World Cadets 2016: Seven Indians with chance for a podium finish
The tenth round witnessed four of India's best medal hopes paired against each other. Praggnanandhaa and Nihal's game ended in a draw while Mrudul was able to beat Divya. We have the game analysis of both the battles. In 2015 India dominated the World Youth Championships. This year our control has not been absolute. But going into the last round we have seven players in chance with a podium finish. We wish them the best and have set up the live games playchess boards. The last round begins at 11.30 a.m. IST
The Facebook post of Mrunalini Kunte said it all. The top two medal hopes of India in both open and girls category of under-12 were pitted against each other. While Praggnanandhaa and Nihal's game ended in a draw, Mrudul Dehankar emerged victorious against Divya Deshmukh.
R. Praggnanandhaa vs Nihal Sarin
The pictures of both these boys together are growing quantum. Everyone knows that they are next big thing from India
The game began with the Caro Kann Defence, an opening which is rarely played by Nihal. Praggnanandhaa as always was not so ambitious in the opening and let Black equalize. After that the game turned many times, but mostly in Nihal's direction, as on move 30 he could have very well snatched a decisive advantage.
Black could have finished the game off with 30...Rf4! This prevents d4 from White and prepares Rb4. The bishop on a6 is stranded and Nihal has a decisive advantage. Instead he chose 30...e5 and after 31.d4! Praggnanandhaa was able to draw the game.
[Event "World Cadets Chess-ch 2016-U12"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "2016.10.29"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Praggnanandhaa R"]
[Black "Nihal, Sarin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2442"]
[BlackElo "2324"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "playchess.com"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "2016.10.29"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Praggnanandhaa R"]
[Black "Nihal, Sarin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2442"]
[BlackElo "2324"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "playchess.com"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]
1. e4 c6 {Nihal hardly ever plays the Caro Kann, but against Praggnanandhaa he
decides that this would be a good choice.} 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2
Ne7 6. O-O h6 7. Nbd2 Nd7 8. Nb3 g5 {This is quite an ambitious way of playing
the system for Black. He tries to expand on the kingside and places his bishop
on g7. Later Nihal can go for the f6 break. White usually tries to get his
knight out of f3 and engineers a f4 break.} 9. Ne1 Qc7 10. Bd2 (10. f4 $5 {
seemed possible and quite good.}) 10... c5 $1 {A break at the right moment.
White's centre is falling.} 11. dxc5 (11. c3 c4 12. Nc1 Bg7 $15) 11... Nc6 12.
Nd3 Bg7 13. Bc3 O-O-O (13... O-O {was also possible.}) 14. Nd4 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 f6
$6 (15... Kb8 $1 $11) 16. exf6 Bxf6 17. Bxf6 Nxf6 18. c6 $5 {An interesting
pawn sacrifice by Praggnanandhaa.} (18. b4 $14 {With the idea of queenside
expansion looks quite dangerous for Black.}) 18... Qxc6 (18... bxc6 19. b4 $40)
19. Ne5 Qc7 20. Qd4 Kb8 21. Bd3 Ne4 22. a4 Rhf8 {Nihal has played quite
accurately and has managed to hold the balance.} 23. a5 Qc5 24. Qxc5 (24. c3 $5
Qxd4 25. cxd4 Nd2 26. Rfd1 Bxd3 27. Rxd2 $14) 24... Nxc5 {The position is now
around equal.} 25. Bb5 $6 {Overambitious play by Praggu. Now Black has the
better co-ordination and superior chances.} Kc7 26. a6 Kd6 27. Rfe1 Be4 $2 (
27... bxa6 $1 28. Bxa6 Rb8 $15) 28. Nd3 $6 (28. axb7 $1 Kxe5 29. f3 $14) 28...
Bxd3 29. cxd3 $6 (29. Bxd3 {was better but Black is already slightly better
after} b6 $15) 29... bxa6 30. Bxa6 e5 $2 (30... Rf4 $1 $19 {is close to
winning for Black. He transfers his rook to b4 and the bishop on a6 is nearly
trapped.}) 31. d4 $1 (31. b4 Nb3 32. Rab1 Nd4 $17) 31... exd4 32. b4 {You can
bank on Praggnanandhaa to find the best defensive tricks.} Nd7 33. Bb7 Rfe8 34.
