Chennai Grandmasters | Keymer seals title with a miraculous draw

Vincent Keymer didn’t look like at his serene greatest. His eighth-round sport towards Dutchman Jorden van Foreest was heading for an thrilling end and the German was near struggling his first defeat within the Masters part of the Quantbox Chennai Grandmasters chess match.

As the match veered to a tense climax, the 20-year-old was one unsuitable transfer away from surrendering to his opponent. Keymer’s face turned pink and he didn’t look very comfy in his seat. However, he discovered that match-saving transfer on the forty fourth flip to script a nice escape and seal the title with a spherical to spare.

The draw on Thursday meant that Keymer’s tally went as much as 6 and the unbeaten star couldn’t be overtaken within the standings with his nearest rival Arjun Erigaisi, who was on 4 factors earlier than the eighth spherical started, settling for a fast draw with Vidit Gujrathi.

“It’s just that I missed the Bishop d1 idea, which is really something you shouldn’t miss. I had many ways to force a draw. I opted exactly for this way, which is a miracle. I’m glad I managed to focus myself back onto the game and find the only way to a draw. Just missing this Bishop d1 idea, it’s crazy, especially in such a moment,” a relieved Keymer stated after the sport.

Meanwhile, the Arjun-Vidit encounter lasted simply over two hours.

All the video games within the Masters occasion resulted in stalemates. Karthikeyan Murali, who may have stored the title race alive if he had crushed Nihal Sarin, couldn’t get previous his opponent.

Pranesh in sole lead

In the Challengers part, M. Pranesh heads into the ultimate day as the only chief, with 6.5 factors, after he beat D. Harika. Abhimanyu Puranik and Leon Luke Mendonca are in sizzling pursuit, with six factors every.

The outcomes: Eighth spherical: Masters: Karthikeyan Murali (4.5) drew with Nihal Sarin (3.5), V. Pranav (3) drew with Ray Robson (USA, 3), Vincent Keymer (Ger, 6) drew with Jorden van Foreest (Ned, 4), Anish Giri (Ned, 4) drew with Awonder Liang (USA, 4), Vidit Gujrathi (3.5) drew with Arjun Erigaisi (4.5).

Challengers: G. B. Harshavardhan (3) misplaced to B. Adhiban (5), Leon Mendonca (6) drew with Pa. Iniyan (4.5), Abhimanyu Puranik (6) bt Diptayan Ghosh (3.5), R. Vaishali (1) misplaced to Aryan Chopra (3), D. Harika (1.5) misplaced to M. Pranesh (6.5).

Ninth spherical pairings: Masters: Arjun vs. Karthikeyan, Liang vs. Vidit, van Foreest vs. Giri, Robson vs. Keymer, Nihal vs. Pranav.

Challengers: Pranesh vs. Harshavardhan, Aryan vs. Harika, Diptayan vs. Vaishali, Iniyan vs. Abhimanyu, Adhiban vs Mendonca.