Ju Wenjun beat Vaishali to lead Women’s Norway Chess
The latest round of Norway Chess saw Magnus Carlsen surpass Hikaru Nakamura to reclaim the lead following Ding Liren’s fourth consecutive loss. In the Women’s tournament, Ju Wenjun’s victory over Vaishali Rameshbabu and Anna Muzychuk’s Armageddon win over Lei Tingjie have shaken up the leaderboard, with Wenjun and Muzychuk now co-leading the tournament.
Open Section Highlights
Ding Liren’s ongoing struggle with concentration in classical games was evident as he blundered a mate-in-two tactic against Magnus Carlsen. This defeat marks his fourth consecutive loss, a streak that has seen him tumble down the standings. Carlsen, on the other hand, capitalized on this opportunity to surpass Hikaru Nakamura and reclaim the lead in the tournament.
The game between Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura ended in a quick draw, but the subsequent Armageddon game saw Caruana emerge victorious. This win was a form of revenge for Caruana, who had lost to Nakamura in the first Armageddon game of the tournament. The victory is likely to serve as a significant confidence booster for Caruana after enduring two disappointing rounds.
In the much-anticipated clash between young talents Alireza Firouzja and Praggnanandhaa, Firouzja maintained a steady advantage throughout the game. However, he was unable to convert this advantage into a win, and the game ultimately ended in a draw.
Women’s Tournament Developments
The Women’s tournament continued to deliver excitement, with all games progressing into the endgame without major mistakes from either side. The highly anticipated match between Ju Wenjun and Vaishali Rameshbabu had significant implications for the leaderboard. Ju Wenjun secured a win after Vaishali fell into time trouble, thereby affecting the standings.
A rollercoaster game unfolded yesterday as Vaishali faced off against Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun. In a tense match, Vaishali attempted a threefold repetition as a last resort, which proved to be a false claim. A few moves later, the tournament leader resigned, dropping to… pic.twitter.com/6hSj4dqlTk
— Norway Chess (@NorwayChess) June 3, 2024
Another key matchup, between Anna Muzychuk and Lei Tingjie, ended in a draw during the classical game. However, Muzychuk triumphed in the Armageddon game, allowing her to overtake Vaishali in the leaderboard by half a point. This victory has put Muzychuk in the lead for the first time in the event.
