22nd Dubai Open 2022 R1: Aditya Varun Gampa defies Arjun Kalyan
The 22nd edition of Dubai Open is finally back after over three year-long hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. A total of 163 players including 78 Indians are taking part which makes it almost 50% players are Indians. Arjun Erigaisi is the highest rated Indian in the field. Praggnanandhaa is playing his first over-the-board since winning a double Bronze at the 44th Chess Olympiad. He would certainly like to continue his good form from the FTX Crypto Cup 2022. 15 players are rated above 2600. 29 GMs, 29 IMs, 2 WGMs and 3 WIMs are taking part. That should give you an idea about the strength of the tournament. Aditya Varun Gampa held GM Arjun Kalyan to a draw and Md. Imran defeated IM Nubairshah Shaikh. Round 2 starts today at 5 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Rupali Mullick
Imran stuns Nubairshah
Aditya Varun Gampa - Arjun Kalyan: 0.5-0.5
Aditya Varun Gampa (2127) endured a tough queen and knight endgame for 36 moves before he could force a draw against GM Arjun Kalyan (2513).
Nubairshah - Imran: 0-1
IM Nubairshah Shaikh (2457) had a less than desirable start against Md. Imran (2063).
The counter-intuitive 32.Ra3 was the correct way to proceed for White. It was not easy to figure that out for a human being. 32.Ra4 Rd8 33.Be3 Bc5 34.Ng2 Bxe3 35.Nxe3 Rd4 Black gained a decisive positional advantage due to the misplaced rook at a4 and eventually went on to win the game.
For more Round 1 photos, please click here.
A total of 163 players including 29 GMs, 29 IMs, 2 WGMs and 3 WIMs are taking part from 34 countries across the world including India. The tournament is being organized by Dubai Chess & Culture Club from 27th August to 4th September 2022 at Dubai Chess & Culture Club, UAE. The nine-round Swiss league tournament has a time control of 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move no.1.
