Everything about the Indian Challenge at the World Cup 2021
The World Cup 2021 is here and after a long break from over the board chess, a total of 309 players (206 in open and 103 in women) will descend upon Sochi in Russia! It is also a very exciting event for Indian chess fans as we have 12 gladiators taking part - 8 in the open and 4 in women. They are Harikrishna, Vidit Gujrathi, B. Adhiban, Aravindh Chithambaram, Nihal Sarin, Praggnanandhaa, D. Gukesh, P. Iniyan, D. Harika, R. Vaishali, Bhakti Kulkarni and Padmini Rout. In this article IM Sagar Shah takes you through all the rules and regulations of the event and tells you what is at stake. You also get to see the pairings of each Indian player and an assessment of their chances! Last but not the least, do not miss out on our World Cup 2021 contest!
12 Indian gladiators among 309 participants at the World Cup 2021
The World Cup 2021 that will be held in Russia, Sochi from the 10th of July 2021 to 8th of August 2021, is one of the most exciting events that the chess world is looking forward to. The best part is that it will be held over the board (not online) and 12 Indians will travel to Sochi to represent the country. What makes the World Cup very exhilarating is the knock-out format and the fact that both the runner-up and the winner (three places in women's world cup) have direct entry into the Candidates 2022, makes it a highly important tournament in the World Championship cycle.
What's different this year?
Each year we have 128 players in the open section and 64 in the women. This year, however, the format has been changed and in order to give more players a chance, 206 players will compete in the open section and 103 players in the women section. 50 top seeds of the open event will get a bye in round 1 and 25 top seeds in the women's event will get a bye. The remaining 156 players will fight it out and 78 will be eliminated. The remaining 78 will join the top 50 seeds making it a total of 128 players. In the same way 64 players will be left after round 1 in the women's tournament.
World Champion Magnus Carlsen has decided to play the World Cup. But why? Magnus doesn't need to qualify for the Candidates 2022. In the worst case he loses the World Championship match later this year to Nepomniachtchi, he has a direct qualification spot in the next Candidates. However, Carlsen has been a firm adherent of the knockout format of play and he has never really won a world cup before. That's the reason why he is very keen to add what could well be the last missing feather in his hat!
The World Champion Ju Wenjun isn't playing. Goryachkina is playing the world cup but she has already qualified for the Candidates 2022 by virtue of being the World Championship runner-up in her match against Ju Wenjun. Lagno has already qualified via the FIDE Grand Prix route along with Humpy. While Humpy has pulled out from the event, Lagno is playing.
What are the players fighting for?
World Cup (Open): Both finalists of World Cup qualify to the FIDE Candidates Tournament to be held in the first half of 2022.
If any finalist also qualifies to the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2022 via the FIDE World Championship Match 2021 or the FIDE Grand Prix Series 2021-2022, the reserved place is awarded, in order of priority:
1. to the next non-qualifying player of World Cup, but not further than 4th place
2. to the next non-qualifying player of the FIDE Grand Prix Series 2021-2022.
For example: If Magnus Carlsen wins the World Cup 2021, and the loses to Ian Nepomniachtchi, he would get the direct entry into the Candidates 2022 by the virtue of being the runner-up at the World Championship Match 2021. Hence, the 3rd placed player at the World Cup 2021 gets the entry into the Candidates 2022.
It must also be noted that there are 24 spots for the FIDE Grand Prix 2021-22 cycle. These 24 spots will be awarded based on the performance of the players at the World Cup and FIDE Grand Swiss. Hence, it is additionally important for the players to do well at the World Cup. A good showing can earn you a spot in the FIDE Grand Prix and eventually to the Candidates 2022!
World Cup (women): The top three players qualify to the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament to be held in the first half of 2022. If GM Ju Wenjun, or/and GM Goryachkina, or/and the two players qualified to the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2022 via the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix Series 2019-20-2021 is (are) among the top three players of Women's World Cup, then the reserved place(s) is (are) awarded, in order of priority:
1. to the 4th place of Women's World Cup;
2. to other qualification events in accordance with the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2022 Regulations.
Prize money
The open section has a massive prize fund of US$ 1,892,500 which roughly translates to 14 crores Indian Rupees! In the women's section the prize fund is US$ 676,250 which is roughly 5 crores of Indian Rupees! The nice thing about the World Cup is that even the person who gets eliminated in the first round goes back home with some prize! The amount you take back home depends upon the number of rounds you win and the longer you can stay in the tournament.
*Note: FIDE will deduct 20% of the prize money amount
The Indian players at the World Cup
India has a strong representation of 12 players at the World Cup 2021 - 8 in the open section and 4 in the women's section. Vishy Anand has decided not to play the event. His no castling match against Vladimir Kramnik would be clashing with this event. Here's how each of the 12 players have qualified:
1. P. Harikrishna - by average rating. Hari has replaced Ian Nepomniachtchi, who will be preparing for the World Championships 2021
2. Vidit Gujrathi - by average rating. Vidit has replaced Wesley So, who has declined his invitation. The reason for Wesley So not playing is not clear yet.
