Freestyle Chess Tour Paris Quarter-finals Highlights: Erigaisi vs Nakamura ends in a draw, Carlsen beats Nodirbek

After a marathon battle, Hikaru Nakamura and Arjun Erigaisi have agreed to a draw in their classical game. The final position on the board features opposing kings and a lone pawn each, with no realistic winning chances for either side.

1. e4, f5, 2. exf5, g6, 3. fxg6, Nxg6, 4. g3, e5, 5. f4, exf4, 6. gxf4, Qh8, 7. Ne2, d5, 8. f5, Ne5, 9. d3, Nd6, 10. Nd4, Rg8, 11. Ng3, Bf6, 12. Ne6, Nc6, 13. c3, d4, 14. c4, h5, 15. c5, Nc8, 16. Qf2, N8e7, 17. Ne4, Nd5, 18. Bd2, Bd7, 19. Bb3, Ne3, 20. Rg1, Rxg1+, 21. Qxg1, Be5, 22. Qf2, a5, 23. Ba4, Ka7, 24. Bxc6, Bxc6, 25. N4g5, Qf6, 26. a4, Qxf5, 27. Qxf5, Nxf5, 28. h3, Ne3, 29. Nf7, Re8, 30. Nxe5, Rxe6, 31. Nxc6+, Rxc6, 32. Bxe3, dxe3, 33. d4, b6, 34. Kc2, bxc5, 35. dxc5, Rg6, 36. Kd3, Rg3, 37. h4, Rh3, 38. Re1, Rxh4, 39. Rxe3, Rxa4, 40. Re6, Rg4, 41. Rh6, h4, 42. Kc2, Kb7, 43. Kb3, c6, 44. Ka3, Rc4, 45. b3, Rg4, 46. Kb2, Rg2+, 47. Ka3, Rh2, 48. b4, axb4+, 49. Kxb4, h3, 50. Kb3, Rh1, 51. Kb2, h2, 52. Ka2, Kc7, 53. Kb2, Kd7, 54. Ka2, Ke7, 55. Kb2, Kf7, 56. Ka2, Kg7, 57. Rh3, Kg6, 58. Rh8, Kf5, 59. Kb2, Ke4, 60. Rh7, Kd4, 61. Rh5, Kc4, 62. Ka2, Kc3, 63. Rh4, Rd1, 64. Rxh2, Rd2+, 65. Rxd2, Kxd2, 66. Kb3, Kd3, 67. Kb2, Kd4, 68. Kb3, Kxc5, 69. Kc3, Kb5, 70. Kb3, c5, 71. Kc3, c4, 72. Kc2, Kb4, 73. Kb2, c3+, 74. Kc2, Kc4, 75. Kc1, Kb3, 76. Kb1, c2+, 77. Kc1, Kc3

Richard Rapport has scored an impressive win over Gukesh in a dominant endgame display. Rapport sealed the deal with over 2:52 still on his clock, while Gukesh lost with 1:41 remaining.

1. a4, a5, 2. e4, f5, 3. exf5, g6, 4. g4, gxf5, 5. gxf5, Nd6, 6. Qxg8, Rxg8, 7. Ng3, Nhf7, 8. Ra3, c6, 9. Rf3, Nh6, 10. d3, Rf8, 11. Rg1, Bc7, 12. f6, e6, 13. Nb3, b6, 14. Bd2, Nhf5, 15. Ne4, Bg6, 16. Rh3, Ne8, 17. Bc3, Nfd6, 18. Nbd2, Nxe4, 19. Nxe4, O-O-O, 20. Rh6, Bf4, 21. Rh4, e5, 22. d4, exd4, 23. Bxd4, Bc7, 24. Be2, c5, 25. Bc3, Bxe4, 26. Rxe4, Nxf6, 27. Rh4, Rde8, 28. Ba6+, Kd8, 29. Bxf6+, Rxf6, 30. Rxh7, Be5, 31. Rgg7, Rd6, 32. Rf7, Bf6, 33. c3, Kc7, 34. Kc2, Rh8, 35. h4, Rxh7, 36. Rxh7, Be5, 37. Bb5, Bf4, 38. Rf7, Rd2+, 39. Kb3, Rxf2, 40. h5, Be3, 41. Rxd7+, Kc8, 42. Rh7, Rf6, 43. Be2, Kd8, 44. Kc4, Ke8, 45. Rb7, Bc1, 46. b3, Bd2, 47. Bd3, Kf8, 48. Be4, Kg8, 49. Rd7, Be1, 50. Rd1, Bf2, 51. Kb5, Kg7, 52. c4, Bd4, 53. Bc6, Bc3, 54. Kxb6, Bb4, 55. Rd5, Rh6, 56. Rf5, Re6, 57. Rxc5, Bxc5+, 58. Kxc5, Kf8, 59. Bd5, Rh6, 60. Kb5, Rxh5, 61. Kxa5, Ke7, 62. Kb6, Kd7, 63. a5, Rh6+, 64. Kb7, Kd6, 65. b4

