Early upsets in Gyula Sax Memorial
Zalakaros is the smallest town in the Hungary 1791 people live on an area of just 17.17 square kilometers (quite a contrast for someone like me, as my street back home in Chennai is probably more populated!).

Bright, beautiful and so quiet that you can constantly hear the ‘tweets’.
It is a nine-round Swiss event with one round being played every day. The time control was 40 moves in 90 minutes, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game and a 30-second increment from move one. There are two tournaments: the A group for those above 2300 Elo and a B group for those below 2400. The A group is an extremely strong event with a rating average of 2400 with 116 players. Richard Rapport (2698) is the top seed, with many strong players like Nisipeanu, Berkes, Kovalenko, Markus, Efimenko and others fighting for the title.

Berkes will lead the Hungarian challenge

Kovalenko, the 2015 Champion will hope to repeat his success

IA Tamas Horvath (extreme left), the organizer of the tournament, and the ambassador to India (extreme right).
The first round saw an unexpected casualty as GM Alexander Zubov unexpectedly lost to IM Li Bo of China.
1.e4 | 1,173,500 | 54% | 2421 | --- |
1.d4 | 952,126 | 55% | 2434 | --- |
1.Nf3 | 283,503 | 56% | 2440 | --- |
1.c4 | 183,155 | 56% | 2442 | --- |
1.g3 | 19,796 | 56% | 2427 | --- |
1.b3 | 14,442 | 54% | 2427 | --- |
1.f4 | 5,921 | 48% | 2377 | --- |
1.Nc3 | 3,851 | 50% | 2384 | --- |
1.b4 | 1,771 | 48% | 2379 | --- |
1.a3 | 1,234 | 54% | 2405 | --- |
1.e3 | 1,075 | 49% | 2409 | --- |
1.d3 | 961 | 50% | 2378 | --- |
1.g4 | 668 | 46% | 2360 | --- |
1.h4 | 465 | 54% | 2381 | --- |
1.c3 | 436 | 51% | 2426 | --- |
1.h3 | 283 | 56% | 2419 | --- |
1.a4 | 116 | 60% | 2462 | --- |
1.f3 | 99 | 47% | 2428 | --- |
1.Nh3 | 92 | 67% | 2511 | --- |
1.Na3 | 42 | 62% | 2482 | --- |
Please, wait...
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Qa4+ Nc6 5.Nc3 Nd5 6.e4 Nb6 7.Qd1 Bg4 8.Be3 e6 9.Be2 Be7 10.0-0 0-0 11.d5 11.h3 Bh5 12.Qd2 12.Nd2 Bxe2 13.Nxe2 Bb4 14.Rc1 Bxd2 15.Qxd2 12...Qe8! 11...exd5 12.exd5 Nb4 12...Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Ne5 13.Bxb6 axb6 14.Bxc4 Bf6 15.h3 Bf5 16.Qd2 c6 17.Qf4 Bg6 18.Rad1 Nxd5? 18...Bxc3 19.bxc3 Nxd5 20.Bxd5 cxd5 21.Rd2 19.Nxd5 19.Bxd5 cxd5 20.Nxd5 Ra5 21.Nxf6+ Qxf6 22.Qxf6 gxf6 23.a3± 19...cxd5 20.Rxd5 Qb8 21.Ne5 Ra5? 21...Bc2 22.Re1 Re8 23.Qd2 Bxe5 24.Qxc2 Bf6 25.Rxe8+ Qxe8 26.g3 22.Nxg6 Rxd5 23.Bxd5 hxg6 24.Bxf7+! Kxf7 25.Qc4+ Ke8 26.Qe6+ Be7 27.Rc1 Kd8 28.Rd1+ Ke8 29.Rd7 Rf7 30.Rxe7+ 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.
Li,B | 2359 | Zubov,A | 2604 | 1–0 | 2017 | D23 | 36th Zalakaros Open 2017 | 1.10 |
Please, wait...

