Event

Global Chess League Day 6: PBG Alaskan Knights Near Finals as Underdogs Shake Up Leaderboard

Published

1 week ago

October 9, 2024

With six victories in seven matches, PBG Alaskan Knights are comfortably at the top, with 18 match points – six more than Triveni and Alpine Sg Pipers who are trying to catch up. With three more matches remaining before the knockout stage, PBG need to score just one victory to secure a place in the finals.

Despite this, PBG’s top board Anish Giri was cautious about his team’s position: “It’s not done yet, we still need to get to the final and win. But so far it’s going well and I’m happy with everything, that’s for sure”.

In a stunning upset earlier in the day, the upGrad Mumba Masters defeated the favored Alpine Sg Pipers. On board one, Magnus Carlsen was left reeling after a blunder in a combination allowed Maxime Vachier-Lagrave to claim victory. Visibly upset, Carlsen stormed out of the venue. The Mumba Masters capitalized on this momentum, securing a dominant 14-5 win and delivering a major blow to the Pipers’ chances of closing in on the league’s leaders.

In the second match of the day winners of season one, Triveni Continental Kings were defeated by American Gambits 14-5. The match saw Alireza Firouzja lose the first game in the tournament – blundering in an even rook endgame against non-other than world number two, Hikaru Nakamura.

The day closed with PBG Alaskan Knights confidently defeating Ganges Grandmasters 15-4. Playing as Black, the Alaskan Knights started with a defeat but then quickly took control of the match, winning on three boards.

With just three rounds left, PBG are almost unstoppable: they are six match points ahead of everyone else and need just one victory to reach the finals. Despite today’s defeat, Triveni remains in second place with 12 match points and 70 game points (nine less than PBG). No change for Alpine Sg Pipers despite them also suffering a defeat: they are in third place, with 12 match points and 57 game points.

Here follows a closer look of the matches on the sixth day of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League:

Alpine Sg Pipers vs upGrad Mumba Masters: Magnus Carlsen and team stunned

In season one both teams were in contention for the top places. In season one, both teams were strong contenders for the top spots. While the Pipers have maintained their high-level performance in season two, the Mumba Masters have struggled. Mumba lost five matches—including a heavy 4-12 defeat to the Pipers earlier in the event—which has left them at the bottom of the standings.

Alpine Sg Pipers had the initiative of the first move. The match started calmly, with a relatively quick draw on one of the women’s boards between Hou Yifan and Humpy Koneru. However, the tide soon turned dramatically against the Pipers.

Magnus Carlsen made a critical blunder on the icon board, losing to Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. Upset by his loss, Carlsen stormed out of the playing area, visibly shaken. In response, Pipers’ Praggnanandhaa delivered a fierce attack against Vidit’s Black king, securing a win and keeping the Pipers in the match. On the second superstar board, Peter Svidler – who up to this point recorded two losses and four draws – claimed his first victory of the tournament, defeating Richard Rapport with the black pieces.

Things worsened for the Sg Pipers from there: Kateryna Lagno narrowly avoided defeat as Harika Dronavalli ran out of time, resulting in a draw. To cap it off, Daniel Dardha was defeated by Raunak Sadhwani in a tense rook endgame.

The final score was 14-5 in favor of upGrad Mumba Masters. Not only was this a remarkable comeback for Mumba, but it also prevented the Pipers from closing the gap with the top two teams, keeping the league standings wide open.

Triveni Continental Kings vs American Gambits: Triveni stunned as Firouzja suffers first loss

In the second match of the day, Triveni Continental Kings played the American Gambits. In their first encounter Triveni – who played as Black – crushed the American Gambits 15 – 3. However, this rematch was much more intense, with all the games going down to the wire, leading to some of the most surprising twists and turns in the tournament, so far.

The first shock came when Triveni’s Valentina Gunina blundered a winning position against Elisabeth Paehtz, overlooking a rook and handing the American Gambits an early lead. Then, on the icon board, Triveni’s Alireza Firouzja lost an even rook endgame to Hikaru Nakamura, blundering despite not being in time trouble. After the game, Nakamura quickly left the arena, while Firouzja—suffering his first defeat in the league—remained at the board, visibly stunned, as he put the pieces back in starting position.

The setbacks continued for Triveni: on the superstar board, Wei Yi failed to capitalize on a better position against Jan-Krzysztof Duda, and both Teimour Radjabov and Yu Yangyi drew their games.

