Gukesh continues his meteoric rise, now World no.18

by Shahid Ahmed - 19/08/2022

When 44th Chess Olympiad ended, GM D Gukesh won a Gold on Board no.1 ahead of Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Magnus Carlsen. He also won a team Bronze for the India 2 team. His world ranking at that time was 24 in live ratings. A week later, Gukesh started playing for Turkish Airlines Sports Club (THY) in Turkish Isbank Chess Super League. The 16-year-old won his first three games against GM Aryan Gholami, GM Andrey Esipenko and Turkey no.3 GM Vahap Sanal. All three were strong opponents, the Gukesh juggernaut continues. His live rating is now 2735.9 and currently he is World no.18. He is facing GM Mikhail Kobalia in Round 4. Photo: Official site

The momentum continues from 44th Chess Olympiad

GM D Gukesh is doing what he does best, play good chess on the board and let his moves do the talking. He single-mindedly continues his journey towards the top. India's top 3 has already changed during the Olympiad and it will certainly take a new shape by the end of this year as hungry talented youth have announced their arrival. They do not plan on slowing down anytime soon.

Gukesh en route his third victory of the Turkish Chess Super League against Vahap Sanal | Photo: Official site

Round 1: Turkish Airlines Sports Club (THY) - Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Sports Club: 5-1

GM D Gukesh's team THY defeated BMMSC 5-1 without conceding a single game. The other victors for his team were GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB), GM Ivan Cheparinov (BUL) and GM Cemil Can Ali Marandi (TUR).

Gukesh - Gholami

Position after 15...Bxb4

GM Aryan Gholami (IRI) of BMMSC, made a dubious sacrifice 15...Bxb4 16.axb4 Nxb4. He did not get as much compensation as he would have preferred 17.Qc3 Nxd3 18.Qxd3 b5 19.cxb5 cxb5 20.d5! Gukesh opened up the position by giving up a pawn. Black was not able to get much for the three pawns he had for his opponent's knight and went on to lose the game.

Gukesh vs Gholami - Analysis by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

GM D Gukesh en route his victory against GM Aryan Gholami | Photo: Official site

Round 1: Turkish Airlines Sports Club (THY) - Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Sports Club: 5-1

Round 2: Bayegan Pendik Chess Sports Club - Turkish Airlines Sports Club: 2-4

In Round 2, Gukesh, Abdusattorov and Cemil scored the wins for the team. Cheparinov and IM Ekaterina Atalik drew their games. IM Isik Can (TUR) suffered the sole loss.

Esipenko - Gukesh

Position after 21...f6

GM Andrey Esipenko gained a huge space advantage. However, his pieces were lagging in the development department. Gukesh kept his calm and did what was required. He started chipping away at White's overstretched and strong pawn center. 21...f6 was the first step towards it. 22.exf6 Qxf6 23.fxg5 Nxd4 in just two moves, Black's position suddenly looks more promising than White's. 24.Bg4 Nf3+ 25.Bxf3 Qxf3 26.gxh6 Rf5, Now White should have exchanged some heavy artilleries to reduce the intensity of attack 27.Rf1 Qxf1+ 28.Qxf1 Rxf1+ 29.Kxf1 b4+ 30.Kg1 would have kept the fight going. 27.Re1 e5 28.Nd2 Qh5 29.Kg2 Raf8 and Esipenko felt it was too little too late, he resigned.

Gukesh beats Esipenko, reaches 2733 and is now world no.19 | Video: ChessBase India

Gukesh calmly dismantled Esipenko's pawn structure and plans | Photo: Official site

Bayegan Pendik Chess Sports Club - Turkish Airlines Sports Club: 2-4

Round 3: Turkish Airlines Sports Club (THY) - Sea Water Aquamatch Chess Youth and SP : 4-2

GM D Gukesh and GM Bartlomiej Heberla (POL) were the only two full point scorers for their team. The remaining four games ended in draws.

Gukesh - Vahap

Position after 18.c6

Gukesh created a pawn wedge 18.c6 which partially paralyzed Black's position. The c8-bishop does not have a good square to go. Be6 would certainly limit the mobility of the e5-rook who will desperately gasp for some breathing room.

Position after 35.e6

35.e6 is beautiful move which completely disintegrates Black's position. It is safe to say that Black is positionally lost here. White won the game in another six moves.

Gukesh's amazing play against GM Vahap Sanal | Video: ChessBase India

Try to solve the questions posed by IM Sagar Shah in this interactive format. It is completely free, you just need to create an account.

