Shardul Gagare!

by Priyadarshan Banjan - 30/01/2016

Shardul Gagare became India's 42nd grandmaster as he managed to win his third round game at the IIFL Wealth Mumbai International Tournament being conducted at the Mount Litera School International at Bandra in Mumbai. ChessBase India brings you a pictorial story that captures his moment of glory along with the game, video analysis, and some heart-warming pictures. In-depth interview to follow in the coming days.

Shardul Gagare!

Shardul was tense as the middlegame was in progress -- the king was precariously standing on the edge of a precipice on the d6 square. Pair his cold, pragmatic approach to whatever cliche you may like, the fact remains that it was a hair-raising experience that Shardul bravely withstood, but would he do the needful and win the game?

'I have faith in my calculating abilities'

[Event "IIFL Wealth 1st Mumbai-Open"]
[Site "Mumbai"]
[Date "2016.01.30"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Balaji Sekar"]
[Black "Gagare, Shardul"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C07"]
[WhiteElo "2188"]
[BlackElo "2497"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]

1. e4 {0} e6 {0} 2. d4 {0} d5 {0} 3. Nd2 {0} c5 {0} 4. Ngf3 {27} cxd4 {2} 5.
Nxd4 {40} Nf6 {9} 6. exd5 {125} Nxd5 {8} 7. N2f3 {783} a6 {10} 8. c3 {249} Nd7
{255} 9. Bd3 {99} Bd6 {144} 10. O-O {29} O-O {88} 11. Qe2 {720} Re8 {617} 12.
Bxh7+ {1454} Kxh7 {7} 13. Ng5+ {3} Kg8 {162} 14. Qh5 {2} Ne5 {796} 15. Qh7+ {
556} Kf8 {7} 16. Qh8+ {1115} Ke7 {7} 17. Qxg7 {3} Rg8 {398} 18. Qh7 {27} Nf6 {
325} 19. Qc2 {42} Nc6 {283} 20. Ndf3 {76} Qa5 {686} 21. Rd1 {190} Qf5 {266} 22.
Qe2 {201} Ne5 {215} 23. Nd4 {184} Qg4 {271} 24. f3 {9} Qh5 {30} 25. Nf5+ {121}
exf5 {7} 26. Rxd6 {2} Kxd6 {94} 27. Bf4 {16} Ne4 {45} 28. Qc4 {136} Ke7 {140}
29. Qb4+ {30} Ke8 {99} 30. fxe4 {0} 0-1

27...Ne4 was a good practical shot -- fire in the middle of the board!

What happened after this move was comical: we witnessed Shardul's king run back to his palace as if he were Rannchod Rai. Out of nowhere, Shardul's eyes shot at his opponent and his fingers pointed towards the clock -- it was over. White had overstepped the time limit and Shardul had become India's 42nd grandmaster.

Even before the opponent could come on terms to the curious end the game had witnessed, I extended my hand to Shardul which he shook with a relieved smile forming in his face.

All this while, Dr. Annasaheb Gagare was teaching young kids how to become a champion. He then walked towards the arena when he got the news that Shardul had made it while his son was coming down the dais where he had been playing.

Sagar, who had arrived towards the arena, showed some prophylactic skills as he shot the good old doctor meeting his grandmaster son while I took a memorable picture which explains what hard work really is.

A picture is worth a thousand words...

After the immediate celebrations, Shardul walked into the commentary room where Vijay Kumar produced this video where Sagar analyses the game with Shardul, who at the same time answers some pertinent questions related to chess.

̶R̶a̶n̶v̶e̶e̶r̶ ̶S̶i̶n̶g̶h̶ Atul Dahale took some time out of his schedule to get a picture with Maharashtra's new grandmaster at the ChessBase India shop!

Here are a couple more video interviews with Team Gagare:

India's GM No. 40 and 42, both from Maharashtra!

ChessBase India will bring you an in-depth interview with our new grandmaster in the coming month.

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