Maxime Vachier-Lagrave Catches up with Ian Nepomniachtchi at FIDE Candidates Tournament
First part of the event is over in Yekaterinburg.
Round seven of the FIDE Candidates Tournament has finished today. A symbolic first move in Ding Liren – K. Alekseenko was made by a famous actor, TV host, and captain of the KVN team Uralskiye Pelmeni Andrey Rozhkov.
In a duel of leaders, Ian Nepomniachtchi went down to Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, who has caught up with the Russian at the top of tournament standings. Caruana – Wang Hao, Ding Liren – Alekseenko and Giri – Grischuk ended in a draw.
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France) – Ian Nepomniachtchi (Russia) 1-0
The game of the leaders saw a double-edged line of French Winawer. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave sidestepped from the Alekseenko – Nepomniachtchi game played in this tournament. White gained a promising position out of the opening as Black was deprived of castling and his queenside play did not bring him the desired dividends. White doubled the rooks along the b-file to put even more pressure on Black. Vachier-Lagrave opened the second front on the kingside towards the time control move and put Black into a desperate situation. The French GM converted the game with precise execution.
Fabiano Caruana (USA) – Wang Hao (China) 1/2-1/2
The Chinese GM has opted for the Petroff Defense yet again. The early trade of queens gave way to roughly equal positional struggle. Having fended off the opponent’s kingside activity, Black seized the initiative. However, White temporarily sacrificed a pawn to get out of the woods. With an accurate endgame technique, the American grandmaster thwarted all Black's threats and sealed a draw immediately after the time control.
Ding Liren (China) – Kirill Alekseenko (Russia) 1/2-1/2
The opponents opted for the Catalan Opening. White had a definite advantage in the middlegame, but then the Chinese grandmaster seemed to have chosen the wrong plan, and Black managed not only to equalize, but seized the initiative altogether. However, mass liquidations transposed into a drawn rook ending. The game ended in a draw after Black's move 40.
Anish Giri (Netherlands) – Alexander Grischuk (Russia) 1/2-1/2
The game was a modern line of the English Opening. White emerged with a weak pawn out of the opening. After the queens were exchanged off, Black's play was levelled against this weak pawn. Giri decided to let the pawn go, and this decision led to mass exchanges. It did not take White long to win back the material in the rooks and bishops ending. On the flip side, Black gained a slight advantage due to greater activity of his pieces. However, drawing tendencies prevailed, and the exchange of minor pieces produced an absolutely equal rook ending. A draw was agreed immediately after time control.
Standings after Round 7:
1-2. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave , Ian Nepomniachtchi – 4.5;
3-6. Fabiano Caruana, Anish Giri, Wang Hao, Alexander Grischuk – 3.5;
7-8. Ding Liren, Kirill Alekseenko – 2.5;
Pairings of Round 8:
Fabiano Caruana (USA) – Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France)
Wang Hao (China) – Ding Liren (China)
Ian Nepomniachtchi (Russia) – Anish Giri (Netherlands)
Kirill Alekseenko (Russia) – Alexander Grischuk (Russia)
The organizers of the FIDE Candidates Tournament are the International Chess Federation (FIDE), the Chess Federation of Russia (CFR) as well as the Government of the Sverdlovsk Region and the Chess Federation of the Sverdlovsk Region.
Partners:
Sima Land - general partner of the FIDE Candidates Tournament
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