3rd Yerevan Open R4: Sychev, Mikaelyan and Daghli at the top

by Shahid Ahmed - 18/10/2021

Gukesh was playing well in both 3rd Yerevan Open and CoinDCX Chess Super League. However, it takes a toll on the player eventually as both tournaments have completely different format and time control. Armenian GM Arman Mikaelyan got the better of India's youngest GM in the fourth round. Kunal M's fantastic run came to an end as his opponent Klementy Sychev proved too strong for him. GMs Klementy Sychev (RUS), Arman Mikaelyan and FM Arash Daghli (IRI) are in a three-way lead 4.0/4. Arjun Erigaisi was unable to endure a drawn endgame against Arash Tahbaz. Both Narayanan S L and Abhimanyu Puranik won their respective games. They are at a half point behind the leader. Round 5 starts today at 12:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Rupali Mullick

Narayanan and Abhimanyu in pursuit

It was a tough day for the Indian players at the top as only GMs Narayanan S L and Abhimanyu Puranik managed to score victories.

Arman Mikaelyan got the better of Gukesh | Photo: Rupali Mullick

A Mikaelyan - Gukesh: 1-0

GM Arman Mikaelyan (ARM) seized his opportunity when GM D Gukesh misplaced his knight which cost him two pawns in quick succession.

Position after 32...Nc4

Black had to play 32...g5 to drive the knight away from f4 and remove the future threat of Nxd5. 32...Nc4 invited 33.Qb4 which threatens both Ne7+ and Nxd5. Black cannot save both of them. First d5 fell and then a6 which gave White a decisive advantage.

Sychev - Kunal: 1-0

GM Klementy Sychev (RUS) brought Kunal's fantastic run to an end.

Position after 20.Qc4

Perhaps 20...Rab8 21.Bxd4 cxd4 22.Qxd4 Qb5 would have been a better continuation for Black. 20...e5 indirectly provoked White to play 21.f4 as the intention is to open the f-file and attack on f7 which gave White counterplay. 21...Rab8 22.Rf2 Nc6 23.Rd7 Nd8 24.Re7 Ne6 25.f5 Rc7 26.fxe6 Rxe7 27.exf7+ and it is over for Black.

GM Klementy Sychev stopped Kunal's great momentum | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Narayanan - Sturt: 1-0

GM Narayanan scored a fine victory showcasing his great understanding of the position against IM Raven Sturt (USA).

GM Narayanan S L 3.5/4 | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Arjun - Tahbaz: 0-1

Endgame grind is really tough to endure. The tendency to make a breakthrough incessantly increases when you feel like you are running out of things to do. That is exactly what happened with GM Arjun Erigaisi against IM Arash Tahbaz (IRI).

Position after 59.c4

The game would have ended in a draw if White did not go for 59.c4 break which was unnecessary.

Position after 71...Rbc4

Black is making a checkmate threat at c1. Find out the best way for White to respond. 72.a3 turned to be fatal for White.

Abhimanyu - Bharath: 1-0

GM Abhimanyu Puranik showed fine technique in the major piece endgame against IM Bharath Subramaniyam H. A well-timed break by Abhimanyu and an incorrect response by Bharath, decided the fate of the game.

Position after 50.e4

It is evident that White has the upper hand. What Black cannot afford here is to open the b1-h7 diagonal as that will end the game due to Black's lack of light square control. In a race of destructive attack, White ends up at the top 50...Bd4 51.exf5 Qd2 52.fxg6+ Kg7 53.Qf1 Kxg6 54.Qb1+ and White is completely winning.

GM Abhimanyu Puranik 3.5/4 | Photo: Rupali Mullick

For more Round 4 photos, please click here.

Highlights

Here are a few interesting finishes of Round 4.

FM Arash Daghli (IRI) defeated GM Aleksey Goganov (RUS)

GM Abhimanyu Puranik defeated IM Bharath Subramaniyam H

Replay Round 4 games

The tournament is taking place at Yerevan in Armenia from 14th to 22nd October 2021. Time control is 90'/40 + 30' + 30" per move. Round 1-4 and 6-8 starts at 2 p.m. local time (3:30 p.m. IST). Round 5 and the final round will start at 11:00 a.m. local time (12:30 p.m. IST).

