World Rapid Team 2024 R1-4: Rapport stuns Magnus in 23 moves, helps Chessy crush WR Chess
The Artist, Richard Rapport scored a sensational win over Magnus Carlsen to ensure his team Chessy's crushing victory over WR Chess. The Hungary no.1 who is known to play creative and exciting chess, surprised the World no.1 in the opening. Delaying the castle and keeping his king stranded at the center of the board allowed Rapport to score a win. The defending champion WR Chess succumbed to Chessy 1-5 after barely managing to win their previous two rounds. Meanwhile, the sole leader Chessy is looking very strong and balanced as they won all four matches to emerge sole leader 8/8. Vidit is the only player of Chessy who lost both games. Decade China Team and Al-Ain ACMG UAE are trailing by a point at 7/8 each. Round 5 starts today at 2:30 p.m. local time, 3 p.m. IST. Photo: Niklesh Jain
Chessy makes a perfect start
Chessy has gained an early sole lead 8/8. They have been very dominant as they scored a minimum four game points in their victories. The All-Indian MGD1 is at 6/8.
Round 1: A relatively smooth start for the top seeds
GM Boris Grachev (GMs Kazakhstan, 2591) defeated former World Rapid champion, GM Daniil Dubov (Al-Ai ACMG UAE, 2716). All top seed teams scored convincing wins in the first round as expected.
Round 2: WR Chess barely manages to win against Royal Chess
WR Chess defeated Royal Chess by a minimum margin 3.5-2.5. Astana-1 got whitewashed by Decade China Team 0-6. Chessy thrashed FIDE Management Board 4.5-1.5. World Champions Higher School got humbled by Team MGD1 1-5.
Yakubboev - Abdusattorov
The above pawn endgame should end up in a draw with correct play. However, Abdusattorov decided to test his opponent 53...g4 54.Kd3 gxf3 55.Ke3?? Kg4 -+ and Black won the game in the next few moves. 55.h3 is what White needed to play to prevent the king invasion before going Ke3 to draw the game.
Replay WR Chess - Royal Chess games
Round 3: MGD1 gives a scare to WR Chess
The World no.4 Arjun Erigaisi (MGD1, 2671) arrived slightly late for his game against the World no.1, Magnus Carlsen (NOR, 2827). He could not land any offense, lost a pawn and the game. S L Narayanan (MGD1, 2595) was almost on the verge of ending his tough form. He had a great opportunity to beat (WR Chess, 2753). GM Harika Dronavalli (MGD1, 2415) won a rollercoaster game against the World no.1 woman, GM Yifan Hou (WR Chess, 2550). Mihir Shah (MGD1, 1954) made a massive turnaround to win a losing game against Wadim Rosenstein (WR Chess, 1887).
Nepomniachtchi - S L Narayanan
24.Rc4 would have defended the c3-pawn and kept the game going. 24.Rdd1?? created an opportunity for Black bxc3+ 25.Kc1 Rab8 26.Re3 and now Bxc2 would have ended things in the next few moves. It was not easy to spot, especially Black is not in form. 26...Rb2 27.Rxc3 Rfb8 28.Qe3 Bg6 29.h4 Rb1+ 30.Kd2 Rxd1+ 31.Kxd1 Re8 Black's attack dissipated and White eventually went on to win the game.
Replay MGD1 - WR Chess games
Round 4: Rapport crushes Carlsen in 23 moves, Chessy squashes WR Chess; MGD1 bounces back
Richard Rapport (Chessy, 2702) surprised Magnus Carlsen (WR Chess, 2827) in the opening with 6...e5.
Carlsen - Rapport
7.dxe5 Nxe5 8.Qe2 Ne4 9.Bb5+ Bd7 10.Nf3 Ng6 11.Be3 Bd6 12.Nbd2 0-0 13.Bxd7 Qxd7 14.Rd1 instead 14.0-0-0 would have been the correct choice. 14...Rfe8 now White cannot do 15.0-0 as it runs into Nf4. So 15.Nxe4 Rxe4 now White needed to castle 16.0-0. Delaying it again was not a good idea 16.Ng5 inviting trouble Nf4 17.Qf3 Qb5 18.g3 f6 19.gxf4 fxg5 20.fxg5 Rf8 things started to fall apart for White 21.Qg2 Rfe8 22.Qf1 Qxb2 23.Rd2 and White resigned as checkmate is inevitable.
