Nepo to challenge Magnus Carlsen again

New Delhi, July 3

Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia earned the right to challenge world chess champion Magnus Carlsen by drawing with Hungarian GM Richard Rapport in Round 13 of the 2022 Candidates Tournament in Madrid today. Nepomniachtchi has 9 points, with five wins and eight draws.

Hungary’s Rapport initiated the Taimanov Sicilian, with Nepo choosing a solid variation for white. After a balanced game, the two players drew by repetition and the Russian gained an unassailable lead in the tournament. Nepomniachtchi won the tournament with a round to spare as the draw with Rapport took the Russian beyond the reach of his closest pursuers, Hikaru Nakamura and Ding Liren.

This is Nepomniachtchi’s second consecutive victory in the Candidates Tournament. He had been beaten 7.5-3.5 by Carlsen in the World Championship match in December last year. Reacting to Nepomniachtchi’s win, Carlsen said: “He was criminally underrated by pundits and betting odds, but I still thought that Ding or Fabiano were even bigger favourites. But kudos, he’s done really well!”