Fischer Random: Abdusattorov reaches semis with two rounds to spare

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
10/27/2022 – Nodirbek Abdusattorov, the youngest participant in Reykjavik, became the first player to secure a spot in the semis of the World Fischer Random Championship. The 18-year-old has a perfect 8/8 score (in match points) and has only drawn one game so far in the event. Abdusattorov’s qualification means either Wesley So or Ian Nepomniachtchi will be eliminated in group A. Meanwhile, in group B, Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura are sharing the lead, two match points ahead of Vladimir Fedoseev. | Photo: FIDE / Lennart Ootes

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“The worst possible starting position”

As reported by Jonathan Tisdall, the participants of the Fischer Random Championship in Reykjavik daily reach the playing hall in “a visibly relaxed mood”. Relieved from the burden of preparing long theoretical lines, they prioritize keeping a fresh outlook going into each round. 

A surprise awaits for them after each mini-match. On Wednesday, once the first position was announced, Magnus Carlsen could not but remark, “This is probably the worst possible starting position”. With knights on the corners, ‘normal’ piece-developing schemes are not likely to be effective.

 
Starting position - Round 3

While some of the players are accompanied by seconds to investigate the positions before each mini-match, others chose to go at it solo in Reykjavik: i.e. Wesley So, Hikaru Nakamura, Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Matthias Bluebaum.

Peter Heine Nielsen, Magnus Carlsen

Pre-game analysis — Peter Heine Nielsen and Magnus Carlsen | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Group A: Abdusattorov still perfect, So confuses castling rules

After beating the strongest contenders of the group on opening day — Wesley So and Ian Nepomniachtchi — Nodirbek Abdusattorov twice faced underdog Hjorvar Steinn Gretarsson on Wednesday (two mini-matches, four games). The youngster continued his excellent run by scoring a perfect 4/4 against the Icelandic representative, thus securing a spot in the semifinals with two rounds to go.

Since the Uzbek ace has already secured a spot in the knockout, either Nepo or So will not be able to fight for the championship come Saturday. Coincidentally, the two elite GMs were paired up against each other in day 2’s double round, when each pair of contenders played four games from two different starting positions.

Nepo prevailed in the matchup against the defending champion, as he won three and lost one to go into the final two mini-matches in sole second place, two points ahead of So.

A curious situation, typical of the variant in use, was seen in the third confrontation between Nepo and So.

 
Nepomniachtchi vs. So - Round 4, Game 1

So had played 17...Qe6 in the previous move, allowing 18.Qa8+, which is winning for White — after 17...Qd8, for example, the position would have remained more or less balanced.

When So placed his queen on e6, he counted on responding to the check from a8 with short castle, transferring the kingside rook from h8 to f8 and keeping things under control. The US grandmaster forgot that castling is forbidden while in check. After the arbiters explained this to him, the defending champion simply resigned.

It should be noted that the aforementioned rule is not absolutely obvious in this case, as the king does not need to be moved in the castling manoeuvre. In fact, Anish Giri confessed on Twitter that he would have appealed this decision, while Carlsen told So that he also thought it was legal to castle while in check if the king does not need to move.

Giri later quipped (making a nod to NC-chess?):

Wesley So, Ian Nepomniachtchi

Wesley So and Ian Nepomniachtchi | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Standings after round 4 - Group A

Player MP Pts
Nodirbek Abdusattorov 8
Ian Nepomniachtchi 5 5
Wesley So 3 3
Hjorvar Steinn Gretarsson 0 ½

