Baku 09: Is the Team over dependent on Sethu?
In the ninth round, the story repeated just as in the round before against England. The top three boards drew/were drawing their games leaving Sethu to battle it out in the middle. He gained an upper hand late into the middlegame, and it looked like Sethuraman would lead us to another memorable victory. Only that he did not. He did everything to gain a better position, but once he had it in his sights, he went wrong again. Sethuraman lost, and with him, the team lost 2.5-1.5, too. Is the team over dependent on Sethuraman? Check out our illustrated report to find out what happened.
Baku 09: Is the Team over dependent on Sethu?
In the seventh round clash against the US, it was Sethu who rallied when Adhiban and Vidit were losing and was leading Team India towards redemption before he too blundered and lost. In the eighth round, all the top three board games were draw but Sethu played a sublime attacking game against Short to take India home for a memorable victory.
India v. Ukraine at the top board! [Photo: E. Kublashvili]
Harikrishna drew his game with Pavel Eljanov. There was nothing notable in the offing really.
[Event "42nd Olympiad Baku 2016 Open"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.11"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Black "Harikrishna, P."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A06"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[WhiteTeam "Ukraine"]
[BlackTeam "India"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "UKR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "IND"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.11"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Black "Harikrishna, P."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A06"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[WhiteTeam "Ukraine"]
[BlackTeam "India"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "UKR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "IND"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]
1. Nf3 {0} d5 {0} 2. g3 {0} Nf6 {10} 3. Bg2 {0} e6 {6} 4. O-O {44} Be7 {4} 5.
c4 {39} O-O {14} 6. b3 {58} c5 {34} 7. Bb2 {150} Nc6 {9} 8. e3 {34} b6 {5} 9.
Nc3 {6} Ba6 {7} 10. d3 {221} Rc8 {38} 11. Qe2 {665} Qd7 {6} 12. Rad1 {222} Rfd8
{114} 13. h3 {564} Qe8 {994} 14. Rfe1 {899} h6 {689} 15. a3 {303} Bb7 {627} 16.
Qc2 {359} Rd7 {616} 17. Ne2 {185} Nh7 {191} 18. h4 {342} Bf6 {177} 19. cxd5 {
222} Rxd5 {20} 20. Qb1 {54} Bxb2 {128} 21. Qxb2 {2} Qe7 {24} 22. d4 {114} cxd4
{147} 23. Nfxd4 {14} Rdd8 {67} 24. Nxc6 {66} Bxc6 {13} 25. Bxc6 {168} Rxc6 {20}
26. Rxd8+ {484} Qxd8 {49} 27. Nd4 {6} Rc7 {218} 28. Rc1 {82} Nf6 {215} 29. b4 {
51} a6 {498} 30. a4 {86} e5 {256} 31. Nf3 {127} Rxc1+ {279} 32. Qxc1 {5} Qe8 {
87} 33. Qc2 {377} Qe6 {170} 34. b5 {293} axb5 {229} 35. axb5 {9} Kf8 {270} 36.
Qc7 {25} Nd7 {20} 37. Qd8+ {137} Qe8 {11} 38. Qc7 {2} Qe6 {10} 39. Nd2 {48} Ke7
{105} 40. Nc4 {0} e4 {0} 41. Kg2 {606} g6 {538} 42. Qc6 {458} g5 {343} 43. Kf1
{553} gxh4 {191} 44. gxh4 {3} Qh3+ {15} 45. Ke1 {24} Qh1+ {37} 46. Ke2 {122}
Qf3+ {11} 47. Ke1 {8} Qh1+ {33} 48. Ke2 {20} 1/2-1/2
c4 {39} O-O {14} 6. b3 {58} c5 {34} 7. Bb2 {150} Nc6 {9} 8. e3 {34} b6 {5} 9.
Nc3 {6} Ba6 {7} 10. d3 {221} Rc8 {38} 11. Qe2 {665} Qd7 {6} 12. Rad1 {222} Rfd8
{114} 13. h3 {564} Qe8 {994} 14. Rfe1 {899} h6 {689} 15. a3 {303} Bb7 {627} 16.
Qc2 {359} Rd7 {616} 17. Ne2 {185} Nh7 {191} 18. h4 {342} Bf6 {177} 19. cxd5 {
222} Rxd5 {20} 20. Qb1 {54} Bxb2 {128} 21. Qxb2 {2} Qe7 {24} 22. d4 {114} cxd4
{147} 23. Nfxd4 {14} Rdd8 {67} 24. Nxc6 {66} Bxc6 {13} 25. Bxc6 {168} Rxc6 {20}
26. Rxd8+ {484} Qxd8 {49} 27. Nd4 {6} Rc7 {218} 28. Rc1 {82} Nf6 {215} 29. b4 {
51} a6 {498} 30. a4 {86} e5 {256} 31. Nf3 {127} Rxc1+ {279} 32. Qxc1 {5} Qe8 {
87} 33. Qc2 {377} Qe6 {170} 34. b5 {293} axb5 {229} 35. axb5 {9} Kf8 {270} 36.
