GM Nihal Sarin received the 2022 Tata Steel Chess India Open Rapid with a spherical to spare, whereas GM Anna Ushenina tied for first and received the tiebreak match to win the 2022 Tata Steel Chess India Women’s Rapid.

In the Open part, whereas Nihal scored 6.5 factors, GM Arjun Erigaisi completed second, half a degree behind. GM Vidit Santosh Gujrathi featured in a tie for locations 3-7 with 4.5 factors and completed third on a greater tiebreak rating. The trio thus swept the rostrum end for India.

In the ladies’s part, Ushenina and in a single day chief GM Nana Dzagnidze completed with 6.5 factors on the finish of the ninth and last spherical to tie for the highest place. Ushenina received the blitz tiebreak match with a 2-0 rating and thus wins the trophy, however the prize cash might be shared equally between them. GM Harika Dronavalli completed third with 5.5 factors.

The blitz part of the occasion continues on Dec 2 at 22:30 p.m. PT/Dec 03 at 07:30 CET after a relaxation day.

Open

Commenting on the seventh-round encounter between GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Nihal, GM Viswanathan Anand heaped reward on the smoothness of Nihal’s play. He significantly pointed to Nihal’s 21…Rd7 as “majestic”:

There is a sure lack of goal to White’s piece placement, whereas Black can effortlessly enhance strain with seemingly easy however purposeful strikes. After the sport continuation, Nihal was on the best way to a easy win. 

The smoothness of his play carried on to the following spherical too, when he saved the place balanced and outwitted GM Parham Maghsoodloo when the latter bought a bit of too bold:

When I requested him on the press convention if such smoothness of play is the results of enjoying an incredible variety of on-line blitz video games, Nihal answered: “I do not know. But I assume it positively works. Playing in easy positions, making fast strikes right here and there. I feel on-line blitz positively helps”.

A very contrasting efficiency got here from Erigaisi, who defeated GM Hikaru Nakamura within the penultimate spherical and had an unbelievable comeback on the second day. The sport was a tactical melee, and it’s our Game Of The Day:

After his win towards Nakamura within the penultimate spherical, Erigaisi confronted Nihal within the final spherical and defeated him in an enchanting encounter. The viewers witnessed a simply difficult struggle, however the jaw-dropping second got here up through the press convention after the match.
Analyzing the place at 28…Rxd4, Anand remarked: ” [I] can’t recall an analogous place the place you’re a piece down for therefore lengthy, and Black additionally has this a-passed pawn. But but, by some means it simply would not work out [for Black].” And that’s when Erigaisi revealed the depth of his preparation for the viewers:

As Erigaisi rattled out the variations, Anand exclaimed: “That is just some of the lovely traces I’ve heard. I assume most of you’ll get residence and get the transcript achieved seeing the board! [Chuckles.] …To play (35.)f3 on the finish is just spectacular. … I’ve by no means seen prep like that far. Usually, it finishes a bit of bit earlier than—that is superb.”

That is just some of the lovely traces I’ve heard … I’ve by no means seen prep like that far.

—Viswanathan Anand

There was a noteworthy mixture by GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov towards GM Wesley So:

All Games Open – Day 2

Standings

Rk.	Fed	Name	Rtg	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Pts.
1		GM Nihal Sarin	2616		0	1	½	1	1	½	1	½	1	6.5
2		GM Erigaisi Arjun	2628	1		½	1	½	1	1	½	½	0	6
3		GM Vidit Santosh Gujrathi	2662	0	½		½	½	½	1	½	½	½	4.5
4		GM Nakamura Hikaru	2789	½	0	½		½	1	0	1	0	1	4.5
5		GM Gukesh D	2632	0	½	½	½		0	1	1	0	1	4.5
6		GM Mamedyarov Shakhriyar	2747	0	0	½	0	1		½	½	1	1	4.5
7		GM Abdusattorov Nodirbek	2676	½	0	0	1	0	½		½	1	1	4.5
8		GM Maghsoodloo Parham	2656	0	½	½	0	0	½	½		1	1	4
9		GM So Wesley	2784	½	½	½	1	1	0	0	0		½	4
10		GM Sethuraman S.P.	2545	0	1	½	0	0	0	0	0	½		2

Women’s

Comparatively, the ladies’s part rapidly become a two-horse race. Ushenina started the day briskly defeating a heavyweight and one other title aspirant, GM Mariya Muzychuk, who blundered in a tough place:

Dzagnidze nonetheless maintained her half-point lead, successful towards WIM Savitha Shri. 

The eighth spherical proved to be probably the most dramatic one. While Ushenina may defeat Savitha, Dzagnidze was left taking a look at a sure defeat towards GM Anna Muzyuchuk proper out of the opening. In a topsy-turvy encounter, Dzagnidze lastly saved herself from defeat:

In the ultimate spherical, each the contenders drew their video games, thus paving approach for the blitz tiebreak, which proved to be an anti-climax. Speaking on the press convention after the sport, Dzagnidze confessed that every one the defending all through the match left her utterly drained, and he or she collapsed dramatically to lose each the blitz video games, thus giving the title to Ushenina.

All Games Women’s – Day 2

Standings

Rk.	Fed	Name	Rtg	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Pts.
1		GM Ushenina Anna	2371		½	½	1	½	½	1	1	½	1	6.5
2		GM Dzagnidze Nana	2475	½		½	½	½	1	1	1	½	1	6.5
3		GM Harika Dronavalli	2475	½	½		½	½	½	1	½	½	1	5.5
4		GM Muzychuk Mariya	2476	0	½	½		½	½	1	1	½	½	5
5		GM Koneru Humpy	2474	½	½	½	½		½	0	½	1	1	5
6		IM Vaishali Rameshbabu	2351	½	0	½	½	½		0	1	1	1	5
7		IM Kiolbasa Oliwia	2304	0	0	0	0	1	1		1	½	1	4.5
8		WGM Vantika Agrawal	2262	0	0	½	0	½	0	0		1	1	3
9		GM Muzychuk Anna	2458	½	½	½	½	0	0	½	0		½	3
10		WIM Savitha Shri B	2311	0	0	0	½	0	0	0	0	½		1

The 2022 Tata Steel Chess India Rapid and Women’s Rapid are two of India’s most prestigious fast chess occasions. Players compete in a 10-player round-robin in fast video games with a 15+10 time management. The prize fund for every occasion is $24,000.

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