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2nd Chennai GM R4: Arjun Erigaisi plays outstanding to trounce Tabatabaei, emerges sole leader

by Shahid Ahmed - 08/11/2024

Arjun Erigaisi is not showing any intention of slowing down after becoming World no.2 in live ratings. He played his signature swashbuckling chess, throwing M Amin Tabatabaei (IRI) off the track early in the middlegame. He made a very nice practical bishop sacrifice. It did not yield him the point immediately, that's obvious at that level. However, eventually his opponent cracked under pressure in the endgame and lost the game. This win moved Arjun's live rating to 2809.3. Aravindh Chithambaram made a quick 17-move draw against Levon Aronian (USA). Vidit Gujrathi had a well contested draw against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA). Pranav Venkatesh defeated R Vaishali to maintain perfect score 4/4. He is now a full point ahead of the competition. Round 5 starts tomorrow at 3 p.m. IST. Photos: Anmol Bhargav

Challengers: Pranav wins four in-a-row, extends his lead by a full point

Arjun Erigaisi defeated his coleader, M Amin Tabatabaei to gain sole lead 3.5/4. Tabatabaei and Levon Aronian are the only two player in pursuit at 2.5/4 each. In the Challengers section, Pranav Venkatesh also increased his sole lead by a full point 4/4. At a little over halfway mark, it seems that Arjun and Pranav will run away with the first place, until their remaining opponents have something to say in the last three rounds. 

Arjun Erigaisi played a fantastic game to beat M Amin Tabatabaei to increase his live rating to 2809.3

Masters: Tabatabaei - Arjun: 0-1

M Amin Tabatabaei (2686) and Arjun Erigaisi (2799) played four Classical rated games. The only decisive game was won by Arjun, a little over two years ago. Earlier this year, they drew their sole rated game of the year in Armenia. Arjun is playing at a different level at this event and he made it evident early in the game as he went for an all out attack.

Position after 18...g3

If you check the move 18..g3 with an engine, it will be very difficult to comprehend. However, for attacking players, this is quite natural, just sacrifice the pawn to open lines. 19.fxg3 hxg3 20.h3 Nbd7 21.c5 Nf8 22.cxd6 cxd6 23.Qc1 the position demanded and Arjun sacrificed his bishop at h3 23...Bxh3! 

Position after 23...Bxh3!

White had to accept the sacrifice 24.gxh3 Ng6 since Qxh3 does not lead to an instant win. Thus, he brought more pieces in the fray 25.Rxg3 Nf4 26.Qe3 Nxh3+ 27.Rxh3 Qxh3 28.Qxh3 Rxh3 So White gave up his rook to make it two minor piece for a rook.

Position after 46.Bf1??

Tabatabaei cracked under pressure 46.Bf1?? fxe4-+ Arjun found all precise moves 47.Bc4 Rc2 48.Rd7 Rh3 49.Ke3 exf3 and went on to win the game.

The power of 2805 Elo - Amin Tabatabaei vs Arjun Erigaisi, Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

Arjun Erigaisi is in the best form of his career

Aravindh Chithambaram - Levon Aronian (USA): 0.5-0.5
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs Vidit Gujrathi, Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA) - Vidit Gujrathi: 0.5-0.5

Parham Maghsoodloo (IRI) - Alexey Sarana (SRB): 0.5-0.5

Challengers: Vaishali - Pranav: 0-1

Pranav Venkatesh (2602) opted for the Norwegian variation in the Ruy Lopez against R Vaishali (2490). He equalized easily out of the opening. In the endgame, he advanced his king which gave him an edge.

Position after 33...Kxb5

33.cxb5 Kxb5 34.gxf5 gxf5 35.Ke1 Nd3+ 36.Kd2 Nf4 Black started attacking White's weakness 37.h4 Kc4 Black advanced his king a bit more 38.Be5 Ne6 39.h5 a5 40.h6 a4 fixing White's queenside pawns. 41.f4?? turned out to be Black's decisive mistake Nd4-+ 42.Ke3 Kb3 and Black converted his advantage comfortably.

Vaishali vs Pranav, Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

Pranav V scored his fourth win in-a-row

Leon Luke Mendonca - Abhimanyu Puranik: 0.5-0.5

Raunak Sadhwani - Pranesh M: 0.5-0.5

Karthikeyan - Harika

Position after 32.e6!

