Indian Grandmaster Vidit Santhosh Gujrathi prevailed over Russia’s Daniil Dubov within the third spherical to turn into the only real chief with 2.5 factors within the prestigious Tata Steel Masters chess match.
Gujrathi’s compatriot, 16-year previous Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, nonetheless, suffered a defeat by the hands of Dutchman Jorden Van Foreest late on Monday evening.
Apart from Van Foreest, Andrey Esipenko and Richard Rapport additionally scored victories and now sit on two factors along with world No.1 Magnus Carlsen and Jan-Krzysztof Duda, who drew their video games.
In the Gujrathi-Dubov match, the Russian, true to his inventive type, launched a novelty within the Italian Opening as early as on transfer 8.
The Indian GM took the seemingly dangerous strategy, first buying and selling his dark-squared bishop after which accepting a central pawn sacrifice.
As a consequence, he fell behind in growth, whereas Black’s king bought caught within the centre.
Gujrathi capitalised on an error on transfer 32 by Dubov and secured a degree.
My proudest defensive effort. Series of solely strikes! 🙂 pic.twitter.com/Y710Tv3lPT
— Vidit Gujrathi (@viditchess) January 17, 2022
Van Foreest stunned Praggnanandhaa with a uncommon line and put critical strain on the black facet. Praggnanandhaa held his personal up to a degree earlier than the Dutchman gained the upper-hand to attain a win.
Carlsen confirmed resilience to share the purpose with Poland’s Jan-Krzysztof Duda whereas Dutch star Anish Giri drew with Shakhriyar Mamedyarov.
In the fourth spherical to be performed afterward Tuesday evening, Gujrathi faces Espinenko and Praggnanandhaa tackles Sweden’s Nils Grandelius within the 13-round championship.
Meanwhile, within the Challenger occasion being held concurrently, Indian GM Arjun Erigaisi defeated Belgium’s Daniel Dardha within the third spherical to share the joint high spot with two others — Thai Dai Van Nguyen (Czech Republic) and Volodar Murzin (Russia) — having scored 2.5 factors.
Another Indian GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly was held to a draw by Max Warmerdam of the Netherlands and has two factors from three rounds.
Standings after Round 3: Masters: 1. Vidit Gujrathi 2.5 factors; 2-6. Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Magnus Calsen, Richard Rapport, Andrey Esipenko and Jorden Van Foreest 2; 7-8. Fabiano Caruana, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov 1.5; 9-13. Sam Shankland, Sergey Karjakin, Daniil Dubov, Anish Giri, Praggnanandhaa 1; 14. Nils Grandelius 0.5.
