Credit: Stev Bonhage / FIDE
The primary day of the Candidates Match in Madrid has concluded with an action-packed first day.
Day by day, Lichess is offering a broadcast of the video games performed in real-time. We even have a collection of annotated video games by GM Nijat Abasov and video recaps by WGM-elect Jesse February, additional beneath.
Rapport is called a artistic attacking participant, and Duda additionally has his moments of thought of aggression, so this recreation promised to be attention-grabbing and probably unconventional. The primary couple of strikes had been an ordinary Taimanov variation, earlier than leaving any trodden path by transfer 7. Positively an unconventional begin. A curious 8… g6 by Rapport in an try to fianchetto appeared weird with conference ordinarily indicating to not fianchetto in case your pawn is on d6 (as Rapport’s was). Duda pressed laborious, and nonetheless within the opening had a substantial benefit. Rapport needed to tread fastidiously; in some traces misplaying led to compelled mates in 9. Rapport did certainly tread fastidiously, and by the middlegame Duda’s momentum had largely fizzled out. A cagey recreation of cat and mouse ensued, with the principle probabilities and the bishop pair with Duda. However, Duda couldn’t construct up the identical dominance he’d achieved within the opening, maybe as a result of nerves – being his first Candidates match, and did not convert the sport with it ending in a draw.
https://lichess.org/research/450dtcgH/rWfcVLE2
Credit score: Maria Emelianova
Liren opted for the English, 1. c4, a probably explosive opening. The gamers went down a line much less traveled early on, with Liren sustaining the everyday small benefit white has within the opening. By transfer 20, going into the middlegame, Nepomniachtchi had nullified Liren’s slight benefit and truly constructed up a small considered one of his personal. Nepomniachtchi constructed up his assault, getting his items coordinated on excellent squares for an eventual g5 push to use a possible weak point of his opponent on h4. A couple of strikes later, Nepomniatchi was able to push g5 and Liren misplayed permitting a crushing assault on his king. A clearly upset and disillusioned Liren tried to play on and confuse the place, however just a few strikes later may solely resign.
Credit: Stev Bonhage / FIDE
An all-American showdown as Candidates veteran Caruana performed Nakamura who just lately got here out from an OTB hiatus with a collection of 2850+ performances. They’re additionally no strangers to one another, with no less than 46 encounters (barely in Caruana’s favour by 1 win). Caruana opened 1. e4 and Nakamura opted for the Berlin Protection line, made well-known by Kramnik as a constant drawing line for black. A flurry of exchanges within the centre launched some rigidity however left Nakamura with a scary trying pawn construction and assault on the kingside. Chilly-blooded Caruana stared it down, mitigating the assault and breaking it down – with Nakamura now trying dangerously overextended. A collection of cautious maneuvering strikes later, Caruana had a transparent benefit and with classical surgical style it was solely a matter of time earlier than Nakamura was dispatched.
Radjabov just lately has appeared to have a stoop in type so it was troublesome to know what to anticipate from him. Likewise, Firouzja has been getting ready away from the chess circuit with little or no current play, like some sort of Kung Fu grasp meditating in solitude. General, the sport gave the impression to be a bit of nervy from Firouzja, maybe easing himself again into the saddle. Firouzja gave the impression to be pushing extra for a win, and at phases Radjabov gave the impression to be extra on the backfoot, however finally Radjabov’s defenses had been ample, or Firouzja’s assaults weren’t fairly urgent sufficient, and neither appeared at any critical danger of dropping. In a theoretically drawn place, Radjabov performed it out a bit of however Firouzja wasn’t going to slide up and the 2 gamers agreed to a draw.
https://lichess.org/research/450dtcgH/9ESwbJbk
Credit: Stev Bonhage / FIDE
Spherical 2 of the Candidates match begins at 13:00 UTC. Watch it stay on Lichess.