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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Leonard Barden

Chess: Carlsen secures narrow victory at Stavanger in possible last classical hurrah

Magnus Carlsen takes on Gukesh Dommaraju in Stavanger
Magnus Carlsen (left) finished head of the standings by only half a point in Stavanger. Photograph: Carina Johansen/EPA

Magnus Carlsen, the world No 1, squeaked home in the tightest of finishes at Stavanger on Friday night after his Indian rival, the world champion, Gukesh Dommaraju, had missed his chance to draw with the US champion Fabiano Caruana and had instead fallen into a knight fork of his queen and rook.

Final scores were Carlsen ­(Norway) 16; Caruana (US) 15.5; Gukesh (India) 14.5; Hikaru Nakamura (US) 14; Arjun Erigaisi (India) 13; Wei Yi (China) 9.5. In his final Armageddon game, Carlsen blundered into mate in two against Erigaisi in mid-board in a drawn position, although that did not affect the standings.

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