Praggnanandhaa defeats Arjun Erigaisi in Chess World Cup. (Photo: FIDE/Stev Bonhage))Chess World Cup 2023, Arjun Erigaisi vs Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa Highlights: The tiebreaker contest between the two Indian prodigies, Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi, ended wit the former winning in a frantic blitz game after six previous games failed to find a winner.
After the first two games between the duo (with time control of 25 minutes+10 sec increments) ended in draws, the third game (10 mins+10 secs) was won by Praggnanandhaa with black, but Arjun levelled in the next game with the same time control to force the matter into a fifth and sixth games (five mins+3 sec time control). There, Praggnanandhaa again took the lead with black pieces before Arjun pushed the contest into sudden death.
Winning the tie-breaker means Pragg will be the fourth player in the FIDE World Cup’s semi-final. With Magnus Carlsen having announced that he has no interest in playing in the Candidates, Praggnanandhaa is more or less assured a spot in the Candidates Tournament, which is played to determine the challenger to world champion Ding Liren.
INTERACTIVE: You can follow the move-by-move action from the first Arjun vs Pragg game below and also click on the notations at the right of the board to retrace the way the game developed
INTERACTIVE: You can follow the move-by-move action from the second Arjun vs Pragg game below and also click on the notations at the right of the board to retrace the way the game developed
INTERACTIVE: You can follow the move-by-move action from the first Arjun vs Pragg game with the 10+10 time control below and also click on the notations at the right of the board to retrace the way the game developed
INTERACTIVE: You can follow the move-by-move action from the second Arjun vs Pragg game with the 10+10 time control below and also click on the notations at the right of the board to retrace the way the game developed
INTERACTIVE: You can follow the move-by-move action from the first Arjun vs Pragg game with the 5+3 time control below and also click on the notations at the right of the board to retrace the way the game developed
The winner of the Arjun-Praggnanandhaa clash will play Fabiano Caruana in the semifinal. Caruana dominated his American compatriot Leinier Dominguez Perez to win in 94 moves.
INTERACTIVE: You can follow the move-by-move action from the second Arjun vs Pragg game with the 5+3 time control below and also click on the notations at the right of the board to retrace the way the game developed
INTERACTIVE: You can follow the move-by-move action from the sudden death game between Arjun vs Pragg below and also click on the notations at the right of the board to retrace the way the game developed
Scroll down to catch all the highlights
India's D Gukesh (left) and Vidit Gujrathi were eliminated in the quarters; Arjun Erigaisi and Praggnanandhaa R will play in a tiebreaker on Thursday. (PHOTO: FIDE/Stev Bonhage)
Ian Nepomniachtchi (as runner-up from last World Championship encounter)
Fabiano Caruana (from FIDE World Cup)
Abasov (from FIDE World Cup)
Praggnanandhaa (from FIDE World Cup)
TWO players will comes from the FIDE Grand Swiss tournament. One player will come from the FIDE Circuit while the last player will be picked courtesy their rating.
The tiebreaker contest between the two Indian prodigies, Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi, ended wit hthe former winning in a frantic blitz game after six previous games failed to find a winner.
After the first two games between the duo (with time control of 25 minutes 10 sec increments) ended in draws, the third game (10 mins 10 secs) was won by Praggnanandhaa with black, but Arjun levelled in the next game with the same time control to force the matter into a fifth and sixth games (five mins 3 sec time control). There, Praggnanandhaa again took the lead with black pieces before Arjun pushed the contest into sudden death.
Winning the tie-breaker means Pragg will be the fourth player in the FIDE World Cup’s semi-final. With Magnus Carlsen having announced that he has no interest in playing in the Candidates, Praggnanandhaa is more or less assured a spot in the Candidates Tournament, which is played to determine the challenger to world champion Ding Liren.
What drama! Everyone who plays with black seems to be picking up the advantage tonight! Here's how the tiebreaker has gone tonight.
