45th Chess Olympiad R6: India beats Hungary and Armenia, scores a double hat-trick, emerges sole leader

by Shahid Ahmed - 17/09/2024

One could not have asked for a better start for the Indian teams at the 45th Chess Olympiad 2024. India scored a double hat-trick of wins to emerge sole leader in both Open and Women events. Arjun Erigaisi and Vidit Gujrathi scored the key victories over Sanan Sjugirov and Benjamin Gledura respectively. D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa held the fort by making solid draws against Richard Rapport and Peter Leko respectively. IM Divya Deshmukh scored the sole win for her team against GM Elina Danielian. It helped the Indian Women's team beat Armenia 2.5-1.5. IM Tania Sachdev is the only one who had a winning chance against IM Anna Sargsyan. Today is the sole rest day of the event. India will face China in the Open and Georgia in Women in Round 7. This can prove to be the most critical round of the event to have serious implications for Gold. Round 7 starts tomorrow Wednesday 18th September at 3 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Abhyudaya Ram

Arjun wins six in-a-row, Divya delivers the decisive win for Indian Women

World no.4, GM Arjun Erigaisi scored his sixth consecutive win. He is phenomenal form and his live rating is now 2791.3. He is certainly storming towards 2800 and doing it at the best event possible. Vietnam, China and Iran are trailing India by one point at 11/12 each. Vietnam drew with China 2-2 and Norway lost to Iran 1.5-2.5. Ten teams are at 10/12 each. Uzbekistan is at the top of them. Thus, top five teams in the Open section are all from Asia.

Indian Captains - GM Srinath Narayanan (sitting left) and GM Abhijit Kunte (standing right) analyzing with IM Tania Sachdev (center) and GM Vidit Gujrathi (sitting right) along with IM Sagar Shah (standing left) | Photo: Abhyudaya Ram

India defeated the formidable Armenia 2.5-1.5. Armenia defeated China in the previous round. So this was a huge win for India. Georgia and Poland defeated Mongolia and China respectively by a minimum margin 2.5-1.5 each. They are the only two teams trailing India by one point 11/12 each.

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

Open: Hungary - India: 1-3

The game between GM Richard Rapport (2715) and GM D Gukesh (2764) was a relatively quiet draw. Before we witness Ding Liren and D Gukesh face each other, this was definitely an important match. Rapport was part of Ding's team and played a key role in him becoming the world champion. So it goes without saying that there is a good chance Rapport might once again be in the world champion's corner, this November.

Richard Rapport - D Gukesh: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: FIDE/Michal Walusza

GM R Praggnanandhaa (2750) could not manage to find a breakthrough against GM Peter Leko (2666). Only one minor piece was exchanged in a 45-move battle.

Peter Leko and R Praggnanandhaa seen analyzing after their game | Photo: Amruta Mokal

The last time GM Sanan Sjugirov (2644) and GM Arjun Erigaisi (2778) faced each other in a Classical rated game was back in December 2023 at Chennai Grand Masters. Arjun won that game.

Sanan - Arjun

Position after 41.Nb4?

Sanan made a slight inaccuracy in an equal rook and minor piece endgame 41.Nb4? Arjun seized his chance Kd7 42.Rd3+ Rxd3 43.Nxd3 Kc6 44.Kd2 Bd4 45.f3 Kd5 and Black won the game in another dozen moves.

Interview with Arjun Erigaisi | Video: ChessBase India

Sanan Sjugirov - Arjun Erigaisi, Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

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

Arjun Erigaisi has 2791.3 live rating, four Indians in World top 11 | Source: 2700chess.com

Over six years ago, GM Vidit Gujrathi (2720) played his sole Classical rated game against GM Benjamin Gledura (2628). It ended in a draw.

Vidit - Gledura

Position after 31.Rc8

31.Rc8 is a good move by White. Exchanging the rook lands White in a favorable endgame. Black needed to decline the exchange 31...Rd6 to continue the fight. 31...Rxc8 32.Bxc8 Nd6 33.Bf5 h6 34.h4 Ne6 35.Bg4 Ng7 36.Kf4 f6 37.b4 Kf7 38.e5 fxe5+ 39.Kxe5 White went on to convert his advantage into a win.

Vidit Gujarathi - Benjamin Gledura, Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

Vidit Gujrathi scored his fourth win of the event | Photo: FIDE/Michal Walusza

Hungary - India: 1-3

Ding - Liem

Position after 46...Re6

The world champion, GM Ding Liren (CHN, 2736) made the grave mistake 47.Ra4?? GM Liem Quang Le (VIE, 2741) had no trouble seizing his chance Rb6 48.Ke2 d4 49.f3 f5 50.Ra5+ Kf4 and Black won the game in few more moves.

