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Qatar Masters 2023 R2: Alisher Suleymenov crushes Magnus Carlsen

by Shahid Ahmed - 13/10/2023

Magnus Carlsen suffered a crushing defeat against Alisher Suleymenov in the second round of Qatar Masters 2023. The world no.1 tweeted that his opponent scored a crushin victory, he played an amazing game and deserved to win. He also mentioned that as soon as he saw his opponent wearing a watch early in the game, he lost his ability to concentrate. This was certainly the biggest upset of the event so far and perhaps of the year too. However, it was not the only upset of the round. FM Senthil Maran K handed GM Vladimir Fedoseev his second consecutive loss. IM Vaishali R defeated GM Sethuraman S P, exactly on the same day after her immortal win last year. Round 3 starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. Photos: Aditya Sur Roy

Vaishali beats Sethuraman exactly on the same day a year after her immortal win

The gap between 2400-2500 and 2600+ or say 2700+ is much less than what the number suggests. Why? Because top players only play amongst themselves. They rarely play any open tournament. Thus, their rating mostly stays the same and they are not in competition with players who are just hundreds of rating points behind them. The lower players be it CM, FM, IM and even GM, are not afraid of facing the top players. Why? They know, they have nothing to lose. A loss would be an obvious result. However, a draw or win could make the headlines and perhaps the moment/upset of the day. If anything, it is Magnus Carlsen who has shown that anyone can be beaten by the sheer willingness to win. He made a career out of grinding endgames which many players would like to take a draw and call it a day. FIDE World Cup 2023 was a great example that the gap is reduced. Those who read our reports, follow our pages and channels, are well aware of the fact that upsets are very common these days. Gone are the pre-computer days where Grandmasters rarely use to lose a game against someone who is not a GM. 

Asian Continental 2023 Bronze medalist - GM Alisher Suleymenov (KAZ) crushed the FIDE World Cup 2023 winner and World no.1, GM Magnus Carlsen

Fact: Kazakhstan's latest GM Alisher Suleymenov was eliminated from the first round of FIDE World Cup 2023. The event was won by the World no.1 - GM Magnus Carlsen.

Suleymenov - Carlsen: 1-0

Magnus Carlsen (NOR, 2839) faced Kazakhstan's latest Alisher Suleymenov (2512) for the first time in a rated game. The World no.1 opted for Queen's Indian which transposed into a Sicilian like pawn structure soon.

Position after 17...Ne8

17...Ne8? is the second consecutive strange and incorrect knight retreat by the FIDE World Cup 2023 winner. As he mentioned in a tweet, he lost his ability to concentrate and thus he played strange moves like 16...Ne7 followed by 17...Ne8. Suleymenov mentioned in the post-match interview that he did not even consider 17...Ne8. He was thinking about 17...Ng6 which is what the optimum reply is. After 18.Ng5 Ng6? is too late. 19.e5! d5? 20.Qb3+- White realized that he is the one in driver's seat now.

Position after 21.Nxf7!

21.Nxf7! is the obvious move for White to take advantage of his position. 21...Kxf7 22.cxd5 Bxd5 23.Rxd5! exd5 24.Qxd5+ Kf8 25.Nd4 and White won the game in another half a dozen moves.

Carlsen's shocking loss to Suleymenov explained | Video: ChessBase India
Kazakhstan's latest GM Alisher Suleymenov crushes GM Magnus Carlsen | Video: ChessBase India
I am lucky to play against a legend like Carlsen - GM Alisher Suleymenov | Video: ChessBase India
Super GMs shocked to see Magnus Carlsen losing | Video: ChessBase India

Magnus Carlsen made a few tweets after his loss

After the last tweet by Carlsen, GM Hikaru Nakamura (USA) promptly changed the title of his aforementioned video.

Tournament Rules and Regulations

9.6 says - Players are asked not to bring mobile phones or any other electronic devices (even switched off) into the playing hall. Bringing any device to the playing hall will result in forfeit.

