Qatar Masters 2023 R2: Alisher Suleymenov crushes Magnus Carlsen

by Shahid Ahmed - 13/10/2023

Magnus Carlsen suffered a crushing defeat against Alisher Suleymenov in the second round of Qatar Masters 2023. The world no.1 tweeted that his opponent scored a crushin victory, he played an amazing game and deserved to win. He also mentioned that as soon as he saw his opponent wearing a watch early in the game, he lost his ability to concentrate. This was certainly the biggest upset of the event so far and perhaps of the year too. However, it was not the only upset of the round. FM Senthil Maran K handed GM Vladimir Fedoseev his second consecutive loss. IM Vaishali R defeated GM Sethuraman S P, exactly on the same day after her immortal win last year. Round 3 starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. Photos: Aditya Sur Roy

Vaishali beats Sethuraman exactly on the same day a year after her immortal win

The gap between 2400-2500 and 2600+ or say 2700+ is much less than what the number suggests. Why? Because top players only play amongst themselves. They rarely play any open tournament. Thus, their rating mostly stays the same and they are not in competition with players who are just hundreds of rating points behind them. The lower players be it CM, FM, IM and even GM, are not afraid of facing the top players. Why? They know, they have nothing to lose. A loss would be an obvious result. However, a draw or win could make the headlines and perhaps the moment/upset of the day. If anything, it is Magnus Carlsen who has shown that anyone can be beaten by the sheer willingness to win. He made a career out of grinding endgames which many players would like to take a draw and call it a day. FIDE World Cup 2023 was a great example that the gap is reduced. Those who read our reports, follow our pages and channels, are well aware of the fact that upsets are very common these days. Gone are the pre-computer days where Grandmasters rarely use to lose a game against someone who is not a GM.

Asian Continental 2023 Bronze medalist - GM Alisher Suleymenov (KAZ) crushed the FIDE World Cup 2023 winner and World no.1, GM Magnus Carlsen

Fact: Kazakhstan's latest GM Alisher Suleymenov was eliminated from the first round of FIDE World Cup 2023. The event was won by the World no.1 - GM Magnus Carlsen.

Suleymenov - Carlsen: 1-0

Magnus Carlsen (NOR, 2839) faced Kazakhstan's latest Alisher Suleymenov (2512) for the first time in a rated game. The World no.1 opted for Queen's Indian which transposed into a Sicilian like pawn structure soon.

Position after 17...Ne8

17...Ne8? is the second consecutive strange and incorrect knight retreat by the FIDE World Cup 2023 winner. As he mentioned in a tweet, he lost his ability to concentrate and thus he played strange moves like 16...Ne7 followed by 17...Ne8. Suleymenov mentioned in the post-match interview that he did not even consider 17...Ne8. He was thinking about 17...Ng6 which is what the optimum reply is. After 18.Ng5 Ng6? is too late. 19.e5! d5? 20.Qb3+- White realized that he is the one in driver's seat now.

Position after 21.Nxf7!

21.Nxf7! is the obvious move for White to take advantage of his position. 21...Kxf7 22.cxd5 Bxd5 23.Rxd5! exd5 24.Qxd5+ Kf8 25.Nd4 and White won the game in another half a dozen moves.

Carlsen's shocking loss to Suleymenov explained | Video: ChessBase India

Kazakhstan's latest GM Alisher Suleymenov crushes GM Magnus Carlsen | Video: ChessBase India

I am lucky to play against a legend like Carlsen - GM Alisher Suleymenov | Video: ChessBase India

Super GMs shocked to see Magnus Carlsen losing | Video: ChessBase India

Magnus Carlsen made a few tweets after his loss

After the last tweet by Carlsen, GM Hikaru Nakamura (USA) promptly changed the title of his aforementioned video.

Tournament Rules and Regulations

9.6 says - Players are asked not to bring mobile phones or any other electronic devices (even switched off) into the playing hall. Bringing any device to the playing hall will result in forfeit.

How World class players play the Italian | Nakamura vs Dai Changren - - Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

IM Muthaiah Al - GM Leon Luke Mendonca: 0.5-0.5

Sethuraman - Vaishali: 0-1

IM Vaishali R (2448) defeated GM Sethuraman S P (2598) exactly a year ago on 12th October 2022 at Fagernes Autumn GM 2022. It was certainly her immortal game. A year later, she faced Sethuraman again, only this time, the color was inversed.

Position after 23.Rd2?

White needed to let go of the d4-pawn. 23.Rf3 exd4 24.cxd4 Bxd4 25.Nf1 d5 would have been a much better continuation for White. Instead 23.Rd2? just invited trouble g4 24.hxg4 Qe7 25.Kg1 Qh4 26.Nh5 Nxg2! and Black went on to win the game eventually. The win took slightly longer due to Vaishali's imprecise play in time trouble. However, Sethuraman blundered again to give his opponent a decisive advantage. This time she ensured that her opponent cannot fight back.

