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Prague Chess Festival (Masters) (2020) The Masters section of the 2nd Prague International Chess Festival took place from 12-21 February 2020 in the 4-star Don Giovanni Hotel Prague, Prague, Czech Republic. Rest day: 17 February. The 10-player round robin was headed by Duda, Vitiugov, and Firouzja (replacing Wei Yi who was forced to cancel due to the coronavirus travel ban). Rating average: 2717 (Category XIX). The players received 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with an increment of 30 seconds per move, starting from move one. No draw offers were allowed before move 30. In case of a tie for first place, there was to be a playoff (2 games of 5 3 blitz + Armageddon if necessary) between the top two players, as determined by the tied players' 1) Mutual result(s), 2) S-B scores, 3) Number of games with Black, and 4) Drawing of lots. Tournament director: Petr Boleslav. Chief arbiter: Pavel Votruba. Alireza Firouzja clinched his first supertournament victory by defeating Vidit in both blitz games of the Prague Chess Festival (Masters) (Tiebreaks) (2020). Rlo 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 Firouzja 2726 * 0 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 5 2 Vidit 2721 1 * 0 ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 0 ½ 5 3 Duda 2755 0 1 * ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 5 4 Anton 2697 ½ ½ ½ * ½ 0 ½ ½ 1 1 5 5 Shankland 2683 ½ 0 ½ ½ * 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 5 6 Vitiugov 2731 ½ ½ ½ 1 0 * ½ ½ ½ ½ 4½ 7 Harikrishna 2713 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ 1 ½ 4½ 8 Ragger 2670 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ 4 9 Navara 2717 ½ 1 0 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ * 1 4 10 Grandelius 2659 ½ ½ ½ 0 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 * 3 Official site: http://praguechessfestival.com/ Regulations: http://praguechessfestival.com/mast... Chess-Results: https://chess-results.com/tnr515248... Chess.com: https://www.chess.com/news/view/pra... ChessBase: https://en.chessbase.com/post/pragu... Chess24: https://chess24.com/en/watch/live-t... Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgC... TWIC: https://theweekinchess.com/index.ph... FIDE: https://ratings.fide.com/tournament... Previous: Prague Chess Festival (Masters) (2019). See also: Prague Chess Festival (Challengers) (2020)  page 1 of 2; games 1-25 of 45  Game   Result Moves Year Event/Locale Opening 1. Firouzja vs M Ragger   ½-½ 44 2020 Prague Chess Festival (Masters) C78 Ruy Lopez 2. N Grandelius vs Harikrishna   ½-½ 36 2020 Prague Chess Festival (Masters) B47 Sicilian, Taimanov (Bastrikov) Variation 3. Navara vs Duda 0-1 36 2020 Prague Chess Festival (Masters) B90 Sicilian, Najdorf 4. V S Gujrathi vs Shankland 1-0 32 2020 Prague Chess Festival (Masters) E46 Nimzo-Indian 5. Vitiugov vs D Anton Guijarro 1-0 44 2020 Prague Chess Festival (Masters) B31 Sicilian, Rossolimo Variation 6. Shankland vs Navara   ½-½ 38 2020 Prague Chess Festival (Masters) E06 Catalan, Closed, 5.Nf3 7. N Grandelius vs Firouzja ½-½ 80 2020 Prague Chess Festival (Masters) C67 Ruy Lopez 8. D Anton Guijarro vs V S Gujrathi   ½-½ 49 2020 Prague Chess Festival (Masters) D38 Queen's Gambit Declined, Ragozin Variation 9. Harikrishna vs Duda   ½-½ 31 2020 Prague Chess Festival (Masters) E00 Queen's Pawn Game 10. M Ragger vs Vitiugov   ½-½ 36 2020 Prague Chess Festival (Masters) C11 French 11. Firouzja vs Harikrishna 1-0 40 2020 Prague Chess Festival (Masters) C78 Ruy Lopez 12. V S Gujrathi vs M Ragger 1-0 46 2020 Prague Chess Festival (Masters) D85 Grunfeld 13. Vitiugov vs N Grandelius   ½-½ 39 2020 Prague Chess Festival (Masters) A48 King's Indian 14. Duda vs Shankland ½-½ 42 2020 Prague Chess Festival (Masters) B90 Sicilian, Najdorf 15. Navara vs D Anton Guijarro 0-1 41 2020 Prague Chess Festival (Masters) D35 Queen's Gambit Declined 16. Harikrishna vs Shankland   ½-½ 48 2020 Prague Chess Festival (Masters) B90 Sicilian, Najdorf 17. Firouzja vs Vitiugov ½-½ 45 2020 Prague Chess Festival (Masters) C78 Ruy Lopez 18. D Anton Guijarro vs Duda   ½-½ 30 2020 Prague Chess Festival (Masters) A15 English 19. N Grandelius vs V S Gujrathi   ½-½ 35 2020 Prague Chess Festival (Masters) C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense 20. M Ragger vs Navara   ½-½ 60 2020 Prague Chess Festival (Masters) C50 Giuoco Piano 21. Vitiugov vs Harikrishna   ½-½ 59 2020 Prague Chess Festival (Masters) D02 Queen's Pawn Game 22. V S Gujrathi vs Firouzja 1-0 24 2020 Prague Chess Festival (Masters) D13 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, Exchange Variation 23. Duda vs M Ragger   ½-½ 30 2020 Prague Chess Festival (Masters) C68 Ruy Lopez, Exchange 24. Shankland vs D Anton Guijarro   ½-½ 48 2020 Prague Chess Festival (Masters) A45 Queen's Pawn Game 25. Navara vs N Grandelius 1-0 55 2020 