Qatar Masters 2023 R6: Arjun Erigaisi joins S L Narayanan, Sindarov and Yakubboev in a four-way lead
India's 83rd GM Aditya Samant put up a very good fight against the World no.1 GM Magnus Carlsen (NOR). However, an incorrect decision in the endgame cost the teenager the sixth round game at Qatar Masters 2023. The sole leader GM S L Narayanan drew his game against the World Rapid 2021 champion GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB). GM Arjun Erigaisi got the better of IM Rudik Makarian. Arjun joined Narayanan, GM Javokhir Sindarov and GM Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB) in a four-way lead 5/6. GM D Gukesh bounced back from his previous round loss to end IM Vaishali R's unbeaten streak at this event. Round 7 starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. Photos: Aditya Sur Roy
Prraneeth stuns Nihal
Eight players are trailing the leaders by a half point at 4.5/6 each. Three Indians - GM Karthikeyan Murali, GM D Gukesh and GM Pranav Venkatesh are there along with GM Hikaru Nakamura (USA), GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB) and GM Magnus Carlsen (NOR). IM Vaishali R is still the highest scoring female at this event.
Aditya Samant - Carlsen: 0-1
GM Aditya S Samant (2511) played an almost flawless game against the World no.1, GM Magnus Carlsen (NOR, 2839). He only faltered in the endgame when he declined going for the bishop vs knight endgame.
Now 36.Rxc6+ Nxc6 37.Nb5+ Ke5 38.Nxa7 Nxa7 and White is not in any trouble. The resultant bishop vs knight seems balanced. However, White decided to go for 38.Bd5?? after Ra6-+ 39.Nxc7 Ra5 White is unable to get the desired two minor pieces vs rook endgame 40.Ne6 Ne7 41.Bc4 Ra4 42.Bb3 Rxe4+ 43.Kd3 Nd5 and it's over.
Karthikeyan - Parham
Is it possible for the knight to stop three connected passed pawns on a, b and c-file? The answer is yes. White also has connected passed pawns on e and f-file. Thus, both players need to play correctly to ensure they don't lose the game.
Gukesh - Vaishali
IM Vaishali R (2448) made a positional mistake of pushing her passed b-pawn a bit early 30...b4? 31.Nb3 Bc3 32.Nc5 Qd6 33.Rc1 Rb8 34.Qa7 b3 35.Nfxe6 b2 36.Rb1 fxe6 37.Nxe6 and things went out of hand for Black. 30...Bf5 is what Black needed to play to continue the fight against GM D Gukesh (2758).
Prraneeth - Nihal
Should Black take the e4-pawn here with either of his pieces? If the answer is yes, the result would be same as it happened in the game. 33...Nxe4? 34.Kf3 Nd2+ 35.Kg4 Ne4 after repeating once, White went 38.h4 Re5 39.hxg5 Nf2+ 40.Kf3 Nh3+ 41.Rxe5 Nxg1+ 42.Kg2 dxe5 43.d6 and White's split passed pawns are stronger than Black's knight and two connected passed pawns.
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Schedule
There are one round every day from 11th to 20th October 2023 starting from 3 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. Monday 16th October 2023 is a rest day. Only last round on 20th October starts at 12 p.m. local time, 2:30 p.m. IST.
Time control
Time control for each tournament game is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move 1.
Prizes
The total prize fund of the tournament is US$ 108250. The top three prizes are $25000, $15000 and $10000 each.
Replay live stream
Replay Round 6 games
Round 6 results
Standings after Round 6
Rk. | SNo | Name | Typ | sex | Gr | FED | RtgI | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | ||
1 | 13 | GM | Narayanan.S.L, | IND | 2651 | 5 | 0 | 2870 | ||||
2 | 12 | GM | Sindarov, Javokhir | U20 | UZB | 2658 | 5 | 0 | 2835 | |||
3 | 6 | GM | Erigaisi, Arjun | U20 | IND | 2712 | 5 | 0 | 2816 | |||
4 | 19 | GM | Yakubboev, Nodirbek | UZB | 2616 | 5 | 0 | 2776 | ||||
5 | 2 | GM | Nakamura, Hikaru | USA | 2780 | 4,5 | 0 | 2743 | ||||
6 | 23 | GM | Paravyan, David | FID | 2599 | 4,5 | 0 | 2710 | ||||
7 | 7 | GM | Maghsoodloo, Parham | IRI | 2707 | 4,5 | 0 | 2708 | ||||
8 | 5 | GM | Abdusattorov, Nodirbek | U20 | UZB | 2716 | 4,5 | 0 | 2695 | |||
9 | 20 | GM | Karthikeyan, Murali | IND | 2611 | 4,5 | 0 | 2689 | ||||
10 | 1 | GM | Carlsen, Magnus | NOR | 2839 | 4,5 | 0 | 2684 | ||||
11 | 4 | GM | Gukesh, D | U20 | IND | 2758 | 4,5 | 0 | 2667 | |||
12 | 27 | GM | Pranav, V | U20 | IND | 2579 | 4,5 | 0 | 2596 | |||
13 | 75 | IM | Vaishali, Rameshbabu | w | IND | 2448 | 4 | 0 | 2695 | |||
14 | 25 | GM | Jumabayev, Rinat | KAZ | 2585 | 4 | 0 | 2671 | ||||
15 | 79 | IM | Srihari, L R | U20 | IND | 2438 | 4 | 0 | 2670 |
Round 7 pairings
Links
Tournament Regulations: Open A and Open B
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