Ding Liren lost a rook endgame which ideally he should have drawn against Liem Quang Le | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Vietnam held China to a 2-2 draw | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Magnus Carlsen - Parham Maghsoodloo, Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

Parham Maghsoodloo played a perfect game and gave no chance to Magnus Carlsen, even in the endgame | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Norway - Iran: 1.5-2.5 | Photo: Amruta Mokal

World's youngest IM, 10-year-old Faustino Oro (ARG) made the ceremonial first move on Ding Liren - Liem Quang Le's board | Photo: FIDE/Michal Walusza

Upsets:

USA - Romania: 2-2

Poland - Austria: 2-2

Azerbaijan - Lithuania: 1.5-2.5

Georgia - Spain: 2.5-1.5

Denmark - Czech Republic: 2-2

Canada - Turkiye: 2-2

Bangladesh - Hungary B: 2-2

Women: India - Armenia: 2.5-1.5

IM Divya Deshmukh (2483) scored the decisive victory over GM Elina Danielian (2393). GM Harika Dronavalli (2502), GM R Vaishali (2498) and IM Tania Sachdev (2386) drew with IM Lilit Mkrtchian (2366), WIM Mariam Mkrtchyan (2328) and IM Anna M Sargsyan (2364) respectively. Tania had a tiny window of opportunity in the endgame. However, she missed it.

Divya - Elina

Position after 17.Nxh7

16...Bc6? ignoring the h7-pawn was a bad idea. Divya seized her chance 17.Nxh7 Be7 18.Qg4 g6 19.Ng5 Bxg5 20.Bxg5 Kd7 21.c4 breaking the center is definitely a great idea for White as the black king is on d7. 21...dxc4 22.Bxg6! Black cannot take as Rbd1+ not only retrieves the sacrficed bishop but also wins the game immediately. 22...Rcf8 23.Be4 Kc8 24.Bf6 Rhg8 25.Qf3 White won the game eventually without much difficulty.

IM Divya Deshmukh - GM Elina Danielian, Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

IM Divya Deshmukh powered Indian Women's team to a 2.5-1.5 victory over Armenia | Photo: FIDE/Michal Walusza

Replay India - Armenia games

India - Armenia: 2.5-1.5

Sameer Pathak, CEO of Tech Mahindra Global Chess League, made the ceremonial first move on GM Harika Dronavalli and IM Lilit Mkrtchian's board | Photo: Maria Emelianova/chess.com

Upsets

Hungary - Peru: 2-2

Bulgaria - Austria: 2-2

Netherlands - Uzbekistan: 2-2

Australia - Israel: 2.5-1.5

Sweden - Portugal: 2-2

Croatia - Malaysia: 1-3

Replay live stream

Replay Round 6 Live Commentary by Amruta Mokal, IM Sagar Shah and GM Harshit Raja | Video: ChessBase India

Video Gallery

Round 6 recap by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

India beats Hungary and Armenia, and the aftermath | Video: ChessBase India

Magnus Carlsen shares a laugh | Video: ChessBase India

Interview with team Guyana | Video: ChessBase India

10-year-old IM Faustino Oro and Tech Mahindra Global Chess League CEO - Sameer Pathak make the ceremonial first move of Round 6 | Video: ChessBase India

Magnus Carlsen observes D Gukesh and Ding Liren | Video: ChessBase India

Interview with WCM Zainab Darwish Almaamari (UAE) | Video: ChessBase India

Interview with team Haiti | Video: ChessBase India

Interview with WCM Yolanda Chang (NZL) | Video: ChesssBase India

Interview with team Bahamas | 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.

