So’s third Sinquefield Cup title!
Wesley So gained the Sinquefield Cup for a 3rd time in his profession after beating Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu in speedy and blitz tiebreaks. The 2 gamers completed the classical match tied for first on 5½/9 factors, and the title was finally determined in an Armageddon sport after each speedy encounters ended drawn.
So thus grew to become the primary participant to win the Sinquefield Cup in consecutive editions. He additionally joined Fabiano Caruana as essentially the most profitable participant within the occasion’s historical past, with each having collected three titles throughout the 13 editions performed to this point.
It rewards gamers who love initiative and clear attacking plans.
This two-volume course presents a whole repertoire for Black after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 – the Hyper-Accelerated Dragon. In recent times, this dynamic line has grown considerably in recognition, with a number of of the world’s prime gamers including it to their repertoires.
This variation has two essential benefits for black, he doesn’t need to face the Rossolimo or Moscower Variation after 3.Bb5 and in lots of traces he can play d5 in a single go and save a tempo. This primary quantity covers the Open Sicilian with each the razor sharp traces from the dragon and the positional Maroczy Bind.
Free video pattern: Introduction
Free video pattern: 6.Be3 Qb6 Introduction
The 2 co-leaders reached 5½ factors in several methods. So gained his video games in rounds two and three and drew his different seven encounters, whereas Pragg scored three wins, 5 attracts and one loss, which got here towards Vincent Keymer in spherical three. After his second victory, So completed the classical part with six consecutive attracts. The three playoff attracts prolonged So’s run to 9 consecutive attracts following his victories in rounds two and three.
So gained 7.7 ranking factors in Saint Louis and moved up to fifth place within the stay world rankings, overtaking Keymer. Pragg gained 9.7 factors and climbed 4 locations to eighth.
The 2 gamers who’ve gained the Sinquefield Cup 3 times to this point – Wesley So and Fabiano Caruana | Photograph: Lennart Ootes
Keymer and Sindarov completed tied for third on 5/9, half some extent behind the leaders. Their outcome additionally settled the ultimate qualifying place for the Grand Chess Tour Finals. Keymer had entered the match half some extent forward of Sindarov within the general GCT standings – thus, since they completed degree in Saint Louis, the German GM retained fourth place.
Pragg completed first within the general Grand Chess Tour standings, forward of Caruana in second and So in third, with Keymer taking the fourth and closing qualifying spot. Regardless of ending fourth general, Keymer has earned the most important prize purse on the tour to this point. He’s one in all three gamers, alongside Pragg and Caruana, to have collected greater than US$200,000 earlier than the GCT Finals start on Saturday.
Spherical 9
All 5 video games within the closing spherical ended peacefully. Levon Aronian and Sam Sevian drew after solely 16 strikes, whereas Fabiano Caruana and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave break up the purpose after 40 strikes in a sport that remained balanced all through.
Jorden van Foreest, who had a rought time within the occasion, dropping all 5 of his video games with the black items, tried the King’s Gambit towards Keymer. It was the primary time Keymer confronted the opening in an over-the-board sport, and he discovered himself significantly behind on the clock within the middlegame. Regardless of some inaccuracies from either side, neither participant managed to take management and the sport ended drawn after 39 strikes.
One of many easiest openings for White to study, and some of the irritating ones for Black to face! With the strikes d4-Nf3-e3-Bd3 White goals for easy piece improvement and to slowly construct up a devastating assault on the kingside!
Free pattern video: Introduction
Free pattern video: e4-e5 attacking ideas
So and Pragg each had white of their final-round video games and adopted comparatively cautious approaches. So simplified towards Javokhir Sindarov when the chance arose, whereas Pragg did likewise towards Anish Giri. Each attracts left them on 5½/9 and ensured {that a} playoff can be required to determine the title.
Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu got here from successful the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz, and gained 9.7 ranking factors within the Sinquefield Cup | Photograph: Lennart Ootes
Elite grandmasters Anish Giri, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Vincent Keymer throughout spherical 9 | Photograph: Lennart Ootes
Last standings
So prevails in Armageddon
The tiebreak started with two speedy video games at a time management of 10 minutes plus a 5-second increment. So had white within the first and entered a Queen’s Gambit Declined that includes sharp-looking theoretical traces. Pragg remembered the required continuations precisely, and the sport shortly simplified to a 21-move draw.
Pragg took a extra formidable method with White within the second speedy sport, together with an early g-pawn advance that he would have been much less possible to decide on in a classical encounter.
These days, the record of necessities for a gap repertoire is lengthy: being sound and sustainable; not requiring a lot memorisation; providing nice attacking possibilities; making your opponent suppose early on and many others… The time of discovering a minimal benefit from the opening has handed, and we’re higher off with a extra sensible method – merely understanding the place higher than our opponent does. The Repertoire for White 1.d4 … 2.Bg5! from IM Robert Ris solutions all these necessities!
Free video pattern: Introduction
Free video pattern: 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 e6 3.e4 Be7/d5/c5
The sport however ended abruptly when the gamers repeated strikes 3 times, producing one other draw after 24 strikes.
Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu taking part in white towards Wesley So | Photograph: Lennart Ootes
The title was due to this fact determined in Armageddon. Pragg gained the drawing of heaps and selected to play with the white items, receiving 5 minutes towards So’s 4. A 2-second increment would solely start from transfer 61, whereas Black had draw odds.
Pragg obtained the extra nice place from an English Opening and was capable of put strain on So’s hanging pawns on the c- and d-files. So’s place deteriorated additional after 24…Nf8?, when White may exploit a pin alongside the d-file.
After 25.Nge4 Nxe4 26.Bxe4 Rcd7 27.Bxd5 Qc7?, the sturdy 28.Ne4 would have preserved a big benefit for Pragg, however he as an alternative selected 28.e4 and allowed So to cut back the strain.
White remained within the driver’s seat, nonetheless, and later reached a major-piece ending with an additional pawn, as Pragg regained a transparent benefit. The Indian GM’s largest miss got here with 45.Rc5? as an alternative of the formidable 45.h6!, which might have allowed him to activate his king whereas maintaining Black tied to the defence of the h7-pawn.
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After the textual content transfer, Pragg nonetheless had an additional pawn, however the sport simplified into an objectively drawn rook ending with two pawns towards one. So defended precisely and secured the draw he wanted to win the match.
Two of essentially the most courteous gamers within the elite circuit – So instructed Pragg proper after drawing the Armageddon sport, jokingly: “You may’t win all tournaments!” | Photograph: Lennart Ootes
Three-time Sinquefield Cup champion Wesley So | Photograph: Lennart Ootes
