chessbase india logo

FIDE World Cup 2021 R4.1: Vidit beats Xiong, Pragg holds MVL to a draw

by Shahid Ahmed - 23/07/2021

Vidit scored a fantastic win over Jeffery Xiong who blundered in time pressure. The India no.3 finished the game with a beautiful combination which should make it to the future books on tactics. Praggnanandhaa showed that he is well-prepared against Vachier-Lagrave as he managed to hold a draw against the world no.16. Harikrishna suffered a shocking loss as he blundered in the endgame against Tabatabaei. It was a tough day for the Uzbekistan players as Abdusattorov, Jumabayev and Sindarov - all three of them suffered their first loss of the event. Carlsen made his first draw of the tournament against Wojtaszek. The second game of Round 4 starts today at 5:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Eric Rosen/FIDE

Three results for three Indians

It was a mixed day for the Indian contingent at the FIDE World Cup 2021. While Vidit scored a fantastic victory finishing the game with a beautiful combination against Xiong, Praggnanandhaa showed his grit against the super strong Vachier-Lagrave, but the sad part is Harikrishna lost against Tabatabaei and that also in the endgame which is considered to be Harikrishna's strong suit. Stefanova and Shuvalova scored the sole victories of the day in the FIDE Women's World Cup.

Vidit scored a beautiful combination | Photo: Eric Rosen/FIDE

FIDE World Cup 2021 and FIDE Women's World Cup 2021 Official logo | Photo: Official site

Praggnanandhaa - Vachier-Lagrave: 0.5-0.5

Praggnanandhaa played confidently against the former world no.2 and the recently crowned Croatia Rapid and Blitz Grand Chess Tour 2021 winner as he offered his second pawn to gain an exchange.

Position after 17.Bh6

The game continued 17...Nxc3 18.Qxd6 exd6 19.Bxf8 Kxf8 20.Nd4 and White made sure that he does not lose the b3-pawn for nothing. The game eventually ended in a draw after 29 moves as both players repeated moves and there was not much to go on.

Praggnanandhaa continues his good form | Photo: Eric Rosen/FIDE

Tabatabaei - Harikrishna: 1-0

Harikrishna's game against Iran no.3 Md. Amin Tabatabaei was cruising towards a draw, till he made an error in the endgame.

Position after 30...Bb5

30...e5 would have sufficed, as White has no breakthroughs on the queenside. 30...Bb5 31.Bxb5 Nxb5 32.c6 and Black can still save this, it is not over yet.

Position after 32.c6

32...Nd6 33.Kd4 Kd8 34.Kc5 Kc7 - White's position certainly seems comfortable to play, Black can still put up a fight. 32...bxc6 35.e5 and White is gained a decisive advantage.

Harikrishna is now in a must-win situation | Photo: Anastasiia Korolkova/FIDE

Xiong - Vidit: 0-1

20-year-old USA no.6 and World no.33 Jeffery Xiong was playing well, until he crumbled under time pressure and blundered against India no.3 and World no.22 Vidit Gujrathi.

Position after 39.Bxg6

The idea behind 39.Bxg6 is 39...fxg6 will be met by 40.Qxh6 followed by checkmate threat at g7 and/or h7. Of course that does not work because Black has a beautiful combination of his own after 40.Qxh6.

Position after 40.Qxh6

Find out the winning combination for Black in the above position. Vidit found it and won the game comfortably.

Vidit Gujrathi finds the stunning move against Jeffery Xiong | Video: ChessBase India

Bacrot - Ponkratov: 1-0

France no.3 Etienne Bacrot's win over Pavel Ponkratov (RUS) has to be arguably the best game of the day. Games like these show that the human mind can still create enchanting play which computers cannot comprehend.

Esipenko - Dubov: 0.5-0.5

Former World Rapid champion Daniil Dubov (RUS) is not only a creative player who can play beautifully to win games, he can also use his creativity to save completely lost games. Dubov was completely lost for the better part of the endgame against compatriot Andrey Esipenko (RUS). He managed to fight till the end and save a very important half point by surviving by the skin of his teeth.

Creativity can be used for defence also - Daniil Dubov showed it | Photo: Anastasiia Korolkova/FIDE

Highlights

Here are a few interesting finishes from Round 4.1

Radoslaw Wojtaszek (POL) drew with Magnus Carlsen (NOR)

Etienne Bacrot (FRA) defeated Pavel Ponkratov (RUS)

GM Valentina Gunina (RUS) drew with GM Nino Batsiashvili (GEO)

IM Dinara Saduakassova (KAZ) drew with IM Alina Kashlinskaya (RUS)
FIDE World Cup 2021 Round 4.1 Live Commentary by IM Sagar Shah and Amruta Mokal | Video: ChessBase India

Photo Gallery

Carlsen makes his first draw of the event against Radoslaw Wojtaszek | Photo: Anastasiia Korolkova/FIDE

Bacrot scored an amazing victory against Ponkratov | Photo: Eric Rosen/FIDE

18-year-old GM Velimir Ivic (SRB) held GM Dmitry Andreikin (RUS) to a draw | Photo: Anastasiia Korolkova/FIDE

Carlsen spectates the game between GM Kateryna Lagno (RUS) and IM Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ) | Photo: Anastasiia Korolkova/FIDE

