Reykjavik Open: Four co-leaders as Andersen beats Jarmula

A diverse lineup

Despite lacking players rated 2700 or above, the Kvika Reykjavík Open is proving to be a very entertaining event. The presence of young rising stars, especially from India and the United States, adds interest to the traditional Icelandic tournament. Moreover, we are getting to see strong players from Scandinavian countries who do not play very often in the European circuit who are now fighting for first place with their more active colleagues.

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With three rounds to go, four players are sharing the lead on 5 out of 6 points. Mads Andersen, a 3-time Danish champion, defeated former sole leader Lukasz Jarmula in Sunday’s early round, thus climbing to shared first place. Also 5 points have been collected by 59-year-old Jóhann Hjartarson, a 5-time Icelandic champion, who defeated Hans Niemann in round 6. The two multiple national champions are joined by 22-year-old Max Warmerdam from the Netherlands and 16-year-old wunderkind Praggnanandhaa from India.

Boards 3 and 4 during round 5 —  Icelandic GMs Hedinn Steingrimsson and Hjorvar Steinn Gretarsson thinking while his rivals Praggnanandhaa and Hans Niemann have gone for a walk | Photo: Thorsteinn Magnusson

In a highlight of round 6, Pragg was paired up against an even younger opponent, none other than Abhimanyu Mishra, the youngest-ever grandmaster in history, aged 13. Pragg had the white pieces and found a nice tactical shot in the early middlegame.

After 19.Nb5 Black gets a rook and a knight for the queen with 19...Bxc4 20.Nxc7 Bxc7 21.Qd7 Rc8 22.Re1. However, White is the one in the driver’s seat, albeit in a very complicated position.

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Pragg showed great strategic knowledge and tactical awareness to keep the initiative all throughout the middlegame. Eventually, after simplifications, the teenagers reached an endgame with a queen against a rook and a bishop, in which White had a strong passer on the a-file.

Pragg did not fall for any trap set up by his tenacious opponent, who was looking to get some kind of fortress position, as he ended up getting the full point on move 79.

13-year-old Abhimanyu Mishra | Photo: Thorsteinn Magnusson

Warmerdam, who is now sharing the lead, defeated Simon Williams in round 6. The latter came from scoring a remarkable, tactical win over Raunak Sadhwani. The ‘Ginger GM’, true to his style, played the Dutch Defence, advanced his army on the kingside, and pushed ‘Harry the h-pawn’ down the board when he got a chance.

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Sadhwani, in fact, had a better position, but finding all the right moves amid a myriad of tactical complications is never easy. Williams was in his element, and punished his young opponent’s mistake to get the full point.

Simon Williams | Photo: Thorsteinn Magnusson

Standings after round 6

...245 players

Games from round 6

Replay all available games from the tournament at Live.ChessBase.com

Links

• Official site
• Kvika Reykjavik Open 2022: No Covid-restrictions