8/7/2023 – Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura and Dommaraju Gukesh were among the players who advanced to round 4 after two classical games at the FIDE World Cup in Baku. The biggest upset of the round was achieved by Javokhir Sindarov, who knocked out Maxime Vachier-Lagrave by winning with black on Sunday. In the women’s section, world champion Ju Wenjun was inches away from being eliminated — however, she not only survived, but ended up winning against Ulviyya Fataliyeva. | Photo: chess.com / Maria Emelianova
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Nineteen matches go to tiebreaks
While top seeds Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura advanced to round 4 somewhat comfortably, more than half the matches in the open section of the World Cup will only be decided in tiebreaks. The likes of Fabiano Caruana, Ian Nepomnaichtchi, Anish Giri and Wesley So will need good performances on Monday after having only drawn their matches against their nominally weaker opponents.
As for upsets, Daniele Vocaturo (Italy, 2609) obtained the draw he needed to knock out 21st seed Daniil Dubov, whom he had beaten in the first game of round 3.
Meanwhile, 17-year-old Javokhir Sindarov (Uzbekistan, 2659) got the better of 10th seed Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, a player who twice reached the semifinals in previous editions of this event. In the 2021 World Cup, Sindarov had also over-performed, as he eliminated an already formidable Alireza Firouzja.
In a sharp, imbalanced middlegame, MVL could have consolidated his slight advantage instead of going for an attack.
Engines here suggest 22.Qa5, offering a queen swap and gaining a tempo to perhaps later play 23.Be3, protecting his central pawn. However, MVL’s decision to further complicate matters with 22.Qf5 is understandable, as 23.Ng5 was played next, with threats against the black king.
The decisive mistake came a few moves later, though. Uncharacteristically, the Frenchman missed a tactical shot when he grabbed the black bishop with 26.Nxd4
Sindarov thought for 6 minutes before playing the crucial 26...Rxa6, when 27.Rxa6 fails to 27...Qxa6 28.Kg1 Re1#. MVL replied by 27.g3, but then came the good-looking 27...Qb7, threatening mate on h1.
In this Fritztrainer: “Attack like a Super GM” with Gukesh we touch upon all aspects of his play, with special emphasis on how you can become a better attacking player.
Most likely aware of the mistakes he had made, MVL tried to muddy the waters by going for a speculative attack against the black king. Sindarov had calculated how to escape, though, and went on to grab material and consolidate his position until prompting MVL’s resignation on move 34.
Sindarov will face fellow prodigy Arjun Erigaisi in the fourth round. Arjun knocked out the very strong Vladimir Fedoseev in round 3.
Arjun Erigaisi | Photo: chess.com / Maria Emelianova
Daniele Vocaturo knocked out Daniil Dubov | Photo: chess.com / Maria Emelianova
Caruana’s rollercoaster game
In another wild encounter, Fabiano Caruana found himself in deep trouble playing black against Turkish GM Mustafa Yilmaz.
White has four pieces in wonderful attacking squares. Here the strongest is 33.Rxh6, not fearing 33...Ng3+ due to 34.Qxg3 Qxg3 35.Rh8+ Kxh8 36.hxg3, and the other rook will join the attack next.
Mastering these tactical motifs is essential to deepen your understanding of the game and become a better player. After all, you neither want to overlook the given chances by your opponent, nor blunder yourself!
Yilmaz instead transferred the rook to the kingside at once with 33.Rdg2, a natural-looking move that is in fact a mistake. This moved entirely changed the evaluation, as Caruana was suddenly in the driver’s seat. The US star failed to make the most of his chances, though, and a draw was signed five moves later.
IM Robert Ris analysed the very exciting game in detail!
Women’s: Ju advances as Fataliyeva misses huge chance
Coming from winning a hard-fought match for the World Championship, it would be forgivable for Ju Wenjun not to be extremely motivated in Baku. On Sunday, she found herself facing what looked to be an imminent elimination against Azerbaijani IM Ulviyya Fataliyeva. Shockingly, though, the world champion not only survived but ended up winning after her opponent blundered in a technical rook and knight vs rook endgame.
In a total of 6 chapters, we look at the following aspects: the right decision based on tactical factors, decisions in exchanges and moves, complex and psychological decisions in longer games and in defence.
Ju will face Elisabeth Paehtz in the next round. Paehtz remarkably knocked out Kazakh rising star Bibisara Assaubayeva. The winner of the Ju vs Paehtz match, in turn, will face one of the Muzychuk sisters, as both Anna and Mariya advanced to round 4 on Sunday and were paired up against each other.
No major upsets were seen in the women’s category, with Aleksandra Goryachkina, Humpy Koneru and Polina Shuvalova also reaching to the next round. Meanwhile, 17-year-old Dutch star Eline Roebers continues her perfect run in Baku, as she has scored 6 points in as many games so far in the event!
Elisabeth Paehtz | Photo: chess.com / Maria Emelianova
Carlos Alberto ColodroCarlos 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.
Instead of forcing you to memorise endless lines, Raja focuses on clear plans, typical ideas, and attacking motifs that you can apply in your own games without delay. A short, focused, and practical repertoire.
FIDE World Cup 2025 with analyses by Adams, Bluebaum, Donchenko, Shankland, Wei Yi and many more. Opening videos by Blohberger, King and Marin. 11 exciting opening articles with new repertoire ideas and much more.
GM Blohberger presents a complete two-part repertoire for Black: practical, clear, and flexible – instead of endless theory, you’ll get straightforward concepts and strategies that are easy to learn and apply.
GM Blohberger presents a complete two-part repertoire for Black: practical, clear, and flexible – instead of endless theory, you’ll get straightforward concepts and strategies that are easy to learn and apply.
GM Blohberger presents a complete two-part repertoire for Black: practical, clear, and flexible – instead of endless theory, you’ll get straightforward concepts and strategies that are easy to learn and apply.
Opening videos: Sipke Ernst brings the Ulvestad Variation up to date + Part II of ‘Mikhalchishin's Miniatures’. Special: Jan Werle shows highlights from the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 in the video. ‘Lucky bag’ with 40 analyses by Ganguly, Illingworth et al.
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