Giri jested that his “babysitting expertise” was useful for Saturday’s match as he took down the 15-year-old world-beater Sadhwani in simply three video games. High hopes have been dashed for Sadhwani who was seen as one among Giri’s greatest contenders on his aspect of the draw.

Babysitting expertise paying off!😅🙈 https://t.co/PJjLqQZCLO

— Anish Giri (@anishgiri) September 24, 2022

Giri performed a few of the most spectacular chess seen within the championship up to now en path to a 3-0 drubbing, together with a bruising Sicilian Defense the place he blasted open Sadhwani’s kingside with completely timed twin bishop sacrifices. GM Rafael Leitao has unpacked our recreation of the day.

Ding in hassle early towards GM Andrey Esipenko who cleanly outplayed his opponent within the first recreation however was capable of clap again within the third as the 2 steamed in direction of a 2-2 end result. Needing to be cut up by an armageddon recreation, Ding embraced the chaos and emerged from the “deep darkish forest” with a match win.

Although Ding gained his round-of-16 encounter, the world speedy champion Abdusattorov was not as lucky in his match towards Ponkratov. The first 4 video games have been positional struggles, and the 2 traded blows till additionally they attain an armageddon decider. Ponkratov opted for the Vienna Game: Max Lange, Vienna Gambit and went for the throat. The recreation was a messy one however in the end led to favor of the underdog.

The anticipated match between Kramnik and Sarin didn’t disappoint. An image of solidity, the 2 seamlessly liquidated complicated positions into drawn ones. After two attracts, the third recreation gave the impression to be heading for a similar end result earlier than the previous world champion made an inexplicable blunder on transfer 59. 

Kramnik was left shaking his head and let his time run right down to zero.

Nakamura continued in his bid to turn out to be the inaugural Chess.com Global Champion with a 2.5-0.5 win towards Czech GM David Navara. The victory was some of the snug of the day, and the event’s prime seed will really feel assured heading into his round-16 match towards GM Leinier Dominguez.

Aronian was additionally a category above his opponent of GM Maxim Matlakov and squeezed him in two consecutive endgames to take the match 3-1.

Aronian squeezes water from stone, successful a recreation that was inches away from a threefold repetition! 😮#ChesscomGlobal pic.twitter.com/NZjkI48zBv

— ChesscomLive (@ChesscomLive) September 24, 2022

Three attracts started some of the thrilling matchups of the day and by recreation 4 with few cracks showing, Nepomniachtchi and Svidler happy the followers and agreed to a fast draw to be able to settle the match in probably the most thrilling means attainable, armageddon.

Svidler stunned Nepomniachtchi early with the Great Snake, Adorjan Defense towards the English Opening, a protection performed simply over 100 instances in historic grasp video games. At a number of factors all through the sport, Svidler discovered himself with affordable benefits however was unable to interrupt by way of Nepomniachtchi’s staunch protection. With time dwindling and no increment to save lots of him, Svidler desperately tried to safe a draw by threefold repetition however ran out of time. 

The match was an in depth save for Nepomniachtchi who will now face the winner of GMs Teimour Radjabov and Arjun Erigaisi within the spherical of 16.

Round of 32 Scoreboard

Round of 32 Bracket