Kvika Reykjavik Open R1: First round jitters

by Shahid Ahmed - 07/04/2022

One of the strongest Open tournament, Reykjavik Open is back for the first time since 2019. Much like many other events, Covid-19 pandemic caused the event to go on a hiatus for the past two years. Five out of the top ten seeds are Indian players. Accelerated pairings ensured a tough challenge for the top seeds. Gukesh, Raunak had to work really hard to earn their first point. Adhiban, Praggnanandhaa and Abhijeet Gupta scored relatively easier victories. IM Tania Sachdev and IM Vardaan Nagpal were held to draws by Miguel Ruiz Buendia (ESP) and Thomas Held (SUI) respectively. Round 2 starts today at 9 a.m. local time (2:30 p.m. IST). Photo: Amruta Mokal

Hard-earned first point

FM Mahitosh Dey won IM ASK 9 last month and scored his maiden IM-norm. He put up a very good fight against GM D Gukesh. However, only at the very end, he faltered and missed a draw which was certainly not an easy one.

Raunak's bravado paid off in the first round | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Mahitosh - Gukesh: 0-1

FM Mahitosh Dey (2233) had a good opportunity to save the day. However, it was certainly not easy, especially when the opponent is GM D Gukesh (2637).

Position after 49...e2

49...e2 allows White to fight for a draw 50.Bxe2 Nxe2 51.Rf7+ Kd6 52.a6 Nd4 53.a7 Ra2 54.Kxg5 f3 55.b5 Nxb5 56.Rxf3. Rook vs Rook and Knight is relatively easier to draw than Rook vs Rook and Bishop. However, finding all these precise moves is easier during analysis than during an actual match with less time on the clock.

Raunak - Povah: 1-0

GM Raunak Sadhwani (2628) seemed to be getting an easy win in the first round against IM Nigel E Povah (ENG)

Position after 77...Ke6

Black had to play 77...Nd6 to keep his chances for a draw. 77...Ke6 allowed White to push for a win 78.Nc7+ Kd7 and now 79.Na6 forces Kd6 80.Kf5 is completely winning for White. However, after repeating the move once to gain time, White went 82.Kf5 without playing Na6. Thus, 82...Kxc7 83.Kg6 Kd6 84.Kxh6 Nf7+ 85.Kg7 Ke6 86.h6 Ke7 87.Kg6 Ke6 88.h7 Nh8+ 89.Kxg5 Ke5 90.Kh6 Kf6 and now White overstretched 91.g5+

Position after 91.g5+

91.Kh5 Ng6 92.Kh6 or 91...Kg7 92.Kg5 would have been an easy draw. 91.g5+ creates a winning opportunity for Black. Find out how. Black missed it and eventually blundered to lose the game.

Adhiban started with a win | Photo: Thorsteinn Magnusson/Reykjavik Open 2022

Inaugural first move is being made on the top board | Photo: Thorsteinn Magnusson/Reykjavik Open 2022

Replay Round 1 Live commentary by FM Ingvar Thor Johannesson with various guests | Video: Reykjavik Open Chess

The tournament is organized by Icelandic Chess Federation from 6th to 12th April 2022 in the capital of Iceland, Reykjavik. The nine-round Swiss league tournament has a time control of 90 minutes + 30 seconds for 40 moves, with an addition of 30 minutes + 30 seconds increment.

Replay Round 1 games

Round 1 results

Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
1	1	GM	Idani Pouya	2638	0	1 - 0	0	FM	Chapman Terry P D	2240	62
2	63	FM	Mahitosh Dey	2233	0	0 - 1	0	GM	Gukesh D	2637	2
3	3	GM	Niemann Hans Moke	2637	0	1 - 0	0	CM	Johansson Carl Fredrik	2221	64
4	65	CM	Villiers Thomas	2219	0	0 - 1	0	GM	Adhiban B.	2633	4
5	5	GM	Sadhwani Raunak	2628	0	1 - 0	0	IM	Povah Nigel E	2216	66
6	67		Cherniack Alex	2213	0	0 - 1	0	GM	Praggnanandhaa R	2624	6
7	7	GM	Gupta Abhijeet	2616	0	1 - 0	0		Roe Simon J	2211	68
8	69	FM	Jaksland Tim	2203	0	0 - 1	0	GM	Warmerdam Max	2599	8
9	9	GM	Andersen Mads	2582	0	½ - ½	0	CM	Lohia Sohum	2196	70
10	71		Player Edmund C	2196	0	0 - 1	0	GM	Fier Alexandr	2573	10

Details

Round 2 pairings

Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
1	31	IM	Korley Kassa	2400	1		1	GM	Idani Pouya	2638	1
2	2	GM	Gukesh D	2637	1		1	IM	Fantinel Thibault	2378	38
3	35	IM	Sukandar Irine Kharisma	2386	1		1	GM	Niemann Hans Moke	2637	3
4	4	GM	Adhiban B.	2633	1		1	IM	Rosen Eric	2359	42
5	39	IM	Song Julien	2373	1		1	GM	Sadhwani Raunak	2628	5
6	6	GM	Praggnanandhaa R	2624	1		1	IM	Brunello Marina	2337	44
7	46	FM	Heimisson Hilmir Freyr	2321	1		1	GM	Gupta Abhijeet	2616	7
8	8	GM	Warmerdam Max	2599	1		1	IM	Sarkar Justin	2314	48
9	10	GM	Fier Alexandr	2573	1		1	FM	Bjornsson Sigurbjorn	2306	50
10	51	IM	Soham Das	2303	1		1	GM	Cornette Matthieu	2569	11

Details

Links

Official site

Photo album

Tournament regulations

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