Grand Swiss 2023 R2: Arjun Erigaisi wins two in-a-row, Raunak holds Nakamura to a draw

by Shahid Ahmed - 27/10/2023

GM Arjun Erigaisi scored his second win at FIDE Grand Swiss 2023. He got the better of Spain no.3 GM David Anton Guijarro (ESP). The 20-year-old is now World no.27 in live ratings and one of the seven players at 2/2. He will face GM Alexey Sarana (SRB) in Round 3. GM S L Narayanan continues his good form as he had a hard-fought draw against the 44th Chess Olympiad Gold medalist, GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB). GM Aravindh Chithambaram drew against GM Samuel Sevian (USA). GM Raunak Sadhwani continues his great form as he drew against the World no.4 GM Hikaru Nakamura (USA). Raunak will go against GM R Praggnanandhaa in the third round. IM Vaishali R and GM Harika Dronavalli showed their grit against IM Eline Roebers (NED) and GM Thanh Trang Hoang (HUN) respectively. Round 3 starts today at 2:30 p.m. local time, 7 p.m. IST. Photos by IM Sagar Shah unless specified otherwise

Vaishali and Harika provide staunch defence

India no.1 GM D Gukesh drew against the former World Champion, GM Ruslan Ponomariov (UKR). GM Aryan Chopra held the Germany no.1 - GM Vincent Keymer. GM Leon Luke Mendonca drew against the super strong GM Vladislav Artemiev. GM Vidit Gujrathi bounced back with a victory over GM Abhijeet Gupta.

GM Arjun Erigaisi defeated Spain no.3 GM David Anton Guijarro to move to 2/2 | Photo: IM Sagar Shah

FIDE Grand Swiss 2023 official logo | Photo: Official site

GM Fabiano Caruana vs GM Hans Niemann - The All-American clash | Video: ChessBase India

GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB) and GM S L Narayanan had a hard-fought draw | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Anton - Arjun

Position after 21.Nb4

GM David Anton Guijarro's (ESP, 2653) position was already in shambles. 21.Nb4 allowed GM Arjun Erigaisi (2712) to go 21...Rxb4! It is not exactly an exchange sacrifice as Black traps White's bishop at the center of the board. 22...c6 23.Qb6 cxd5 after a few moves White landed himself in a mating net in an already lost position.

Position after 39.c7

Anything else wouldn't have affected the outcome. It's just that 39.c7?? accelerated things for Black. Find out the finish.

Arjun Erigaisi's exchange sacrifice propels him to World No. 27 | Video: ChessBase India

"It's been quite a start"- Erwin L'ami on his perfect start at the FIDE Grand Swiss 2023 | Video: ChessBase India

GM Raunak Sadhwani - GM Hikaru Nakamura (USA): 0.5-0.5

17-year-old Raunak Sadhwani holds world no.3 Hikaru Nakamura | Video: ChessBase India

GM Hikaru Nakamura (USA) analyzes his game against GM Raunak Sadhwani | Video: GMHikaru

GM D Gukesh drew against former World Champion, GM Ruslan Ponomariov (UKR)

Super GM Anish Giri reveals secrets of hanging pawns and his second Jan Smeets | Video: ChessBase India

GM Aryan Chopra had a solid draw against Germany no.1, GM Vincent Keymer

GM Vladislav Artemiev - GM Leon Luke Mendonca: 0.5-0.5

Vidit - Abhijeet

Position after 61.Nxc5

Although it might seem like White has the upper hand due to his pawns being protected and connected compared to Black's isolated split pawns, White is still not winning yet. Of course, Black needs to find the precise defense. 61...Rg3 is key to Black saving the game 62.Rb7+ Kf6 63.Kh4 Rg4+ Keeping White's king on the edge and activating Black's own king was the way to save the game. 61...Ne7? allowed the white king to get back in the game 62.Kg5 Re1 63.Ra6 Rg1+ 64.Kf4 Rf1+ 65.Ke3 Re1+ 66.Kf2 Rb1 67.Rxa5 and White went on to win the game.

