Qatar Masters 2023 R4: Carlsen makes a study-like save against Pranesh
17-year-old GM Pranesh M played excellent against GM Magnus Carlsen (NOR) in the fourth round of Qatar Masters 2023. The teenager had a great chance to push for a win against the World no.1. However, it was not easy to figure out. Instead, he went for the humane rook capture which allowed his opponent to make a study-like escape and it ended in a draw. India no.1 GM D Gukesh defeated GM Mert Yilmazyerli (TUR) to join the seven-way lead 3.5/4. The remaining six players are - GM Hikaru Nakamura (USA), GM Arjun Erigaisi, GM Javokhir Sindarov (UZB), GM S L Narayanan, GM Salem Saleh (UAE) and GM Rinat Jumabayev (KAZ). Round 5 starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. Photos: Aditya Sur Roy
Gukesh joins Arjun and S L Narayanan in the lead
IM Vaishali R continues her unbeaten run. She drew against GM Karthikeyan Murali to move to 3/4.
Pranesh - Carlsen: 0.5-0.5
Before seeing the name, one must know two things about GM Pranesh M (2515). Firstly, he became India's 79th Grandmaster by winning Rilton Cup 2022-23 in January 2023. He also won an individual bronze medal at FIDE World Rapid Team championship 2023. So there was no doubt that he was going to put up a great fight against the World no.1 - GM Magnus Carlsen (NOR, 2839).
One must do what the position requires him to do, irrespective of the fact who their opponent is. The position demanded White to play 25.f5! The teenager obliged as there was nothing better to do. 25...exf5 26.e6+ fxe6 27.Nf4 Rhe8 28.Be2 preventing Nc4 and not rushing into capturing the g6-pawn. 28...Bd6 29.Nxg6 Nc4 30.Bxc4 dxc4 31.Ne5+ Kc7, after a few moves Black offered his rook up for sacrifice which resulted in a study-like position for Black.
White played the humane and obvious 43.Qb4+ to skewer and snatch the rook at f8. However, it allows Black to make a study-like escape 43...Ke5 check out Pranesh's expression after Ke5
44.Re1+ Kf5 45.Qxf8+ Kg4 46.Re2 f3 now White must return his rook to save the game as keeping it becomes a liability. So what could have White done? 43.Qa6+! Kc7 44.Qxa7+ Kd6 45.Qa6+ Kc7 46.Qb6+ would have White's best hope to push for a win. Well it was quite difficult to find 43.Qa6+ to be the actually better than Qb4+.
Schedule
There are one round every day from 11th to 20th October 2023 starting from 3 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. Monday 16th October 2023 is a rest day. Only last round on 20th October starts at 12 p.m. local time, 2:30 p.m. IST.
Time control
Time control for each tournament game is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move 1.
Prizes
The total prize fund of the tournament is US$ 108250. The top three prizes are $25000, $15000 and $10000 each.
Replay live stream
Replay Round 4 games
Round 4 results
Standings after Round 4
Rk. | SNo | Name | Typ | sex | FED | RtgI | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | ||
1 | 2 | GM | Nakamura, Hikaru | USA | 2780 | 3,5 | 2 | 2846 | |||
2 | 4 | GM | Gukesh, D | U18 | IND | 2758 | 3,5 | 4 | 2773 | ||
3 | 6 | GM | Erigaisi, Arjun | U20 | IND | 2712 | 3,5 | 6 | 2868 | ||
4 | 12 | GM | Sindarov, Javokhir | U18 | UZB | 2658 | 3,5 | 12 | 2841 | ||
5 | 13 | GM | Narayanan.S.L, | IND | 2651 | 3,5 | 13 | 2863 | |||
6 | 16 | GM | Salem, A.R. Saleh | UAE | 2632 | 3,5 | 16 | 2809 | |||
7 | 25 | GM | Jumabayev, Rinat | KAZ | 2585 | 3,5 | 25 | 2823 | |||
8 | 3 | GM | Giri, Anish | NED | 2760 | 3 | 3 | 2714 | |||
9 | 5 | GM | Abdusattorov, Nodirbek | U20 | UZB | 2716 | 3 | 5 | 2642 | ||
10 | 7 | GM | Maghsoodloo, Parham | IRI | 2707 | 3 | 7 | 2655 | |||
11 | 19 | GM | Yakubboev, Nodirbek | UZB | 2616 | 3 | 19 | 2663 | |||
12 | 20 | GM | Karthikeyan, Murali | IND | 2611 | 3 | 20 | 2623 | |||
13 | 22 | GM | Vakhidov, Jakhongir | UZB | 2607 | 3 | 22 | 2657 | |||
14 | 23 | GM | Paravyan, David | FID | 2599 | 3 | 23 | 2640 | |||
15 | 24 | GM | Sethuraman, S.P. | IND | 2598 | 3 | 24 | 2626 |
Round 5 pairings
Links
Tournament Regulations: Open A and Open B
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