National Teams 05+06: everything is fair in love, war and chess!
Railways-A and Airport Authority of Inda lead the Open section, with AAI ahead on game-points. In the women's section, PSPB managed to outwit Air India to seal their victory. Nevertheless, it was a double-round day that was full of drama and excitement. ChessBase India brings you an illustrated report.
National Teams 05+06: everything is fair in love, war and chess!
Four wins and two draws later, Railways-A and Airport Authority of India (AAI) are in the lead, with AAI marginally ahead on game-points. While Railways-A got rid of their biggest challenge that came in the form of PSPB (C?), Airport Authority of India got the better of Railways-B. The sixth round clash between Railways-A and AAI was 'washed out' to a draw. Air India was was held by Tamil Nadu-A.
Behind these dour statistics lie tragi-comic drama that unfolded something like this:
PSPB vs. Railways-A: As the games progressed through to the middlegame, it was clear that Railways-A were in the driver's seat...
...so much that Deepan was more interested in evaluating his team-mates' chances as he had a repetition on cards, which he duly took. Soon, Karthikeyan too split his point with Arun Prasad at the top baord.
Kidambi meanwhile wriggled for dear life but he was...
...mauled to death by Rathnakaran.
[Event "Indian National Team Chess Championship-"]
[Site "Bhubaneswar"]
[Date "2016.02.11"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Sundararajan, Kidambi"]
[Black "Rathnakaran, K."]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2504"]
[BlackElo "2463"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[Source "MonRoi"]
[Site "Bhubaneswar"]
[Date "2016.02.11"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Sundararajan, Kidambi"]
[Black "Rathnakaran, K."]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2504"]
[BlackElo "2463"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[Source "MonRoi"]
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Nc6 8.
O-O Ng4 9. e3 d6 10. b3 Nge5 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Bb2 Rb8 13. Qc2 Bf5 14. e4 Bd7
15. c5 f5 16. f4 Ng4 17. Nd1 Bxb2 18. Qxb2 fxe4 19. Bxe4 e5 20. Bf3 exf4 21.
Bxg4 Bxg4 22. gxf4 d5 23. Ne3 Bh5 24. Rae1 Qa5 25. Qd4 Rbe8 26. b4 Qxa2 27. Qc3
Re4 28. Ra1 Qe2 29. Rae1 Qb5 30. Nc2 Qc4 31. Qxc4 Rxc4 32. Rf2 Bg4 33. Ra1 d4
34. Rd2 Rxf4 35. Rxa7 Bf5 36. Ne3 Bh3 37. Ra8+ Kg7 38. Ra7+ Kh6 0-1
O-O Ng4 9. e3 d6 10. b3 Nge5 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Bb2 Rb8 13. Qc2 Bf5 14. e4 Bd7
15. c5 f5 16. f4 Ng4 17. Nd1 Bxb2 18. Qxb2 fxe4 19. Bxe4 e5 20. Bf3 exf4 21.
Bxg4 Bxg4 22. gxf4 d5 23. Ne3 Bh5 24. Rae1 Qa5 25. Qd4 Rbe8 26. b4 Qxa2 27. Qc3
Re4 28. Ra1 Qe2 29. Rae1 Qb5 30. Nc2 Qc4 31. Qxc4 Rxc4 32. Rf2 Bg4 33. Ra1 d4
34. Rd2 Rxf4 35. Rxa7 Bf5 36. Ne3 Bh3 37. Ra8+ Kg7 38. Ra7+ Kh6 0-1
Besides Rathna, Dhopade was locked in a Maha-derby...
...with his senior state-mate Kunte. Wondering what he is thinking? Look at the board.
Yes, Swapnil's knight is standing on e4, and there was no capture!
[Event "Indian National Team Chess Championship-"]
[Site "Bhubaneswar"]
[Date "2016.02.11"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Swapnil, S Dhopade"]
[Black "Kunte, Abhijit"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2478"]
[BlackElo "2506"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[Source "MonRoi"]
[Site "Bhubaneswar"]
[Date "2016.02.11"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Swapnil, S Dhopade"]
[Black "Kunte, Abhijit"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2478"]
[BlackElo "2506"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[Source "MonRoi"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 d5 3. Bxf6 exf6 4. e3 c6 5. g3 f5 6. Bg2 Nd7 7. Ne2 Nf6 8. Qd3
Bd6 9. b3 O-O 10. c4 Qa5+ 11. Nbc3 Qa6 12. Rd1 dxc4 13. Qxc4 Qb6 14. O-O Be6
15. Qd3 Rfd8 16. Qc2 g6 17. Nf4 Bxf4 18. gxf4 Rac8 19. Rc1 Qc7 20. Rfd1 Qe7 21.
Na4 Bd5 22. Qc5 Qxc5 23. Nxc5 Rc7 24. Bxd5 cxd5 25. Ne4 Ne8 26. Nf6+ Kf8 27.
