R Praggnanandhaa and Aravindh Chithambaram maintained their lead at the Prague Masters Chess Tournament after a hard-fought draw in the fifth round. Both Indian Grandmasters now stand at 3.5 points each, holding a one-point advantage over the rest of the field.
Berlin Defense Ensures Stability in Key Encounter
The much-anticipated match between Praggnanandhaa and Aravindh Chithambaram featured the Berlin Defense, a strategy known for its solid nature. Aravindh, playing Black, opted for this time-tested opening, first made famous by Vladimir Kramnik against Garry Kasparov in the 2000 World Championship. The game quickly transitioned into a simplified position, limiting White’s chances for an early breakthrough.
Praggnanandhaa sought to create an advantage through precise piece exchanges, but Aravindh neutralized the threats with solid defensive play. The game entered a rook-and-pawn endgame, where Aravindh, despite being a pawn down, found sufficient counterplay to force a draw.
Speaking about the encounter, Praggnanandhaa remarked, “Aravindh defended very accurately. The Berlin is a tough nut to crack at this level.”
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Game Analysis: How the Draw Unfolded
The opening phase saw Praggnanandhaa push for an early edge with 1.e4, but Aravindh responded confidently with 1…e5, leading into the Berlin Defense. By move 10, the position remained symmetrical, and neither side could claim a significant advantage.
As the game progressed into the middlegame, Praggnanandhaa maintained active pieces, but Aravindh’s defensive setup proved impenetrable. Exchanges in the center of the board led to an endgame scenario where White had an extra pawn but lacked a concrete winning plan.
In the decisive moments, Aravindh strategically sacrificed a second pawn to activate his king and create counterplay. The position eventually reached a theoretical draw, reinforcing the strength of Berlin endgame strategies.
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