World Rapid Day 1: Magnus Carlsen channels the spirit of Bobby Fischer

by Sagar Shah
12/27/2022 – The World Rapid Championships 2022 kicked off on the 26th of December 2022 in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Five rounds were played in the open section and four rounds in women. We have four leaders in the open with 4.5/5 and they are Magnus Carlsen, Arjun Erigaisi, Vladimir Fedoseev and Jorden van Foreest. Meanwhile in the women's section we have a sole leader after four rounds on 100% score - Valentina Gunina. We bring you the full day one report along with pictures, analysis, videos and much more.
Let our authors show you how Carlsen tailored his openings to be able to outplay his opponents strategically in the middlegame or to obtain an enduring advantage into the endgame.

Magnus Carlsen in his element in Almaty

Work shouldn't feel like work! It should feel like play. That's when you are able to bring out your best. That is exactly the sense you get by watching Magnus Carlsen at the World Rapid Championships 2022. The World Champion is moving around freely in the playing hall, watching games, interacting with his friends, doing interviews for NRK and crushing his opponents by playing 1.b3!

Magnus Carlsen entering the tournament hall in a very pleasant mood

Magnus with a different hairstyle and a smile on his face! | Photo: Amruta Mokal

The day started with Magnus playing the French defence against Samvel Ter-Sahakyan. The position was complex, when the Armenian GM committed an inaccuracy:

 
Ter-Sahakyan - Carlsen, Round 1
White's last move was Bf3. But that was an inaccuracy. How did Carlsen punish it?

Magnus was right on the ball and played the move 20...e5. Turns out that White's position is extremely brittle, with the knight on g4 attacked, the bishop on h6 hanging. When you find a move like ...e5 in the first round, when you are just beginning to get into the groove, you know that you are in good form.

Samvel Ter-Sahakyan vs Magnus Carlsen, Round 1

 
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1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Nc6 7.Qg4 g6 8.h4 Qa5 9.Bd2 h6 10.a4 c4 11.Nf3 Bd7 12.Qf4 Rh7 13.Nh2 0-0-0 14.Ng4 Rf8 15.Be2 Qd8 16.Qg3 f5 17.exf6 Nxf6 18.Bxh6 Ne4 19.Qe3 Rfh8 20.Bf3 e5! 21.dxe5 Qa5 22.Ra3 Bf5 23.0-0 Kb8 24.Bg5 Nxg5 25.Qxg5 Rxh4 26.g3 Rxg4 27.Bxg4 Be4 28.f3 Qc5+ 29.Kg2 Qxa3 30.fxe4 Qxc3 31.exd5 Qxc2+ 32.Rf2 Qb1 33.Rf1 Qe4+ 34.Bf3 Qxe5 35.Qxg6 Nd4 36.Qe4 Qxe4 37.Bxe4 Re8 38.d6 Kc8 39.Bd5 c3 40.Rf7 Re2+ 41.Kh3 c2 42.Rc7+ Kd8 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Ter-Sahakyan,S2531Carlsen,M28340–12022C18World Rapid 20221.1

In the second round Carlsen opened his game with 1.b3 against Eric Hansen. The position was around equal, but when the time went low, it was Eric who started making sub-standard moves. Very soon, the Canadian GM landed in a lost position.

Magnus Carlsen vs Eric Hansen, Round 2

 
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1.b3 d5 2.Bb2 Bg4 3.f3 Bf5 4.e4 Bg6 5.h4 h5 6.exd5 Qxd5 7.Nc3 Qd6 8.Qe2 Nc6 9.0-0-0 Nd4 10.Qc4 0-0-0 11.Ne4 Qb6 12.Ne2 Nxe2+ 13.Bxe2 e6 14.Kb1 Ne7 15.a4 Nc6 16.Qb5 Nd4 17.Qxb6 axb6 18.Bc4 Be7 19.Rde1 Rd7 20.Bc3 Rhd8 21.Kb2 c6 22.b4 Kc7 23.Ra1 e5 24.d3 f6 25.b5 Bf8 26.Rhf1 Nf5 27.a5 cxb5 28.Bxb5 Rd5 29.axb6+ Kxb6 30.Bc4 Ne3 31.Bxd5 Rxd5 32.Rfb1 Rb5+ 33.Kc1 Rxb1+ 34.Rxb1+ Kc6 35.g3 Nd5 36.Bd2 Bf7 37.c4 Nc7 38.Ba5 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Carlsen,M2834Hansen,E25791–02022A01World Rapid 20222.1

In the third round Carlsen's back was pushed to the wall by Evgeny Tomashevsky. The Russian GM was in his element and found a very nice combination to put Carlsen's dubious Hippo opening into question.

