This was our third time visiting Oresei, Sardinia a place that now feels wonderfully familiar. The first time we came was in 2022 for the World Junior Chess Championship, which was held in the beautiful town of Cala Gonone. The second visit was last year for the World Chess Festival, and now, once again, we found ourselves back for a third time. Sardinia is truly a beautiful destination — the lush greenery, stunning beaches, and perfect weather make it an incredible place to combine chess and leisure
You can watch Tarun’s vlog here:
Despite the tournament having fewer participants than last year, the field was still very strong. In the A Category alone, 105 players competed, making for a challenging event.
Tarun’s Tournament
Tarun had a decent performance, scoring 5.5 points out of 9 rounds. His start was a little shaky; he lost the second round to a lower-rated player, which is always tough early in a tournament. But Tarun showed resilience, bouncing back immediately with wins in rounds 3 and 4.
In the 7th round, he an interesting game against WGM Nino Maisuradze. It turned into a highly imbalanced position, with Tarun having a Queen and Bishop against two Rooks and a Bishop, a very dynamic setup that led to sharp play.
WGM Nino Maisuradze – IM Tarun:
In the penultimate (8th) round, Tarun scored an important win against IM Martinovici Ilia. This victory was particularly sweet because Tarun had lost to him a few months earlier in another tournament.
Finally, in the last round, Tarun was paired against GM Yahli Sokolovsky. The game was intense, and Tarun found himself in some trouble on the kingside. However, there was a clever and resourceful move he could have played to stay in the game.
IM Tarun vs. GM Yahli Sokolovsky:
Tarun played 26.Rxf4, sacrificing the exchange to neutralize Black’s kingside attack. His idea was correct, but there was an even better way to achieve the same goal. Can you find it?
Video Recaps
Tarun also shared his reflections on his games through some video recaps:
My Tournament
As for my own tournament, it didn’t go quite as I had hoped. I actually had a good start and was feeling confident. However, things started to slip after the fourth round, where I lost the game. I missed a chance to force a perpetual check.
Missed Opportunity in Round 4:
Can you find the only move for Black to make a draw?
Even though the tournament wasn’t going my way, I kept fighting and managed to finish on a high note with a win in the last round. No matter how the event unfolds, ending with a win always feels good and gives positive energy moving forward.
Last Round Game:
Black has just played 10…Be6. White can win a piece , can you find out how?
Sardinia — Beyond the Chessboard
Apart from the chess, we enjoyed our time in Sardinia immensely. The landscape is simply breathtaking, and we took some time to soak in the scenery between games.
Photos from Our Stay:
Overall, the Sardinia World Chess Festival once again gave us both great memories — on and off the board. While not everything went perfectly in the tournament, the experience was valuable and uplifting, and we’re already looking forward to future adventures.