Prague Chess Festival (Masters) A33 English, Symmetrical  page 1 of 2; games 1-25 of 45    REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2)   < Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 5 OF 5 ·  Later Kibitzing> Feb-22-20    LameJokes: Congrats Firouzja for winning the event at young age. It was good event with many interesting games. The combative mood of participants made this worth a watch. Gujrathi blew up a winning position against Navara with 33.b3. He could keep his rooks on seventh rank in menacing position. I don’t think, the calculation was difficult for a GM to handle. Hard luck Vidit. Feb-22-20    Pedro Fernandez: <Note to <fisayo123>> <<Pedro Fernandez> White's idea not playing 5. d4 is very deliberate. He doesn't want to play a Semi-Slav. These ideas like 5. b3 are very common in modern chess. The real issue was 8. Be2?! which Duda had already played before in a blitz game and he probably didn't look at it again after that. Also 5...Bd6 is just a standard move after 5. d4. I don't know about the immediate 6. Ne5!?> Hey <fisayo>, As <Sokrates> said, after 6...0-0 click for larger view 7.Qc2 was inapropriate, it was necessary 7.d4 and, of course, your comment about 8.Be2?!, after 7...e5!, click for larger view threatening 8...e4, is also totally correct! Paradogically SF does mention 8.Be2 (if your computer is fast and wait a few minutes) as a playable move (?). The idea is to clear 'd2' square for the f3-knight, which is possible by playing 8.d4 or 8.d3 as well. There is also a third playable alternative which is 8.cxd5!? click for larger view 8...cxd5 (8...e4?? 1-0) 9.Nb5 Nc6 10.Nxd6 Qxd6, etc., click for larger view and the game is fine for both sides. Sometimes silicone is indigestible! Greetings my great friend! Feb-23-20    Sokrates: <morfishine: Talk about a viciously contested tournament; 5 points was the max scored and 5 players reached that total> Yes, 5 players were equal winners but as you have noticed, there was one who was more equal than the others. :-) Feb-23-20    MissScarlett: I know tie-break methods date back to the 19th century, but isn't it only in the last couple of decades that there's been a push to determine separate placings? It used to be common to see <=1st> etc. I'm sure Shankland would rather that than be sole <5th>. Feb-23-20    MissScarlett: <Talk about a viciously contested tournament; 5 points was the max scored and 5 players reached that total> By that logic, if every game in the tournament was drawn, so everyone finished equal first, it would have been an absolute bloodbath. Feb-23-20    Kurakotsaba: We just witnessed an EPIC COLLAPSE by Mr. Gujarathi. Oh boy, talking about STEEL OF NERVES...and where else you can draw strength from and dig yourself out of that funk? TATA STEEL of India, Mr Gujathi...Tata Steel forged. Feb-23-20    jith1207: <tie-break methods date back to the 19th century, but isn't it only in the last couple of decades that there's been a push to determine separate placings? It used to be common to see <=1st>> Did they just share top prize money earlier in case of shared first? Do the players not want to share now, which might dilute the top cash? Bear with me, I'm trying to see if there's an angle of reasoning along the prize money. Feb-23-20    jith1207: I just realize Vidit finished second last year as well in Prague, losing by 0.5 point. But he defeated Navara in last round to get there. This year, he lost to Navara to collapse, when a draw would have been suffice to win it all. Feb-23-20    jith1207: Last year as well, 4 players finished with 5 points at second place. But there was a sole first place finish, and 5.5 points was just enough to win it all then too. Feb-23-20    beatgiant: <jith1207> Yes, they just shared top prize money earlier in case of shared first. I think the issue is that chess has become more of a big-money thing, and organizers are trying to figure out how to make it more exciting for spectators and thus justify the sponsorship. That is also the reason for the greater prominence of speed chess, in my opinion. Feb-23-20    Sokrates: <beatgiant> <...That is also the reason for the greater prominence of speed chess, in my opinion.