 
Tomashevsky - Carlsen, Round 3
How does White take advantage of Black's lack of coordination?

Tomashevsky found 20.Bb5! and after 20...axb5 21.axb5, the queen could no longer support the knight on d7. White was clearly better. But as often happens with players against Magnus, Tomashevsky started to play a bit without purpose. Very soon, the initiative started to change hands. Carlsen took over the initiative and finished off the game with a flourish.

 
 
Magnus found the very nice Re2! dislodging the bishop from e5. After Bd4 he went g4 and with g3 coming up the game was over. 
 
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1.d4 g6 2.e4 d6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Nf3 a6 5.a4 b6 6.Bc4 e6 7.0-0 Ne7 8.Re1 Nd7 9.Bf4 Bb7 10.Qd2 h6 11.Rad1 g5 12.Bg3 Ng6 13.h3 0-0 14.Nh2 Kh7 15.Nf1 Nf6 16.Qe2 Qd7 17.e5 dxe5 18.dxe5 Qc6 19.Ne3 Nd7 20.Bb5 axb5 21.axb5 Qc5 22.Rxd7 Bxe5 23.Qc4 Bc8 24.Qxc5 bxc5 25.Bxe5 Bxd7 26.Bxc7 Nf4 27.Nc4 Nd5 28.Nxd5 exd5 29.Nb6 Rae8 30.Rxe8 Bxe8 31.Bd6 Rg8 32.Nxd5 Rg6 33.Bxc5 Bxb5 34.c3 Ra6 35.b4 f5 36.Nc7 Ra1+ 37.Kh2 Bc4 38.Ne8 Kg6 39.Nd6 Bd3 40.Bd4 Rb1 41.Be5 f4 42.Bd4 h5 43.Be5 Rb2 44.Kg1 Re2 45.Bd4 g4 46.hxg4 hxg4 47.Kh2 g3+ 48.fxg3 f3 49.g4 Rxg2+ 50.Kh3 f2 0–1
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Tomashevsky,E2628Carlsen,M28340–12022B06World Rapid 20223.1

The game that everyone was looking forward to - the reigning classical world champion Magnus Carlsen vs the reigning rapid world champion Nodirbek Abdusattorov | Photo: Amruta Mokal

In 2021, Magnus Carlsen was leading the World Rapid Championships by dominating day one and two. It seemed like he would run away with the title. However, in the first round on day three, he was halted by the Uzbek super prodigy Nodirbek Abdusattorov. Abdusattorov not just beat Carlsen, he also went on to win the tournament and become World Rapid Champion. It is quite natural that sitting opposite each other after a year, once again at the World Rapid Championships, Magnus wanted to be Abdusattorov. The game started off with 1.b3 and very soon we reached a position, where Magnus' move reminds us of an old classic. Let's have a look.

 
Carlsen - Abdusattorov, Round 4
Position after 13...Bg6

Magnus Carlsen (white) surprised one and all with his next move g4!?

How did Magnus arrive at this move? What was his inspiration? Turns out, it was Bobby Fischer.

Bobby Fischer showing the way, 42 years ago!

 
Fischer-Anderson, 1970
What did Fischer do in this position as White?

A lot of people said that in terms of the way in which he played chess Fischer was ahead of his times. This is one such example. He tucked his king in on h1 and prepared Rg1 and g4. Carlsen did exactly that in his game against Abdusattorov. 