Round 4 results

Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
1	17	GM	Mikaelyan Arman	2487	3	1 - 0	3	GM	Gukesh D	2640	2
2	9	GM	Sychev Klementy	2555	3	1 - 0	3		Kunal M	2290	57
3	37	FM	Daghli Arash	2427	3	1 - 0	2½	GM	Goganov Aleksey	2557	8
4	1	GM	Narayanan S.L.	2647	2½	1 - 0	2½	IM	Sturt Raven	2485	18
5	3	GM	Erigaisi Arjun	2634	2½	0 - 1	2½	IM	Tahbaz Arash	2459	24
6	25	IM	Davtyan Artur	2453	2½	½ - ½	2½	GM	Pantsulaia Levan	2570	4
7	5	GM	Puranik Abhimanyu	2568	2½	1 - 0	2½	IM	Bharath Subramaniyam H	2435	30
8	7	GM	Petrosian Tigran L	2562	2½	½ - ½	2½		Pour Agha Bala Amirreza	2432	32
9	55	IM	Nadanian Ashot	2317	2½	0 - 1	2½	GM	Sivuk Vitaly	2529	12
10	15	IM	Nikitenko Mihail	2499	2½	0 - 1	2½	GM	Simonian Hrair	2430	33
11	54	FM	Atakhan Abtin	2319	2½	0 - 1	2½	GM	Quparadze Giga	2495	16
12	53	IM	Morchiashvili Bachana	2319	2	1 - 0	2	GM	Paichadze Luka	2566	6
13	10	GM	Pultinevicius Paulius	2552	2	1 - 0	2	FM	Nazari Arad	2298	56
14	61	FM	Yeritsyan Hayk	2268	2	½ - ½	2	GM	Hayrapetyan Hovik	2500	14
15	63	WIM	Priyanka Nutakki	2263	2	0 - 1	2	GM	Movsziszian Karen	2480	20

Details

Round 5 pairings

Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
1	37	FM	Daghli Arash	2427	4		4	GM	Sychev Klementy	2555	9
2	12	GM	Sivuk Vitaly	2529	3½		4	GM	Mikaelyan Arman	2487	17
3	16	GM	Quparadze Giga	2495	3½		3½	GM	Narayanan S.L.	2647	1
4	24	IM	Tahbaz Arash	2459	3½		3½	GM	Puranik Abhimanyu	2568	5
5	33	GM	Simonian Hrair	2430	3½		3	IM	Shahinyan David	2469	23
6	2	GM	Gukesh D	2640	3		3	IM	Petriashvili Nikoloz	2432	31
7	4	GM	Pantsulaia Levan	2570	3		3	GM	Golubka Petro	2438	29
8	34	IM	Pranav Anand	2430	3		3	GM	Petrosian Tigran L	2562	7
9	32		Pour Agha Bala Amirreza	2432	3		3	GM	Pultinevicius Paulius	2552	10
10	20	GM	Movsziszian Karen	2480	3		3	IM	Morchiashvili Bachana	2319	53
11	22	IM	Gharibyan Mamikon	2471	3		3		Mahdavi Reza	2124	85
12	57		Kunal M	2290	3		3	IM	Davtyan Artur	2453	25
13	99		Agasarov Benik	2033	3		3	IM	Urazayev Arystanbek	2451	27
14	35	IM	Zarubitski Viachaslau	2430	2½		2½	GM	Erigaisi Arjun	2634	3
15	8	GM	Goganov Aleksey	2557	2½		2½	FM	Ohanyan Emin	2373	45

Details

Links

Yerevan Che ss Federation

Related news:

	Abhimanyu Puranik clinches 3rd Yerevan Open @ 23/10/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Abhimanyu Puranik is on the verge of winning 3rd Yerevan Open @ 22/10/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	3rd Yerevan Open R7: Sivuk beats Narayanan to take sole lead @ 21/10/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	3rd Yerevan Open R6: Narayanan and Sivuk share the lead @ 20/10/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	3rd Yerevan Open R5: Narayanan wins an endgame grind @ 19/10/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	3rd Yerevan Open R3: Gukesh and Kunal in a five-way lead @ 17/10/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	3rd Yerevan Open R2: Sidhant Mohapatra stuns Paulius Pultinevicius @ 16/10/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	3rd Yerevan Open R1: Poormosavi holds top seed Narayanan to an exciting draw @ 15/10/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)