Nxh7+ Ke7 28. Rxc7+ Nxc7 29. Ng5 Rd7 30. Rc1 Kd6 31. Kf1 f6 32. Nf3 Rh7 33. Ke2
Kd7 34. Rg1 Rh6 35. h4 Ne8 36. Rc1 b6 37. Rg1 Ke6 38. Rc1 Kd7 39. Rh1 Ke6 40.
Nd2 Nd6 41. f3 g5 42. h5 Rh8 43. Nf1 Rc8 44. Kd3 Kf7 45. Ng3 Kg7 46. Kd2 Kh6
47. Rc1 Rxc1 48. Kxc1 g4 49. fxg4 fxg4 50. Kd2 f5 51. Ke2 Kg7 52. Kf1 a5 53. a4
Kh7 54. Kg2 Kh6 55. Kf1 Kh7 56. Kg2 1/2-1/2
Bd6 9. b3 O-O 10. c4 Qa5+ 11. Nbc3 Qa6 12. Rd1 dxc4 13. Qxc4 Qb6 14. O-O Be6
15. Qd3 Rfd8 16. Qc2 g6 17. Nf4 Bxf4 18. gxf4 Rac8 19. Rc1 Qc7 20. Rfd1 Qe7 21.
Na4 Bd5 22. Qc5 Qxc5 23. Nxc5 Rc7 24. Bxd5 cxd5 25. Ne4 Ne8 26. Nf6+ Kf8 27.
Nxh7+ Ke7 28. Rxc7+ Nxc7 29. Ng5 Rd7 30. Rc1 Kd6 31. Kf1 f6 32. Nf3 Rh7 33. Ke2
Kd7 34. Rg1 Rh6 35. h4 Ne8 36. Rc1 b6 37. Rg1 Ke6 38. Rc1 Kd7 39. Rh1 Ke6 40.
Nd2 Nd6 41. f3 g5 42. h5 Rh8 43. Nf1 Rc8 44. Kd3 Kf7 45. Ng3 Kg7 46. Kd2 Kh6
47. Rc1 Rxc1 48. Kxc1 g4 49. fxg4 fxg4 50. Kd2 f5 51. Ke2 Kg7 52. Kf1 a5 53. a4
Kh7 54. Kg2 Kh6 55. Kf1 Kh7 56. Kg2 1/2-1/2
Despite bulldozing black, Swapil was not able to break the wily Kunte's fortress.
Mikazaru, Mizaru, and Mazaru: hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil
Railways-B had a very strange day in the office against Airport Authority of India as R.R. Laxman was destroyed by Shyam Sundar M...
...like this.
Nitin went down in flames against...
...Stany, who is playing some good chess these days.
The biggest tragi-comedy in the Railways-B vs. AAI clash was when AAI's VAV Rajesh 'blundered' against Himanshu Sharma who had a clearly better position...
...by playing 47.Qe2 that runs into a fork but, believe it or not, is the best chance according to the computer! But what happened after this can be termed only as 'alien activity'.
[Event "Indian National Team Chess Championship-"]
[Site "Bhubaneswar"]
[Date "2016.02.11"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Rajesh, V A V."]
[Black "Himanshu, Sharma"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2341"]
[BlackElo "2398"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6k1/6r1/2p3n1/1pPp2P1/pP1Pq3/P4N2/3Q2R1/6K1 w - - 0 47"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[Source "MonRoi"]
[Site "Bhubaneswar"]
[Date "2016.02.11"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Rajesh, V A V."]
[Black "Himanshu, Sharma"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2341"]
[BlackElo "2398"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6k1/6r1/2p3n1/1pPp2P1/pP1Pq3/P4N2/3Q2R1/6K1 w - - 0 47"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[Source "MonRoi"]
47. Qe2 Nf4 48. Qxe4 dxe4 49. Rg4 Ne2+ 50. Kf2 exf3 51. d5 cxd5 52. Kxf3 Re7
53. g6 d4 $2 (53... Kg7 54. c6 Nc3 $19) 54. Re4 $11 Ng1+ 55. Kf4 Rd7 56. c6 Rc7
57. Re6 Kg7 58. Rd6 Rc8 59. Ke4 Ne2 60. Kd3 Nc3 61. Kxd4 Nb1 62. Kc5 Nxa3 63.
Rd3 Nb1 64. Rd1 Nc3 65. Rd3 Na2 66. Kxb5 Nxb4 67. Rd7+ Kxg6 68. Rd6+ Kf7 69.