 
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Diese Partie wurde von der schwedischen Zeitung "Expressen" gesponsort. 1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.c4 Nf6 4.e3 Be7 4...d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.a3 Bd6 7.Qc2 0-0 8.Nf3 Qe7 9.Nc3 9.d3 f5 10.Nbd2 Kh8 11.Nc4 Bd7 12.Be2 Rae8 13.0-0 Rf6 Stein-Brinck_Claussen, 1987 14.g3∞ 9...Nxc3 10.Qxc3 f5 11.Bb5 e4 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.Ne5 c5 14.b4 cxb4 15.axb4 Bb7 16.Ra4 a6 17.0-0 f4 18.exf4 Rxf4 19.b5 axb5 20.Rxa8+ Bxa8 21.Qb3+ Kh8 22.Qxb5 Rf8 23.h3 Qe8 24.Qxe8= Larsen,B-Spassky,B/Leiden/1970/0.5 (34) 5.a3 0-0 5...a5N Horn 6.Nf3 d6= 6.Qc2 6.d3 d5 7.cxd5 Qxd5 8.Nc3 Qd6 9.Nf3 Bf5 10.Qc2 Rfd8 10...Rad8!? 11.Rd1 h6 12.h3 Qe6 13.Nd2 Nd7 14.Be2 Fischer-Tukmakov/Buenos Aires/1970 Qg6!∞ 6...Re8 7.d3 7.b4!? 7...Bf8 8.Nf3 a5 8...g6 9.b4 d6 10.Be2 Bg7 11.0-0 9.Be2 d5?! 9...g6 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.Nbd2 f6 11...g6 12.0-0 Bg7 13.Rac1 12.0-0 Be6 13.Kh1! Qd7 14.Rg1 Rad8 15.Ne4 Qf7 16.g4 g6 17.Rg3± Bg7 17...Nb6 18.g5! 18.Rag1 Nb6 19.Nc5 Bc8 20.Nh4 Nd7?! 20...Kh8!? 21.Ne4 Nf8 22.Nf5! Be6 22...Bxf5 23.gxf5 g5 24.Nxg5 fxg5 25.Rxg5+- 22...gxf5 23.gxf5 Bxf5 23...Kh8 24.Rxg7 Qxg7 25.Rxg7 Kxg7 26.Bg4 f4 24.Rxg7+ Qxg7 25.Nxf6+ 23.Nc5 Ne7?! 23...Bc8!? 24.Nxg7 Kxg7 25.g5 Nf5 25...fxg5 26.Rf3 Nf5 27.e4 27.Bxe5+ Kg8 28.Ne4!? Nd7 29.Nxg5+- 26.Rf3 b6 27.gxf6+! Kh8 27...Qxf6 28.Ne4+- 28.Nxe6 Rxe6 29.d4 exd4 30.Bc4 d3 31.Bxd3 Rxd3 31...Red6 32.Bc4!+- 32.Bxf5! Rd2 32...gxf5 33.Rg7 Qd5 34.f7 h6 35.Rgg3+ Kh7 36.Qc3+- 33.Qc3 c5 34.Ba1+- PS 32.Qxd3 Rd6 33.Qc4 Ne6 34.Be5 34.Rxf5! gxf5 35.Rg7 Qf8 35...Qh5 36.f7 Qf3+ 37.Rg2++- 36.Qxe6! 36.Rxc7+- 36...Qa8+ 36...Rxe6 37.f7!+- 37.e4 Rxe6 38.f7 Qxe4+ 39.Rg2+ Qe5 40.f8R# 34...Rd8 35.h4 35.Rxf5 gxf5 36.Rg7 Qh5 37.Rd7! 37.Qxe6?? Qf3+ 38.Kg1 Rd1# 37...Qf3+ 38.Kg1 Rg8+ 39.Kf1 Qg2+ 40.Ke2 Qg4+ 41.Qxg4 fxg4 42.Re7+- 35...Nd6 36.Qg4 Nf8 37.h5 Ne8 38.e4 Rd2 38...gxh5 39.Qg8+ Qxg8 40.Rxg8+ Kxg8 41.f7# 39.Rh3 Kg8 40.hxg6 Nxg6 41.f4 Kf8 42.Qg5 Nd6 43.Bxd6+ 43.Bxd6+ Rxd6 44.f5 Qxf6 44...Nh8 45.e5 Qd5+ 46.Rg2 Rd7 47.Rd3+- 45.fxg6 45.Qxf6+ Rxf6 46.fxg6 hxg6 47.e5 Re6 48.Rh7 45...Qxg5 46.gxh7 Qe5 47.h8Q++- PS 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Fischer,R-Andersson,U-1–01970A01Siegen exh

A lot of people said that in terms of the way in which he played chess Fischer was ahead of his times. This is one such example. He tucked his king in on h1 and prepared Rg1 and g4. Carlsen did exactly that in his game against Abdusattorov.
 
