Dubai 01-03: Gopal among the leaders

Dubai 01-03: Gopal among the leaders

Dubai is a city known for its energy, optimism and openness to the people from across the globe. The emirate is a place that is constantly in flux and the world has witnessed it mature as a city and as a society.

The eighteenth edition of Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Cup opened on 10 April 2016 night at the Dubai Chess and Culture Club. Some of the favourites easily put it across their opponents in the first three rounds' assignments, but a handful could only split the point — and some even had to throw in the towel.

The tournament offers a total cash purse of US$50,000, with US$13,000 and the Rashid Bin Hamdan Cup going to the champion. A blitz tournament will be held on the rest day on Friday (April 15) with a total prize fund of US$4,000.

The tournament has established a new record in participation approximately 200 players from 41 countries, including 46 Grandmasters, of which 25 are rated above 2600. 60 competitors are Indians, with many youngsters hunting for norms and points.

Employing the Queen’s Indian Defence, Cheparinov dropped a pawn on move 38, but the double rook ending with all pawns on the kingside ensured that the Bulgarian had good chances of holding the draw. Debashis won a second pawn on move 59 to create two unopposed passed pawns, but his rook was passively defending both pawns and his king was trapped in the first rank, constantly under threat of mate, while Cheparinov’s rook and king enjoyed maximum activity to keep the game balanced.

Cuban GM Lazaro Batista Bruzon, the fourth highest-rated player in the tournament, was lucky to escape with a draw against 16-year-old Indian talent, Aradhya Garg, in the first round. Bruzon, who employed the King’s Indian Defence, won a pawn on the 33rd move, but his untitled opponent had a firm grip of the dark squares around Bruzon’s king as compensation.

The 33rd-seed GM G.N. Gopal scored the third round’s biggest upset when took down sixth-seeded Georgian GM Baadur Jobava in an electrifying tactical slugfest. Jobava, playing the Pirc Defence, threw down the gauntlet when he allowed Gopal to capture his g6-pawn with a knight, unleashing a maelstrom of complications that was impossible to navigate over the board.

When the dust cleared, Gopal had given up two minor pieces for a rook and two pawns, but more importantly, black’s lack of coordination and severely weakened kingside allowed Gopal to launch a second wave of attack and force resignation on the 48th move.

Sokolov, playing black against Deepan’s Giuoco Piano was locked in a complicated encounter with four minor pieces and a rook on each side. After sacrificing a pawn for the initiative, Sokolov managed to create a dangerous passer on the d-file. Feeling the pressure, the Indian finally tripped up on the 35th move, allowing Sokolov to win the exchange, which he handily converted after 45 moves.

Reigning Asian champion GM Salem A. R. Saleh of the UAE, seeded 18^th in the tournament, played an inspired tactical game against India’s Gusain Himal, sacrificing his rook on the 15^th move to open up the position. The Indian gave up his bishop to derail the attack, but Saleh’s dominating bishop on the d5-square was a menace that anchored the win in 56 moves.

Ranking after Round 03:

Links:

Pairings for Round 04

Photos provided by Dubai Chess and Cultural Club unless mentioned