Indian Grandmaster (GM) Arjun Erigaisi’s efforts to break through GM Levon Aronian’s defence did not fructify, while GM P Harikrishna played out a quick draw in the opening game of Round 5 at the FIDE World Cup here on Friday.
Playing white, Arjun could not convert his slight advantage in the double rook end game as the two players split points after 41 moves. Earlier, Harikrishna played a solid game with black to ensure that giant killer GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara had no opportunities to win with white.
A total of 24 Indian players started the competition, which saw 206 players from 82 countries vying for the Viswanathan Anand Trophy. After four rounds, only two Indians are still in the fray to win the title and also grab the Candidate spots on offer.
On Friday, Arjun was keen on grabbing the advantage against two-time champion Aronian with white pieces. It looked like the Armenia-born Aronian was in trouble when he took almost 30 minutes to play his 21st move. To his credit, he found a way to get out of trouble and then played solid chess to ensure that he goes into the second game with a theoretical advantage as he plays white.
There was no such trouble for Harikrishna against Jose Eduardo Martinex Alcantara of Mexico in the first game of the fifth round as he was well prepared for Alcantara’s plan as both the players raced to a rook-pawn endgame quickly and then opted for a draw in 41 moves. Six of the eight matches have ended in a draw.
Up against someone who has defied all odds to be in the fifth round, Harikrishna knew that Alcantara could be a force to reckon with if given his type of position. However, the immense experience of the Indian came to the fore as he chose the Two Knights variation as black against the Italian opening of the Peruvian-Mexican Grandmaster.
Alcantara had two upset victories in the last two matches against Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan and Alexey Sarana of Serbia, but he did not get much with his white pieces against the Indian, who has himself been in top form here with very clean games so far.
The middle game featured routine manoeuvres with Alcantara having an extra pawn at the cost of a fractured pawn structure and his choice of going for a queen exchange in the middle game was indication enough that he had not found his best trait in this round.
If there is one thing that does not bother Harikrishna much, it's the endgame. The Indian is known for his expertise in this department of the game and despite being a pawn less, he had no problems whatsoever in getting a draw in 41 moves.
India’s results (Round 5, Game 1):
GM Arjun Erigaisi drew with GM Levon Aronian 0.5:0.5
GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara drew with GM P Harikrishna 0.5:0.5
Also read: Arjun, Harikrishna reach pre-quarters, Pragg out
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