Nepomniachtchi Blunders vs. Dragon, Caruana Chases Firouzja

GM Fabiano Caruana gained ground on GM Alireza Firouzja after GM Ian Nepomniachtchi made a shocking blunder at the 2024 Sinquefield Cup on Sunday. Caruana is now tied for second with GM Wesley So while Firouzja continues to have a half-point lead on the field.

GM Anish Giri was on the verge of scoring his first win of the tournament, against GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov, but the Uzbek grandmaster slipped away in the last moments.

The Sinquefield Cup will continue with round seven on Monday, August 26, at 2 p.m. ET / 20:00 CEST / 11:30 p.m. IST.  

Round 6 Results

Standings After Round 6

The players with the black pieces came to fight on Sunday. Each one aimed for lively play with dynamic choices in the opening, including a Sicilian Dragon, a Najdorf, a King’s Indian Defense, and a Grunfeld. 

Nepomniachtchi 0-1 Caruana

Caruana opted for a Dragon structure with 2...g6 in the Sicilian. In response, Nepomniachtchi eagerly dove head-first into the Yugoslav attack:

I thought probably he prepared this for Hikaru in the Candidates. He went for the most aggressive line, which is a bit unpleasant to face... I started to regret the opening choice.

I started to regret the opening choice.

―Fabiano Caruana

Nepomniachtchi continued with an idea that aims to reach a classic Yugoslav middlegame a tempo down, believing in White's attacking play regardless. Despite his confidence, on move 18―with more than the starting two hours left on his clock―he played a quick blunder. 

Ready to play in the spirit of the Dragon, Caruana pounced. Can you find how he set off his attack?

Black to move and win.

Caruana shared his experience as he calculated the winning lines:

After he played 18.g5, I just didn't understand. But I spent probably like 20 minutes because he's playing instantly. It's possible that he prepared it or something, and I should understand if I'm losing.... I looked at every individual move here to make sure. I looked at every queen move.

GM Rafael Leitao's insights on our Game of the Day are below. 

Nepomniachtchi has all the time in the world to regret his life choices... #GrandChessTour pic.twitter.com/2KpnCx8nHT

— chess24 (@chess24com) August 25, 2024

So had his own take on why Nepomniachtchi blundered:

Wesley So: "I think Ian is still recovering from losing on time against me in Croatia!" #GrandChessTour pic.twitter.com/r83D2jrKAo

— chess24 (@chess24com) August 25, 2024

Giri 1/2-1/2 Abdusattorov

Abdusattorov played aggressively against Giri’s English, launching his kingside pawns up the board. His approach backfired, though, because his pieces weren't ready to support his aggressive intentions. Giri countered by wrecking his opponent's pawn structure and heading into a much better ending. 

With so many weaknesses in the pawn structure, it looks like Nodirbek Abdusattorov is in for a tough time in this endgame vs Anish Giri. #SinquefieldCup #grandchesstour pic.twitter.com/FD3vFtUd7h

— Grand Chess Tour (@GrandChessTour) August 25, 2024

Ultimately, the Dutch grandmaster allowed his younger rival to sneak away by creating counterplay with his rook and two passers.

Gukesh 1/2-1/2 Vachier-Lagrave

In the middlegame, GM Gukesh Dommaraju spotted a clever way to win a pawn. GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave countered by building up pressure on the kingside. When the French grandmaster overlooked how to add to his attack, Gukesh initiated a slew of exchanges. Though Vachier-Lagrave continued to press, the challenger had enough counterplay in his queenside passed pawns. 

So 1/2-1/2 Firouzja

So had his shot vs. Firouzja this round, yet the tournament leader proved he was up for the challenge. In the opening, Firouzja caught So off guard with the Grunfeld Defense. So shared: 

I thought he only needed a draw, obviously, in the tournament. I didn’t expect 2…g6 at all. I didn’t prepare. Also, he had been playing …e6 with his last 30 games online.

He only needed a draw.... I didn't expect 2...g6 at all.

―Wesley So

So responded with safe, logical play, trying to gain a small edge in the ending. Yet, Firouzja countered with accurate calculation, finding the path to equality. 

Ding 1/2-1/2 Praggnanandhaa

GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu played the King’s Indian Defense, an opening where Black often aims for an all-or-nothing onslaught vs. the white king. Launching into the spirit of his notorious opening choice, the Indian prodigy sacrificed an exchange and a pawn while his pieces leaped into action. 

Yet, the world champion calmly defused his opponent’s dynamic play by instigating exchanges into an equal opposite-color bishop ending. 

In round seven, Firouzja will have white vs. the world champion. Meanwhile, Caruana will have the first move vs. the challenger. Additionally, So will play the black pieces vs. Abdusattorov, who is still hoping for his first win of the tournament. 

Round 7 Pairings

The 2024 Sinquefield Cup is the last leg and final classical event of the 2024 Grand Chess Tour. Ten players compete in a classical single round-robin for their share of a $350,000 prize fund.

Previous Coverage

• Round 5: Firouzja Leads Alone Again, Pushes Giri Out Of Top 20
• Round 4: Wesley So Joins Lead, Firouzja Has 9 Lives
• Round 3: Nepomniachtchi Catches Firouzja In Lead, Firouzja Escapes Vs. Vachier-Lagrave
• Round 2: Challengers Fight, Firouzja Keeps Lead
• Round 1: Firouzja Bests Caruana, Gains Sole Lead
• A Taste of Gukesh vs. Ding at the Grand Chess Tour Finale