The two clear leaders going into the second half of the 2020-21 FIDE Candidates Tournament were Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Ian Nepomniachtchi, who each had 4.5/7 points (+2). Caruana had 3.5/7 and immediately put himself in striking distance of first place by using a powerful new opening idea against MVL in Round 8. Giri also started with 3.5/7 and was in contention for first place after he began an impressive winning streak in Round 9. The second part of this Candidates reflection focuses on three main topics: Caruana’s deep Najdorf preparation against MVL, Giri’s remarkable performance in the second half, and Nepomniachtchi’s pragmatic play throughout the event.
Fireworks in the Poisoned Pawn Najdorf
Carlsen remarked before Round 8 that MVL’s two games with Black against Caruana and Ding Liren in Rounds 8 and 9 respectively would be extremely critical for his chances of winning the event. Naturally, the matchup between Caruana and MVL was also extremely important for Caruana’s tournament situation because a win would put him in shared second place. Caruana decided to unleash a shocking piece sacrifice on move 18 in the Poisoned Pawn Najdorf. MVL found one of the better defensive tries and nearly calculated his way out of trouble, but unfortunately faltered in the endgame and was forced to defend tediously for the rest of the game.
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6 8.Qd2 Qxb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.e5 10.Be2!? Nc6?! 10...Nbd7 11.0-0 Qc5 11...Be7 12.e5! dxe5 13.fxe5 Nxe5 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Ne4 f5∞ 12.Kh1 Be7 13.f5 e5 14.Ne6! fxe6 15.fxe6 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.e5 Nd5 13.Nxd5 13.Ne4!? dxe5 14.fxe5 h6 15.Bh4 Bb4 16.Rxb4 Qxb4 17.Qxb4 Nxb4 18.0-0 0-0 19.Be7 Nxc2 20.Bxf8 Kxf8 21.Bh5 Ra7 22.Nd6 13...exd5? 13...cxd5 14.0-0 h6 15.Bh4 dxe5 16.fxe5 Bc5+ 17.Kh1 Qe3 18.Qa5 0-0 19.Bh5 14.e6! f6 14...fxe6 15.f5! exf5 15...e5 16.0-0 16.0-0 14...Bxe6 15.f5! Bxf5 16.0-0 15.Bh5+ Kd8 16.Bh4 d4 17.Bf2 Qc3 18.f5+- 10...h6 11.Bh4 dxe5 12.fxe5 Nfd7 12...g5 13.Ne4 Qxa2 14.Rd1 Qd5 15.Qe3 Qxe5 16.c3!? 16.Be2 Bc5 17.Bg3 Qd5 18.c4 Bxd4 19.Rxd4 Qa5+ 20.Rd2 0-0 21.Bd6 f5! 22.Bxf8 Nxf8 23.Nd6 Nbd7 24.0-0 Qc5 25.Qd4 a5 16...Bc5 16...f5? 17.Nxe6! Qxe4 17...Qxe6?? 18.Nd6+ 17...fxe4? 18.Bc4 18.Nc7+ Kf7 19.Qxe4 fxe4 20.Nxa8± 16...Be7 17.Bg3!? 17.Bxe7 Kxe7 18.Nf3 Qc7 19.Be2 Nf6 20.Nd6 Rd8 21.Nf5+ Kf8 22.Rxd8+ Qxd8 23.Qc5+ Kg8 24.Qxc8 Nbd7 17...Qa5 18.Nd6+ Bxd6 19.Bxd6 Qg5! 19...Nf6? 