 
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Diese Partie wurde von der schwedischen Zeitung "Expressen" gesponsort. 1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.c4 Nf6 4.e3 Be7 4...d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.a3 Bd6 7.Qc2 0-0 8.Nf3 Qe7 9.Nc3 9.d3 f5 10.Nbd2 Kh8 11.Nc4 Bd7 12.Be2 Rae8 13.0-0 Rf6 Stein-Brinck_Claussen, 1987 14.g3∞ 9...Nxc3 10.Qxc3 f5 11.Bb5 e4 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.Ne5 c5 14.b4 cxb4 15.axb4 Bb7 16.Ra4 a6 17.0-0 f4 18.exf4 Rxf4 19.b5 axb5 20.Rxa8+ Bxa8 21.Qb3+ Kh8 22.Qxb5 Rf8 23.h3 Qe8 24.Qxe8= Larsen,B-Spassky,B/Leiden/1970/0.5 (34) 5.a3 0-0 5...a5N Horn 6.Nf3 d6= 6.Qc2 6.d3 d5 7.cxd5 Qxd5 8.Nc3 Qd6 9.Nf3 Bf5 10.Qc2 Rfd8 10...Rad8!? 11.Rd1 h6 12.h3 Qe6 13.Nd2 Nd7 14.Be2 Fischer-Tukmakov/Buenos Aires/1970 Qg6!∞ 6...Re8 7.d3 7.b4!? 7...Bf8 8.Nf3 a5 8...g6 9.b4 d6 10.Be2 Bg7 11.0-0 9.Be2 d5?! 9...g6 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.Nbd2 f6 11...g6 12.0-0 Bg7 13.Rac1 12.0-0 Be6 13.Kh1! Qd7 14.Rg1 Rad8 15.Ne4 Qf7 16.g4 g6 17.Rg3± Bg7 17...Nb6 18.g5! 18.Rag1 Nb6 19.Nc5 Bc8 20.Nh4 Nd7?! 20...Kh8!? 21.Ne4 Nf8 22.Nf5! Be6 22...Bxf5 23.gxf5 g5 24.Nxg5 fxg5 25.Rxg5+- 22...gxf5 23.gxf5 Bxf5 23...Kh8 24.Rxg7 Qxg7 25.Rxg7 Kxg7 26.Bg4 f4 24.Rxg7+ Qxg7 25.Nxf6+ 23.Nc5 Ne7?! 23...Bc8!? 24.Nxg7 Kxg7 25.g5 Nf5 25...fxg5 26.Rf3 Nf5 27.e4 27.Bxe5+ Kg8 28.Ne4!? Nd7 29.Nxg5+- 26.Rf3 b6 27.gxf6+! Kh8 27...Qxf6 28.Ne4+- 28.Nxe6 Rxe6 29.d4 exd4 30.Bc4 d3 31.Bxd3 Rxd3 31...Red6 32.Bc4!+- 32.Bxf5! Rd2 32...gxf5 33.Rg7 Qd5 34.f7 h6 35.Rgg3+ Kh7 36.Qc3+- 33.Qc3 c5 34.Ba1+- PS 32.Qxd3 Rd6 33.Qc4 Ne6 34.Be5 34.Rxf5! gxf5 35.Rg7 Qf8 35...Qh5 36.f7 Qf3+ 37.Rg2++- 36.Qxe6! 36.Rxc7+- 36...Qa8+ 36...Rxe6 37.f7!+- 37.e4 Rxe6 38.f7 Qxe4+ 39.Rg2+ Qe5 40.f8R# 34...Rd8 35.h4 35.Rxf5 gxf5 36.Rg7 Qh5 37.Rd7! 37.Qxe6?? Qf3+ 38.Kg1 Rd1# 37...Qf3+ 38.Kg1 Rg8+ 39.Kf1 Qg2+ 40.Ke2 Qg4+ 41.Qxg4 fxg4 42.Re7+- 35...Nd6 36.Qg4 Nf8 37.h5 Ne8 38.e4 Rd2 38...gxh5 39.Qg8+ Qxg8 40.Rxg8+ Kxg8 41.f7# 39.Rh3 Kg8 40.hxg6 Nxg6 41.f4 Kf8 42.Qg5 Nd6 43.Bxd6+ 43.Bxd6+ Rxd6 44.f5 Qxf6 44...Nh8 45.e5 Qd5+ 46.Rg2 Rd7 47.Rd3+- 45.fxg6 45.Qxf6+ Rxf6 46.fxg6 hxg6 47.e5 Re6 48.Rh7 45...Qxg5 46.gxh7 Qe5 47.h8Q++- PS 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Fischer,R-Andersson,U-1–01970A01Siegen exh
 
