FIDE World Cup 2023 R2.2: Eight Indians in Round 3, Gukesh now India no.1 and World no.9
A total of eight Indians have advanced to Round of FIDE World Cup and Women's World Cup 2023. Both Open and Women's section got four each. They are - GM D Gukesh, GM R Praggnanandhaa, GM Nihal Sarin and GM S L Narayanan in the Open, GM Koneru Humpy, GM Harika Dronavalli, IM Vaishali R and IM Divya Deshmukh in the Women's event. Gukesh defeated Misratdin for the second time, to become India no.1 and World no.9 in live ratings. GM Karthik Venkataraman, GM Arjun Erigaisi, GM Vidit Gujrathi and WGM Mary Ann Gomes can join and increase the numbers to 12 in total. Round 2 TB starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 4:30 p.m. IST. Photos: Shahid Ahmed unless specified otherwise.
Jingyao and Vahap knock out Shakh and Abdusattorov
GM Abhimanyu Puranik, GM Adhiban B and WGM Priyanka Nutakki got eliminated by GM Peter Svidler, GM Daniil Dubov and GM Koneru Humpy respectively. GM Tin Jingyao (SGP) and GM Vahap Sanal (TUR) scored two of the biggest upsets of the round in Open. They eliminated former World Rapid champions, Shakhriyar Mamedayorv (AZE) and Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB) respectively.
It was Pentala Harikrishna who became India no.1 for a day back in March 2016. Check out our Co-Founder and CEO IM Sagar Shah's article on it.
Misratdin - Gukesh
GM Misratdin Iskandarov (AZE, 2559) decided to give up his exchange 27.Qd4. Computer recommends 27.c5 to be a better choice. 27...Bxe3 28.Qxe3 f4 White never got any compensation and Black went on to win the game.
Axel - Nihal
GM Nihal Sarin (2684) played a nice move 29...e4. He mentioned in the post-match interview that he played it because he found it interesting and it worked out well for him in the time scramble. His opponent, GM Axel Bachmann (PAR, 2611) misplayed and lost the game.
S L Narayanan - Kuzubov
GM Yuriy Kuzubov (UKR, 2627) exchanged the pawns a bit earlier. He needed to play 38...Ne5 first before trading the pawns bxc4. GM S L Narayanan (2656) declined a draw offer because he knew that his opponent was in trouble and had less time, moreover, he was willing to get some rest on tie-breaks before Gukesh. S L Narayanan won the game to set a clash with Gukesh in Round 3.
Video Gallery
Results after Round 2.2
GM S L Narayanan - GM Yuriy Kuzubov (UKR) : 1.5-0.5
GM Peter Svidler - GM Abhimanyu Puranik: 1.5-0.5
GM Daniil Dubov - GM Adhiban B: 1.5-0.5
GM Dimitrios Mastrovasilis (GRE) - GM Vidit Gujrathi: 1-1
GM Axel Bachmann (PAR) - GM Nihal Sarin: 0-2
GM Arjun Erigaisi - GM Sergei Azarov: 1-1
GM R Praggnanandhaa - GM Maxime Lagarde (FRA): 1.5-0.5
GM Karthik Venkataraman - GM Hikaru Nakamura (USA): 1-1
IM Pauline Guichard (FRA) - IM Vaishali R: 0.5-1.5
GM Kateryna Lagno - WGM Mary Ann Gomes: 1-1
WGM Priyanka Nutakki - GM Koneru Humpy: 0.5-1.5
GM Harika Dronavalli - WIM Michalina Rudzinska (POL): 2-0
IM Divya Deshmukh - GM Hoang Thanh Trang (HUN): 1.5-0.5
A total of 64 games were played in the Open and 32 in Women in Round 2.
Round 3 pairings
GM S L Narayanan vs GM D Gukesh
GM Bogdan-Daniel Deac (ROU) vs GM Nihal Sarin
GM R Praggnanandhaa vs GM Niclas Huschenbeth (GER) / GM David Navara (CZE)
GM Koneru Humpy vs IM Olga Badelka
IM Lela Javakhishvili (GEO) vs GM Harika Dronavalli
IM Divya Deshmukh vs GM Aleksandra Goryachkina
