The Quarterfinals of the 2023 Junior Velocity Chess Championship kicked off on Tuesday with wins by GM Gukesh D over IM Emin Ohanyan and GM Pranav V towards GM Christopher Yoo. Gukesh and Pranav will throw down in an all-Indian semifinal match on Thursday.

Quarterfinals 3 and 4, that includes GM Raunak Sadhwani vs. IM Learn Samadov and GM Denis Lazavik vs. GM Daniel Dardha, start on Wednesday at 5:30 a.m. PT / 14:30 CEST.

Blitz 5|1: Gukesh-Ohanyan 8-2 

There was no query of who was the favourite going into the match. Ohanyan, who entered the primary occasion by the qualifiers, is a rising participant with two GM norms; Gukesh, who final week completed third within the super-tournament Norway Chess, is quantity 13 on the planet. SmarterChess predicted a 78% probability of victory for Gukesh.

Nevertheless, Ohanyan referred to as these pre-match assumptions into query within the very first sport. After clawing again from a worse place with Black, he was immediately successful. However, with seconds on the clock, he settled for a draw by perpetual test, shaking his head after the sport concluded.

From there, Gukesh gained each sport till the halftime break—4 video games in a row. It appeared just like the Gukesh prepare was beginning to roll away when the Armenian IM lower the streak within the subsequent sport, after a rook blunder by his opponent.

Ohanyan may have gained the subsequent two video games, and commentator IM Tania Sachdev mentioned on the published: “This can be a totally different Emin Ohanyan since what we noticed at first of the match!” However, regardless of the momentum, the next sport resulted in a draw and he blundered within the subsequent.

After that, Gukesh gained the final two video games of the phase.

The final sport was thrilling as Gukesh sacrificed his queen for 3 minor items within the opening stage of the Taimanov Sicilian. After a protracted, dynamically equal battle, Gukesh’s “little military” overpowered the queen.

Blitz 3|1: Gukesh-Ohanyan 8-2

The “Gukesh impact,” as commentator GM Robert Hess termed it on the published, took over within the second phase of the match as nicely. He gained the primary 4 video games earlier than lacking a chance to sacrifice his queen in tactic-puzzle style and dropping the fifth. 

It was no hurt no foul as Gukesh nonetheless led by an insane margin. He gained the seventh sport of the phase with an excellent transfer. Can you discover it?

White to maneuver and win materials.

Regardless of just a few scares, together with an excellent rook sacrifice in sport eight and a win by Ohanynan a lot later within the endgame, the Indian prodigy continued to dominate the match. He led by 12 factors going into the bullet.

Bullet 1|1: Gukesh-Ohanyan 8-2

Hurricane Gukesh continued to ravage the chessboard. The video games weren’t excellent, however as Sachdev mentioned on air throughout sport three: “Who cares?” It was about nerves and the clock, and Gukesh got here out on high.

In sport 4, Ohanyan had equal possibilities till he blundered a mate in a single. Sachdev concluded: “Women and gents, that is bullet for you!”

In the course of the penultimate sport, Hess summarized: “Gukesh, he ran away with this match early, and he continues to attain factors.” He completed the bullet portion with an excellent rook “sacrifice,”

Gukesh makes $3,150, whereas Ohanyan earns $350 by win proportion. 

Blitz 5|1: Yoo-Pranav 2.5-5.5

SmarterChess predicted a victory for Yoo by 52% to 48%, which means it was kind of a totally degree match. Yoo gained the 2022 U.S. Junior Championship. Pranav, however, is an unpredictable up-and-coming participant; he turned India’s seventy fifth grandmaster and gained 127 Elo within the final 12 months.

Pranav, who boasted a 3007 blitz score towards his opponent’s 2889, took a one-point lead within the first two video games however then disconnected in a greater place in sport three.

The Yoo comeback was short-lived, nonetheless, as Pranav gained each single sport besides the final one (which he misplaced). One of many nicest ones was sport six, the place he confronted the Armenian Variation of the French Winawer. With slightly king stroll that reminded commentator FM Mike Klein of GM Nigel Brief‘s immortal king stroll towards GM Jan Timman, he supplied a masterclass in attacking play.

That is our Recreation of the Day, annotated by GM Rafael Leitao under. 

Within the final sport of the phase, Yoo was in a position to win with the black items and lower the lead down to 3 factors.

Blitz 3|1: Yoo-Pranav 4.5-3.5

Yoo’s ethical victory within the remaining sport of the earlier phase prolonged to the subsequent because the American GM gained the primary sport. The gamers traded blows forwards and backwards, however Yoo introduced the match to a two-point margin by successful this phase.

Pranav gave the impression to be steering the ship again in his course after successful two video games in a row (three and 4). In sport 4, he confirmed that opposite-color bishops—usually resulting in drawn endgames—also can supply successful possibilities if heavy items stay on the board.

However after a draw, Yoo gained the subsequent sport on time. It is not clear if Pranav disconnected, however it appeared so. After one other draw, Yoo wrapped up the phase with one other win within the final sport after constructing a perfect pawn middle and exploiting a backward pawn on c3.

Bullet 1|1: Yoo-Pranav 4.5-3.5

The tables had been almost turned within the bullet portion. The lead Pranav constructed up within the first phase got here again to avoid wasting him in the long run.

Profitable two of the primary three video games with one draw, Yoo evened the rating for the primary time within the match.

Christopher Yoo wins two video games within the bullet portion and evens the rating for the primary time within the match!#SpeedChess #JSCC pic.twitter.com/0ajAlhQ5RI

— chess24.com (@chess24com) June 13, 2023

Pranav then gained three video games in a row. However the sixth sport was actually the nail within the coffin as Pranav discovered an change sacrifice that will not less than maintain the sport—and, extra importantly, drained the match clock.