Andrew Tang wins Sultan Khan Cup
Penguingm1 (GM Andrew Tang) of USA scored 9.0/10 to win IPS Academy presents Sultan Khan Cup 2020, the strongest ChessBase India Online Blitz event, also having the highest prize fund. Andrew Tang won ₹20000 cash for his efforts. Peruvian GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara and GM Aryan Chopra of India, both finished at 8.5/10, they were placed second and third respectively according to their tie-break scores. The tournament witnessed the participation of 34 GMs, 35 IMs, 3 WGMs and 10 WIMs from twelve countries across the world including India. Among the women, reigning National Women's Champion IM Bhakti Kulkarni won the first prize, followed by WIM Priyanka Nutakki and WGM R Vaishali. Photo: Andrew's twitter
Penguingm1 dominates in his ChessBase India Blitz debut
GM Andrew Tang of USA scored 9.0/10 to win Sultan Khan Cup 2020. Despite losing the fifth round, he won his next five games to win the championship and walk away with ₹20000 cash prize. Both GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara of Peru and GM Aryan Chopra finished with 8.5/10 each and they were placed second and third respectively. While Eduardo won ₹10000, Aryan bagged ₹5000 cash prize.
The Princeton University student won the strongest ChessBase India Online Blitz event. Total 204 players including 34 GMs, 35 IMs, 3 WGMs, 10 WIMs from India, Algeria, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Canada, Chile, England, Italy, Peru, Russia, USA and Uzbekistan participated in this biggest prize fund tournament hosted by ChessBase India, organized by Central India's biggest education hub IPS Academy, Indore.
Penguingm1 had a shaky start
In Round 1, Aanjaneya (Aanjaneya Phatak) had a very good opportunity to cause an upset as his opponent Penguingm1 first made a small mistake and then in the next two moves he completely blundered a piece after a 54 seconds of thought. In a 3-minute Blitz game without increment, 54 seconds for one move is a lot.
Aanjaneya - Penguingm1, Round 1
Find out the best continuation for white after 29...Ra7
Of course 32...Nxd5 is a blunder as the black queen becomes an overworked piece. This was the biggest opportunity White had in the entire game but definitely time trouble played a key role and white could not spot it.
The Blind Spot
Fighter64 (GM Karthikeyan Murali) was completely dominating against Penguingm1 in Round 3. However a moment of blindness cost him the entire game. White thought something to be working but it was just a material blunder.
Fighter64 - Penguingm1, Round 3
White has a huge advantage in this position. Black's knight at a5 is out of play and the Bishop at f8 is doing very little to defend the h6-pawn. The game continued with 27.exf7+, what was the better continuation instead?
It was not Narayanan's day
Considering the form Narayanansl (GM S L Narayanan) is in these days, it must be quite difficult for him to miss a wonderful opportunity to score a full point against Penguingm1. That win could have completely changed the outcome of the tournament. Andrew had almost 90 seconds less than Narayanan in the later part of the middle game, still he managed to survive.
Penguingm1 - Narayanansl, Round 4
On a regular day 16.axb3 would be the obvious continuation. Yes there is a huge threat on the kingside as the knight is looming large at e4, however it's not as devastating as it looks.
Narayanan needed to spot that 17.Bxd6 is a huge mistake and after 17...Qxd6 Black is absolutely winning as White has almost no counterplay, but alas it was not Narayanan's day, thus he missed it and played 17...Ba4.
Penguin could not overcome the Aryan
The only game Penguingm1 lost in the tournament was against GM Aryan Chopra in Round 5. The American GM misplayed the Rook-Knight vs. Rook-Bishop endgame which cost him the full point.
Penguingm1 - Aryan Chopra, Round 5
Can you find the cute tactic here after white played 44.Rb2 ?
Laxman's missed opportunity
It seems like Penguingm1 gave a lot of opportunities to each of his opponents. One of the most concrete opportunity Laxman got was to trap his opponent's queen. To save the queen, black had to give up material. Of course the queen trap was not easy to find out in time scramble in a complex position.
LAXMAN - Penguingm1, Round 6
Find out the best continuation for white here.
Eduardo's narrow escape
In Round 2, Js3131 (GM Jose Eduardo Alcantara Martinez) of Peru, made a narrow escape against WGM R Vaishali. Eduardo was completely lost in the final part of endgame but his opponent couldn't capitalize as she was running short on time.
Js3131 - Rvaishali2001, Round 2
Find out the correct winning continuation for black here.
Battle of the Runner-ups
In a strong Swiss league tournament, rarely we come across situations where all podium finishers played against each other. This event witnessed such a rare occurrence. In Round 7, the eventual Second Runner-up Aryan Chopra faced the eventual First Runner-up Js3131 (GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara). Martinez missed getting a clear advantage in the middlegame.