20.Bb5+‼ axb5 21.Nf5! Rg8 22.Bb4 20.Qf3! Ne5 20...Nf6 21.Be2 e5 22.0-0! exd4 23.cxd4∞ 21.Qe4 Nbc6 22.Nxc6 Nxc6 23.Be2∞ f5 23...Qg6 24.Qe3 f6 25.Qc5 Qe4 26.Rd2 24.h4! Qf6 25.Qc4 Kf7 26.g4 17.Bg3 Qd5 18.Bc4‼N 18.Bd6 Bxd6 19.Nb5 Qxd1+ 20.Kxd1 axb5 21.Nxd6+ Ke7 22.Nf5+ Kf8 23.Ng3 23.Nd6 Ke7= 23...Nc6 24.Bxb5 Nde5 25.Re1 Kg8 18...Qxc4 19.Bd6 Nf6! 19...f5 20.Nxc5 Nxc5? 20...Kf7! 21.Nxf5 Kf7 22.Nxg7! Kxg7 23.Rd4+- 19...Bxd4 20.Rxd4 Qb3 21.Qg3 Qb1+ 21...g5 22.0-0 Nc6 23.Qf3! Rh7 24.Rdd1∞ 22.Kf2 Qc2+ 23.Ke3 g5 24.Ba3 Nc6 25.Qc7 f5 26.Nd6+ Kf8 27.Nxc8+ Kg8 28.Rxd7 Qxc3+ 29.Kf2 Qc2+= 20.Nxc5 Nd5 21.Qe5 Rg8 21...Qxc3+? 22.Kf2 Qb2+ 23.Kg3 Rg8 23...Nf6 24.Rhf1 24.Rhe1+- 22.Ndxe6 fxe6 23.Nxe6 Qxc3+ 23...Nf6! 24.Nxg7+ 24.Ng5+ Be6 25.Qxe6+ 25.Nxe6?? Kf7 26.Nd8+ Kg6! 25...Qxe6+ 26.Nxe6 Kf7 27.Nc7 Ra7 24...Kf7 25.Rf1 Qxf1+! 26.Kxf1 Nc6 24.Qxc3 Nxc3 25.Nc7+ Kf7 26.Rd3 Ne4? 26...Ra7! 27.Rxc3 Kg6! 28.Nd5 28.0-0 Kh7 29.Nd5 Nc6 30.Bc5 b6= 28...Nc6 29.Bc5 Re8+! 30.Kf2 b6 27.0-0+ Kg6 28.Nxa8 Nc6 29.Nb6 Rd8 30.Nxc8 Rxc8 31.Ba3 31.Re1! Nf6 31...Nxd6 32.Rxd6+ Kh7 33.Rd7 32.Rb1! b5 33.Rc1 Ne7 34.Rxc8 Nxc8 35.Bb4+- 31...Rc7 32.Rf4 Nf6 33.Bb2 Ne7 34.Bxf6 gxf6 35.h4? 35.h3! Kg5 35...Nf5 36.Kh2 36.Rdf3 f5 37.Rd4 35...h5 36.Rg3+ Kf7 37.Rg5 Rc1+ 38.Kh2 Ng6 39.Rf2 Nxh4 40.Rxh5 Ng6 41.Rh7+ Ke6 42.Rxb7 Ne5 43.Rb6+ Rc6 44.Rxc6+ Nxc6 45.Kg3 Kf7 46.Rc2 Nb4 47.Rd2 Nc6 48.Kf4 Kg6 49.Rd6 Ne5 50.Rxa6 Nf7 51.Ke4 Nh6 52.Ra5 Nf7 53.Ra3 Nd6+ 54.Kf4 Nf5 55.Rd3 Nh6 56.Rg3+ Kf7 57.Ke4 Ng8 58.Kf5 Ne7+ 59.Kf4 Nd5+ 60.Kg4 Kg6 61.Kf3+ Kf7 62.Ke4 Ne7 63.Kf4 Nd5+ 64.Kf5 Ne7+ 65.Ke4 Ng8 66.Rh3 Kg6 67.Ra3 Kf7 68.Kf4 Nh6 69.Rg3 Ng8 70.Kg4 Ne7 71.Kh5 Nd5 72.Rf3 Ke6 73.g4 Ke5 74.Kg6 1–0
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Caruana,F | 2842 | Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2767 | 1–0 | 2021 | B97 | FIDE Candidates 2020 | 8 |
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Fabiano Caruana came up with a stunning novelty in a heavily analysed line | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Giri’s Winning Streak
Between Rounds 9 and 12, Giri scored an impressive 3.5/4 to nearly catch Nepomniachtchi in the lead. Nepomniachtchi was also quite successful in these rounds, winning games against Kirill Alekseenko and Wang Hao.
Standings after Round 12
Despite Giri’s winning streak, it became clear after Round 12 that he may need to increase his +3 score and play for +5(!) by beating both Grischuk and Alekseenko in the final two rounds to surpass Nepomniachtchi, as sharing first was not an option.