Qc7 {25} Nd7 {20} 37. Qd8+ {137} Qe8 {11} 38. Qc7 {2} Qe6 {10} 39. Nd2 {48} Ke7
{105} 40. Nc4 {0} e4 {0} 41. Kg2 {606} g6 {538} 42. Qc6 {458} g5 {343} 43. Kf1
{553} gxh4 {191} 44. gxh4 {3} Qh3+ {15} 45. Ke1 {24} Qh1+ {37} 46. Ke2 {122}
Qf3+ {11} 47. Ke1 {8} Qh1+ {33} 48. Ke2 {20} 1/2-1/2
Adhiban, who opened with the Italian game, was on the backfoot for most of the game against Ruslan Ponomariov, but he got away with a draw.
[Event "42nd Olympiad Baku 2016 Open"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.11"]
[Round "9.2"]
[White "Adhiban, B."]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C50"]
[WhiteElo "2671"]
[BlackElo "2709"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[WhiteTeam "India"]
[BlackTeam "Ukraine"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "IND"]
[BlackTeamCountry "UKR"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.11"]
[Round "9.2"]
[White "Adhiban, B."]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C50"]
[WhiteElo "2671"]
[BlackElo "2709"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[WhiteTeam "India"]
[BlackTeam "Ukraine"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "IND"]
[BlackTeamCountry "UKR"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]
1. e4 {0} e5 {0} 2. Nf3 {0} Nc6 {0} 3. Bc4 {0} Nf6 {7} 4. d3 {0} Bc5 {138} 5.
O-O {2} O-O {70} 6. Nbd2 {7} a6 {157} 7. c3 {89} d6 {57} 8. Bb3 {18} Re8 {300}
9. h3 {702} Be6 {280} 10. Re1 {12} h6 {87} 11. Nf1 {62} d5 {147} 12. exd5 {995}
Bxd5 {40} 13. Be3 {160} Bf8 {331} 14. Ng3 {100} Na5 {800} 15. Bc2 {153} c5 {67}
16. a3 {577} Nc6 {137} 17. Nd2 {21} b5 {384} 18. a4 {55} Qc7 {282} 19. axb5 {
135} axb5 {9} 20. Rxa8 {85} Rxa8 {74} 21. Bb3 {23} Rd8 {181} 22. Bxd5 {737}
Nxd5 {75} 23. Qb3 {12} b4 {614} 24. Nge4 {487} Nf4 {198} 25. Bxf4 {79} exf4 {8}
26. Nf3 {819} Rxd3 {215} 27. Qc4 {19} Rd8 {28} 28. Ned2 {40} Na5 {214} 29. Qb5
{47} bxc3 {147} 30. bxc3 {1} Nb7 {73} 31. Ne4 {114} Nd6 {160} 32. Qxc5 {121}
Qxc5 {10} 33. Nxc5 {3} Rc8 {18} 34. Nd3 {264} 1/2-1/2
O-O {2} O-O {70} 6. Nbd2 {7} a6 {157} 7. c3 {89} d6 {57} 8. Bb3 {18} Re8 {300}
9. h3 {702} Be6 {280} 10. Re1 {12} h6 {87} 11. Nf1 {62} d5 {147} 12. exd5 {995}
Bxd5 {40} 13. Be3 {160} Bf8 {331} 14. Ng3 {100} Na5 {800} 15. Bc2 {153} c5 {67}
16. a3 {577} Nc6 {137} 17. Nd2 {21} b5 {384} 18. a4 {55} Qc7 {282} 19. axb5 {
135} axb5 {9} 20. Rxa8 {85} Rxa8 {74} 21. Bb3 {23} Rd8 {181} 22. Bxd5 {737}
Nxd5 {75} 23. Qb3 {12} b4 {614} 24. Nge4 {487} Nf4 {198} 25. Bxf4 {79} exf4 {8}
26. Nf3 {819} Rxd3 {215} 27. Qc4 {19} Rd8 {28} 28. Ned2 {40} Na5 {214} 29. Qb5
{47} bxc3 {147} 30. bxc3 {1} Nb7 {73} 31. Ne4 {114} Nd6 {160} 32. Qxc5 {121}
Qxc5 {10} 33. Nxc5 {3} Rc8 {18} 34. Nd3 {264} 1/2-1/2
Vidit Gujrathi chose to defend with the Berlin Defense and had a fairly equal position, that ended in a draw against Yuriy Kryvoruchko.
