The Ganges Grandmasters survived a nail-biting 8-7 victory over the FYERS American Gambits in Round 5 at Mumbai’s Royal Opera House. In an extraordinarily tight contest featuring just two decisive results and four hard-fought draws, the Grandmasters’ narrow triumph showcased how razor-thin margins separate victory from defeat in rapid team chess.
The Deciding Moments
Two critical victories determined this match’s outcome. Javokhir Sindarov delivered for the Grandmasters on board three, defeating Richard Rapport after the Hungarian grandmaster’s position collapsed under pressure. Despite showing all zeroes on the clock display in the game notation, Rapport fought through 22 moves before his defenses crumbled against Sindarov’s relentless attack. When Black’s passed pawns became unstoppable, Rapport had no choice but to resign, handing crucial points to the Grandmasters.
On the women’s board, Bibisara Assaubayeva provided the American Gambits’ only decisive result, grinding down Polina Shuvalova in a 42-move marathon. The Kazakh star demonstrated patience and precision, methodically building pressure until Shuvalova’s king found itself trapped. A brilliant knight fork sealed the victory, keeping the Gambits competitive until the final tally and showcasing the importance of converting opportunities when they arise.
A Draw-Heavy Affair
The icon board witnessed a fascinating battle between Hikaru Nakamura and five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand. Both legends played with characteristic precision through 52 moves of complex maneuvering. Neither could break through the other’s defenses, with Anand showing resilience despite an early clock malfunction, and the game concluded in a hard-earned draw that reflected mutual respect between two of chess’s greatest minds.
Board two saw Vladislav Artemiev and Vincent Keymer engage in another tense struggle. Through 36 moves of tactical complexity, both players navigated dangerous waters before agreeing to split the point. The draw maintained the status quo in an already tight match.
Marathon Endgames
The remaining boards produced lengthy draws that tested both players’ endurance and technique. Board five featured an exhausting 62-move battle between Teodora Injac and Stavroula Tsolakidou. Despite Injac’s attempts to convert her advantage with relentless pressure, Tsolakidou’s defensive resilience proved unbreakable, with both players repeating positions in the final stages to secure the draw.
The prodigy board saw Volodar Murzin and Raunak Sadhwani engage in 41 moves of technical maneuvering, with neither able to find the breakthrough needed for victory. The repetitive nature of the endgame reflected the evenly-matched quality of both young talents.
Championship Implications
For the Ganges Grandmasters, this one-point victory represents both relief and concern. While three match points are valuable, their inability to convert more decisive results against a quality opponent reveals vulnerabilities. Winning by a single point when your opponent manages only one victory suggests missed opportunities that could prove costly against stronger teams.
The FYERS American Gambits, despite the loss, can take heart from pushing the Grandmasters to the brink. Assaubayeva’s victory demonstrated they possess the quality to compete with anyone. However, one decisive result across six boards simply isn’t enough to win matches at this level.
The Narrowest of Margins
In a format where every game point matters, this match highlighted how quickly fortunes can shift. The one-point difference tells the whole story: in team chess, when decisive results are scarce, every half-point becomes precious. The Grandmasters escaped with the narrowest possible winning margin—a reminder that in rapid team competition, survival sometimes matters more than domination.