Red1 Nb6 35. Rxd4 {White has regained the pawn and the position is now just
even.} Rd7 36. Ba6 Re4 37. Rxe4 dxe4 38. Be2 Ke5 39. Kf1 Nd5 40. b5 Nc3 41. Ke1
Nxe2 42. Kxe2 Rd5 43. Ra5 a6 44. Rxa6 Rxb5 45. Rxh6 Rb2+ 46. Ke3 Rb3+ 47. Kd2
Rb2+ 48. Ke1 Rb1+ 49. Ke2 Rb2+ {A topsy turvy game, not at all without
mistakes, but both the young boys gave it their best possible shot and it was
a fun and exciting game to follow.} 1/2-1/2
decides that this would be a good choice.} 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2
Ne7 6. O-O h6 7. Nbd2 Nd7 8. Nb3 g5 {This is quite an ambitious way of playing
the system for Black. He tries to expand on the kingside and places his bishop
on g7. Later Nihal can go for the f6 break. White usually tries to get his
knight out of f3 and engineers a f4 break.} 9. Ne1 Qc7 10. Bd2 (10. f4 $5 {
seemed possible and quite good.}) 10... c5 $1 {A break at the right moment.
White's centre is falling.} 11. dxc5 (11. c3 c4 12. Nc1 Bg7 $15) 11... Nc6 12.
Nd3 Bg7 13. Bc3 O-O-O (13... O-O {was also possible.}) 14. Nd4 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 f6
$6 (15... Kb8 $1 $11) 16. exf6 Bxf6 17. Bxf6 Nxf6 18. c6 $5 {An interesting
pawn sacrifice by Praggnanandhaa.} (18. b4 $14 {With the idea of queenside
expansion looks quite dangerous for Black.}) 18... Qxc6 (18... bxc6 19. b4 $40)
19. Ne5 Qc7 20. Qd4 Kb8 21. Bd3 Ne4 22. a4 Rhf8 {Nihal has played quite
accurately and has managed to hold the balance.} 23. a5 Qc5 24. Qxc5 (24. c3 $5
Qxd4 25. cxd4 Nd2 26. Rfd1 Bxd3 27. Rxd2 $14) 24... Nxc5 {The position is now
around equal.} 25. Bb5 $6 {Overambitious play by Praggu. Now Black has the
better co-ordination and superior chances.} Kc7 26. a6 Kd6 27. Rfe1 Be4 $2 (
27... bxa6 $1 28. Bxa6 Rb8 $15) 28. Nd3 $6 (28. axb7 $1 Kxe5 29. f3 $14) 28...
Bxd3 29. cxd3 $6 (29. Bxd3 {was better but Black is already slightly better
after} b6 $15) 29... bxa6 30. Bxa6 e5 $2 (30... Rf4 $1 $19 {is close to
winning for Black. He transfers his rook to b4 and the bishop on a6 is nearly
trapped.}) 31. d4 $1 (31. b4 Nb3 32. Rab1 Nd4 $17) 31... exd4 32. b4 {You can
bank on Praggnanandhaa to find the best defensive tricks.} Nd7 33. Bb7 Rfe8 34.
Red1 Nb6 35. Rxd4 {White has regained the pawn and the position is now just
even.} Rd7 36. Ba6 Re4 37. Rxe4 dxe4 38. Be2 Ke5 39. Kf1 Nd5 40. b5 Nc3 41. Ke1
Nxe2 42. Kxe2 Rd5 43. Ra5 a6 44. Rxa6 Rxb5 45. Rxh6 Rb2+ 46. Ke3 Rb3+ 47. Kd2
Rb2+ 48. Ke1 Rb1+ 49. Ke2 Rb2+ {A topsy turvy game, not at all without
mistakes, but both the young boys gave it their best possible shot and it was
a fun and exciting game to follow.} 1/2-1/2
Mrudul Dehankar vs Divya Deshmukh
It was a fight between two most talented girls in India. And the surprising thing is that both of them are from the same city of Nagpur. Today's game showed the importance of calm sensible development over rash, unplanned play. While Mrudul developed her pieces with each move, Divya tried to do something unusual. Maybe it was Deshmukh's ploy to confuse her opponent, but it backfired horribly as White went on to score a very smooth victory without any really difficulties.