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1.b3 Magnus opens the game with 1.b3. He had done this in the same event against Eric Hansen as well in round 2. e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Bd6!? 4...e4 is more common. 5.c4 0-0 6.d3 Re8 7.a3 a5 8.Be2 Bf8 9.0-0 d5 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.Nbd2 f6 We have a position that resembles Fischer vs Andersson from 1971. White has a Hedgehog like structure and will be angling for either the d4 or b4 breakthrough. Black on the other hand has more space and will be looking to nurture it and strangle white. 12.Qc2 Bf5 13.Rfe1 Bg6 14.g4!? A very inspired decision. Qd7 15.Kh1 Rad8 15...Qxg4 16.Nxe5+- 15...a4 creating quick play on the queenside would have been better. 16.b4 Ndxb4! 17.axb4 Nxb4 18.Qc4+ Bf7 19.Qc3 Na2 20.Qc2 a3 16.Ne4 Kh8 17.Rad1 Bf7 18.Rg1 Nb6 19.Rg3 a4! Abdusattorov is quick to realize that if doesn't do something now, he will be run over. So he creates quick play on the queenside. 20.bxa4 Na5 21.Rdg1 Bd5?! 21...Nxa4! 22.g5! f5 23.Nc3 23.Nf6! gxf6 24.gxf6! With the g-file opened White is clearly better. 23...Bc6 24.e4 Nxa4 25.Nxa4 Bxa4 26.Qc3 Nc6 27.g6! Nd4 28.Ng5‼ An excellent move sacrificing a piece on e2. Nxe2? 28...Re7± 29.Nf7+ 29.Qc4‼ Nxg3+ 30.Rxg3 Re7 31.gxh7! Somehow mate on g8 cannot be averted without losing heavy material. 29...Qxf7 30.gxf7 Nxc3 31.fxe8Q Bxe8 31...Rxe8!? 32.Bxc3 Bg6 32...Bc6!? 33.Bxe5 Rxd3 34.Rxd3 Bxe4+ 35.f3 Bxd3 36.a4± 33.exf5 Bxf5 34.Bxe5 Bxd3? 34...Rd7 Black is worse, but still fighting. 35.Rxg7! That's game over. 1–0
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Carlsen,M2834Abdusattorov,N26761–02022A01World Rapid 20224.1

Wasn't that an amazing game?!

Magnus Carlsen vs Nodirbek Abdusattorov, World Rapid 2022 Round 4

After losing his 4th round game to Carlsen, Nodirbek made a strong comeback to beat Vahap Sanal and end the day with 4.0/5 | Photo: Amruta Mokal

The final game of the day for Magnus ended in a draw against Indian talent Arjun Erigaisi | Photo: Anna Shtourman

The entire game between Magnus Carlsen and Arjun Erigaisi

A short interview with Magnus Carlsen

Arjun Erigaisi had a great day one. He drew with the top seed Magnus Carlsen and beat the second seed Richard Rapport. | Photo: Amruta Mokal

