Ding vs Hikaru Rd 14 Candidates 2022...

[supersharp77]

Candidates 2022 Final Round..The Stage was Set...Magnus Carlsen May Not wish to defend his title so If Hikaru can finish 2nd He stood a good chance of Playing a World Championship Match If Carlsen Vacates (Magnus has until July 20th to notify FIDE) Hikaru Nakamura would have the black Pieces..A draw or a win in this final game would send the World Famous GM and Twitch & Internet Sensation into clear second place...A loss Puts China's Ding Liren into Clear Second!!..


[Event "FIDE Candidates 2022"]
[Site "Madrid ESP"]
[Date "2022.07.04"]
[Round "14.3"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D40"]
[WhiteElo "2806"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[Annotator "Ross-SF Ipman Se3"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2022.06.17"]

[pgn]1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 ?! {Hikaru said his intention was a Semi Tarrash..
.Better may have been a queens Indian Grunfeld or a QGD?!!..I'm sure Fischer
would have played for a win in This game..(at least for a while)...} 4. Nc3 c5
5. e3 Nc6 6. a3 dxc4 ?! (6... cxd4 7. Nxd4 Be7 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10.
Bd2 O-O 11. e4 $14) 7. Bxc4 a6 (7... cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bd7 9. O-O Rc8 10. Nf3 Be7
11. e4 O-O {Symmetry Favors White especially with no/few piece trades...}) 8.
Bd3 b5 ?! {Per Mr A's chess channel this move last played by Ed Lasker in 1913.
.(Quite a long time ago)} (8... cxd4 9. Nxd4 Nxd4 10. exd4 Bd7) 9. dxc5 Bxc5
10. b4 ! Be7 (10... Bd6 11. O-O Bb7 12. Bb2 O-O 13. Qe2 Rc8 14. Rac1 Ne5 $1 {
Time to trade...} 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 16. f4 Bd6 17. e4 !? e5 18. Nxb5 ! Rxc1 19.
Rxc1 exf4 20. e5 {Not a draw line..no doubts!}) 11. O-O Bb7 12. Bb2 O-O 13. Ne4
Nxe4 14. Bxe4 f5 !? (14... Bf6 ! 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Qd6 Rac8 17. Ne5 !? Qxe5
18. Qxe5 Nxe5 19. Bxb7 Rb8 20. Be4 f5 ! {
This looks to be a drawing line...Yep..} 21. Bc2) 15. Bb1 Qxd1 16. Rxd1 Rfd8
17. Ba2 Kf7 18. h4 {Computer thinks its weakening..} h6 ?! {This move lo
oks weakening...meanwhile white is restricting black all over the board!!} (
18... a5 ! 19. bxa5 Rxa5 20. Rxd8 Nxd8 21. Ng5+ Kg6 22. Nxe6 Nxe6 23. Bxe6
Bxh4 24. Bd7 Be7 ) 19. Rdc1 ?! (19. Rac1 Rxd1+ 20. Rxd1 Rd8 21. Rxd8
Bxd8 {This position looks to be a DEAD DRAW!!!!!}) 19... Bd6 (19... Rac8 !
20. Rc2 Nxb4 ? (20... Bf6 21. Bxf6 Kxf6 22. Rac1 Rd3 ! 23. Rc3 Nxb4 !
24. Rxc8 Nxa2 25. Rf8+ Ke7 26. Rc7+ Kxf8 27. Rxb7) 21. Rxc8 Rxc8 22. Ne5+
Ke8 23. axb4 Rc2 24. Bd4) 20. Rc2 Ne7 (20... a5 21. bxa5 Rxa5 22. Rd2 Raa8 23.
Rad1 Bxa3 24. Bxa3 Rxd2 25. Rxd2 Rxa3 26. Rd7+ Kf6 27. Bxe6 ! Kxe6 28. Rxb7
Ra1+ 29. Kh2 b4 30. Rxg7 Ra2 31. Rg6+ Kd5 32. Kg3 b3 33. Rxh6 Rc2 34. Rh7 b2
35. Rb7 Kc4 36. Ne1 Re2) 21. Nd4 Bd5 22. Bxd5 Nxd5 23. Rac1 Rd7 24. Nb3 Be7 (
24... Nb6 ! {Closes the C file for the doubled rooks!!} 25. Na5 h5 ! {
Whites pawn never gets to h5!!!!!} 26. Bd4 Nd5 27. Nc6 Ne7 28. Be5 Nxc6 29.
Bxd6 Rxd6 30. Rxc6 Rd3 ! ) 25. h5 Bf6 26. Bd4 e5 ?! (26... Bxd4 27. Nxd4
Rd6 28. Rc6 Rad8 ! {A Dead Draw....!!!}) 27. Bc5 Bd8 (27... g6 ! 28.
hxg6+ Kxg6 29. Rd2 ) 28. Rd2 Nf6 (28... Bg5 29. Na5 Ke6 ! {Active King!!!})
29. Rxd7+ Nxd7 30. Rd1 Nf6 31. Bd6 Ng4 (31... Nxh5 !? 32. Bxe5 Be7 33. Nd4 Rd8)
32. Bc5 Bh4 (32... Nf6 33. Bd6 e4 34. Nd4 Nxh5 35. Nxf5 Ke6 36. g4 Nf6 37.
Nxg7+ Kf7 38. Nf5 Nxg4 39. Bf4 Kg6 40. Ng3 Nf6 41. Rd6 Kf7 42. Rc6 Be7 43. Bxh6
Rg8 44. Rxa6 Nh5 45. Kh2 Nxg3 46. fxg3 Rg6 $1 47. Rxg6 Kxg6 48. Bf4 Kf5 49. Kh3
Bf6 50. g4+ Ke6 51. g5 Bb2 52. Kg4 Bxa3 53. g6 Bxb4 54. Be5 Bd2 55. Bd4 b4 56.
Kg5 b3 57. Kh6 Bxe3+ 58. Bxe3 b2 59. g7 Kf7 60. Kh7 b1=Q 61. g8=Q+ Kf6) 33.
Rd7+ Kg8 34. g3 Bg5 35. Kf1 Bd8 36. Rb7 f4 37. gxf4 exf4 38. e4 Bf6 39. Nd4 Re8
40. Kg2 Ne5 41. Nf5 f3+ 42. Kg3 Nc4 43. Be7 Bb2 44. Kxf3 Bxa3 45. Kg3 Ne5 46.
Bc5 Nf7 47. f3 Bc1 48. Ra7 Bd2 49. Rxa6 Be1+ 50. Kg2 Bc3 51. Ra7 Ng5 52. Ne7+
Kh8 53. Ng6+ Kg8 54. Ne7+ Kh8 55. Nd5 Bb2 56. Ra2 Bc1 57. Rc2 Ba3 58. Be3 1-0

