MCCT Finals R7: Praggnanandhaa beats Arjun Erigaisi, So finishes second

by Shahid Ahmed - 21/11/2022

Praggnanandhaa won against Arjun Erigaisi in the final round of Meltwater Champions Chess Tour Finals 2022. Both of them scored 9/21 each to finish fifth and sixth respectively. They also earned US$ 22500 each. The rematch between them will take place starting next week at Tata Steel Chess India 2022 Rapid and Blitz which begins on Tuesday 29th November 2022. Anish Giri defeated Wesley So to finally end his four-match losing streak. Still it did not help his overall standings as So finished second 13/21 and Giri last 6/21. Carlsen beat Duda to score a staggering 20/21. Liem won against Mamedyarov to secure third place 11/21. Photo: ChessBase India live stream

Giri finally ends his losing streak

Four out of the seven finalists will take part in the upcoming Tata Steel Chess India Rapid and Blitz 2022. It means a lot of rematches will take place. However, this time it will be rated rapid and blitz games which means over-the-board and not in match format.

Magnus Carlsen is the winner of Meltwater Champions Chess Tour Finals 2022 | Photo: ChessBase India live stream

Runner-up - Wesley So 13/21 | Photo: Champions Chess Tour

Arjun - Praggnanandhaa: 1.5-2.5

R Praggnanandhaa won the first game after Arjun Erigaisi made an inaccuracy in the double rook and knight endgame.

After a draw in the second game, Praggnanandhaa blundered and lost the third game in just an 18 move miniature.

Arjun - Praggnanandhaa, Game 3

Position after 17.Bf6!

White is making a deadly threat of 18.Nh6+ followed by checkmate on the kingside. Black completely ignored it and played 17...Qa4. He immediately resigned after 18.Nh6+ as checkmate is inevitable. Find out how Black could have saved the game.

Praggnanandhaa immediately struck back and won the fourth game to win the match 2.5-1.5, finishing ahead of Arjun.

Praggnanandhaa - Arjun, Game 4

Position after 13.Rxa6

Praggnanandhaa made a subtle positional exchange sacrifice 13.Rxa6. After 13...bxa6 14.dxc5, there is nothing immediate for White. However, the weakened doubled pawns on the a-file means, they will drop eventually and White's knights would soon become a menace. White had no trouble converting his advantage into a win.