How a risky move helped Singapore chess grandmaster Tin Jingyao to an upset win

SINGAPORE: He might have been knocked out of the competition, but Singapore’s youngest grandmaster Tin Jingyao considers this year’s FIDE World Chess Cup one of his best performances yet.

That’s largely owing to his unexpected win over ninth seed and world No 13 Shakhriyar Mamedyarov on the latter’s home turf in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Tin sealed the upset victory on Thursday (Aug 3) in the second round of the tournament organised by the International Chess Federation (FIDE).

The 23-year-old, who is Singapore’s top-ranked chess player and world No 291, has since exited the tournament where he was seeded 120.

He lost to Denmark’s 73rd seed Rasmus Svane in the third round of competition played over the weekend.

Speaking to CNA over a video call from Baku on Monday, Tin said his performance has given him more confidence in his ability to face elite players.

Among the opponents he has met in classical chess, “definitely I think (Mamedyarov) is the strongest player I’ve played over the board, maybe even by far”, he said.

“Coming off the more recent results, I’m feeling a bit disappointed. But if I look at the bigger picture, of course, I think overall I shouldn’t be too upset.”

The FIDE World Chess Cup comprises eight knockout rounds. Each round consists of two games played over two days.

Going into his first game with Mamedyarov, Tin said he felt comfortable and relaxed as he was not expected to win. That game ended in a draw.

Next day’s game would make the difference. Mamedyarov, playing white, set up an advantage for himself in the first 15 moves, according to Tin.

“It was a kind of position where if I just sat around and did nothing, I would just have to suffer for quite a lot of moves and maybe, at best, hold a draw.”

But Tin pounced on a