Anish Giri | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Due to Nepomniachtchi’s first round victory over Giri (see the start of my previous article), Nepomniachtchi would have a better tiebreak in the event of shared first place with Giri. To show how unusual Giri’s tournament situation was, Caruana won the Candidates in 2018 with +4 (but could have drawn the final game and won with +3). Karjakin won in 2016 with +3 (but also could have drawn the final game and won with +2). Unfortunately for Giri, he lost to Grischuk in Round 13 after trying to unbalance the game with an unusual Queen’s Indian setup. Meanwhile, Nepomniachtchi held off MVL’s last attempt at fighting for tournament victory, which meant that he had won the tournament with a round to spare.

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Let’s take a look at Giri’s three wins between Rounds 9 to 12 and see how he was able to obtain unbalanced, fighting positions right out of the opening.
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 0-0 6.0-0 dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.a4 Bd7 9.Qxc4 Bc6 10.Bf4 Bd6 11.Nc3!? 11.Qc1 Nbd7 12.Nc3 Qe7 13.Re1 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Bxf4 15.Qxf4 c6 16.a5 e5 17.dxe5 Nxe5 18.Bg2 Rfd8 19.Red1 Ng6 20.Qa4 Nf8! 21.Rxd8 Rxd8 22.Qa3 Rd6 23.Bh3 Ne6 11...Bxf4 12.gxf4 a5 12...Bxf3 13.Bxf3 c6 14.a5! 13.e3 Na6 13...Bxf3 14.Bxf3 c6 15.b4! axb4 16.Qxb4 Ra7 13...Nbd7 14.Ne5 14.Kh1 Ra6! 15.Rg1 Rb6 16.Qe2 Ne4 14...Bxg2 15.Kxg2 c6 15...Ra6 16.Rfd1 Rb6 17.Nd3 16.Rg1 14.Ne5! 14.Rac1 Bxf3! 15.Bxf3 c6 16.Kh1 Nb4 14...Bxg2 15.Kxg2 c6 15...Nb4 16.Rac1 c6 17.Qe2 Qe7 18.h3 16.h3! Qb6 17.Qe2 c5? 17...Nb4 18.Rg1 18.Rfd1 18.Qb5 Qxb5 19.axb5 cxd4 20.bxa6 dxc3 21.axb7 Rab8 22.bxc3 Rxb7 23.Rxa5 Ne4 18...cxd4 18...Rfd8 19.Qb5 Qc7 20.Rac1 19.Rxd4 Rad8 20.Rxd8 Qxd8 20...Rxd8 21.Qb5 Qc7 22.Nc4 21.Rd1 Qa8 22.Kg1 Nb4 23.Qb5! Nbd5 24.Nxd5 Nxd5 25.Rc1 h6 25...Rd8 26.Qd7 Nf6 27.Qd6 g6? 27...Qe8! 28.b3 b5 27...Nd5 28.f5! Rd8 29.Nd7 28.b3 h5 29.Kh2 Kg7 30.Qd4 Rd8 31.Qb2 Qb8 32.b4? 32.Qc3+- 32...axb4 33.Rc4?! b3? 33...Rd1! 34.Rxb4 34.Qxb4 Qd8 35.Qxb7 Ng4+! 36.Nxg4 hxg4 37.Rc7 Qf6 34...Qd6 35.Rxb7 Qd5 36.Rxf7+ Kh6 37.Rxf6 37.Qb7 Rh1+ 38.Kg3 Rg1+ 39.Kh4?? 39.Kh2 Rh1+= 39...Qxe5! 40.fxe5 g5# 37...Rh1+ 38.Kg3 Rxh3+ 39.Kxh3 Qh1+ 40.Kg3 h4+ 41.Kg4 Qg2+ 42.Kxh4 Qh2+= 34.Rb4 Qa7? 34...Qd6! 35.Rxb3 Qxa4 36.Rxb7 Qe8 37.Ra7 Rd5 38.Qb7 Ne4 39.Nxf7 1–0
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Giri,A | 2763 | Wang Hao | 2762 | 1–0 | 2021 | E05 | FIDE Candidates 2020 | 9 |
