The Week in Chess

Hikaru Nakamura scored a stunning success in the Lindores Abbey Rapid Challenge levelling up his tie against Magnus Carlsen by winning their second mini-match 2.5-1.5. The winner of this tie will be settled tomorrow. Waiting for one of them in the final in Daniil Dubov who defeated Ding Liren again today.

Carlsen looked to land a knockout blow with black giving up a piece on move 8 in a variation tried at a high level in a game Leko-Navara. Carlsen seemed to be getting the better of it and Nakamura had to work hard to survive but as the clock ticked down Carlsen had an easy perpetual check, perhaps sensing he was winning (which the computers believe is via 26...Rd8) he played a losing move instead and Nakamura made no mistake in finding a win. The second game was also dramatic with Carlsen playing the Scotch and in a position with opposite side castling Nakamura was better for a bit but then it was Carlsen pressing for a win until he blundered with 50.Rdd2 (50.Re5 wins) and then lost his bishop after 52.Bxh5 (52.Rd6 maintained a small edge). The game quickly simplified to a draw after this. Nakamura forced a quick draw with white in game three and Carlsen never came close to the win he needed with white in the final fourth game. Nakamura having been knocked out of the Clutch Chess event he was playing in the evenings the last few days looked a different player today. Carlsen's aggression backfired, mostly because it seemed to drive him into time trouble which is not his forte.

Daniil Dubov beat Ding Liren 2.5-0.5 to reach the final. Ding seemed ill at ease throughout the match. Dubov continuously seeks to surprise his opponents in the opening with striking ideas. He confessed afterwards he was not at all interested in playing long balanced games against Ding who he thought most likely was much better than him at. Ding tried to refute Dubov's aggression in the first game with attacking play of his own but blundered into mate instead (19.bxc6? was the decisive error). Dubov was winning in the second game too but in a game of fluctuating fortunes he allowed Ding several chances to save himself before Dubov escaped the checks and was a rook up. 2-0 down Ding looked a beaten man and with 19...Qe5 Dubov could have won 3-0 as it was he traded down to a drawn endgame and match victory.

Carlsen - Nakamura Mini-Match 3 Saturday 30th May 2020 3pm BST.