Match 1: UMM vs GG

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs. Viswanathan Anand

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs. Viswanathan Anand ended in a draw. The game unfolded as a positional duel in the Italian Game, where both players delved deep into strategic manoeuvring. Anand, playing black, countered Vachier-Lagrave’s central setup effectively. A critical juncture arose after Vachier-Lagrave’s 22. Nh2, aimed at repositioning the knight to bolster his kingside presence, which Anand met with accurate counterplay. The game eventually liquidated into an equal rook and pawn endgame, where neither side could make progress, leading to a draw agreement after 71 moves. This result awarded both players 1 game point each.

Vidit Gujrathi vs. Arjun Erigaisi

Vidit Gujrathi vs. Arjun Erigaisi also concluded in a draw. The players engaged in a Nimzo-Indian Defence, leading to a balanced middlegame. Vidit tried to exploit the queenside with his 12. Rxc6, but Erigaisi defended resiliently, shifting the balance back to an even keel. The game’s tension maintained till the endgame, but repeated manoeuvres of major pieces led to a threefold repetition, settling the score at 1 game point for each.

Peter Svidler vs. Parham Maghsoodloo

In the match between Peter Svidler and Parham Maghsoodloo, Maghsoodloo clinched a victory with the black pieces. The game featured an aggressive Sicilian Defence from Maghsoodloo, who successfully undermined Svidler’s kingside with timely pawn breaks and active piece play. Svidler’s 17. fxg6 opened lines but backfired as Maghsoodloo’s counter-attacks became too powerful, particularly after 24. Qd3 which allowed Black’s tactical strike with 25… Ne3, leading to a decisive material advantage. Maghsoodloo’s win, crucial at a late stage in the tournament, garnered him 4 game points.

Humpy Koneru vs. Vaishali Rameshbabu

Humpy Koneru vs. Vaishali Rameshbabu saw Vaishali securing a win with the black pieces. Koneru, with a conservative opening approach, aimed for a stable structure but Vaishali’s dynamic play in the Benoni Defence led to significant imbalances. Vaishali’s 22…Rxd1 was particularly effective, transitioning into a favourable endgame where her active pieces dominated the board, eventually leading to Koneru’s resignation. The victory netted Vaishali a valuable 4 game points.

Harika Dronavalli vs. Nurgyul Salimova

Harika Dronavalli vs. Nurgyul Salimova ended in a draw. The game progressed from a Queen’s Gambit Declined into a complex middle game with even chances. Salimova’s defensive setup held firm against Dronavalli’s slight spatial advantage. A key moment was Dronavalli’s 22. axb4, which invited simplifications advantageous to Salimova. They agreed to a draw when a repetition of moves was reached, with each securing 1 game point.

Raunak Sadhwani vs. Volodar Murzin

Raunak Sadhwani vs. Volodar Murzin also finished in a draw. This game saw an Open Catalan where tactical skirmishes defined the middle game. Sadhwani’s 14. Kb1 aimed for a slow kingside buildup, but Murzin’s timely central break kept White’s ambitions in check. The game tilted towards a balanced endgame after significant exchanges, leading to a draw. This result awarded each player 1 game point.

Match 2: AG vs PBGAK

Hikaru Nakamura vs Anish Giri

The match between American Gambits’ Hikaru Nakamura and PBG Alaskan Knights’ Anish Giri concluded in a draw, each securing 1 game point for their team. Nakamura, playing with the white pieces, opened with an unusual 1.b3, often referred to as Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack, aiming for a hypermodern setup that controls the center with pieces rather than pawns. Giri responded solidly, maintaining balance throughout the game. The match was characterized by cautious play from both sides. A notable moment was at move 16 where Giri could have potentially gained a slight edge with 16…Qd6, targeting the weaknesses created in White’s pawn structure. However, Nakamura’s deft pawn maneuver and subsequent liquidation led to a symmetrical pawn structure, simplifying to a drawn endgame.

Jan-Krzysztof Duda vs Nodirbek Abdusattorov

Jan-Krzysztof Duda of American Gambits faced Nodirbek Abdusattorov of PBG Alaskan Knights, and this game also concluded in a draw, awarding each player 1 point. Duda opened with the English opening, leading to a complex middlegame. The critical juncture came at move 11, where Abdusattorov chose a solid setup with …Nc5, avoiding more aggressive continuations that could have unbalanced the position. Both players showed precise play in a dynamically balanced position, leading to a repetition of moves following a series of exchanges which simplified the position.

Yu Yangyi vs Shakhriyar Mamedyarov

Yu Yangyi of American Gambits squared off against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of PBG Alaskan Knights, with Mamedyarov clinching a win, earning 4 points for PBG Alaskan Knights. The game started with an aggressive King’s Indian Defense, where Mamedyarov, playing black, countered effectively against Yangyi’s central advances. Mamedyarov’s strategic decision to sacrifice a pawn for active play on the kingside was commendable. The turning point was Yangyi’s 22.Ng5, attempting to launch an attack, which backfired due to Mamedyarov’s precise counterplay, leading to a decisive material advantage.