However, this wasn’t the biggest surprise as IM Abhimanyu Puranik toppled Richard Rapport (2698).
Abhimanyu has fond memories of Zalakaros, as he made a GM norm here last year. He made a similar start the previous year, upsetting the first seed, GM Zahar Efimenko, from an inferior position. His resourcefulness again came to the fore today.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nge7 5.0-0 Ng6 6.c3 b5 7.Bb3 Na5 8.Bc2 Be7 9.a4 b4 10.d4 exd4 11.Nxd4! 11.cxd4 11...0-0 12.cxb4 Bxb4 13.Nc3 Re8 14.f4!? 14.Rb1! Bxc3 14...Bb7 15.Nd5 Bf8 15.bxc3 d5 16.Nf3! 14.Nd5 Bf8 15.Nf5 c6 16.Nde3 d5 14...Bb7 15.f5 Ne5 16.f6 g6 17.Nd5? 17.Qd2 Bf8 18.Qg5 17...Bxd5 18.exd5 c5 19.Ne2 c4 20.Nc3 Rb8 20...Nb3 21.Bxb3 21.Rb1 Nxc1 22.Rxc1 Qb6+ 23.Kh1 Qe3 21...cxb3 22.Qd4 Qa5 23.Kh1 Qc5 21.Kh1 Bf8 21...Bxc3 22.bxc3 Nb3 23.Rb1 Nxc1 24.Rxc1 Rb6 22.Rb1 Nb3 23.Bf4 Qb6 24.Ne4 Rbc8 25.Ng5 Nc5 26.Qd4 Ned3 27.Bxd3? 27.Bg3 27...cxd3 28.Be3 Qb3 29.Qh4 h6 29...h5 30.Nxf7 Kxf7 31.Bxh6 Re4 32.Bf4 Qxd5 33.Qh7+ Ke8 34.f7+ 34...Qxf7?? 34...Kd8 35.Qh4+ 35.Qg8 Ne6-+ 35...g5 36.Qxg5+ Qxg5 37.Bxg5+ Kc7-+ 35.Bd6! 35...Re7 36.Rxf7 Rxf7 37.Qxg6 Bxd6 38.Rf1 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.
Puranik,A | 2459 | Rapport,R | 2698 | 1–0 | 2017 | C70 | 36th Zalakaros Open 2017 | 2.1 |
Please, wait...

Abhimanyu starts off from where he had left last year. In the third round, he beat German GM Rasmus Svane:
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Ne4 5.Ne2 Qb6 6.d4 e6 7.Nfg1 f6 8.exf6!? 8.f3 Ng5 9.exf6 gxf6 10.f4 8...Nxf6 9.Nf3 c5 10.Nf4 cxd4 11.Bd3 Bd6 12.0-0 e5 12...0-0 13.Re1 13.Ng5 h6 14.Ngxe6 Bxe6 15.Nxe6 Bxh2+ 16.Kxh2 Qxe6 13...Na6! 13.Re1 Nc6 14.Ng5 e4? 14...Bd7 15.Nxd5! Nxd5 16.Nxe4 16.Bxe4 Nde7 17.Qh5+ Kd7 18.Bd2± 16...Nce7 17.c4 Nf6 18.Nxf6+? 18.c5! Bxc5 19.Nxc5 Qxc5 20.Bf4± 18...gxf6 19.Qh5+ Kd8 20.Bd2 a5 21.Qf7 Bd7 22.g3 Bc5 23.Re2 Ng6 24.Rae1 Rf8?! 24...Qd6 25.f4 Kc8 25.Qg7 Ne5 26.Rxe5! fxe5 27.Rxe5 Kc7 27...Kc8 28.Qg5 Bb4 29.Bf4 Kc8 30.a3 h6 31.Qg7 Bd6 32.c5 Bxc5 33.Rd5 Be6 34.Rh5 Rg8?? 34...Rf7 35.Qe5 Bf8 35.Qe5 Bf8 36.Bf5 Kd7 37.Qd5+ Ke7 38.Bxe6 Rd8 39.Bd7 Bg7 40.Qe4+ Kf7 41.Rb5 Qf6 42.Qd5+ Ke7 43.Rxb7 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.
Puranik,A | 2459 | Svane,R | 2573 | 1–0 | 2017 | B11 | 36th Zalakaros Open 2017 | 3.3 |
Please, wait...