With this win Mrudul enters the sole second position. But Assaubayeva is already a point ahead and with 9.0/10.
In spite of losing, Divya has the chance to win the final round and claim a medal
[Event "World Cadets Chess-ch 2016-U12"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "2016.10.29"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Mrudul, Dehankar"]
[Black "Divya, Deshmukh"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "1809"]
[BlackElo "1772"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "playchess.com"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "2016.10.29"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Mrudul, Dehankar"]
[Black "Divya, Deshmukh"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "1809"]
[BlackElo "1772"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "playchess.com"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]
{The two girls from the city of Nagpur practice together and are good friends.
It would be particularly uncomfortable to face each other in such a crucial
penultimate round.} 1. c4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Qc2 e6 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bd3
Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 d6 8. Nf3 {Mrudul has played the opening naturally and strong,
and has built up a nice centre, while Divya who seemed to try and confuse her
opponent has landed up in a passive position without much scope.} h6 9. O-O O-O
10. a4 c5 (10... a5 {Stopping the pawn from coming to a5 could have been much
better.}) 11. a5 $1 Nc6 12. a6 Bc8 13. e5 $1 {Powerful play by Mrudul. She has
taken up all the space on the board.} Ne8 $6 (13... dxe5 14. dxe5 Ne8 {was
better, but the knight on e8 lacks scope and White is clearly better.}) 14.
dxc5 bxc5 15. Rd1 Qe7 16. Be4 d5 (16... Bd7 17. Bf4 dxe5 18. Nxe5 $18) 17. cxd5
exd5 18. Bxd5 {White is just a pawn up and has a completely dominating
position. It didn't take much effort on Mrudul's part to convert this position
into a win.} Bd7 19. Qe4 Rc8 20. Rb1 Nd8 21. Be3 Nc7 22. Bb7 Nxb7 23. axb7 Rcd8
24. Bxc5 Qxc5 25. Rxd7 Na6 26. Rxd8 Rxd8 27. Qe3 Qc4 28. h3 Qa2 29. Qc1 Nb8 30.
Nd4 Qa6 31. Qb2 Qc4 32. Qb4 Qxb4 33. Rxb4 a5 34. Rc4 Kh7 35. Rc8 Rg8 36. c4 a4
37. Nb5 Na6 38. c5 Nb8 39. c6 Nxc6 40. Rxc6 Rb8 41. Nd6 a3 42. Ra6 1-0
It would be particularly uncomfortable to face each other in such a crucial
penultimate round.} 1. c4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Qc2 e6 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bd3
Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 d6 8. Nf3 {Mrudul has played the opening naturally and strong,
and has built up a nice centre, while Divya who seemed to try and confuse her
opponent has landed up in a passive position without much scope.} h6 9. O-O O-O
10. a4 c5 (10... a5 {Stopping the pawn from coming to a5 could have been much
better.}) 11. a5 $1 Nc6 12. a6 Bc8 13. e5 $1 {Powerful play by Mrudul. She has
taken up all the space on the board.} Ne8 $6 (13... dxe5 14. dxe5 Ne8 {was
better, but the knight on e8 lacks scope and White is clearly better.}) 14.