All games

 
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1.e4 15:03 e5 15:03 2.f4 13 d6 42 3.d3 1:12 c6 45 4.Qf2 2:05 Bb6 1:18 5.Be3 4 Bxe3 33 6.Qxe3 2 exf4 2 7.Qxf4 9 Ng6 2 8.Qg3 1:02 d5 1:46 9.c3 3:07 dxe4 11 10.dxe4 18 Qc5 3:39 11.Nf2 23 Be6 8 12.Nd2 1:32 Nd7 31 13.Bb3 40 Bxb3 1:18 14.Nxb3 1:34 Qe5 1 15.Qxe5+ 2:10 Ngxe5 1 16.0-0-0 21 Ke7 2 17.Rd4 1:12 a5 1:02 18.a4 48 c5 5:43 19.Rd5 20 Rgc8 0 20.Rgd1 1:02 Rc7 27 21.Nh3 2:29 f6 2:18 22.Nf4 2 Rc6 13 23.h4 44 g6 57 24.Kb1 54 b6 36 25.Nd2 10 Ra7 37 26.Nf3 34 Nc4 25 27.b3 12 Ne3 3 28.Re1 1 Ng4 10 29.c4 9 Nde5 53 30.Rd2 0 30.h5!? 30...Nf7 0 31.h5 1:53 g5! 1:38 32.Nd5+ 45 Ke6 27 32...Kf8= 33.Ne3 1:52 33.Rf1 33...Nxe3= 1:03 34.Rxe3 27 Rd6 49 35.Rd5 33 Re7 35 36.Kc2 1:00 Kd7 1:35 37.Kd2 42 Rxd5+ 45 38.exd5 40 f5 34 39.Nh2 1:16 Ne5 46 40.Nf3 46 Nf7 27 41.Nh2 27 Rxe3 1:21 42.Kxe3 26 Ne5 28 43.g4 1:26 Reject 43.Nf3 Ng4+ 44.Ke2 h6 43...fxg4 33 44.Nf1 29 Nf3 42 45.Ng3 38 Ke7 1:03 46.Ne4 1:10 h6 32 47.d6+ 44 Ke6 29 48.d7! 31 Ke7 32 48...Kxd7!? 49.Nf6+ Ke7 50.Ng8+ 50.Nxg4 Nd4= 50...Kf7 51.Nxh6+ Kg7 52.Nxg4 Nd4= 49.d8Q+?? 35       49.Nf6!= 49...Kxd8-+ 26 50.Nf6 30 Ne5 26 51.Ng8 26 Nf7 44 52.Kf2 26 Kd7 27 53.Kg3 30 Ke6 32 54.Kxg4 26 Ke5 27 54...Ne5+ 55.Kg3 Nd7 55.Ne7? 28 55.Kf3 55...Ke4-+ 30 56.Nc8 28 Ne5+ 28 57.Kg3 26 Kd4 43 57...Kd3 58.Nxb6 Kc3 59.Kf2 Kxb3 60.Ke2 Nxc4 61.Nd7 Kxa4 62.Nxc5+ Kb5 63.Ne4 a4 64.Kd1 g4 65.Kc2 Kb4 66.Kc1 Kb3 67.Nc5+ Kb4 68.Ne4 a3 69.Kb1 Nd6!       70.Ng3 Kb3 71.Nf1 Nc4 72.Ka1 g3 73.Nd2+ Kc2 74.Nf3 Nd2 75.Nd4+ Kd3 76.Ne6 Kc4 77.Nf4 Kb3 78.Ne2 g2 79.Nc1+ Kb4 80.Ne2 Nb3+ 81.Kb1 a2+ 82.Kxa2 Nc1+!       83.Ka1 Nxe2 84.Kb2 g1Q 85.Kc2 Nf4 86.Kb2 Qh2+ 87.Ka1 Nd3 88.Kb1 Qb2# 58.Ne7 48 Kc3 30 59.Nf5 32 Nf7 30 59...Kxb3 60.Kf2 Kxa4 61.Ke3 Kb3 62.Ke2 a4 63.Kd1 a3 64.Ne3 a2 65.Nc2 Kb2 66.Kd2 g4 67.Nb4 cxb4 68.Ke3 g3 69.Ke4 g2! 70.Kxe5 a1Q 71.Ke6 g1Q 72.Kd5 Qa8+ 73.Ke5 Qe8+ 74.Kf4 Qge3+ 75.Kg4 Q8e4# 60.Kg4-+ 26 Ne5+ 27 60...Nh8 61.Nxh6 Kxb3 61.Kg3-+ 26 Nf7 40 61...Kxb3 62.Nxh6 Kxa4 62.Kg4-+ 27 Kxb3 26 63.Nxh6 26 Nxh6+ 26 64.Kxg5 26 Ng8 29 65.Kg6 26 Kxc4 53 66.Kg7 26 Ne7 26 67.Kf6 26 Ng8+ 31 68.Kg7 26
68...Kd5? 37 68...Kb4! 69.Kxg8 c4 69.Kxg8-+ 26 c4 26 70.h6 26 c3 25 71.h7 27 c2 26 72.h8Q 28 c1Q 25 73.Qh5+ 42 Kd6 26 74.Qh2+ 38 Kd7 40 75.Qh3+ 9 Kc7 76.Qb3 1:14 Qf4 1:02 77.Qc2+ 33 Kb7 28 78.Qb3 29 Qf6 36 79.Qd5+ 33 Qc6 27 80.Qb3 27 Qd7 32 81.Qf3+ 32 Kc7 32 82.Qc3+ 32
