Five out of five
In the rapid-chess section of the Tata Steel India event, the five Indian participants did quite well but did not excel. Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu was the best among the young superstars, as he got third place. Perhaps the World Cup runner-up needed some time to re-acclimatise after returning from Baku — the 18-year-old had an outstanding performance on the first day of the blitz tournament.
Praggnanandhaa started with five consecutive wins, including victories over the in-form duo of Teimour Radjabov and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Qe7 4...Be7 5.Bg2 d5 5.Bg2 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bxd2+ 7.Nbxd2 d6 8.0-0 0-0 9.e3 9.e4 e5 10.d5 Nb8 11.Ne1 a5 12.Nd3 Na6 9...e5 10.Qc2 Re8 11.d5 Nb8 12.e4 a5 13.Ne1 Na6 14.Nd3 Nd7 15.Rae1 Ndc5 16.Nxc5 Nxc5= 17.f4 Bd7 18.Qc3 18.f5 f6 19.g4 b5 20.Rf2 18...b5 19.b3?! 19.Rf2!? b4 20.Qe3 a4 21.f5 19...b4 20.Qe3 a4 21.f5 f6 22.g4 axb3 23.axb3 Ra2 24.Ra1 Rea8 25.Rxa2 Rxa2 26.h4 Be8 27.Bf3 27.g5 Bh5!? 27...Rc2 27...Qd8 28.Bd1 Qa8 29.g5 Qa7 30.Rf2 Nd7 28.Ra1 Qd8 29.Bd1 Rc3 30.Qf2 Qb8 31.Kf1 Kf8 32.g5 Qd8 33.Qg2 Nd3 34.Be2 Nf4 35.Qg1 Rc2 36.Ke1 Rc3 37.Kd1 37...Rh3 37...Nh3 38.Qg2 fxg5 39.hxg5 Nxg5-+ 38.gxf6?! 38.Bf3 Rxh4 39.gxf6 Qxf6 40.Ra8 38...Qxf6 39.Nf3? 39.Bf3 Qxh4-+ 39.Qg5 Rxh4-+ 39...Nxe2 40.Kxe2 Bh5 41.Ra8+ Kf7 42.Ra7 Bxf3+ 43.Kd2 Qh6+ 44.Qg5 Qxg5+ 45.hxg5 Bxe4 46.c5 Ke8 47.Rxc7 dxc5 0–1 
In this two-volume video course former world-champion and startrainer Rustam Kasimdzhanov shows you the ins and outs of this hugely complex opening.The Indian then took revenge for his loss to Vincent Keymer in the rapid section. Victories over Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Pentala Harikrishna followed, before Alexander Grischuk managed to stop the Indian superstar’s winning run with a draw. The draw perhaps threw Pragg a little off track, as he went on to lose his games to compatriots Vidit Gujrathi and Dommaraju Gukesh. With a win over Arjun Erigaisi, Pragg concluded the first half of the event as the sole leader with 6½ points.
Grischuk and Vidit both collected 6 points in the first 9 rounds. MVL, the winner of the rapid tournament, only managed 4 points, finishing below the 50% mark.
Alexander Grischuk | Photo: Vivek Sohani
Keymer has not yet found his best form in the blitz tournament either. He started with a draw against Arjun and a win over Radjabov, but then suffered losses to Praggnanandhaa and Vachier-Lagrave and, after a win against Abdusattorov, three more losses to Harikrishna, Grischuk and Vidit followed.
The second half of the blitz tournament will take place on Sunday and will start one hour earlier than usual, at 10.30 CEST.
Arjun Erigaisi | Photo: Vivek Sohani
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.
Standings after round 9
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