Sinquefield Cup: Caruana and Dominguez favourites to take the title

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
11/30/2023 – All four games ended drawn in the penultimate round of the Sinquefield Cup, which means Wesley So, Fabiano Caruana and Leinier Dominguez continue to share the lead. However, So has already played eight games in the event and will get a rest day on Thursday. In the final round, Caruana will play white against Richard Rapport, while Dominguez will play black against Levon Aronian. | Photo: Lennart Ootes
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Four draws

Co-leader Wesley So was the first to end his run at the Sinquefield Cup. Given Jan-Krzysztof’s Duda withdrawal, every player got a rest day after round 2, with Duda’s draw from the first round removed from the official tournament results. So, who had a full-point lead after beating Levon Aronian in round 5, was supposed to face Duda in the final round.

Sharing first place with So going into Thursday’s deciding round are Fabiano Caruana and Leinier Dominguez, who are the clear favourites to take the title. Only if both players lose, there might be up to six players tied for first with 4½ points after the final round — a very unlikely scenario, surely.

On the final day of action, Grand Chess Tour winner Caruana is set to face an out-of-form Richard Rapport with the white pieces, while Dominguez will play black against Aronian. Coincidentally, both Caruana and Dominguez signed quick draws on Wednesday, which prompted the latter to confess:

I’m happy to be in this position and to be able to fight for first place. [...] For me, it’s good to have kind of half of a rest day.

Leinier Dominguez

Leinier Dominguez | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Wesley So

Wesley So | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Rapport ½ - ½ Aronian

Analysis by GM Karsten Müller

Richard Rapport

Richard Rapport | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Standings after round 8

All games

Links

Carlos Colodro is a Hispanic Philologist from Bolivia. He works as a freelance translator and writer since 2012. A lot of his work is done in chess-related texts, as the game is one of his biggest interests, along with literature and music.