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World Teams 2019 Round 1: Adhiban's beast mode gives India 3.5-0.5 win over Sweden

by Sagar Shah - 06/03/2019

With a rating average of 2658 India is definitely not the favourite to win the World Team Championships 2019. But it is a team which no one can take lightly. When you see games like the one Adhiban played against Nils Grandelius in round one and Surya Sekhar Ganguly against Axel Smith, then the hopes for Team India putting up a spectacular show increase. The boys beat Sweden with a score of 3.5-0.5 in round one. In the women's section, India was able to hold their own against Georgia. Padmini's defeat was compensated by Soumya fighting hard until the end and scoring a win. A detailed round one report with breakup of the most important positions of the day. 

Adhiban's beast mode is well-known in the chess world now. But with all powerful machines it usually takes some time for Adhiban to get into the groove. The first couple of rounds in the tournament don't go well for him and then he switches on his beast mode. In Astana, however, at the World Team Championships 2019, it seems as if Adhiban has come in with the hunger to do well. India beat Sweden in round one and a big credit for it goes to Adhiban, who playing on board number 1, defeated Grandelius Nils from the white side of the Guioco Piano. It was the only game where our player was lower rated than his opponent.

Nils Grandelius was Adhiban's scalp in round one

Grandelius is well known in the chess world for his excellent calculating abilities. The Swedish GM uses this quality of his to set deep traps for his opponents. In fact, I myself have played with him twice and in equal positions he was able to outwit me with his excellent calculating abilities. However, in the first round of the World Team Championships 2019, it was Adhiban was blanked Nils. The Chennai GM played some H.O.T (Highly Original Thinking as Paul Motwani liked to say) Chess. Let's have a look at the key moments of the game.

 

Adhiban vs Grandelius, Round 1 World Teams 2019

Black has just played his knight to f5. How should White continue?

It was a bolt from the blue for Nils. The bishop has to be taken or else it would settle down on f6 where it would create even more problems

How should White continue here? Isn't Black just a piece up?

Adhiban was right on the ball. He played his queen to g3 with an idea of putting it on h4 and checkmating the black king. There is no way for Black to save his position!

Beware the beast is awake! | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Ganguly plays a la Morphy!

Ganguly has been warming up for a big performance. He played decently at both the National Team Championships in Kolkata and Aeroflot Open 2019

Ganguly vs Axel Smith

The opening phase is coming to an end. What will you play here with White?

A very surprising move, but once you understand the concept of a hook, everything becomes clear. The rook will power the g-pawn and g4-g5 will be very strong

Look at the dominating white forces in the position!

It looks like the game is coming to an end, but what is the most beautiful way to finish off the proceedings?

Of course! Black king is mated!

Sethuraman provided team India with the third win ensuring a 3.5-0.5 rout | Photo: David Llada

Round one results:

Iran tried hard to hold Russia, but Artemiev provided the crucial win by outplaying Alireza on the fourth board. China's 3.5-0.5 destruction of Azerbaijan was huge.

India now faces in Iran in round two and would be looking for revenge for their Asian Nations Cup defeat

Women's section:

Soumya Swaminathan scored an important win against Meri Arabidze to help India even the scores after Padmini lost her duel against Nino Batsiashvili | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Soumya fought hard in a game where she was lost late in the middlegame and managed to wriggle out with a full point.

Nino Batsiashvili showed her fighting spirit and from a completely equal endgame managed to beat Padmini Rout

Round one results:

India's 2-2 draw against Georgia and USA holding Ukraine were the big news of the day

Team India continues with its same configuration against Kazkhstan in the second match today

The venue of the tournament | Photo: Yannick Pelletier

Dvorkovich makes the inaugural move | Photo: David Llada

The commentators Miroshnichenko and Anna Burtasova | Photo: Yannick Pelletier

The playing hall | Photo: Yannick Pelletier

FIDE Press officer Yannick Pelletier | Photo: David Llada

You can watch the games live on ChessBase India at 2.30 p.m. IST.


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