Dubai 08+09: Vidit joint second

Dubai 08+09: Vidit joint second

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 and ended on 19 April 2016 at the Dubai Chess and Culture Club. The tournament offered a total cash purse of US$50,000, with US$13,000 and the Rashid Bin Hamdan Cup going to the champion. 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.

Russia’s GM Boris Savchenko picked up his fourth win in a row at the expense of Dutch GM Ivan Sokolov in Round 08 to grab the pole position with seven points heading into the final round. Indians Sethuraman and Gagare were in close pursuit of the leaders before the eighth round began. Gagare, unfortunately, fell victim to Brazilian GM Alexandr Fier.

Pantsulaia opened with the Reti against Sethuraman and embarked on a positional pawn sacrifice that left the Indian’s pieces in a bind. Sethuraman returned the pawn to create some breathing room, but Pantsulaia stepped up the offensive with his two bishops dominating the open diagonals. The Indian was already under severe pressure when Pantsulaia unleashed a visually appealing bishop sacrifice on the 33^rd move that would lead to a forced mate in six, after which Sethuraman promptly resigned.

Jones employed the Moscow variation against Savchenko’s Sicilian Defence and maintained a slight edge out of the opening. It was the Russian’s passive play, however, that compounded black’s problems as Savchenko allowed Jones’ pesky bishop to invade the h6-square, preventing black from castling and leaving his king stuck in the centre. It went downhill for the Russian from thereon as Jones quickly organised an attack in the middle of the board, highlighted by a knight sacrifice on e5 that forced Savchenko to give up his queen on move 24.

Armenian GM Vladimir Akopian defeated GM Levan Pantsulaia to match Jones with 7.0/9 but was second in the tiebreak. Jones thus managed to pull off a double victory—he had earlier won the Dubai Blitz Cup as well.

Final Ranking:

Links:

Results of Indian players and other information