Javokhir Sindarov powers Continental Kings to GCL Finals

Magnus' win against Firouzja goes in vain

The simple reason PBG Alaskan Knights and Triveni Continental Kings are in the Finals is because they are performing as a team. All six of their representatives were able to win the matches when their team needed the most. The same cannot be said for the star-studded Alpine SG Pipers. The team lacked harmony. Despite getting good positions, they could not convert when it mattered the most. So for the second consecutive year, despite being favourites on the paper, they crashed out.

upGrad Mumba Masters - Ganges Grandmasters: 0-3 (4-12)

The first result was a draw between Vidit Gujrathi and Arjun Erigaisi. IM Nurgyul Salimova drew with GM Harika Dronavalli. The 'Icon' battle between Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Vishy Anand ended in a draw. Raunak Sadhwani shared the point with Volodar Murzin. Humpy ran out of time in a winning position against Vaishali. Peter Svidler lost on time against Parham Maghsoodloo.

Master Class Vol. 12: Viswanathan Anand

This DVD allows you to learn from the example of one of the best players in the history of chess and from the explanations of the authors how to successfully organise your games strategically, and how to keep your opponent permanently under pressure.

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave - Vishy Anand: 1-1

Peter Svidler started making recovery from a losing endgame, but he ran out of time against Parham Maghsoodloo

R Vaishali scored her lone win of the tournament against Koneru Humpy in a completely losing position - she flagged Humpy

GM R Vaishali was announced as the replacement of former World Championship Challenger, Ian Nepomniachtchi, for the upcoming WR Chess Masters.

"Vishy Anand congratulated me for saving the team" - Nurgyul Salimova | ChessBase India

GM Harika Dronavalli - IM Nurgyul Salimova: 1-1

The Draw Claim rule is ambiguous - GM Srinath Narayanan | Video: ChessBase India

upGrad Mumba Masters - Ganges Grandmasters: 0-3 (4-12) | Photo: Official site

Replay uMM-GG games

American Gambits - PBG Alaskan Knights: 0-3 (5-14)

The first result of the match was a draw on the 'Icon' board between Hikaru Nakamura and Anish Giri. Nihal Sarin defeated Jonas Buhl Bjerre for the second time at this event and this was certainly a welcome victory for him after losing his last two games. IM Bibisara Assaubayeva won against the Women's World Championship Challenger, GM Zhongyi Tan. Mamedyarov turned around from a minus position to win against Yangyi. IM Alina Kashlinskaya defeated GM Elisabeth Paehtz.

A Supergrandmaster's Guide to Openings Vol.1 & 2

This video course includes GM Anish Giri's deep insights and IM Sagar Shah's pertinent questions to the super GM. In Vol.1 all the openings after 1.e4 are covered.

Hikaru Nakamura and Anish Giri had a well contested draw

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov played 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Ng8 something that has not been played a lot at the top-level chess in an over-the-board tournament. He was worse and losing for the better part of the game. However, Shakh is resourceful. He became World Rapid 2013 champion for a reason. Eventually, his opponent, Yangyi Yu, fumbled on the way to the finish line: 38.Rd8?? Rxf6 -+ 39.Rxe8 Re6 and the tables turned completely in Black's favour.

Here Black's technique was slightly inaccurate, as 49...Kg2 in time trouble created some fighting chance for his opponent. 50.Rg7+ Kxh2 51.Rf7 Kg3 52.a4 Rg5 53.a5 Rg4+ 54.Kc3?? was another mistake by White bxa5-+ and once again Black was winning. 55.b6 Rb4 56.b7 Rb1? Simply f2 was winning for Black. 57.Kc2?? was the final blunder by White. Rb5-+ 58.Kc3 a4 59.Kc4 Rb1 60.Kc5 a3 and Black won.

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov undeveloped his piece when he went 2...Ng8 and managed to beat Yangyi Yu - how many players can do that?

IM Bibisara Assaubayeva scored the sole win for her team against GM Zhongyi Tan

IM Alina Kashlinskaya found the correct sequence 17...Nxc3 18.bxc4 b4 19.Qb3 Bxe5 20.dxe5 d4 and Black got a substantial advantage. White kept the fight going. However, it did not turn out to be enough. Black thwarted all attempts to stir up trouble.

IM Alina Kashlinskaya is at the peak of her career

Black might not have a lot of pieces on the board. However, 27...Ndxe5! was necessary to open either the bishop's path or spring the knight into action. 28.dxe5 Nxe5 29.Bg2 Nf3+ 30.Kf1 d4 31.Nd2 Qxb5+ 32.Re2 d3 and it's over. Nihal Sarin is back.

Nihal Sarin scored an important win, just before the finals

A walk with the 'Icon' of his team, Anish Giri, definitely helped Nihal Sarin to clear his mind.

