Candidates Tournament 2020

[Nick Ivell]

Ah, I just noticed that Giri didn't play the classic Schev move order. I'm not surprised, because I know he's a mean exponent of the Keres himself.

A great day for the classical Schev, but don't take it up, people, unless you have access to the Magnus files.

Win for Giri.

[Mick Norris]

Giri has black v Grischuk and white v Alekseenko

[Paul Cooksey]

I think all the candidates would have taken "you have to win with white in the last round" at the start. Looks like Giri might have that opportunity.

[Mick Norris]

Nepo has won; he has white v MVL then black v Ding

[Paul Cooksey]

I think all the candidates would have taken "you have to win with white in the last round" at the start. Looks like Giri might have that opportunity.

I wrote this thinking Wang was holding. I suspect he will not be getting a Christmas card from Anish after losing that

[NigelDonovan]

Why did he resign? Surely he can play on.

[Nick Ivell]

I think Wang was just too tired to play on.

[Nick Burrows]

Presumably Nepo plays for a draw vs MVL who will be playing all out for the win.
If Giri wants his destiny in his own hands he must play for a win with black vs Grischuk.
If Nepo & Giri draw tomorrow then Nepo qualifies if he avoids defeat with black vs Ding in the final round.

[Matt Mackenzie]

And like Nepo, Ding squeezes a win from a drawish looking position - all four games decisive today.

[NickFaulks]

Then there were two.

[Tim Harding]

Giri is playing the best chess; (some of) Nepo's opponents are playing the worst chess.

This was a pretty miserable lack of resistance by Wang Hao against an opponent who at the start of the game was clearly happy to draw.

The commentators seemed to reckon 54 Rc3 was the losing move but were still a bit surprised Wang Hao gave up when he did. Perhaps he forgot he would get an extra 15 minutes after move 60. Judit Polgar and Ganguly reckoned that Black was winning anyway and Wang Hao just didn't want to suffer any more. I don't think endgames are his strong suit.

It's now looking like Giri's rather unnecessary loss to Nepo in the first cycle is going to be the crucial factor, but Ding's win today at least gives hope that he might be able to cause problems for Nepo.

At least we can be happy that the tournament is not yet decided and could go down to the fifth hour plus on the final day.

[JustinHorton]

Though at the same time it' presumably quite likely that it'll be wrapped up on Monday with MVL losing his must-win game to Nepo and Giri needing to win with Black and failing.

That must have been a real gut-punch for Giri at the end. Still, whatever the demerits of Wang's performance it was a real effort of perserverance by Nepo.

[Mick Norris]

It will be interesting to see what approach Nepo takes to the game v MVL; Grischuk is presumably going to end up in time trouble against Giri

The rest day tomorrow I guess gives everyone the chance to calm down after today's 4 decisive games

[JustinHorton]

Talking of which, can anybody tell me when there was last a round of a candidates tournament (and I mean strictly tournament) in which all the games were decisive?

(I think I know the answer to this but am very prepared to be wrong. I would say "no looking it up" but obviously that is precisely what I did myself.)

[Roger de Coverly]

Ah, I just noticed that Giri didn't play the classic Schev move order. I'm not surprised, because I know he's a mean exponent of the Keres himself.

Is it a surprise that Caruana avoids main lines in the Four Knights Sicilian and plays a sideline considered wimpy for decades?

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. a3