45th Chess Olympiad R2: Harikrishna's romantic rook sacrifice

by Shahid Ahmed - 13/09/2024

Indian teams continue to score wins at 45th Chess Olympiad 2024. The men's team in the Open section scored another 0-4 whitewash win, this time against Iceland. GM D Gukesh played his first game of the event and won convincingly. The remaining three, GM Arjun Erigaisi, GM Vidit Gujrathi and GM Pentala Harkrishna also scored emphatic victories. Harikrishna's win was the most memorable one as played a spectacular move 46.Rc7! In the Women's event, India defeated Czech Republic 3.5-0.5. IM Tania Sachdev is the only one to concede a draw against WIM Martina Korenova. Indian men will face Hungary B and Women will be up against Switzerland in Round 3. It starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/Michal Walusza

Indian men whitewash again, Women win with the same score 3.5-0.5

The top seed, USA had to work a lot to earn their 4-0 win over Singapore. The host nation for the upcoming World Championship Match, definitely proved to be a formidable team as apart from GM Fabiano Caruana, the remaining three players did not have it easy. GM Levon Aronian for the second consecutive game had a shaky game. GM Cristobal Henriquez Villagra (CHI) held the world champion, GM Ding Liren (CHN) to a draw, despite Chile losing to China 0.5-3.5. In the Women, India and Switzerland are currently ranked next to each other in terms of points and tie-breaks. The only thing to see is how India fields either Harika or Vaishali against the former Women's World Champion, GM Alexandra Kosteniuk, the top woman of Switzerland.

Pentala Harikrishna's 46.Rc7! was a beauty | Photo: FIDE/Michal Walusza

45th Chess Olympiad 2024 Official logo | Photo: Official site

Open: Iceland - India: 0-4

GM D Gukesh (2764), GM Arjun Erigaisi (2778), GM Vidit Gujrathi (2720) and GM Pentala Harikrishna (2686) scored emphatic wins against GM Vignir Vatnar Stefansson (2531), GM Hannes Stefansson (2471), IM Hilmir Freyr Heimisson (2391) and GM Helgi Ass Gretarsson (2450). GM R Praggnanandhaa was rested.

Vignir - Gukesh

Position after 35.Qd2??

Iceland no.1, GM Vignir Vatnar Stefansson made a big mistake 35.Qd2?? GM D Gukesh had no trouble seizing his advantage g3! 36.fxg3 Rxg3 37.e4 R8g4 38.Qe2 Nxf4 39.Nxf4 Bxf4 40.Bf3 Rxf3 and Black won.

GM Vignir Vatnar Stefansson (ISL) - GM D Gukesh, Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

D Gukesh made a winning start at 45th Chess Olympiad just like his teammates | Photo: FIDE/Michal Walusza

Hannes - Arjun

Position after 16...f6?

16...f6? GM Hannes Stefansson allowed a chain exchange which only benefitted his opponent, the World no.4, GM Arjun Erigaisi. 17.dxc5 fxe5 18.cxb6! instead of taking the bishop right away as White gains a crucial pawn exf4 19.bxc7 fxg3 20.Rxd6 exf2+ 21.Ke2 both c7 and f2-pawns will be captured in the next few moves. However, the resultant rook and eventually the pawn endgame is winning for White. Arjun showed some fine technique.

GM Hannes Stefansson - GM Arjun Erigaisi, Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

GM Arjun Erigaisi scored his second win in-a-row | Photo: Aditya Sur Roy

GM Vidit Gujrathi played solid and seized his opportunity when it arose | Photo: FIDE/Michal Walusza

Harikrishna - Helgi

Position after 46.Rc7!

GM Pentala Harikrishna played a beautiful move 46.Rc7! Black cannot take it as 46...Rxc7 47.d6 and White is winning no matter what Black captures. GM Helgi Ass Gretarsson continued 46...Rf8 47.Rb7 Bc5 48.Bxc5 Qf3+ 49.Kg1 and White won the game in the next few moves.

