GM Magnus Carlsen received his second sport in a row and is now the only real chief after seven rounds within the 2022 Tata Metal Chess Match. The world champion defeated GM Praggnanandhaa R. with the black items on Saturday.
GM Daniil Dubov forfeited his sport vs. GM Anish Giri because the Russian GM refused to play with a face masks. The organizers had requested him to take action after somebody in his interior circle had examined constructive for Covid-19.
Final 12 months, the organizers managed to carry their event in Wijk aan Zee in the course of the pandemic with none points. In hindsight, one might add miraculously. This 12 months, with the extremely contagious omicron variant raging, it was sheer inconceivable.
After the 2 instances of corona within the morning of the third spherical, when two seconds (coaches) of gamers examined constructive, there was one other case on Saturday morning: somebody near Dubov. Awaiting a PCR check end result for Dubov, the organizers requested the Russian GM to put on a masks throughout play, though the overall rule on the event is that face masks are compulsory in every single place besides when sitting on the board. Dubov refused to take action and known as it “a matter of precept.” When he hadn’t arrived on the board half an hour into the spherical, the sport was declared a win by forfeit for Giri.
♟?| The official assertion concerning the absence of Daniil Dubov in spherical 7 of the #TataSteelChess Match pic.twitter.com/1BYKIyN8qm
— Tata Metal Chess (@tatasteelchess) January 22, 2022
Unsurprisingly, the entire scenario was broadly mentioned on social media. One query was whether or not it was communicated to the gamers beforehand that the masks could be a necessity on the board as effectively in case of shut contact to a Covid-positive particular person. One other fascinating level that was made was whether or not the organizers might have postponed the Dubov-Giri sport to the following relaxation day.
GM Sergey Karjakin, who had criticized Dubov lately for serving to Carlsen on the earth championship, this time supported his compatriot as he tweeted after ending his personal sport:
1/2 Realizing that Tata metal chess organisers are caring for our security, it was logical in case of damaging PCR check to postpone Giri-Dubov sport to the remaining day. I’m positive that Anish wouldn’t thoughts. However prefer it occurred, I perceive Daniil’s determination to not play…
— Sergey Karjakin (@SergeyKaryakin) January 22, 2022
2/2. I might have performed the identical.
I personally won’t ever play a sport of chess in masks.
— Sergey Karjakin (@SergeyKaryakin) January 22, 2022
Robert Moens (Tata Metal Communications & Public Affairs) commented to Chess.com: “This particular scenario wasn’t mentioned beforehand, no. Nonetheless, the gamers’ contract does embody a clause that the organizers can take the required measures in case sudden conditions concerning Covid come up. As a result of the event physician deemed it unwise for Dubov to play with out a face masks, we as organizers made this request to Dubov, who absolutely understood our determination however determined to not play the sport out of precept. We didn’t think about suspending the sport as a result of Dubov might have performed right this moment, albeit with a face masks. It was his determination to not play.”
The scenario presently is that Dubov can proceed enjoying the event with out a face masks in case the outcomes of his newest PCR and antigen exams come out negatively. If he will get examined constructive, he will not be capable of play any extra video games and all his outcomes will probably be faraway from the event crosstable as a result of the event wasn’t midway via but for him.
In addition to Giri’s forfeit win, the seventh spherical noticed three extra decisive video games. An important one was Carlsen’s win vs. Praggnanandhaa, with which the Norwegian GM grew to become the only real chief.
Other than two on-line video games, it was the primary time these two gamers met on the chessboard. Apparently, Carlsen tried the Queen’s Gambit Accepted (not the most typical protection vs. 1.d4 as of late) and obtained out of the opening with none issues. He obtained the benefit when Praggnanandhaa selected the sub-optimal plan of maneuvering his queen to the kingside, and shortly after, Black had a profitable place.
Interviewed afterward, Carlsen did not agree it was a clean win. “I feel I actually tousled in direction of the top, not less than virtually talking. I imply, I allowed this Ng7 stuff. However perhaps that was just one second. I used to be struggling to discover a solution to type of consolidate correctly after which, I’ve to say, I did not actually handle. I gave him method too many counter-chances there.”
The event shouldn’t be going in addition to final 12 months for GM Jorden van Foreest, however a 50 p.c rating midway shouldn’t be dangerous in any respect. As we speak the Dutchman defeated GM Vidit Gujrathi which suggests he nonetheless solely performed one draw up to now.
“It looks as if I am enjoying a roller-coaster occasion right here, whereas I lastly thought I grew up a bit and have become a bit extra stable, however nothing of that appears to be true in any respect,” he mentioned in his interview. “I misplaced three video games and I additionally received three video games. As we speak I wished play solidly, I did not need to go loopy and lose probably a 3rd sport in a row, however the sport form of obtained loopy, in order that was not deliberate. Happily, issues went effectively for me.”