How World class players play the Italian | Nakamura vs Dai Changren - - Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

IM Muthaiah Al - GM Leon Luke Mendonca: 0.5-0.5

Sethuraman - Vaishali: 0-1

IM Vaishali R (2448) defeated GM Sethuraman S P (2598) exactly a year ago on 12th October 2022 at Fagernes Autumn GM 2022. It was certainly her immortal game. A year later, she faced Sethuraman again, only this time, the color was inversed.

Position after 23.Rd2?

White needed to let go of the d4-pawn. 23.Rf3 exd4 24.cxd4 Bxd4 25.Nf1 d5 would have been a much better continuation for White. Instead 23.Rd2? just invited trouble g4 24.hxg4 Qe7 25.Kg1 Qh4 26.Nh5 Nxg2! and Black went on to win the game eventually. The win took slightly longer due to Vaishali's imprecise play in time trouble. However, Sethuraman blundered again to give his opponent a decisive advantage. This time she ensured that her opponent cannot fight back.

How does she keep her calm? Sethuraman vs Vaishali - Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

IM Vaishali R defeated GM Sethuraman S P exactly on the same day, a year after her immortal win against the very same opponent

GM Pranesh M - IM Rakesh Kumar Jena: 0.5-0.5
GM D Gukesh takes on Indian IM Avinash Ramesh - Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

FM Vedant Panesar (pictured) - IM Rudik Makarian: 0.5-0.5

FM Aradhya Garg - GM Sankap Gupta: 0.5-0.5

IM Ravi Teja S - FM Kashish Manoj Jain: 0.5-0.5

Fedoseev - Senthil Maran

Position after 36...Ke6

After 35.Nf4+ Ke7 36.Ng6+ Ke6 GM Vladimir Fedoseev (SLO, 2691) decided against repeating moves and taking a draw. He went 37.Rf4 h5 38.Rf8 a4 39.Nf4+ White decided to give up his f2-pawn for Black's h5. 39...Ke7 40.Rf5 Rxf2 41.Re1 Kd6 42.Rxh5 Nxe3 43.Rxe3 Rxf4 and Black went on to win the game after White made few inaccuracies.

FM Senthil Maran K handed GM Vladimir Fedoseev (SLO) his second consecutive loss of the event

IM Akshat Khamparia - GM Mircea-Emilian Parligras (ROU): 0.5-0.5

GM Bilel Bellahcene (ALG) - FM Jaiveer Mahendru (pictured): 0-1

GM Akshat Chandra (USA) - IM Ilamparthi A R: 0.5-0.5

FM Aaryan Varshney (pictured) - GM Venkatesh M R: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

IM Mukhammadali Abdurakhmonov (UZB) - WGM Priyanka Nutakki: 0-1

Will we see Magnus Carlsen vs Arjun Erigaisi at this event?
Round 2 highlights | Video: ChessBase India

Schedule

There are one round every day from 11th to 20th October 2023 starting from 3 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. Monday 16th October 2023 is a rest day. Only last round on 20th October starts at 12 p.m. local time, 2:30 p.m. IST.

Time control

Time control for each tournament game is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move 1.

Prizes

The total prize fund of the tournament is US$ 108250. The top three prizes are $25000, $15000 and $10000 each.

Replay live stream

Replay Round 2 Live Commentary by IM Sagar Shah and Amruta Mokal | Video: ChessBase India
Replay Round 2 Live Commentary by GM Evgenij Miroshnichenko, IM Jovanka Houska, and IM Irene Sukandar | Video: Qatar Chess Association

