GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov swept each matches vs. GM Hjorvar Gretarsson to extend his lead in group A of the 2022 Fischer Random World Championship on Wednesday. GM Magnus Carlsen additionally received two matches to hitch Hikaru Nakamura―who was held to tied matches vs. GM Vladimir Fedoseev―within the lead of group B.

The the ultimate day of the group stage, together with a much-anticipated Nakamura vs. Carlsen rematch, takes place on Thursday, October 27, beginning at 8 a.m. PT / 17:00 CEST.

How to observe?

Unlike the day past, the beginning place assorted extra from common chess with just one piece on the same old sq.: the f-bishop. 

Let’s check out the main options:

• Each facet has an undefended pawn on the a-file.
• The king and d-rook begin in a queenside castled place: Will the gamers decide to save lots of time and depart these the place they’re?
• The bishops start close to the middle, that means they purpose on the edges.
• The laptop analysis is +0.19

There are two main approaches to Fischer Random openings:

A) Steer the place to as near an everyday chess place as shortly as potential, putting your pawns within the middle and specializing in the everyday opening rules.

B) Use the distinctive options of the place to place early stress in your opponent, specializing in opening diagonals on your bishops and unconventional growth to launch assaults on on surprising weak factors. 

In Fedoseev vs. Nakamura, our Game of the Day (annotations to be added quickly), we see these two approaches face off in opposition to one another with Fedoseev making an attempt to steer the sport to regular seas whereas Nakamura labored to unbalance the sport and create uncommon counterplay. 

GM Ian Nepomniachtchi opted for a bishop-focused response to GM Wesley So‘s option to open the middle with 1…d5, resulting in a dynamic conflict.

Nepomniachtchi and So tied the primary match, every successful one sport. Nepomniachtchi swept the second match to achieve second in group A, heading into the final day of this stage. 

The spherical 4 preliminary place additionally had solely piece on the everyday sq.: the h-rook. 

What else will we discover about this setup?

• The d-pawn is undefended.
• The king and f-rook begin in a kingside castled setup. This appears helpful count on that it leaves the h-rook buried within the nook with little entry to the middle. Will gamers push their h-pawns to activate it, regardless that this opens the kingside?
• One bishop begins within the nook, able to purpose by means of the middle down one of many lengthy diagonals as quickly because the b-pawn advances. 
• The different bishop begins within the middle and can seemingly take longer to affect the sport. 
• The laptop analysis is +0.25, the primary place of the group stage to be barely extra unbalanced than the common setup.

Is Fischer Random opening idea starting to develop? Five strikes into the sport Carlsen and Abdusattorov had the very same place enjoying white. 

There’s a constant logic behind the best way that Carlsen and Abdusattorov arrange their items: prioritizing lengthy diagonals for his or her bishops and queens. Despite a picturesque opening place, each gamers discovered themselves with difficult positions within the middlegame. Abdusattorov managed to combat again for the win in a tactical slutfest vs. Gretarsson.

Winning all of his matches thus far, Abdusattorov has reached an optimum rating of eight factors (two factors per match win) with two rounds to go.

Carlsen’s middlegame from the identical place was characterised by a curious longterm rook maneuver the place the h-rook sat on h5 for 16 strikes earlier than swinging to the queenside to win a weak pawn. Despite having a difficult place, Carlsen fought again vs. Bluebaum, holding a draw within the double knight ending down a pawn. 

Carlsen’s two match victories vs. Bluebaum helped him bounce again from his loss to Nakamura the day past, tying for first together with his rival. The two are set to face one another once more within the last spherical. 

Nakamura and Fedoseev tied each matches, drawing each sport, however with no lack of combating spirit and thrilling play. So lots of their video games have been near decisive, together with their fourth one of many day the place Nakamura fought shot Rxf5!, but Fedoseev bounced again and held the sport anyway. 

Group Stage Day 2 Standings