Bibisara Assaubayeva vs Tan Zhongyi

In a thrilling match, Bibisara Assaubayeva of American Gambits won against Tan Zhongyi of PBG Alaskan Knights, earning her 3 points. Assaubayeva opted for a sharp line in the Sicilian Defence, leading to a complex middlegame. Her handling of the middlegame, particularly the invasive 24.Ng4, was instrumental in gaining an edge. Zhongyi’s counterplay was insufficient as Assaubayeva’s aggressive posturing led to significant weakening of Black’s kingside. The endgame was tactically rich, with Assaubayeva converting her advantage effectively.

Elisabeth Paehtz vs Alina Kashlinskaya

Elisabeth Paehtz of American Gambits faced a defeat against Alina Kashlinskaya of PBG Alaskan Knights. Paehtz’s choice of a quiet system against the Slav Defense did not pay off as Kashlinskaya outmanoeuvred her in the middlegame. A critical error came at move 24 where Paehtz allowed Kashlinskaya to activate her pieces vastly, gaining a dominant position. Kashlinskaya’s technique in converting her advantage was exemplary, earning her 4 points due to winning with the black pieces.

Jonas Buhl Bjerre vs Nihal Sarin

The match between Jonas Buhl Bjerre of American Gambits and Nihal Sarin of PBG Alaskan Knights saw Sarin securing a win, thus obtaining 4 points for his team. Playing the Closed Sicilian as white, Bjerre aimed for a kingside attack which Sarin countered effectively with timely counterattacks on the queenside. Sarin’s 28…Nf3+ was a game-changer, leading to a winning endgame sequence. Sarin demonstrated superior endgame skills to convert his material advantage into a win.

Match 3: TCK vs ASGP

Alireza Firouzja vs Magnus Carlsen:

The contest between Alireza Firouzja and Magnus Carlsen ended with Carlsen securing a victory with the black pieces. Firouzja, opening with 1.e4, aimed for a dynamic setup against Carlsen’s Sicilian Defence, transitioning into a tense middlegame where both players vied for strategic and tactical advantages. The critical moment came when Firouzja overlooked Carlsen’s tactical resources in a complicated position. Specifically, on move 35.g5, Carlsen exploited weaknesses in Firouzja’s kingside, leading to a tactical skirmish that decisively tipped the balance in his favour. 

Wei Yi vs Praggnanandhaa R

Wei Yi and Praggnanandhaa R battled to a hard-fought draw. Wei Yi’s unorthodox opening choice did not disturb Praggnanandhaa significantly, who comfortably equalised in the early middlegame. Wei attempted to complicate matters with a pawn sacrifice initiating dynamic play but Praggnanandhaa’s precise defence maintained equilibrium. The game’s pinnacle was perhaps Wei’s decision to transition into an endgame where he hoped his active king and bishop pair could challenge Praggnanandhaa’s solid structure, as seen in Wei’s manoeuvre starting with 26.Rd6. This culminated in a bishop endgame where neither side could progress resulting in a mutual agreement to draw, each earning 1 game point.

Teimour Radjabov vs Richard Rapport

Radjabov’s choice of a restrained opening setup allowed him to gradually build pressure. However, Rapport skillfully neutralised all active possibilities, maintaining balance throughout. A noteworthy segment was Radjabov’s 19.Ke2, aiming to simplify the position and press slight structural advantages. Nonetheless, Rapport’s accurate responses kept the position level leading up to a threefold repetition draw agreement, where both players earned 1 game point. Their adept handling of the game underlined a deep understanding of positional nuances and defensive resources.

Alexandra Kosteniuk vs Hou Yifan

Another draw in this round came from the encounter between Alexandra Kosteniuk and Hou Yifan. The game saw Kosteniuk initiating a Queen’s Pawn game, to which Hou responded solidly. The middle game saw several shifts in pawn structure, with Kosteniuk aiming to leverage her spatial advantage. The critical phase occurred around move 26.Bd6, with Kosteniuk trying to assert positional dominance. However, Hou’s precise defensive tactics ensured she remained unscathed, particularly during the sequence starting with 30.f5. The draw, decided through a perpetual check, provided each player with 1 game point.

Valentina Gunina vs Kateryna Lagno

In a decisive match, Valentina Gunina scored a victory over Kateryna Lagno, representing a significant win for her team. Gunina’s opening as white led to an aggressive pawn structure, taking advantage of her active piece play. A critical exchange on move 16.O-O demonstrated her strategic intent to dominate the centre and utilise the open lines effectively. The game concluded decisively in Gunina’s favour following a series of powerful tactical strokes beginning from 44.Qf4. Gunina’s assertive play and tactical alertness earned her 3 game points for winning with the white pieces and highlighted her aggressive style effectively adapted against Lagno’s defences.

Javokhir Sindarov vs Daniel Dardha

In an intense encounter, Javokhir Sindarov emerged victoriously against Daniel Dardha. Sindarov deployed the Italian Game, which transitioned into a fiercely contested middlegame. The turning point was the finesse displayed by Sindarov with 19.Bxg6, initiating a combination that unravelled Dardha’s kingside defences. This game was pivotal, with Sindarov navigating complex positional themes to convert his middlegame advantage into a win. The victory not only provided Sindarov with 3 game points for winning with the white pieces but also showcased his ability to convert slight advantages in high-stakes environments.