[/pgn]

and with This Loss Hikaru Finishes Tied for 3rd Place!!

The One That Got Away!!

[Chessqueen]

Candidates 2022 Final Round..The Stage was Set...Magnus Carlsen May Not wish to defend his title so If Hikaru can finish 2nd He stood a good chance of Playing a World Championship Match If Carlsen Vacates (Magnus has until July 20th to notify FIDE) Hikaru Nakamura would have the black Pieces..A draw or a win in this final game would send the World Famous GM and Twitch & Internet Sensation into clear second place...A loss Puts China's Ding Liren into Clear Second!!..


[Event "FIDE Candidates 2022"]
[Site "Madrid ESP"]
[Date "2022.07.04"]
[Round "14.3"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D40"]
[WhiteElo "2806"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[Annotator "Ross-SF Ipman Se3"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2022.06.17"]

[pgn]1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 ?! {Hikaru said his intention was a Semi Tarrash..
.Better may have been a queens Indian Grunfeld or a QGD?!!..I'm sure Fischer
would have played for a win in This game..(at least for a while)...} 4. Nc3 c5
5. e3 Nc6 6. a3 dxc4 ?! (6... cxd4 7. Nxd4 Be7 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10.
Bd2 O-O 11. e4 $14) 7. Bxc4 a6 (7... cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bd7 9. O-O Rc8 10. Nf3 Be7
11. e4 O-O {Symmetry Favors White especially with no/few piece trades...}) 8.
Bd3 b5 ?! {Per Mr A's chess channel this move last played by Ed Lasker in 1913.
.(Quite a long time ago)} (8... cxd4 9. Nxd4 Nxd4 10. exd4 Bd7) 9. dxc5 Bxc5
10. b4 ! Be7 (10... Bd6 11. O-O Bb7 12. Bb2 O-O 13. Qe2 Rc8 14. Rac1 Ne5 $1 {
Time to trade...} 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 16. f4 Bd6 17. e4 !? e5 18. Nxb5 ! Rxc1 19.
Rxc1 exf4 20. e5 {Not a draw line..no doubts!}) 11. O-O Bb7 12. Bb2 O-O 13. Ne4
Nxe4 14. Bxe4 f5 !? (14... Bf6 ! 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Qd6 Rac8 17. Ne5 !? Qxe5
18. Qxe5 Nxe5 19. Bxb7 Rb8 20. Be4 f5 ! {
