Grandmaster D. Gukesh of India and Grandmaster Nijat Abasov of Azerbaijan throughout their Spherical 5 match on the FIDE Candidates 2024 chess match, in Toronto, Canada, Tuesday, April 9, 2024.
| Photograph Credit score: PTI
Teenaged Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh produced one other incredible efficiency to crash by the defences of Azerbaijan’s Nijat Abasov and regain a share of the lead however R. Praggnanandhaa and Vidit Gujrathi bowed out of rivalry after the twelfth spherical of the Candidates chess match right here.
With American Hikaru Nakamura scoring a victory over Firouza Alireza of France, it’s now a three-way lead on the high.
Candidates chess: Gukesh slips to tied 2nd after draw; losses for Pragg, Gujrathi
Gukesh and Nakamura joined in a single day top-placed Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia, who drew with Praggnanandhaa, on 7.5 factors and these three are actually adopted by Fabiano Caruana of United States who’s on seven factors.
Candidates Chess: Gukesh and Nepomniachtchi retain lead after agreeing to 40-move draw
Praggnanandhaa remains to be fifth with six factors with Gujrathi following him on 5 factors.
Nonetheless, with simply two rounds to return within the eight-player double round-robin match, it’s virtually unimaginable for the duo to complete on the rostrum. Alireza and Abasov replenish the rear of the desk with 4.5 and three factors respectively.
Within the ladies’s part, the Chinese language domination was cemented by Zhongyi Tan, who performed out a draw with Nurgyul Salimova of Bulgaria.
Russian Kateryna Lagno was solely in a position to squeeze half some extent in opposition to one other Chinese language Tingjie Lei.
India’s Koneru Humpy did effectively to carry Aleksandra Goryachkina of Russia to a draw whereas R. Vaishali scored her second straight victory on the expense of Anna Muzychuk of Ukraine.
With Tan on eight factors, Lei is half some extent behind. The trio of Humpy, Lagno and Goryachkina are a distant third on six factors. Vaishali moved to five.5 factors to take the sixth spot, forward of Salimova and Muzychuk.
The 17-year previous Gukesh is just the second youngest in historical past to ever compete in a Candidates match and the final time somebody youthful performed was means again in 1959 – when Bobby Fischer stormed into the chess world.
Black in opposition to Abasov and needing a victory desperately, the Indian didn’t disappoint within the Nimzo Indian protection recreation whereby the Azerbaijani was outwitted in all departments of the sport.
Selecting side-variations properly has been an indicator of Gukesh’s technique all through the occasion and but once more, he got here out on high.
Abasov could have thought he was higher however as the sport progressed into the center recreation, Gukesh made some good manoeuvres to succeed in an endgame the place white reeled beneath strain with pawn weaknesses.
Gukesh received a pawn on the queen aspect and within the ensuing minor items endgame, his handed pawns have been clearly superior.
Nepomniachtchi has been dealing with the match neatly and virtually with none dangers.
In opposition to Praggnanandhaa too, the Russian took no probabilities regardless of taking part in white. The French protection led to a level-playing area for each and with every bit alternate the place turned less complicated. It was a rook and pawns endgame on board which was a useless draw.
Gujrathi suffered one other defeat within the occasion and misplaced to Caruana out of an Italian opening recreation the place the latter performed white.
Caruana obtained a great grip on the place within the center recreation and progressively outplayed Gujrathi with some good calculation coupled with a well-formed technique.
Nakamura was a category act but once more. It was one other French alternate however this time Nakamura ensured problems on each flanks. The endgame was balanced however Alireza but once more blundered and located himself watching a misplaced place.
Vaishali was the lone winner within the ladies’s part. Muzychuk got here up with a gap shock within the open Ruy Lopez and Vaishali needed to defend appropriately.
The Ukrainian lacked the extent of accuracy that was required.
Vaishali transformed to a minor piece endgame by which her Bishop proved a lot better than Muzychuk’s Knight. The sport lasted 57 strikes.
Humpy confronted the Catalan opening as black in opposition to Goryachkina and had little bother. Simply out of the opening, the 2 gamers repeated strikes and rapidly signed peace.
Outcomes spherical 12 (Indians except specified):
Nijat Abasov (Aze, 3) misplaced to D Gukesh (7.5); Fabiano Caruana (Usa, 7) beat Vidit Gujrathi (5); l Ian Nepomniachthi (Fid, 7.5); drew with R Praggnanandhaa (6); Hikaru Nakamura (Usa, 7.5) beat Firouza Alireza (Fra, 4.5).
Girls: Aleksandra Goryachkina (Fid, 6) drew with Koneru Humpy (6); Anna Muzychuk (4.5) misplaced to R Vaishali (5.5); Nurgyuaal Salimova (Bul, 4.5) drew with Zhongyi Tan (8); Kateryna Lagno (Fid, 6) drew with Tingjei Lei (Chn, 7.5).