GM Oleksandr Bortnyk Wins Closest Freestyle Friday Yet, Secures Second Victory

GM Oleksandr Bortnyk emerged victorious in the latest edition of Freestyle Friday on March 21, in what turned out to be the closest competition yet in the nine tournaments held so far. This marked Bortnyk’s second win in the series, following his previous triumph on January 31.

The final round saw Bortnyk facing tough competition, resulting in a five-way tie for first place. However, Bortnyk’s tiebreak scores remained the best in the field, securing him the top spot. Joining him on nine points were GMs Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Denis Lazavik, Daniel Naroditsky, and Amin Tabatabaei, with Tabatabaei unfortunately finishing outside the money due to tiebreak scores.

Arjun Erigaisi, who had won the tournament three times in a row prior to this event, had a solid showing but ultimately finished in 19th place. IM Karina Ambartsumova claimed the women’s prize in 20th position, narrowly missing out on it in the previous week.

Bortnyk dominated the early stages of the tournament, winning nine out of the first 10 games. Despite a setback against Naroditsky in round six, Bortnyk’s impressive performance included a remarkable 10-move victory over Vachier-Lagrave.

As the competition heated up, Lazavik emerged as a strong contender, winning an endurance test that lasted 102 moves. The final rounds saw Vachier-Lagrave and Naroditsky making significant comebacks, leading to a thrilling finish with multiple players tied for first place.

In the end, Bortnyk’s consistent performance and strong tiebreak scores secured him the top prize of $400. Vachier-Lagrave, Lazavik, Naroditsky, and Ambartsumova also walked away with cash prizes for their impressive performances.

Freestyle Friday is a weekly tournament on Chess.com dedicated to Freestyle Chess for titled players, attracting top talent from around the world. The intense competition and strategic gameplay make it a must-watch event for chess enthusiasts.