Chess
2019 Chess World Cup: Nihal Sarin, Adhiban crash out in 2nd round tie-breakers
The tie-breakers, which were held on Sunday, took place after the tournament witnessed numerous classical ties in the second round.
B Adhiban and Nihal Sarin both crashed out of the ongoing Chess World Cup on Sunday as both of them were handed defeats in their second round rapid tie-breaker games in Khanty Mansiysk, Russia.
The tie-breakers, which were held on Sunday, took place after the tournament witnessed numerous classical ties in the second round. While Adhiban lost with white piecs to Yangyi Yu of China, Sarin lost with black pieces to Eltaj Safarli of Azerbaijan.
In Chinese Super GM Yangyi Yu, Adhiban faced a tough opponent on Sunday. Yangyi, who has a rapid rating of 2787, captured on the d-pawn in a Queen's Gambit declined version and took control early on.
Adhiban, rated 2608 (rapid), was forced to go in the backfoot and the youngster subsequently resigned after 54 moves. In the second game, the Indian could only get a draw, thus losing the tie 1.5-2.5.
15-year-old Sarin, on the other hand, took on the Safarli, who hit a career-high rating of 2718 in the rapid format this month. The 27-year-old Azerbaijani started with white pieces and took an aggressive line to claim an unassailable 1-0 lead in a rook-knight endgame. The Indian's best efforts to draw level with white turned futile as Safarli forced into an early draw and clinch their tie 2.5-1.5.
With these two exits, India's hopes in the competition — which started earlier last week with 128 players and has already been trimmed down to 32 — rest solely on Pentala Harikrishna and Vidit Gujrathi.
Harikrishna is set to play Kirill Alekseenko of Russia while Vidit has his task cut out as he prepares to take on the formidable Wesley So of the USA in the third round that begins Monday.
