Abdusattorov wins Letsup MCA GP Blitz again

by Shahid Ahmed - 22/06/2020

World no.1 in Under-16 GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov won Letsup MCA GP Blitz 3 on 17th June with a score of 8.5/10. The tournament was the third of five events in the Grand Prix. Abdusattorov won ₹6500 cash prize for his efforts. The remaining podium finishers are GM Vaibhav Suri and winner of Blitz 1 GM Vugar Rasulov of Azerbaijan. They finished at 8.0/10 each and they were placed second and third respectively. Vaibhav maintained his lead of the GP standings with three consecutive podium finishes at 26/30 points, followed by Abdusattorov and Rasulov at second and third position with 21/30 and 18/30 points each respectively. In case you missed you the first three events, do not worry, you can still play the remaining two. Registration is on for Blitz 4 on 24th June.

Vaibhav Suri maintains his GP lead, Abdusattorov is on a hat-trick

Uzbekistan no.2 GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov scored 8.5/10 to win Letsup presents MCA GP Blitz 3. Although this time he suffered one loss and scored a half point less than the previous event, still winning two consecutive events in a Grand Prix is an impressive feat. GM Vaibhav Suri made his third consecutive podium finish with a score of 8.0/10 and finished at second place due to a better tie-break score. Three other players also finished at 8.0/10 and they were placed third to fifth respectively according to their tie-break scores. They are GP Blitz 1 winner GM Vugar Rasulov of Azerbaijan, reigning National Junior (Under-19) champion Aradhya Garg and GM Shyam Sundar M. GM Vaibhav Suri maintained his top place in the GP standings with 26/30 points, two consecutive event winner Abdusattorov at 21/30 and the winner of Blitz 1 GM Vugar Rasulov of Azerbaijan jumped to third position with 18/30 points respectively. With only two Blitz events to go, it will be interesting to see who wins the GP Vaibhav or Abdusattorov.

Letsup presents MCA Blitz GP 2020

Total 118 players including 23 GMs, 19 IMs and 7 WIMs from India, Algeria, Argentina, Chile, Egypt, Indonesia, Ireland, Peru, Russia, Serbia, Spain, USA and Uzbekistan took part in this 10 Round event.

GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan is the winner of MCA GP Blitz 3

Kingfisher held Keramin to a draw

Kingfisher99 (CM Kushagra Mohan) held the eventual winner of the tournament Keramin (GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov) to a draw in Round 4.

Kushagra Mohan is a former Commonwealth Under-14 and current National Sub-Junior Silver medalist | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Champion vs Champion

In a battle of Champion vs Champion, GM Vugar Rasulov (Winner of Blitz 1) missed a good opportunity against Keramin (GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov, winner of Blitz 2).

Rasulov Vugar - Keramin, Round 5

Position after 25...Rd7

The game continued with 26.Bc5 which was certainly not the best move. Find out what was the better continuation for white instead.

Vugar Rasulov finished third with 8.0/10 | Photo: Azer news

Battle of the Uzbeks

Uzbektiger95 (GM Jakhongir Vakhidov) was the only person who was able to beat Keramin (GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov) in the entire tournament when they faced each other in Round 6.

GM Jakhongir Vakhidov scored 6.5/10 | Photo: gamesmaven.io

Terry could have prevented Keramin

Terryr (IM Terry Renato of Peru) almost defeated Keramin (GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov) in the final round of the tournament which could have cost him the championship.

Keramin - Terryr, Round 10

Position after 32.Rxg6

Terry rushed and played 32...f2 which was not the most accurate continuation, of course time scramble could have possibly led to this but what was the better continuation for black?

Position after 36.Kf2

Terry still had a decisive advantage but after 36.Kf2, he inaccurately played 36...Rc8 which evaporated his advantage. Find out what he should have played instead.

IM Terry Renato decided to donate both of his Blitz 2 and 3 prize to Amphan Cyclone Fundraiser event | Photo: FIDE

GM Vaibhav Suri maintained his GP Standings lead with another podium finish | Photo: Niki Riga

Shahil Dey held Irus1997 to a marathon draw

CM Shahil Dey played accurately and survived a difficult onslaught attempt in the end to hold a marathon draw after 109 moves against Irus1997 (GM Vaibhav Suri).

Reigning Asian Youth Under-12 Rapid Gold medalist CM Shahil Dey is a talent to watch out for

Juggernaut win against Js3131

Irus1997 's (GM Vaibhav Suri) best win of the tournament was against Peru no.3 Js3131 (GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara).

Reigning National Junior (Under-19) Champion Aradhya Garg played fantastic, scored 8.0/10 to finish fourth | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Aradhya's amazing win

Aradhya beat GM Deep Sengupta, IM Rahul Srivasthav P, GM Debashis Das, GM Shardul Gagare, GM Shyam Sundar M, GM Vishnu Prasanna and GM Arjun Erigaisi in the tournament. This could perhaps be Aradhya's best performance in a ChessBase India Online Blitz tournament. His best win was against GM Debashis Das in Round 5.

WIM Priyanka Nutakki won Best Woman prize for second consecutive tournament in the GP | Photo: Niklesh Jain

Priyanka turned things around

Despite making a slow start of 2.0/5, WIM Priyanka Nutakki turned things around and scored 4.5/5 in the final five rounds which allowed her to win Best Woman prize again in the second consecutive tournament of the GP. Her best win in the tournament was against lnram (Ram Aravind L N)

Final Standings:

GP Standings after Blitz

Main Prize winners (Top 20)

Rank	Name	Score	Prize money
1	GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov	8.5	₹6500
2	GM Vaibhav Suri	8	₹4000
3	GM Vugar Rasulov	8	₹2500
4	Aradhya Garg	8	₹2000
5	GM Shyamsundar M	8	₹1000
6	IM Mohammad Nubairshah Shaikh	7.5	₹800
7	GM Laxman R R	7.5	₹700
8	IM Terry Renato	7	₹600
9	IM Christopher Yoo	7	₹500
10	GM Diptayan Ghosh	7	₹500
11	GM Alan Pichot	7	₹500
12	IM Aleksei Kireev	6.5	₹400
13	GM Arjun Erigaisi	6.5	₹400
14	GM Jakhongir Vakhidov	6.5	₹400
15	GM Debashis Das	6.5	₹300
16	GM Dusan Popovic	6.5	₹300
17	GM Vishnu Prasanna	6.5	₹300
18	IM Aronyak Ghosh	6.5	₹300
19	GM Shardul Gagare	6.5	₹300
20	IM Mitrabha Guha	6.5	₹300