 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 c5 5.d5 d6 6.e4 b5 7.cxb5 exd5 8.exd5 0-0 9.Bd3 a6 10.Nge2 c4 11.Bxc4 axb5 12.Bxb5 Qb6 13.a3 Bb7 13...Qxb5 14.axb4+- 14.Qd3 Nxd5 15.Bd2 Nc7 16.0-0-0 Bc5 17.Nf4 d5 18.Rhe1 Ra5? 19.Ba4 19.Ncxd5! Nxd5 20.Bxa5+- 19...Ba6 20.Ncxd5 Nxd5 21.Nxd5 Bxd3 22.Nxb6 Ra6 23.Bb4! 23.Be3 Bxb6 24.Bxb6 Rc8+ 25.Bc7 Rxc7+ 26.Kd2 Rc8 27.Re8+ Rxe8 28.Bxe8∞ 23...Bxb4 24.axb4 Rxb6 25.Rxd3 Rxb4 26.Re4 Rc8+ 27.Kb1 Rxe4 28.fxe4 Kf8 29.Bb3 Ke7 30.Rf3 f6 31.Rh3 h6 32.Rg3 g5 33.Rh3 Rh8 34.Kc2 Nc6 35.Bd5 Nb4+ 36.Kc3 Nxd5+ 37.exd5 Kd6 38.Kd4 Rb8 39.Rxh6 Rb4+ 40.Kc3 Rf4 41.g3 Rf2 42.Kd4 Rd2+ 43.Ke4 Re2+ 44.Kf3 Rxb2 45.Rxf6+ Kxd5 46.Rh6 Rb5 47.Kg4 Ke4 48.Re6+ Kd4 49.Rg6 Rb2 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Erigaisi,A2628Rapport,R28021–02022E20World Rapid 20224.5

Arjun Erigaisi speaks about his game against Rapport and Magnus Carlsen

One of the leaders of the event - Jorden van Foreest with 4.5/5. Jorden beat Sindarov and Artemiev in rounds 3 and 4 and has been playing some great chess. | Photo: Amruta Mokal

 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Be7 5.0-0 0-0 6.Nc3 d6 7.a4 a5 8.Re1 h6 9.h3 Re8 10.d4 Bf8 11.d5 Nb4 12.Be3 c6 13.Nd2 cxd5 14.exd5 b6 15.Bb5 Re7 16.Nc4 Rb8 17.Qd2 Bf5 18.Rac1 Bg6 19.f3 Ra7 20.b3 Na6 21.Nxa5 bxa5 22.Bxa7 Rb7 23.Be3 Nb4 24.Bc4 Qa8 25.Nb5 Rd7 26.Red1 Na2 27.Ra1 Nb4 28.Na3 Be7 29.c3 Na6 30.Bb5 Rd8 31.Nc4 Nc7 32.Bc6 Qa6 33.Bb6 Rc8 34.Bxa5 Ncxd5 35.Bxd5 Rc5 36.Be4 Bxe4 37.fxe4 Rxc4 38.bxc4 Qxa5 39.Qe3 d5 40.Kh1 dxe4 41.Qd2 Kh7 42.Rf1 Qa7 43.a5 e3 44.Qc2+ Kg8 45.a6 Nh5 46.Rf3 Bh4 47.Qe4 Bf2 48.Qb7 e2 49.Qc8+ Kh7 50.Qf5+ Kh8 51.Qxe5 e1Q+ 52.Rxe1 Bxe1 53.Qxh5 Qxa6 54.Qxf7 Bxc3 55.Qe8+ Kh7 56.Qe4+ g6 57.Rf7+ Bg7 58.Qe5 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Van Foreest,J2693Artemiev,V27271–02022C55World Rapid 20224.4

Also on 4.5/5 is Vladimir Fedoseev

The winner of Tata Steel Chess India Rapid Nihal Sarin is in fine form and is on 4.0/5 | Photo: Lennart Ootes

With three draws and two wins, Nakamura has been slightly slow off the blocks, but a couple of wins and he will be back on the top. | Photo: Amruta Mokal

