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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport

Chess: Carlsen edges towards minimalist victory as Covid strikes at Wijk

Chess 3800
3800: Vladimir Fedoseev v Magnus Carlsen, world rapid championship, Riyadh 2017. White to move and draw. Fedoseev chose 1 Ke2? a3 when the knight could not stop Black’s a pawn. A Russian grandmaster should have known the standard drawing trick in this and similar positions. Can you score the half point for White? Photograph: The Guardian

Magnus Carlsen is edging towards a minimalist victory at Tata Steel Wijk aan Zee this weekend after the world champion failed to convert a winning rook endgame in round 11 against Vidit Gujrathi on Friday, The India No 2’s accurate defence forced a draw by perpetual check in 51 moves after both players queened a pawn.

Carlsen has Black against his old rival Fabiano Caruana in Saturday’s 12th and penultimate round, and will then receive a free point in his final game after Daniil Dubov withdrew from the tournament suffering from Covid.

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