Replay Round 6 Open games

Replay Round 6 Women games

Round 6 Open results

No.	SNo	FED	Team	Pts.	MP	Res.	:	Res.	MP	Pts.	Team	FED	SNo
1	3	CHN	China	15½	10	2	:	2	10	16	Vietnam	VIE	21
2	9	HUN	Hungary *)	15	10	1	:	3	10	18	India	IND	2
3	6	NOR	Norway	15	9	1½	:	2½	9	15	Iran	IRI	10
4	1	USA	United States of America	15½	8	2	:	2	8	13½	Romania	ROU	18
5	20	ISR	Israel	14½	8	1½	:	2½	8	15	Uzbekistan	UZB	4
6	5	NED	Netherlands	13½	8	3	:	1	8	14½	Croatia	CRO	27
7	28	ITA	Italy	13½	8	1	:	3	8	13	England	ENG	8
8	11	POL	Poland	14	8	2	:	2	8	13	Austria	AUT	31
9	12	AZE	Azerbaijan	14	8	1½	:	2½	8	14½	Lithuania	LTU	29
10	32	GEO	Georgia	15½	8	2½	:	1½	8	15	Spain	ESP	13
11	46	ISL	Iceland	13½	8	½	:	3½	8	14	France	FRA	14
12	15	UKR	Ukraine	14	8	2½	:	1½	8	13	Montenegro	MNE	36
13	47	CHI	Chile	13½	8	0	:	4	8	12	Serbia	SRB	16
14	51	PHI	Philippines	15	8	1½	:	2½	8	14	Armenia	ARM	17
15	30	DEN	Denmark	11½	7	2	:	2	7	15½	Czech Republic	CZE	19
16	50	CAN	Canada	11½	7	2	:	2	7	12½	Turkiye	TUR	22
17	43	SVK	Slovakia	12½	7	1	:	3	7	13½	Greece	GRE	23
18	7	GER	Germany	13	6	4	:	0	7	12½	Venezuela	VEN	67
19	24	BUL	Bulgaria	12	6	3	:	1	6	12½	Mongolia	MGL	63
20	65	BAN	Bangladesh	11½	6	2	:	2	6	12	Hungary B	HUN	25

Details

Standings after Round 6

Rk.	SNo	FED	Team	Games	+	=	-	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4
1	2	IND	India	6	6	0	0	12	145,5	21	43
2	21	VIE	Vietnam	6	5	1	0	11	123	18	45
3	3	CHN	China	6	5	1	0	11	119	17,5	45
4	10	IRI	Iran	6	5	1	0	11	112,5	17,5	41
5	4	UZB	Uzbekistan	6	5	0	1	10	115	17,5	43
6	14	FRA	France	6	5	0	1	10	108,5	17,5	39
7	15	UKR	Ukraine	6	5	0	1	10	105,5	16,5	43
8	17	ARM	Armenia	6	5	0	1	10	104,5	16,5	43
9	9	HUN	Hungary	6	5	0	1	10	104	16	46
10	8	ENG	England	6	4	2	0	10	104	16	42

Details

Round 7 pairings

No.	SNo	FED	Team	Pts.	MP	:	MP	Pts.	Team	FED	SNo
1	2	IND	India	21	12	:	11	17½	China	CHN	3
2	29	LTU	Lithuania	17	10	:	10	16	Hungary *)	HUN	9
3	10	IRI	Iran	17½	11	:	11	18	Vietnam	VIE	21
4	4	UZB	Uzbekistan	17½	10	:	10	16½	Ukraine	UKR	15
5	16	SRB	Serbia	16	10	:	10	16½	Netherlands	NED	5
6	17	ARM	Armenia	16½	10	:	10	16	England	ENG	8
7	14	FRA	France	17½	10	:	10	18	Georgia	GEO	32
8	23	GRE	Greece	16½	9	:	9	17½	United States of America	USA	1
9	31	AUT	Austria	15	9	:	9	16½	Norway	NOR	6
10	18	ROU	Romania	15½	9	:	9	16	Poland	POL	11
11	40	SWE	Sweden	14½	8	:	8	17	Germany	GER	7
12	12	AZE	Azerbaijan	15½	8	:	8	16½	Kazakhstan	KAZ	41
13	13	ESP	Spain	16½	8	:	8	14½	Latvia	LAT	42
14	44	COL	Colombia	16½	8	:	8	17½	Czech Republic	CZE	19
15	20	ISR	Israel	16	8	:	8	14	Iceland	ISL	46
16	22	TUR	Turkiye	14½	8	:	8	13½	Chile	CHI	47
17	48	EGY	Egypt	14½	8	:	8	15	Bulgaria	BUL	24
18	26	SLO	Slovenia	17	8	:	8	13½	Canada	CAN	50
19	27	CRO	Croatia	15½	8	:	8	16½	Philippines	PHI	51
20	52	MEX	Mexico	14½	8	:	8	14½	Italy	ITA	28