3. B. Adhiban - by Federation spot. AICF has one spot for which they can nominate a player and they have chosen Adhiban for it.
4. Aravindh Chithambaram - by being the winner of Zone 3.7. India is now a zone as per FIDE and by the virtue of being the reigning national champion, Aravindh has qualified.
5. Nihal Sarin - by FIDE President's wild card
6. Praggnanandhaa - by FIDE President's wild card
7. D. Gukesh - by FIDE President's wild card
8. P. Iniyan - by winning the AICF qualifiers for the World Cup 2021 - an online rapid event.
While all three of our youngsters Nihal Sarin, Pragg and Gukesh are extremely talented, it is quite unprecedented that three players from the same country have received FIDE President's wild card. Credit for making this happen must go to AICF and its secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan.
Harikrishna
By being one of the top 50 seeds of the event, Harikrishna gets a bye in round 1. He will take on the winner of Leandro Krysa and Quesada Perez Yasser. It's a battle of two players born in 1992. While Yasser's elder brother Yuniesky Quesada Perez is more well-known, the younger sibling is not to be underestimated. There is very little to be chosen between Leandro and Yasser, but whoever wins, Harikrishna will be the favourite against him. In 3rd round Harikrishna is most likely to play the winner of Adly Ahmed and Constantin Lupulescu. Judging from his performance lately at the Superbet Grand Chess Tour, it seems likely that Lupulescu is the favourite. If Harikrishna manages to beat Lupulescu then, he would most likely play against Yu Yangyi in the fourth round. The winner in that match will reach the pre-quarter finals! That's how tough this event is.
Vidit Gujrathi
While Vidit has a bye in round 1, Adhiban is up against a relatively easy opponent Chiletso Chipanga (2103), a Candidate Master from Malawi. It is quite likely that Adhiban will win his game. His next round opponent would possibly be Delgado Ramirez Neuris, who is much stronger than Niaz Murshed. Meanwhile for Vidit it will be the winner between Alexander Fier (2565), a strong Brazilian GM and Jergus Pechac (2523) from Slovakia. Pechac received FIDE president's wild card for the event when he showed some great sportsman spirit in the European Hybrid qualifiers.
Gelfand vs Pechac
Vidit will have to win against the winner of Pechac and Fier. If the Nashik lad manages to do that, and Adhiban also wins his 2nd round match, then in the third round we will have quite a mouth watering encounter between Vidit and Adhiban. While two Indians fighting each other is not something that the Indian fans would like, on the upside, at least one of them will qualify for the fourth round.
If things go as per rating and seeding then the winner between Vidit and Adhiban would face GM Jeffery Xiong from the USA in round 4.
Aravindh Chithambaram
Aravindh performed admirably at the World Cup 2019 where in a marathon encounter against Michael Adams, he was able to eliminate the world class English GM. At the World Cup 2021, Aravindh has a relatively easy starting point with a 2297 Elo rated opponent Michael Concio Jr. in round one. A bigger test will most likely follow against Abdusattorov Nodirbek in round 2. Although Nodirbek is a very talented youngster, Aravindh's creative playing style makes him a slight favourite in that match-up. If Aravindh does manage to win this, he will face the winner of Anish Giri and Boris Savchenko. Savchenko is a strong GM, but when compared to Giri, the latter is in a different class altogether! Aravindh vs Anish Giri would be a very exciting match to look forward to.
The three musketeers
All three youngsters are up against IMs in round 1, but all three IMs are of differing strengths - Gukesh's opponent is the strongest Pawel Teclaf - a 2514 rated IM from Poland. Paulo Bersamina is rated 2462 and is from the Philippines - he will be up against Praggnanandhaa. While Nihal Sarin plays a 2406 rated IM from Uganda - Arthur Ssegwanyi. If they all manage to win their games, round two is even more exciting. I would say the duel between Nihal Sarin and Sanan Sjugirov is well matched. Pragg has good chances against Gabriel Sargissian. While Sargissian is surely more experienced with a rating of 2682, he is already 38 years old. Gukesh will have his task cut out in the form of Daniil Dubov, which will definitely not be easy.
P. Iniyan
Iniyan is the only Indian who is facing a higher rated opponent in round 1. Bogner is a 2581 rated GM from Switzerland. The match will be quite exciting and Iniyan will have his chances. If the youngster manages to create an upset here, he will face the strong Russian GM Evgeny Tomashevsky - that's not going to be easy.