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Bxc6!? 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.a4 b4 9.a5 d6 10.d3 Be6 11.Bxe6 fxe6 12.c3 Rb8 13.Nbd2 Rb5 14.d4 bxc3 15.bxc3 exd4 16.cxd4 Qc8!? 17.Ba3 Nxa5 18.Qc2 c5 19.e5 dxe5 20.dxc5 Nc6 21.Ne4?! Nxe4 22.Rxe4 Rd8 6...dxc6 7.d3 Bd6 7...Nd7 8.Nbd2 8.c3!? 8...0-0 9.a4 a5 10.b3 f6 11.Nh4 Nc5 12.Nf5 Ne6 13.Nc4 b6 14.Nxe7+ Qxe7 15.Ne3 g6 16.Bb2 c5 17.Qd2 Bb7 18.Rae1 Rad8 19.f3 Kf7! 20.Qf2 Ke8 21.Qh4 Kd7! 22.f4 Nxf4 23.Rxf4 exf4 24.Ng4 g5 25.Qh6 Qe6 26.Nxf6+ Kc8 27.Qxg5 f3! 28.Rf1 Rg8 29.Nxg8 Rxg8 30.Qe5 Rxg2+ 31.Kh1 Qg6 32.h4 Bc6 33.Qf4 Rxc2 34.Rg1 Rg2 35.Qe3 Qg3 7...Qd6!? 8.Nbd2 Be6 9.Ng5 0-0-0!?∞ 8.Nbd2 Be6 9.Nb3 Qe7 9...a5 10.Qe1! a4 11.Na5 Qb8 12.b4! Bg4 12...0-0 13.Nh4 0-0 14.Nc4 Be6 15.Nxd6 cxd6 16.f4 9...c5 10.Na5 Qc8 11.Ng5 Bg4 12.f3 Bh5 13.Qe1 10.Na5 0-0-0!? 10...Rb8 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bh4 0-0 12...g5 13.Bg3 Nd7 14.d4 13.c3 11.Qe2 11.a3 Bg4 12.b4 Rhg8 12...Nd7 13.h3 Bh5 14.Qe2 13.Qe2! g5 14.Qe3 Kb8 15.Rb1 11...Bg4 12.c3 12.a3 12...c5!? 12...Rhg8 13.b4 Nh5∞ 13.a3 c6 14.b4 Bc7 15.Nb3?! 15.Nc4! Nd7 15...cxb4 16.axb4 16.a4 f5 16...cxb4? 17.cxb4 Qxb4 18.Ba3 17.h3! Bxf3 18.Qxf3 f4 18...fxe4 19.dxe4 cxb4 20.cxb4 Qxb4 21.Qe2 19.b5! axb5 20.axb5 cxb5 21.Na3 g5 22.Nxb5 15...Nd7 16.h3 Bh5 17.Be3?! f5! 17...cxb4? 18.axb4 18.Bxc5 18.exf5 c4! 18...Qf7 19.Rab1 g5?! 19...fxe4! 20.Qxe4 20.dxe4 Nxc5 21.Nxc5 Rhf8 20...Nf6 21.Qf5+ Qd7 22.Qxd7+ Rxd7 20.exf5 g4? 20...Qxf5 21.Qe4 Qf6 22.Nfd2 Bg6 23.Qe2 g4! 24.hxg4 h5 21.Ng5 Qxf5 22.h4 b6 23.Ne4! 23.d4? Nb8! 23...bxc5 24.bxc5 Nf6 24...Nb8 25.Qb2 Kd7 26.Nbd2 25.Nd6+! Bxd6 26.cxd6 Rxd6 27.d4! c5 28.Nxc5 Re8 29.Qc4 1–0
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Giri,A | 2763 | Ding Liren | 2805 | 1–0 | 2021 | C85 | FIDE Candidates 2020 | 11 |
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 2...Nc6 3.d4 3.Bb5 3...cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Nd5 Nxd5 8.exd5 Nb8 9.c4 9.a4 9...Be7 10.c5!? Na6 11.cxd6 Bxd6 12.Bc4 0-0 13.0-0 Nc7 14.Nxd6 Qxd6 15.Qf3 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.a3 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.e5 Nd5 8.Ne4 Qc7 9.f4 Qb6 10.c4 Bb4+ 11.Ke2 f5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bf4 e5 8.Bg5 6...Be7 7.Be3 0-0 8.Be2 d6 9.Qd3!? Bd7 10.f4 e5! 10...Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Bc6 12.0-0-0 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.0-0 exf4 12...Qc7!? 13.Bxf4 Be6 14.Qg3! Nd7 15.Rad1 Re8 15...Qb6+? 16.Be3 Qxb2? 17.Bd4 16.Kh1 Qb8! 17.b4?! 17.b3! Ne5 18.Bh5! g6 19.Ne2 Kh8 20.Bf3 Qc7 21.Nd4 17...Ne5 18.b5 18.Bh5?! a5 18...Rc8 19.bxc6 Rxc6 20.Nd5 Qf8! 21.c3 Rac8 22.Rc1 22.Bxe5 dxe5 23.Qxe5 Bxa3 22...Ng6 23.Bd2?! Bh4 24.Qe3 Rc5 25.c4 h6! 26.Qb3 Bg5 27.Bxg5 hxg5 28.Qg3 Qd8 29.Rcd1 Bxd5 30.exd5 Nf4 31.Qf2 R8c7 32.Rd4 Qe8 33.Bf3 Rxc4 34.Rxc4 Rxc4 35.Qxa7 Ra4 36.Qf2? 36.Qc7 Rxa3 37.h4! 37.Qxd6? Rxf3! 38.gxf3 Qe2 37...Ng6 37...Rxf3? 38.gxf3 Qe2 39.Qc8+ Kh7 40.Qf5+= 38.hxg5 Ra4! 39.g3 36...Rxa3 37.h4 Qe5 38.hxg5 Qxg5 39.Re1 Ra8 40.Be4 Ra2 41.Rb1 Ra8! 42.Re1 f5 43.Bb1 Kf7 44.Re3 Rh8+ 45.Kg1 Nxg2 0–1
