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6th Sharjah Masters 2023 R6: Top class play by Gukesh to climb to the top

by Shahid Ahmed - 23/05/2023

The top board had not witnessed a decisive game since the first round of 6th Sharjah Masters 2023. D Gukesh was determined to change that. Trailing by a half point against Haik Martirosyan, Gukesh played out an equal rook and knight endgame. With a perfect play, the game should have ended in a draw. Both players were human, thus errors occurred. First the Armenia no.2 made an incorrect knight exchange offer which his opponent accepted. It gave Gukesh a decisive advantage. He fumbled on his way to finish line but Haik could not find a way to get back and the India no.2 won the game. The Americans - Samuel Sevian and Grigoriy Oparin are currently sharing the lead with Gukesh with a score of 4.5/6 each. Round 7 starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 4:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Niklesh Jain

Nihal, Praggnanandhaa and Aryan in the hunt

Nihal Sarin and R Praggnanandhaa had a well contested draw against Yangyi Yu (CHN) and Anton Korobov (UKR) respectively. Aryan Chopra decided to make a short draw against Andrey Esipenko in just 18 moves.

GM D Gukesh is back at the top 4.5/6 | Photo: Niklesh Jain

Gukesh - Haik: 1-0

The previous three Classical rated games between GM D Gukesh (2732) and GM Haik Martirosyan (ARM, 2675) had ended in draws. Gukesh was trailing the sole leader Haik by a half point. It was the sixth round, so time for Gukesh to catch up was limited.

Position after 38...Nd6?

In the rook and knight endgame, Black made an unforced error 38...Nd6? 39.Nxd6 Rxd6 40.Rxc5 Rd2 41.Rb5 Rxh2+ 42.Kg5 Ke7 43.Rxb7+ and White is winning. However, since it's rook and pawn ending, things are not as easy as it may seem.

Position after 53.b5?

53.b5 actually allowed Black to get back in the game Kd6 54.Rc6+ Ke5 55.c4 and now Black needed to go f4+ to stay in the game. 55...Rb1? abandoned all hope for Black 56.b6 Ke4 57.c5 f4+ 58.Kg4 f3 59.Rf6 Kd5 60.Rf5+ Kc6 61.Kxf3 and White went on to win the game comfortably.

Final moments: Gukesh beats Haik | Video: ChessBase India

GM D Gukesh took down GM Haik Martirosyan (ARM) to get back in the lead | Photo: Niklesh Jain

GM Nihal Sarin - GM Yangyi Yu (CHN): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Niklesh Jain
Praggnanandhaa's Mother waits to watch him play the first move | Video: ChessBase India

GM R Praggnanandhaa - GM Anton Korobov (UKR): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Niklesh Jain
Final moments: GM Aryan Chopra vs GM Andrey Esipenko | Video: ChessBase India

GM Aryan Chopra and GM Andrey Esipenko decided to fight another day | Photo: Niklesh Jain
Interview with Grigoriy Oparin | Video: Sharjah Chess
Karthikeyan bounces back with two wins after two losses | Video: ChessBase India
Final moments: Parham Maghsoodloo vs Nodirbek Yakubboev | Video: ChessBase India

Replay the Live stream

Replay Sharjah Masters Round 6 live commentary by Amruta Mokal - Part 1 | Video: ChessBase India
Replay Sharjah Masters Round 6 live commentary by Amruta Mokal - Part 2 | Video: ChessBase India
Replay Sharjah Masters Round 6 live commentary by Amruta Mokal - Part 3 | Video: ChessBase India
Replay Sharjah Masters Round 6 live commentary by GM FST Ivan Sokolov (NED) and WIM Fiona Steil-Antoni (LUX) | Video: Sharjah Chess

Replay Round 6 games

Round 6 results

Bo.No. NameRtgPts.ResultPts.NameRtg No.
12
GMGukesh, D27321 - 04GMMartirosyan, Haik M.2675
15
216
GMNihal, Sarin2673½ - ½GMYu, Yangyi2729
4
317
GMOparin, Grigoriy26671 - 0GMNiemann, Hans Moke2708
6
49
GMPraggnanandhaa, R2688½ - ½GMKorobov, Anton2664
18
511
GMSevian, Samuel26841 - 0GMKuybokarov, Temur2566
64
635
GMAryan, Chopra2617½ - ½GMEsipenko, Andrey2679
12
738
GMKovalev, Vladislav2612½ - ½GMTabatabaei, M. Amin2677
14
81
GMMaghsoodloo, Parham273430 - 13GMYakubboev, Nodirbek2630
28
95
GMSjugirov, Sanan271231 - 03GMJu, Wenjun2550
70
1027
GMSargsyan, Shant26303½ - ½3GMErigaisi, Arjun2701
8
1129
GMPetrosyan, Manuel262931 - 03GMPredke, Alexandr2685
10
1213
GMSalem, A.R. Saleh26773½ - ½3GMMurzin, Volodar2604
42
1319
GMSindarov, Javokhir26613½ - ½3GMGalperin, Platon2528
74
1476
GMAditya, Mittal25223½ - ½3GMCheparinov, Ivan2660
20
1567
GMSuleymanli, Aydin25603½ - ½3GMNguyen, Thai Dai Van2645
22

Details

Standings after Round 6

Rk.SNo NameFEDRtgPts. TB1  TB2  TB3  TB4  TB5 
111
GMSevian, SamuelUSA26844,501915,512806
22
GMGukesh, DIND27324,50171402839
317
GMOparin, GrigoriyUSA26674,5015,51322809
416
GMNihal, SarinIND26734019,51602759
538
GMKovalev, VladislavFID261240191612789
69
GMPraggnanandhaa, RIND268840181512746
735
GMAryan, ChopraIND261740181512739
814
GMTabatabaei, M. AminIRI2677401714,502730
95
GMSjugirov, SananRUS271240171412712
104
GMYu, YangyiCHN272940171402768
1118
GMKorobov, AntonUKR26644016,513,502737
1228
GMYakubboev, NodirbekUZB2630401613,512749
1312
GMEsipenko, AndreyFID2679401613,502733
1415
GMMartirosyan, Haik M.ARM26754015,51312738
1529
GMPetrosyan, ManuelARM26294014,51212718

Details

Round 7 pairings

Bo.No. NameRtgPts.ResultPts.NameRtg No.
111
GMSevian, Samuel2684GMGukesh, D2732
2
24
GMYu, Yangyi27294GMOparin, Grigoriy2667
17
318
GMKorobov, Anton266444GMSjugirov, Sanan2712
5
428
GMYakubboev, Nodirbek263044GMPraggnanandhaa, R2688
9
512
GMEsipenko, Andrey267944GMNihal, Sarin2673
16
614
GMTabatabaei, M. Amin267744GMPetrosyan, Manuel2629
29
715
GMMartirosyan, Haik M.267544GMAryan, Chopra2617
35
86
GMNiemann, Hans Moke27084GMKovalev, Vladislav2612
38
98
GMErigaisi, Arjun2701GMAzarov, Sergei2582
59
1064
GMKuybokarov, Temur2566GMSalem, A.R. Saleh2677
13
1146
GMKadric, Denis2601GMSindarov, Javokhir2661
19
1220
GMCheparinov, Ivan2660GMVakhidov, Jakhongir2607
39
1322
GMNguyen, Thai Dai Van2645GMMchedlishvili, Mikheil2553
69
1442
GMMurzin, Volodar2604GMYilmaz, Mustafa2641
23
1524
GMAbasov, Nijat2634GMSuleymanli, Aydin2560
67

Details

Links

Official site

Tournament details


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