Iceland - India: 0-4

Iceland got whitewashed by India | Photo: Aditya Sur Roy

The top seed, USA made a clean sweep 4-0 against Singapore but the scorecard won't reveal how close the games were, at least three out of four.

Siddharth - Leinier

Position after 43...c4+

GM Siddharth Jagadeesh (SGP, 2514) was at a critical moment against GM Leinier Dominguez Perez (USA, 2748). He needed to move his king to a right square. Out of four options, two of them are safe and the other two aren't. Find out the defensive idea then correct choices would be clear.

Aronian - Zhenyong Jayden

Position after 34.Qh4

GM Levon Aronian (USA, 2729) had a wild game against FM Zhenyong Jayden Wong (SGP, 2397). The maestro sacrificed rook. However, Black's pieces being all over the board does not give him the material advantage yet. White is making some threats with his queen, knight and the e5-pawn. How should Black get away from all troubles?

Kevin - Ray

Position after 64...Kg4

GM Kevin Goh Wei Ming (SGP, 2449) had an inhuman task to defend a difficult rook and few pawns endgame against GM Ray Robson (USA, 2700). White needed to find computer-like precise defence to salvage a half point. 65.Re5 is the recommendation to stay in the game by the tireless machine. However, White played the human 65.Rb4?? and lost the game in the next few moves.

Team Singapore made the top seed, USA sweat and earn their victory | Photo: FIDE/Michal Walusza

GM Cristobal Henriquez Villagra (CHI) held the world champion - GM Ding Liren (CHN) to a draw | Photo: FIDE/Michal Walusza

Upsets:

Canada - Norway: 2-2

Czech Republic - Mongolia: 2-2

Ireland - Israel: 2-2

Greece - Venezuela: 2-2

Women: India - Czech Republic: 3.5-0.5

GM Vaishali R (2498), IM Divya Deshmukh (2483) and IM Tania Sachdev (2386) scored the victories over WFM Adani Clarke (1919), WIM Rachel Miller (1912) and Gabriella Watson (1826) respectively. WFM Raehanna Brown (1910) held IM Vantika Agrawal (2370). Tania had the smoothest victory among her team members. Vaishali almost allowed her opponent to get back in the game when Adani blundered. Divya had to work for her win.

Harika - Julia

Position after 45.Ke3

WGM Julia Movsesian missed an opportunity to get back in the game 45...Nxd4 46.Kxd4 Nxb6 47.Nxb6 Ba7 48.Kc5 a4 and Black has real practical chances to draw the game. After 45...Bd6? 46.Kd3 f6 47.Nd2 White went on to win in the next few moves.

GM Harika Dronavalli won her game which could have ended in a draw | Photo: Aditya Sur Roy

IM Divya Deshmukh defeated WIM Natalie Kanakova (CZE) with ease | Photo: FIDE/Michal Walusza

IM Vantika Agrawal thwarted all attempts of WGM Tereza Rodshtein | Photo: FIDE/Michal Walusza

WIM Martina Korenova held IM Tania Sachdev to a draw | Photo: FIDE/Michal Walusza

India - Czech Republic: 3.5-0.5

Round 2 in progress | Photo: FIDE/Mark Livshitz

Replay live stream

Replay Round 2 Live Commentary by Amruta Mokal, IM Sagar Shah and GM Harshit Raja | Video: ChessBase India

Video Gallery

Round 2 recap by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

World Championship Challenger D Gukesh arrives for his first game at 45th Chess Olympiad | Video: ChessBase India

World Champion Ding Liren arrives for his first game | Video: ChessBase India

Czech Republic Women's team declines to start the clock as their opponent Indian team running late | Video: ChessBase India

Your chance to win a chess set signed by the Indian Olympiad chess team | Video: ChessBase India

Schedule

Everyday round starts at 3 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST from 11th to 22nd September 2024. The final round on 22nd September starts 11 a.m. IST. Rest day is on 17th September.

