Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh concluded the Weissenhaus Freestyle Chess Challenge rapid play-offs in sixth place, facing tough competition. Nodirbek Abdusattarov emerged as the rapid play-off winner with an impressive 5.5 points out of seven. Vincent Keymer secured second place. Gukesh, despite a challenging day, will now advance to the Quarterfinals against Fabiano Caruana, competing under Classical time control, where he is expected to be a formidable opponent.
Gukesh faced setbacks in the rapid play-offs, losing the last three rounds. His day began on a challenging note against Caruana, who executed a strategic plan, sacrificing a rook for a minor piece and launching a decisive attack on the black’s king side. In the game against Abdusattarov, He faced complexity in the middle game, making challenging decisions that didn’t favor him. The match against Keymer concluded in just 22 moves, marking another tough round for Gukesh.
With the rapid play-offs completed, the focus now shifts to the Quarterfinals under Classical time control, a format where he excels. The Quarterfinal matchups include he against Caruana, Abdusattarov against Ding Liren, Magnus Carlsen against Alireza Firouzja, and Vincent Keymer against Levon Aronian. The winners will be determined through two games each in the Quarterfinal stage, with shorter time control games in case of a tie. Gukesh’s prowess in Classical Chess makes him a formidable contender against elite opponents, adding anticipation to the upcoming matches.
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