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Caruana,F | 2842 | Giri,A | 2763 | 0–1 | 2021 | B40 | FIDE Candidates 2020 | 12 |
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Nepomniachtchi’s Pragmatic Preparation
Nepomniachtchi’s Candidates preparation was much different from the approaches we have seen so far. He did not have the chance to unleash any major opening discoveries, like Giri or Caruana, but was instead on the receiving end of preparation several times (see the previous article). Two of his main strengths throughout the event were responding precisely to his opponent’s preparation and taking advantage of opportunities as they arose.
The first two games analyzed below (Nepomniachtchi – Wang Hao from Round 5 and Nepomniachtchi – Ding Liren from Round 6) contain several clear similarities: Nepomniachtchi finds a small opening idea with the White pieces, obtains a slight edge, and puts his opponent under pressure by playing quickly and confidently.
In the second half of the tournament, Nepomniachtchi played very pragmatically, drawing quickly with the White pieces against two of his main rivals: Giri (Round 8) and Caruana (Round 11). He also seized the opportunities given to him by winning Round 10 against Alekseenko and Round 12 against Wang Hao. His game with Wang Hao is the one win that we will not analyze, in which Nepomniachtchi surprisingly played the Petroff with Black and managed to exploit his opponent’s mistakes in a balanced endgame.
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Bf5 7.0-0 Be7 8.Re1 0-0 9.Nbd2 9.c4 Nc6 10.cxd5 Qxd5 11.Nc3 Nxc3 12.bxc3 9...Nd6 10.Nf1 Bxd3 11.Qxd3 c6 12.Bf4 Na6 13.h4!? 13.Ne3 Nc7 14.Re2 Ne6 15.Bxd6 Bxd6 16.g3 Qd7 17.Rae1 Rae8 13...Nc7 14.Ng5 Bxg5 14...g6! 15.Ne3 Qd7 15...h6 16.Nf3 h5 16.h5 Nce8 16...Bxg5! 17.Bxg5 f5! 18.Bf4 Ne6 19.Be5 Nf7 17.Nf3 Ng7 18.Ne5 15.Bxg5 f6 16.Bf4 Qd7 17.Ng3 Rae8 17...g6!? 18.h5 Kf7! 18.Bxd6 Qxd6 19.Nf5 Qd7 20.Qh3 Kh8 21.h5! Rxe1+ 22.Rxe1 Re8 23.Rxe8+ 23.Kf1 23...Nxe8 24.g4!? 24.Kf1 24...a6 25.b3 Qe6 26.Ne3 Nd6 27.h6! g6 28.c4 dxc4 29.bxc4 Kg8 29...Nf7! 30.c5 30.Qh2?! Qd6 30...Qxa2 29...Nxc4?? 30.Nxc4 Qxc4 31.Qh2!+- Kg8 32.Qb8+ Kf7 33.Qxb7+ Ke6 34.Qxh7 30.Qh2! Kf7 31.c5 Nb5 32.Qb8 Qd7?? 32...Nxd4! 33.Qxb7+ Qe7 34.Qxa6 Qe4 32...Qe7 33.Qh8 Ke6 33.Qh8 Ke6 34.f4+- Nxd4 35.Qg8+ Qf7 36.Qc8+ Qd7 37.Qg8+ Qf7 38.Qd8 Qd7 39.f5+! gxf5 40.gxf5+ Nxf5 41.Qxd7+ Kxd7 42.Nxf5 Ke6 43.Ne3 1–0
