Will Arjun Erigaisi win Qatar Masters 2023?

by Shahid Ahmed - 20/10/2023

GM Arjun Erigaisi defeated GM David Paravyan to gain sole lead 6.5/8 going into the final round of Qatar Masters 2023. He will face the 44th Olympiad Gold medalist and World Rapid 2021 champion - GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB) in Round 9. A win will make an outright champion, whereas a draw would result in Playoffs among the players who will finish at 7/9. Six players are at 6/8 each. GM Karthikeyan Murali and GM S L Narayanan who drew their game against each other, are the only two Indians among them. GM Abhimanyu Puranik made a clever draw against World no.7 - GM Anish Giri. IM Vaishali R moves closer to her final GM-norm with a draw against IM Rudik Makarian. Final Round 9 starts today at 1 p.m. local time, 3:30 p.m. IST. Photos: Aditya Sur Roy

S L Narayanan and Karthikeyan Murali in the mix

IM Vaishali R will face GM Gregory Kaidanov (USA) in the final round. She will earn her final GM-norm once her game begins, irrespective of the outcome. GM S L Narayanan vs GM Hikaru Nakamura (USA) and GM Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB) vs GM Karthikeyan Murali will be the matches involving first place implications including Abdusattorov vs Arjun. GM Abhimanyu Puranik will face the World no.1 and FIDE World Cup 2023 winner, GM Magnus Carlsen (NOR) in the final round.

GM Arjun Erigaisi emerged sole leader 6.5/8 heading into the final round

Respect! 64-year-old Gregory Kaidanov takes on Magnus Carlsen - Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

"Playing Magnus is every player's Dream!" 64-year-old GM Gregory Kaidanov | Video: ChessBase India

Mighty Naka vs Buddy Pranav | Video: ChessBase India

"Pranav will reach at least 2650!" - Hikaru Nakamura after his 8th round win | Video: ChessBase India

Hikaru Nakamura analyzes Carlsen-Kaidanov and his own game against Pranav V | Video: GMHikaru

Arjun - Paravyan: 1-0

GM Arjun Erigaisi (2712) decided to take rook and two pawns for two of his minor pieces in the endgame against GM David Paravyan (2599).

Position after 16...Bxd6

15...Qd6 allowed White to trade the queens 16.Qxd6 Bxd6 and then go 17.Bxb5 axb5 18.Nxb5 Ra6 19.Nxd6 Rxd6 20.Ba3 Rd2 21.Bxf8 Kxf8 22.f3 White eventually used his double rooks to win the game.

Arjun Erigaisi talks about his win against David Paravyan | Video: ChessBase India

You cannot be careless against Arjun Erigaisi - Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

The game between two 44th Olympiad Gold medalists - Javokhir Sindarov (UZB) and Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB) ended in a draw

GM Karthikeyan Murali and GM S L Narayanan had a well contested draw

Abhimanyu - Giri

Position after 12.Qxf7+!

World no.7 GM Anish Giri (2760) allowed his opponent GM Abhimanyu Puranik (2618) to sacrifice his queen and force a draw. After 12.Qxf7+! Kxf7 13.Nxe6 leads to a draw in all plausible continuations. Try to work out each variation.

GM Abhimanyu Puranik sacrifices his queen against GM Anish Giri (NED) - Game and Interview | Video: ChessBase India

GM Abhimanyu Puranik made a clever draw against the World no.7 - GM Anish Giri (NED)

GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov won the battle of the 44th Olympiad Gold medalists against his Uzbekistan compatriot - GM Jakhongir Vakhidov

Gukesh's fiery chess for a 28-move win in the London - Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

"I am just trying to focus on being qualified enough to play the Candidates" - D Gukesh | Video: ChessBase India

GM Robby Kevlishvili on his game against Gukesh | Video: ChessBase India

GM D Gukesh bounced back with a victory against GM Robby Kevlishvili (NED)

