Tata Steel 12 - 28 Jan 2024

[Matt Mackenzie]

I made that comment not long after move 40, when she had let a previously massive advantage slip a bit.

Played the actual ending very well yes.

[Mick Norris]

Your surprise winners will be Abdussattorov & Maurizzi

Maurizzi leads after round 8, although 3 players are half a point back and another 3 a point off the lead

Gukesh, Giri and Firouzja lead the Masters with 4 players including Abdussattorov half a point back, and another 2 a point off the lead

Pretty close

[Matt Mackenzie]

Ding's losing error today was something a moderately strong club player would wince at - maybe that's why he played on so long?

[Mick Norris]

Rest day today

Tomorrow we have:

• Donchenko (2.5) - Firouzja (5)
• Ding Liren (3.5) - Giri (5)
• Gukesh (5) - Vidit (4.5)
• Maghsoodloo (2.5) - Warmerdam (4)
• Abdusattorov (4.5) - Van Foreest (3)
• Wei Yi (4) - Nepomniachtchi (4.5)
• Praggnanandhaa (4.5) - Ju Wenjun (3.5)

[Mick Norris]

Firouzja has lost, Giri drawn, Gukesh drawn, Abdusattorov won, Nepo lost, Praggnanandhaa won

5.5 - Abdusattorov, Giri, Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa
5 - Firouzja, Vidit, Wei Yi (Warmerdam will join them if he wins)
4.5 - Nepo

[Matt Mackenzie]

Firouzja has lost, Giri drawn, Gukesh drawn, Abdusattorov won, Nepo lost, Praggnanandhaa won

5.5 - Abdusattorov, Giri, Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa
5 - Firouzja, Vidit, Wei Yi (Warmerdam will join them if he wins)
4.5 - Nepo

He actually threw the game away

[LawrenceCooper]

Firouzja has lost, Giri drawn, Gukesh drawn, Abdusattorov won, Nepo lost, Praggnanandhaa won

5.5 - Abdusattorov, Giri, Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa
5 - Firouzja, Vidit, Wei Yi (Warmerdam will join them if he wins)
4.5 - Nepo

He actually threw the game away

https://chess24.com/en/watch/live-tourn ... _x_2T-fpxk

[Mick Norris]

I didn't think it was quite as easy as the evaluation seemed to indicate, but I guess that's why he's not (yet) quite at the same level as the 8 on 4.5 and above

Maurizzi is half a point clear in the Challengers

[Mick Norris]

• Firouzja (5) - Giri (5.5)
• Nepomniachtchi (4.5) - Ding Liren (4)
• Van Foreest (3) - Wei Yi (5)
• Warmerdam (4) - Abdusattorov (5.5)
• Ju Wenjun (3.5) - Maghsoodloo (3.5)
• Vidit (5) - Praggnanandhaa (5.5)
• Donchenko (3.5) - Gukesh (5.5)

Rest day tomorrow

[Matt Mackenzie]

This is turning out to be a complete disaster for the WC. Have they actually impressed in a single game so far?

[LawrenceCooper]

This is turning out to be a complete disaster for the WC. Have they actually impressed in a single game so far?

His win with black was impressive. His losses have all been to top players, Nepo, Pragg & Alireza. Nepo said today in his interview that Ding didn't look well so it may be that his health problems aren't behind him.

[Matt Mackenzie]

The win seemed a bit of a lucky dip to me, could have gone either way. And at least two of his losses have seen pretty glaring errors. If it is true he has been brought back before he is ready, that is obviously a shame but (as after 1972) a non-playing WC is always going to raise questions.

[Kevin Thurlow]

It's quite a tough tournament for Ding to play when he has not been in action much.

[LawrenceCooper]

The win seemed a bit of a lucky dip to me, could have gone either way. And at least two of his losses have seen pretty glaring errors. If it is true he has been brought back before he is ready, that is obviously a shame but (as after 1972) a non-playing WC is always going to raise questions.

His win from the tournament: https://chess24.com/en/watch/live-tourn ... 2024/3/1/5

[Christopher Kreuzer]

It was a very impressive win. The overall result does matter as well. People may end up scrabbling around in the record books unless Ding can win his last three games (not impossible).