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Nepomniachtchi,I | 2774 | Wang Hao | 2762 | 1–0 | 2020 | C42 | FIDE Candidates 2020 | 5 |
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.d3 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.h3 Bb7 9.d3 d6 9...d5! 10.a3 Qd7 11.Nc3 Rfe8 12.Bd2 Nd8 13.Nd5! Nxd5 14.exd5 c5 15.a4 f5 16.axb5 axb5 17.Rxa8 Bxa8 18.c4± 6...b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.a3 0-0 9.Nc3 Na5 10.Ba2 Be6 11.b4 Bxa2 12.Rxa2 Nc6 13.Bg5 Qd7!? 13...Ng4 14.Bd2 Nf6 15.Re1 Qd7 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Nd5 a5! 15...Bd8 16.a4 16.Rb2! 16.c4 Ne7 17.Qb3 17.Nxf6+ gxf6 18.Rc2 bxc4 19.dxc4 axb4 20.axb4 Ra4! 21.b5 Qe6 17...bxc4 18.Nxe7+ Bxe7 19.dxc4 axb4 20.axb4 Qc6 21.Re1 Rxa2 22.Qxa2 Ra8 16...axb4 17.axb4 Bd8 17...Ne7 18.Nxf6+ gxf6 19.Nh4! 18.c4 Nd4 18...Ne7 19.Ne3 19.Nxd4 exd4 20.Qc2 Re8 20...c6 21.Nf4 21.g3 bxc4 22.Qxc4 c6 23.Nf4 Bg5 24.Ne2 d5 25.exd5 cxd5 26.Qb3 h5! 27.b5 h4 28.b6 h3? 28...Rab8! 29.b7 Re7 30.Rfb1 Qg4 31.Qxd5 Rxe2 32.Rxe2 Qxe2 33.Qxg5 Qxd3 34.Qc1 34.Rc1 Qa6 34...Qf5 29.Kh1! Reb8 30.Rfb1 Bd8 31.Qb5 31.b7 Ra7 32.Ng1! 31...Qg4 32.Qxd5 32.Qe8+! Kh7 33.Qxf7 Rxb6 34.Rxb6 Bxb6 35.Ng1+- 32...Ra5 33.Qc6? 33.f3! 33...Rc5? 33...Rxb6! 34.Rxb6 Qxe2 34...Bxb6? 35.Ng1+- 35.Rb8 Re5‼ 36.Rxd8+ Kh7 37.Rg1 37.Rh8+ Kxh8 38.Qc8+ Kh7 39.Qxh3+ Kg6= 37...Qxf2 38.Qa8?? Re1 39.Rh8+ Kg6 40.Qc6+ f6 34.Qe8+ Kh7 35.Ng1 Rxb6 36.Qxd8 Rxb2 37.Rxb2 Rc1 38.Qh4+ Qxh4 39.gxh4 Rd1 40.f3 1–0
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Nepomniachtchi,I | 2774 | Ding Liren | 2805 | 1–0 | 2020 | C77 | FIDE Candidates 2020 | 6 |
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1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 e6 3.Bg2 d5 4.Nf3 4.d4 Bb4+ 5.Nd2 0-0 6.Ngf3 b6 7.0-0 Bb7 8.b3 Re8 9.Bb2 Nbd7 10.Qc2 Rc8 11.Rad1 c5 12.Qb1 Qe7 13.dxc5 Nxc5 14.cxd5 Bxd5 15.Ne5 Bxg2 16.Kxg2 Qb7+ 17.Kg1 b5! 18.Nef3 Red8 19.a3 Bxd2 20.Bxf6 gxf6 21.Nxd2 Kg7 22.Nf3 Ne4 4...dxc4 5.Qa4+ Nbd7 6.Qxc4 a6 7.Qc2 c5 8.Nc3 Be7?! 8...Qc7! 9.0-0 b6 9...b5 10.a4 b4 11.Nd1 10.d4 Bb7 11.Bf4 Bd6 12.Bxd6 Qxd6 13.Rfd1 0-0 14.e4 Qc7 15.Rac1 cxd4 16.Nxd4 Rad8 17.Qe2 17.f4!? e5 18.Nd5 Qxc2 19.Nxc2 exf4 20.gxf4 Nc5 21.Nce3 17...Qb8 18.Rc2 18.e5 Bxg2 19.exf6 Ba8 20.fxg7 Rfe8 18...b5 19.Nb3?! Ne5 20.Nc5 Bc8 21.Rcd2 Qc7 9.0-0 0-0 10.d4 10.Rd1!? e5 10...b5? 11.Ne5 Nxe5 12.Bxa8 11.a4± 10...cxd4?! 10...b5! 11.Ne5 11.Ng5 Ra7 12.dxc5 Bxc5 11...Nxe5 12.dxe5 Nd5 13.Nxd5 exd5 14.Be3 Be6! 14...c4 15.Rad1± 15.Bxc5 Qc7 16.b4 a5 11.Nxd4± Qc7 12.Rd1 Rd8 13.Be3 Nb6 14.Rac1 e5 15.Nf5 Bxf5 15...Bf8 16.Nxg7! Kxg7 16...Bxg7 17.Ne4 Rxd1+ 18.Qxd1 Qe7 19.Bxb6+- 17.Qb3 Nc4 18.Rxd8 Nxe3 19.Rxf8 Kxf8 20.fxe3+- 16.Qxf5 Nc4 17.Bg5 Rxd1+ 18.Nxd1 Rd8 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 20.Be4+- Qa5 21.Nc3 Kf8 22.Nd5 b5 23.Qxh7 Rxd5 24.Bxd5 Qd2 25.Rxc4 bxc4 26.e4 Qxb2 27.Qh8+ Ke7 28.Qc8 Qb6 29.Qxc4 Qb5 30.Qc7+ Qd7 31.Qc5+ 1–0
