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Harikrishna clinches Prague Chess Masters 2022 convincingly

by Shahid Ahmed - 18/06/2022

Pentala Harikrishna defeated Spain no.2 David Anton Guijarro emphatically in the final round to win Prague Chess Masters 2022. Harikrishna accepted Anton's knight sacrifice in the middlegame and once again for the second time in this event, he showed his endgame prowess. He scored the sole win of the round and Liem could not manage to win the game. Thus, he finished a half point behind to finish second. Local talent, Nguyen Thai Dai Van scored 5/9 to secure third place. Vidit drew his final round game to be placed seventh 4/9. Sasikiran finished the event on a winning note to finish fourth 5/9 in the Challengers section. Photo: Prague International Chess Festival

Harikrishna is now World #25

Pentala Harikrishna has hit his form at the right time. With the 44th Chess Olympiad being a little over a month away, the entire team India and the country would be delighted of his triumph. Harikrishna has also moved to World no. 25 in the live ratings.

Harikrishna won the tournament convincingly | Photo: Prague International Chess Festival

Top 3 (L to R) - 2nd Liem Le Quang 6/9, 1st Pentala Harikrishna 6.5/9 and 3rd Nguyen Thai Dai Van 5/9 | Photo: Prague International Chess Festival

Masters: Harikrishna - Anton: 1-0

Pentala Harikrishna (2701) scored an emphatic victory in the final round against David Anton Guijarro (ESP, 2692).

Position after 22...f5

Black opted for the bold 22...f5. White pounced on his opportunity 23.f3 Qxg3 24.fxe4 dxe4 25.Qc2 Rd3 26.Qf2 and White went on to win the game. Although Black had a tiny window to get back in the game after 26...Qg5 27.h4 Qg4 28.Re3 Rxe3 29.Qxe3, he needed to go f4 here. Instead, 29...Qxh4 allowed White to prevent f4 with 30.Rf1.

Harikrishna pondering over his position against David Anton Guijarro | Photo: Vladimir Jagr/Prague International Chess Festival 2022

Vidit Gujrathi - Salem Saleh (UAE): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Petr Vrabec/Prague International Chess Festival 2022

Challengers: Sasikiran - Abdusattorov: 0.5-0.5

Krishnan Sasikiran (2635) scored a prolonged victory over Jiri Stocek (CZE, 2541).

Position after 37.Qd5

Black could have finished things much earlier 37...Qb1+ 38.Kh2 Qe1 threatening attack on the back rank via Rb1, followed by Qg1/h1.

Krishnan Sasikiran defeated Jiri Stocek (CZE) in the final round to finish fourth | Photo: Vladimir Jagr/Prague International Chess Festival 2022

Suyog Wagh scores second IM-norm

A little over four months after scoring his maiden IM-norm, FM Suyog Wagh earned his second IM-norm at the Open event. He scored 6.5/9 with a performance of 2443, including a win over GM Harshit Raja in the final round. Suyog now needs his final IM-norm and 2400 in the live ratings to become the next International Master of India.

FM Suyog Wagh in action at Prague International Chess Festival 2022 Open | Photo: Petr Vrabec/Prague International Chess Festival

Suyog Wagh's second IM-norm certificate

Suyog Wagh (second from left) receiving his IM-norm certificate
Prague International Chess Festival 2022 Masters Round 9 Live Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

Replay Round 9 Masters games

Replay Round 9 Challengers games

Schedule

The Round-Robin tournament will take place from 8th to 17th June 2022. Every day except the last round, games will start at 3 p.m. local time (6:30 p.m. IST). Sunday 12th June is a rest day. The ninth round game on 17th June will start at 11 a.m. local time (2:30 p.m. IST).

Masters Round 9 results

Bo.No.Rtg NameResultName RtgNo.
152701
GMHarikrishna Pentala1 - 0GMAnton Guijarro David
269210
262723
GMVidit Santosh Gujrathi½ - ½GMSalem A.R. Saleh
26794
372703
GMVallejo Pons Francisco½ - ½GMLe Quang Liem
27093
482718
GMShankland Sam½ - ½GMNguyen Thai Dai Van
26102
592716
GMMaghsoodloo Parham½ - ½GMNavara David
26811

Details

Final standings after Round 9

Rk.SNo NameFEDRtgPts. TB1  TB2  TB3 
15
GMHarikrishna PentalaIND27016,50,025,754
23
GMLe Quang LiemVIE27096,00,026,004
32
GMNguyen Thai Dai VanCZE26105,01,021,004
48
GMShankland SamUSA27185,01,020,505
51
GMNavara DavidCZE26815,01,019,504
67
GMVallejo Pons FranciscoESP27034,50,019,255
76
GMVidit Santosh GujrathiIND27234,00,517,255
89
GMMaghsoodloo ParhamIRI27164,00,517,005
94
GMSalem A.R. SalehUAE26793,00,010,754
1010
GMAnton Guijarro DavidESP26922,00,09,505

Details

Challengers Round 9 results

Bo.No.Rtg NameResultName RtgNo.
152577
GMMichalik Peter½ - ½GMHracek Zbynek
256410
262535
GMKrzyzanowski Marcin0 - 1GMNiemann Hans Moke
26784
372661
GMAbdusattorov Nodirbek½ - ½GMPechac Jergus
25983
482541
GMStocek Jiri0 - 1GMSasikiran Krishnan
26352
592613
GMWarmerdam Max0 - 1GMKeymer Vincent
26751

Details

Final standings after Round 9

Rk.SNo NameFEDRtgPts. TB1  TB2  TB3 
11
GMKeymer VincentGER26756,50,526,754
4
GMNiemann Hans MokeUSA26786,50,526,754
37
GMAbdusattorov NodirbekUZB26616,00,024,755
42
GMSasikiran KrishnanIND26355,00,018,254
53
GMPechac JergusSVK25984,00,519,004
69
GMWarmerdam MaxNED26134,00,514,005
76
GMKrzyzanowski MarcinPOL25353,51,016,255
88
GMStocek JiriCZE25413,50,016,755
910
GMHracek ZbynekCZE25643,00,511,755
105
GMMichalik PeterCZE25773,00,510,754

Details

Time Control

The time control is 90'/40 moves + 30'/end & 30"/move.

Links

Official site

Prague Chess Festival: fbtwitter, instagram and youtube

 

Update: 27/06/2022 - FM Suyog Wagh's second IM-norm details added.



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