The twelfth spherical of the Candidates Match in Madrid has concluded. Ian Nepomniachtchi has all however mathematically sealed the win on this match with a simple draw right this moment. He sits 2 factors forward of the sector with 2 rounds remaining. The battle for second place, and the opportunity of a hand-me-down World Championship spot from Magnus is nowhere close to as resolved. Hikaru Nakamura and Ding Liren are presently tied for second place with Fabiano Caruana and Teimour Radjabov solely a half-point behind.

Every day, Lichess is offering a broadcast of the video games performed in real-time. We even have a number of annotated video games by GM Ulvi Bajarani and video recaps by WGM-elect Jesse February.

Ian Nepomniachtchi – Hikaru Nakamura ½ – ½

You’ll be able to’t blame them, are you able to? Are you able to?!

This sport was the now notorious quick Berlin draw. The head of GM draw expertise, designed to be Sofia-rules resistant. I don’t argue that this kind of factor is sweet for the occasion or for chess on the whole, I merely don’t blame the gamers. Nepomniachtchi is now centimeters from qualifying for a World Championship match, and yet one more straightforward draw after it will put him by means of. Nakamura may have tried to win and nonetheless caught Nepomniachtchi in first place, however his higher possibilities appear to be in aiming for second place and an apathetic Magnus. Wins are useful for that objective too, however he might favor to attempt to win towards gamers who aren’t presently dominating the match.

Credit: FIDE/Stev Bonhage

Liren Ding – Teimour Radjabov 0 – 1

The Nimzo-Indian isn’t usually the kind of opening that offers you possibilities to blow your opponent off the board rapidly, nevertheless it’s the character of the sport that you simply’re by no means too removed from catastrophe, and a catastrophe this sport was for Ding Liren. He appeared unprepared for the 8..Na6 line that Radjabov selected, and already had some issues round transfer 15. Ding postpone castling to try to cope with these issues and ultimately had to surrender on the chance fully. Radjabov completed the sport off in type with 21… Rxe3 and Ding resigned as quickly as the sport may not be referred to as a “miniature,” on transfer 26.

Credit: FIDE/Stev Bonhage

Richard Rapport – Fabiano Caruana ½ – ½

This sport was one other lengthy maneuvering Berlin, which appears to be the most well-liked kind of sport on this match. Rapport was getting the higher of issues however Caruana didn’t crack and managed to discover a tactical sequence that traded all the way down to a drawn endgame. 

Credit: FIDE/Stev Bonhage

Jan-Krzysztof Duda – Alireza Firouzja ½ – ½

The one 2 gamers who’re in all probability already eradicated from profitable something helpful performed one another in a little bit of anti-serendipity. The opening was superficially thrilling till you notice that the sacrifice performed on transfer 17 has been performed many instances earlier than and is mostly agreed to be a draw.  Firouzja broke away from principle on transfer 22 and doubtless regrets it. All of it appeared like a callback to Firouzja’s sport vs Nepomniachtchi the place doubtful kingside lunges solely poked holes in his personal place. Nonetheless, Duda didn’t handle the wild tactical positions that adopted fairly as properly, and let the complete level slip away. The gamers agreed to a draw on transfer 41.