First game (25 mins+10 sec): Draw
Second game (25 mins+10 sec): Draw
Third game (10 mins+10 secs): Praggnanandhaa R wins
Fourth game (10 mins+10 secs): Arjun Erigaisi wins
Fifth game (5 mins+3 secs): Praggnanandhaa R wins
Sixth Game (5 mins+3 secs): Arjun Erigaisi wins
Nurgyul Salimova, the 20-year-old from Bulgaria, is in the final of the 2023 Women's FIDE World Cup after defeating Anna Muzychuk in the tiebreakers.
Salimova also makes the cut for the 2024 Candidates! Meanwhile, Muzychuk can also make the cut for the Candidates if she beats Tan Zhongyi in the 3rd place match.
there will be two more games with time control of 5 minutes for each player + 3 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1.
Pragg will play with black pieces.
Arjun Erigaisi wins in 28 moves with black pieces to force two more games.
Thanks to Praggnanandhaa winning the previous game, Arjun Erigaisi needs to win on demand. And he's trying to make thigns happen!
1 d4 Nf6
2 c4 e6
3 Nf3 d5
4 Nc3 Nbd7
5 Bf4 Bb4
6 e3 c5
7 Be2 Qa5
8 O-O Bxc3
9 bxc3 Ne4
10 Bd3 Nxc3
11 Qc2 dxc4
12 Bxc4 b5
13 Bd3 c4
14 Be4 Nd5
15 a4 b4
Indian teenager Praggnanandhaa produced one of the biggest upsets of the FIDE World Cup after eliminating Hikaru Nakamura via tiebreakers last Friday. After the two classical games were unable to provide a result, Praggnanandhaa and Nakamura were playing tiebreakers on Friday. While the result in itself was astounding, what made the moment special was that former world champion Magnus Carlsen got up in the middle of his own tiebreaker with Vincent Keymer and walked to Praggnanandhaa to congratulate him.
After Carlsen managed to defeat German teenager Keymer, he was asked what he had told the Indian.
“My chess club, Offerspill, have a camp going on right now for young, talented players in Stockholm, Sweden. Ramesh, Pragg’s personal coach, is the main coach at that camp. One of my friends who attended it told me that Ramesh was always telling them ‘be like Pragg, be like Pragg’. So I told Pragg that we all want to be like him today,” Carlsen revealed.
“This is one of my best days for sure. I’m very happy, I don’t know how to express it. It was a good day,” said Praggnanandhaa R, who turned 18 on Thursday.
1 d4 Nf6
2 c4 e6
3 Nf3 d5
4 Nc3 Nbd7
5 Bf4 Bb4
6 e3 c5
7 Be2 Qa5
8 O-O Bxc3
9 bxc3 Ne4
10 Bd3 Nxc3
1 d4 Nf6
2 c4 e6
3 Nf3 d5
4 Nc3 Nbd7
5 Bf4 Bb4
1 e4 e5
2 d4 exd4
3 Qxd4 Nc6
4 Qe3 Nf6
5 Bd2 Be7
6 c4 Ng4
7 Qe2 d6
8 Nc3 Bh4
9 g3 Bf6
10 h3 Nge5
11 O-O-O Nd4
12 Qe3 c5
13 Nd5 Be6
14 f4 Nec6
15 Bc3 O-O
16 Nxf6+ Qxf6
17 Nf3 Qe7
18 Bxd4 cxd4
19 Nxd4 Nxd4
20 Qxd4 b5
21 Kb1 Bxc4
22 Bxc4 bxc4
23 Qxc4 a5
24 Rh2 a4
25 a3 Rfc8
26 Qd3 h6
27 Rc2 Rxc2
28 Qxc2 Qe6
29 g4 Qf6
30 f5 Rb8
31 Ka2 Rb5
32 Rd2 Rb3
33 Rd3 Rb6
34 Rc3 Qd4
35 Qd3 Qe5
Pragg is in deep trouble.
Pragg is down a pawn and has two weak pawns!
