The Week in Chess

Fabiano Caruana took the sole lead of the Altibox Norway Chess tournament when he beat Jan-Krzysztof Duda with white using an Exchange Slav variation. Caruana got a nagging edge from the opening moves and just like in Duda's first game he started to use a lot of time and not find the best at the same time. 23...b6? should have been the losing move, it might have taken 94 moves but Caruana exploited the advantage he was granted with this move which he soon turned into two minor pieces vs Rook. That said 45.g4? Rb2! is equal according to the computers, this was Duda's single chance to save the game.

Aryan Tari seemed to surprise Levon Aronian by choosing the Marshall against the Ruy Lopez. After 18...Qh5 moves they transposed to a position more often reached with black to move but black was still fine. Aronian is a specialist with the Marshall as black himself and he gradually outplayed his young opponent - 22...Bf3?! allowing the exchange of a pair of rooks was the start of the difficulties and black's position went downhill quite quickly after that.

Alireza Firouzja chose a solid Queen's Gambit with black against Magnus Carlsen and they followed the recent Carlsen-Kramnik for some way until 10...Nbd7 which is the usual move in the position. Carlsen spent some time trying to work out what Firouzja wanted and 11....b5 was a really bold choice as white has won all five games played against this so far. 15.Nf5 c4 was critical and during the game Carlsen explained his plan in the confession booth during the game. In the end Firouzja chose to play Bf8 and Carlsen had some mild pressure but nothing more and the game was drawn. In the Armageddon Firouzja obtained a crushing position just out of the opening but he failed to put Carlsen away and after the position became equal he eventually lost on time.

Round 2 Standings: 1st Caruana 6pts, 2nd= Firouzja Aronian 4pts, 4th Carlsen 3pts, 5th= Duda, Tari 0pts.

Round 3 Pairings Wednesday 6th Oct 4pm: Tari-Carlsen, Duda-Aronian, Firouzja-Caruana