljanov - GM Levon Aronian: ½-½

Predke - Maghsoodloo: 0-1

GM Alexandr Predke played only one rated game against GM Parham Maghsoodloo a few months ago. Predke won that game. It was time for Maghsoodloo to deliver the equalizer.

Predke - Parham
Position after 14.0-0

White made a wild decision to go for 14.0-0 despite his kingside being quite exposed. Perhaps the idea was to exploit the f-file, which did not work out. 14...Nb6 15.e4 Bg4 16.Ne2 dxe4 17.Bxe4 c6 18.Ne5 Qh4 19.Rf4 f5 20.Bxc6+

Position after 20.Bxc6+

White was determined to score his first victory of the event, so he went all-in: 20.Bxc6+ bxc6 21.Qxc6+ Kd8 22.Qb7?? Rh7 and it's over.

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Position not in LiveBook
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bf4 Bb4 8.e3 Ne4 9.Qc2 g5 10.Bg3?! 10.Be5!? is more critical. 10...h5 11.h4 Nxg3 12.fxg3 gxh4 13.Bd3?! This is extremely risky. 13.gxh4 Qe7 14.Bd3= is more natural as Qxe3+? is met by 15.Kd1+- 13...hxg3 14.0-0 Nb6 15.e4 Bg4 16.Ne2? 16.exd5 0-0 17.Ne4 is called for and unclear. 16...dxe4?! The solid 16...c6!-+ is even better. 17.Bxe4 c6 18.Ne5? Black will come first. Sow White had to deal with Black's attack with 18.Bf5 Qe7 19.Nxg3 Qe3+ 20.Qf2 to limit the damage. 18...Qh4? The human move, which objectivly is too direct. The unfindable engine wins runs as follows: 18...Bxe2! 19.Bxc6+ 19.Qxe2 Qxd4+ 20.Kh1 0-0-0-+ 19...bxc6 20.Qxc6+ Nd7 21.Rxf7 Rh6 22.Qxh6 Nxe5 23.Rf4 Qd6 24.Qh8+ Kd7 25.Qh7+ Qe7 26.Qf5+ Qe6 27.Qh7+ Be7 28.dxe5 Rc8-+ 19.Rf4! The right way to open the king's escape road. f5! The best defense here is to counterattack. 19...Rf8? runs into 20.a3 Bd6 21.Bxc6+ Kd8 22.Bxb7= and 19...0-0-0? is met by 20.Nxc6 Rhe8 21.Nxg3 Qxg3 22.Nxa7+ Kb8 23.Nc6+ bxc6 24.Qxc6 Qe3+ 25.Kh1 Rd7 26.Qxb6+ Kc8= 20.Bxc6+ bxc6 21.Qxc6+ Kd8 22.Qb7? Now Black's attack comes first. 22.Nxg3! was forced to destroy Black's mating net, e,.g. Rf8 After 22...Qxg3? 23.Qf6+ Kc7 24.Qg7+= Black's king can not escape from the checks. 23.Qh6 Rc8 23...Qxg3? is met by 24.Qg5+ Kc7 25.Qg7+ Kd6 26.Qg6+ Ke7 27.Rf3 Qxe5 28.dxe5 Bxf3 29.Qg7+ Rf7 30.Qg5+ Kf8 31.Qh6+= 24.a3 Be7 25.Ne4 Rc2 26.Raf1 with fighting chances and all 3 results still possible over the board. The enigne claims that Black is for choice. 22...Rh7! 22...Rh7! 23.Qxh7 Qh2+ 24.Kf1 Bxe2+ 25.Kxe2 Qxg2+ 26.Ke3 Qd2+ 27.Kf3 Qf2# Even 22...Qh2+ 23.Kf1 Bxe2+?! works, but after 24.Kxe2 Rh7!-+ is finally forced. 0–1
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Predke,A2689Maghsoodloo,P27420–12023D35Chennai Grand Masters 20237.3

Alexandr Predke and Parham Maghsoodloo played an explosive game, which the latter won

Round 7 in progress

For more Round 7 photos, please click here.

Photo Gallery

Fourth place - Pavel Eljanov 4/7

Fifth place - Levon Aronian 3½/7

The banter between Anish Giri, Levon Aronian and Fabiano Caruana about Aronian's score is the funniest set of chess tweets you can read today

Sixth place - Parham Maghsoodloo 3½/7

Seventh place - Sanan Sjugirov 2½/7

Eighth place - Alexandr Predke 1½/7

All eight participants with Vishy Anand, GM Srinath Narayanan and the guests

D Gukesh with Vishy Anand after the final round | Photo: Sagar Shah

Gukesh with his parents Rajini Kanth and Padma Kumari | Photo: Sagar Shah

Gukesh and Vishnu's families | Photo: Sagar Shah

Harikrishna with his parents | Photo: Sagar Shah

Harikrishna and Anand's families | Photo: Sagar Shah

The Arbiters - IA Arasu B and IA Gopakumar Sudhakaran

Srinath Narayanan and Pentala Harikrishna's parents

The volunteers

For more prize distribution ceremony photos, please click here.

Interviews with the top 3 finishers and games will be published soon, stay tuned.

Gukesh surpassed Anish Giri and moved to no.2 spot in the FIDE Circuit 2023 with 87.36 points | Source: FIDE Circuit

All three Indians — Gukesh, Arjun and Harikrishna — gained Elo rating points | Source: 2700chess.com

This is a tournament many generations of players have expected - GM Vishnu Prasanna V | Video: ChessBase India

These little girls who are chess fans are future champions! | Video: ChessBase India

Replay Round 7 live stream

Replay the round-7 live commentary by IM Sagar Shah, Amruta Mokal with guest commentators GM Anish Giri and IM Sopiko Guramishvili | Video: ChessBase India

Replay Round 7 games

Round 7 results

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

Details

Final standings

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

Details

Links

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.
We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.