This looks to be a drawing line...Yep..} 21. Bc2) 15. Bb1 Qxd1 16. Rxd1 Rfd8
17. Ba2 Kf7 18. h4 {Computer thinks its weakening..} h6 ?! {This move lo
oks weakening...meanwhile white is restricting black all over the board!!} (
18... a5 ! 19. bxa5 Rxa5 20. Rxd8 Nxd8 21. Ng5+ Kg6 22. Nxe6 Nxe6 23. Bxe6
Bxh4 24. Bd7 Be7 ) 19. Rdc1 ?! (19. Rac1 Rxd1+ 20. Rxd1 Rd8 21. Rxd8
Bxd8 {This position looks to be a DEAD DRAW!!!!!}) 19... Bd6 (19... Rac8 !
20. Rc2 Nxb4 ? (20... Bf6 21. Bxf6 Kxf6 22. Rac1 Rd3 ! 23. Rc3 Nxb4 !
24. Rxc8 Nxa2 25. Rf8+ Ke7 26. Rc7+ Kxf8 27. Rxb7) 21. Rxc8 Rxc8 22. Ne5+
Ke8 23. axb4 Rc2 24. Bd4) 20. Rc2 Ne7 (20... a5 21. bxa5 Rxa5 22. Rd2 Raa8 23.
Rad1 Bxa3 24. Bxa3 Rxd2 25. Rxd2 Rxa3 26. Rd7+ Kf6 27. Bxe6 ! Kxe6 28. Rxb7
Ra1+ 29. Kh2 b4 30. Rxg7 Ra2 31. Rg6+ Kd5 32. Kg3 b3 33. Rxh6 Rc2 34. Rh7 b2
35. Rb7 Kc4 36. Ne1 Re2) 21. Nd4 Bd5 22. Bxd5 Nxd5 23. Rac1 Rd7 24. Nb3 Be7 (
24... Nb6 ! {Closes the C file for the doubled rooks!!} 25. Na5 h5 ! {
Whites pawn never gets to h5!!!!!} 26. Bd4 Nd5 27. Nc6 Ne7 28. Be5 Nxc6 29.
Bxd6 Rxd6 30. Rxc6 Rd3 ! ) 25. h5 Bf6 26. Bd4 e5 ?! (26... Bxd4 27. Nxd4
Rd6 28. Rc6 Rad8 ! {A Dead Draw....!!!}) 27. Bc5 Bd8 (27... g6 ! 28.
hxg6+ Kxg6 29. Rd2 ) 28. Rd2 Nf6 (28... Bg5 29. Na5 Ke6 ! {Active King!!!})
29. Rxd7+ Nxd7 30. Rd1 Nf6 31. Bd6 Ng4 (31... Nxh5 !? 32. Bxe5 Be7 33. Nd4 Rd8)
32. Bc5 Bh4 (32... Nf6 33. Bd6 e4 34. Nd4 Nxh5 35. Nxf5 Ke6 36. g4 Nf6 37.
Nxg7+ Kf7 38. Nf5 Nxg4 39. Bf4 Kg6 40. Ng3 Nf6 41. Rd6 Kf7 42. Rc6 Be7 43. Bxh6
Rg8 44. Rxa6 Nh5 45. Kh2 Nxg3 46. fxg3 Rg6 $1 47. Rxg6 Kxg6 48. Bf4 Kf5 49. Kh3
Bf6 50. g4+ Ke6 51. g5 Bb2 52. Kg4 Bxa3 53. g6 Bxb4 54. Be5 Bd2 55. Bd4 b4 56.
Kg5 b3 57. Kh6 Bxe3+ 58. Bxe3 b2 59. g7 Kf7 60. Kh7 b1=Q 61. g8=Q+ Kf6) 33.
Rd7+ Kg8 34. g3 Bg5 35. Kf1 Bd8 36. Rb7 f4 37. gxf4 exf4 38. e4 Bf6 39. Nd4 Re8
40. Kg2 Ne5 41. Nf5 f3+ 42. Kg3 Nc4 43. Be7 Bb2 44. Kxf3 Bxa3 45. Kg3 Ne5 46.
Bc5 Nf7 47. f3 Bc1 48. Ra7 Bd2 49. Rxa6 Be1+ 50. Kg2 Bc3 51. Ra7 Ng5 52. Ne7+
Kh8 53. Ng6+ Kg8 54. Ne7+ Kh8 55. Nd5 Bb2 56. Ra2 Bc1 57. Rc2 Ba3 58. Be3 1-0

