On board two, Praggnanandhaa secured another draw, while Vidit Gujrathi engaged in a lengthy game with Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, ultimately ending in a draw and sealing the Indian team’s triumph.
The Indian men maintained a perfect record with ten points after securing their fifth consecutive victory, and they were accompanied by Vietnam, who continued their impressive performance by defeating Poland 2.5-1.5.
China and Hungary also joined the leaders’ group, both securing 2.5-1.5 victories over Spain and Ukraine, respectively.
As the biggest chess event progresses with six rounds remaining, Magnus Carlsen’s Norway and Iran are the two teams occupying the fifth position, each with 9 points.
Norway showcased their prowess by securing a 3-1 victory against a formidable Turkey team, while Iran capitalized on their chances to clinch a convincing 3.5-0.5 win over Canada.
In the women’s section, Grandmaster D Harika faced an unexpected setback, giving Kazakhstan an early advantage. Despite holding a superior position for most of the game, Harika faltered in her play against Bibisara Assaubayeva, even though many experts considered her position to be winning.
Vantika Agarwal once again demonstrated her reliability on the fourth board, securing a clean victory with white pieces against Alua Nurman, while Xeniya Balabayeva and Divya Deshmukh settled for a draw.
With the scores level at 2-2, Vaishali rose to the occasion and emerged victorious for the team, outmaneuvering Meruert Kamalidenova.
Team India found themselves in a three-way tie for the lead with Armenia and Mongolia, all on ten points. Armenia put a halt to China’s momentum, handing them a 2.5-1.5 defeat, while Mongolia proved their superiority over the United States with an identical score.
The three leaders have 10 points apiece and they are now followed by Georgia and Poland a half point behind.
Gukesh continued his winning streak, securing his fourth consecutive victory against Sulemanli. The young prodigy, who is challenging for the World championship, gained a significant advantage in the middle game, capitalizing on his opponent’s scattered pieces and exposed king. He flawlessly converted this advantage into a full point.
Among the Indian contingent, Arjun has been the only player to participate in all five games so far. His success can be attributed to his ability to create complex positions regardless of the color he plays. In his game against Mamedov,Arjun navigated through a Sicilian Dragon structure, transitioning into a complicated endgame. His precise calculation skills enabled him to secure his fifth consecutive win.
Notably, Arjun’s live ELO rating currently stands at an impressive 2888 points, just 12 points shy of the prestigious 2800 mark. If he achieves this feat, he will join Viswanathan Anand as the only Indian players to have reached this milestone.
The women’s section has witnessed some intense battles, with fortunes changing rapidly. In the upcoming round, the Indian women’s team is set to face Armenia.
Results, Round 5, Open
MEN
India (10) beat Azerbaijan (8) 3-1 (D Gukesh beat Aydin Sulemanli; R Praggnanandhaa drew with Nijat Abasov; Arjun Erigaise beat Rauf Mamedov; Shakhriyar Mamedyarov drew with Vidit Gujrathi); Ukraine (8) lost to Hungary (10) 1.5-2.5; Vietnam (10) beat Poland (8) 2.5-1.5; Spain (8) lost to China (10) 1.5-2.5; Turkey (7) lost to Norway (9) 1-3; Iran (9) beat Canada (7) 3.5-0.5
WOMEN
Kazakhstan (8) lost to India (10) 1.5-2.5 (Bibisara Asaubayeva beat D Harika; R Vaishali beat Meruert Kamalidenova; Xeniya Balabayeva drew with Divya Deshmukh; Vantika Agrawal beat Alua Nurman); China (8) lost to Armenia (10) 1.5-2.5; Mongolia (10) beat USA (8) 2.5-1.5; Uzbekistan (7) lost to Georgia (9)1.5-2.5; Poland (9) beat Turkey (7) 3-1.
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