The tie at the top was broken today as Fabiano Caruana won a critical game against Ian Nepomniachtchi to emerge as the sole leader with 3.0/4. Meanwhile, Rapport drew with So, while Firouzja picked up his first win of the event, defeating Deac with Black.

DING - DUDA | 1/2-1/2, 38 moves

Once again, the new World Champion did not achieve much with White, as he tried a rare idea in the Catalan. Duda had few problems equalizing as he forced several trades, with the players eventually landing in a drawn bishop endgame.

Ding came up with an interesting idea, though it was quickly neutralized by Duda. | Photo courtesy of Grand Chess Tour, Lennart Ootes

VACHIER-LAGRAVE - GIRI | 1/2-1/2, 40 moves

In a unique choice, Vachier-Lagrave went for the Scotch Opening, and perhaps got a small edge as the players reached the endgame early on. Despite his slightly worse structure, Giri defended well, as MVL couldn't create any real chances with his rook and knight against Black's rook and bishop, and the game was soon drawn by repetition.

MVL surprised Giri with the Scotch, but it only earned him an edge on the clock. | Photo courtesy of Grand Chess Tour, Lennart Ootes

RAPPORT - SO | 1/2-1/2, 48 moves

In one of two battles between the leaders, Rapport opted for the English Opening but was not able to generate much pressure in a reverse Sicilian structure. So mostly played in the center, made several exchanges, and then comfortably held the ensuing endgame.

So was never in trouble today. | Photo courtesy of Grand Chess Tour, Lennart Ootes

DEAC - FIROUZJA | 0-1, 41 moves

Coming out of a Slav Defense, there were a few issues with Deac's position, but heavy time trouble caused him to slip and allow serious counterplay going into the first time control. Firouzja seized his chance nicely as he activated his pieces to swarm around White's king.

41...Qf3! forced resignation, as 42...Rc2-+ is coming next.

Firouzja  was ruthless in his execution today. | Photo courtesy of Grand Chess Tour, Lennart Ootes

CARUANA - NEPOMNIACHTCHI | 1-0, 70 moves

The marquee game of the round saw Caruana run into a well-prepared Nepomniachtchi in a typical isolated queen pawn position. Although the position was objectively equal, Nepo started to drift into problems as he ended up on the worse side of a queen + bishop against queen + knight endgame. From there Caruana started to show excellent technique, grinding Nepomniachtchi down as he first picked up a pawn, and then a second pawn before giving the material back to force a winning counter-attack.

After 68.Qc1, Caruana got the decisive advantage as 68...Bxb5 is met with 69.Qc7++-, winning a piece.

"This is a very, very important game," said Caruana. | Photo courtesy of Grand Chess Tour, Lennart Ootes

The 2023 Superbet Chess Classic continues Wednesday, May 10, with tournament action live starting at 7:20 AM CT with Grandmaster commentators Yasser Seirawan, Var Akobian, Cristian Chirila and International Master Nazi Paikidze on grandchesstour.org and on the Saint Louis Chess Club’s YouTube and Twitch.tv channels.

Text: IM Kostya Kavutskiy

Photos: Courtesy of Grand Chess Tour and Spectrum Studios; Credits available on Flickr.

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Venue: 
Grand Hotel Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
May 6 - May 15, 2023 

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