The decisive blow came from Bibisara Assaubayeva, who turned a losing position around to defeat former World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk. The only bright spot for Triveni was Javokhir Sindarov, who delivered a win against Jonas Bjerre on the prodigy board.

The final score was 14-5 in favor of the American Gambits.

PBG Alaskan Knights vs Ganges Grandmasters: PBG continue strong

In the final match of the day, tournament leaders PBG Alaskan Knights played the Ganges Grandmasters, who have been struggling at the bottom of the standings.

Ganges, playing as White, took an early lead thanks to Parham Maghsoodloo, who defeated Shakhriyar Mamedyarov on the second superstar board. However, PBG’s Anish Giri quickly leveled the score, defeating Vishy Anand with the Black pieces after Anand made a costly mistake, entering a lost endgame.

Despite initially creating a promising position, PBG’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov was unable to convert his advantage and ended up drawing against Arjun Erigaisi. Meanwhile, Ganges’ Vaishali Rameshbabu first saved a losing position but then dropped a victory against former Women’s World Champion Tan Zhongyi, with the game finishing in a draw.

PBG then scored an important victory when Alina Kashlinskaya confidently defeated Nurgyul Salimova on board five, pushing the score to 10-4. To seal victory, Nihal Sarin defeated Volodar Murzin, bringing the final score to 14-5 for PBG Alaskan Knights. After this defeat, Ganges Grandmasters were again pushed to the bottom of the scoreboard.

Staff Reporter

Event

DVCOM and ViewSonic forge strategic partnership to drive digital transformation across GCC

Published

12 hours ago

October 16, 2024

Staff Reporter

World leading visual solutions provider ViewSonic is eyeing a renewed foray into the UAE market and the wider region following a strategic partnership announcement with region’s top value-added ICT distributors DVCOM.

This collaboration during GITEX 2024 designates the Dubai tech firm as ViewSonic’s main value-added distribution partner across the GCC region, focusing on channel management, alliances, and acquisition.

A Partnership Rooted in Shared Vision

“This association is set to accelerate digital transformation across the region, leveraging DVCOM’s vast regional presence and expertise in channel management alongside ViewSonic’s innovative and industry-leading visual technologies,” said Renjan George, Managing Director of DVCOM. “Our combined strengths will provide businesses with the tools they need to thrive in an increasingly digital world. By offering advanced display solutions, we are not just enhancing visual experiences but also driving productivity and collaboration. In today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving work environment, it’s essential that companies are equipped with the latest technology to stay competitive. This partnership is a step towards ensuring that organisations in the GCC region have access to cutting-edge visual solutions that enable smarter, more efficient ways of working.”

Thought Leadership at the Forefront

In addition to product distribution, DVCOM and ViewSonic will jointly emphasise thought leadership and market education. By sharing industry insights, best practices, and the latest trends, the partnership will enable businesses to better navigate the complexities of digital transformation, driving informed decisions and strategic growth in a competitive market.

“Beyond product distribution, this partnership is about empowering businesses through knowledge and innovation,” said George Mathew, B2B Solutions Sales Manager from ViewSonic, known for their world-leading visual display hardware—including liquid-crystal displays, and projectors —as well as digital whiteboarding software. “By collaborating with DVCOM, we are not only delivering industry-leading visual solutions but also championing thought leadership and market education. Together, we will share valuable insights, best practices, and emerging trends, helping businesses make informed decisions as they navigate the complexities of digital transformation. This approach will equip organisations with the tools they need to drive strategic growth and thrive in today’s competitive market.”

A Strategic Alliance for Growth

As the strategic value-added distributor, DVCOM will also nurture existing relationships, establishing new channel alliances, and ensuring deeper market penetration for ViewSonic’s cutting-edge solutions.

This partnership was officially unveiled at GITEX, the region’s premier technology event, further demonstrating DVCOM and ViewSonic’s commitment to empowering businesses with innovative visual solutions that align with their digital transformation goals.

Announcements

Dubai Ride 2024 registration now open

Published

5 days ago

October 11, 2024

Staff Reporter

Get the bike out of the garage, dig out your cycling kit and get ready to cycle through Dubai’s most stunning vistas; registrations are now open for the iconic Dubai Ride, presented by DP World – an unforgettable adventure past the city’s most iconic landmarks.

Taking place on Sunday 10 November 2024, the region’s largest community cycling event returns for its fifth edition, offering everyone – no matter your age or cycling ability – the chance to experience Dubai like never before. Much more than just a cycling event, Dubai Ride is a celebration of community, fitness, and the vibrant energy that makes Dubai one of the world’s best cities to visit, live and work in.