Women World Cup 2021
The women's world cup is held from the 10th of the July to 4th of August 2021. Out of the 103 participants, India has 4 players who will be taking part. In fact Humpy had also qualified, but because Humpy has already made it via the Grand Prix route to the Candidates 2022, she isn't playing.
How did the Indians qualify?
D. Harika - by rating average
R. Vaishali - by federation spot. Just like how Adhiban being India no.4 got a chance, in the same way Vaishali made it on the basis on being India no.3
Bhakti Kulkarni - by zone 3.7 winner. Bhakti is the reigning national champion of India.
Padmini Rout - by being the Asian Continental Champion in 2018.
D. Harika
Harika gets a bye in round 1 but will have a strong opposition in the form of Medina Warda Aulia or Jana Schneider in round 2. It is quite possible that the Indonesian girl will come out on top in round 1 and will face Harika. If Harika manages to win, it seems as if she will be up against Valentina Gunina from Russia.
Although Gunina's rating is 2436 right now, she was close to 2550 a few years ago. If she is in her best form, she is one of the best in the world. That's the reason why Harika doesn't have the easiest of brackets at the World Cup 2021. If Harika does manage to survive, she will most likely meet the strong Georgian woman player Nino Batsiashvili in round 4.
R. Vaishali
Vaishali faces the well-known chess streamer Qiyu Zhou in round 1. While Vaishali is a favourite, Qiyu is not at all an easy opponent. Vaishali's real test will come in the form of Bela Khotenashvili. Bela is one of the top Georgian players, who has been a world class female player for many years now. If Vaishali does win this, she will face the winner of the all Kazakh encounter between Abdumalik and Assaubayeva.
Bhakti Kulkarni
It is very interesting to note that Bhakti, if she wins the first round, will face the same opponent Natalija Pogonina in round 2 of the World Cup 2021, that she faced in the World Cup 2018. While Pogonina had won 1.5-0.5 last time, Bhakti will be aiming at a revenge this time around. Bhakti's first round opponent is also no pushover Anastasiya Paramzina is a WGM from Russia with a rating of 2256.
Ulviyya Fataliyeva is a strong WGM from Azerbaijan with a rating of 2301. But Padmini should be the favourite against her. If Padmini wins her round 1 encounter, she will be up against the 10th seed of the tournamanet Sarasadat Khademalsharieh. Padmini would be rated much lower than Khademalsharieh, but in terms of strength the difference is not so huge. If Padmini does manage to win, her next opponent Gunay Mammadzada is also someone she can beat. Padmini might well be the dark horse of this event.
Time control for the first two classical games:
The time control for each game is: 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move 1. In case if a player arrives at the chessboard with a delay of up to 15 minutes from the actual start of the game, he/she should be charged of five hundred (500) US dollars deducted from his/her prize money. In case of delay of more than 15 minutes, the player loses the game (without financial penalty).
Tiebreaks:
1. If the score is level after the two regular (classical) games, two (2) tie break games are played with time control of 25 minutes for each player + 10 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1.
2. If the score is level after the 25+10 games, two (2) games are played with time control of 10 minutes for each player + 10 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1
3. If the scores are level after the 10+10 games, two (2) games are played with time control of 5 minutes for each player + 3 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1.
4. If the score is still level after the 5+3 games, then an armageddon game will be played. The player who wins the drawing of lots may choose the colour. The player with the white pieces receives 5 minutes; the player with the black pieces receives 4 minutes whereupon; after move 60, both players receive an increment of 2 seconds per move starting from move 61. In case of a draw the player with the black pieces is declared winner of the match.
Schedule:
Dress code:
1. The dress code is strictly observed
2. Dress code for men: neat shirt and formal suit.
3. Dress code for women: - neat shirt/blouse and formal suit (with slacks or skirt), or - dress.
4. No players with t-shirts, jeans, shorts, sneakers, baseball caps or inappropriate dress are allowed in a playing venue. Any requests to wear national or traditional dress must be approved by GSC.
A look at the venue
Galaxy Entertainment And Leisure Complex is the venue of the event. Located in a picturesque valley at 540 meters above sea level, Galaxy Entertainment And Leisure Complex is remarkable for its unparalleled scale and unrivalled scope of amenities. The complex occupies area of about 50,000 sq. m. The region where the tournament is held is called Krasnaya Polyana. Here are a few pictures to show you how beautiful the place is!
World Cup Contest
The contest is fairly simple - you have guess in the comments section below - which Indian player will go the farthest in open and women's event. You not only have to get the name right, but also the round number. So if you think Harikrishna and Harika will go the farthest, you can write Harikrishna (Round 6), and Harika (Round 6). Just so that you are clear the open event has 8 rounds in all, and the women's event has 7 rounds in all.
Live coverage:
We at ChessBase India will bring you Live commentary as well as round reports and social media updates to keep you abreast with all the happenings of the event.
