MPL 58th National Senior R8-9: Arjun Erigaisi gains sole lead 7.5/9

Arjun survives a scare against Pranav

Both Arjun Erigaisi and D Gukesh persevered completely lost positions against Pranav and Iniyan respectively. The ninth round witnessed only three decisive games out of top 10. White won in two of them. Sambit Panda (ODI), Utsab Chatterjee (WB) and Anustoop Biswas (WB) have scored an IM-norm each.

Round 8: Arjun Erigaisi - Visakh: 0.5-0.5

GM Arjun Erigaisi (TEL) had a relatively quiet draw with GM Visakh N R (RSPB). Although if there was something in the game for one of the players, it was for Arjun.

17...Nc4 destroys Black's pawn structure after 18.Nxc4 bxc4. The game continued 19.Ne5 Nxb4 20.Bxb4 Bxb4 and the position equalized. 19.Nc5 instead would have kept Black's position cramped a bit longer.

Iniyan - Adhiban: 1-0

GM Iniyan P (TN) and GM B Adhiban (PSPB) followed a game between GM Wojciech Moranda and GM Radoslaw Wojtaszek at the Polish championship 2021 for 23 moves before Adhiban deviated. The result remained the same. Just like Ivic, Iniyan won the game.

21.Rxg7+ Qxg7 22.Rxg7+ Kxg7 23.Qe1 and here Adhiban deviated Rf6. Although the position looks promising for Black because White is lagging in development of pieces on the queenside, the reality of the situation is, If Wojtaszek and Adhiban had trouble playing such a promising position, we can infer that it is certainly not as easy to play for Black as it may seem.

Deep - Pranav: 0-1

IM Pranav Venkatesh (TN) overcame a difficult position and seized his opportunity to beat GM Deep Sengupta (PSPB). This win allowed Pranav to join the five-way lead 6.5/8.

Aditya Mittal - Srihari L R: 1-0

IM Aditya Mittal (MAH) scored a very pretty checkmate against IM Srihari L R (TN).

For more Round 8 photos, click here.

Round 9: Pranav - Arjun: 0-1

IM Pranav Venkatesh (TN) got himself a very good opportunity against GM Arjun Erigaisi (TEL). Unfortunately, he was unable to seize it.

30.h4 threatening h5, Qh3 keeps White in driver's seat. The h4-pawn is tactically defended as 30...Bxh4 runs into 31.gxf5 and Black loses material. The game continued 30.Ne2 Rg8 31.Rfg1 fxg4 32.hxg4 and so on.

39...fxe5 is a big mistake 40.Bf4 Nxf3 41.Bxc7 Kxc7 and now White needed to play 42.Nxc5 to accelerate his advantage. Instead, 42.Nf1 slowed down things.

Now 46.Nc3 is winning for White. It makes sure Black does not get to roll his passed pawn or get a strong pawn center. 46.Nf3 just enabled that fxe4 and now White is reeling.

Gukesh - Iniyan: 0.5-0.5

GM Iniyan P (TN) missed a win in the final moments of the endgame against GM D Gukesh (TN).

54.Nc3+ allowed Black a winning opportunity Kf4 55.Kd2 and now Black is completely winning. Find out how.

For more Round 9 photos, click here.

A total of 184 players including 22 GMs and 30 IMs are taking part in this tournament organized by UP Chess Sports Association. The event is taking place at Ganges Club at Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh from 25th February to 3rd March 2022. The eleven-round Swiss league tournament has a time control of 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move no.1

Replay Round 8-9 games

Round 9 results

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Round 10 pairings

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