Replay Round 2 games

Round 2 results

Bo.No. NameTypRtgPts.ResultPts.NameTypRtg No.
147
GMSuleymenov, Alisher251211 - 01GMCarlsen, Magnus *)2839
1
22
GMNakamura, Hikaru *)278011 - 01GMDai, Changren2507
51
352
GMBharath, Subramaniyam HU16250010 - 11GMGiri, Anish2760
3
457
GMMousavi, Seyed Khalil24921½ - ½1GMAbdusattorov, NodirbekU202716
5
56
GMErigaisi, ArjunU20271211 - 01GMAbdisalimov, Abdimalik2487
59
661
IMMadaminov, MukhiddinU18248411 - 01GMMaghsoodloo, Parham2707
7
78
GMVan Foreest, Jorden27071½ - ½1Xiao, Tong(Qd)U162476
63
812
GMSindarov, JavokhirU18265811 - 01IMNogerbek, KazybekU202471
65
962
IMStearman, JosiahU20247610 - 11GMNarayanan.S.L,2651
13
1016
GMSalem, A.R. Saleh263211 - 01GMStany, G.A.2469
67
1166
IMMuthaiah, Al24701½ - ½1GMMendonca, Leon LukeU182622
17
1218
GMPuranik, Abhimanyu26181½ - ½1IMChen, Qi B2465
69
1370
GMGagare, Shardul246010 - 11GMYakubboev, Nodirbek2616
19
1472
IMBaskin, Robert245111 - 01GMGupta, Abhijeet2609
21
1522
GMVakhidov, Jakhongir260711 - 01IMNitish, Belurkar2451
73
1624
GMSethuraman, S.P.259810 - 11IMVaishali, Rameshbabu2448
75
1778
IMShyaamnikhil, P244210 - 11GMJumabayev, Rinat2585
25
1826
GMKuybokarov, Temur258411 - 01IMKushagra, MohanU202412
89
19149
FMBakhrillaev, BakhromU16230211 - 01GMPranav, VU182579
27
2028
GMVokhidov, Shamsiddin257811 - 01IMAudi, Ameya2372
116

Details

Standings after Round 2

Rk.SNo NameTypsexFEDRtgIPts. TB1  TB2 
12
GMNakamura, HikaruUSA2780220
23
GMGiri, AnishNED2760230
36
GMErigaisi, ArjunU20IND2712260
412
GMSindarov, JavokhirU18UZB26582120
513
GMNarayanan.S.L,IND26512130
616
GMSalem, A.R. SalehUAE26322160
719
GMYakubboev, NodirbekUZB26162190
822
GMVakhidov, JakhongirUZB26072220
925
GMJumabayev, RinatKAZ25852250
1026
GMKuybokarov, TemurAUS25842260
1128
GMVokhidov, ShamsiddinUZB25782280
1230
GMAditya, MittalU18IND25722300
1334
GMRasulov, VugarAZE25602340
1435
GMKaidanov, GregoryUSA25542350
1541
GMYilmazyerli, MertTUR25332410

Details

Round 3 pairings

Bo.No. NameTypRtgPts.ResultPts.NameTypRtg No.
11
GMCarlsen, Magnus *)28391IMMuthaiah, Al2470
66
228
GMVokhidov, Shamsiddin257822GMNakamura, Hikaru *)2780
2
33
GMGiri, Anish276022GMAditya, MittalU182572
30
434
GMRasulov, Vugar256022GMErigaisi, ArjunU202712
6
535
GMKaidanov, Gregory255422GMSindarov, JavokhirU182658
12
613
GMNarayanan.S.L,265122GMSuleymenov, Alisher2512
47
741
GMYilmazyerli, Mert253322GMSalem, A.R. Saleh2632
16
819
GMYakubboev, Nodirbek261622IMMadaminov, MukhiddinU182484
61
943
GMKevlishvili, Robby252122GMVakhidov, Jakhongir2607
22
1025
GMJumabayev, Rinat258522IMBaskin, Robert2451
72
1175
IMVaishali, Rameshbabu244822GMKuybokarov, Temur2584
26
125
GMAbdusattorov, NodirbekU2027162FMBakhrillaev, BakhromU162302
149
1353
GMChanda, Sandipan2496GMGukesh, DU182758
4
1455
IMAhmadzada, AhmadU202494GMVan Foreest, Jorden2707
8
159
GMNihal, SarinU202694GMVignesh, N R2527
42
1663
Xiao, Tong(Qd)U162476GMAravindh, Chithambaram Vr.2649
14
1715
GMAryan, Chopra2634GMPranesh, MU182515
46
1817
GMMendonca, Leon LukeU182622IMSamant, Aditya SU182511
48
19142
GMLaxman, R.R.2322GMPuranik, Abhimanyu2618
18
2069
IMChen, Qi B2465GMKarthikeyan, Murali2611
20

Details

Links

Official site

Tournament Regulations: Open A and Open B

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