Final moments: GM Vidit Gujrathi vs GM Abhijeet Gupta | Video: ChessBase India

Battle of the future GMs: IM Eline v IM Vaishali | Video: ChessBase India

IM Vaishali R saved a difficult queen and minor piece endgame against IM Eline Roebers (NED)

Harika - Thanh Trang

Position after 40.Kf3

The endgame is winning for Black. However, there is one key factor which GM Thanh Trang Hoang (HUN, 2398) needed to take care of. Black cannot afford to move the f7-pawn. It acts like a shield to maximize her extra pawns on the kingside. 40...f5? and Black is no longer winning. GM Harika Dronavalli (2502) correctly found the resource 41.Ra8 g4+ 42.hxg4 hxg4+ 43.Kg3 Kg5 44.Rg8+ Kf6 45.Ra8 Ra3+ 46.Kh4 g3 47.a7 Kg7 48.Kg5 and White went on to save the game in the next few moves.

GM Harika Dronavalli made a narrow escape against Hungary no.1 woman (active) GM Thanh Trang Hoang | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Video Gallery

Round 2 starting moments | Video: ChessBase India

Arjun's roar! 7.5/20 for Indians on Round 2 of FIDE Grand Swiss 2023 | Video: ChessBase India

What are chess players without family! | Video: ChessBase India

The first person she interviewed was Magnus Carlsen | Azhar Amanov - FIDE Marketing Specialist | Video: ChessBase India

Replay Live stream

Replay FIDE Grand Swiss 2023 Round 2 Live Commentary by IM V Saravanan and Amruta Mokal | Video: ChessBase India

Replay FIDE Grand Swiss and Women's Grand Swiss 2023 Round 2 Live Commentary by GM David Howell (ENG) and IM Jovanka Houska (ENG) | Video: FIDE

Schedule

Every day game starts at 2:30 p.m. local time, 7 p.m. IST between 25th October and 4th November 2023, except on 3rd when the game starts at 11:30 a.m. local time, 4 p.m. IST. Rest day is on Tuesday 31st October 2023. The last round on 5th November will start at 2 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST.

Time Control

The time control for each game is: 100 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 50 minutes for the next 20 moves, followed by 15 minutes for the rest of the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move 1.

Qualification

The winner and the runner-up of Grand Swiss shall qualify for the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024. If one or both these players has (-ve) already qualified to the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024 at the moment of the beginning of Grand Swiss via different qualification track or do (-es) not need to qualify for the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024, the qualification spot(s) shall go to the highest-placed player(s) in the final standings who has (-ve) not yet qualified to the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024 at the moment of the beginning of Grand Swiss

Prizes

The total prize fund in the Open is US$ 460,000 with the first prize being $80,000. For Women's the total prize fund is $140,000, first prize $25,000. Total numbers of prizes are 69, Open - 46 and Women - 23.

Replay Round 2 Open games

Replay Round 2 Women games

Round 2 Open results

Rd.	Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
2	6	13	GM	Abdusattorov Nodirbek	2716	1	½ - ½	1	GM	Narayanan S L	2651	52
2	7	49	GM	Anton Guijarro David	2653	1	0 - 1	1	GM	Erigaisi Arjun	2712	16
2	9	21	GM	Sevian Samuel	2698	1	½ - ½	1	GM	Aravindh Chithambaram Vr.	2649	56
2	17	61	GM	Sadhwani Raunak	2641	½	½ - ½	½	GM	Nakamura Hikaru	2780	2
2	20	5	GM	Gukesh D	2758	½	½ - ½	½	GM	Ponomariov Ruslan	2641	60
2	21	69	GM	Murzin Volodar	2633	½	½ - ½	½	GM	Praggnanandhaa R	2738	8
2	23	65	GM	Aryan Chopra	2634	½	½ - ½	½	GM	Keymer Vincent	2717	12
2	24	77	GM	Tari Aryan	2619	½	1 - 0	½	GM	Harikrishna Pentala	2716	14
2	28	83	GM	Karthikeyan Murali	2611	½	0 - 1	½	GM	Shankland Sam	2698	22
2	29	23	GM	Artemiev Vladislav	2697	½	½ - ½	½	GM	Mendonca Leon Luke	2622	76
2	30	25	GM	Nihal Sarin	2694	½	½ - ½	½	GM	Suleymanli Aydin	2588	92
2	42	15	GM	Vidit Santosh Gujrathi	2716	0	1 - 0	0	GM	Gupta Abhijeet	2609	84
2	51	67	GM	Idani Pouya	2633	0	1 - 0	0	GM	Adhiban B.	2551	104