Kxb4 Ke7 $4 (69... a3 $1 70. Rd7+ (70. Kxa3 Ke7 71. Rh6 Rb8 $11) 70... Ke6 71.
Kc5 Rb8 72. Rg7 a2 73. Ra7 Rb2 74. c7 Rc2+ $11) 70. Rd7+ Ke6 71. Kc5 $1 Ra8 72.
Rd1 a3 73. c7 a2 74. Kc6 Ke5 75. Ra1 $18 1-0
53. g6 d4 $2 (53... Kg7 54. c6 Nc3 $19) 54. Re4 $11 Ng1+ 55. Kf4 Rd7 56. c6 Rc7
57. Re6 Kg7 58. Rd6 Rc8 59. Ke4 Ne2 60. Kd3 Nc3 61. Kxd4 Nb1 62. Kc5 Nxa3 63.
Rd3 Nb1 64. Rd1 Nc3 65. Rd3 Na2 66. Kxb5 Nxb4 67. Rd7+ Kxg6 68. Rd6+ Kf7 69.
Kxb4 Ke7 $4 (69... a3 $1 70. Rd7+ (70. Kxa3 Ke7 71. Rh6 Rb8 $11) 70... Ke6 71.
Kc5 Rb8 72. Rg7 a2 73. Ra7 Rb2 74. c7 Rc2+ $11) 70. Rd7+ Ke6 71. Kc5 $1 Ra8 72.
Rd1 a3 73. c7 a2 74. Kc6 Ke5 75. Ra1 $18 1-0
Everything is fair in love, war and chess!
Anyway, the spectators were in for a treat as more upsets were witnessed...
Although Swayams won on the first board, Air India was unable to break Tamil Nadu-B as Srinath, who is clearly a shadow of himself since a couple of months now, suffered a shock defeat on the fourth board against S. Kumar (1782).
PSPB Women's team defeated Air India as Eesha Karwade beat Michelle Catherina that was enough because the fight on the other boards ended in draws.
The crucial game between Vaishali and...
...Tania ended in an exciting draw.
You know what I mean?
[Event "Indian National Team Chess Championship-"]
[Site "Bhubaneswar"]
[Date "2016.02.11"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Tania, Sachdev"]
[Black "Vaishali, R."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2366"]
[BlackElo "2332"]
[PlyCount "142"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[Source "MonRoi"]
[Site "Bhubaneswar"]
[Date "2016.02.11"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Tania, Sachdev"]
[Black "Vaishali, R."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2366"]
[BlackElo "2332"]
[PlyCount "142"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[Source "MonRoi"]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. d5 Na5 6. Qa4+ c6 7. Bd2 e6 8. Nd1
b6 9. dxc6 Qc7 10. Bxa5 bxa5 11. Qxc4 Rb8 12. a3 e5 13. Rc1 Be6 14. Qc3 Bd6 15.
Ng5 Bb3 16. Ne3 h6 17. Nf5 O-O 18. Nxd6 hxg5 19. Nb7 a4 20. e3 Ne4 21. Qb4 Bd5
22. Bd3 Nf6 23. Ba6 Bxg2 24. Rg1 Bxc6 25. Qc5 Rfc8 26. Qd6 Rxb7 27. Qxc7 Rbxc7
28. Bxc8 Rxc8 29. Rxg5 Nd7 30. Rg4 Nb6 31. Rc5 Bd7 32. Rxc8+ Bxc8 33. Rb4 Bd7
34. f4 Kf8 35. Re4 f6 36. fxe5 f5 37. Rh4 Kf7 38. e4 fxe4 39. Rxe4 Bf5 40. Re3
Nd5 41. Rg3 g6 42. b3 axb3 43. Rxb3 Ke6 44. Rb7 a6 45. Ra7 Bd3 46. Kd2 Bc4 47.
Rg7 Nf4 48. Kc3 Bf1 49. Kd4 Bg2 50. Ra7 Bf1 51. Rb7 Nd5 52. Rb8 Bb5 53. Rb7 Bc6
54. Ra7 Bb5 55. a4 Be2 56. Rb7 Bf3 57. Ra7 Be2 58. Rb7 g5 59. Rg7 g4 60. Rg6+
Kf5 61. Rd6 Ne7 62. Rf6+ Kg5 63. Rf7 Nc6+ 64. Ke3 Nxe5 65. Re7 Ng6 66. Rh7 Bf1
67. Kf2 Bc4 68. h4+ gxh3 69. Rxh3 Kf4 70. Rh6 Ne5 71. Rh4+ Ng4+ 1/2-1/2
b6 9. dxc6 Qc7 10. Bxa5 bxa5 11. Qxc4 Rb8 12. a3 e5 13. Rc1 Be6 14. Qc3 Bd6 15.