Aryan Chopra - Js3131, Round 7
The game continued with 20...Nc6. Find out the better continuation which black should have played instead.
Penultimate Round - Peru vs Peru
In the penultimate round of the event, compatriots Terryr (IM Renato Terry) was paired against Js3131 (GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara). Naturally when Eduardo is closer to the championship, both players fought valiantly and Eduardo came out at the top.
Aryan survived a scare
GM Aryan Chopra was in a difficult situation against WFM FA FI J E Kavitha. Unfortunately for her, she couldn't upstage the grandmaster despite getting a wonderful position.
Jekavitha - Aryan Chopra, Round 2
White continued the game with 24.Nh4. Find out why 23...g6 is a mistake and how white should have continued the game to get decisive advantage.
Chopra's convincing win
In Round 9, Aryan showed amazing piece play against GM Debashis Das to score a victory and inch closer towards a podium finish.
Bhakti bests Uzbek Tiger
Reigning National Women's Champion Bestluck (IM Bhakti Kulkarni) beat Uzbektiger95 (GM Jakhongir Vokhidov) in Round 3. She finished the tournament by beating India's third GM in history Pravin Thipsay in the final round.
Final Standings:
Main Prize winners (Top 20)
| Rank | Name | Score | Prize money |
| 1 | GM Andrew Tang | 9 | ₹20000 |
| 2 | GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara | 8.5 | ₹10000 |
| 3 | GM Aryan Chopra | 8.5 | ₹5000 |
| 4 | IM Terry Renato | 8 | ₹4000 |
| 5 | GM Narayanan S L | 8 | ₹3000 |
| 6 | GM Arjun Erigaisi | 8 | ₹1500 |
| 7 | GM Debashis Das | 7.5 | ₹1500 |
| 8 | IM Rathanvel V S | 7.5 | ₹1500 |
| 9 | GM Diptayan Ghosh | 7.5 | ₹1500 |
| 10 | GM Gukesh D | 7.5 | ₹1500 |
| 11 | GM Harsha Bharathakoti | 7.5 | ₹1000 |
| 12 | IM P Saravana Krishnan | 7 | ₹1000 |
| 13 | GM Alan Pichot | 7 | ₹1000 |
| 14 | GM Srinath Narayanan | 7 | ₹1000 |
| 15 | GM Abhimanyu Puranik | 7 | ₹1000 |
| 16 | IM Aleksei Kireev | 7 | ₹1000 |
| 17 | IM Mitrabha Guha | 7 | ₹1000 |
| 18 | GM Bilel Bellahcene | 7 | ₹1000 |
| 19 | GM Jakhongir Vokhidov | 7 | ₹1000 |
| 20 | GM Vishnu Prasanna | 7 | ₹1000 |
Best Women
| 1 | IM Bhakti Kulkarni | 7 | ₹5000 |
| 2 | WIM Priyanka Nutakki | 6.5 | ₹3000 |
| 3 | WGM R Vaishali | 6 | ₹2000 |
Best Madhya Pradesh Players
| 1 | IM Anuj Shrivatri | 6 | ₹3000 |
| 2 | Prakhar Bajaj | 5 | ₹2000 |
| 3 | WFM Nityata Jain | 5 | ₹1000 |
Rating Category: 1700-1999
| 1 | Srithan Saypuri (1824) | 7 | ₹3000 |
| 2 | Madhavan R Munjanattu (1799) | 6 | ₹2000 |
| 3 | Shree Ganesh (1803) | 6 | ₹1000 |
Rating Category: 1400-1699
| 1 | Anshuman Singh (1559) | 7 | ₹3000 |
| 2 | Arpith S Bijoy (1613) | 6 | ₹2000 |
| 3 | Vigneshwaran N (1593) | 5.5 | ₹1000 |
Rating Category: 1000-1399
| 1 | Vandan Alankar Sawai (1331) | 5 | ₹3000 |
| 2 | Jahnavi Sri Lalita Mareddy (1387) | 4.5 | ₹2000 |
| 3 | Archit Saigal (1093) | 4.5 | ₹1000 |
Lucky Prizes
| 30 | IM Rahul Srivasthav P | 6.5 | ₹750 |
| 40 | IM Mohammad Nubairshah Shaikh | 6 | ₹750 |
| 50 | GM Shardul Gagare | 6 | ₹750 |
| 60 | GM ShyamSundar M | 6 | ₹750 |
| 70 | Aditya Bikram Paul | 5.5 | ₹750 |
| 80 | CM Dev Shah | 5 | ₹750 |
| 90 | Aanjaneya Phatak | 5 | ₹750 |
| 100 | GM Stany G A | 5 | ₹750 |
| 110 | Nilsu Pattnayak | 4.5 | ₹750 |
| 120 | Diya Chowdhury | 4.5 | ₹750 |
