Nodirbek Yakubboev wins Qatar Masters 2023, S L Narayanan third with a 2792 performance
The 44th Chess Olympiad Gold medalists - Nodirbek Abdussatorov (UZB) and Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB) won their final round games against Arjun Erigaisi and Karthikeyan Murali respectively. Thus, they both became the only two players to end up with a score of 7/9 each. Yakubboev beat his countryman Abdusattorov in both 5'+3" Blitz play-off games to become Qatar Masters 2023 champion. Abdusattorov was placed second. S L Narayanan had a good chance against Hikaru Nakamura (USA). However, he was unable to seize it and it ended in a draw. Nevertheless, Narayanan scored an unbeaten 6.5/9 with a performance of 2792. He finished third along with five more players including Arjun Erigaisi and D Gukesh. Abhimanyu Puranik was on the verge of handing Magnus Carlsen his third defeat of the tournament. IM Vaishali R and IM Srihari L R scored GM-norms. CM Mayank Chakraborty earned his final IM-norm. Photos: Aditya Sur Roy
GM-norm: Vaishali R and Srihari L R, IM-norm: Mayank Chakraborty
IM Vaishali R fulfilled her final GM-norm requirements by the eighth round. She just needed to play the final round game. The result was immaterial to her norm chances. She needs to fulfill the rating criteria of 2500 to become India's next GM and only third Indian female to do so. 12 years ago, Harika Dronavalli was the last Indian female to achieve the coveted the GM title. For Vaishali, it is just a matter of time before she etches her name in the history. GM Abhimanyu Puranik holding the FIDE World Cup 2023 winner, GM Magnus Carlsen (NOR) to a draw meant, Abhimanyu making a top 15 finish, ahead of the World no.1 who finished 16th. More than the rating, missed win and prize money, finishing ahead of Carlsen after facing him in the final round, is certainly going to make Abhimanyu delighted. Open B report will be published separately.
GM S L Narayanan is not only the best Indian performer, in terms of performance rating, he is the best performer with a 2792 performance.
Abhimanyu - Carlsen: 0.5-0.5
GM Abhimanyu Puranik (2618) got a few good opportunities against the World no.1 GM Magnus Carlsen (NOR, 2839).
One of the last chances White had in the double rook endgame was in the above position. 47.Kb2 Rb3+ 48.Kc1 Rd3 49.Rd2 Rc3+ 50.Kd1 and White avoids all perpetual check threats. Unfortunately for White, he opted for 47.Kc1 Kb3 and the game meandered into a draw.
Narayanan - Nakamura
31.Rxc8 Rxc8 32.Ne6 Nf5 33.g4 would have landed Black in trouble.
Tie-break games
Schedule
There was 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 was 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 was US$ 108250. The top three prizes are $25000, $15000 and $10000 each.
Replay live stream
Replay Round 9 and Tie-break games
Round 9 results
Final standings
| Rk. | SNo | Name | Typ | sex | Gr | FED | RtgI | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | ||
| 1 | 19 | GM | Yakubboev, Nodirbek | UZB | 2616 | 7 | 0 | 2775 | ||||
| 2 | 5 | GM | Abdusattorov, Nodirbek | U20 | UZB | 2716 | 7 | 0 | 2765 | |||
| 3 | 13 | GM | Narayanan.S.L, | IND | 2651 | 6,5 | 0 | 2792 | ||||
| 4 | 12 | GM | Sindarov, Javokhir | U20 | UZB | 2658 | 6,5 | 0 | 2766 | |||
| 5 | 2 | GM | Nakamura, Hikaru | USA | 2780 | 6,5 | 0 | 2748 | ||||
| 6 | 6 | GM | Erigaisi, Arjun | U20 | IND | 2712 | 6,5 | 0 | 2743 | |||
| 7 | 7 | GM | Maghsoodloo, Parham | IRI | 2707 | 6,5 | 0 | 2727 | ||||
| 8 | 4 | GM | Gukesh, D | U20 | IND | 2758 | 6,5 | 0 | 2674 | |||
| 9 | 23 | GM | Paravyan, David | FID | 2599 | 6 | 0 | 2703 | ||||
| 10 | 20 | GM | Karthikeyan, Murali | IND | 2611 | 6 | 0 | 2689 | ||||
| 11 | 3 | GM | Giri, Anish | NED | 2760 | 6 | 0 | 2680 | ||||
| 12 | 31 | GM | Shimanov, Aleksandr | FID | 2566 | 6 | 0 | 2665 | ||||
| 13 | 16 | GM | Salem, A.R. Saleh | Ar. | UAE | 2632 | 6 | 0 | 2658 | |||
| 25 | GM | Jumabayev, Rinat | KAZ | 2585 | 6 | 0 | 2658 | |||||
| 15 | 18 | GM | Puranik, Abhimanyu | IND | 2618 | 6 | 0 | 2654 |
Links
Tournament Regulations: Open A and Open B
Qatar Chess Association: facebook, instagram and twitter
