Nepo
Erigaisi
Nepo
 
Erigaisi
 
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
1
9
18 turns without comments
10

Nepo has a small edge, coming out of a classical Catalan Opening game. Though Arjun doesn't seem to have obvious weaknesses in his position, he has given up the bishop pair, and his queenside knight is awkwardly developed.

00:23 e3
10
11
2 turns without comments
11

interesting decision by arjun!!

This has probably more to do with the match situation than the position on the board. In such a crucial game, Erigaisi obviously doesn't want a strategic fight, and hence tries to infuse tactics.

-07:-12 O-O-O
12
15
7 turns without comments
15

!!GREAT MOVE!!

A crucial central break! Black's pieces are going to get quite active now. It will be interesting to see if Nepo will go with a complicated fight, or exchange pieces into an endgame.

-06:-14 e5
16
17
3 turns without comments
17

Nepo wants to play it safe, but he has entered into an endgame where Nepo commands more activity for his pieces than white.

-04:-20 Rxd5
18
19
4 turns without comments
20

Nepo wants to keep it simple, keeping his pieces compact with the king aiding them, and hope to withstand Black's onslaught. Though he doesn't have any obvious weakness in his position, Nepo has a long term problem with his bishop here.

03:17 Ke2
20
21
2 turns without comments
21

Though the knight isn't attacking anything, Erigaisi enjoys his position here. Nepo has to be careful with his moves here, not to give in to obvious pressure.

-03:-17 Nd3
22
22
2 turns without comments
23

A moment of relief for Nepo!

With this exchange of bishops, Nepo seems to have solved a major problem in the endgame. However, Black's occupying the open file is the key to his advantage here.

00:-29 Bc3
23
24
3 turns without comments
25

Though the position is equal, Nepo has fractured his pawn structure on the queenside, which is a long term concern.

00:-06 c4
25
1 turn without comment
26

??MISTAKE??

Nepo allows Erigaisi to penetrate into the white position with his rook! Now, Erigaisi is on the offensive here, big time!

04:06 Rb1
26
27
2 turns without comments
27

!!GREAT MOVE!!

A crucial breakthrough. Black's rooks have found their way in to White's position. arjun has a huge advantage now.

-03:-02 Rd3
28
31
7 turns without comments
31

!!GREAT MOVE!!

Black is a simple pawn up now, and is well on his way to create connected passed pawns on the queenside.

Rxc4
32
36
10 turns without comments
37

Nepo is looking to find counterplay in the kingside, but Erigaisi's passed pawns are too quick here. It would take White too much time to create a passed pawn in the kingside.

07:47 Rf4
37
41
8 turns without comments
41

excellent win by arjun erigaisi!!

Arjun played a controlled game, unlike his usual tactical offenses. Playing an endgame with a slight advantage, he was rewarded with Nepo's mistakes of giving in to pressure and thus enabling Erigaisi to proceed to the semifinals.

Arjun thus wraps up the match with a 2.5 - 1.5 score, the curious match where all the wins were achieved by Black pieces!

Thus, Arjun now goes on to the Semifinals, to meet the winner of the match between Abudasattorov - Firouzja.

-01:-44 Ra1