[/pgn]

and with This Loss Hikaru Finishes Tied for 3rd Place!!

The One That Got Away!!

I believe that Carlsen might just let GM Nepo and GM Ding Liren play for the Title, and rest for one year and come back as the highest rated candidate for Next year, But if that happens I put my money on GM Ding Liren to beat GM Nepo

[jdart]

GM Nakamura played quite well in this event. In the last game, he said he got a little overconfident, played a little too fast, and made some inaccuracies. He was playing against one of the world's best players, so you don't get a lot of second chances. This was a very high level event: every player in it is dangerous and can beat anyone on a good day.

[Chessqueen]

Candidates 2022 Final Round..The Stage was Set...Magnus Carlsen May Not wish to defend his title so If Hikaru can finish 2nd He stood a good chance of Playing a World Championship Match If Carlsen Vacates (Magnus has until July 20th to notify FIDE) Hikaru Nakamura would have the black Pieces..A draw or a win in this final game would send the World Famous GM and Twitch & Internet Sensation into clear second place...A loss Puts China's Ding Liren into Clear Second!!..


[Event "FIDE Candidates 2022"]
[Site "Madrid ESP"]
[Date "2022.07.04"]
[Round "14.3"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D40"]
[WhiteElo "2806"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[Annotator "Ross-SF Ipman Se3"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2022.06.17"]

