Gukesh gets the better of Abasov, goes into joint lead
Fellow leader Nepomniachtchi survives to draw with Praggnanandhaa; Gujrathi fails to convert chances and splits the point with Caruana; all women’s games end in stalemates
D. Gukesh caught up with leader Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia in the fifth round of the Candidates chess tournament at Toronto on Tuesday. The 17yearold from Chennai is on 3.5 points after defeating Nijat Abasov of Azerbaijan.
Nepomniachtchi drew with R. Praggnanandhaa, but it was a game he could have lost. The Russian was in trouble before drawing in 44 moves from the black side of Petrov’s Defence.
Vidit Gujrathi also had his chances but failed to convert them and had to settle for a draw with top seed Fabiano Caruana of the United States.
The American, who had black pieces, got the draw after 30 moves of Sicilian Defence, and is in the sole second position with three points.
Nakamura’s first win
The day also saw the second Hikaru Nakamura scoring his first win of the tournament, as he beat Ali
Gukesh breached the defence of Abasov in 87 moves.
reza Firouzja of France with black pieces in 63 moves of Giuoco Piano.
After his win, the American said, “I remembered this game, between Magnus Carlsen and Alireza in Norway Chess, where the game was a draw most of the way,” he said.
“Alireza was very nervous and shaking, and Magnus managed to win this. Not to sound too cocky, but I felt a little bit like Magnus here.”
The day’s other decisive game was Gukesh’s 87move victory against Abasov, who adopted Petrov’s Defence.
In the women’s tournament, all the four games were drawn.
That meant China’s Tan Zhongyi remained as the leader with 3.5 points.
Russian Aleksandra Goryachkina, who drew with Koneru Humpy, is second with three points. Humpy is on two points, while R.
Vaishali has 2.5.
The results (fifth round): Open: D. Gukesh 3.5 bt Nijat Abasov (Aze) 1.5; Vidit Gujrathi 2 drew with Fabiano Caruana (USA) 3; R. Praggnanandhaa 2.5 drew with Ian Nepomniachtchi (FIDE) 3.5; Alireza Firouzja (Fra) 1.5 lost to Hikaru Nakamura (USA) 2.5. Women: Koneru Humpy 2 drew with Aleksandra Goryachkina (FIDE) 3; R. Vaishali 2.5 drew with Anna Muzychuk (Ukr) 2; Tan Zhongyi (Chn) 3.5 drew with Nurgyul Salimova (Bul) 2.5; Lei Tingjie (Chn) 2 drew with Kateryna Lagno (FIDE) 2.5.