Vaishali powerfully moves closer to her final GM norm | Video: ChessBase India

IM Vaishali R inches closer to her final GM-norm with a draw against IM Rudik Makarian

GM Karthik Venkataraman - IM Shahil Dey: 0.5-0.5

"I think Qatar Chess Federation has put up a wonderful show" | Video: ChessBase India

Egypt no.3 Adham Fawzy on his solid performance at the Qatar Masters 2023 | Video: ChessBase India

"I have 4 IM norms and live rating of 2359, so I am focusing on my Elo" - Aaryan Varshney | Video: ChessBase India

Round 8 starting moments | Video: ChessBase India

Schedule

There are one round every day from 11th to 20th October 2023 starting from 3 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. Monday 16th October 2023 is a rest day. Only last round on 20th October starts at 1 p.m. local time, 3:30 p.m. IST.

Time control

Time control for each tournament game is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move 1.

Prizes

The total prize fund of the tournament is US$ 108250. The top three prizes are $25000, $15000 and $10000 each.

Replay live stream

Replay Round 8 Live Commentary by IM Sagar Shah and Amruta Mokal | Video: ChessBase India

Replay Round 8 Live Commentary by GM Evgenij Miroshnichenko, IM Jovanka Houska, and IM Irene Sukandar | Video: Qatar Chess Association

Replay Round 8 games

Round 8 results

Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
1	1	GM	Carlsen, Magnus *)	2839	4½	1 - 0	5	GM	Kaidanov, Gregory	2554	35
2	2	GM	Nakamura, Hikaru *)	2780	5	1 - 0	5	GM	Pranav, V	2579	27
3	6	GM	Erigaisi, Arjun	2712	5½	1 - 0	5½	GM	Paravyan, David	2599	23
4	12	GM	Sindarov, Javokhir	2658	5½	½ - ½	5½	GM	Yakubboev, Nodirbek	2616	19
5	20	GM	Karthikeyan, Murali	2611	5½	½ - ½	5½	GM	Narayanan.S.L,	2651	13
6	18	GM	Puranik, Abhimanyu	2618	5	½ - ½	5	GM	Giri, Anish	2760	3
7	22	GM	Vakhidov, Jakhongir	2607	5	0 - 1	5	GM	Abdusattorov, Nodirbek	2716	5
8	24	GM	Sethuraman, S.P.	2598	5	½ - ½	5	GM	Maghsoodloo, Parham	2707	7
9	31	GM	Shimanov, Aleksandr	2566	5	½ - ½	5	GM	Oparin, Grigoriy	2681	11
10	4	GM	Gukesh, D	2758	4½	1 - 0	4½	GM	Kevlishvili, Robby	2521	43
11	40	GM	Fawzy, Adham	2535	4½	½ - ½	4½	GM	Aravindh, Chithambaram Vr.	2649	14
12	42	GM	Vignesh, N R	2527	4½	½ - ½	4½	GM	Aryan, Chopra	2634	15
13	16	GM	Salem, A.R. Saleh	2632	4½	1 - 0	4½	IM	Ahmadzada, Ahmad	2494	55
14	46	GM	Pranesh, M	2515	4½	0 - 1	4½	GM	Gupta, Abhijeet	2609	21
15	54	GM	Raja, Rithvik R	2495	4½	½ - ½	4½	GM	Jumabayev, Rinat	2585	25
16	26	GM	Kuybokarov, Temur	2584	4½	1 - 0	4½	IM	Samadov, Read	2492	58
17	28	GM	Vokhidov, Shamsiddin	2578	4½	½ - ½	4½	GM	Abdisalimov, Abdimalik	2487	59
18	30	GM	Aditya, Mittal	2572	4½	½ - ½	4½	IM	Zou, Chen	2418	88
19	75	IM	Vaishali, Rameshbabu	2448	4½	½ - ½	4½	IM	Makarian, Rudik	2548	37
20	8	GM	Van Foreest, Jorden	2707	4	1 - 0	4	IM	Madaminov, Mukhiddin	2484	61

