Match 1: UMM vs PBG

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs Anish Giri

The match between upGrad Mumba Masters’ Maxime Vachier-Lagrave with a rating of 2755 and PBG Alaskan Knights’ Anish Giri at 2662, resulted in a victory for Vachier-Lagrave, earning 3 game points for winning with the white pieces. The game opened with the classic French Defense, transitioning into a Tarrasch Variation. The turning point was the skilful endgame manipulation by Vachier-Lagrave, particularly with an incisive pawn push to d5, allowing him to dominate the center and initiate a decisive attack, culminating in victory after 61 moves. Giri’s defensive strategy was enduring, but his passive approach allowed Vachier-Lagrave to solidify his control, ultimately forcing Giri into positionally unfavorable decisions.

Vidit Santosh Gujrathi vs Nodirbek Abdusattorov

In a battle of impending tactics, Nodirbek Abdusattorov of the PBG Alaskan Knights faced Vidit Santosh Gujrathi of the upGrad Mumba Masters. Abdusattorov, playing black, won, claiming 4 game points. This was a Queen’s Gambit Declined where strategic complexity intensified with mutual pawn structures creating tension. Abdusattorov leveraged a superior middle game position, capitalizing extensively on Vidit’s underdeveloped pieces. The climax occurred when Abdusattorov masterfully executed a combination starting with an exchange sacrifice, leading to a winning endgame after 41 moves.

Peter Svidler vs Shakhriyar Mamedyarov

The clash on the board between Peter Svidler of upGrad Mumba Masters and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of PBG Alaskan Knights ended with Mamedyarov securing a win as black, thus scoring 4 game points. The game started with the Ruy López, showing profound strategic depth from both players. Svidler’s attempt at an early queen’s side expansion was effectively countered by Mamedyarov, who orchestrated play centrally and on the king’s side. Mamedyarov’s relentless pressure eventually overcame Svidler’s defenses, highlighting a critical oversight by Svidler with the move 40.e4, which lost significant material and led to his position’s collapse in 61 moves.

Koneru Humpy vs Tan Zhongyi

Koneru Humpy of upGrad Mumba Masters recorded a win against Tan Zhongyi of PBG Alaskan Knights, scoring 3 game points for her team. The encounter was defined by a Closed Sicilian where Humpy’s positional plays culminating in the maneuver Ne5 showed formidable planning. She managed to capitalize in the middlegame with an advantageous knight outpost that Tan couldn’t counter effectively. Humpy’s tactical sequence starting from 30.Rd2 dismantled Tan’s defense, leading to a resignation after 55 moves.

Game 5: Harika Dronavalli vs Alina Kashlinskaya

This game between Harika Dronavalli from upGrad Mumba Masters and Alina Kashlinskaya of PBG Alaskan Knights ended in a deadlock after a tenacious fight, with each player earning 1 game point from the draw. Utilizing the Nimzo-Indian Defense, both players showcased solid understanding and preparation. Key exchanges and simplifications led to an equal rook and pawn endgame. The draw was agreed upon after 34 moves in a balanced position where neither side could claim any advantage.

Raunak Sadhwani vs Nihal Sarin

An invigorating encounter saw Raunak Sadhwani of upGrad Mumba Masters overpower Nihal Sarin from PBG Alaskan Knights, adding 3 game points to his team’s tally. The game commenced with an Italian Game, evolving into a dynamic battleground with Sadhwani executing a powerful kingside offensive. Crucial missteps by Sarin in the middlegame allowed Sadhwani to launch a decisive attack, culminating with a tactical blow on the 50th move leading to checkmate, demonstrating Sadhwani’s aggressive and precise play style.

Match 2: TCK vs GG

Viswanathan Anand vs. Alireza Firouzja

In an intense match, Alireza Firouzja, playing black, secured a victory over Viswanathan Anand, gaining 4 game points. Firouzja strategically countered Anand’s aggressive opening, leading to a superior endgame position and a win. Anand’s strategy included potential, but minor inaccuracies were effectively exploited by Firouzja who transitioned into a winning endgame.

Arjun Erigaisi vs. Wei Yi

Arjun Erigaisi triumphed over Wei Yi with the white pieces, earning 3 game points. Employing a Queen’s Gambit Declined, Erigaisi dominated the middlegame with excellent use of his bishop pair, creating weaknesses in Wei’s position. Wei struggled against Erigaisi’s pawn structure and piece coordination, leading to his downfall after losing his queen to a tactical oversight.