IM Praggnanandhaa R. (2471) had a scare in the third round when he was dead lost but his opponent blundered and allowed him to win. There were no such chances in the fourth round as he crushed GM Levente Vajda (2600) with white.
1.e4 | 1,173,500 | 54% | 2421 | --- |
1.d4 | 952,126 | 55% | 2434 | --- |
1.Nf3 | 283,503 | 56% | 2440 | --- |
1.c4 | 183,155 | 56% | 2442 | --- |
1.g3 | 19,796 | 56% | 2427 | --- |
1.b3 | 14,442 | 54% | 2427 | --- |
1.f4 | 5,921 | 48% | 2377 | --- |
1.Nc3 | 3,851 | 50% | 2384 | --- |
1.b4 | 1,771 | 48% | 2379 | --- |
1.a3 | 1,234 | 54% | 2405 | --- |
1.e3 | 1,075 | 49% | 2409 | --- |
1.d3 | 961 | 50% | 2378 | --- |
1.g4 | 668 | 46% | 2360 | --- |
1.h4 | 465 | 54% | 2381 | --- |
1.c3 | 436 | 51% | 2426 | --- |
1.h3 | 283 | 56% | 2419 | --- |
1.a4 | 116 | 60% | 2462 | --- |
1.f3 | 99 | 47% | 2428 | --- |
1.Nh3 | 92 | 67% | 2511 | --- |
1.Na3 | 42 | 62% | 2482 | --- |
Please, wait...
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 g6 6.0-0 Bg7 7.Nc3 0-0 8.Re1 d5 9.Nb3 d4 10.Na4 e5 11.c3 Re8 11...dxc3 12.Nxc3 Bf5 12.cxd4 exd4 13.Nac5 Ng4 14.h3 Nge5 15.e3 Qe7? 15...dxe3 16.Bxe3 Qxd1 17.Raxd1 b6 18.Nd3 16.Bd2! d3 16...dxe3 17.Rxe3 17.Rc1 Rd8 18.f4 Nd7 19.Nxd3 Nf6 20.Ndc5 Rb8 21.Qe2 b6 22.Na6 Bxa6 23.Qxa6 Ne4 24.Bxe4 Qxe4 25.Qc4 Qxc4 26.Rxc4 Ne7 27.Bc3 b5 28.Rc5 Bxc3 29.Rxc3 Nd5 30.Rd3 Nb4 31.Rxd8+ Rxd8 32.a3 Nc6 33.Kf2 b4 34.a4 Rd3 35.Nc5 Rd2+ 36.Re2 Rd1 37.Rc2 Na5 38.Kf3 Rf1+ 39.Ke4 Ra1 40.g4 h6 41.Ke5 Kg7 42.f5 Nc6+ 43.Kd6 Na5 44.Nd7 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.
Praggnanandhaa,R | 2471 | Vajda,L | 2600 | 1–0 | 2017 | A04 | 36th Zalakaros Open 2017 | 4.6 |
Please, wait...
Rank after Round 4
1 |
36 |
IM |
Puranik Abhimanyu |
IND |
2459 |
3,5 |
10,5 |
9,5 |
2 |
8 |
GM |
Banusz Tamas |
HUN |
2616 |
3,5 |
9,5 |
9,5 |
3 |
13 |
GM |
Papp Gabor |
HUN |
2592 |
3,5 |
9,0 |
8,5 |
4 |
6 |
GM |
Nabaty Tamir |
ISR |
2640 |
3,5 |
8,5 |
8,0 |
5 |
21 |
GM |
Mihok Oliver |
HUN |
2532 |
3,5 |
8,0 |
8,5 |
6 |
32 |
IM |
Praggnanandhaa R |
IND |
2471 |
3,5 |
7,5 |
8,0 |
7 |
4 |
GM |
Kovalenko Igor |
LAT |
2657 |
3,0 |
10,0 |
8,5 |
8 |
14 |
GM |
Svane Rasmus |
GER |
2573 |
3,0 |
10,0 |
8,0 |
9 |
28 |
GM |
Chernyshov Konstantin |
RUS |
2485 |
3,0 |
9,5 |
8,5 |
10 |
25 |
IM |
Kollars Dmitrij |
GER |
2503 |
3,0 |
9,5 |
8,5 |
Complete Standings
Photos from the Facebook Page Magyar Sakkszövetség
Live Games