Alireza Firouzja is now one of four players tied for first place at the Superbet Chess Classic after securing victory in the only decisive result of round six. The French GM defeated world champion Gukesh Dommaraju in a complex game arising from an Italian Opening, joining Fabiano Caruana, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave at the top of the standings with 3½ points.
A half-point behind the four co-leaders are Wesley So, Levon Aronian and Bogdan-Daniel Deac, all of whom drew their games on Tuesday.
Round 6 results
Firouzja's crucial win against Gukesh was far from straightforward. Emerging from an Italian Opening with a strategic advantage, Firouzja maintained control of the position, though inaccuracies in the middlegame allowed Gukesh to complicate matters. Firouzja opted for a slow, positional build-up, placing his pieces actively while limiting Gukesh's counterplay.
Trading queens with 30.Qxg4+ was not the most precise way to consolidate White's advantage, and allowed Gukesh to eventually reach a rook v. bishop endgame with one pawn per side. While Firouzja still had a strategic edge, Gukesh's accurate defence seemed enough to hold the balance. However, on move 53, Gukesh erred, allowing Firouzja to force resignation after showing the correct winning technique (see analysis of the game below).
Despite Firouzja's fighting spirit throughout the competition, this was only his second win in the event, the first having come in the opening round against Vachier-Lagrave.
Gukesh Dommaraju listening attentively as Alireza Firouzja shows lines on the board right after their decisive game | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Elsewhere, Vachier-Lagrave played a brief 10-move draw against Nodirbek Abdusattorov. The French grandmaster, who has been struggling with illness since before the rest day, opted for a pragmatic approach with the white pieces, securing a quick draw to avoid further exertion.
The most compelling draw of the day was the clash between Caruana and Deac. Caruana, seeking to press with the white pieces, opted for an offbeat opening and managed to obtain a promising position with kings castled on opposite sides. The middlegame became increasingly sharp, with both players running low on time by move 20.
Caruana's initiative led to a position with a rook and two pawns (for Caruana) against a pair of minor pieces (for Deac). Caruana's 40.Rxc2, the last move before the time control, was not the accurate path to make the most of his advantage, though.
A more accurate sequence was 40.Rb3 Na3 (engines show that 40...Na5 is better, but it is likely that Deac would have placed the knight on a3, defending the pawn) 41.Rc3 Rb8 42.Bc5 Bxc5 43.Rxc5 Rb1 44.Rxc7+ Kf6 45.R7xc2 (diagram), when White gives up the exchange in much better conditions than in the game.
This alternative line would have, in fact, increased Caruana's winning chances. Instead, following the imprecise 40th move, Deac showed tenacious defensive efforts, which were eventually rewarded with a 73-move draw.
Wednesday's crucial games will see Praggnanandhaa playing white against Firouzja in a duel of co-leaders, while Caruana and Vachier-Lagrave will both play with the black pieces.
Fabiano Caruana looking for a path to victory in his round-six game against Bogdan-Daniel Deac | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Alireza Firouzja | Photo: Lennart Ootes
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