Round 2 Open results

No.	SNo	FED	Team	Pts.	MP	Res.	:	Res.	MP	Pts.	Team	FED	SNo
1	1	USA	United States of America	3½	2	4	:	0	2	3½	Singapore	SGP	45
2	9	HUN	Hungary *)	4	2	3½	:	½	2	4	Peru	PER	53
3	46	ISL	Iceland	3	2	0	:	4	2	4	India	IND	2
4	3	CHN	China	4	2	3½	:	½	2	4	Chile	CHI	47
5	48	EGY	Egypt	3½	2	½	:	3½	2	3½	Uzbekistan	UZB	4
6	5	NED	Netherlands	4	2	2½	:	1½	2	3½	Belgium	BEL	49
7	50	CAN	Canada	4	2	2	:	2	2	3½	Norway	NOR	6
8	7	GER	Germany	3½	2	3	:	1	2	4	Philippines	PHI	51
9	52	MEX	Mexico	4	2	1	:	3	2	3½	England	ENG	8
10	54	POR	Portugal	3½	2	1	:	3	2	3½	Iran	IRI	10
11	11	POL	Poland	4	2	3	:	1	2	4	Hungary C	HUN	55
12	56	FIN	Finland	4	2	½	:	3½	2	3½	Azerbaijan	AZE	12
13	13	ESP	Spain	4	2	3½	:	½	2	3½	Bosnia & Herzegovina	BIH	57
14	58	PAR	Paraguay	4	2	1½	:	2½	2	3½	France	FRA	14
15	15	UKR	Ukraine	4	2	3½	:	½	2	4	Uruguay	URU	59
16	60	EST	Estonia	4	2	1½	:	2½	2	4	Serbia	SRB	16
17	17	ARM	Armenia	4	2	3	:	1	2	4	Andorra	AND	61
18	62	MKD	North Macedonia	4	2	1½	:	2½	2	4	Romania	ROU	18
19	19	CZE	Czech Republic	4	2	2	:	2	2	4	Mongolia	MGL	63
20	64	IRL	Ireland	3½	2	2	:	2	2	4	Israel	ISR	20

Details

Standings after Round 2

Rk.	SNo	FED	Team	Games	+	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4
1	2	IND	India	2	2	4	8	8	2
	26	SLO	Slovenia	2	2	4	8	8	2
	32	GEO	Georgia	2	2	4	8	8	2
4	1	USA	United States of America	2	2	4	8	7,5	2
	3	CHN	China	2	2	4	8	7,5	2
	9	HUN	Hungary	2	2	4	8	7,5	2
	13	ESP	Spain	2	2	4	8	7,5	2
	29	LTU	Lithuania	2	2	4	8	7,5	2
	39	BRA	Brazil	2	2	4	8	7,5	2
	40	SWE	Sweden	2	2	4	8	7,5	2

