chessbase india logo

Tata Steel Chess Rapid R1-3: Arjun bests Karthikeyan in 17 moves

by Shahid Ahmed - 17/11/2021

Levon Aronian has taken the sole lead at the end of the first day of Tata Steel Chess India 2021 Rapid. The two-time World Cup winner beat Shankland, Adhiban and Vidit. Although Shankland was not completely lost in their game, it's just his misadventures with the king cost him the full point. Praggnanandhaa, Arjun and Vidit are at 2.0/3 each. Only Praggnanandhaa has remained undefeated. The opening match between the siblings did not disappoint. At one point, Vaishali had the upper hand. However, the younger one, Praggnanandhaa, managed to wriggle out of trouble and save the day. His other draw was against Shankland. Round 4 starts tomorrow at 2 p.m. IST. Photo: Lennart Ootes

Aronian takes sole lead

The first day witnessed only three draws out of 15 games which means 80% games were decisive. All five games ended decisively in Round 2. It is definitely an inkling that the competition is tough and everyone is out there to give their best.

Arjun Erigaisi is in terrific form | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Round 1: Vaishali - Praggnanandhaa: 0.5-0.5

Being siblings means Vaishali and Praggnanandhaa have played against each other countless times. Yet, this is the first time they played against each other in such a large scale. The elder sister got a good opportunity after the younger brother played a bit ambitiously.

Position after 26...Bxf2

26...gxf2 would have been fine for Black. 26...Bxf2 turns things completely in White's favor as 27.Bxd8 Rxd8 and now 28.Rxd6 gives White a decisive advantage. Vaishali played 28.Rxf2 instead, which allowed Black to equalize 28...gxf2 and salvage a draw eventually.

The siblings definitely played an exciting game for the spectators | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Arjun - Parham: 1-0

How strong is Arjun Erigaisi? Well the move 27.c4 in the endgame should give you a clue.

Position after 27.c4

While computer may not agree with it, only a human will understand the strength and importance of the move 27.c4. The idea behind the move is simple, White wants to place his knight on d5, gain a stronghold and slowly gain complete control of the position, which is exactly what happened.

Arjun Erigaisi made a strong start | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Shankland - Aronian: 0-1

Sam Shankland (USA) was forced to give up his queen for Aronian's rook and bishop.

Position after 29...Ra3

White has no choice but to take on a3, 30.Qxa3 Qxa3 31.Bxd7 and the game is far from over. White's advanced isolated central passed pawn at d5 combined with the bishop at c6 keeps him afloat.

Position after 43.Kg2

White misplaced his king at g2, 43.Kg2 h3+ and it was all over. 44.Re3 and there is no easy way for Black to make progress. The game should have headed towards a draw but the misadventures of the king cost White the game.

Aronian seized his opportunity | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Adhiban - Vidit: 0-1

Adhiban got an opportunity to strike as Vidit made an inaccuracy early in the middlegame.

Position after 14...Ne7

White has a couple of choices to break the position wide open. Find out which is the correct. White opted for 15.Bxe5+ which turned out to be the incorrect one. White's position deteriorated and Black soon got decisive advantage.

Full game: Adhiban vs Vidit | Video: ChessBase India

Vidit gets a thumbs up from a fan before the game | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Round 2: Liem - Vidit: 0-1

Liem wanted to trap Vidit's queen. However, the idea does not work.

Position after 25.Be3

25.Be3 is not a good idea because of 25...f6 26.Nd3 and now 26...Rxe3 27.Nc1 Qxb3 28.Nxb3 Rce8 still gives Black substantial advantage. However, Vidit went for the humane 26...Bxd3 and won the game in the next few moves, 27.Qxd3 Ng3 28.Rb7 Qa1+ 29.Kf2 Nh1+ 30.Ke2 Rce8 and White resigned.

Liem suffered a tough loss | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Aronian - Adiban: 1-0

Aronian scored his second consecutive win of the day against Adhiban who suffered his second consecutive loss.

Position after 24.Rb4

Black is at a critical juncture - a4-pawn is hanging and a7 will also fall if no action is taken. 24...Rxf3 was played and Black lost some important pawns. Find out what should have Black done instead. Of course it is not easy to find. Later Adhiban got an opportunity to create a fortress like position but he could not find it.

Final moments - Aronian vs. Adhiban | Video: ChessBase India

Praggnanandhaa - Arjun: 1-0

Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi had a grueling battle. Eventually the latter erred in a relatively equal rook endgame.

Position after 45...Rxg3

45...Rxg3 is a blunder. Find out what Black should have done to keep things going out of hand.

Round 3: Vidit - Aronian: 0-1

Aronian scored his third consecutive win to take sole lead 3.0/3 by beating Vidit.

Position after 26.Qd4

26.Qd4 is what cost White the e4-pawn after 26...Nf4 27.Qe3 Bxe4 28.Re1 Qf5. A couple of more inaccuracies gave Black a favorable endgame which Aronian converted into a win with ease.

Aronian won all three of his games today | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Pragg drew with Shankland | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Arjun - Karthikeyan: 1-0

Arjun made a short work of Karthikeyan in just 17 moves after the latter made a blunder in a difficult position.

