World Youth Olympiad Round 8: Russia win the title, India close in on the silver
by Sagar Shah - 17/12/2017
Once the Russians had defeated India and Iran, it was assumed that no team would be able to stop them. And they didn't prove the pundits wrong. After eight rounds the Russian team stands strong with a score of 16.0/16, and none of their top four players have lost a single round. Indians on the other hand have been pretty shaky, but they have managed to win their last three matches and are now on 13.0/16, in the sole second position. P. Iniyan for team India has been the player of the event with a fantasic score of 6.5/7. Round eight report from Ahmedabad.
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
Team
Pts.
MP
Res.
:
Res.
MP
Pts.
Team
SNo
1
3
Russia
21½
14
2½
:
1½
10
20
Armenia
4
2
1
India Green
18½
11
3
:
1
9
17
Uzbekistan
5
3
7
India Blue
18½
9
1
:
3
10
18½
Iran
2
4
6
India Red
13½
8
2½
:
1½
9
16
Turkey
8
5
13
Mongolia
15
8
1½
:
2½
8
17
Belarus
10
6
12
Argentina
17
8
1½
:
2½
8
17
Kazakhstan
11
7
14
Malaysia
14
7
3
:
1
8
16
Sri Lanka
19
8
17
Indonesia
15½
7
2
:
2
7
14
Israel
9
9
21
Australia
12½
6
½
:
3½
7
11½
South Africa A
20
10
15
Canada
16½
6
2½
:
1½
6
12½
Bangladesh
16
11
22
Thailand
9½
5
½
:
3½
6
13
Iraq
18
12
27
Kyrgyzstan
11
5
4
:
0
4
9½
Mozambique
28
13
29
Kenya - Ndovu
7
1
1
:
3
5
9
Kenya - Simba
26
14
25
Nepal B
6
3
0
:
4
4
10
Nepal A
23
15
24
South Africa B
11
5
2
:
0
0
0
bye
-1
16
30
Uganda
0
0
:
0
0
not 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
Rtg
FED
-
4
Armenia
Rtg
FED
2½:1½
1.1
IM
Lomasov, Semen
2516
RUS
-
IM
Hakobyan, Aram
2465
ARM
½ - ½
1.2
IM
Lobanov, Sergei
2441
RUS
-
IM
Sargsyan, Shant
2453
ARM
½ - ½
1.3
FM
Gaifullin, Artur
2417
RUS
-
FM
Mirzoyan, David
2345
ARM
½ - ½
1.4
FM
Fakhrutdinov, Timur
2408
RUS
-
FM
Gharibyan, Mamikon
2342
ARM
1 - 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
Rtg
FED
-
5
Uzbekistan
Rtg
FED
3 : 1
2.1
GM
Aryan, Chopra
2536
IND
-
IM
Yakubboev, Nodirbek
2448
UZB
0 - 1
2.2
IM
Praggnanandhaa, R
2517
IND
-
IM
Vokhidov, Shamsiddin
2412
UZB
1 - 0
2.3
IM
Nihal, Sarin
2507
IND
-
Saydaliev, Saidakbar
2362
UZB
1 - 0
2.4
IM
Iniyan, P
2452
IND
-
Vakhidov, Daler
2250
UZB
1 - 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