D Gukesh returns to form with win over Fabiano Caruana

World champion D Gukesh defeated Fabiano Caruana in the final round of the Super Rapid and Blitz Tournament rapid section in Warsaw to finish tied fourth. American Hans Niemann emerged surprise winner, while Gukesh expressed hope ahead of the upcoming blitz rounds

Warsaw (Poland): World champion D Gukesh defeated American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana in the ninth and final round to finish tied fourth in the rapid section of the Super Rapid and Blitz Tournament here, marking a welcome return to form after struggling over the past few months.

The Indian is tied fourth with 18 more rounds to come in the blitz section, which follows the rapid event.

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The 19-year-old Gukesh had started the final day of the rapid section with a loss to French Grandmaster Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and then drew with Vladimir Fedoseev of Slovenia in the penultimate round.

Wild card American Hans Moke Niemann once again proved his detractors wrong by emerging as the surprise winner of this section with 13 points. Niemann edged out compatriot Wesley So by a full point, with the latter finishing second ahead of Fedoseev on 11 points.

“My rapid event was inconsistent. I was playing well, but I missed a few chances. There were also games where I was in trouble and managed to save. The tournament could have been better,” Gukesh told ‘Saint Louis Chess Club’.

Gukesh, Caruana and Jan-Krzysztof Duda of Poland tied for the fourth spot on nine points each and the main battle is likely to be among these six players once the blitz competition begins.

“In blitz, all you have to do is play fast and pray. That’s going to be my strategy,” he said.

Gukesh got into some initial trouble against Caruana, who played the black side of a Benoni Defence. The American won a pawn in the early middle game, but Gukesh kept himself in the hunt by creating counterplay on the queenside.

It was on the 38th move that Caruana made a decisive error, overlooking a small tactic that allowed Gukesh to win a rook for a bishop. The rest was a matter of technique and the Indian won after another 11 moves.

Results after round 9 with points: D Gukesh (Ind, 9) beat Fabiano Caruana (USA, 9); Radoslav Wojtaszek (Pol, 5) drew with Hans Moke Niemann (USA, 13); Vladimir Fedoseev (Slo, 11) beat Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (Fra, 8); Javokhir Sindarov (Uzb, 8) drew with Alireza Firouzja (Fra, 6); Jan-Krzysztof Duda (Pol, 9) drew with Wesley So (USA, 12).