Chanakya Chaudhary, Vice President of Tata Steel Corporate Services makes the first move | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Anand makes the first move on Arjun-Parham's board | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Tania, Anand and Sagar share a light moment during live commentary | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Audience view of the playing arena | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Last but certainly not the least, check out the world champion and the winner of previous edition, Magnus Carlsen's message for the tournament and the chess universe

Replay Round 1-3 games

Round 1-3 results

Round 1 on 2021/11/17 at 1400 h
Bo.No.FEDRtg NameResultName FEDRtgNo.
11IND2388
GMKarthikeyan Murali½ - ½GMLe Quang Liem
VIE271510
22IND2210
WGMVaishali R½ - ½GMPraggnanandhaa R
IND18219
33IND2323
GMErigaisi Arjun1 - 0GMMaghsoodloo Parham
IRI25168
44USA2647
GMShankland Sam0 - 1GMAronian Levon
ARM27617
55IND2626
GMAdhiban B.0 - 1GMVidit Santosh Gujrathi
IND26396
Round 2 on 2021/11/17 at 1530 h
Bo.No.FEDRtg NameResultName FEDRtgNo.
110VIE2715
GMLe Quang Liem0 - 1GMVidit Santosh Gujrathi
IND26396
27ARM2761
GMAronian Levon1 - 0GMAdhiban B.
IND26265
38IRI2516
GMMaghsoodloo Parham0 - 1GMShankland Sam
USA26474
49IND1821
GMPraggnanandhaa R1 - 0GMErigaisi Arjun
IND23233
51IND2388
GMKarthikeyan Murali1 - 0WGMVaishali R
IND22102
Round 3 on 2021/11/17 at 1700 h
Bo.No.FEDRtg NameResultName FEDRtgNo.
12IND2210
WGMVaishali R0 - 1GMLe Quang Liem
VIE271510
23IND2323
GMErigaisi Arjun1 - 0GMKarthikeyan Murali
IND23881
34USA2647
GMShankland Sam½ - ½GMPraggnanandhaa R
IND18219
45IND2626
GMAdhiban B.0 - 1GMMaghsoodloo Parham
IRI25168
56IND2639
GMVidit Santosh Gujrathi0 - 1GMAronian Levon
ARM27617

Details

Round 4-6 pairings

Round 4 on 2021/11/18 at 1400 h
Bo.No.FEDRtg NameResultName FEDRtgNo.
110VIE2715
GMLe Quang LiemGMAronian Levon
ARM27617
28IRI2516
GMMaghsoodloo ParhamGMVidit Santosh Gujrathi
IND26396
39IND1821
GMPraggnanandhaa RGMAdhiban B.
IND26265
41IND2388
GMKarthikeyan MuraliGMShankland Sam
USA26474
52IND2210
WGMVaishali RGMErigaisi Arjun
IND23233
Round 5 on 2021/11/18 at 1530 h
Bo.No.FEDRtg NameResultName FEDRtgNo.
13IND2323
GMErigaisi ArjunGMLe Quang Liem
VIE271510
24USA2647
GMShankland SamWGMVaishali R
IND22102
35IND2626
GMAdhiban B.GMKarthikeyan Murali
IND23881
46IND2639
GMVidit Santosh GujrathiGMPraggnanandhaa R
IND18219
57ARM2761
GMAronian LevonGMMaghsoodloo Parham
IRI25168
Round 6 on 2021/11/18 at 1700 h
Bo.No.FEDRtg NameResultName FEDRtgNo.
110VIE2715
GMLe Quang LiemGMMaghsoodloo Parham
IRI25168
29IND1821
GMPraggnanandhaa RGMAronian Levon
ARM27617
31IND2388
GMKarthikeyan MuraliGMVidit Santosh Gujrathi
IND26396
42IND2210
WGMVaishali RGMAdhiban B.
IND26265
53IND2323
GMErigaisi ArjunGMShankland Sam
USA26474

Details

Standings after Round 3

Rk.SNo NamesexFEDRtgPts. TB1  TB2  TB3  TB4 
17
GMAronian LevonARM27613,00,03,5032
29
GMPraggnanandhaa RIND18212,00,03,0010
33
GMErigaisi ArjunIND23232,00,02,5020
46
GMVidit Santosh GujrathiIND26392,00,01,5022
54
GMShankland SamUSA26471,50,02,0011
610
GMLe Quang LiemVIE27151,50,01,2511
71
GMKarthikeyan MuraliIND23881,50,01,2510
88
GMMaghsoodloo ParhamIRI25161,00,00,0011
92
WGMVaishali RwIND22100,50,01,0000
105
GMAdhiban B.IND26260,00,00,0000

Details

Tata Steel Chess India 2021 Rapid Round 1-3 | Live commentary by IM Tania Sachdev, IM Sagar Shah and Samay Raina | Video: ChessBase India

Links

Official site

Information

Gameplan


Related news:
Arjun Erigaisi and Levon Aronian are the winners of Tata Steel Chess India 2021 Rapid and Blitz

@ 22/11/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Express Report: Levon Aronian wins Tata Steel Chess Blitz in Armageddon Playoffs

@ 21/11/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
अर्जुन बने टाटा स्टील इंडिया रैपिड विजेता " इस अर्जुन का निशाना सटीक है !

@ 20/11/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
Tata Steel Chess Blitz: Arjun grabs sole lead, now World no.14 in Blitz

@ 20/11/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
The 'Age of Arjun Erigaisi' begins with a monumental triumph at Tata Steel Chess India 2021 Rapid

@ 19/11/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
टाटा स्टील रैपिड D2:छा गए भारत के अर्जुन,बनाई बढ़त

@ 18/11/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
Tata Steel Chess Rapid R4-6: The Arjun Erigaisi day

@ 18/11/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Deep Dive into Day 1 of Tata Steel Chess India 2021

@ 18/11/2021 by Sagar Shah (en)
टाटा स्टील रैपिड D1: अरोनियन नें बनाई एकल बढ़त

@ 17/11/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
Tata Steel Chess India Rapid & Blitz 2021 preview

@ 17/11/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
टाटा स्टील इंडिया शतरंज - इंतजार की घड़ियाँ अब खत्म

@ 13/11/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
Tata Steel Chess India Rapid and Blitz 2021 is here!

@ 03/11/2021 by Sagar Shah (en)

Contact Us