20th Delhi GM Open 2023 R7: Neelash Saha holds Aravindh Chithambaram to a draw
Generally a player is not happy to get two consecutive black pieces especially against stronger opponents. After defeating GM Boris Savchenko in the sixth round, IM Neelash Saha faced GM Aravindh Chithambaram, once again with the same color. It was a solid draw after 30 moves in Round 7 of 20th Delhi GM Open 2023. IM Viani Antonio Dcunha made a minute mistake in the endgame against GM Volodar Murzin which seemed to have headed towards a draw. Thus, Volodar gained sole lead 7/7. Aravindh and Neelash are the only two Indians in pursuit at 6.5/7 each. IM Anuj Shrivatri held GM Mikheil Mchedlishvili to a draw where the former had a good position in the early stages of the endgame. Round 8 starts today at 10 a.m. IST. Photo: Aditya Sur Roy
Volodar Murzin gains sole lead
Volodar - Viani
The Rook and minor piece endgame seemed quite balanced between GM Volodar Murzin (2554) and IM Viani Antonio Dcunha (2386).
Black had to retreat his bishop to f7, enabling the black rook to defend the a7-pawn according to the white rook's attack. 43...Kf6 dropped the a7-pawn after 44.Ra6. Now Rc7 is no longer valid as white takes advantage of the absolute pin Nd5+. The drop of the a7-pawn became the deciding factor in black losing the half point and the game.
Anuj - Mchedlishvili
GM Mikheil Mchedlishvili (GEO, 2569) made a dubious exchange sacrifice 24...Rxh4. Yes it is evident that Black's position is in shambles and he needs to get things in order before White blows his kingside in smithereens. 24...Bd7 is what the computer recommends to give up the d6-pawn. 25.Nxd6 Qxd6 26.Qxg5 Qf6 27.Nf3 Qxg5 28.Nxg5 Rxh1 29.Kxh1 White's intensity of attack reduced drastically. Anyway, the game continued 25.Rxh4 f6 26.f4 exf4 27.Qxf4 Qe5 28.Qxe5 dxe5 and now White needed to continue the pressure 29.Ra3. Instead, he loosened the grip 29.Nc3 Bd7 and Black eventually managed to get away with a draw.
For more Round 7 photos, please click here.
A total of 1060 players including 19 GMs and 10 IMs are taking part from 13 countries across the world including India. The eight day ten-round Swiss League Rating tournament is being organized by Delhi Chess Association from 23rd to 30th March 2023 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi. The time control of the tournament is 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move no.1.
Replay Round 7 games
Round 7 results
Standings after Round 7
Rk. | SNo | Name | Typ | sex | FED | Rtg | Club/City | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | ||
1 | 6 | GM | Murzin, Volodar | FID | 2554 | FID | 7 | 32,5 | 35,5 | 35,50 | |||
2 | 16 | IM | Madaminov, Mukhiddin | UZB | 2436 | UZB | 6,5 | 33 | 36,5 | 33,25 | |||
3 | 10 | GM | Paichadze, Luka | GEO | 2515 | GEO | 6,5 | 32,5 | 36,5 | 33,50 | |||
4 | 2 | GM | Aravindh, Chithambaram Vr. | IND | 2607 | Tn | 6,5 | 32,5 | 35,5 | 32,25 | |||
5 | 9 | GM | Krasenkow, Michal | S60 | POL | 2527 | POL | 6,5 | 32 | 35 | 31,75 | ||
14 | IM | Neelash Saha, | IND | 2444 | Gj | 6,5 | 32 | 35 | 31,75 | ||||
7 | 18 | GM | Dzhumaev, Marat | UZB | 2428 | UZB | 6,5 | 30 | 33 | 30,50 | |||
8 | 22 | IM | Viani Antonio Dcunha, | IND | 2386 | Ka | 6 | 33,5 | 37 | 30,00 | |||
9 | 5 | GM | Mchedlishvili, Mikheil | GEO | 2569 | GEO | 6 | 32,5 | 36,5 | 30,25 | |||
10 | 23 | IM | Nitin, S. | IND | 2381 | Tn | 6 | 31,5 | 35 | 28,50 | |||
11 | 7 | GM | Savchenko, Boris | FID | 2552 | FID | 6 | 31 | 34,5 | 28,00 | |||
12 | 19 | GM | Stupak, Kirill | FID | 2413 | FID | 6 | 31 | 34 | 27,50 | |||
13 | 37 | Aswath S, | U15 | IND | 2214 | Tn | 6 | 31 | 34 | 27,00 | |||
14 | 41 | IM | Deshmukh, Anup | IND | 2129 | Mh | 6 | 30,5 | 34 | 27,50 | |||
15 | 30 | FM | Suyarov, Mukhammadzokhid | U15 | UZB | 2281 | UZB | 6 | 30,5 | 33 | 27,25 | ||
16 | 15 | GM | Mirzoev, Azer | AZE | 2437 | AZE | 6 | 30 | 33,5 | 27,75 | |||
17 | 59 | AFM | Pawar, Harshit | IND | 1992 | Dl | 6 | 30 | 33,5 | 27,00 | |||
18 | 21 | IM | Audi, Ameya | IND | 2387 | Ga | 6 | 30 | 33,5 | 26,50 | |||
19 | 20 | IM | Anuj Shrivatri, | IND | 2407 | Mp | 6 | 30 | 33 | 27,50 | |||
32 | FM | Rakhmatullaev, Almas | UZB | 2275 | UZB | 6 | 30 | 33 | 27,50 | ||||
21 | 36 | CM | Rajarishi Karthi, | IND | 2244 | Tn | 6 | 30 | 33 | 27,25 | |||
22 | 28 | Srihari L, | IND | 2289 | Py | 6 | 29,5 | 33 | 28,25 | ||||
23 | 13 | GM | Fedorov, Alexei | FID | 2477 | FID | 6 | 29,5 | 33 | 27,75 | |||
66 | AIM | Vaz, Ethan | U15 | IND | 1949 | Ga | 6 | 29,5 | 33 | 27,75 | |||
25 | 27 | FM | Orozbaev, Eldiar | KGZ | 2313 | KGZ | 6 | 29 | 33 | 28,25 |