Arjun outclasses Vokhidov; Pranav posts spectacular win

If there’s a prize for the very best begin to the chess World Cup, Arjun Erigaisi ought to win it. The second seed posted his third win on the trot, to maneuver a step nearer to the fourth spherical.

He took simply 30 strikes to beat Shamiddin Vokhidov of Uzbekistan within the first recreation of the third spherical at Resort Rio right here on Friday. All he now wants is a draw within the second recreation to win this match.

Things haven’t gone as completely to date for the fellow-Indians seeded on both aspect of him — D. Gukesh and R. Praggnanandhaa, who each drew. The top-seeded Gukesh was held by Germany’s Frederik Svane, whereas Praggnanandhaa break up the purpose with Robert Hovhannisyan of Armenia.

There have been additionally wins for the spectacular V. Pranav, the reigning World junior champion, and P. Harikrishna, a former World junior champion; they scored over Titas Stremavicius of Lithuania and Daniel Dardha of Belgium, respectively. M. Pranesh additionally did effectively to attract with the sixth-seeded German Vincent Keymer, who’s, in truth, the brand new World No. 4.

S.L. Narayanan too took half-a-point from a a lot stronger opponent — Yu Yangyi of China.

The day’s largest upset was authored by Mexico’s José Martínez Alcántara, who, with black items, beat Nodirbek Abdusattorov, the eighth seed from Uzbekistan.

On the second board, Arjun as soon as once more displayed his wonderful preparation within the Queen’s Gambit Declined Semi-Tarrasch recreation. Vokhidov made issues simpler for White with some doubtful strikes. The Uzbek’s resolution to take his rival’s pawn, on the twenty second transfer, with the knight was, as Arjun would say, “was simply suicide.”

Right after that blunder, Vokhidov’s king confronted a examine with Arjun’s castling. There was just one approach the sport might have gone from there on.

Important outcomes (third spherical): Frederik Svane (Ger) drew with D. Gukesh; Arjun Erigaisi bt Shamsiddin Vokhidov (Uzb); Robert Hovhannisyan (Arm) drew with R. Praggnanandhaa; Anish Giri (Ned) drew with Alexander Donchenko (Ger); V. Pranav bt Titas Stremavicius (Ltu); Vincent Keymer (Ger) drew with M. Pranesh; Benjamin Gledura (Hun) drew with Wei Yi (Chn); Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzb) misplaced to José Martínez Alcántara (Mex); Nils Grandelius (Swe) drew with Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Aze); Lorenzo Lodici (Ita) drew with Michael Adams (Eng); Vladilsav Artemiev (Rus) drew with Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (Fra); Diptayan Ghosh drew with Gabriel Sarissian (Arm); Jeffrey Xiong (USA) misplaced to Le Quang Liem (Vie); Richard Rapport (Hun) drew with Yagiz Erdogmus (Tur); Salem Saleh (UAE) misplaced to Levon Aronian (USA); Javokhir Sindarov (Uzb) drew with Nikolas Theodorou (Gre); Sam Shankland (USA) drew with Vidit Gujrathi; S.L. Narayanan drew with Yu Yangyi (Chn); Vladimir Fedoseev (Slo) misplaced to Radoslaw Wjtaszek (Pol); Karthik Venkataraman drew with Bogdan-Daniel Deac (Rou); P. Harikrishna bt Daniel Dardha (Bel); Peter Leko (Hun) bt Kirill Alekseenko (Rus).