1 e4 e5
2 d4 exd4
3 Qxd4 Nc6
4 Qe3 Nf6
5 Bd2 Be7
6 c4 Ng4
7 Qe2 d6
8 Nc3 Bh4
9 g3 Bf6
10 h3 Nge5
11 O-O-O Nd4
12 Qe3 c5
13 Nd5 Be6
14 f4 Nec6
15 Bc3 O-O
16 Nxf6+ Qxf6
17 Nf3 Qe7
18 Bxd4 cxd4
19 Nxd4 Nxd4
20 Qxd4 b5
21 Kb1 Bxc4
22 Bxc4 bxc4
23 Qxc4 a5
24 Rh2 a4
25 a3 Rfc8
Nurgyul Salimova wins 1st game in the women's tiebreaker. She's a draw away from breaking into the Women's World Cup final.
1 e4 e5
2 d4 exd4
3 Qxd4 Nc6
4 Qe3 Nf6
5 Bd2 Be7
6 c4 Ng4
7 Qe2 d6
8 Nc3 Bh4
9 g3 Bf6
10 h3 Nge5
11 O-O-O Nd4
12 Qe3 c5
13 Nd5 Be6
14 f4 Nec6
15 Bc3 O-O
16 Nxf6+ Qxf6
17 Nf3 Qe7
18 Bxd4 cxd4
19 Nxd4 Nxd4
20 Qxd4 b5
1 e4 e5
2 d4 exd4
3 Qxd4 Nc6
4 Qe3 Nf6
5 Bd2 Be7
6 c4 Ng4
7 Qe2 d6
8 Nc3 Bh4
9 g3 Bf6
10 h3 Nge5
After nine moves between both players, Arjun Erigaisi is already three minutes up!
Anna Muzychuk wins the second game which means both players now have a win. Muzychuk and Nurgyul Salimova will head into two more games with a time control of 10 minutes for each player + 10 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1.
If the two classical games do not throw up a winner, two tie-break games shall be played with time control of 25 minutes for each player + 10 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1.
If that also does not find a winner, the players will play two more games with a time control of 10 minutes for each player + 10 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1.
If that also does not find a winner, there will be two more games with time control of 5 minutes for each player + 3 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1.
If that also does not find a winner, one game with a time control of 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1 shall be played to determine the winner.
If that also does not find a winner, another game shall be played with a time control of 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1 with the colours reversed from the previous game.
The game with 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment per move is repeated until there's a winner.
Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi will play two more games in the 10+10 format. That's 10 minutes with 10 second increments per move.
After 32 moves, Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi agree to a draw!
Praggnanandhaa is a pawn up against Arjun Erigaisi in the 2nd game of tie-breaker.
1 c4 e6
2 Nc3 d5
3 d4 c6
4 cxd5 exd5
5 Bf4 Ne7
6 e3 Ng6
7 Bg3 Nh4
8 Nf3 Nf5
9 Qb3 a5
10 Bd3 Nxg3
11 hxg3 g6
12 e4 Bg7
13 exd5 O-O
14 O-O cxd5
15 Qxd5 Nc6
16 Rad1 Bg4
17 Be4 Bxf3
18 gxf3 Nxd4
19 Qxd8 Raxd8
20 Rd3 Ne6
The Arjun-Pragg game is not the only game going on at the moment. There is also a tiebreaker happening to decide a finalist for the Women's World Cup. Anna Muzychuk is playing Nurgyul Salimova.
Two years ago, in the middle of the pandemic, Anna Muzychuk was coaching Nurgyul Salimova for the Challengers Chess Tour! Now they're jousting for one spot in the FIDE Women's World Cup final.
1 c4 e6
2 Nc3 d5
3 d4 c6
4 cxd5 exd5
5 Bf4 Ne7
6 e3 Ng6
7 Bg3 Nh4
8 Nf3 Nf5
9 Qb3 a5
10 Bd3 Nxg3
11 hxg3 g6
12 e4 Bg7
13 exd5 O-O
14 O-O cxd5
15 Qxd5 Nc6
Arjun Erigaisi is under some pressure as his rival has one more pawn
1 c4 e6
2 Nc3 d5
3 d4 c6
4 cxd5 exd5
5 Bf4 Ne7
6 e3 Ng6
7 Bg3 Nh4
8 Nf3 Nf5
9 Qb3 a5
10 Bd3 Nxg3
And after knight h4 on the seventh move by Arjun, the game is already moving into unchartered territory!
