Carlsen Catches Nakamura In Qatar

World number-one Magnus Carlsen exploited a blunder by IM Samant Aditya S to win a third game in four rounds and catch GM Hikaru Nakamura, who was held to a draw by GM David Paravyan. With three rounds to go the favorites are half a point behind a four-player leading pack, after GM Narayanan Sunilduth Lyna drew and was caught by GMs Arjun Erigaisi, Javokhir Sindarov, and Nodirbek Yakubboev. 

Round seven starts on October 18 at 8:15 a.m. ET/14:15 CEST/5:45 p.m. IST.

Time is running out in Qatar, and with just three rounds to go after round six the pressure was on the top players who had suffered setbacks to win on demand and stay in contention for the top places. Many of them managed.

We saw bounce-back wins, with GM Gukesh Dommaraju inflicting a first loss of the event on his Indian countrywoman IM Vaishali Rameshbabu, who put up a great fight but missed some chances in time trouble. Number-three seed GM Anish Giri also hit back from a first loss to defeat Algerian GM Bilel Bellahcene in a game that felt like a total refutation of White's sacrifice of a piece for three pawns—an idea first seen in 1957, but computer-disapproved. The final position was memorable.

GM Vladimir Fedoseev has now won four games in a row after his shocking 0/2 start, but the most noteworthy player who's been playing catch-up in Qatar is the top seed, Carlsen. After a defeat and a great escape in his last two games with the black pieces he returned to the ever-reliable Ruy Lopez, and outfoxed his young opponent. Aditya was tempted to swap off queens and grab the a-pawn.  

Samant goes for an endgame, perhaps seeing that he can win the e5 or a5-pawns, but it seems that will be a temporary achievement, while Carlsen has the better long-term prospects! https://t.co/WrzqLDjyVE #QatarMasters2023 pic.twitter.com/YNOYub1Hlt

— chess24.com (@chess24com) October 17, 2023

Soon, however, there was no way to defend White's a-pawn, and Carlsen emerged with a clear advantage on the board and on the clock. The pressure told, since on move 38 White tried to play an intermezzo instead of simply taking a rook, which cost both the game and some excoriating words from Nakamura: "A horrible, horrible blunder and frankly just unbelievable. To not take the rook here is something no one above 1800 should ever miss."

Nakamura again recapped that game, before looking at his own draw against Paravyan. The U.S. star explained that the fact he very nearly blundered with 28.Ne5? (when 28...f5! would have left him in trouble) threw him off balance: "As soon as you miss a one-move tactic already in your mind you’re a little bit shaky." Nakamura then missed a chance for an advantage and had to settle for forcing a draw by perpetual check.

That meant that Carlsen had caught Nakamura on 4.5/6, but both players are well-placed for the tournament finale since they're just half a point off the lead.

Narayanan, the sole leader after round five, sparked concern when he failed to show up at the start of his game against GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov. After 15 minutes he would have forfeited, but instead he appeared after seven minutes and shrugged that off to make a comfortable draw—he had one chance to press for more, but going for wild complications while leading the event was hard to justify.

That meant Narayanan could be caught, and he was—by three players. Sindarov won the battle of the 17-year-olds against GM Aditya Mittal; 21-year-old Yakubboev won another spectacular clash, this time against GM Rinat Jumabayev; and the highest-rated player to lead is 20-year-old Arjun, whose opponent's approach to the opening looked almost like a joke.

Makarian decides to start again by bringing all his pieces back to their starting position! 😀 https://t.co/MQJAsT80ix #QatarMasters2023 pic.twitter.com/iNa6XRJAvR

— chess24.com (@chess24com) October 17, 2023

As GM Dejan Bojkov explains in his Game of the Day, however, there was method to the madness, and a fascinating struggle ensued.

Afterward Arjun explained that his sacrifice of a piece for three pawns wasn't preparation, but was an idea he knew about in such positions.

Interview with GM Arjun Erigiasi from India after winning a very interesting game at Qatar Masters 2023 Round 6.

Done by @keti_chess @ArjunErigaisi #qatarmasters2023 pic.twitter.com/mbvtBLY1MG

— Qatar Chess (@QatarChess) October 17, 2023

In Wednesday's round seven the leaders will clash in Yakubboev-Arjun and Narayanan-Sindarov, while the top two seeds will face players who made a thrilling draw against each other in round six. Carlsen has White against two-time Indian Champion GM Karthikeyan Murali, while Nakamura is Black against GM Parham Maghsoodloo in what's set to be the first all-2700 clash of the tournament.

The standings look as follows with three rounds to go.

Qatar Masters | Standings After Round 6 (Top 40)

Full standings

Qatar Masters | All Games Round 6

The 2023 Qatar Masters is a nine-round open tournament for players rated 2300+. It takes place in Lusail, Qatar, on October 11-20 and boasts a $108,250 prize fund with $25,000 for first place, as well as a $5,000 prize for the top female player.

Previous Coverage:

• Round 5: Gukesh, Giri Beaten; Narayanan In Sole Lead
• Round 4: Carlsen Has Great Escape As Nakamura And Gukesh Join Leaders
• Round 3: Nakamura, Giri Held As Carlsen Hits Back
• Round 2: Carlsen Criticises Lack Of Anti-Cheating Measures After Stunning Defeat
• Round 1: Carlsen, Nakamura Start Fast, Fedoseev Falls
• Qatar Masters 2023 - All The Information