[pgn]1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 ?! {Hikaru said his intention was a Semi Tarrash..
.Better may have been a queens Indian Grunfeld or a QGD?!!..I'm sure Fischer
would have played for a win in This game..(at least for a while)...} 4. Nc3 c5
5. e3 Nc6 6. a3 dxc4 ?! (6... cxd4 7. Nxd4 Be7 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10.
Bd2 O-O 11. e4 $14) 7. Bxc4 a6 (7... cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bd7 9. O-O Rc8 10. Nf3 Be7
11. e4 O-O {Symmetry Favors White especially with no/few piece trades...}) 8.
Bd3 b5 ?! {Per Mr A's chess channel this move last played by Ed Lasker in 1913.
.(Quite a long time ago)} (8... cxd4 9. Nxd4 Nxd4 10. exd4 Bd7) 9. dxc5 Bxc5
10. b4 ! Be7 (10... Bd6 11. O-O Bb7 12. Bb2 O-O 13. Qe2 Rc8 14. Rac1 Ne5 $1 {
Time to trade...} 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 16. f4 Bd6 17. e4 !? e5 18. Nxb5 ! Rxc1 19.
Rxc1 exf4 20. e5 {Not a draw line..no doubts!}) 11. O-O Bb7 12. Bb2 O-O 13. Ne4
Nxe4 14. Bxe4 f5 !? (14... Bf6 ! 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Qd6 Rac8 17. Ne5 !? Qxe5
18. Qxe5 Nxe5 19. Bxb7 Rb8 20. Be4 f5 ! {
This looks to be a drawing line...Yep..} 21. Bc2) 15. Bb1 Qxd1 16. Rxd1 Rfd8
17. Ba2 Kf7 18. h4 {Computer thinks its weakening..} h6 ?! {This move lo
oks weakening...meanwhile white is restricting black all over the board!!} (
18... a5 ! 19. bxa5 Rxa5 20. Rxd8 Nxd8 21. Ng5+ Kg6 22. Nxe6 Nxe6 23. Bxe6
Bxh4 24. Bd7 Be7 ) 19. Rdc1 ?! (19. Rac1 Rxd1+ 20. Rxd1 Rd8 21. Rxd8
Bxd8 {This position looks to be a DEAD DRAW!!!!!}) 19... Bd6 (19... Rac8 !
20. Rc2 Nxb4 ? (20... Bf6 21. Bxf6 Kxf6 22. Rac1 Rd3 ! 23. Rc3 Nxb4 !
24. Rxc8 Nxa2 25. Rf8+ Ke7 26. Rc7+ Kxf8 27. Rxb7) 21. Rxc8 Rxc8 22. Ne5+
Ke8 23. axb4 Rc2 24. Bd4) 20. Rc2 Ne7 (20... a5 21. bxa5 Rxa5 22. Rd2 Raa8 23.
Rad1 Bxa3 24. Bxa3 Rxd2 25. Rxd2 Rxa3 26. Rd7+ Kf6 27. Bxe6 ! Kxe6 28. Rxb7
Ra1+ 29. Kh2 b4 30. Rxg7 Ra2 31. Rg6+ Kd5 32. Kg3 b3 33. Rxh6 Rc2 34. Rh7 b2
35. Rb7 Kc4 36. Ne1 Re2) 21. Nd4 Bd5 22. Bxd5 Nxd5 23. Rac1 Rd7 24. Nb3 Be7 (
24... Nb6 ! {Closes the C file for the doubled rooks!!} 25. Na5 h5 ! {
Whites pawn never gets to h5!!!!!} 26. Bd4 Nd5 27. Nc6 Ne7 28. Be5 Nxc6 29.
Bxd6 Rxd6 30. Rxc6 Rd3 ! ) 25. h5 Bf6 26. Bd4 e5 ?! (26... Bxd4 27. Nxd4
Rd6 28. Rc6 Rad8 ! {A Dead Draw....!!!}) 27. Bc5 Bd8 (27... g6 ! 28.
hxg6+ Kxg6 29. Rd2 ) 28. Rd2 Nf6 (28... Bg5 29. Na5 Ke6 ! {Active King!!!})
29. Rxd7+ Nxd7 30. Rd1 Nf6 31. Bd6 Ng4 (31... Nxh5 !? 32. Bxe5 Be7 33. Nd4 Rd8)
32. Bc5 Bh4 (32... Nf6 33. Bd6 e4 34. Nd4 Nxh5 35. Nxf5 Ke6 36. g4 Nf6 37.
Nxg7+ Kf7 38. Nf5 Nxg4 39. Bf4 Kg6 40. Ng3 Nf6 41. Rd6 Kf7 42. Rc6 Be7 43. Bxh6
Rg8 44. Rxa6 Nh5 45. Kh2 Nxg3 46. fxg3 Rg6 $1 47. Rxg6 Kxg6 48. Bf4 Kf5 49. Kh3
Bf6 50. g4+ Ke6 51. g5 Bb2 52. Kg4 Bxa3 53. g6 Bxb4 54. Be5 Bd2 55. Bd4 b4 56.
Kg5 b3 57. Kh6 Bxe3+ 58. Bxe3 b2 59. g7 Kf7 60. Kh7 b1=Q 61. g8=Q+ Kf6) 33.
Rd7+ Kg8 34. g3 Bg5 35. Kf1 Bd8 36. Rb7 f4 37. gxf4 exf4 38. e4 Bf6 39. Nd4 Re8
40. Kg2 Ne5 41. Nf5 f3+ 42. Kg3 Nc4 43. Be7 Bb2 44. Kxf3 Bxa3 45. Kg3 Ne5 46.
Bc5 Nf7 47. f3 Bc1 48. Ra7 Bd2 49. Rxa6 Be1+ 50. Kg2 Bc3 51. Ra7 Ng5 52. Ne7+
Kh8 53. Ng6+ Kg8 54. Ne7+ Kh8 55. Nd5 Bb2 56. Ra2 Bc1 57. Rc2 Ba3 58. Be3 1-0

[/pgn]

and with This Loss Hikaru Finishes Tied for 3rd Place!!

The One That Got Away!!

Why don't you let Stockfish evaluate the accuracy of play of both players, GM Ding Liren is Known as a player that can squeeze water out of a Rock = (get an advantage out of an even position)

[AndrewGrant]

GM Nakamura played quite well in this event. In the last game, he said he got a little overconfident, played a little too fast, and made some inaccuracies. He was playing against one of the world's best players, so you don't get a lot of second chances. This was a very high level event: every player in it is dangerous and can beat anyone on a good day.

Nakamura 's recap of the game:
And the prior game vs Duda:

Unfortunate game for Nakamura. Although he does not believe Magnus will skip town. And I can't imagine he would be happy picking up the title by playing Nepo. instead of Magnus.