One of the most popular events on the Dubai Fitness Challenge (DFC) calendar, Dubai Ride offers you an epic way to smash your 30×30 goals, after a remarkable 35,000 cyclists cycled a collective 546,000 kms during last year’s edition.

This year’s event features routes for all, whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or just starting out. Choose the scenic 12km ride along Sheikh Zayed Road or opt for the family-friendly 4km through Downtown Dubai. Each path offers a unique perspective of the city’s architectural marvels, from the soaring Burj Khalifa to the striking Museum of the Future and iconic Dubai Opera.

Seeking a thrill? Try the brand-new Dubai Ride Speed Laps, designed to deliver an unparalleled cycle for experienced riders over 21 years old. Taking place from 5:00 AM to 6:00 AM on the 12km route, the speed laps will offer a unique chance to experience the excitement of high-speed cycling on Sheikh Zayed Road.

To join, you’ll need to maintain a minimum speed of 30km/h, ride a bike capable of sustaining this pace and follow the instructions of the Dubai Ride Marshals. Once complete, you can join family and friends for the main event. Registration for both Dubai Ride and Dubai Speed Laps is separate. You can sign up now for Dubai Ride, while registration for Dubai Speed Laps will begin on Monday 14 October, so mark your diaries to ensure you don’t miss this opportunity to push your limits and speed around the iconic Sheikh Zayed Road route.

As a participant, you’ll receive individual bibs for both Dubai Ride and Dubai Speed Laps. You can pick these up at the Dubai Municipality Zabeel Park 30 x 30 Fitness Village, your hub for all things running and cycling. More information on collection dates and timings will be announced soon.

Event

UpGrad Mumba Master Stun Leaders PBG on Day 7 of Tech Mahindra Global Chess League

Published

6 days ago

October 10, 2024

Staff Reporter

In a surprising turn of events, upGrad Mumba Masters delivered a shocking defeat to tournament leaders PBG Alaskan Knights 10-9, disrupting their path to direct qualification for the finals. The win revived Mumba’s hopes of reaching the knockout stage themselves.

The seventh day of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League saw PBG, playing as Black, play against Mumba Masters, who had won only two out of seven matches so far. With three rounds left (including this one), PBG had the opportunity to secure their place in the finals. For Mumba, this was a must-win match to keep their finals hopes alive.

The opening game between the two teams ended in a narrow 8-5 victory for PBG, with just one decisive result: PBG’s Nihal Sarin pulling off a crucial win against Raunak Sadhwani on the prodigy board.

Early on in the match, Mumba gained the upper hand. Sadhwani created a strong position against Sarin, and Humpy Koneru was better placed against former Women’s World Champion, Tan Zhongyi. However, on the superstar board, Vidit Gujrathi was struggling with time against Nodirbek Abdusattorov, echoing their earlier encounter. Meanwhile, PBG’s icon player Anish Giri could only manage to create a drawn position against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, which, considering Giri was Black, would normally be a favourable result.

The first game to conclude was a draw on the women’s board, where Harika Dronavalli and Alina Kashlinskaya, both top scorers, drew. Needing to rally quickly, PBG instead found themselves in trouble.

A highly unusual position then developed on the icon board: despite Black having two pawn-runners on the queenside, the engine showed White had the advantage—provided Vachier-Lagrave could push his pawns on the kingside. In time trouble, the Frenchman – who also holds a degree in mathematics – calculated flawlessly, seizing a decisive advantage.

However, Mumba suffered a setback when Vidit lost on time, giving PBG a lead of 4-2. Still, Mumba was in control on three of the remaining four boards.

Vachier-Lagrave’s victory over Giri closed the gap to 5-4. But then Mumba’s Peter Svidler fell against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov in time trouble, pushing PBG ahead to 9-4.

It all came down to the final two boards, where Mumba was in dominant positions. Despite pressure on the clock, both Humpy and Sadhwani converted their advantages, securing a 10-9 victory for Mumba. When Sarin resigned, the crowd at Friends House erupted in applause.

“It feels great. I’m glad I could help the team. We had nothing to lose, wanting to play a good match and it worked,” Sadhwani said after the match.

With this victory, upGrad Mumba Masters remain in contention for the finals, while PBG Alaskan Knights will have to wait for another chance to secure their finalist spot.

Please see attached pics from the match today.