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Abhimanyu Puranik is on the verge of winning 3rd Yerevan Open

by Shahid Ahmed - 22/10/2021

GM Abhimanyu Puranik scored a hat-trick by beating the seemingly unstoppable GM Vitaly Sivuk (UKR) in the penultimate round of 3rd Yerevan Open. Both of them were having a huge momentum heading into the clash with championship implications. Abhimanyu has taken a sole lead 7.0/8 for the first time in this event. Narayanan, Sivuk and Arman Mikaelyan (ARM) are the three players at 6.5/8 each. A draw in the final round should secure the championship for Abhimanyu even if all tie-break scores matches with Sivuk, he will be ahead in direct encounter. Abhimanyu will face Narayanan in the final round. Round 9 starts today at 12:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Rupali Mullick

Narayanan poised for a podium finish

GM Karthik Venkataraman is once again having a better second half in this event, much like he had at ChessMood Open. He drew with GM D Gukesh in the penultimate round. IMs P Shyam Nikhil, Bharath Subramaniyam H and WGM Vantika Agrawal drew with GMs Aleksey Goganov (RUS), Paulius Pultinevicius (LTU) and Sandipan Chanda respectively.

Abhimanyu dethroned Sivuk from the top spot | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Abhimanyu - Sivuk: 1-0

GM Abhimanyu Puranik got a pleasant position out of the opening against GM Vitaly Sivuk (UKR).

Position after 21.Bf4

21...d5 22.cxd5 Nxd5 23.Nxd5 exd5 and Black does fine. However, in the game, Black opted for 21...Nd7 22.Qa2 Rc7 23.Ra1 Qc8 24.b3 and slowly Black's position started deteriorating. A series of incorrect decisions gave White the complete positional advantage which resulted in Black resigning in another eight moves.

Narayanan - Shahinyan: 1-0

GM Narayanan S L scored a fine victory over IM David Shahinyan (ARM) after the latter decided to sacrifice an exchange early in the middlegame.

Position after 15.0-0

White has almost completed the development of pieces, Black is far from it. 15...Rxe3 does not make things difficult for White. The lack of active pieces in Black's camp makes sure the exchange sacrifice does not cause any trouble for White. Black made another exchange sacrifice in 18 more moves but that also does not pose any threat for White.

Narayanan scored a comfortable victory over Shahinyan | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Karthik - Gukesh: 0.5-0.5

GM Karthik Venkataraman had an interesting draw against GM D Gukesh.

Position after 15...exd4

16.Nexd4 could have made a lot of difference instead of the text 16.Nfxd4. 16...Nc5 17.Qb1 and White is doing absolutely fine with two threats looming large, Nxc6 and Nf5. 16.Nfxd4 allowed Black to save the position 16...Ne5 17.Qc3 Bc7 and the game was drawn in nine more moves.

Karthik Venkataraman is still undefeated | Photo: Rupali Mullick

IM P Shyam Nikhil held GM Aleksey Goganov (RUS) to a quiet draw | Photo: Rupali Mullick

IM Bharath Subramaniyam H drew with GM Paulius Pultinevicius (LTU) | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Arjun - Pranav: 1-0

GM Arjun Erigaisi completely outplayed IM Pranav Anand.

Position after 33...Qd7

Find out the best continuation for White after 33...Qd7

Arjun Erigaisi prevented Pranav Anand's hat-trick | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Harsha - Daghli: 1-0

GM Harsha Bharathakoti scored a comfortable win over FM Arash Daghli (IRI) after the latter made a tactical mistake.

Position after 18...Nxd4

Find out why 18...Nxd4 is a big mistake. Black should have played 18...Nd5 instead.

GM Harsha Bharathakoti is tactically alert | Photo: Rupali Mullick

GM Sandipan Chanda - WGM Vantika Agrawal: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Rupali Mullick

For more Round 8 photos, please click here.

Highlights

Here are a few interesting finishes of Round 8.

GM Abhimanyu Puranik defeated GM Vitaly Sivuk (UKR)

GM Giga Quparadze (GEO) won against GM Tigran L Petrosian (ARM)

GM Levan Pantsulaia (GEO) defeated GM Hrair Simonian (ARM)

Replay Round 8 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 8 results

Bo.No. NameFEDRtgPts.ResultPts.NameFEDRtg No.
15
GMPuranik AbhimanyuIND256861 - 0GMSivuk VitalyUKR2529
12
21
GMNarayanan S.L.IND26471 - 0IMShahinyan DavidARM2469
23
317
GMMikaelyan ArmanARM24871 - 0IMTahbaz ArashIRI2459
24
419
GMKarthik VenkataramanIND2483½ - ½5GMGukesh DIND2640
2
516
GMQuparadze GigaGEO249551 - 05GMPetrosian Tigran LARM2562
7
626
IMShyaamnikhil PIND24535½ - ½5GMGoganov AlekseyRUS2557
8
79
GMSychev KlementyRUS25555½ - ½5FMNazari AradIRI2298
56
830
IMBharath Subramaniyam HIND24355½ - ½5GMPultinevicius PauliusLTU2552
10
93
GMErigaisi ArjunIND26341 - 05IMPranav AnandIND2430
34
104
GMPantsulaia LevanGEO25701 - 0GMSimonian HrairARM2430
33
1113
GMHarsha BharathakotiIND25171 - 0FMDaghli ArashIRI2427
37
1244
IMMoksh Amit DoshiIND23790 - 1GMHayrapetyan HovikARM2500
14
1320
GMMovsziszian KarenARM2480½ - ½FMHakemi ArmanIRI2323
51
1455
IMNadanian AshotARM23170 - 1IMGharibyan MamikonARM2471
22
1527
IMUrazayev ArystanbekKAZ24511 - 0FMAtakhan AbtinIRI2319
54

Details

Round 9 pairings

Bo.No. NameFEDRtgPts.ResultPts.NameFEDRtg No.
11
GMNarayanan S.L.IND26477GMPuranik AbhimanyuIND2568
5
212
GMSivuk VitalyUKR25296GMQuparadze GigaGEO2495
16
319
GMKarthik VenkataramanIND24836GMMikaelyan ArmanARM2487
17
422
IMGharibyan MamikonARM2471GMGukesh DIND2640
2
523
IMShahinyan DavidARM2469GMErigaisi ArjunIND2634
3
624
IMTahbaz ArashIRI2459GMPantsulaia LevanGEO2570
4
78
GMGoganov AlekseyRUS2557IMUrazayev ArystanbekKAZ2451
27
832
Pour Agha Bala AmirrezaIRI2432GMSychev KlementyRUS2555
9
910
GMPultinevicius PauliusLTU2552IMShyaamnikhil PIND2453
26
1056
FMNazari AradIRI2298GMHarsha BharathakotiIND2517
13
1114
GMHayrapetyan HovikARM2500IMBharath Subramaniyam HIND2435
30
126
GMPaichadze LukaGEO256655FMOhanyan EminARM2373
45
137
GMPetrosian Tigran LARM256255IMMorchiashvili BachanaGEO2319
53
1431
IMPetriashvili NikolozGEO243255IMNikitenko MihailBLR2499
15
1534
IMPranav AnandIND243055GMMovsziszian KarenARM2480
20

Details

Links

Yerevan Chess Federation