Yes, Caruana — Nepo Game Ends in a Draw

The most important game of the tournament ended in a draw, cementing Nepo’s leading position but still giving Fabiano Caruana a distant chance to win the tournament and make FIDE officials happy.

Caruana, the 2018 Championship title challenger, had advantage from the opening. According to Peter Nielsen, who commented the game on Twitter, Caruana tricked Nepo by forcing a line that deviated from the main computer play and likely spoiled Nepo’s home prep.

The Russian grandmaster, however, managed to equalize and the game ended in a predictable draw.

As the Candidates nears its finish line with Nepo in the lead, many experts turn to Carlsen trying to read his mind: Will he agree to play Nepo for the title?

Full review of the game will follow.