2nd Chennai GM R2: Leon and Pranav score two in-a-row, Arjun and Aronian play an exciting draw

by Shahid Ahmed - 06/11/2024

The second round of 2nd Chennai Grand Masters had 50% decisive games in both Masters and Challengers section. The Iranians - M Amin Tabatabaei and Parham Maghsoodloo scored wins over Alexey Sarana (SRB) and Vidit Gujrathi respectively. Sarana played fast and crashed hard. Vidit for the second consecutive game, made a series of blunders in the endgame. Aravindh Chithambaram signed a 23-move draw against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA). Arjun Erigaisi and Levon Aronian (USA) had an exciting draw. Arjun could have pushed for a maximum. In the Challengers section, Pranav V and Leon Luke Mendonca scored their consecutive win. Round 3 starts tomorrow at 3 p.m. IST. Photos: Himank Ghosh

50% decisive results in both Masters and Challengers

Unlike other super tournament, this is a short one, consisting of only seven rounds. It means the time to recover is very less. Everyone has to start from the fifth gear and go for the top. Leon Luke Mendonca convincingly handed Harika Dronavalli her second loss in-a-row. Pranav V capitalized on his opponent, Abhimanyu Puranik's tactical error. Raunak Sadhwani fought back well from an inferior position against R Vaishali.

Arjun Erigaisi and Levon Aronian added another exciting battle to their ever-growing healthy rivalry

Masters: Arjun - Aronian: 0.5-0.5

The last Classical game played between GM Arjun Erigaisi (2799) and GM Levon Aronian (2739) was at the same event last year. It ended in a draw. The result was an encore. Aronian opted for the Queen's Indian opening. Arjun always looking to create chances for himself as he offered his rook up for grabs.

Position after 27.Rxf7!

Of course Black cannot take the rook as 28.Ne5+ leads to a checkmate in both cases irrespective of where the king moves. Thus, he played 27...Qd5 now White needed to simply retreat his rook back to f4. It is not easy to figure that out. The game continued 28.Qxd5 Bxd5 White's advantage dissipated and the game soon ended in a draw.

Aravindh Chithambaram - Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA): 0.5-0.5

Vidit Gujrathi made a series of blunders to lose a relatively balanced rook, bishop and knight endgame against Parham Maghsoodloo (IRI)

Alexey Sarana (SRB) played fast and crashed hard against M Amin Tabatabaei (IRI)

Challengers: Leon - Harika: 1-0

GM Leon Luke Mendonca (2631) faced GM Harika Dronavalli (2493) for the first time in a Classical rated game earlier this year at Tata Steel Challengers 2024. He won that game. This time also the result was same, only color was inversed.

Position after 24.Ba6

In an already difficult position, Black did not respond correctly to the threat on b7. 24.Ba6 Na5? Black needed to play 24...Rc7 to prolong the inevitable. 25.hxg7 Bxg7 26.Rb5 Rhe8 27.Kd1 Re7 28.Rxa5 bxa6 29.Rxa5 bxa6 30.Rxd5 things fell apart in a hurry for Black.

GM Leon Luke Mendonca has made a great start by winning his first two games

Abhimanyu - Pranav

Position after 33...Bxf2+

White needed to play 34.Kh2 and things would have been fine. 34.Kxf2?? Rxc1-+ 35.Qxd7 Rc2+ 36.Kg1 Rxd7 White lost an exchange and there is no compensation for it. Black won the game in three more moves.

GM Abhimanyu Puranik's blunder cost him the game against GM Pranav V

GM Karthikeyan Murali - GM Pranesh M: 0.5-0.5

GM R Vaishali had a promising position which she could not capitalize and her opponent, GM Raunak Sadhwani regrouped well

For more photos, please click here and here

Replay live stream

Replay Round 2 live commentary by IM Sagar Shah, Amruta Mokal and GM B Adhiban | Video: ChessBase India

Replay Masters Round 2 games

Replay Challengers Round 2 games

Masters Round 2 results

Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.	PGN
1	8	2686	GM	Tabatabaei, M. Amin	1 - 0	GM	Sarana, Alexey	2679	5
2	6	2799	GM	Erigaisi, Arjun	½ - ½	GM	Aronian, Levon	2739	4
3	7	2712	GM	Maghsoodloo, Parham	1 - 0	GM	Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi	2739	3
4	1	2706	GM	Aravindh, Chithambaram Vr.	½ - ½	GM	Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	2737	2

Details

Standings after Round 2

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	RtgI	Pts.	TB2	TB3	TB4
1	2	GM	Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	FRA	2737	1,5	1,50	1	0
2	8	GM	Tabatabaei, M. Amin	IRI	2686	1,5	1,00	1	0
3	6	GM	Erigaisi, Arjun	IND	2799	1,5	0,50	1	1
4	1	GM	Aravindh, Chithambaram Vr.	IND	2706	1	1,50	0	0
5	4	GM	Aronian, Levon	USA	2739	1	1,00	0	0
6	7	GM	Maghsoodloo, Parham	IRI	2712	1	0,00	1	0
7	5	GM	Sarana, Alexey	SRB	2679	0,5	0,50	0	0
8	3	GM	Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi	IND	2739	0	0,00	0	0

Details

Round 3 pairings

Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.	PGN
1	2	2737	GM	Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime		GM	Tabatabaei, M. Amin	2686	8
2	3	2739	GM	Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi		GM	Aravindh, Chithambaram Vr.	2706	1
3	4	2739	GM	Aronian, Levon		GM	Maghsoodloo, Parham	2712	7
4	5	2679	GM	Sarana, Alexey		GM	Erigaisi, Arjun	2799	6

Details

Challengers Round 2 results

Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.	PGN
1	8	2631	GM	Mendonca, Leon Luke	1 - 0	GM	Dronavalli, Harika	2493	5
2	6	2652	GM	Puranik, Abhimanyu	0 - 1	GM	Pranav, V	2602	4
3	7	2625	GM	Karthikeyan, Murali	½ - ½	GM	Pranesh, M	2580	3
4	1	2490	GM	Vaishali, Rameshbabu	½ - ½	GM	Sadhwani, Raunak	2677	2

Details

Standings after Round 2

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	RtgI	Pts.	TB2	TB3	TB4
1	4	GM	Pranav, V	IND	2602	2	1,00	2	1
2	8	GM	Mendonca, Leon Luke	IND	2631	2	0,50	2	1
3	2	GM	Sadhwani, Raunak	IND	2677	1,5	0,75	1	0
4	6	GM	Puranik, Abhimanyu	IND	2652	1	0,50	1	1
5	1	GM	Vaishali, Rameshbabu	IND	2490	0,5	0,75	0	0
6	3	GM	Pranesh, M	IND	2580	0,5	0,25	0	0
	7	GM	Karthikeyan, Murali	IND	2625	0,5	0,25	0	0
8	5	GM	Dronavalli, Harika	IND	2493	0	0,00	0	0

Details

Round 3 pairings

Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.	PGN
1	2	2677	GM	Sadhwani, Raunak		GM	Mendonca, Leon Luke	2631	8
2	3	2580	GM	Pranesh, M		GM	Vaishali, Rameshbabu	2490	1
3	4	2602	GM	Pranav, V		GM	Karthikeyan, Murali	2625	7
4	5	2493	GM	Dronavalli, Harika		GM	Puranik, Abhimanyu	2652	6

Details

Where to watch

The entire event will be live-streamed on ChessBase India youtube channel. You can also visit the venue by getting the tickets from Bookmyshow.

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