3.5/5 for Fabiano Caruana | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Daniil Dubov is also on 3.5/5, with two wins and three draws just like Nakamura and Caruana | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Another top player on 3.5/5 - Alexander Grischuk | Photo: Amruta Mokal

The reigning World Blitz champion, Maxime Vachier Lagrave is also on 3.5/5 | Photo: Amruta Mokal

With 1 win and 4 draws Hans Niemann is on 3.0/4 | Photo: Amruta Mokal

The talented German youngster Vincent Keymer lost to Artemiev, but by scoring three wins is on 3.5/5 | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Top Kazakh player Rinat Jumabayev is on 2.5/5 | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Boris Gelfand ended day one with a score of 3.0/5, but he didn't get to play two games as he was paired against two Iranian opponents - Daneshvar Bardiya and Idani Pouya and they didn't turn up. | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Just before the start of round one | Photo: Amruta Mokal

The defending World Rapid Women's champion Alexandra Kosteniuk is on 3.0/4 | Photo: Amruta Mokal

One of the tournament favourites, Kateryna Lagno has lost two of her games and is on 2.0/4 | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Valentina Gunina (right) has been perfect in this tournament. She has a 4.0/4 score. | Photo: Amruta Mokal

In her third round game against IM Ulviyya Fataliyeva, Gunina went wrong with her opening and very quickly landed in a lost position. A critical moment was reached here

 
Gunina - Fataliyeva, Round 3
Position after 22...Nxd6

White's queen is attacked and the knight on c7 is not so well placed. Also Nc4 is coming up! What did Gunina do? She took the pawn on d5. Looking for some tricks. Her idea was - that if Black were to take exd5 then after Rxc8 Nxc8 Qe8+! picks up the piece on c8. However, after Nxd5 Black had an amazing resource up her sleeve. Try to think and if you want to check the answer in the annotations below.

 
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1.d4 e6 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 Nbd7 7.c5 c6 8.b4 b6 9.Bd3 a5 10.a3 Ba6 11.Bxa6 Rxa6 12.b5 cxb5 13.c6 Qc8 14.Nxb5? 14.c7!∞ 14...Qxc6 15.Nc7 Ra7 16.Rc1 Qb7 17.Qd3 Rc8 18.0-0 Ne4 19.Qb5 Ndf6 20.Rc6 Ne8! 21.Rfc1 N4d6?! 21...Bxa3!-+ 22.Bxd6 22.Nxe8! Rxc6 23.Qxc6 Qxc6 24.Rxc6 Nxe8 25.a4 22...Nxd6 23.Nxd5 Nxb5 23...Bf8‼ 24.Qa4 exd5-+ 24.Nxe7+ Kf8 24...Qxe7 25.Rxc8+ Qf8= 25.Nxc8 Ra8 26.Ne5! f6 27.Nd7+! Kf7 27...Qxd7 28.Nxb6+- 28.Ndxb6 Rxc8 28...Rb8 29.a4+- 29.Nxc8 Kg6 30.a4 Na3 31.h4 h5 32.Rb6 Qe4 33.Ne7+ Kh7 34.Rc8 Nc2 35.Rbb8 g5 36.Rh8+ Kg7 37.hxg5 fxg5 38.Rbf8 Ne1 39.Rhg8+ Kh7 40.Rf7+ Kh6 41.Rh8+ 1–0
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Gunina,V2476Fataliyeva,U24281–02022D37World Rapid Women 20223.4

In absolutely scintillating form is Koneru Humpy. She is on joint 2nd position and is on 3.5/4. | Photo: Amruta Mokal