Details

Standings after Round 2

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4
1	47	GM	Predke, Alexandr	SRB	2656	2	2726	1	1	0
2	72	GM	L'ami, Erwin	NED	2627	2	2716	1	2	0
3	111	IM	Zhalmakhanov, Ramazan	KAZ	2447	2	2680	1	2	0
4	1	GM	Caruana, Fabiano	USA	2786	2	2667	1	1,5	0
5	16	GM	Erigaisi, Arjun	IND	2712	2	2653	1	2	0
6	32	GM	Esipenko, Andrey	FID	2683	2	2603	1	1,5	0
7	33	GM	Sarana, Alexey	SRB	2682	2	2592	1	1,5	0
8	39	GM	Bacrot, Etienne	FRA	2669	1,5	2752	1,5	2	0
9	44	GM	Cheparinov, Ivan	BUL	2658	1,5	2742	1,5	2	0
10	48	GM	Shirov, Alexei	ESP	2655	1,5	2720	1,5	1,5	0
11	52	GM	Narayanan, S L	IND	2651	1,5	2716	1,5	2	0
	77	GM	Tari, Aryan	NOR	2619	1,5	2716	1,5	2	0
13	53	GM	Melkumyan, Hrant	ARM	2650	1,5	2707	1,5	2	0
14	80	GM	Ter-Sahakyan, Samvel	ARM	2618	1,5	2707	1	1,5	0
15	56	GM	Aravindh, Chithambaram Vr.	IND	2649	1,5	2698	1,5	2	0
16	57	GM	Najer, Evgeniy	FID	2648	1,5	2696	1,5	1,5	0
17	86	GM	Huschenbeth, Niclas	GER	2605	1,5	2689	1,5	2,5	0
18	94	GM	Kuybokarov, Temur	AUS	2584	1,5	2685	1,5	2	0
19	6	GM	Rapport, Richard	ROU	2752	1,5	2669	1,5	2	0
20	103	GM	Maurizzi, Marc`andria	FRA	2555	1,5	2668	1,5	2	0

Details

Round 3 pairings

Rd.	Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
3	2	16	GM	Erigaisi Arjun	2712	2		2	GM	Sarana Alexey	2682	33
3	10	52	GM	Narayanan S L	2651	1½		1½	GM	Vitiugov Nikita	2711	17
3	18	56	GM	Aravindh Chithambaram Vr.	2649	1½		1½	GM	Tabatabaei M. Amin	2685	31
3	20	2	GM	Nakamura Hikaru	2780	1		1	GM	Aryan Chopra	2634	65
3	21	54	GM	Pichot Alan	2650	1		1	GM	Gukesh D	2758	5
3	22	8	GM	Praggnanandhaa R	2738	1		1	GM	Sadhwani Raunak	2641	61
3	26	68	GM	Kollars Dmitrij	2633	1		1	GM	Vidit Santosh Gujrathi	2716	15
3	28	74	GM	Durarbayli Vasif	2625	1		1	GM	Nihal Sarin	2694	25
3	30	76	GM	Mendonca Leon Luke	2622	1		1	GM	Fedoseev Vladimir	2691	27
3	39	14	GM	Harikrishna Pentala	2716	½		½	GM	Karthikeyan Murali	2611	83
3	54	110	GM	Greenfeld Alon	2455	½		0	GM	Gupta Abhijeet	2609	84
3	57	104	GM	Adhiban B.	2551	0		0	IM	Kolbus Dietmar	2225	114

