May 28th 2024.
In Stavanger, the Norway Chess tournament kicked off with a bang as Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa secured a win against Firouzja Alireza of France in the Armageddon game in the first round. It was a thrilling match that had everyone on the edge of their seats.
The day began with all the games under classical time control ending in draws, both in the men's and women's sections. This meant that the winner would be decided through the unique Armageddon format, where players have a limited amount of time to claim victory.
The world's number one player, Magnus Carlsen, played two games, first a quick draw in the classical format and then a grueling 68-move draw with reigning world champion Ding Liren. Meanwhile, Hikaru Nakamura emerged victorious in the Armageddon against his American compatriot Fabiano Caruana.
At the end of the first round, Praggnanandhaa, Carlsen, and Nakamura were tied for the lead with 1.5 points each. Alireza, Liren, and Caruana were close behind with half a point behind. In this tournament, a win in the classical format is worth three points, while a win in the Armageddon earns the player 1.5 points.
For Praggnanandhaa, it was a historic win as he secured his first-ever victory over Alireza in an over-the-board match. The game began with an irregular queen pawn opening, and Praggnanadhaa seized a small advantage. He then took advantage of a careless move by Alireza and launched a series of attacks that resulted in a decisive victory in just 38 moves.
In the women's section, the prize fund was the same as the men's, and the players also had to battle it out in both classical and Armageddon formats. The first round saw three draws in the classical games between the six competitors. In the Armageddon, Koneru Humpy only needed a draw with her black pieces to secure 1.5 points.
R Vaishali, the elder sister of Praggnanandhaa, faced off against the women's world champion Wenjun Ju of China in a tough classical game. Wenjun took Vaishali for a long grind in a queen and opposite-colored bishops endgame, but Vaishali managed to hold on and secure a draw after 80 moves.
In the Armageddon, Wenjun had to win to secure 1.5 points, and she sacrificed a pawn early on in the game. Vaishali had an extra pawn for a while, but as the clock ticked away, she couldn't withstand the pressure and ended up losing in 43 moves.
The other game in the women's section saw TIngjie Lei of China emerge victorious in the Armageddon against Anna Muzychuk of Ukraine, securing 1.5 points.
It was an exciting start to the Norway Chess tournament, and we can't wait to see what the rest of the rounds have in store. In the men's section, Praggnanandhaa, Carlsen, and Nakamura are currently leading the pack, while in the women's section, Koneru Humpy is in the lead with 1.5 points. Stay tuned for more updates!
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