File picture of R Praggnanandhaa.© FIDE
Grandmaster R Praggnanadhaa performed out a strong draw with World champion D Gukesh within the eighth spherical of the Tata Steel Masters at Wijk aan Zee within the Netherlands. Playing the white facet of a Berlin protection, Praggnanadhaa had barely beneficial place optically however Gukesh was at all times on guard to defend. It was within the early center sport that Gukesh sacrificed a pawn to get his counterplay rolling and though Praggnanadhaa tried to utilize it, the sport was at all times nearer to a draw.
As the Queens obtained traded the gamers arrived at a rook and minor piece endgame whereby Gukesh discovered the most effective sources and even obtained an outdoor handed pawn. With Praggnanadhaa’s rook having the lone process of working in opposition to the pawn, the results of the sport was by no means unsure. The sport was drawn after 33 strikes.
With the draw, it’s probably that each Praggananandhaa and Gukesh will proceed to share the lead on 5.5 factors as the opposite in a single day chief Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan was additionally trying poised to share the purpose with fourth positioned Vladimir Fedoseev of Slovenia.
Among different Indians within the fray, Grandmaster P Harirkishna performed out a draw with highest ranked Dutchman Anish Giri. The Arkhengelsk variation within the Ruy Lopez as black gave Giri a simple equality within the early center sport and the items obtained exchanged in a heap.
The gamers arrived at a completely degree rook and pawns endgame the place the draw was a simply consequence.
Harikrishna moved to 4 factors out of a doable eight, whereas Anish took his tally to three.5 following his seventh straight draw.
Arjun Erigaisi performed out a draw with Alexey Sarana of Serbia, whereas Leon Luke Mendonca additionally obtained the identical consequence in opposition to Jorden van Foreest of Holland. Arjun on two factors is a half level behind Mendonca.
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