The Week in Chess

Lindores AbbeyHikaru Nakamura and Yu Yangyi's superior online experience won them the first rubbers in their matches against Levon Aronian and Ding Liren, both were settled in Armageddon tie-breaks in the Lindores Abbey Rapid tournament. The ties are the best of three mini-matches.

Aronian won a marathon first game against Nakamura where he had a nice advantage out of the opening in Nakamura's favourite defence to the Bf4 Queen's Gambit, he let this go but Nakamura made an error that put him back in trouble again and left him defending a Rook vs Rook and Bishop endgame which Aronian eventually won. The second game was drawn, Nakamura missed a chance after 15.Qb2? to obtain a winning position but missed this and drew that too, in game for Nakamura got a lovely position out of a Petroff and won the nicest game of the match. In the Armageddon Nakamura needed a draw with black and his speedy and solid play left him a comfortable winner on time in the end.

Ding Liren and Yu Yangyi both missed a few half chances in their four rapid games but it wasn't anything like as dramatic as the other match. In the Armageddon Ding needed a draw with black, got a completely winning position but it was time he needed and Yu had a few key seconds more and won leaving Ding looking pretty stunned and upset afterwards.

These players will return on Monday for the second rubber of this match which Aronian and Ding must win. Sunday sees Carlsen-So and Karjakin-Dubov play their first rubber.