82...Qc6? 28 82...Kb8!-+ 83.Qe5+ Kb7 84.Qe4+ Qc6 85.Qh7+ Kb8 86.Qh2+ Ka8 83.Qe5+? 28 83.Qg7+!= Qd7 84.Qe5+ Kb7 85.Qe4+ Qc6 86.Qe7+ Ka6 87.Qf8 83...Kb7 26 84.Qe7+ 32 Kb8 31 85.Qe5+ 27 Kc8 32 86.Qf5+ 33 Kd8? 27 Black should play 86...Kb7-+ ( -> ...Qc8+) 87.Qh7+ Ka6 87.Qg5+= 27 Kc7 31 88.Qf4+? 30 88.Qe5+= and White has nothing to worry. Kb7 89.Qe7+ Ka6 90.Qa3 88...Qd6-+ 27 89.Qc4+ 26 Kb7 35 90.Qb3 29 Qd7 33 91.Qf3+! 28 Ka7 27 92.Qb3 26 Qg4+ 36 93.Kf7 28 Qb4 27 94.Qc2 34 Qf4+ 29 94...Qc5-+ 95.Qb3 b5 96.axb5 Kb6 97.Qe6+ Kxb5 98.Qb3+ Kc6 99.Qa4+ Qb5 100.Qc2+ Kb7 101.Qg2+ Qc6 102.Qb2+ Ka6 103.Qe2+ Qb5 104.Qe6+ Ka7 105.Qe3+ Ka8 95.Ke6 33 Qg4+ 29 96.Ke5 35 Qd7 27 97.Qb3 29 Kb7 29 98.Qd5+ 34 Qc6 37 99.Qxc6+! 28 Kxc6 26 100.Kd4 26
½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Gretarsson,H2533So,W2774½–½2022World FRC Championship Group-A 20221.1
Nepomniachtchi,I2793Abdusattorov,N27130–12022World FRC Championship Group-A 20221.2
So,W2774Gretarsson,H25331–02022World FRC Championship Group-A 20221.2
Abdusattorov,N2713Nepomniachtchi,I27931–02022World FRC Championship Group-A 20221.2
Nepomniachtchi,I2793Gretarsson,H25331–02022World FRC Championship Group-A 20222.1
So,W2774Abdusattorov,N2713½–½2022World FRC Championship Group-A 20222.1
Abdusattorov,N2713So,W27741–02022World FRC Championship Group-A 20222.2
Gretarsson,H2533Nepomniachtchi,I27930–12022World FRC Championship Group-A 20222.2
So,W2774Nepomniachtchi,I27931–02022World FRC Championship Group-A 20223.1
Gretarsson,H2533Abdusattorov,N27130–12022World FRC Championship Group-A 20223.1
Nepomniachtchi,I2793So,W27741–02022World FRC Championship Group-A 20223.2
Abdusattorov,N2713Gretarsson,H25331–02022World FRC Championship Group-A 20223.2
Nepomniachtchi,I2793So,W27741–02022World FRC Championship Group-A 20224.1
Abdusattorov,N2713Gretarsson,H25331–02022World FRC Championship Group-A 20224.1
So,W2774Nepomniachtchi,I27930–12022World FRC Championship Group-A 20224.2
Gretarsson,H2533Abdusattorov,N27130–12022World FRC Championship Group-A 20224.2
Nepomniachtchi,I2793Abdusattorov,N27130–12022World FRC Championship Group-A 20225.1
So,W2774Gretarsson,H25330–12022World FRC Championship Group-A 20225.1
Abdusattorov,N2713Nepomniachtchi,I27931–02022World FRC Championship Group-A 20225.2
Gretarsson,H2533So,W27740–12022World FRC Championship Group-A 20225.2
Abdusattorov,N2713So,W27740–12022World FRC Championship Group-A 20226.1
Gretarsson,H2533Nepomniachtchi,I27930–12022World FRC Championship Group-A 20226.1
Nepomniachtchi,I2793Gretarsson,H25331–02022World FRC Championship Group-A 20226.2
So,W2774Abdusattorov,N2713½–½2022World FRC Championship Group-A 20226.2
 