Karthikeyan Murali (2625) played a nice move 32.e6! sacrificing his knight because it begins a winning combination. Harika Dronavalli (2493) accepted it 32...Qxd6 33.Qf6+ Kg8 34.Qxf7+ Kh8 35.Qf6+ Kg8 36.Re5 Be4 37.Rg5+ Bg6 38.Rxg6+ hxg6 39.Qxg6+ Kh8 40.Qxh5+ Kg7 41.Qg5+ Kh7 42.Qh4+ Kg7 43.Qg3+ and it's over as Rh4# in the next move is unstoppable.

There is a reason why he slayed Carlsen and Firouzja - Karthikeyan vs Harika, Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India
Interview with Karthikeyan Murali | Video: ChessBase India

Karthikeyan Murali scored his first win of the event

For more photos, please click here

Vidit Gujrathi takes five minutes to make the first move | Video: ChessBase India
ChessBase India stall at Chennai Grandmasters 2024 | Video: ChessBase India

Replay live stream

Replay Round 4 live commentary by IM Sagar Shah, Amruta Mokal and GM B Adhiban | Video: ChessBase India

Replay Masters Round 4 games

Replay Challengers Round 4 games

Masters Round 4 results

Bo.No.Rtg WhiteResultBlack RtgNo.PGN
182686
GMTabatabaei, M. Amin0 - 1GMErigaisi, Arjun
27996PGN
272712
GMMaghsoodloo, Parham½ - ½GMSarana, Alexey
26795PGN
312706
GMAravindh, Chithambaram Vr.½ - ½GMAronian, Levon
27394PGN
422737
GMVachier-Lagrave, Maxime½ - ½GMVidit, Santosh Gujrathi
27393PGN

Details

Standings after Round 4

Rk.SNo NameFEDRtgIPts. TB1  TB2  TB3  TB4 
16
GMErigaisi, ArjunIND27993,505,7533
24
GMAronian, LevonUSA27392,504,7510
38
GMTabatabaei, M. AminIRI26862,504,0021
41
GMAravindh, Chithambaram Vr.IND270620,54,0000
52
GMVachier-Lagrave, MaximeFRA273720,53,0010
67
GMMaghsoodloo, ParhamIRI27121,501,5010
73
GMVidit, Santosh GujrathiIND2739102,0000
5
GMSarana, AlexeySRB2679102,0000

Details

Round 5 pairings

Bo.No.Rtg WhiteResultBlack RtgNo.PGN
132739
GMVidit, Santosh GujrathiGMTabatabaei, M. Amin
26868
242739
GMAronian, LevonGMVachier-Lagrave, Maxime
27372
352679
GMSarana, AlexeyGMAravindh, Chithambaram Vr.
27061
462799
GMErigaisi, ArjunGMMaghsoodloo, Parham
27127

Details

Challengers Round 4 results

Bo.No.Rtg WhiteResultBlack RtgNo.PGN
182631
GMMendonca, Leon Luke½ - ½GMPuranik, Abhimanyu
26526
272625
GMKarthikeyan, Murali1 - 0GMDronavalli, Harika
24935
312490
GMVaishali, Rameshbabu0 - 1GMPranav, V
26024
422677
GMSadhwani, Raunak½ - ½GMPranesh, M
25803

Details

Standings after Round 4

Rk.SNo NameFEDRtgIPts. TB1  TB2  TB3  TB4 
14
GMPranav, VIND2602404,5042
28
GMMendonca, Leon LukeIND2631303,2521
32
GMSadhwani, RaunakIND26772,504,2510
46
GMPuranik, AbhimanyuIND2652213,7511
53
GMPranesh, MIND2580202,5010
67
GMKarthikeyan, MuraliIND26251,501,5010
71
GMVaishali, RameshbabuIND24900,501,2500
85
GMDronavalli, HarikaIND24930,501,0000

Details

Round 5 pairings

Bo.No.Rtg WhiteResultBlack RtgNo.PGN
132580
GMPranesh, MGMMendonca, Leon Luke
26318
242602
GMPranav, VGMSadhwani, Raunak
26772
352493
GMDronavalli, HarikaGMVaishali, Rameshbabu
24901
462652
GMPuranik, AbhimanyuGMKarthikeyan, Murali
26257

Details

Where to watch

The entire event will be live-streamed on ChessBase India youtube channel. You can also visit the venue by getting the tickets from Bookmyshow.

Links

MGD1

Buy tickets

ChessBase India


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