American Gambits - PBG Alaskan Knights: 0-3 (5-14) | Photo: Official site

Replay AG - PBG AK games

Alpine SG Pipers - Triveni Continental Kings: 0-3 (9-7)

The first result was a draw between Teimour Radjabov and Richard Rapport. Alexandra Kosteniuk drew with Yifan Hou. Valentina Gunina defeated Kateryna Lagno. Alireza Firouzja lost on time against Magnus Carlsen. Javokhir Sindarov won an absolute thriller against Daniel Dardha.

Magnus Carlsen got the upper hand in the middlegame: 23...d5 24.c5 e5 25.Nf5 Bxf5 26.exf5 Nf4 27.Bxh4 Ng4 28.fxg4 Bxh4-+ Firouzja fought back and in time scramble got himself back in the game.

Magnus missed a few winning chances in time scramble. Just when it seemed like Firouzja might escape with a draw, he ran out of time.

Master Class Vol.17 - Boris Spassky

In this video course, experts including Dorian Rogozenco, Mihail Marin, Karsten Müller and Oliver Reeh, examine the games of Boris Spassky. Let them show you which openings Spassky chose to play, where his strength in middlegames were and much more.

Alireza Firouzja vs Magnus Carlsen, Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich made the ceremonial first move of the virtual Semifinal on Alireza Firouzja and Magnus Carlsen's board

Alireza Firouzja and Magnus Carlsen had an absolute thriller of a game

Magnus Carlsen's prediction came true. He won the game but lost the match.

R Praggnanandhaa played excellent chess and got himself a substantial advantage early in the middlegame. However, he is still yet to hit his best form because he missed plenty of winning opportunities. 33...Rf1+ 34.Rxf1 exf1Q+ 35.Kxf1 g2+ was one of the simpler wins. Instead, the game continued 33...g2 34.Rdxe2 Rxh3 35.Bb6 Rf8 and again the better choice was Rh1+ 36.Kf2 h4. Black missed a few more chances and the game petered out to a draw.

R Praggnanandhaa's win would have propelled his team towards the Finals

Teimour Radjabov got himself a good position against Richard Rapport, however, that did not affect the overall outcome of the match

GM Valentina Gunina prevailed over GM Kateryna Lagno in a battle of World Blitz Women's champions

Javokhir Sindarov gained a pawn after 25.Rxc8 Rxc8 26.Bxa7. It obviously did not affect the result of the match, but the point is he kept making correct practical decisions and his opponent, Daniel Dardha, failed to do the same in time trouble. White won the game eventually - in a lightning fast finish which kept everyone on the edge of their seat. This win ensured Triveni Continental Kings advancing to the Finals for the second consecutive year, and the star-studded Alpine SG Pipers got eliminated.

I found some good and tricky moves in my opponent's low time - Javokhir Sindarov | Video: ChessBase India

Alpine SG Pipers - Triveni Continental Kings: 0-3 (7-9)

Replay ASGP - TCK games

Interviews with Javokhir Sindarov and Srinath Narayanan will be published soon. Stay tuned!

Ganges Grandmasters beats upGrad Mumba Masters | Video: ChessBase India

PBG Balaskan Knights defeats American Gambits | Video: ChessBase India

Triveni Continental Kings eliminated the Alpine SG Pipers | Video: ChessBase India

Standings after Round 10

Attacking with the Jobava London System

The Jobava London System is a minor form of the London System. White tries to play Lf4 quickly followed by Nc3.

PBG Alaskan Knights will face Triveni Continental Kings in the finals | Photo: Official site

Day 10 matches

Final 1: PBG Alaskan Knights vs Triveni Continental Kings from 2:15 p.m. local time

Final 2: Triveni Continental Kings vs PBG Alaskan Knights from 3:30 p.m. local time

Scoring System for Game Points (GP)

Scoring System for Match Points (MP)

• The Final will be played over best-of-2 matches. There will be a drawing of lots to determine which Team is White in Match 1, this team will then be black in Match 2. The team who wins more matches will be the Champion. In the event of a tie:
• There will be a playoff blitz fixture, which will be a best-of-2 match. The team that was white in Match 1 and black in Match 2 will play white in Match 3 and black in Match 4. The time limit for each game will be all moves in 3 minutes plus 2 seconds. The Team that wins the most matches in the fixture will be the Champion.
• If the Teams remain tied, there shall be a drawing of lots to determine a board from 1 to 6. The player from each Team on this board will then participate in a sudden-death blitz game. The time limit for this game will be 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move. The player from the Team who was white in Matches 1 and 3, will play white in this game.
• If the sudden death blitz game is drawn, then the procedure is repeated except that the colour of the player from each team alternates from the colour the team had in the preceding sudden death blitz game.
• If the tie remains unbroken, the above procedure is repeated until a sudden death blitz game has a winner.

Links

Chess-results

Tournament Regulations

Tech Mahindra Global Chess League: Official site, facebook, twitter, instagram, youtube and linkedin

Tech Mahindra: Official site, facebook, twitter, youtube and linkedin