 
Humpy - Gong, Round 4
Position after 31...Nf6
 
While White has a completely dominating position and many ways to win, Humpy found the very nice Ne6! sacrificing her knight and crashing through. 
 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 g6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.d5 0-0 8.0-0 d6 9.e4 exd5 10.exd5 Nbd7 11.Nd4 Ne5 12.b3 Re8 13.h3 a6 14.a4 Qc8 15.f4 Ned7 16.a5 Nc5 17.Bb2 Nce4 18.Nxe4 Nxe4 19.Kh2 bxa5 20.Qc2 Nc5 21.Rxa5 Re3 22.Rf3 Qe8 23.Qd2 Re7 24.b4 Ne4 25.Qc2 Nf6 26.f5 Bc8 27.Ra1 g5 28.Rf2 Bd7 29.Ra3 g4 30.h4 Nh5 31.Qd1 Nf6 32.Ne6! fxe6 33.fxe6 Nh5 34.Qxg4 Bc8 35.Raf3 Qg6 36.Qxg6 hxg6 37.Bxg7 Nxg7 38.Rf8+ Kh7 39.R2f7 Bxe6 40.dxe6 Rxf8 41.Rxe7 Kh6 42.g4 Re8 43.Rxe8 Nxe8 44.Bc6 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Koneru,H2572Gong,Q22991–02022E15World Rapid Women 20224.5

It's wonderful to see GM Bela Khotenashvili on the chess board after a long time. Bela lost her first game, but came back strongly and is now on 3.0/4 | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Standings in Open after Round 5

Rk. Name Pts.  TB1 
1 Carlsen Magnus 4,5 15
2 Fedoseev Vladimir 4,5 14
3 Erigaisi Arjun 4,5 14
4 Van Foreest Jorden 4,5 13
5 Giri Anish 4 15
6 Duda Jan-Krzysztof 4 15
7 Nihal Sarin 4 15
8 Abdusattorov Nodirbek 4 13
9 Yu Yangyi 4 13
10 Quparadze Giga 4 13
11 Nepomniachtchi Ian 4 12
12 Sarana Alexey 4 12
13 Murzin Volodar 4 12
14 Mamedyarov Shakhriyar 4 11,5
15 Artemiev Vladislav 3,5 14,5
16 Yakubboev Nodirbek 3,5 13,5
17 Caruana Fabiano 3,5 13
18 Dubov Daniil 3,5 13
19 Martirosyan Haik M. 3,5 13
20 Ter-Sahakyan Samvel 3,5 13

Standings in Women after Round 4

Rk. SNo     Name FED Rtg Pts.  TB1   TB2   TB3   TB4 
1 14   GM Gunina Valentina FID 2389 4 8 9,5 0 0
2 3   GM Tan Zhongyi CHN 2502 3,5 8 9,5 0 0
3 33   IM Garifullina Leya FID 2316 3,5 7,5 9 0 0
4 7   GM Koneru Humpy IND 2468 3,5 7,5 8,5 0 0
5 26   GM Danielian Elina ARM 2331 3,5 7 8 0 0
6 17   IM Mammadzada Gunay AZE 2383 3,5 6,5 8 0 0
7 19   GM Batsiashvili Nino GEO 2370 3 9,5 11,5 0 0
8 27   GM Girya Olga FID 2328 3 9,5 9,5 0 0
9 89   WIM Sultanbek Zeinep KAZ 1834 3 9 11 0 0
10 43   IM Zatonskih Anna USA 2268 3 8 8 0 0
11 5   GM Dzagnidze Nana GEO 2475 3 7,5 9 0 0
12 40   WGM Balajayeva Khanim AZE 2284 3 7 8 0 0
13 48   WGM Pourkashiyan Atousa USA 2256 3 7 7,5 0 0
14 4   GM Goryachkina Aleksandra FID 2484 3 6,5 8,5 0 0
15 20   GM Paehtz Elisabeth GER 2369 3 6,5 8 0 0
16 1   GM Kosteniuk Alexandra FID 2537 3 6,5 7,5 0 0
  35   WGM Voit Daria FID 2312 3 6,5 7,5 0 0
18 8   GM Abdumalik Zhansaya KAZ 2448 3 6 7,5 0 0
  18   GM Ushenina Anna UKR 2371 3 6 7,5 0 0
20 44   IM Buksa Nataliya UKR 2260 3 6 7 0 0

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Sagar is an International Master from India with two GM norms. He loves to cover chess tournaments, as that helps him understand and improve at the game he loves so much. He is the co-founder and CEO of ChessBase India, the biggest chess news portal in the country. His YouTube channel has over a million subscribers, and to date close to a billion views. ChessBase India is the sole distributor of ChessBase products in India and seven adjoining countries, where the software is available at a 60% discount. compared to International prices.
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