Bilbao, Rd. 8: Two draws and So beats Giri

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The next game between Carlsen and Karjakin is probably the
first game of the upcoming match for the World Championship.

In round three Karjakin played with Black against Carlsen and suffered a bitter defeat. In round eight Karjakin had White and controlled the game right from the start. However, the game had hardly begun when both players did not mind a repetition of moves that led to a draw after 19 moves - the shortest game with classical time-control Carlsen and Karjakin ever played against each other.

The other players created more action. Wei Yi and Hikaru Nakamura discussed an interesting sideline of the Catalan but though they tried neither player got much out of the opening and the middlegame. After 45 moves the game ended in a draw.

The most entertaining game of the round was doubtless the one between Wesley So and Anish Giri. The Dutch player chose an aggressive set-up against So's Italian and equalized without problems. However, he did not continue his energetic and step by step So was the one who set the pace. Eventually Giri found himself in an endgame that was difficult to defend and ended when Giri's was caught in a mating-net.

Results of round eight

Games - Rounds 1 to 8

Standings after eight rounds

Tournament page...