Replay WR Chess - Chessy games
Mamedyarov - Arjun
19.Bxb4?? was an unnecessary sacrifice by Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Kazchess, 2687). 19.Ng3 Rxc5 20.Qa4 would have been fine for White. Arjun Erigaisi (MGD1, 2671) seized his opportunity 19...dxe4 and Black went on to win the game comfortably.
Replay Kazchess - Team MGD1 games
Replay live commentary
Team composition
Each team will consist of at least six and maximum nine players. Apart from having to include at least one female player, just like last year, teams will have to include a recreational player, who has never achieved a Standard, Rapid or Blitz FIDE rating of 2000 or more. It is not mandatory for the teams to have board order as per rating. For more details, please check the tournament regulations, link provided at the end of the article.
Format
The 12-round Swiss League team event has a time control of 15 minutes + 10 seconds increment from move no.1. There is no default time. No penalty shall be imposed on a player if he/she is late for any of his/her games. Scoring is usual for a team event. Match points: Win = 2, Draw = 1 and Loss = 0.
Replay Round 1-4 games
Round 4 results
No. | SNo | Team | MP | Res. | : | Res. | MP | Team | SNo |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | WR Chess Team *) | 6 | 1 | : | 5 | 6 | Chessy | 3 |
2 | 4 | Al-Ain ACMG UAE | 6 | 3 | : | 3 | 6 | Decade China Team | 2 |
3 | 5 | Kazchess | 6 | 1½ | : | 4½ | 4 | Team MGD1 | 6 |
4 | 7 | Ashdod Chess Club | 4 | 5 | : | 1 | 4 | FIDE Management Board | 12 |
5 | 8 | GMHans.com | 4 | 4 | : | 2 | 4 | Theme International Trading | 14 |
6 | 15 | World Champions Higher School | 4 | 1½ | : | 4½ | 4 | Q4Rail Kingsofchess Krakow | 9 |
7 | 16 | Rookies | 4 | 3 | : | 3 | 4 | Royal Chess | 10 |
8 | 11 | Astana-1 | 4 | 3½ | : | 2½ | 4 | Hunnu Air | 17 |
9 | 13 | Teniz Kazakhstan | 3 | 3½ | : | 2½ | 4 | Greco | 18 |
10 | 26 | Noval Group Kyrgystan | 3 | 3½ | : | 2½ | 4 | Egypt | 19 |
Standings after Round 4
Rk. | SNo | Team | Games | + | = | - | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | Chessy | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 72 | 18,5 |
2 | 2 | Decade China Team | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 81 | 18,5 |
3 | 4 | Al-Ain ACMG UAE | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 71 | 17 |
4 | 6 | Team MGD1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 62 | 16,5 |
5 | 9 | Q4Rail Kingsofchess Krakow | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 56 | 16,5 |
6 | 7 | Ashdod Chess Club | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 55 | 17 |
7 | 5 | Kazchess | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 53 | 16,5 |
8 | 1 | WR Chess Team | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 46,5 | 14 |
9 | 8 | GMHans.com | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 44 | 13,5 |
10 | 11 | Astana-1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 28 | 11,5 |
Round 5 pairings
No. | SNo | Team | MP | Res. | : | Res. | MP | Team | SNo |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | WR Chess Team *) | 6 | : | 7 | Al-Ain ACMG UAE | 4 | ||
2 | 3 | Chessy | 8 | : | 7 | Decade China Team | 2 | ||
3 | 8 | GMHans.com | 6 | : | 6 | Kazchess | 5 | ||
4 | 6 | Team MGD1 | 6 | : | 6 | Q4Rail Kingsofchess Krakow | 9 | ||
5 | 11 | Astana-1 | 6 | : | 6 | Ashdod Chess Club | 7 | ||
6 | 10 | Royal Chess | 5 | : | 5 | Noval Group Kyrgystan | 26 | ||
7 | 16 | Rookies | 5 | : | 5 | Teniz Kazakhstan | 13 | ||
8 | 12 | FIDE Management Board | 4 | : | 4 | Astana-2 | 21 | ||
9 | 14 | Theme International Trading | 4 | : | 4 | GMs Kazahhstan | 23 | ||
10 | 24 | Storm of Dragons | 4 | : | 4 | World Champions Higher School | 15 |
Schedule
Venue
The venue for the event will be Congress Center in Astana, Kazakhstan
Prize
The total prize fund is €250000 in Rapid and €100000 in Blitz. There are six prizes in Rapid - top five and one rating category. The top three prizes are: €100000, 60000 and 40000 each respectively. Best U2400 will earn €12500. For Blitz, there are four prizes with a total of €100000. They are - €40000, €25000, €17500 and €17500 each.
Links
Blitz Pool Process Regulations