18 June 2022

Second Round of FIDE Candidates Tournament Played in Madrid

Ian Nepomniachtchi and Fabiano Caruana drew their game.

Photo: FIDE / Stev Bonhage
Photo: FIDE / Stev Bonhage


The second round of the FIDE Candidates Tournament was played in Madrid on 18 June. The central game of the day between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Fabiano Caruana turned out to be rather sharp: White sacrificed two pawns for the initiative; however, Black didn't go for the most principled line in a very complex position, and after that, a draw by repetition followed. 

Hikaru Nakamura defeated Teimour Radjabov in a tough struggle with the white pieces. Jan-Krzysztof Duda and Ding Liren drew their game. Richard Rapport didn't find the winning continuation in a rook endgame against Alireza Firouzja, and their encounter ended in a draw as well. 

 

 
Standings after Round 2:

1-2. Fabiano Caruana, Ian Nepomniachtchi - 1.5
3-6. Alireza Firouzja, Richard Rapport, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Hikaru Nakamura - 1
7-8. Ding Liren, Teimour Radjabov - 0.5.

Round 3 pairings:

Ding - Rapport, Caruana - Duda, Radjabov - Nepomniachtchi, Firouzja - Nakamura.

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