It is tough at the top

After 3 rounds of the 2015 Qatar Masters, only 2 players are left on a perfect score. Anish Giri and Li Chao have won all their games, and play in tonight's 4th round. As for the other players in the field, points and half points have been dropped in various ways.
The first round saw two interesting results on the top boards. World Champion Magnus Carlsen drew with WGM Nino Batsiashvili in a game where Batsiashvili made Carlsen work hard for the draw. Wei Yi had a nightmare finish to his game against IM Shardul Gagare, resigning in a position where he could have still played on. Round 2 saw Vladimir Kramnik draw with GM Kacper Piorun on board 1, while round 3 saw a number of draws, including GM David Howell halving the point with Wesley So.
Of the top players, Anish Giri looks in good form (continuing his run from the London Chess Classic) and beat Radoslaw Wojtaszek in a game that had a nice finish. Normally the ending sees rooks at their strongest, but with the very clever 60.Bd7, Giri reduced the mobility of his opponents rook almost to zero, and forced an immediate resignation.


Giri,Anish (2784) - Wojtaszek,Radoslaw (2723) [B91]
Qatar Masters Open 2015 Doha QAT (3.1), 22.12.2015

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g3 e5 7. Nde2 Be7 8. Bg2 b5 9. Nd5 Nbd7 10. Nec3 Nb6 11. Nxe7 Qxe7 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. a4 bxa4 15. Nxa4 Nxa4 16. Rxa4 O-O 17. O-O Bd7 18. Ra5 Rfb8 19. b3 Rb5 20. Qd2 Rxa5 21. Qxa5 Qd8 22. Qxd8+ Rxd8 23. Rd1 Bc6 24. Ra1 Ra8 25. Ra5 Bb7 26. f3 Rc8 27. Ra2 Rc5 28. Kf2 a5 29. Bf1 Kf8 30. Ke3 d5 31. exd5 Bxd5 32. c4 Be6 33. Kd2 Ke7 34. Bd3 f5 35. h4 g5 36. hxg5 hxg5 37. Kc3 Kf6 38. Ra1 Bc8 39. Rh1 Kg7 40. Rh5 Kg6 41. Rh8 Kg7 42. Rd8 Kf6 43. Rd6+ Be6 44. Ra6 Ke7 45. Rb6 Kf7 46. Ra6 Ke7 47. Be2 Kf7 48. g4 Ke7 49. Rb6 Kf7 50. Rd6 Ke7 51. Ra6 fxg4 52. fxg4 Kf7 53. Ra7+ Kf6 54. Bf3 Bf7 55. Ra6+ Ke7 56. Bc6 Be6 57. Bb5 Bxg4 58. Rxa5 Bf3 59. Ra7+ Kf6 60. Bd7 1-0