Alireza Firouzja may only be 20 years old, but he was a veteran against 17-year-old Gukesh Dommaraju. Under the pressure of the clock, which had caused the Frenchman so much trouble since the start of the competition, the young Indian lost when a victory would have allowed him to take sole control of the tournament. Beaten after making a hasty mistake despite having maneuvered well during the game, he collapsed in front of the chessboard for long seconds.
Nepomniachtchi still in the lead
This precious point, while not allowing “Firou” to climb back up the rankings (2.5/7), should enable him to forget his catastrophic start to the tournament as a rest day looms. He has nothing left to lose, and miracles can happen…
With a draw against Hikaru Nakamura, Ian Nepomniachtchi continues to lead the way.