Details

Round 3 pairings

No.	SNo	FED	Team	Pts.	MP	:	MP	Pts.	Team	FED	SNo
1	24	BUL	Bulgaria	7	4	:	4	7½	United States of America	USA	1
2	31	AUT	Austria	6½	4	:	4	7½	Hungary *)	HUN	9
3	2	IND	India	8	4	:	4	7	Hungary B	HUN	25
4	26	SLO	Slovenia	8	4	:	4	7½	China	CHN	3
5	4	UZB	Uzbekistan	7	4	:	4	7	Croatia	CRO	27
6	28	ITA	Italy	6½	4	:	4	6½	Netherlands	NED	5
7	29	LTU	Lithuania	7½	4	:	4	6½	Germany	GER	7
8	8	ENG	England	6½	4	:	4	5½	Denmark	DEN	30
9	10	IRI	Iran	6½	4	:	4	8	Georgia	GEO	32
10	33	ARG	Argentina	6	4	:	4	7	Poland	POL	11
11	12	AZE	Azerbaijan	7	4	:	4	7	Moldova	MDA	34
12	35	CUB	Cuba	6½	4	:	4	7½	Spain	ESP	13
13	14	FRA	France	6	4	:	4	7	Montenegro	MNE	36
14	37	AUS	Australia	6	4	:	4	7½	Ukraine	UKR	15
15	16	SRB	Serbia	6½	4	:	4	6½	Switzerland	SUI	38
16	39	BRA	Brazil	7½	4	:	4	7	Armenia	ARM	17
17	18	ROU	Romania	6½	4	:	4	7½	Sweden	SWE	40
18	41	KAZ	Kazakhstan	7½	4	:	4	7½	Vietnam	VIE	21
19	22	TUR	Turkiye	7	4	:	4	6½	Slovakia	SVK	43
20	44	COL	Colombia	7	4	:	3	5½	Norway	NOR	6

Details

Round 2 Women pairings

No.	SNo	FED	Team	Pts.	MP	Res.	:	Res.	MP	Pts.	Team	FED	SNo
1	1	IND	India	3½	2	3½	:	½	2	4	Czech Republic	CZE	41
2	54	ECU	Ecuador	4	2	½	:	3½	2	4	Hungary *)	HUN	14
3	42	MNE	Montenegro	4	2	1	:	3	2	4	Georgia	GEO	2
4	3	POL	Poland	4	2	4	:	0	2	2½	Brazil	BRA	43
5	44	COL	Colombia	4	2	0	:	4	2	4	China	CHN	4
6	5	UKR	Ukraine	3½	2	2½	:	1½	2	4	Lithuania	LTU	45
7	46	AUS	Australia	4	2	1	:	3	2	4	Azerbaijan	AZE	6
8	7	USA	United States of America	4	2	3½	:	½	2	4	Philippines	PHI	47
9	48	BEL	Belgium	4	2	1	:	3	2	4	Germany	GER	8
10	9	ESP	Spain	4	2	4	:	0	2	3	Hungary C	HUN	49
11	50	FIN	Finland	4	2	1½	:	2½	2	4	Kazakhstan	KAZ	10
12	11	ARM	Armenia	4	2	4	:	0	2	4	Mexico	MEX	51
13	52	EGY	Egypt	4	2	½	:	3½	2	4	Bulgaria	BUL	12
14	13	FRA	France	4	2	3½	:	½	2	4	Luxembourg	LUX	53
15	15	ENG	England	4	2	3	:	1	2	4	Denmark	DEN	55
16	56	BIH	Bosnia & Herzegovina	4	2	½	:	3½	2	4	Turkiye	TUR	16
17	17	NED	Netherlands	4	2	3½	:	½	2	4	North Macedonia	MKD	57
18	58	MNC	Monaco	4	2	1	:	3	2	4	Mongolia	MGL	18
19	19	SRB	Serbia	3½	2	2½	:	1½	2	4	Scotland	SCO	59
20	60	IRL	Ireland	4	2	½	:	3½	2	4	Vietnam	VIE	20

Details

Standings after Round 2

Rk.	SNo	FED	Team	Games	+	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4
1	3	POL	Poland	2	2	4	8	8	2
	4	CHN	China	2	2	4	8	8	2
	9	ESP	Spain	2	2	4	8	8	2
	11	ARM	Armenia	2	2	4	8	8	2
	26	ARG	Argentina	2	2	4	8	8	2
	37	IRI	Iran	2	2	4	8	8	2
7	7	USA	United States of America	2	2	4	8	7,5	2
	12	BUL	Bulgaria	2	2	4	8	7,5	2
	13	FRA	France	2	2	4	8	7,5	2
	14	HUN	Hungary	2	2	4	8	7,5	2