[Event "42nd Olympiad Baku 2016 Open"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.11"]
[Round "9.3"]
[White "Kryvoruchko, Yuriy"]
[Black "Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2693"]
[BlackElo "2669"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[WhiteTeam "Ukraine"]
[BlackTeam "India"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "UKR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "IND"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.11"]
[Round "9.3"]
[White "Kryvoruchko, Yuriy"]
[Black "Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2693"]
[BlackElo "2669"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[WhiteTeam "Ukraine"]
[BlackTeam "India"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "UKR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "IND"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]
1. e4 {0} e5 {0} 2. Nf3 {0} Nc6 {0} 3. Bb5 {6} Nf6 {24} 4. O-O {52} Nxe4 {7} 5.
d4 {8} Nd6 {5} 6. Bxc6 {4} dxc6 {5} 7. dxe5 {6} Nf5 {5} 8. Qxd8+ {5} Kxd8 {5}
9. Rd1+ {86} Ke8 {7} 10. h3 {6} Be7 {57} 11. Nc3 {108} Nh4 {243} 12. Nxh4 {134}
Bxh4 {9} 13. Ne2 {55} h5 {741} 14. f3 {40} Bf5 {783} 15. Nd4 {27} Rd8 {12} 16.
Bf4 {226} Bg6 {553} 17. c3 {350} Rd5 {286} 18. e6 {1046} Bf6 {47} 19. Bxc7 {403
} Bxd4+ {104} 20. Rxd4 {32} Rxd4 {219} 21. cxd4 {1022} fxe6 {9} 22. Re1 {48}
Kf7 {37} 23. Re3 {9} Rc8 {174} 24. Be5 {9} Rd8 {72} 25. Rb3 {170} Rd7 {10} 26.
Kf2 {22} h4 {511} 27. Ke3 {135} Bf5 {17} 28. Rb4 {187} g5 {107} 29. a4 {90} Kg6
{247} 30. a5 {78} a6 {55 Ke4} 1/2-1/2
d4 {8} Nd6 {5} 6. Bxc6 {4} dxc6 {5} 7. dxe5 {6} Nf5 {5} 8. Qxd8+ {5} Kxd8 {5}
9. Rd1+ {86} Ke8 {7} 10. h3 {6} Be7 {57} 11. Nc3 {108} Nh4 {243} 12. Nxh4 {134}
Bxh4 {9} 13. Ne2 {55} h5 {741} 14. f3 {40} Bf5 {783} 15. Nd4 {27} Rd8 {12} 16.
Bf4 {226} Bg6 {553} 17. c3 {350} Rd5 {286} 18. e6 {1046} Bf6 {47} 19. Bxc7 {403
} Bxd4+ {104} 20. Rxd4 {32} Rxd4 {219} 21. cxd4 {1022} fxe6 {9} 22. Re1 {48}
Kf7 {37} 23. Re3 {9} Rc8 {174} 24. Be5 {9} Rd8 {72} 25. Rb3 {170} Rd7 {10} 26.
Kf2 {22} h4 {511} 27. Ke3 {135} Bf5 {17} 28. Rb4 {187} g5 {107} 29. a4 {90} Kg6
{247} 30. a5 {78} a6 {55 Ke4} 1/2-1/2
GM S.P. Sethuraman
GM Anton Korobov [Photo; D. Llada]
In the ninth round, the story repeated. The top three boards drew/were drawing their games leaving Sethu to battle it out in the middle. He gained an upper hand late into the middlegame, and it looked like Sethuraman would lead us to another memorable victory.
White to play: Korobov has just placed the rook on f5. The question is -- should Sethu accept Black's exchange sac?
Just as in the seventh round game, he blundered away better position and lost. Is Team India over depending on Sethu's chances in the games?
[Event "WCO 2016"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.09.11"]
[Round "9.4"]
[White "Sethuraman S.P."]
[Black "Korobov Anton"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B69"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2675"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:06:36"]
[BlackClock "0:05:43"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.09.11"]
[Round "9.4"]
[White "Sethuraman S.P."]
