In the only game in Round 3 that saw a decisive outcome, Fabiano Caruana defeated Jorden Van Foreest to join the leaders.
As many as five players share the top position on 2/3 after Fabiano Caruana beat Jorden Van Foreest with the white pieces. It has been the most peaceful round so far, as all other games were drawn.
Magnus Carlsen – Ding Liren ½–½
The World Champion essayed the London System with early Bb5xc6, the line to which his opponent seemed to be fully prepared. Still, after trading the queens, White had some pressure over Black’s a7 pawn, but Ding skillfully regrouped his pieces and got rid of his only weakness. As soon as the rooks and the queenside pawn left the board, the draw was just a question of time.
Fabiano Caruana – Jorden Van Foreest 1-0
Jorden opted for quite an unusual line in the Petrov Defence with early 6…Be6 and 7…f5 weakening the e5-square. Fabiano came up with a sensible concept of dislodging Black’s e4-night and planting his bishop on e5. Still, the Dutchman would have had a playable position had he traded the bishops on e5 at some point, but instead, he simply blundered a pawn a few moves later. Caruana then sacrificed an exchange and got an overwhelming position. As soon as White’s central paws set in motion, the Dutchman threw in the towel.
Richard Rapport – Wesley So ½–½
The opponent tested a well-known line of the Caro Kann in which Black sacrifices a pawn. White managed to hold it, but it was his only achievement as Black found the right setup to force a draw by repetition on move 25.
Gukesh D – Nodirbek Abdusattorov ½–½
Gukesh D employed an interesting idea against Abdusattorov’s Bogo-Indian, creating an outpost on e5. The Indian could have posed some problems for Black on move 20 by defending his pawn with seemingly passive 20.Bf1, but after he missed this chance, the opponents promptly traded all the pieces and signed peace in a drawn pawn ending. Gukesh D scored his first half-point in the event and got some respite.
Praggnanandhaa R – Vincent Keymer ½–½
The opponents quickly found themselves in the uncharted territory of Nimzo-Indian, where White got a clear edge in the form of two bishops and space advantage after Black’s dubious 9…c5. Trying to relieve pressure in the middlegame, Vincent sacrificed a pawn and liquidated into an endgame. It turned out to be a good idea as this ending, albeit unpleasant for Black, was holdable after all. Praggnanandhaa did his best grinding the opponent down but had to settle for a draw on the move 79.
Parham Maghsoodloo – Anish Giri ½–½
In the Giuoco Piano, Anish advanced his kingside pawns h6-g5 and pushed Parham’s bishop to g3. It could have caused some problems for Black in the middlegame, but on move 16, the queens were exchanged, and the opponents ended up in an equal ending.
Arjun Erigaisi – Levon Aronian ½–½
Levon comfortably equalized in the Nimzo-Indian and started pressuring slowly in the middlegame. Black was awarded for his efforts with a promising bishop vs. knight endgame in which he had the remote a-passer. After long manoeuvring Aronian reached a won position but let the victory slip away when it was near at hand.
Black could have sealed the deal with 56…Kg5! The main line is 57. Nc5 Kg6 58. Na4 Kf6 59. Nb2 Be7 60. Na4 Kf5 61. Nb2 Kf4. The key idea for Black is to either advance his a-pawn or play Kf4 when White’s knight is far away.
Instead, Levon played 56…Ke7 and the opponents split a point after 57. Nb6 Be1 58. Ke5 Bg3+ 59. Kd5 Bh4 60. Ke5 Kd8 61. Nd5 a4
Standings after Round 3: 1-5. Magnus Carlsen, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Ding Liren, Anish Giri and Fabiano Caruana – 2; 6-10. Levon Aronian, Wesley So, Arjun Erigaisi, Praham Maghsoodloo, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa – 1.5; 11-13. Richard Rapport, Vincent Keymer and Jorden Van Foreest – 1; 14. Gukesh D – 0.5.
Photos: tatasteelchess.com, Jurriaan Hoefsmit