Group B: Naka and Carlsen share the lead

While So will need a good performance and some luck to catch Nepo in group A, Vladimir Fedoseev similarly has outside chances of reaching the semifinals in group B. The Russian stands two points behind co-leaders Hikaru Nakamura and Magnus Carlsen, but has proven to be capable of fighting toe-to-toe with the two big favourites in this variant.

On Wednesday, Carlsen scored 3½/4 individual points against underdog Matthias Bluebaum, while Fedoseev and Nakamura drew all four of their encounters.

Despite all four games ending in draws, there was no lack of excitement in the confrontation between Naka and Fedoseev. The third encounter was a total slugfest.

 
Fedoseev vs. Nakamura - Round 3, Game 1

Naka’s 21...Nxd2 was a brilliant way to open lines against the white king.

The engines show that 22.Nxd2 is the best reply, but in this case White needs to figure out that he is not in deep trouble after 22...Bxc5 23.Rc4 (forced, as rook and queen were forked by the bishop) b6 24.b4 f3. Fire on board! (See diagram below).

 
Analysis diagram

A great calculator, Fedoseev surely found this line, but evaluating such a wild position from afar is not easy at all! Thus, he opted for 22.Kxd2 in response to Black’s capture. 

Indeed, exposing the king to attacks in the middle of the board was the easier-to-calculate variation here.

Naturally, mistakes were made by both players in the 25-minute game. The result was a remarkable 60-move draw.

World Fischer Random Chess Championship 2022

Top grandmasters enjoying themselves | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Standings after round 4 - Group B

Player MP Pts
Magnus Carlsen 6
Hikaru Nakamura 6 5
Vladimir Fedoseev 4 4
Matthias Bluebaum 0

