Triveni Continental Kings clinches Tech Mahindra Global Chess League for the second consecutive year
Triveni Continental Kings defeated PBG Alaskan Knights in both matches of the Finals to defend their Tech Mahindra Global Chess League title. In the first match, Alireza Firouzja and Alexandra Kosteniuk scored the key wins for TCK. Nodirbek Abdusattorov was the sole victor for PBG AK. In the second match of the Finals, the 'Icon' of PBG AK, Anish Giri avenged his loss against Firouzja by playing fast, furious and accurate. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov was the only other winner for the team. Wei Yi, Alexandra Kosteniuk and Valentina Gunina scored the crucial wins which allowed them to score a dominating victory 7-13. Anand Mahindra, Chairman of Mahindra Group and award-winning actor and film producer, John Abraham made the ceremonial first moves for the first and second matches respectively. Photos: Shahid Ahmed
Giri and Shakh's wins not enough for Playoffs
PBG Alaskan Knights had a fantastic tournament but in the Finals they underperformed. The 'Icon' Anish Giri bounced back, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov scored a win, but the rest of the team could not deliver when it needed the most. Triveni Continental Kings might have had a shaky round-robin stage. However, in the Finals they played like champions and defended their title successfully. GM Nihal Sarin and IM Alina Kashlinskaya were announced as the male and female player of the series. Alexandra Kosteniuk won the Player of the Final for winning both of her games.
Final 1: Triveni Continental Kings - PBG Alaskan Knights: 3-0 (9-7)
PBG Alaskan Knights won the toss and opted for the black pieces. The first result is a draw between Teimour Radjabov and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. Alireza Firouzja scored the first win of the match against Anish Giri. Javokhir Sindarov drew with Nihal Sarin. Valentina Gunina and Alina Kashlinskaya had a roller coaster game which ended in a draw. Alexandra Kosteniuk defeated Zhongyi Tan to ensure the team's victory in the first match of the Finals. Nodirbek Abdusattorov scores the sole win for the team against Wei Yi.
Firouzja - Giri
Alireza Firouzja sacrificed an exchange 23.Rxe6 for a bishop and pawn. A closer look reveals that Black has light square weakness on the kingside, so it makes sense. 23...Bxe6 24.Qxe6 Qxe6 25.Bxe6 d4 Black decided to return the exchange 26.Bxc8 Rxc8 27.cxd4 Nxd4 28.Kg2 Rd8 29.Ne5 Be5? 30.Bxe5 and White went on to convert his advantage into a win comfortably.
Wei - Abdusattorov
After a back and forth queen and minor piece endgame, Wei somehow got himself back in the bishop and knight endgame. However, he made one final mistake 92.Kc6?? g4-+ and Abdusattorov won the game in the next few moves. 92.Kb4/c4 would have kept the game going for White.
Gunina - Kashlinskaya
GM Valentina Gunina blundered 56.Rf6?? Her opponent, IM Alina Kashlinskaya correctly spotted h5+ 57.Kg5 Rg3+ 58.Kh6 Nf5+ 59.Kh7 Ke7 60.Rxg6 Kxd8 61.Rf6 Ne7? Black needed to go Nd6 to win the game.
Replay Final 1 games
Final 2: PBG Alaskan Knights - Triveni Continental Kings: 0-3 (7-13)
GM Valentina Gunina scored the first win against IM Alina Kashlinskaya. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov defeated Teimour Radjabov. Nihal Sarin drew with Javokhir Sindarov. Anish Giri won a must-win game against Alireza Firouzja. Nodirbek Abdusattorov lost to Wei Yi after a blunder in the endgame. Zhongyi Tan lost to Alexandra Kosteniuk and this brought Triveni Continental Kings their second consecutive GCL title.
Giri - Firouzja
Giri made a very nice exchange sacrifice 31.Rxd5! he had about ten minutes whereas Firouzja had two Qxd5 32.Qxf6+ Kh7 33.Qe7+ Kg8 after a few moves Black got a winning opportunity. However, in time trouble, he blundered, arrived at a lost position and also ran out of time.
Abdusattorov - Wei
Nodirbek Abdusattorov almost managed to save the game from a losing position. He maintained a stronghold for almost 22 moves. Then he blundered 79.Rd4+?? Rc4-+ and Wei Yi won the game.
Replay Final 2 games
For more prize distribution ceremony and closing ceremony photos, please click here.
Video Gallery
Links
Tech Mahindra Global Chess League: Official site, facebook, twitter, instagram, youtube and linkedin
Tech Mahindra: Official site, facebook, twitter, youtube and linkedin