1 c4 e6
2 Nc3 d5
3 d4 c6
4 cxd5 exd5
5 Bf4 Ne7
Game 2 of the tiebreak between Arjun and Pragg starts.
In the 36th move, both Indian players agreee to end the game in a draw.
However, Arjun also has an isoloated pawn, which he really cannot move becasue of a rook.
1 d4 Nf6
2 c4 e6
3 Nc3 Bb4
4 Qc2 O-O
5 Nf3 d5
6 a3 Bxc3+
7 Qxc3 dxc4
8 Qxc4 b6
9 Bg5 Ba6
10 Qc1 h6
11 Bh4 Bb7
12 e3 Nbd7
13 Be2 c5
14 O-O Rc8
15 Qe1 g5
16 Bg3 Ne4
17 Rd1 Nxg3
18 hxg3 Qf6
19 Bb5 Rc7
20 Bxd7 Bxf3
21 gxf3 Rxd7
22 dxc5 Rxd1
23 Qxd1 bxc5
24 Qc2 Rb8
25 Qxc5 Rxb2
26 Kg2 a6
27 Rd1 Kg7
28 Rd4 Ra2
29 Ra4 Qb2
30 Qd4+ Qxd4
Bull run on the chessboard: As number of GMs from India surges, casual fans from nation too rising
The bond between teenage prodigy Gukesh and India’s first GM Viswanathan Anand
Magnus Carlsen reveals what he told Praggnanandhaa after Indian teen upset Hikaru Nakamura
PROFILE: D Gukesh, The Boy Who Went Past Viswanathan Anand
‘The name of the game is intimidation’: Hungry Gukesh takes on resurgent Magnus Carlsen
Young Magnus Carlsen building large Lego sets made his father to teach him chess
Magnus Carlsen: ‘We’re at beginning of chess revolution in India which started with Vishy Anand’
GM Srinath Narayanan: There’s a consensus in world of chess that India is a superpower
Meals turn into mentoring sessions as Magnus Carlsen takes India’s teenaged trio under wings
Here's what the board looks like:
1 d4 Nf6
2 c4 e6
3 Nc3 Bb4
4 Qc2 O-O
5 Nf3 d5
6 a3 Bxc3+
7 Qxc3 dxc4
8 Qxc4 b6
9 Bg5 Ba6
10 Qc1 h6
11 Bh4 Bb7
12 e3 Nbd7
13 Be2 c5
14 O-O Rc8
15 Qe1 g5
16 Bg3 Ne4
17 Rd1 Nxg3
18 hxg3 Qf6
19 Bb5 Rc7
20 Bxd7 Bxf3
21 gxf3 Rxd7
22 dxc5 Rxd1
23 Qxd1 bxc5
24 Qc2 Rb8
25 Qxc5 Rxb2
"Under the current format, there is absolutely no chance (that I will play the Candidates). Everybody should operate under the assumption that I will not play the Candidates and that everybody else who's in the semifinals is qualified for the Candidates," Carlsen told Chess24.com on Wednesday.
This means the winner of the Arjun Erigaisi and Praggnanandhaa will seal a spot in the tournament to pick a contender to take on the World Champion!
"I was surprised that Praggnanandhaa managed to win on demand with Black. I didn't expect this to happen. I thought Arjun is playing so convincingly in this tournament that he will be able to hold the draw. It is very impressive; I would give myself maybe half a percent chance to win in this situation," Fabiano Caruana said on Wednesday.
After 22 moves from both players, Arjun has almost 23 minutes on the clock in this rapid game. His opponent has 15:29 on the clock!
1 d4 Nf6
2 c4 e6
3 Nc3 Bb4
4 Qc2 O-O
5 Nf3 d5
6 a3 Bxc3+
7 Qxc3 dxc4
8 Qxc4 b6
9 Bg5 Ba6
10 Qc1 h6
11 Bh4 Bb7
12 e3 Nbd7
13 Be2 c5
14 O-O Rc8
15 Qe1 g5
16 Bg3 Ne4
17 Rd1 Nxg3
18 hxg3 Qf6
19 Bb5 Rc7
20 Bxd7 Bxf3