[Black "Korobov Anton"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B69"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2675"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:06:36"]
[BlackClock "0:05:43"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O Bd7 9. f4 Be7 10. Nf3 b5 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Kb1 Qb6 13. g3 Na5 14. f5 b4
15. fxe6 fxe6 16. Ne2 Nc4 17. Qd4 $2 (17. Qh6 $1 {Good or bad, this has to be
played. You cannot go into a Sicilain endgame where the opponent has the
bishop pair.}) 17... Qxd4 18. Rxd4 Ne5 $15 {This position is just better for
Black who has the central pawns and the bishop pair.} 19. Bg2 a5 20. Re1 Rc8
21. Rdd1 Kf7 22. Nf4 Ng6 23. Nxg6 hxg6 24. e5 $1 {Sethu is tactically alert
and tries his best to muddy the waters.} d5 25. exf6 Bxf6 26. h4 Rh5 27. Bh3
Rc4 28. Re3 d4 29. Re2 Rhc5 30. Ne1 Re5 31. Rf2 Rf5 {Slowly and steadily Black
lost the thread of the game and has handed over the initiative over to White.
Korobov gives up the exchange in desperation. However, Sethu can just pick up
the rook and have a close to winning position. Why didn't he do it? Your guess
is as good as mine.} 32. Re2 $2 (32. Bxf5 $1 gxf5 33. Nd3 $1 e5 34. Re1 e4 {
Black pawns look threatening but here White has the game finishing} 35. Rxe4 $1
fxe4 36. Ne5+ $18 {And Black will lose this game.}) 32... Bc6 33. g4 Re5 34.
Rf2 Ke7 35. g5 Bh8 36. Nd3 Re3 37. Bf1 (37. Nf4 $1 $14) 37... Be4 38. Nf4 Rc8
39. Bd3 Rg8 40. Ng2 Rf3 41. Re2 Bd5 42. Be4 Bxe4 43. Rxe4 Kd6 44. Ne1 Rf1 45.
c3 bxc3 46. bxc3 Rb8+ 47. Kc2 Rf2+ 48. Kd3 Rxa2 49. Nc2 dxc3 $19 {Black is now
completely winning.} 50. Rde1 Rd8 51. R1e2 Kc5+ 52. Ke3 Rd6 53. Rh2 Bg7 54. h5
gxh5 55. Reh4 Rd5 56. Rxh5 Kc4 57. Rh7 Rxg5 58. Ke4 Kb3 59. Rxg7 Rxg7 60. Nd4+
Ka3 61. Nb5+ Kb4 0-1
O-O-O Bd7 9. f4 Be7 10. Nf3 b5 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Kb1 Qb6 13. g3 Na5 14. f5 b4
15. fxe6 fxe6 16. Ne2 Nc4 17. Qd4 $2 (17. Qh6 $1 {Good or bad, this has to be
played. You cannot go into a Sicilain endgame where the opponent has the
bishop pair.}) 17... Qxd4 18. Rxd4 Ne5 $15 {This position is just better for
Black who has the central pawns and the bishop pair.} 19. Bg2 a5 20. Re1 Rc8
21. Rdd1 Kf7 22. Nf4 Ng6 23. Nxg6 hxg6 24. e5 $1 {Sethu is tactically alert
and tries his best to muddy the waters.} d5 25. exf6 Bxf6 26. h4 Rh5 27. Bh3
Rc4 28. Re3 d4 29. Re2 Rhc5 30. Ne1 Re5 31. Rf2 Rf5 {Slowly and steadily Black
lost the thread of the game and has handed over the initiative over to White.
Korobov gives up the exchange in desperation. However, Sethu can just pick up
the rook and have a close to winning position. Why didn't he do it? Your guess
is as good as mine.} 32. Re2 $2 (32. Bxf5 $1 gxf5 33. Nd3 $1 e5 34. Re1 e4 {
Black pawns look threatening but here White has the game finishing} 35. Rxe4 $1
fxe4 36. Ne5+ $18 {And Black will lose this game.}) 32... Bc6 33. g4 Re5 34.
Rf2 Ke7 35. g5 Bh8 36. Nd3 Re3 37. Bf1 (37. Nf4 $1 $14) 37... Be4 38. Nf4 Rc8
39. Bd3 Rg8 40. Ng2 Rf3 41. Re2 Bd5 42. Be4 Bxe4 43. Rxe4 Kd6 44. Ne1 Rf1 45.
c3 bxc3 46. bxc3 Rb8+ 47. Kc2 Rf2+ 48. Kd3 Rxa2 49. Nc2 dxc3 $19 {Black is now
completely winning.} 50. Rde1 Rd8 51. R1e2 Kc5+ 52. Ke3 Rd6 53. Rh2 Bg7 54. h5
gxh5 55. Reh4 Rd5 56. Rxh5 Kc4 57. Rh7 Rxg5 58. Ke4 Kb3 59. Rxg7 Rxg7 60. Nd4+
Ka3 61. Nb5+ Kb4 0-1
Round 9 video impressions by Vijay Kumar
All photos unless mentioned by IA Gopakumar Sudhakaran
Games in PGN for Open and Women
Full Report on the Women's section coverage to follow soon.