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Silver Lake Open R1: Nihal and Raunak make a winning start

by Shahid Ahmed - 24/06/2021

Someone once said that there is a flight which is taking Indian players to various events all across the globe. Covid-19 pandemic might have put brakes on that plan for a little over a year but as the world is slowly recovering back to normalcy, Indian players have started travelling to play Open events in Serbia. A total of eleven Indian players are taking part in this event. Nihal Sarin is warming up before his campaign begins at the FIDE World Cup next month. Both Nihal and Raunak made a winning start in the first round. Round 2 starts today at 12:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Rupali Mullick

Abhimanyu Puranik was held to a draw

Indian players are off to a fantastic start. Both Nihal Sarin and Raunak Sadhwani won their respective games comfortably with a sharp play. Abhimanyu Puranik was held to a draw by CM Caputcuoglu Zeki Berke. IMs Harshit Raja and Raahil Mullick also started with a win each.

Nihal scored an exciting victory over CM Nikola Kanov | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Kanov - Nihal: 0-1

Nihal started the tournament with a brilliant display of attack, although his opponent had an opportunity to defend, but it is not easy to calculate everything accurately during a tournament.

Position after 16.f4

Put yourself in Nihal's shoes and think what should Black do here.

Position after 18...Qd7

Black is obviously threatening Qg4, Re3 and make things difficult for White. How should White defend here? Kanov was unable to find the correct defence and things slowly went out of his control.

Nihal Sarin in Mikhail Tal mode | Video: Sagar Shah

Puranik - Berke: 0.5-0.5

GM Abhimanyu Puranik was held to a solid draw by CM Caputcuoglu Zeki Berke. However Berke had an opportunity to wreck the kingside.

Position after 28.Rc2

Black could have played 28...gxh4 29.gxh4 Bxh4. This makes both kings volatile but the resultant position is slightly better for Black. This was the sole opportunity Black had, eventually the game ended up in a draw.

Berke played solid against Abhimanyu Puranik | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Raunak - Djokic: 1-0

Raunak seized every opportunity he was presented by his opponent FM Mihailo Djokic.

Position after 21...Rb2

21...Rb2 is a big mistake for Black. Find out why. Raunak converted his advantage with ease and won the game.

Raunak started the event with an emphatic victory | Photo: Rupali Mullick

IM Harshit Raja started the tournament with a victory | Photo: Rupali Mullick

IM Raahil Mullick also scored a win | Photo: Rupali Mullick

Replay Round 1 games

Round 1 results

Rd.Bo.No. NameRtgPts.ResultPts.NameRtg No.
1370
CMKanov Nikola214000 - 10GMNihal Sarin2620
3
144
GMPuranik Abhimanyu25890½ - ½0CMCaputcuoglu Zeki Berke2138
71
166
GMSadhwani Raunak255501 - 00FMDjokic Mihailo2129
73
11213
IMRaja Harshit245901 - 00Tyurin Artem2106
79
12022
IMMullick Raahil238601 - 00Parkajic Branislav2078
88
145114
Devnani Kush185501 - 00WIMSharma Isha2237
50
15258
WIMRakshitta Ravi219001 - 00Doraszelski Alexander1802
121
15461
Radisavljevic Dalibor218601 - 00Phatak Aanjaneya1769
123
164131
Rajveer Pinkesh Nahar159800 - 10FMKowalski Igor2322
32
12124
Gajic Aleksandar190801 - 00Anaishaa Pinkesh Nahar1155
79

Details

Round 2 pairings

Rd.Bo.No. NameRtgPts.ResultPts.NameRtg No.
223
GMNihal Sarin262011CMTopalov Aleksandar2260
45
2341
IMKlasan Vladimir229811GMSadhwani Raunak2555
6
2748
Zhukenov Aituar224111IMRaja Harshit2459
13
21421
FMTadic Stefan239011WIMRakshitta Ravi2190
58
21562
Terryn Ezra218411IMMullick Raahil2386
22
22132
FMKowalski Igor232211Devnani Kush1855
114
22769
Akbas Umut Ata2141½½GMPuranik Abhimanyu2589
4
24250
WIMSharma Isha223700Bozanic Jovan1961
101
260123
Phatak Aanjaneya176900Tonic Milos2073
89
26496
Kandjolas Konstantin201700Rajveer Pinkesh Nahar1598
131
24779
Anaishaa Pinkesh Nahar115500Stojanovic Irina0
106

Details

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