Magnus Carlsen has secured a clean and convincing victory over Nodirbek Abdusattorov in their quarter-final clash. With 2:31 still on the clock, Carlsen never looked in danger and outplayed the young Uzbek prodigy in the final phase.

1. d4, f5, 2. f3, g5, 3. e4, Ng6, 4. Ng3, Nd6, 5. b3, e5, 6. d5, h5, 7. c4, h4, 8. Nxf5, Nxf5, 9. exf5, Ne7, 10. Ne2, Nxf5, 11. Bc2, d6, 12. O-O-O, b6, 13. h3, Bg6, 14. Bf2, Bf6, 15. Rfe1, Qg7, 16. Be4, a5, 17. Nc3, Nd4, 18. Bxg6+, Qxg6, 19. Ne4, a4, 20. b4, Bg7, 21. Qf1, a3, 22. Qd3, Bh6, 23. Bxd4, exd4, 24. Kc2, g4, 25. fxg4, O-O, 26. Re2, Rae8, 27. Rde1, Be3, 28. Nd2, Qf7, 29. b5, Bxd2, 30. Qxd2, Rxe2, 31. Rxe2, Qf1, 32. Qg5+, Kh8, 33. Qxh4+, Kg8, 34. Qg5+, Kh8, 35. Qh6+, Kg8, 36. Qg6+, Kh8, 37. Qd3, Qa1, 38. Kb3, Rf1, 39. Rd2, Rf4, 40. Kxa3, Qc1+, 41. Ka4, Re4, 42. Rf2, Re3, 43. Rc2, Qa1, 44. Qd2, Qb1, 45. Qxd4+, Re5, 46. Re2, Kg8, 47. Qd2, Qf1, 48. Rxe5, Qxc4+, 49. Ka3, dxe5, 50. Qg5+, Kf7, 51. Qf5+, Kg8, 52. Qg6+, Kh8, 53. Qh6+, Kg8, 54. Qe6+, Kf8, 55. Qf6+, Kg8, 56. Qxe5, Qd3+, 57. Kb4, Qb1+, 58. Kc4, Qxa2+, 59. Kd4, Qa4+, 60. Ke3, Qxb5, 61. Qe6+, Kg7, 62. Qe7+, Kg6, 63. Qxc7, Qxd5, 64. Qxb6+, Kg5, 65. Qd4, Qb3+, 66. Ke2, Qb5+, 67. Kf2, Qb7, 68. Qe5+, Kg6, 69. h4, Qb4, 70. Kg3