Close friends Anna Muzychuk and Elisabeth Paehtz faced each other | Photo: Eric Rosen/FIDE

Dubov made a great escape against Esipenko | Photo: Anastasiia Korolkova/FIDE

Former women's world champion Antoaneta Stefanova handed the in-form Aleksandra Goryachkina her first defeat of the event | Photo: Eric Rosen/FIDE

Apart from Stefanova, Shuvalova scored the only other victory of the day in the FIDE Women's World Cup against Dzagnidze | Photo: Anastasiia Korolkova/FIDE

It is important to have the loved one by your side when you are in a tough battle | Photo: Eric Rosen/FIDE

Replay Round 4.1 Open games

Replay Round 4.1 Women games

Links:

Results

Schedule

Official site

Men's Regulations

Women's Regulations


Related news:
Jan-Krzysztof Duda clinches FIDE World Cup 2021

@ 06/08/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
पोलैंड के यान डूड़ा बने फीडे विश्व कप 2021 के विजेता

@ 05/08/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
Carlsen composes a symphony of positional sacrifice

@ 05/08/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Jan-Krzysztof Duda shatters Carlsen's World Cup dreams

@ 04/08/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
विश्व कप फिर बना कार्लसन का ख्वाब ,डूड़ा ने दी मात

@ 03/08/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
Alexandra Kosteniuk wins the FIDE Women's World Cup 2021

@ 03/08/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
FIDE Women's World Cup 2021 Final 1: Kosteniuk swindles Goryachkina

@ 02/08/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
FIDE World Cup 2021 QF TB: Resilient Karjakin knocks out Shankland

@ 31/07/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
विदित हुए विश्व कप से बाहर ,सपना टूटा हौसला नहीं

@ 30/07/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
FIDE World Cup 2021 QF2: Duda eliminates Vidit

@ 30/07/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
FIDE World Cup 2021 QF1: Carlsen and Shankland score convincing wins

@ 29/07/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
विश्व कप QF - विदित और डूड़ा की पहली बाजी अनिर्णीत

@ 29/07/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
FIDE World Cup 2021 R5 TB: Carlsen wins an epic match against Esipenko

@ 28/07/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
फीडे विश्व कप - QF - विदित से होगा डूड़ा का मुक़ाबला

@ 28/07/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
FIDE World Cup 2021 R5.2: Vidit and Shankland through to the Quarterfinals

@ 27/07/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
विदित नें रचा इतिहास : विश्व कप के अंतिम 8 में पहुंचे

@ 26/07/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
FIDE World Cup 2021 R5.1: Vidit makes a great escape

@ 26/07/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
फीडे विश्व कप R 5.1 : विदित नें बचाई मुश्किल बाजी

@ 25/07/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
FIDE World Cup 2021 R4 TB: Carlsen makes his way to the Round of 16

@ 25/07/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
FIDE World Cup 2021 R4.2: Vidit storms into Round of 16

@ 24/07/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
बुलंद इरादो के साथ विदित विश्व कप के अंतिम 16 में

@ 24/07/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
विश्व कप R4.1 : विदित नें भुनाया मौका ,जेफ्री को हराया

@ 22/07/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
फीडे विश्व कप : विदित - अधिबन मुक़ाबले नें रोकी साँसे

@ 21/07/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
FIDE World Cup 2021 R3 TB: Vidit wins a thriller against Adhiban

@ 21/07/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
FIDE World Cup 2021 R3.2: Harikrishna through to Round 4, Adhiban makes a comeback

@ 20/07/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
FIDE World Cup 2021 R3.1: Harikrishna, Vidit and Pragg score

@ 19/07/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
फीडे विश्व कप R3.1:अधिबन से जीते विदित : हरिकृष्णा , प्रग्गानंधा को जीत तो निहाल ,हरिका को मिली हार

@ 18/07/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
FIDE World Cup 2021 R2 TB: Vidit conquers Fier

@ 18/07/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
फीडे विश्व कप - टाईब्रेक जीत विदित तीसरे दौर में

@ 18/07/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
फीडे विश्व कप R 2.2- निहाल -प्रग्गानंधा फिर चमके

@ 17/07/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
FIDE World Cup 2021 R2.2: Harikrishna, Adhiban, Pragg, Nihal and Harika advance to Round 3

@ 17/07/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
FIDE World Cup 2021 R2.1: Gukesh holds Dubov to a draw

@ 16/07/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
फीडे विश्व कप R2 : हरिका ,अधिबन ,प्रग्गानंधा जीते

@ 16/07/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
FIDE World Cup 2021 R1 TB: Gukesh advances to Round 2

@ 15/07/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
FIDE World Cup 2021 R1.2: Gukesh to play tie-breaks

@ 14/07/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
फीडे विश्व कप R:1.2 - गुकेश करेंगे टाईब्रेक का सामना

@ 14/07/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
FIDE World Cup 2021 R1.1: Indian Men and Women off to a fantastic start

@ 13/07/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
फीडे विश्व कप का आरंभ - भारत की अच्छी शुरुआत

@ 13/07/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
फीडे नें जारी की विश्व कप शतरंज 2021 की अंतिम सूची

@ 22/06/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)

Contact Us