World Chess Championship: India beats USA, makes it to quarterfinals

Vidit Gujrathi and S. L. Narayanan won with black pieces as India beat USA 3-1 in the last league match to book its berth in the quarterfinals of the World Team Chess Championship in Jerusalem.

FILE PHOTO: Vidit Gujrathi defeated Hans Moke Niemann. | Photo Credit: B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM

Victories for Vidit Gujrathi and S. L. Narayanan on the first and third boards with black pieces set up India’s much-needed 3-1 triumph over USA in the last league match for a place in the quarterfinals of the World Team Chess Championship in Jerusalem on Tuesday.

Vidit defeated Hans Moke Niemann and Narayanan overpowered Varuzhan Akobian to give India a formidable 2-0 lead. On the second board, Nihal Sarin’s draw against Alexander Onishchuk earned India the winning lead. Later, S. P. Sethuraman, in spite of having a knight less on the board, drew with Yunieskey Quesada Perez to complete India’s triumph.

REPORT - FOURTH ROUND

Having suffered a 0.5-3.5 humiliation to Uzbekistan on Monday evening after Vidit, Nihal Sarin and Abhijeet Gupta lost and only Naryanan salvaged a draw on the third board, India required a big win over USA to be among the four qualifying teams to the quarterfinal from the six-nation Group B.

On Wednesday, India will face France. In the other quarterfinals, China takes on Poland, Spain plays Azerbaijan and Ukraine meets Uzbekistan.

Standings (after the league)

Group A: 1. China (9 points), 2-4. France, Spain, Ukraine (6 each), 5. Netherlands, 6. South Africa (0).

Group B: 1-2. Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan (7 each), 3. India (6), 4-5. Poland (4 each), 6. USA (2).