Ng5 Bb3 16. Ne3 h6 17. Nf5 O-O 18. Nxd6 hxg5 19. Nb7 a4 20. e3 Ne4 21. Qb4 Bd5
22. Bd3 Nf6 23. Ba6 Bxg2 24. Rg1 Bxc6 25. Qc5 Rfc8 26. Qd6 Rxb7 27. Qxc7 Rbxc7
28. Bxc8 Rxc8 29. Rxg5 Nd7 30. Rg4 Nb6 31. Rc5 Bd7 32. Rxc8+ Bxc8 33. Rb4 Bd7
34. f4 Kf8 35. Re4 f6 36. fxe5 f5 37. Rh4 Kf7 38. e4 fxe4 39. Rxe4 Bf5 40. Re3
Nd5 41. Rg3 g6 42. b3 axb3 43. Rxb3 Ke6 44. Rb7 a6 45. Ra7 Bd3 46. Kd2 Bc4 47.
Rg7 Nf4 48. Kc3 Bf1 49. Kd4 Bg2 50. Ra7 Bf1 51. Rb7 Nd5 52. Rb8 Bb5 53. Rb7 Bc6
54. Ra7 Bb5 55. a4 Be2 56. Rb7 Bf3 57. Ra7 Be2 58. Rb7 g5 59. Rg7 g4 60. Rg6+
Kf5 61. Rd6 Ne7 62. Rf6+ Kg5 63. Rf7 Nc6+ 64. Ke3 Nxe5 65. Re7 Ng6 66. Rh7 Bf1
67. Kf2 Bc4 68. h4+ gxh3 69. Rxh3 Kf4 70. Rh6 Ne5 71. Rh4+ Ng4+ 1/2-1/2
The top-board game between Padmini and Viji was also a draw.
The PSPB Men's team is not having the best of the tournaments, but Debashis finally found some solace in mating his opponent...
Difference in class, maybe? White to play and win.
Exciting chess is on display here in Bhubaneshwar! Who said chess is not a spectator sport?
Open Rankings after Round 06:
| Rk. | SNo | Team | Games | + | = | - | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | TB4 | TB5 |
| 1 | 4 | Airport Authority of India | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 18,0 | 0 | 76,5 | 84,5 |
| 2 | 2 | Railway Sports Promotion Board - A | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 17,0 | 0 | 79,5 | 92,0 |
| 3 | 5 | Railway Sports Promotion Board - B | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 17,0 | 0 | 77,5 | 88,0 |
| 4 | 1 | Petroleum Sports Promotion Board | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 16,0 | 0 | 78,0 | 87,5 |
| 5 | 8 | Tamil Nadu - B | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 16,0 | 0 | 68,5 | 79,5 |
| 6 | 3 | Air India | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 14,5 | 0 | 76,0 | 87,5 |
| 7 | 12 | Odisha | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 14,5 | 0 | 66,5 | 75,5 |
| 8 | 11 | Gujarat | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 14,0 | 0 | 68,5 | 76,5 |
| 9 | 15 | Bihar - A | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 13,5 | 0 | 66,5 | 75,0 |
| 10 | 9 | Delhi | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 16,5 | 0 | 70,5 | 80,0 |
Women's Rankings after Round 04:
| Rk. | SNo | Team | Games | + | = | - | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | TB4 | TB5 |
| 1 | 1 | Petroleum Sports Promotion Board | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 14,5 | 0 | 30,0 | 37,5 |
| 2 | 2 | Air India | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 12,5 | 0 | 32,5 | 38,5 |
| 3 | 5 | Bihar | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 9,5 | 0 | 26,5 | 31,5 |
| 4 | 6 | Life Insurance Corporation | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 9,0 | 0 | 29,0 | 33,5 |
| 5 | 3 | Tamil Nadu | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8,5 | 0 | 34,5 | 40,5 |
| 6 | 4 | Odisha - KIIT University | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7,5 | 0 | 29,0 | 33,5 |
| 7 | 7 | Odisha | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6,0 | 2 | 26,0 | 32,0 |
| 8 | 8 | Gujarat | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6,0 | 0 | 19,5 | 24,0 |
| 9 | 10 | Goa | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5,0 | 1 | 25,5 | 30,5 |
| 10 | 11 | Telengana | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5,0 | 1 | 22,5 | 27,0 |
| 11 | 9 | Andhra Pradesh | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 4,5 | 0 | 22,5 | 27,5 |
View the Pairings for Open Round 07 here.
View the Pairings for Women Round 05 here.
Watch the games live!
Photos by ChessBase India