GM Fabiano Caruana improved his rating vs. GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda to 3-0 (in addition to three attracts), but it surely was removed from straightforward right this moment. Because the American GM defined himself:
“It wasn’t sport, I’m positive. My place was very snug the entire sport and in some unspecified time in the future I used to be clearly beginning to win after which issues went fallacious within the run as much as transfer 40. I’m positive I had one thing significantly better than what I did; I don’t know precisely what, it’s all a little bit of a blur now, however I’m positive that after transfer 40 he shouldn’t lose this place. What frightened me extra was that I do take a variety of threat as effectively as a result of my king is at all times in a mating internet.”
“A working man’s win,” @GmNaroditsky calls it!@FabianoCaruana wins the final round-seven sport of the #TataSteelChess Masters, enjoying completely after being given an opportunity with 42.Rhd1! pic.twitter.com/l9F1q3W4iK
— ChesscomLive (@ChesscomLive) January 22, 2022
Caruana additionally revealed in his post-game interview that his coach GM Vladimir Chuchelov had examined constructive for Covid earlier within the event and is in isolation, so now it is identified who the opposite coach was, in addition to Praggnanandhaa’s coach GM Ramesh R.B.
It implies that, like Pragg, Caruana has been spending most of his event on their lonesome, and he mentioned about this: “I do not need to make excuses, however I’ve been emotionally and bodily drained principally your entire journey right here.” Chuchelov is sort of asymptomatic by now, so hopefully he can be part of Caruana quickly once more.
Of the three attracts, GM Andrey Esipenko vs. GM Sam Shankland was essentially the most fascinating. It was a slender escape for the American participant who was strolling on a tightrope after the opening (a pointy Taimanov Sicilian) however later defended fairly effectively.
Requested whether or not he was pleased together with his outcomes up to now, Esipenko mentioned: “Yeah, in all probability I’m pleased, however I had some possibilities in opposition to Mamedyarov and Vidit as effectively, however the final two rounds I used to be fully dropping in opposition to Caruana and Dubov, so, yeah, in all probability I’m pleased!”
Spherical 7 Standings Masters
| # | Fed | Identify | Rtg | Perf | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Pts | SB |
| 1 | Carlsen | 2865 | 2872 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 5.0/7 | |||||||||
| 2 | Mamedyarov | 2767 | 2831 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 4.5/7 | |||||||||
| 3 | Esipenko | 2714 | 2810 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 4.0/7 | 14.75 | ||||||||
| 4 | Giri | 2772 | 2796 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 4.0/7 | 13.25 | ||||||||
| 5 | Vidit | 2727 | 2788 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 4.0/7 | 12.75 | ||||||||
| 6 | Rapport | 2763 | 2776 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 4.0/7 | 11.75 | ||||||||
| 7 | Caruana | 2792 | 2735 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 3.5/7 | 11.5 | ||||||||
| 8 | Karjakin | 2743 | 2734 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 3.5/7 | 11 | ||||||||
| 9 | Van Foreest | 2702 | 2735 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3.5/7 | 11 | ||||||||
| 10 | Duda | 2760 | 2703 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 3.0/7 | 11.5 | ||||||||
| 11 | Shankland | 2708 | 2665 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 3.0/7 | 9.25 | ||||||||
| 12 | Dubov | 2720 | 2645 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 2.5/7 | 9.25 | ||||||||
| 13 | Praggnanandhaa | 2612 | 2646 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 2.5/7 | 7 | ||||||||
| 14 | Grandelius | 2672 | 2578 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | 2.0/7 |
Match chief GM Arjun Erigaisi was the final to complete his sport within the Challengers after defending a tricky sport in opposition to considered one of his closest rivals, GM Rinat Jumabayev of Kazakhstan.
Spherical 7 Standings Challengers
| # | Fed | Identify | Rtg | Perf | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Pts | SB |
| 1 | Erigaisi | 2632 | 2869 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6.0/7 | |||||||||
| 2 | Nguyen | 2613 | 2709 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 5.0/7 | |||||||||
| 3 | Jumabayev | 2631 | 2655 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 4.5/7 | 15.5 | ||||||||
| 4 | Bjerre | 2586 | 2654 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 4.5/7 | 11.75 | ||||||||
| 5 | Van Foreest | 2539 | 2634 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 4.0/7 | 14 | ||||||||
| 6 | Murzin | 2519 | 2620 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 4.0/7 | 12.25 | ||||||||
| 7 | Warmerdam | 2607 | 2610 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 4.0/7 | 11.5 | ||||||||
| 8 | Ganguly | 2627 | 2591 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 4.0/7 | 10.25 | ||||||||
| 9 | L’Ami | 2622 | 2537 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 3.5/7 | |||||||||
| 10 | Dardha | 2532 | 2459 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 2.5/7 | 6.75 | ||||||||
| 11 | Shuvalova | 2516 | 2453 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2.5/7 | 5 | ||||||||
| 12 | Vogel | 2452 | 2432 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 2.0/7 | |||||||||
| 13 | Zhu | 2478 | 2336 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1.5/7 | |||||||||
| 14 | Maurizzi | 2502 | 2271 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 1.0/7 |
All video games spherical 7
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