All games

 
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1.e4 15:06 The position is equal. f5 15:16 2.exf5 16 Qxf5 4 3.Ng3 47 Qf7 1:31 4.d4 1:19 0-0 1:21 5.Be3 1:05 Ng6 33 6.Nd2 2:35 Nc6 52       7.c3 2:03 d5 32 8.Bb3 1:12 e5 1:05 9.Qb5 1:44 Nce7 1:20 10.Nf3 22 c6 41 11.Qe2 2 exd4 33 12.Nxd4 1:34 Nf4 56 13.Qd2 1:47 Neg6 2 14.Nge2 30 Nxe2 2:08 15.Nxe2 6 Ne5 9 16.Bd4 1:22 Bc7 55 17.Bc2 2:29 17.0-0= 17...Qh5 1:25 17...Nc4! 18.Ng3 36 Qh4 1:44 19.0-0-0 18 Nc4 1:33 20.Qd3 2 Bd7 2 20...Qxh2? 21.Rh1 Bxg3 22.Rxh2 Bf4+ 23.Kb1+- 21.Kb1 17 b6 25 22.Rde1 13 Rf7 17 23.f3 51 Rd8 1:33 24.Bf2 10 Qh6 1 25.Re2 22 g6 1:20 25...Qxh2? 26.Rh1 Bf5 27.Rxh2+- 26.Rge1 27 26.Rh1= keeps the balance. 26...Qxh2 1:06 27.Nf1 1:41 Qh6 27 27...Qxg2 28.Bxb6 Qxe2! 29.Qxe2 axb6 28.Ne3 1 Nxe3 38 29.Bxe3 2 Qf8 1 30.Bg5 0 Re8 0 31.Rxe8 2:12 Bxe8 58 32.c4 1:15 Rd7 3:28 32...Bg3= 33.Bh6 Qxh6 34.Rxe8+ Rf8 35.Rxf8+ Qxf8 33.cxd5 31 33.Ba4! Bg3 34.Re2 33...Bf7= 26 34.Qe3 2:04 Rxd5 56 35.Bf6 58 Against Re5 35.f4= 35...Bg3! 1:02 36.Rh1 1:28 Qd6 52 Inhibits f4. 37.Bc3 33 Bf4 33       Prevents Qh6. Black has good play. 38.Qe4 41 38.Qf2! 38...Be5 32 39.Qh4 32 h5 26 40.Bb3 47 40.Bxe5 is a better defense. Qxe5 41.Qf2 40...Bxc3-+ 54 41.Bxd5 26 Qxd5 28 42.bxc3 27       Endgame KQR-KQB Qd3+ 1:05 43.Kc1 39 Qxc3+ 28 44.Kd1 26 Qa1+! 29 45.Ke2 31 Qxa2+ 26 46.Kf1 32 46.Ke3 46...Qd2 41 47.Kg1 32 c5? 48 47...Qd6-+ Hoping for ...b5. 48.g4 Qd4+ 49.Qf2 Qxf2+ 50.Kxf2 a5 51.gxh5 gxh5 48.Qe7? 31 48.Qg3!= 48...c4! 51 Strongly threatening ...c3. 49.Qxa7 29 c3? 32 Better is 49...Qd1+-+ 50.Kh2 Qd6+ 51.g3 c3 50.Qb8+= 26 Kh7 30 ...c2 is the strong threat. 51.Qc7 26 Kg7 35 52.Qe5+ 27 Kf8 29 53.Rh4? 36       53.Kh2= g5 54.Ra1 54.Qh8+ Ke7= 54...Qf4+ 55.Qxf4 gxf4 56.Rc1 53...Qd1+? 49 53...c2!-+ 54.Qh8+ Ke7 55.Re4+ Kd7 56.Rd4+ Bd5 57.Qh7+ Kc6 58.Qxg6+ Kc5 59.Rxd2 c1Q+ 60.Rd1 Qxd1+ 61.Kh2 Qd2 54.Kh2 27       White has compensation. Kg8 33 Prevents Qh8+. 54...c2= 55.Ra4 Qd5 56.Qh8+ Ke7 57.Ra7+ Ke6 58.Qc8+ Kf6 59.Qxc2 Qe5+ 60.f4 Qxf4+ 61.g3 Qd4 55.Rd4? 29 55.Rb4+- Qd8 56.Qxc3 55...c2 27 56.Qb8+? 39      
56.Ra4!= Qd8 57.Qc3 56...Kg7? 34 56...Kh7!-+ 57.Qxb6 c1Q 58.Rxd1 Qxd1 57.Qe5+ 27 Kh7! 26 58.Rf4 33 Qd7 26 59.Qc3! 28 Qd6 32 59...Bb3!? 60.Qxb3 Qd6 61.Qxc2 Qxf4+ 62.g3 Qxf3 63.Qc7+ Kg8 64.Qxb6 Qe2+ 65.Kh3 Qe4 66.Qd8+ Kh7 60.g3 27
60...Bb3 29 61.Re4! 35 Qc5 33 62.Qxb3 30      
62.Qxc5= bxc5 63.Re1 62...c1Q! 31 Weaker is 62...Qf2+ 63.Kh3 Qf1+ 64.Kh2 Qf2+ 65.Kh3 Qf1+ 66.Kh2 Qf2+= 63.Qf7+ 30 Kh6 26 Weighted Error Value: White=0.49/Black=0.45
0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Bluebaum,M2647Nakamura,H27680–12022World FRC Championship Group-B 20221.1
Carlsen,M2856Fedoseev,V26881–02022World FRC Championship Group-B 20221.2
Nakamura,H2768Bluebaum,M2647½–½2022World FRC Championship Group-B 20221.2
Fedoseev,V2688Carlsen,M2856½–½2022World FRC Championship Group-B 20221.2
Nakamura,H2768Carlsen,M2856½–½2022World FRC Championship Group-B 20222.1
Fedoseev,V2688Bluebaum,M26471–02022World FRC Championship Group-B 20222.1
Carlsen,M2856Nakamura,H27680–12022World FRC Championship Group-B 20222.2
Bluebaum,M2647Fedoseev,V2688½–½2022World FRC Championship Group-B 20222.2
Nakamura,H2768Fedoseev,V2688½–½2022World FRC Championship Group-B 20223.1
Bluebaum,M2647Carlsen,M28560–12022World FRC Championship Group-B 20223.1
Carlsen,M2856Bluebaum,M26471–02022World FRC Championship Group-B 20223.2
Fedoseev,V2688Nakamura,H2768½–½2022World FRC Championship Group-B 20223.2
Carlsen,M2856Bluebaum,M2647½–½2022World FRC Championship Group-B 20224.1
Fedoseev,V2688Nakamura,H2768½–½2022World FRC Championship Group-B 20224.1
Nakamura,H2768Fedoseev,V2688½–½2022World FRC Championship Group-B 20224.2
Bluebaum,M2647Carlsen,M28560–12022World FRC Championship Group-B 20224.2
Nakamura,H2768Bluebaum,M26471–02022World FRC Championship Group-B 20225.1
Fedoseev,V2688Carlsen,M2856½–½2022World FRC Championship Group-B 20225.1
Carlsen,M2856Fedoseev,V26881–02022World FRC Championship Group-B 20225.2
Bluebaum,M2647Nakamura,H2768½–½2022World FRC Championship Group-B 20225.2
Carlsen,M2856Nakamura,H2768½–½2022World FRC Championship Group-B 20226.1
Bluebaum,M2647Fedoseev,V26880–12022World FRC Championship Group-B 20226.1
Nakamura,H2768Carlsen,M2856½–½2022World FRC Championship Group-B 20226.2
Fedoseev,V2688Bluebaum,M26470–12022World FRC Championship Group-B 20226.2
 

On this DVD Dorian Rogozenco, Mihail Marin, Oliver Reeh and Karsten Müller present the 8. World Chess Champion in video lessons: his openings, his understanding of chess strategy, his artful endgame play, and finally his immortal combinations.


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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.

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