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Nepomniachtchi,I | 2774 | Alekseenko,K | 2698 | 1–0 | 2021 | A13 | FIDE Candidates 2020 | 10 |
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Ian Nepomniachtchi vs Kirill Alekseenko | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Different Approaches to Preparation
In the first part of my Candidates reflection, we looked closely at deep, original preparation. Our discussion continued at the start of this article, where Caruana used an impressive piece of home analysis against MVL’s Najdorf. At first, it seemed that MVL had managed to successfully navigate through the complications, but he faltered after the exchange of queens and wasn’t able to defend the difficult endgame.
Besides deep preparation, we examined two other approaches to opening preparation which were both driven by the tournament situation. Giri required many wins in the second half to surpass Nepomniachtchi, so he prepared lines to unbalance the position and get fighting chances right out of the opening. Importantly, the opening positions that Giri got between Rounds 9 and 12 avoided theoretical pathways, had strategically complicated pawn structures, and were unlikely to fizzle out or simplify into an equal position.
Meanwhile, Nepomniachtchi needed a modest plus score in the second half, which led to him playing very pragmatically. He made quick draws with White against Giri and Caruana, and took his chances when they arose against Alekseenko and Wang Hao. Although his results were good in the second half, I believe that Nepomniachtchi’s play in the first half of the event was a much better demonstration of his strengths. As we saw in the previous article, he responded very well to deep preparation by Giri and Caruana, even managing to overtake the initiative and win against Giri in Round 1.
Nepomniachtchi’s wins from Rounds 5 and 6 against Wang Hao and Ding Liren show exactly the type of positions he excels in. In both games, a small opening idea provided him with a risk-free slight advantage and the opportunity to use his speed and calculation abilities to build up the pressure on his opponent. There was no brilliant piece of deep preparation in any of his wins, but he succeeded in getting comfortable positions out of the opening that were well-suited for his strengths.
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