Can Venkatesh win Bhopal GM Open 2019?

Final round of Bhopal International GM Open 2019 will determine the winner of Central India's biggest chess tournament. Top seed of the tournament Uzebk GM Nodirbek Yakubboev, highest rated Indian of the tournament Venkatesh M R, IM Nguyen Van Huy of Vietnam and GM Attila Czebe of Hungary are in a four-way lead going into the final round. It will be interesting to see who wins the tournament.

After the completion of round 9, it became difficult to predict who will win the tournament. Colombia's GM Cristhian Rios held top seed GM Nodirbek Yakkuboev to a draw at the top board. In a Closed Catalan game, Yakubboev tried hard to gain advantage but Rios did not budge. He liquidated into an opposite color bishop endgame where draw became the obvious result at the end of 62 moves.

Hungarian GM Attila Czebe made the most out of the top board draw as he defeated the strong contender for championship, Ukrainian GM Stanislav Bogdanovich and surprised everyone. In a Pirc Defence Modern varation, Czebe playing with white pieces, gave no chance to his opponent and secured a victory in just 38 moves to join the leaders heading into the final round of the tournament.

GM Venkatesh M R played his best game of the tournament by scoring a fantastic victory over experienced Russian GM Maxim Lugovskoy. Thus Venkatesh joined the three other leaders heading to the final round. The Indian faced French Defence and in the endgame he gained two pawns which he converted easily into a victory after 37 moves.

IM Nguyen Van Huy defeated IM Ortik Nigmatov and joined the leaders to fight for the championship in the final round. Starting out with Caro-Kann Advance variation, Van Huy scored a victory with the black pieces in 42 moves.

Among other important results, IM Taher Yoseph Theolifus held GM Manik Mikulas to a draw, Kartavya Anadkat lost to GM Azer Mirzoev and after a grueling battle GM Adam Tukhaev defeated IM Anup Deshmukh. IM Denis Eraschenkov was held to a draw by R Rathneesh of India. Shaik Sumer Arsh lost to Utkal Ranjan Sahoo and Sharan Rao defeated compatriot Pranav V on board no. 10.

The top board clash in the final round will be of epic proportions when top seed Yakubboev faces India's Venkatesh and IM Nguyen Van Huy will face GM Attila Czebe on board no.2. Since there are eight players at 7.0/8, if top two boards end up in draws then anyone can become champion. Prize Distribution Ceremony will take place at 3pm on 28th December 2019 after the conclusion of final round.

Translation from Hindi by Shahid Ahmed

Rank after Round 9

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