Giri ties the score in match against Niemann

by André Schulz
8/8/2024 – In the match between Hans Niemann and Anish Giri, Niemann took a 7½-4½ lead after the blitz games that took place on the first day. Two classical games were played on the second day. Giri won the first game and the second game ended in a draw. Since wins in classical chess are worth 3 points, the score is now tied 9-9. | Photo: Harry Gielen

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Giri wins the first classical game

Under the title "Hans Niemann against The World", Niemann is not playing against the world, but against some very strong grandmasters from the world elite. In August, he will play three matches against Anish Giri, Nikita Vitiugov and Etienne Bacrot. The matches are played with three different time controls: blitz, classical and rapid.

Niemann took a 7½-4½ lead in blitz on the first day of action. On the following three days, two classical games will be played per day, one in the morning from 10 am and one in the afternoon from 3 pm. The classical games grant 3 points to the winner.

Hans Niemann had the white pieces in the first classical game and played the Moscow Variation against Giri's Sicilian Defence. He had already played this successfully in the blitz games. The game was balanced for a long time, but in the endgame with two rooks and a knight per side, the initiative gradually passed to Black. Giri had the more active knight and captured two pawns. After an inaccuracy by Giri, Niemann was able to eliminate two of Giri's passed pawns with the help of an exchange sacrifice, but was only able to delay the defeat rather than stop it.

With his victory, Anish Giri tied the score, which is now 9-9.

In the second game, the spectators in the Utrecht City Hall and on the Internet saw a Spanish Opening in which Giri, playing white, rejected the offer of entering a Berlin Defence. Niemann quickly equalised, and after most of the pieces were exchanged, the game flattened out and ended with the points being shared on move 22.

Two more classical games will be played on Friday and Saturday before the match ends on Sunday with six rapid games.

Blitz

Rk. Name  TB1 
1 Niemann, Hans Moke 7,5
2 Giri, Anish 4,5

Classical

Rk. Name  TB1 
1 Giri, Anish 4,5
2 Niemann, Hans Moke 1,5

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André Schulz started working for ChessBase in 1991 and is an editor of ChessBase News.