The Azerbaijani grandmaster confirmed his expertise and managed to equalize early. However, stellar play from Firouzja reminded viewers why he’s the world’s fourth-best participant. After creating exercise of out skinny air, the Frenchman took the purpose.

Dominguez was the one different winner in spherical one, managing to knock over Nakamura after lodging a knight on f5 early. Displeased with the well-placed steed, Nakamura snapped off the knight and was left with a positionally misplaced ending. Dominguez compelled additional liquidation and transformed the ensuing rook and pawn ending up a pawn.

Despite the unfavorable outcome, Nakamura nonetheless made a recap video analyzing all of his video games performed this spherical.

Off the again of a dominant victory within the 2022 Chess.com Rapid Chess Championship, GM Ian Nepomniachtchi appeared to be on the hunt for imbalance towards the event’s lowest seed, Xiong, however the American teen confirmed he was able to compete with one of the best. Despite shedding the initiative within the middlegame, resolute protection shone by means of and the sport was drawn in 87 strikes!

In the second spherical, Firouzja proved that lightning can the truth is strike twice, this time rubbing salt within the wounds of one of many pre-tournament favorites, Nakamura, to maintain his rating good. The seven-time Brazilian chess champion GM Rafael Leitao has unpacked the motion beneath in our Game of the Day.

After returning to the turf of his legendary run within the Sinquefield Cup of 2014, Caruana entered with excessive hopes for the occasion however was surprised in spherical two by an impressed Xiong. Looking to make his mark as a wildcard entrant, Xiong employed the English Opening: Carls-Bremen, Symslov System and garnered an early benefit.

Unable to take care of a rampant bishop pair, Caruana clung for expensive life to the endgame and hoped to exert some score stress however was ultimately dropped at his knees by the 21-year-old.

Tame attracts had been agreed to by Shankland and Dominguez, in addition to Nepomniachtchi and Vachier-Lagrave, who had been cautious to not jeopardize their event early amidst a number of early upsets. Mamedyarov chosen the Trompowsky Attack as a shock opening towards Aronian, which he used to rout GM Viswanathan Anand in 2019 in Paris, however was met with satisfactory preparation and agreed to a draw after 34 strikes.

The remaining spherical of the day fittingly featured essentially the most chaotic chess as gamers appeared to complete on a excessive. Nakamura discovered his ft and trumped Aronian with the black items in a wonderful show of positional prowess. Curiously, by the twenty third transfer. Aronian was strapped with a pair of doubled, remoted pawns which ended up contributing to his undoing, capping off solely a second win for the black items throughout all the day’s video games, and the primary for Nakamura.

Vachier-Lagrave was the opposite participant to choose up his first full level after overcoming Mamedyarov. The sport appeared by all counts to be heading for a draw as the 2 fell into time bother earlier than the Azerbaijani GM blundered a checkmate in two, taking part in 56. …Kh6?? and instantly resigning.

Xiong and Dominguez duked it out to see if both participant may end the day with two wins, however good kind met good kind and neither participant might be outdone, leaving each on stable 2/3 scores. Caruana was not within the temper to press towards Nepomniachtchi after a tough first day and traded right into a bishop versus bishop and knight ending that he simply drew.

The Berlin Defense is just not precisely recognized for its venom from both facet, although the sport between Firouzja and Shankland was a tactical slugfest round transfer 20 and by no means returned to normality. Firouzja put all of his religion in a pair of related handed pawns, even permitting Shankland to advertise. With a draw by repetition turning into the most definitely outcome, a trio of blunders swung the analysis bar like a pendulum, ultimately settling at lifeless heart with perpetual checks.

An thrilling first day that left Firouzja as the only chief on 2.5/3 leaves a hungry chasing pack with work to do on day two. Tune in on Saturday to see which gamers ascend as they vie for the trophy and share of the $175,000 prize fund.

All Games Day 1

Standings

The 2022 Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz is the fourth leg of the 2022 Grand Chess Tour and the final of its pace chess occasions. Players compete in a 10-player speedy (25+10) round-robin and a 10-player blitz (5+2) double round-robin for his or her share of a $175,000 prize fund. 

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