Details

Round 3 pairings

No.	SNo	FED	Team	Pts.	MP	:	MP	Pts.	Team	FED	SNo
1	21	SUI	Switzerland	7	4	:	4	7	India	IND	1
2	14	HUN	Hungary *)	7½	4	:	4	7	Uzbekistan	UZB	34
3	2	GEO	Georgia	7	4	:	4	7	Romania	ROU	22
4	23	GRE	Greece	6½	4	:	4	8	Poland	POL	3
5	4	CHN	China	8	4	:	4	6½	Italy	ITA	24
6	25	ISR	Israel	7½	4	:	4	6	Ukraine	UKR	5
7	6	AZE	Azerbaijan	7	4	:	4	8	Argentina	ARG	26
8	27	CAN	Canada	6½	4	:	4	7½	United States of America	USA	7
9	8	GER	Germany	7	4	:	4	6½	Slovenia	SLO	28
10	29	CUB	Cuba	7½	4	:	4	8	Spain	ESP	9
11	10	KAZ	Kazakhstan	6½	4	:	4	5½	Austria	AUT	30
12	31	HUN	Hungary B	7½	4	:	4	8	Armenia	ARM	11
13	12	BUL	Bulgaria	7½	4	:	4	6½	Slovakia	SVK	32
14	33	SWE	Sweden	7	4	:	4	7½	France	FRA	13
15	35	NOR	Norway	7½	4	:	4	7	England	ENG	15
16	16	TUR	Turkiye	7½	4	:	4	8	Iran	IRI	37
17	38	EST	Estonia	7½	4	:	4	7½	Netherlands	NED	17
18	18	MGL	Mongolia	7	4	:	4	7½	Peru	PER	39
19	40	CRO	Croatia	7	4	:	4	6	Serbia	SRB	19
20	20	VIE	Vietnam	7½	4	:	4	7	Singapore	SGP	77

Details

Links

Official site

Tournament Regulations

Related news:

	45th Chess Olympiad R7: World champion ducks Gukesh, his masterpiece crumbles the infallible China @ 19/09/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	45वांओलंपियाड R6 : भारत का विजयरथ बरकरार , अब चीन और जॉर्जिया से सामना @ 18/09/2024 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
	45th Chess Olympiad R6: India beats Hungary and Armenia, scores a double hat-trick, emerges sole leader @ 17/09/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	45वांओलंपियाड R4 & 5 : भारत की लगातार पाँचवीं जीत @ 16/09/2024 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
	45th Chess Olympiad R5: Arjun Erigaisi scores fifth win in-a-row, India keeps leading in both Open and Women @ 16/09/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	45th Chess Olympiad R4: Gukesh channels Magnus, Ukraine and Vietnam upset USA and Uzbekistan @ 15/09/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	45वांओलंपियाड R3 : भारत नें लगाई जीत की हैट्रिक , पुरुष टीम नें हंगरी और महिला टीम नें स्विट्जरलैंड को हराया @ 14/09/2024 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
	45th Chess Olympiad R3: Arjun Erigaisi annihilates Peter Prohaszka @ 14/09/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	45वां ओलंपियाड R2: भारत की लगातार दूसरी जीत @ 13/09/2024 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
	45वां ओलंपियाड R1 : मोरक्को और जमैका से जीता भारत @ 12/09/2024 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
	45th Chess Olympiad R1: India scores comfortable victories over Morocco and Jamaica @ 12/09/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	45th Chess Olympiad: Morocco and Jamaica are the first round opponents for India @ 11/09/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	45वां शतरंज ओलंपियाड : भारत की नजरे स्वर्ण पदक पर @ 10/09/2024 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
	Chess Beyond the Board: Exciting side events at 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad @ 08/09/2024 by ChessBase India (en)
	Team lineups announced for record-breaking 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest @ 23/07/2024 by ChessBase India (en)
	Budapest gets ready for 45th Chess Olympiad 2024 @ 03/02/2024 by ChessBase India (en)