1. e4, f5, 2. exf5, g6, 3. fxg6, Nxg6, 4. g3, e5, 5. f4, exf4, 6. gxf4, Qh8, 7. Ne2, d5, 8. f5, Ne5, 9. d3, Nd6, 10. Nd4, Rg8, 11. Ng3, Bf6, 12. Ne6, Nc6, 13. c3, d4, 14. c4, h5, 15. c5, Nc8, 16. Qf2, N8e7, 17. Ne4, Nd5, 18. Bd2, Bd7, 19. Bb3, Ne3, 20. Rg1, Rxg1+, 21. Qxg1, Be5, 22. Qf2, a5, 23. Ba4, Ka7, 24. Bxc6, Bxc6, 25. N4g5, Qf6, 26. a4, Qxf5, 27. Qxf5, Nxf5, 28. h3, Ne3, 29. Nf7, Re8, 30. Nxe5, Rxe6, 31. Nxc6+, Rxc6, 32. Bxe3, dxe3, 33. d4, b6, 34. Kc2, bxc5, 35. dxc5, Rg6, 36. Kd3, Rg3, 37. h4, Rh3, 38. Re1, Rxh4, 39. Rxe3, Rxa4, 40. Re6, Rg4, 41. Rh6, h4, 42. Kc2, Kb7, 43. Kb3, c6, 44. Ka3, Rc4, 45. b3, Rg4, 46. Kb2, Rg2+, 47. Ka3, Rh2, 48. b4, axb4+, 49. Kxb4, h3, 50. Kb3, Rh1, 51. Kb2, h2, 52. Ka2, Kc7, 53. Kb2, Kd7, 54. Ka2, Ke7, 55. Kb2, Kf7, 56. Ka2, Kg7, 57. Rh3, Kg6, 58. Rh8, Kf5, 59. Kb2, Ke4, 60. Rh7, Kd4, 61. Rh5, Kc4, 62. Ka2, Kc3

In a tightly contested game, Vincent Keymer and Ian Nepomniachtchi have agreed to a draw after a well-balanced endgame.  Keymer, with 6:53 remaining on his clock, showed composure against Nepomniachtchi, who had a massive time lead with 49:06.

Arjun Erigaisi is keeping the pressure on in a tense middlegame, Time could be a factor, though, Arjun is down to 4:34, while Hikaru Nakamura still has 15:21 on the clock.

1. e4, f5, 2. exf5, g6, 3. fxg6, Nxg6, 4. g3, e5, 5. f4, exf4, 6. gxf4, Qh8, 7. Ne2, d5, 8. f5, Ne5, 9. d3, Nd6, 10. Nd4, Rg8, 11. Ng3, Bf6, 12. Ne6, Nc6, 13. c3, d4, 14. c4, h5, 15. c5, Nc8, 16. Qf2, Be7, 17. Qe4, Qd7, 18. Qd2, Qd5, 19. Be3, Ne3, 20. Rg1, Rxg1+, 21. Nxg1, Qe5, 22. Qxa4, a5, 23. Qa7, Rxa7, 24. Bxc6

Magnus Carlsen has a clear upper hand here, with evaluations around +2.10 in his favour. Carlsen has significantly more time on the clock, 27:47 vs 4:44, giving him a major practical edge. Magnus has been clinical with a 92.7 accuracy score, compared to Nodirbek Abdusattorov’s 87.6.

Vidit Gujrathi currently holds a dominant edge over Praggnanandhaa, with a positional evaluation around –3.03 in Vidit’s favour. Vidit has maintained an impressive 97.9% accuracy, compared to Praggnanandhaa’s 88.8%.

Arjun Erigaisi currently holds a significant edge over Hikaru Nakamura, with a positional evaluation around +1.50 in Erigaisi’s favour. Erigaisi has maintained a 94.8% accuracy, compared to Nakamura’s 88.4%.

Magnus Carlsen currently holds a clear edge over Nodirbek Abdusattorov, with a positional evaluation around +1.56 in Carlsen’s favour. Carlsen has maintained a 96.1% accuracy, compared to Abdusattorov’s 89.5%.

The evaluation bar suggests +1.0 to +1.5 in Rapport’s favour. Gukesh slightly behind.

1. a4, a5, 2. e4, f5, 3. exf5, g6, 4. g4, gxf5, 5. gxf5, Nbd6, 6. Qxg8, Rxg8, 7. Ng3, Nf7, 8. Ba3, c6, 9. Rf3, Nh6, 10. d3, Rf8, 11. Ng1, Qc7, 12. f6, e6, 13. Nb3

Magnus Carlsen currently holds a slight edge over Nodirbek Abdusattorov, with a positional evaluation around +0.50 in his favor. Carlsen has maintained a 95.0% accuracy, compared to Abdusattorov’s 93.2%.

Moves so far….