Details

Round 2 Women results

Rd.	Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
2	1	24	WGM	Divya Deshmukh	2408	1	0 - 1	1	GM	Tan Zhongyi	2517	4
2	4	31	IM	Roebers Eline	2390	1	½ - ½	1	IM	Vaishali Rameshbabu	2448	12
2	6	21	GM	Stefanova Antoaneta	2424	1	1 - 0	1	WGM	Savitha Shri B	2375	38
2	11	7	GM	Dronavalli Harika	2502	½	½ - ½	½	GM	Hoang Thanh Trang	2398	28
2	13	11	WGM	Wagner Dinara	2461	½	½ - ½	½	IM	Tania Sachdev	2389	32
2	22	41	IM	Aulia Medina Warda	2362	0	1 - 0	0	IM	Vantika Agrawal	2435	18

Details

Standings after Round 2

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4
1	43	WGM	Kamalidenova, Meruert	KAZ	2351	2	2439	1	1	0
2	4	GM	Tan, Zhongyi	CHN	2517	2	2408	1	2	0
3	5	GM	Muzychuk, Anna	UKR	2510	2	2391	1	2	0
4	21	GM	Stefanova, Antoaneta	BUL	2424	2	2375	1	1	0
5	22	IM	Bulmaga, Irina	ROU	2423	2	2298	1	1	0
6	42	IM	Guichard, Pauline	FRA	2358	1,5	2558	1	2	0
7	31	IM	Roebers, Eline	NED	2390	1,5	2506	1,5	2,5	0
8	25	IM	Garifullina, Leya	FID	2402	1,5	2484	1,5	1,5	0
9	8	GM	Paehtz, Elisabeth	GER	2484	1,5	2402	1,5	1,5	0
10	3	GM	Muzychuk, Mariya	UKR	2519	1,5	2400	1	1,5	0
11	12	IM	Vaishali, Rameshbabu	IND	2448	1,5	2390	1,5	1,5	0
12	10	IM	Assaubayeva, Bibisara	KAZ	2469	1,5	2383	1	1,5	0
13	15	IM	Mammadzada, Gunay	AZE	2441	1,5	2380	1	1,5	0
14	35	WGM	Beydullayeva, Govhar	AZE	2383	1	2523	1,5	2,5	0
15	27	IM	Narva, Mai	EST	2399	1	2523	1	2	0
16	28	GM	Hoang, Thanh Trang	HUN	2398	1	2519	1,5	2,5	0
17	24	WGM	Divya, Deshmukh	IND	2408	1	2517	2	2	0
	29	IM	Fataliyeva, Ulviyya	AZE	2393	1	2517	2	2	0
19	34	IM	Tsolakidou, Stavroula	GRE	2385	1	2510	2	3	0
20	30	IM	Milliet, Sophie	FRA	2391	1	2510	2	2	0

Details

Round 3 pairings

Rd.	Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
3	6	12	IM	Vaishali Rameshbabu	2448	1½		1½	IM	Garifullina Leya	2402	25
3	8	1	GM	Goryachkina Aleksandra	2558	1		1	WGM	Divya Deshmukh	2408	24
3	10	30	IM	Milliet Sophie	2391	1		1	GM	Dronavalli Harika	2502	7
3	13	32	IM	Tania Sachdev	2389	1		1	IM	Efroimski Marsel	2447	13
3	17	38	WGM	Savitha Shri B	2375	1		1	GM	Ushenina Anna	2434	19
3	22	36	GM	Socko Monika	2380	½		0	IM	Vantika Agrawal	2435	18

Details

Links

Official site

Tournament Regulations: Open and Women

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