Masters 

GM Vincent Keymer, who certified by successful the Challengers final yr, took the early lead in spherical one after defeating the top-rated participant and previously retired GM Wang Hao. He would, nevertheless, not win one other sport within the event and lose to Robson in spherical seven.

In spherical three, Robson earned his first win, which got here in opposition to former world championship challenger GM Boris Gelfand and co-led with the German number-one.

Spherical 4 was a vital second of the event as Deac entered the lead along with his first win, in opposition to Robson. Within the infamous Berlin Protection, identified for being “drawish,” Black made one inaccuracy shortly after the opening novelty after which a transparent mistake. It led, surprisingly shortly, to a very misplaced place. The Romanian grandmaster made it look simple.

Deac would go on to have a stable event, successful two video games and drawing seven general—importantly, not dropping a single one. He beat GM Nguyen Thai Dai Van in spherical eight and closed out the event with a draw vs. Wang to complete in shared first.

After the loss to Deac, nevertheless, Robson got here again swinging. He bounced again within the subsequent sport with a win over Wang (who would end +2 -3 =4). After a draw, he then beat the younger and promising Keymer in spherical seven. Two extra attracts, in the long run, have been sufficient to complete in tied-first and qualify for the tiebreak.

Robson’s win in spherical 5 curiously featured the identical opening variation as his win in sport three (Wang deviated with 11…Nf6). Down a pawn however with probabilities as a result of opposite-color bishops, the Chinese language grandmaster went for a inventive counterattack that didn’t totally pan out. Robson discovered the right protection, the place he allowed his opponent to advertise to a queen and went on to win with two additional pawns.

GM Pentala Harikrishna, who had received the 2022 version of this event, simply barely missed out on the tie for first, ending with 5 factors in the long run. It appeared he had an opportunity when he, too, beat Wang in spherical eight. Nonetheless, within the final spherical, the place each single sport led to a draw, he was ignored of the tiebreak match.

Tiebreak Match

With that, the tiebreaks have been set: Robson vs. Deac. Two blitz video games (5+3 time management) can be performed; if the rating remained equal, an armageddon sport would comply with (5 minutes for White, 4 minutes for Black, with a three-second increment beginning on transfer 61). 

📢We go to tie-break! Deac vs. @RayShayRobson with two blitz video games and potential armaggedon when undecided. Clock will begin at 5:30PM! 📷 Petr Vrabec#PICF2023 #PICF #chess #praguemasters #blitz pic.twitter.com/RmtwLISrwS

— Prague Chess Pageant (@PragueChess) June 30, 2023

The primary sport was a Berlin Protection within the Ruy Lopez, however an thrilling one! After White overestimated his attacking probabilities, his heart collapsed and he misplaced decisive materials. 

Nonetheless, he held on, and after an extended maneuvering part, Black made an error in time hassle. The sport was as soon as once more equal.

The options included under would have been not possible to seek out with little time—credit score to the gamers—and Robson nonetheless managed to win the sport as soon as once more, brilliantly sacrificing his rook to maintain the sport going. Remarkably, after his rook sacrifice, he had the fabric parity of only one rook in opposition to a queen however was capable of win regardless.

Needing only a draw, he was higher or successful at most levels of the second sport. In a successful place, he supplied Deac a draw, which was accepted. The champion was topped.

Masters – All Video games 

Masters – Ultimate Standings

Challengers

Bartel’s last-round opponent, GM Paulius Pultinevicius, didn’t shrink back from the battle, and the gamers entered a loopy line of the Queen’s Gambit Accepted that has been fairly topical recently, with GM Levon Aronian being its strongest practitioner (with each colours!).

It was a brutal slugfest, and it was White who went on to say no a threefold repetition on transfer 34. In a chaotic place the place each kings have been weak, the far-advanced black handed d-pawn determined the sport. Bartel received the sport and the event.

Though he completed within the backside half of the scoreboard with 4/9, GM Jergus Pechac deserves an honorable point out. His video games have been shared and reshared on social media as a result of quirky (considered one of many potential adjectives) openings. A few of his opening strikes seemed like mouse slips, however this was an in-person classical occasion the place he performed in opposition to robust grandmaster opposition.

Simply check out his opening in spherical one. He drew.

Excuse me 😲 pic.twitter.com/bsYm4rGKAD

— Boris Avrukh (@askavrukh) June 24, 2023

In spherical seven, he performed 1.h4 in opposition to roughly 2650-rated GM Benjamin Gledura—and drew. He additionally drew spherical eight and caught GM Ian Nepomniachtchi‘s consideration. One thing to think about before you purchase your subsequent Chessable opening course.

Is it the way forward for chess we deserve? pic.twitter.com/2bNY0FsjW8

— Yan Nepomniachtchi (@lachesisq) June 29, 2023

Challengers – All Video games 

Challengers – Ultimate Standings

The Prague Chess Pageant 2023 occurred June 20-30, 2023, in Prague, Czech Republic. The format was a 10-player single round-robin. The time management was 90 minutes for the primary 40 strikes, adopted by 30 extra minutes for the remainder of the sport, plus a 30-second increment per transfer beginning on transfer one.