1. d4, f5, 2. f3, g5, 3. e4, Ng6, 4. Bg5, d6, 5. b3, e5, 6. d5, h5, 7. c4, h4, 8. Bxf5, Nxf5, 9. exf5, Qe7, 10. Ne2, Qxf5, 11. Nc3, d6, 12. Qd2, b6, 13. O-O-O, b6, 14. h3, Qg6, 15. Bf2, Bf6, 16. Rde1, O-O-O, 17. Be3, Rdg8, 18. Qxg6

Arjun Erigaisi holds a slight edge over Hikaru Nakamura, boasting a 94.8% accuracy compared to Nakamura’s 90.3%.

1. a4, a5
2. e4, f5
3. exf5, g6
4. g4, gxf5
5. gxf5, Nd6
6. Qxg8, Rxg8
7. Ng3, Nf7
8. Ra3, c6
9. Rf3, Nh6
10. d3

Carlsen has a slight edge, but it’s still early and relatively balanced.

1. d4, f5,
2. f3, g5,
3. e4, Bg6,
4. Ng3, Nd6,
5. b3, e5,
6. d5, h5,
7. c4, h4,
8. Nxf5, Nxf5,
9. exf5, Ne7,
10. Ne2

1. a4, a5,
2. e4, f5,
3. exf5, g6,
4. g4, gxf5,
5. gxf5, Nd6,
6. Qxg8, Rxg8,
7. Ng3, Nf7,
8. Ra3, c6,
9. Rf3, Nh6

1. e4, f5

2. exf5, g6

3. fxg6, Nf6

4. g3, e5

5. f4, exf4

6. gxf4, Qh8

7. Ne2, d5

8. f5, Ne5

9. d3

These are the moves so far in Erigaisi vs Nakamura game

Live view of the Gukesh vs Rapport game in the semifinals of the 9-12 classification round.

Carlsen has built this nice defensive structure with the help of his pawns but Nodirbek has Knights in position to cause some damage.

Pawn exchange on f4.

All the moves so far:

1.e4 f5
2. exf5 g6
3. fxg6 Nxg6
4. g3 e5
5. f4 exf4
6. gxf4 Qh

For those who love the Rapid format, the knockouts are going to take some time. The matches are now being played under CLassical time control.

Meanwhile, Ng3 is on the board by Carlsen. Take a look at the moves and board position from his match.

By the way, it’s Gukesh vs Rapport and Praggnanandhaa vs Gujrathi in the semi-finals of the 9-12 classification round.

Gukesh is playing with black pieces against Rapport.

Here’s a live view of both boards.

Erigaisi plays g3 on the fourth move after Nakamura’s Nxg6.

All the moves so far:

1. 1.e4 f5
2. exf5 g6
3. fxg6 Nxg6
4. g3

Maxime started with e4, same as Arjun, followed by Caruana playing f5 on the first attempt.

Erigaisi captures Nakamura’s pawan on f5 followed by another pawn capture on g6 before Nakamura uses his dark-coloured Knight to remove the White pawn.

All the moves so far:

1.e4 f5
2. exf5 g6
3. fxg6 Nxg6

Erigaisi captures Nakamura’s pawan on f5 followed by another pawn capture on g6 before Nakamura uses his dark-coloured Knight to remove the White pawn.

All the moves so far:

1.e4 f5
2. exf5 g6
3. fxg6 Nxg6

Magnus plays d4 as his first move with the White pieces against Abdusattorov.

Opening moves for other players:

Erigaisi plays e4 vs Nakamura…American GM plays f5 with Erigaisi capturing it with 2.exf5.

Keymer plays d4 vs Ian — Russian replies with d5

Maxime starts with e4 vs Caruana

Erigaisi kicks off the quarter-finals with e4…. Nakamura on the clock now. The Indian GM is one of the first to begin his match while others are still thinking.

The randomised back positions for the quarter-finals have been revealed.

There will be two games in a quarter-final tie followed by tiebreakers. In case of tiebreakers, a playoff with rapid and blitz games, followed by an Armageddon game, will determine the winner.

The quarter-finals will be played in Classical time control.

Time control for knockouts:

Knockout stage: Game 1+2 = 90’+30’’ / Game 3+4 = 10’+10’’ / Game 5+6 = 5’+2’’ / Game 7 = Armageddon