Goa’s Ethan Vaz holds his ground with solid draw in round 7
Taleigao: International Master (IM) Alexander Slizhevsky (RUS), IM Semetei Tologon Tegin (KGZ), and Grandmaster (GM) Alexei Fedorov (BLR) emerged as joint leaders at the end of Round 7 of the Late Shri Manohar Parrikar Goa International Open Grand Master Chess Tournament, held at Taleigao.
The trio secured 6 points each, with Slizhevsky leading on tie-breaks (TB1: 30, TB2: 32), closely followed by Tologon Tegin (TB1: 28.5, TB2: 30) and Fedorov (TB1: 26, TB2: 29.5). Slizhevsky, rated 2340, showcased consistent form to keep pace with the 2351-rated Tologon Tegin and the seasoned GM Fedorov, rated 2409.
The clash between Tologon Tegin and Sethuraman in the English Opening featured intense positional maneuvering. Tologon gained an edge on the queenside with active pawn play, but Sethuraman’s precise defensive technique in the middlegame nullified White’s initiative. The game transitioned into a rook-and-pawn endgame, leading to a draw after 47 moves.
Slizhevsky and Das delivered a classic Sicilian encounter. Das, playing White, pressed aggressively with queenside activity, but Slizhevsky’s resourceful knight maneuvers maintained equality. The game simplified into a rook-and-pawn endgame, with neither player able to break through, resulting in a balanced draw after 31 moves.
Fedorov showcased his brilliance in a King’s Indian Defense. He disrupted Nguyen’s queenside pawn structure and maintained pressure. In a complicated endgame with rooks and pawns, Fedorov capitalized on Nguyen’s missteps, forcing a decisive breakthrough to secure victory in 55 moves. Goa’s IM Ethan Vaz delivered a spirited performance in Round 7, securing a hard-fought draw against Aakash Dalvi in a sharp Sicilian battle. With 5 points after seven rounds, Vaz remains a strong contender in the tournament.
GM Fedorov (2409) vs IM Nguyen (2418)
GM Alexei Fedorov’s victory in Round 7 against IM Quoc Hy Nguyen stood out for its strategic brilliance and tactical precision. Playing the King’s Indian Defense, Fedorov skillfully navigated the middlegame, where he exploited Nguyen’s slightly overextended pawn structure on the queenside. Fedorov’s active pawn sacrifices and piece coordination shifted the momentum, putting constant pressure on White’s position.
The critical moment came when Fedorov unleashed a sequence of tactical maneuvers, forcing Nguyen’s pieces into passive positions. By maintaining a strong central presence and activating his rook and bishop, Fedorov neutralized Nguyen’s counterplay. The game transitioned into an endgame where Fedorov demonstrated exemplary technique, converting his advantage into a decisive win.
What made this game exceptional was Fedorov’s ability to balance positional play with tactical ingenuity. His precise calculation ensured a smooth transition from the middlegame to the endgame, leaving no room for Nguyen to recover.
