The reward for the 18-year-old is a date with Fabiano Caruana within the semis – he’s the primary Indian after Vishy Anand within the WC final 4 – and at the very least $50,000 in prize cash. However importantly, he secures a spot within the Candidates event in 2024, the winner of which is able to play China’s Ding Liren for the world crown.
The extraordinary tiebreak drama between the 2 Indians exploded from the 10-min video games after a set of the primary two fast video games resulted in attracts.
Praggu prevails after heart-stopping drama
Veteran GM Peter Leko stated throughout the webcast, “Sensational match…there have been errors however the gamers confirmed unbelievable will to combat until the top.”
“Glad,” reacted Praggu after reaching the semis. “I do not suppose it was simple in any respect…. we had been simply combating and never taking part in nicely with white. Possibly it is laborious to search out concepts with white. For me at the very least. Arjun is robust with each colors, particularly with black. I used to be simply attempting to relax and play my greatest. Was not pondering of Candidates however was concentrating solely on the video games. To lose 30 seconds with out doing something was upsetting however I managed to get better.”
The participant with black items received 4 video games in a row. Arjun triumphed in a must-win contest within the fourth tiebreak recreation (each 10-minute video games) after shedding the third one. Then, Praggu did the identical within the sixth recreation after shedding the fifth (each five-minute video games).
The tiebreak then moved to no-opportunity-to-bounce-back zone because the rules acknowledged the primary decisive recreation (three minutes plus two second increment) would finish the competition.
The topsy-turvy nature of the competition reached its zenith as a participant with white items – Praggu – lastly struck with a supposedly beneficial color to finish Arjun’s gallant effort with a 5-Four scoreline. The drama had begun even earlier than this recreation had began as Praggu reached the desk after his clock was began and he virtually misplaced half a minute within the three-minute recreation. He additionally displayed no nerve as he eliminated his participant accreditation and jacket when saving time was of nice essence.
The tiebreak video games of shorter time controls had been warranted after each had received a recreation every with black items within the classical section too on Tuesday and Wednesday.
American 31-year-old Caruana (Elo 2782), Praggu’s rival in semis, had completed off Leinier Dominguez within the classical section itself by successful with white items.
Within the girls’s semifinal, 29th seed Nurguyl Salimova of Bulgaria, who will not be even a WGM, defeated GM Anna Muzhychuk of Ukraine, total 3.5-2.5 and a couple of.5-1.5 in tiebreak. They too began with fast wins for every participant with black items. Salimova (Elo 2403) then received the 15-minute recreation with white items earlier than drawing the subsequent with black to clinch the deal.
She’s going to play second seed Aleksandra Goryachkina within the two-game title conflict beginning on Saturday. The boys will begin their semis on the day with Friday being the remainder day.
World No. 97 Nijat Abasov creates candidates historical past
The story of the World Cup chess to this point is that of native boy Nijat Abasov. With Magnus Carlsen clarifying that he received’t play the Candidates, the opposite three semifinalists on the ongoing FIDE knockout occasion in Baku, Azerbaijan, will advance to the eight-player event that spots a challenger to tackle reigning world champion Ding Liren early subsequent 12 months. In any other case, solely the topthree had been set to make it from the World Cup.
Abasov’s story is the reverse of the Indians — he had misplaced ranking factors put up pandemic, from 2668 in Jan 2021 to 2646 firstly of this month. At world No. 97, the 28-year-old would be the lowest-rated participant to have certified for the fashionable Candidates cycle.
Earlier than knocking out Vidit Gujrathi within the second recreation of the quarterfinals, he survived a barely minus place for 109 strikes within the opening recreation. He additionally had upset wins over stalwarts Anish Giri and former champion Peter Svidler throughout this marketing campaign. Abasov will face prime seed Magnus Carlsen for a spot within the ultimate.
“I solely noticed the opening (within the second recreation in opposition to Vidit) which was pretty innocuous after which Abasov received. I don’t know the way,” Carlsen stated, his wit intact. “The arrogance that he performs with is astounding. The extent of opponents that he has knocked out may be very spectacular.”
