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Maxime Vachier-Lagrave dominates Tata Steel India 2023 Rapid, Praggnanandhaa third

by Shahid Ahmed - 08/09/2023

The World Blitz 2021 champion, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA) won Tata Steel Chess India 2023 Rapid with an unbeaten 7/9. It was his debut tournament in Kolkata, India where he won the event with one round to spare. He defeated Arjun Erigaisi and Pentala Harikrishna to clinch the first place. The last round result became immaterial. Thus, he made a quick six move draw against the eventual runner-up, Teimour Radjabov (AZE). R Praggnaanandhaa defeated Vidit Gujrathi, lost to D Gukesh and then won against his good friend, Arjun Erigaisi to finish third 5/9. Alexander Grischuk and Vidit also scored the same 5/9. Nine rounds of Blitz will be played today, starting from 3 p.m. IST. Photos: IA Vivek Sohani/Tata Steel Chess India

MVL wins the tournament with a round to spare, remains invincible

Fun fact: Both Women and Open winners - IM Divya Deshmukh and GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA) won Tata Steel Chess India 2023 on their debut at this event. That's not all. Both of them drew number 10 at the Draw of lots too.

GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA) finished strong to win Tata Steel Chess India 2023 with one round to go

Round 7: Praggnanandhaa - Vidit: 1-0

Last year, in the Blitz event, GM R Praggnanandhaa (2703) and GM Vidit Gujrathi (2694) traded wins in the Blitz event. Two years at Tata Steel India Rapid, their sole Rapid rated game ended in a draw.

Position after 32...c5?

32...c5? turned things in White's favor after 33.Nd5 Rh8?? hastened Black's demise 34.Rb7+ Kd8 35.Bh4+ Kc8 36.Re7 Bf1 37.Nb6+ Kd8 38.Rd7+ and checkmate is unstoppable in the next move.

R Praggnanandhaa started all three days with a victory

Round 8: Vidit - Keymer: 1-0

The only Rapid rated game between GM Vidit Gujrathi (2694) and GM Vincent Keymer (GER, 2633) took place last year at World Rapid. Vidit won that game. This time also, he repeated the same result and maintained his unbeaten streak against Keymer in rated games.

Position after 30.Nf5!

Vidit made an excellent exchange sacrifice in a sharp position 30.Nf5! White was not guaranteed anything. However, he knew that he could not keep the exchange, so might as well get something out of it, at least an initiative. 30...Nxf5 31.Rxf5 Rxe1 32.Rxg5+ Kf7 33.Rxh5 Rc1 34.Kg2 Re7?? 35.Qa8+- started turning things in White's way. 35...Qe6 36.Re5 Qd7 37.Rxd5 and White went on to win the game using his extra pawns.

Vidit Gujrathi bounced back well with a win over Vincent Keymer (GER)

Gukesh - Praggnanandhaa: 1-0

The India no.1 D Gukesh (2651) has defeated R Praggnanandhaa (2703) twice earlier in Classical rated games. His overall score is better against the FIDE World Cup 2023 Silver medalist in rated games. This time also, the outcome was the same.

Position after 35...h6?

In a race between the passed pawns, White's passed pawns proved to be much superior than Black's. 36.Qxb8! Rxb8 37.a7 Nd7 38.a8Q! even if Black takes the queen, White will replace it by promoting a new one. What an amazing play by Gukesh.

Gukesh vs Praggnanandhaa - Analysis by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

Gukesh has always proven to be a tough hurdle for R Praggnanandhaa to overcome

Round 9: Praggnanandhaa - Arjun: 1-0

Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi played a lot of games in various time controls at the recently concluded FIDE World Cup 2023 Quarterfinals. We all know, Praggnanandhaa came out victorious in that. The final round at this event was no different either.

Position after 20...dxe5??

20...dxe5?? is a blunder. Find out why Black's position falls apart after that unforced error.

The last game between Teimour Radjabov (AZE) and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA) lasted six moves because MVL had already won the tournament

Arbiters team (L to R): IAs Debasish Barua, Gopakumar Sudhakaran, Vipnesh Bhardwaj and Asit Baran Choudhury
I want to be India no.1 as long as possible - D Gukesh | Video: ChessBase India

Replay live stream

Tata Steel Chess India 2023 Men Rapid | Round 7-9 Live commentary by GM Robert Hess (USA) and IM Tania Sachdev | Video: chess.com

Replay Round 7-9 games

Round 7-9 results

Round 7 on 2023/09/07 at 1500 h
Bo.No.Rtg NameResultName RtgNo.PGN
142675
GMErigaisi, Arjun0 - 1GMVachier-Lagrave, Maxime
275510
252680
GMRadjabov, Teimour½ - ½GMGukesh, D
26513
362703
GMPraggnanandhaa, R1 - 0GMVidit, Santosh Gujrathi
26942
472633
GMKeymer, Vincent0 - 1GMGrischuk, Alexander
27091
582731
GMAbdusattorov, Nodirbek1 - 0GMHarikrishna, Pentala
26469
Round 8 on 2023/09/07 at 1630 h
Bo.No.Rtg NameResultName RtgNo.PGN
1102755
GMVachier-Lagrave, Maxime1 - 0GMHarikrishna, Pentala
26469
212709
GMGrischuk, Alexander½ - ½GMAbdusattorov, Nodirbek
27318
322694
GMVidit, Santosh Gujrathi1 - 0GMKeymer, Vincent
26337
432651
GMGukesh, D1 - 0GMPraggnanandhaa, R
27036
542675
GMErigaisi, Arjun½ - ½GMRadjabov, Teimour
26805
Round 9 on 2023/09/07 at 1800 h
Bo.No.Rtg NameResultName RtgNo.PGN
152680
GMRadjabov, Teimour½ - ½GMVachier-Lagrave, Maxime
275510
262703
GMPraggnanandhaa, R1 - 0GMErigaisi, Arjun
26754
372633
GMKeymer, Vincent1 - 0GMGukesh, D
26513
482731
GMAbdusattorov, Nodirbek0 - 1GMVidit, Santosh Gujrathi
26942
592646
GMHarikrishna, Pentala½ - ½GMGrischuk, Alexander
27091

Details

Final standings in Rapid

Rk.SNo NameFEDRtgPts. TB1  TB2  TB3  TB4  TB5 
110
GMVachier-Lagrave, MaximeFRA275570028,0052
25
GMRadjabov, TeimourAZE26805,50022,2542
36
GMPraggnanandhaa, RIND2703501,523,5042
41
GMGrischuk, AlexanderFID270950120,5021
52
GMVidit, Santosh GujrathiIND2694500,521,2541
63
GMGukesh, DIND26514,50019,7521
78
GMAbdusattorov, NodirbekUZB273140013,7531
87
GMKeymer, VincentGER26333,50013,7532
94
GMErigaisi, ArjunIND267530012,5020
109
GMHarikrishna, PentalaIND26462,50011,7511

Details

Blitz Round 1 pairings

Round 1 on 2023/09/08 at 1500 h
Bo.No.Rtg NameResultName RtgNo.
112693
GMGrischuk, AlexanderGMVachier-Lagrave, Maxime
274010
222641
GMVidit, Santosh GujrathiGMHarikrishna, Pentala
26349
332659
GMGukesh, DGMAbdusattorov, Nodirbek
27088
442728
GMErigaisi, ArjunGMKeymer, Vincent
26457
552707
GMRadjabov, TeimourGMPraggnanandhaa, R
26326

Details

Links

Official site

Information

Gameplan


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