Parham Maghsoodloo vs. Teimour Radjabov

Teimour Radjabov won against Parham Maghsoodloo as black, earning 4 points. Utilizing the King’s Indian Defence, Radjabov outmaneuvered Maghsoodloo’s aggressive play, which eventually weakened Maghsoodloo’s own king safety. Radjabov’s strategic excellence was highlighted by a decisive bishop sacrifice leading to a checkmate threat.

Vaishali Rameshbabu vs. Alexandra Kosteniuk

Alexandra Kosteniuk, playing black, defeated Vaishali Rameshbabu, gaining 4 game points. Through aggressive play in the Sicilian Defence, Kosteniuk exploited inaccuracies from Vaishali, transitioning into a favourable endgame where she converted her advantage into a win.

Nurgyul Salimova vs. Valentina Gunina

Nurgyul Salimova scored a victory against Valentina Gunina, earning 3 game points with white. Starting with a Slav Defence, Salimova maintained solid structures and incrementally outplayed Gunina. She remained resilient against Gunina’s sacrificial attempts, converting her material advantage in the endgame to secure the win.

Volodar Murzin vs. Javokhir Sindarov

Volodar Murzin won against Javokhir Sindarov with the white pieces, earning 3 game points in a game featuring the Sicilian Defence. Murzin’s aggressive and tactical play in the middlegame led to a dominating position that Sindarov could not overturn, culminating in a victorious kingside attack for Murzin.

Match 3: AG vs ASGP

Hikaru Nakamura vs. Magnus Carlsen:

Nakamura and Carlsen’s game concluded with them each gaining 1 game point following a draw. The match, a strategic bout filled with precise plays, saw Nakamura employing a double fianchetto structure, navigating through Carlsen’s centralised strategy. Key moments included Nakamura’s 32.Ne1 aiming to consolidate the position but ultimately leading to neither side being able to claim an advantage. At move 48, repetitive moves were made leading to a draw. The “what-if” exploration at move 16 suggests that advancing the c-pawn instead of Bxd2 could have intensified pressure on Black’s structure, possibly steering the game towards a dynamic middle game with chances for both sides.

Jan-Krzysztof Duda vs. Praggnanandhaa R:

Praggnanandhaa captured a victory over Duda, adding 4 crucial game points for his team. Duda’s strong opening merged into an uncomfortable middlegame as Praggnanandhaa leveraged the open lines for his rooks. The turning point was Duda underestimating the power of Praggnanandhaa’s pawn storm on the kingside, leading to a collapsing position after 27…Ng6. Exploring the alternative 27.Qf2 instead of Rg1 might have offered better resistance, but Praggnanandhaa’s aggressive play showed a higher quality of strategic execution throughout.

Yu Yangyi vs. Richard Rapport:

Yangyi and Rapport’s game ended in a draw, both earning 1 game point. The game started with a sharp pawn structure challenge in the Caro-Kann Defence. Both players showed a deep understanding of the positions, with Rapport skillfully defending against potential threats. At move 34.Qh6, a stagnant position was evident, leading to a draw through repetition shortly.

Bibisara Assaubayeva vs. Hou Yifan:

Assaubayeva and Hou settled for a draw, earning a game point each. The game was marked by solid plays from both sides, with minor imbalances that neither could exploit. The critical moment came at move 19.Qxg4, where tangible tension could have been applied by Yifan with a more aggressive continuation. A potential game-changing move was 19…f5, challenging Assaubayeva directly and could have led to a sharper game favouring Black.

Elisabeth Paehtz vs. Kateryna Lagno:

Paehtz secured a win, granting her team 3 points. Utilising a finely played endgame strategy Paehtz capitalised on minimal advantages. The pivotal moment came with 25.Qxe4, diving into an advantageous endgame. Had Lagno chosen 25…Nd7, she could have fostered more resistance, possible even reversing the pressure back onto Paehtz.

Jonas Buhl Bjerre vs. Daniel Dardha:

Dardha triumphed over Bjerre, harnessing an aggressive strategy that unsettled Bjerre throughout the game. The decisive factor was Bjerre’s 28.Bxd4 which proved to be a critical misjudgment leading to a quickly deteriorating position. A “what-if” analysis on move 28.Rae1 instead, aiming to keep tension and avoid the tactical complications that followed, suggests Bjerre could have maintained a balanced game, but Dardha’s pressure was telling.