How does she keep her calm? Sethuraman vs Vaishali - Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

IM Vaishali R defeated GM Sethuraman S P exactly on the same day, a year after her immortal win against the very same opponent

GM Pranesh M - IM Rakesh Kumar Jena: 0.5-0.5

GM D Gukesh takes on Indian IM Avinash Ramesh - Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

FM Vedant Panesar (pictured) - IM Rudik Makarian: 0.5-0.5

FM Aradhya Garg - GM Sankap Gupta: 0.5-0.5

IM Ravi Teja S - FM Kashish Manoj Jain: 0.5-0.5

Fedoseev - Senthil Maran

Position after 36...Ke6

After 35.Nf4+ Ke7 36.Ng6+ Ke6 GM Vladimir Fedoseev (SLO, 2691) decided against repeating moves and taking a draw. He went 37.Rf4 h5 38.Rf8 a4 39.Nf4+ White decided to give up his f2-pawn for Black's h5. 39...Ke7 40.Rf5 Rxf2 41.Re1 Kd6 42.Rxh5 Nxe3 43.Rxe3 Rxf4 and Black went on to win the game after White made few inaccuracies.

FM Senthil Maran K handed GM Vladimir Fedoseev (SLO) his second consecutive loss of the event

IM Akshat Khamparia - GM Mircea-Emilian Parligras (ROU): 0.5-0.5

GM Bilel Bellahcene (ALG) - FM Jaiveer Mahendru (pictured): 0-1

GM Akshat Chandra (USA) - IM Ilamparthi A R: 0.5-0.5

FM Aaryan Varshney (pictured) - GM Venkatesh M R: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

IM Mukhammadali Abdurakhmonov (UZB) - WGM Priyanka Nutakki: 0-1

Will we see Magnus Carlsen vs Arjun Erigaisi at this event?

Round 2 highlights | Video: ChessBase India

Schedule

There are one round every day from 11th to 20th October 2023 starting from 3 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. Monday 16th October 2023 is a rest day. Only last round on 20th October starts at 12 p.m. local time, 2:30 p.m. IST.

Time control

Time control for each tournament game is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move 1.

Prizes

The total prize fund of the tournament is US$ 108250. The top three prizes are $25000, $15000 and $10000 each.

Replay live stream

Replay Round 2 Live Commentary by IM Sagar Shah and Amruta Mokal | Video: ChessBase India

Replay Round 2 Live Commentary by GM Evgenij Miroshnichenko, IM Jovanka Houska, and IM Irene Sukandar | Video: Qatar Chess Association

Replay Round 2 games

Round 2 results

Bo.	No.		Name	Typ	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Typ	Rtg	No.
1	47	GM	Suleymenov, Alisher		2512	1	1 - 0	1	GM	Carlsen, Magnus *)		2839	1
2	2	GM	Nakamura, Hikaru *)		2780	1	1 - 0	1	GM	Dai, Changren		2507	51
3	52	GM	Bharath, Subramaniyam H	U16	2500	1	0 - 1	1	GM	Giri, Anish		2760	3
4	57	GM	Mousavi, Seyed Khalil		2492	1	½ - ½	1	GM	Abdusattorov, Nodirbek	U20	2716	5
5	6	GM	Erigaisi, Arjun	U20	2712	1	1 - 0	1	GM	Abdisalimov, Abdimalik		2487	59
6	61	IM	Madaminov, Mukhiddin	U18	2484	1	1 - 0	1	GM	Maghsoodloo, Parham		2707	7
7	8	GM	Van Foreest, Jorden		2707	1	½ - ½	1		Xiao, Tong(Qd)	U16	2476	63
8	12	GM	Sindarov, Javokhir	U18	2658	1	1 - 0	1	IM	Nogerbek, Kazybek	U20	2471	65
9	62	IM	Stearman, Josiah	U20	2476	1	0 - 1	1	GM	Narayanan.S.L,		2651	13
10	16	GM	Salem, A.R. Saleh		2632	1	1 - 0	1	GM	Stany, G.A.		2469	67
11	66	IM	Muthaiah, Al		2470	1	½ - ½	1	GM	Mendonca, Leon Luke	U18	2622	17
12	18	GM	Puranik, Abhimanyu		2618	1	½ - ½	1	IM	Chen, Qi B		2465	69
13	70	GM	Gagare, Shardul		2460	1	0 - 1	1	GM	Yakubboev, Nodirbek		2616	19
14	72	IM	Baskin, Robert		2451	1	1 - 0	1	GM	Gupta, Abhijeet		2609	21
15	22	GM	Vakhidov, Jakhongir		2607	1	1 - 0	1	IM	Nitish, Belurkar		2451	73
16	24	GM	Sethuraman, S.P.		2598	1	0 - 1	1	IM	Vaishali, Rameshbabu		2448	75
17	78	IM	Shyaamnikhil, P		2442	1	0 - 1	1	GM	Jumabayev, Rinat		2585	25
18	26	GM	Kuybokarov, Temur		2584	1	1 - 0	1	IM	Kushagra, Mohan	U20	2412	89
19	149	FM	Bakhrillaev, Bakhrom	U16	2302	1	1 - 0	1	GM	Pranav, V	U18	2579	27
20	28	GM	Vokhidov, Shamsiddin		2578	1	1 - 0	1	IM	Audi, Ameya		2372	116