dxc5 bxc5 15. Rd1 Qe7 16. Be4 d5 (16... Bd7 17. Bf4 dxe5 18. Nxe5 $18) 17. cxd5
exd5 18. Bxd5 {White is just a pawn up and has a completely dominating
position. It didn't take much effort on Mrudul's part to convert this position
into a win.} Bd7 19. Qe4 Rc8 20. Rb1 Nd8 21. Be3 Nc7 22. Bb7 Nxb7 23. axb7 Rcd8
24. Bxc5 Qxc5 25. Rxd7 Na6 26. Rxd8 Rxd8 27. Qe3 Qc4 28. h3 Qa2 29. Qc1 Nb8 30.
Nd4 Qa6 31. Qb2 Qc4 32. Qb4 Qxb4 33. Rxb4 a5 34. Rc4 Kh7 35. Rc8 Rg8 36. c4 a4
37. Nb5 Na6 38. c5 Nb8 39. c6 Nxc6 40. Rxc6 Rb8 41. Nd6 a3 42. Ra6 1-0
Player overview for IND
| SNo | Name | Rtg | FED | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Pts. | Rk. | Group | |
| 1 | IM | Praggnanandhaa R | 2442 | IND | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 7,5 | 3 | Open U12 |
| 5 | FM | Nihal Sarin | 2324 | IND | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 7,5 | 7 | Open U12 |
| 8 | Dhanush Bharadwaj | 2232 | IND | 1 | 1 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6,5 | 21 | Open U12 | |
| 63 | CM | Karthik Kumar Pradeep | 1873 | IND | 1 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5,5 | 54 | Open U12 |
| 64 | CM | Kushagra Mohan | 1872 | IND | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 0 | 6,0 | 41 | Open U12 |
| 117 | Chiranjan Kumarr K S | 1339 | IND | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3,0 | 124 | Open U12 | |
| 5 | CM | Aditya Mittal | 2144 | IND | 1 | 1 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6,5 | 19 | Open U10 |
| 6 | CM | Mendonca Leon Luke | 2133 | IND | 1 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7,5 | 8 | Open U10 |
| 10 | Pranav V | 1994 | IND | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7,5 | 5 | Open U10 | |
| 77 | Hriday Dharmesh Sheth | 1491 | IND | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 0 | 5,0 | 75 | Open U10 | |
| 48 | Kadakia Veer | 1273 | IND | ½ | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6,5 | 23 | Open U08 | |
| 52 | Bhagat Kush | 1263 | IND | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | 5,5 | 53 | Open U08 | |
| 60 | Vidit Jain | 1236 | IND | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5,0 | 72 | Open U08 | |
| 64 | Midilesh Ms | 1214 | IND | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 0 | 5,5 | 46 | Open U08 | |
| 67 | Swayham P Das | 1198 | IND | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5,5 | 51 | Open U08 | |
| 77 | Aryan Surya S A | 1026 | IND | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | 3,0 | 125 | Open U08 | |
| 3 | Rakshitta Ravi | 2068 | IND | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6,0 | 25 | Girls U12 | |
| 16 | WFM | Divya Deshmukh | 1836 | IND | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7,5 | 4 | Girls U12 |
| 19 | WCM | Mrudul Dehankar | 1809 | IND | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 8,0 | 2 | Girls U12 |
| 22 | Ananya Rishi Gupta | 1788 | IND | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5,0 | 45 | Girls U12 | |
| 34 | Adane Narayani | 1688 | IND | 0 | ½ | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5,5 | 39 | Girls U12 | |
| 44 | WCM | Wankhade Sanskruti | 1344 | IND | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7,5 | 7 | Girls U10 |
| 65 | Darsana M S | 1256 | IND | 1 | 1 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | 5,5 | 36 | Girls U10 | |
| 67 | Vishwa Vasnawala | 1240 | IND | 1 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 7,0 | 11 | Girls U10 | |
| 18 | WCM | Shefali A N | 1165 | IND | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5,0 | 45 | Girls U08 |
| 25 | Rout Yashita | 1105 | IND | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6,5 | 14 | Girls U08 | |
| 30 | Valety Swetha | 1038 | IND | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5,0 | 44 | Girls U08 | |
| 33 | Falak Joni Naik | 1024 | IND | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 0 | 6,0 | 25 | Girls U08 |
Six Indians have a chance for podium finish at this moment. The number in the bracket indicates their current ranking:
The first four are the ones mentioned above:
Praggnanandhaa u-12 (3)
Nihal Sarin u-12 (7)
Mrudul Dehankar u-12 (2)
Divya Deshmukh u-12 (4)
Leon Mendonca from Goa has scored three consecutuve victories and is now in eighth position under-10
Pranav V started off excellently wih 4.5/5, but lost his way with two losses. But after that he has scored three victories and is now back in reckoning with 7.5/10. He is on fifth place in under-10.
Sanskruti Wankhade has been on fire at the u-8 girls section. She has scored 5.5 points in the last six rounds. She is in the seventh place and has a chance of a podium finish.
A huge thanks to coach Mrunalini Kunte for not only motivating the young players but also for sending us these pictures from Batumi. We hope for a positive last round at the championships.
Live games. The last round begins at 11.30 a.m. IST