The penultimate round of any tournament is extremely crucial. The results in this round often decide the champion of the tournament. At the World Youth Olympiad 2017, it's Russia who have won the gold with their 16.0/16 performance.

Results of round 8:

Round 8 on 2017/12/17 at 1530
No.SNo TeamPts.MPRes.:Res.MPPts.Team SNo
13
Russia21½142½:1½1020Armenia
4
21
India Green18½113:1917Uzbekistan
5
37
India Blue18½91:31018½Iran
2
46
India Red13½82½:1½916Turkey
8
513
Mongolia1581½:2½817Belarus
10
612
Argentina1781½:2½817Kazakhstan
11
714
Malaysia1473:1816Sri Lanka
19
817
Indonesia15½72:2714Israel
9
921
Australia12½6½:3½711½South Africa A
20
1015
Canada16½62½:1½612½Bangladesh
16
1122
Thailand9½5½:3½613Iraq
18
1227
Kyrgyzstan1154:049½Mozambique
28
1329
Kenya - Ndovu711:359Kenya - Simba
26
1425
Nepal B630:4410Nepal A
23
1524
South Africa B1152:000bye
-1
1630
Uganda00:00not paired
-2

All the players going from the official hotel Aloft to the playing venue

The Armenians were going to play on the top board, but were in good spirits!

The tournament is taking place in the Karnavati Club, one of the best clubs in the whole of Gujarat
This time lapse video gives you a feel of the entire environment of the playing hall

Inauguration of round eight

Russia versus Armenia - Let the games begin!
Bo.3
  Russia		RtgFED-4
  Armenia		RtgFED2½:1½
1.1IM
Lomasov, Semen
2516RUS-IM
Hakobyan, Aram
2465ARM½ - ½
1.2IM
Lobanov, Sergei
2441RUS-IM
Sargsyan, Shant
2453ARM½ - ½
1.3FM
Gaifullin, Artur
2417RUS-FM
Mirzoyan, David
2345ARM½ - ½
1.4FM
Fakhrutdinov, Timur
2408RUS-FM
Gharibyan, Mamikon
2342ARM1 - 0

The match between Russia and Armenia was keenly contested. First three boards ended in draws. It was only on the last board that Timur Fakhrutdinov managed to outplay Mamikon Gharibyan.

With this win Russia sealed their gold medal at the event. They now have 16.0/16 and are three points ahead of the second placed team. What a fantastic performance by the team.

On board two Indian green team faced Uzbekistan

Indian team started off pretty well. Iniyan scored a win on the fourth board and so did Pragg on the third. But Aryan Chopra faltered once again and lost on the top board. The onus was now on Praggnanandhaa to score at least the half point. But the boy delivered. He scored a full point and gave the Indian team a 3.0-1.0 victory.

Pragg's win in the penultimate round gave India a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan
Final moments of Pragg's victory over Vokhidov

After the round we got Praggnanandhaa in the studio. He showed us some interesting variations from the game and Nihal also joined in.

Praggnanandhaa showing his win against Shamsiddin Vokhidov

Nihal Sarin opened the game with 1.b3 and put his opponent under quite some pressure. Finally at a crucial juncture, his opponent missed White's move g4 and Niha pocketed the full point.

Nihal does a Pragg and Pragg does a Nihal!

Iniyan has been playing extremely well and is now on 6.5/7 at this tournament!

Bo.1
  India Green		RtgFED-5
  Uzbekistan		RtgFED3 : 1
2.1GM
Aryan, Chopra
2536IND-IM
Yakubboev, Nodirbek
2448UZB0 - 1
2.2IM
Praggnanandhaa, R
2517IND-IM
Vokhidov, Shamsiddin
2412UZB1 - 0
2.3IM
Nihal, Sarin
2507IND-
Saydaliev, Saidakbar
2362UZB1 - 0
2.4IM
Iniyan, P
2452IND-
Vakhidov, Daler
2250UZB1 - 0

India red were able win against the team of Turkey. The win was provided by Mitrabha Guha and Arjun Ergiasi. The team now faces Russia on the top baord.

Chess can be any and everywhere!

GM Deepan Chakkravarthy who is playing the rating tournament being held simultaneously with the World Youth Olympaid, obliged us by analyzing his game and positions from the top board games of the event. He is currently 6.0/6.
Deepan Chakkravarthy talks about the games of the World Youth Olympiad 2017

A valiant fight by youngster Kushagra Mohan against GM Amin Tabatabaei

Everyone loves Frooti! Maybe Parle Agro Pvt. Ltd should seriously think about sponsoring a chess event!

Nirav Rajasuba, a well known player from Ahmedabad, with his family

Final round pairing:

Replay all the games from round 8: