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The PBG Alaskan Knights survived a tense encounter to defeat the UpGrad Mumba Masters 10-8 in Match 27 at the Royal Opera House. In a closely contested battle featuring three decisive results and two hard-fought draws, Leinier Dominguez Perez and Sarasadat Khademalsharieh delivered maximum points to secure victory for the Knights despite a stunning performance from Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.

MVL Shocks World Champion

The icon board delivered the evening’s biggest surprise as Maxime Vachier-Lagrave dismantled World Champion Gukesh D with clinical precision. After building steady pressure from the opening, MVL launched a devastating attack that left Gukesh scrambling for survival. The French grandmaster’s pieces coordinated beautifully, creating unstoppable threats across the board. Despite Gukesh’s desperate attempts at counterplay, MVL’s technique proved flawless. The resignation on move 55 handed the Masters crucial points and sent shockwaves through the arena.

Draws Keep It Tight

Board two featured a grueling marathon between Wesley So and Arjun Erigaisi. The game exploded into tactical chaos with both players sacrificing material and creating dangerous attacks. After 49 moves of relentless pressure from both sides, neither could find the breakthrough. The draw kept the match finely balanced.

Humpy Koneru and Kateryna Lagno battled to a quick draw on board four after just 33 moves. Despite early tension, both players maneuvered carefully, ultimately settling for repetition. With two draws on boards two and four, the match outcome hinged on the remaining three boards.

Dominguez Delivers the Equalizer

Board three provided the Knights’ first breakthrough. Leinier Dominguez Perez unleashed a brilliant attacking masterclass against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. After Mamedyarov launched an aggressive pawn storm, Dominguez countered with surgical precision, exposing weaknesses in White’s position. His pieces swarmed forward with lethal coordination, creating unstoppable threats. The spectacular finish came on move 40 when Mamedyarov’s king had nowhere to run. The 4-point victory leveled the match and shifted momentum to the Knights.

Khademalsharieh Seals Victory

Sarasadat Khademalsharieh provided the decisive blow on board five. Against Harika Dronavalli, the Iranian star demonstrated exceptional endgame technique. After winning material in the middlegame, Khademalsharieh methodically converted her advantage through precise calculation. Despite Dronavalli’s stubborn resistance, Khademalsharieh’s queen danced across the board, creating threats Dronavalli couldn’t contain. The resignation on move 65 handed the Knights a commanding lead and essentially sealed the match.

Daneshvar Narrows the Gap

The prodigy board offered one final twist as Bardiya Daneshvar defeated Daniel Dardha for the Masters. Daneshvar built pressure patiently before launching a fierce attack. His pieces penetrated Dardha’s position relentlessly, and despite desperate defensive attempts, Dardha’s fortress crumbled. The resignation on move 54 cut the Knights’ lead to just two points, but it came too late to change the outcome.

Two-Point Victory

The 10-8 scoreline reflects a match where individual brilliance determined the result. While MVL’s victory over the World Champion provided the Masters with valuable points, the Knights’ duo of Dominguez and Khademalsharieh proved decisive. Both scored perfect 4-point hauls, carrying their team to victory despite the icon board setback.

For the PBG Alaskan Knights, this win showcases championship depth—when one board falters, others step up. For the UpGrad Mumba Masters, losing boards three and five proved costly, despite MVL’s heroics on board one.