Details

Standings after Round 2

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	sex	FED	RtgI	Pts.	TB1	TB2
1	2	GM	Nakamura, Hikaru			USA	2780	2	2	0
2	3	GM	Giri, Anish			NED	2760	2	3	0
3	6	GM	Erigaisi, Arjun	U20		IND	2712	2	6	0
4	12	GM	Sindarov, Javokhir	U18		UZB	2658	2	12	0
5	13	GM	Narayanan.S.L,			IND	2651	2	13	0
6	16	GM	Salem, A.R. Saleh			UAE	2632	2	16	0
7	19	GM	Yakubboev, Nodirbek			UZB	2616	2	19	0
8	22	GM	Vakhidov, Jakhongir			UZB	2607	2	22	0
9	25	GM	Jumabayev, Rinat			KAZ	2585	2	25	0
10	26	GM	Kuybokarov, Temur			AUS	2584	2	26	0
11	28	GM	Vokhidov, Shamsiddin			UZB	2578	2	28	0
12	30	GM	Aditya, Mittal	U18		IND	2572	2	30	0
13	34	GM	Rasulov, Vugar			AZE	2560	2	34	0
14	35	GM	Kaidanov, Gregory			USA	2554	2	35	0
15	41	GM	Yilmazyerli, Mert			TUR	2533	2	41	0

Details

Round 3 pairings

Bo.	No.		Name	Typ	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Typ	Rtg	No.
1	1	GM	Carlsen, Magnus *)		2839	1		1½	IM	Muthaiah, Al		2470	66
2	28	GM	Vokhidov, Shamsiddin		2578	2		2	GM	Nakamura, Hikaru *)		2780	2
3	3	GM	Giri, Anish		2760	2		2	GM	Aditya, Mittal	U18	2572	30
4	34	GM	Rasulov, Vugar		2560	2		2	GM	Erigaisi, Arjun	U20	2712	6
5	35	GM	Kaidanov, Gregory		2554	2		2	GM	Sindarov, Javokhir	U18	2658	12
6	13	GM	Narayanan.S.L,		2651	2		2	GM	Suleymenov, Alisher		2512	47
7	41	GM	Yilmazyerli, Mert		2533	2		2	GM	Salem, A.R. Saleh		2632	16
8	19	GM	Yakubboev, Nodirbek		2616	2		2	IM	Madaminov, Mukhiddin	U18	2484	61
9	43	GM	Kevlishvili, Robby		2521	2		2	GM	Vakhidov, Jakhongir		2607	22
10	25	GM	Jumabayev, Rinat		2585	2		2	IM	Baskin, Robert		2451	72
11	75	IM	Vaishali, Rameshbabu		2448	2		2	GM	Kuybokarov, Temur		2584	26
12	5	GM	Abdusattorov, Nodirbek	U20	2716	1½		2	FM	Bakhrillaev, Bakhrom	U16	2302	149
13	53	GM	Chanda, Sandipan		2496	1½		1½	GM	Gukesh, D	U18	2758	4
14	55	IM	Ahmadzada, Ahmad	U20	2494	1½		1½	GM	Van Foreest, Jorden		2707	8
15	9	GM	Nihal, Sarin	U20	2694	1½		1½	GM	Vignesh, N R		2527	42
16	63		Xiao, Tong(Qd)	U16	2476	1½		1½	GM	Aravindh, Chithambaram Vr.		2649	14
17	15	GM	Aryan, Chopra		2634	1½		1½	GM	Pranesh, M	U18	2515	46
18	17	GM	Mendonca, Leon Luke	U18	2622	1½		1½	IM	Samant, Aditya S	U18	2511	48
19	142	GM	Laxman, R.R.		2322	1½		1½	GM	Puranik, Abhimanyu		2618	18
20	69	IM	Chen, Qi B		2465	1½		1½	GM	Karthikeyan, Murali		2611	20

Details

Links

Official site

Tournament Regulations: Open A and Open B

Qatar Chess Association: facebook, instagram and twitter

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