[CornfedForever]

Why don't you let Stockfish evaluate the accuracy of play of both players, GM Ding Liren is Known as a player that can squeeze water out of a Rock = (get an advantage out of an even position)

WHY on Earth would one do that? That would be 'lazy'. Anybody could do that.

[Ajedrecista]

Hello:

Reading the PGN comments, I was impressed by 8.- ..., b5 'this move last played by Ed Lasker in 1913'. The game is the following one:

Speijer, Abraham (0 — 1) Lasker, Edward. Scheveningen (The Netherlands), 1913.

I also looked at the First Edition (1976) of the Volume D of the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, ECO D40, note 37 (mainline at page 190 and note at page 192): 8.- ..., cxd4 is suggested in the mainline, while note 37 says '8.- ..., b5; 9.- Ne4 (white stands slightly better)'. SF 15 favours 9.- dxc5 at depth 29 in a quick analysis, but please keep in mind that the note is from 1976.

------------

If white goes with 8.- O-O instead of 8.- Bd3, the same ECO Volume gives many examples with 8.- ..., b5 at note 36 (page 192) and different continuations:

• Maroczy — Lasker. London, 1899.

• Lasker — Maroczy. London, 1899.

• Holmov — Matulović. Sochi, 1964.

• Pirc — O'Kelly. Belgrade, 1952.

• Talj — Kozma. Vienna, 1957.

• Ivkov — Hulak. Yugoslavia (championship), 1976.

• Schlechter — Maroczy. Vienna, 1907.

• Savon — Rojzman. USSR, 1966.

------------

Regards from Spain.

Ajedrecista.

[Chessqueen]

GM Nakamura played quite well in this event. In the last game, he said he got a little overconfident, played a little too fast, and made some inaccuracies. He was playing against one of the world's best players, so you don't get a lot of second chances. This was a very high level event: every player in it is dangerous and can beat anyone on a good day.

Nakamura 's recap of the game:
And the prior game vs Duda:

Unfortunate game for Nakamura. Although he does not believe Magnus will skip town. And I can't imagine he would be happy picking up the title by playing Nepo. instead of Magnus.

I believe that Carlsen is waiting for GM Nepo to raise his rating above 2800 before he tell the World that he will defend his title, Nepo only needs 8 more Elo

[supersharp77]

GM Nakamura played quite well in this event. In the last game, he said he got a little overconfident, played a little too fast, and made some inaccuracies. He was playing against one of the world's best players, so you don't get a lot of second chances. This was a very high level event: every player in it is dangerous and can beat anyone on a good day.

Nakamura 's recap of the game:
And the prior game vs Duda:

Unfortunate game for Nakamura. Although he does not believe Magnus will skip town. And I can't imagine he would be happy picking up the title by playing Nepo. instead of Magnus.

I believe that Carlsen is waiting for GM Nepo to raise his rating above 2800 before he tell the World that he will defend his title, Nepo only needs 8 more Elo

[IS IT POSSIBLE THAT NAKAMURA DIDN"T WANT TO FINISH SECOND?} "A Convenient Last Round Loss?"
Lots of Hot Breaking News Today.....Magnus Vacates His Title https://unibet.me/MagnusEffect Leaving Nepo and Ding Liren to organize & play a 12 game match for the World Chess Championship...I myself was not suprised at all.. it was a hot topic in the chatrooms while the Candidates Tourney was going on and it was on the minds of the announcers in the playing hall and also FIDE made a decision during the tourney & issued a DEADLINE of JULY 20th (Today!) Today
Gotham Chess Expressed Total Shock at Magnus Decision https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3n4RLxaitg
Hikaru Nakamura's Reaction was even more interesting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZUq6k3bY68 He claimed that actually Fabiano Caruana who was the early leader could have easily won the tourney if he was sure second place was enough to obtain a WC Match! Hikaru also insisted that He and Carlsen were the worlds Foremost Chess players and that if he (Nakamura) had finished second Carlsen then certainly would have not given up his title but would have agreed to play the match!! My Thought today is "Is it better to be a World famous Internet Streamer/Personality or to be World Chess Champion with all the pressures & Responsibilities?!?" The Whole Situation seemed to Hinge on that Ding vs Hikaru Game 14 result .My Question is Could the Public tell if these top GrandMasters Deliberatly lost or threw away a game? How would we know?