> Also in mine. The organisers and sponsors desperately try to convey formats that lead to exciting, entertaining games. Why should they waste time and money on over-cautious GM's who want to maintain their ratings, get a starting fee and harvest decent price money to play one draw after the other? It should wonder no one that sponsors will be still more reluctant to invest their good money in projects of little value to spectators and the public. As said many times before: pro chess at high levels is in a field of tough competition with other needing games and sports. What was good enough in the 20th century may not suffice in 2020. If classical chess leads to tournaments with 80 % draw rates, it is classical chess that has to renew itself. Fortunately, we still have classical tournaments of high entertaining value, but each tournament with "drawmasters" decreases the attractivity of the game towards sponsors and organisers. The logic is terrifyingly simple. Feb-23-20    jith1207: Thanks, <beatgiant> and <Sokrates>. One main difference I see in getting sponsorship for other sports and Chess is that, when strong teams or players compete against each other in other sports, the game is expected to be played competitive and entertaining for spectators, which gives sponsors the desire to fund. It's true even in local high school games, if the rivalry is historically great or some players are famous statewide or nationwide. But, in Chess, when the strongest players meet, even a competitive game is only appealing to educated audience. If it's a dull game without anyone taking risks which it seems to be for the majority of time, the product is not understandably attractive to sponsors. I don't think Chess could really have a great revolution in fanbase. It's going to be the same, there will be enough supporters who would watch elite and Open tournaments and the best we could do is to make online streaming more accessible to audience via YouTube or other services, where they could try to get advertisement revenue throughout the stream. Feb-25-20    MordimerChess: Just in case if someone is interested of Prague Festival Masters commentary: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?li... Only 6 videos because I was disrupted by Cairns Cup :D I have no idea how I managed to record 22 videos of Tata Steel tournament, lol Feb-25-20    Sokrates: <jith1207> And in return thanks to you for your thoughtful musings. The development of chess in the 21st century is very very difficult to predict. But it is a fact that much has changed already - the quicker formats have indisputably gained grounds, but it's also true that the classical format still is recognized as THE benchmark. Things evolve rapidly at this day and age. As Hannes Wader once sang: "Denn nichts bleibt wie es war" (Cause nothing remains what it was). Feb-25-20    moronovich: <Things evolve rapidly at this day and age. As Hannes Wader once sang: "Denn nichts bleibt wie es war" (Cause nothing remains what it was).> So we shall go to the Museum of Art,with an empty canvas and a titel that says :"Ceci,cést une Pibe"...…;) Feb-26-20    jith1207: If I were the museum director, I'd give an empty money case back in return, saying < "Denn nichts bleibt wie es war" (Cause nothing remains what it was).> Feb-27-20    iking: "Alireza, who had recently moved to France with his parents and now playing under the "neutral" FIDE flag." .. nice to know that. Feb-28-20    oxoginkaput: Just how recently he moved out of Iran? On the onset of this covid19 virus outbreak in that country? Or did he left for some other reasons? Obviously, yes obviously - some people are gloating and cheering on when an individual or some personalities turned their backs on their MOTHERLAND and play for somewhere else. Without going on any further, it is quite easy to understand that poster's glee on Alireza's leaving his motherland Iran - there is a precedent as his MESSIAH jumping off ship to American federation - from his native Philippine federation. Cheer on Iking, cheer on....tsk, tsk, tsk, Feb-28-20    torrefan: Well at least Alireza didn't replace his parents with new ones Feb-28-20    beatgiant: <oxoginkaput> He stopped playing for Iran in December 2019 because the Iranian government pressures its athletes, including chess players, to boycott Israeli competitors on an individual basis. For example, Firouzja had to forfeit a game against an Israeli player in Grenke Open 2019. Mar-02-20    Sokrates: <torrefan: Well at least Alireza didn't replace his parents with new ones> Parents are not always what they should be. Most of them are, fortunately, but there are a few horrifying exceptions, and in those cases, the children are better off without them. I have seen it. Mar-03-20    beatgiant: <Sokrates> Something similar could be said about motherlands, but this probably isn't the right page for it. Mar-03-20    oxoginkaput: The proper and appropriate FORUM discussing motherlands, mothers and fathers, surrogate mother is the Wesley So Page thread. Those WSFFCI fanatics slash fan-antics will welcome you gladly with your pro-So posts comments. Anything you post critical of the Wesso KID and you are persona non grata, banned and banished, out and looking in... Mar-04-20    Sokrates: <beatgiant: <Sokrates> Something similar could be said about motherlands, but this probably isn't the right page for it.> Yes and yes! :-) Mar-04-20    Sokrates: <oxoginkaput> Wow, that was an unexpected twist of my words about parenthood in general, but by all means, don't hold back. 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