Details

Standings after Round 8

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	sex	Gr	FED	RtgI	Pts.	TB1	TB2
1	6	GM	Erigaisi, Arjun	U20			IND	2712	6,5	0	2810
2	13	GM	Narayanan.S.L,				IND	2651	6	0	2800
3	12	GM	Sindarov, Javokhir	U20			UZB	2658	6	0	2773
4	2	GM	Nakamura, Hikaru				USA	2780	6	0	2766
5	20	GM	Karthikeyan, Murali				IND	2611	6	0	2751
6	19	GM	Yakubboev, Nodirbek				UZB	2616	6	0	2741
7	5	GM	Abdusattorov, Nodirbek	U20			UZB	2716	6	0	2718
8	23	GM	Paravyan, David				FID	2599	5,5	0	2713
9	7	GM	Maghsoodloo, Parham				IRI	2707	5,5	0	2700
10	3	GM	Giri, Anish				NED	2760	5,5	0	2683
11	31	GM	Shimanov, Aleksandr				FID	2566	5,5	0	2669
12	16	GM	Salem, A.R. Saleh			Ar.	UAE	2632	5,5	0	2666
13	1	GM	Carlsen, Magnus				NOR	2839	5,5	0	2655
14	4	GM	Gukesh, D	U20			IND	2758	5,5	0	2637
	24	GM	Sethuraman, S.P.				IND	2598	5,5	0	2637

Details

Round 9 pairings

Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
1	18	GM	Puranik, Abhimanyu	2618	5½		5½	GM	Carlsen, Magnus *)	2839	1
2	13	GM	Narayanan.S.L,	2651	6		6	GM	Nakamura, Hikaru *)	2780	2
3	5	GM	Abdusattorov, Nodirbek	2716	6		6½	GM	Erigaisi, Arjun	2712	6
4	19	GM	Yakubboev, Nodirbek	2616	6		6	GM	Karthikeyan, Murali	2611	20
5	3	GM	Giri, Anish	2760	5½		6	GM	Sindarov, Javokhir	2658	12
6	21	GM	Gupta, Abhijeet	2609	5½		5½	GM	Gukesh, D	2758	4
7	7	GM	Maghsoodloo, Parham	2707	5½		5½	GM	Kuybokarov, Temur	2584	26
8	11	GM	Oparin, Grigoriy	2681	5½		5½	GM	Sethuraman, S.P.	2598	24
9	23	GM	Paravyan, David	2599	5½		5½	GM	Salem, A.R. Saleh	2632	16
10	15	GM	Aryan, Chopra	2634	5		5½	GM	Shimanov, Aleksandr	2566	31
11	37	IM	Makarian, Rudik	2548	5		5	GM	Van Foreest, Jorden	2707	8
12	9	GM	Nihal, Sarin	2694	5		5	GM	Fawzy, Adham	2535	40
13	41	GM	Yilmazyerli, Mert	2533	5		5	GM	Fedoseev, Vladimir	2691	10
14	14	GM	Aravindh, Chithambaram Vr.	2649	5		5	GM	Vignesh, N R	2527	42
15	49	GM	Iniyan, P	2510	5		5	GM	Vakhidov, Jakhongir	2607	22
16	25	GM	Jumabayev, Rinat	2585	5		5	IM	Prraneeth, Vuppala	2510	50
17	27	GM	Pranav, V	2579	5		5	GM	Raja, Rithvik R	2495	54
18	88	IM	Zou, Chen	2418	5		5	GM	Vokhidov, Shamsiddin	2578	28
19	59	GM	Abdisalimov, Abdimalik	2487	5		5	GM	Aditya, Mittal	2572	30
20	35	GM	Kaidanov, Gregory	2554	5		5	IM	Vaishali, Rameshbabu	2448	75

Details

Links

Official site

Tournament Regulations: Open A and Open B

Qatar Chess Association: facebook, instagram and twitter

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