Asian Continental 2022 R3: Leon Luke Mendonca emerges early sole leader

Saina mangles Mongolia no.2 Nomin-Erdene

One of the latest WIMs of India, Saina Salonika launched a very nice counter-attack of her own, after her opponent's kingside attack fizzled out. GM Pranav Anand and GM Raja Rithvik R battled for over five hours before their 75-move long rook vs rook and knight endgame finished in a draw.

Open: Karthikeyan - Koustav: 0.5-0.5

GM Karthikeyan Murali (2623) opted for the Evan's Gambit against IM Koustav Chatterjee (2496), making his intentions very clear that he wants to avenge his 58th National Senior loss from early this year.

46...Rxc5 would have kept the game going for Black. However, Koustav blundered 46...a2 and White missed his best winning chance. Can you find out what was it?

Tsegmed - Leon: 0-1

How do you know when a player is in good form? When he seizes half chances and converts them neatly. GM Leon Luke Mendonca (2558) recently tied for the first place at World Juniors and finished fifth according to tie-breaks. Mongolia no.3 GM Tsegmed Batchuluun (MGL, 2487) made a tiny inaccuracy in the major piece endgame which correctly seized.

White's position was already in shambles. 33.Qf4 did not help his case as Leon correctly found 33...Qg5 and won the resultant double rook endgame eventually.

Viani - Karthik: 0.5-0.5

IM Viani Antonio Dcunha (2342) had a decisive advantage for the better part of the game. However, in the endgame he made a few inaccuracies which allowed his opponent GM Karthik Venkataraman (2486) to save the day.

It was not easy to win for White even after 41.b7 Rb6 42.Na8 Rxb7 43.axb7 Bxb7 44.Nc7 Bxg2 45.Nxe6. White probably saw it and felt 41.Bd5 to be better. Unfortunately, for him it results in a queen vs rook and bishop which is easier for Black to hold.

Since the white king has nowhere to go, White just kamikaze'd his queen to stalemate the position and draw the game.

Venkatesh - Sanket: 0-1

Chess is a very harsh sport. Only a chess player can understand the pangs of it. GM Venkatesh M R (2470) had a substantial advantage for the better part of the game. However, a small blunder in the queen and rook endgame cost him the game. Sanket Chakravarty (2372) seized his opportunity and beat his second GM of the event with the black pieces.

42.Qc4 would have been winning for White. Find out why 42.Rf2 is a blunder.

De Silva - Suyog: 1-0

FM Suyog Wagh (2351) scored a very nice win against Sri Lanka no. IM L M S T De Silva (2516).

One certainly does not get to see all four minor pieces of both sides actively trying to attack their opponent where each have their knights placed on the sixth rank.

Aradhya - Nitin: 1-0

Former National Junior champion and Commonwealth Under-16 Silver medalist, IM-elect FM Aradhya Garg (2284) defeated IM Nitin S (2407) with a brilliant display of attack on the kingside.

17.fxg6 is a fantastic move as White can afford to lose his bishop. The attack on the kingside is devastating. 17...bxc4 18.gxf7+ Kh8 19.Rae1 and White won the game in the next few moves.

Women: Tania - Kiran: 1-0

IM Tania Sachdev (2406) employed a nice combination to win material and win the game against WGM Kiran Manish Mohanty (2030).

Find out the winning combination for White after 31...Qc8.

Aashna - Priyanka Nutakki: 0-1

WGM Priyanka Nutakki (2326) trapped WIM Aashna Makhija's (2090) queen using nice tactic.

28.h4 was a blunder as it allowed Nxc3+ 29.bxc3 Bc4 and the queen has no safe square to go to. The queen needed to retreat to e2 instead of 28.h4.

Nomin-Erdene - Saina: 0-1

Mongolia no.2 woman, IM Davaademberel Nomin-Erdene (2404) suffered her second loss of the event. Her attack on the kingside did not work out as her opponent WIM Sain Salonika (2209) launched one of her own and won the game convincingly.

A total of 91 players including 31 GMs and 39 IMs in the Open, 49 players including 7 IMs, 14 WGMs and 17 WIMs in the Women, are taking part from 13 countries across the world including India. The nine-round Swiss League tournament will take place from 26th October to 3rd November 2022 at The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel, Delhi. It is organized by Delhi Chess Association. The time control of the tournament is 90 Minutes for 40 moves + 30 Minutes with increment of 30 second from move 1.

Replay Round 3 Open games

Replay Round 3 Women games

Round 3 Open results

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Round 4 Open pairings

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Round 3 Women results

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Round 4 Women pairings

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Links

Delhi Chess Association

Tournament Regulations

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