Following a attract spherical 13 recreation in opposition to Hungarian Grandmaster Richard Rapport, Nepomniachtchi is on 9/13, some extent and a part forward of the remainder of the sphere, consistent with a FIDE unencumber. That is his 2nd consecutive victory within the eight-player Applicants.
Within the post-game interview, when requested how he’s feeling now, Nepomniachni instructed FIDE: ‘The standard resolution is – I don’t know… On this match I used to be attempting extra to play chess than enjoying for a win. This is necessary… Every other necessary issue is that I by no means had a six-hour recreation right here. I used to be fortunate sufficient to not play for too lengthy’, stated Nepomniachtchi.
The 31-year-old GM has taken an early lead within the match and is the one participant to not lose a unmarried recreation. American Hikaru Nakamura is lately in transparent 2nd position with 7.5 issues, having received nowadays in opposition to Polish GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda. Within the ultimate – 14th spherical – he’ll be up in opposition to China’s Ding Liren who’s on seven issues, in an immediate duel for 2nd position.
The race for 2nd position has turn into ever extra necessary since five-times global champion Magnus Carlsen has made a number of ideas he may not be prepared to shield his identify. If Carlsen makes a decision to not play within the fit which is because of happen subsequent 12 months, he’ll get replaced via the runner-up within the Applicants.
In Spherical 13, Ian Nepomniachtchi secured his victory in #FIDECandidates. Nakamura received and is now transparent 2nd.
Standings ahead of the remaining spherical:
? Nepomniachtchi – 9
2. Nakamura – 7½
3. Ding – 7
4-5. Radjabov, Caruana – 6½
6. Rapport – 5½
7-8. Duda, Firouzja – 5 percent.twitter.com/9ib04Ba2nx
— Global Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) July 3, 2022
In spherical 13, Ian Nepomniachtchi used to be White in opposition to Richard Rapport who opted for a pointy line within the Richter-Rauzer variation of the Sicilian. Then again, Nepomniachtchi used to be having a look to calm the sport and he pressured exchanges, making issues more practical at the board. Rapport at one level began advancing his king against the center, however he recommended transparent of bad exhibitions reminiscent of the ones in spherical seven in opposition to Nepo, when he refused a draw be offering and ended up dropping. In a good place, a draw used to be agreed on transfer 34 following threefold repetition.
That is all Nepomniachtchi had to declare first position, with another spherical to move.
In gentle of the talk about whether or not the reigning global champion Magnus Carlsen will shield his identify or now not, an much more important query mark grows on who the winner of the Applicants shall be going through. When requested who he desires to play on the planet championship fit, Nepomniachtchi stated: ‘Actually, I don’t care. However, in fact, it could be reasonably difficult to play Magnus once more.’
Ian Nepomniachtchi: “Extraordinarily glad and intensely grateful to everyone who helped me.” percent.twitter.com/zAFmhO9sgE
— Global Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) July 3, 2022
Ian Nepomniachtchi has been the chief from the very get started of the match and is the one participant within the box to not undergo a defeat in 13 rounds performed. He’ll be hoping to handle this within the ultimate recreation, in spherical 14, and steer clear of the repeat of 2020/21 Applicants in Yekaterinburg the place he additionally received with a spherical to spare however then misplaced the remaining recreation.
Whilst the primary tale of the day is Nepomniachtchi confirming his victory within the Applicants, probably the most gripping query is – who shall be 2nd? This query has ruled the latter a part of the development, ever for the reason that potentialities of Nepomniachchi’s victory was virtually positive.
The principle applicants are Hikaru Nakamura and Ding Liren who entered nowadays’s spherical with 6.5 issues.
Essentially the most thrilling recreation of the day used to be between Hikaru Nakamura and Jan-Krzysztof Duda. The younger participant from Poland opted for a Najdorf Sicilian – getting into a pointy line the place either side had to calculate so much. In a recreation filled with ups and downs for either side, Nakamura gave the impression to have overstretched himself sacrificing a pawn and gave Black a number of just right possibilities within the early middlegame. Then again, as within the earlier video games, Duda failed in energy and effort to transform the merit driven within the centre and step by step gave again the initiative to White. In a tactical place, Nakamura controlled to outplay his opponent in the second one a part of the sport and after Black’s critical mistake on transfer 37, he ended up utterly profitable. With 7.5/13, Nakamura is by myself in 2nd position.
Ding used to be black in opposition to Alireza Firouzja who opted for a calmer line – with the 4 Knight’s Scotch. For the primary ten strikes, the 2 adopted the similar line as within the spherical 8 recreation between Nepomniachtci and Ding, which resulted in a draw. It gave the impression that the 2 had been heading for a rapid draw following fast play and exchanges. Then again, within the endgame, Ding made up our minds to surrender a pawn at the h-file and boost the placement. Firouzja countered Black’s advances neatly after which discovered a bishop sacrifice which activated his rook, enabling it to offer perpetual tests. Ding used to be prepared to take a possibility nowadays and used to be pushing, however it didn’t cross and he didn’t over power it. With 7/13, Ding stands cast possibilities to take 2nd position. As for Firouzja, anything else however a defeat is excellent news at this degree.
Chess enthusiasts honoured Ian Nepomniachtchi with an ovation. ??? percent.twitter.com/HxTByVlDTH
— Global Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) July 3, 2022
Within the remaining spherical, Hikaru Nakamura shall be going through Ding Lireng in an immediate duel for 2nd position.
In nowadays’s recreation Fabiano Caruana used to be enjoying with black items in opposition to the uneasy Teimour Radjabov. Within the Catalan, Caruana shocked his opponent within the opening, opting for a rarer line and sacrificing a pawn. Black did get some initiative, however Radjabov temporarily simplified and transitioned to a good endgame the place the 2 temporarily agreed on a draw. Each Caruana and Radjabov are on 6.5/13 and don’t have possibilities for 2nd position.
ROUND 13 REPORT:
Ian Nepomniachtchi
½ – ½
Richard Rapport
Hikaru Nakamura
1 – 0
Jan-Krzysztof Duda
Alireza Firouzja
½ – ½
Ding Liren
Teimour Radjabov
½ – ½
Fabiano Caruana
STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 13:
1
Nepomniachtchi, Ian
9/13
2766
2
Nakamura, Hikaru
7½/13
2760
3
Ding, Liren
7/13
2806
4
Radjabov, Teimour
6½/13
2753
5
Caruana, Fabiano
6½/13
2783
6
Rapport, Richard
5½/13
2764
7
Duda, Jan-Krzysztof
5/13
2750
8
Firouzja, Alireza
5/13
2793
The general, fourteenth spherical of the Applicants begins on Monday the 4th of July at 3 PM CEST on the Palacio de Santona in Madrid.
The pairings of spherical fourteen are as follows:
Richard Rapport vs Teimour Radjabov
Fabiano Caruana vs Alireza Firouzja
Ding Liren vs Hikaru Nakamura
Jan-Krzysztof Duda vs Ian Nepomniachtchi