Turkish Airlines Sports Club (THY) - Sea Water Aquamatch Chess Youth and SP : 4-2

This was the Indian players' ranking after the 44th Chess Olympiad got over | Source: 2700chess.com

The current World rankings as per live ratings - Both Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi have climbed six places each to World no.18 and 32 respectively | Source: 2700chess.com

GM D Gukesh and GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov are playing for the same team Turkish Airlines Sports Club (THY) on Board no.1 and 2 | Photo: Official site

The poise of Gukesh | Photo: Official site

To understand why Gukesh is climbing the ranks so quickly, you have to listen to his support system - his father, Dr. Rajinikanth and his coach GM Vishnu Prasanna

Developing a world-class chess prodigy - Rajinikanth, father of GM D Gukesh | Video: ChessBase India

From 2250 to 2700 - How GM Vishnu Prasanna trained D Gukesh | Video: ChessBase India

The tournament is being played at CPAnkara Hotel at Ankara, Turkey | Photo: Official site

India's 70th GM Raja Rithvik R is the only other Indian taking part in this event | Photo: Official site

Replay Round 1-3 games

Starting list of players

No.		Name	FideID	Rtg	FED	Team	Bo.
1	GM	YU YANGYI	8603820	2708	CHN	GÖKTÜRK SATRANÇ SPOR KULÜBÜ	2
2	GM	MAGHSOODLOO PARHAM	12539929	2701	IRI	GÖKTÜRK SATRANÇ SPOR KULÜBÜ	1
3	GM	DOMMARAJU GUKESH	46616543	2699	IND	TÜRK HAVA YOLLARI (THY) SPOR KULÜBÜ	1
4	GM	ESIPENKO ANDREY	24175439	2692	FID	BAYEGAN PENDİK SATRANÇ SPOR KULÜBÜ	2
5	GM	NIEMANN HANS MOKE	2093596	2687	USA	BAYEGAN PENDİK SATRANÇ SPOR KULÜBÜ	1
6	GM	CHEPARINOV IVAN	2905540	2685	BUL	TÜRK HAVA YOLLARI (THY) SPOR KULÜBÜ	3
7	GM	ABDUSATTOROV NODIRBEK	14204118	2677	UZB	TÜRK HAVA YOLLARI (THY) SPOR KULÜBÜ	2
8	GM	KUZUBOV YURİY	14112906	2644	UKR	TARSUS ZEKA SATRANÇ KULÜBÜ	1
9	GM	SHEVCHENKO KIRILL	14129574	2642	UKR	GÖKTÜRK SATRANÇ SPOR KULÜBÜ	3
10	GM	IDANI POUYA	12510130	2641	IRI	HATAY BÜYÜKŞEHİR BELEDİYESİ GENÇLİK SPOR	1
11	GM	SOLAK DRAGAN	916811	2639	TUR	BAYEGAN PENDİK SATRANÇ SPOR KULÜBÜ	3
12	GM	YILMAZ MUSTAFA	6302718	2634	TUR	GÖKTÜRK SATRANÇ SPOR KULÜBÜ	4
13	GM	ABASOV NİJAT AZAD OĞLU	13402960	2633	AZE	DARÜŞŞAFAKA SPOR KULÜBÜ	1
14	GM	NGUYEN THAI DAI VAN	358878	2629	CZE	GÖKYAY VAKFI SPOR KULÜBÜ	1
15	GM	CAN EMRE	6302181	2593	TUR	GÖKTÜRK SATRANÇ SPOR KULÜBÜ	5

Details

Standings after Round 3

Rk.	SNo	Team	Games	+	=	-	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	2	TÜRK HAVA YOLLARI (THY) SPOR KULÜBÜ	3	3	0	0	6	0	1095
2	3	BAYEGAN PENDİK SATRANÇ SPOR KULÜBÜ	3	2	0	1	4	0	1039
3	10	BURSA BÜYÜKŞEHİR BELEDİYESPOR KULÜBÜ	3	2	0	1	4	0	750
4	1	GÖKTÜRK SATRANÇ SPOR KULÜBÜ	2	2	0	0	4	0	698
5	9	BURHANİYE SATRANÇ SPOR KULÜBÜ	2	2	0	0	4	0	552
6	13	DARÜŞŞAFAKA SPOR KULÜBÜ	3	1	1	1	3	0	751
7	5	DENİZ SU AQUAMATCH SATRANÇ GENÇLİK VE SP	3	1	1	1	3	0	740
8	4	HATAY BÜYÜKŞEHİR BELEDİYESİ GENÇLİK SPOR	3	1	1	1	3	0	637
9	11	TAŞ DUVAR SPOR KULÜBÜ	3	1	0	2	2	2	578
10	6	KARAMAN FUTBOL KULÜBÜ	3	1	0	2	2	0	631
11	12	ROTA KOLEJİ SPOR KULÜBÜ	3	0	1	2	1	0	393
12	8	GÖKYAY VAKFI SPOR KULÜBÜ	3	0	0	3	0	0	603
13	7	TARSUS ZEKA SATRANÇ KULÜBÜ	2	0	0	2	0	0	353