Candidates Round 10 — Nepomniachtchi is a full point ahead

Photo by Lennart Ootes/FIDE

Ian Nepomniachtchi faced Kirill Alekseenko on R10 of the Candidates, but things didn’t go as planned for the second. Nepo gained a quick advantage after Kirill’s early mistake in the opening, who tried to create a tactical game afterwards, but with no substantial counterplay.

Three draws

All the other games ended up in a draw, but they weren’t indifferent at all.

Giri played the Sveshnikov for the second time, but Maxime responded in a different way than what his opponent expected, which made him a bit confused. MVL felt very comfortable at his position, but didn’t manage to make it a point.

Photo by Lennart Ootes/FIDE

On the other hand, Caruana’s game against Ding Liren was very tactical, but both players didn’t have a clear understanding of what was going on at the game, as they revealed at the press conference.

I would explain it if I could but I don’t understand the line at all!
—Fabiano Caruana

Last but definitely not least was the game between Wang Hao and Alexander Grischuk. Wang was confused with his preparation and couldn’t remember the line, but he made it all worth it with a memorable queen sacrifice at the 21st move.

Live Studio Breakdown w/special guest Malcolm Pein

WGM Dina Belenkaya and GM Ernesto Inarkiev hosted the Breakdown Studio Live together with Malcolm Paine, a renown chess promoter and organizer of the London Chess Classics.

Malcolm revealed that it was chess players who solved the Enigma code, advised coaches and teachers to just let the kids play chess and they will love it, and that chess is an international language that can bring down all inequalities.

Watch the broadcast below.

Standings after the 10th round

Pairings for the 10th round

Ian Nepomniachtchi- Fabiano Caruana
Kirill Alekseenko – Wang Hao
Grischuk – Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Anish Giri – Ding Liren