Details

Round 6 Women pairings

No.	SNo	FED	Team	Pts.	MP	Res.	:	Res.	MP	Pts.	Team	FED	SNo
1	1	IND	India	16	10	2½	:	1½	10	16½	Armenia	ARM	11
2	14	HUN	Hungary *)	16½	8	2	:	2	8	15	Peru	PER	39
3	2	GEO	Georgia	14½	9	2½	:	1½	10	14½	Mongolia	MGL	18
4	3	POL	Poland	16	9	2½	:	1½	8	17	China	CHN	4
5	5	UKR	Ukraine	13	8	3	:	1	8	14	Serbia	SRB	19
6	20	VIE	Vietnam	15½	8	1½	:	2½	8	14	Azerbaijan	AZE	6
7	7	USA	United States of America	16	8	2½	:	1½	8	15	Switzerland	SUI	21
8	8	GER	Germany	14½	8	3½	:	½	8	13	Italy	ITA	24
9	26	ARG	Argentina	15	8	½	:	3½	8	15	Spain	ESP	9
10	29	CUB	Cuba	14½	8	0	:	4	8	13½	Kazakhstan	KAZ	10
11	12	BUL	Bulgaria	14½	8	2	:	2	8	13	Austria	AUT	30
12	13	FRA	France	14	8	3½	:	½	8	14½	Hungary B	HUN	31
13	17	NED	Netherlands	13	8	2	:	2	8	13½	Uzbekistan	UZB	34
14	16	TUR	Turkiye	13	7	2	:	2	7	13	Slovenia	SLO	28
15	32	SVK	Slovakia	12½	7	2	:	2	7	14	Romania	ROU	22
16	44	COL	Colombia	13	7	1	:	3	7	12½	Greece	GRE	23
17	46	AUS	Australia	13½	7	2½	:	1½	7	13½	Israel	ISR	25
18	48	BEL	Belgium	13	7	1½	:	2½	7	12	Canada	CAN	27
19	15	ENG	England	12½	6	3½	:	½	6	12	Moldova	MDA	61
20	33	SWE	Sweden	12½	6	2	:	2	6	11	Portugal	POR	63

Details

Standings after Round 6

Rk.	SNo	FED	Team	Games	+	=	-	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4
1	1	IND	India	6	6	0	0	12	137	18,5	46
2	2	GEO	Georgia	6	5	1	0	11	130,5	17	44
3	3	POL	Poland	6	5	1	0	11	110	18,5	39
4	7	USA	United States of America	6	5	0	1	10	126	18,5	44
5	11	ARM	Armenia	6	5	0	1	10	114	18	43
6	10	KAZ	Kazakhstan	6	5	0	1	10	112	17,5	43
7	18	MGL	Mongolia	6	5	0	1	10	110	16	47
8	9	ESP	Spain	6	5	0	1	10	107	18,5	39
9	13	FRA	France	6	5	0	1	10	107	17,5	43
10	6	AZE	Azerbaijan	6	4	2	0	10	107	16,5	43

Details

Round 7 pairings

No.	SNo	FED	Team	Pts.	MP	:	MP	Pts.	Team	FED	SNo
1	1	IND	India	18½	12	:	11	17	Georgia	GEO	2
2	30	AUT	Austria	15	9	:	9	18½	Hungary *)	HUN	14
3	5	UKR	Ukraine	16	10	:	11	18½	Poland	POL	3
4	6	AZE	Azerbaijan	16½	10	:	10	17½	Kazakhstan	KAZ	10
5	11	ARM	Armenia	18	10	:	10	18½	United States of America	USA	7
6	18	MGL	Mongolia	16	10	:	10	18	Germany	GER	8
7	9	ESP	Spain	18½	10	:	10	17½	France	FRA	13
8	27	CAN	Canada	14½	9	:	9	16½	Bulgaria	BUL	12
9	39	PER	Peru	17	9	:	9	15	Netherlands	NED	17
10	23	GRE	Greece	15½	9	:	9	15½	Uzbekistan	UZB	34
11	4	CHN	China	18½	8	:	9	16	Australia	AUS	46
12	36	LAT	Latvia	14½	8	:	8	16	England	ENG	15
13	38	EST	Estonia	14½	8	:	8	15	Turkiye	TUR	16
14	19	SRB	Serbia	15	8	:	8	18	Iran	IRI	37
15	20	VIE	Vietnam	17	8	:	8	15	Czech Republic	CZE	41
16	42	MNE	Montenegro	16	8	:	8	16½	Switzerland	SUI	21
17	22	ROU	Romania	16	8	:	8	15	Lithuania	LTU	45
18	24	ITA	Italy	13½	8	:	8	14	Luxembourg	LUX	53
19	26	ARG	Argentina	15½	8	:	8	17	Philippines	PHI	47
20	28	SLO	Slovenia	15	8	:	8	13	Bosnia & Herzegovina	BIH	56

Details

Links

Official site

Tournament Regulations

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