Monday 27 June 2022

Bad luck or bad prep?

 Round 7 of the 2022 Candidates Tournament saw a strange game between Rapport and Nepomnichtchi. Nepo played a line in the Petroff where Black sacrifices a rook, but draws by perpetual check soon afterwards. However Rapport rejected the first repetition, although this simply forced Nepo to aim for another repetition a few moves later. However, when Rapport avoided the second repetition, he ended up losing his queen for insufficient compensation, with a loss to show for his trouble.

After the game Rapport suggested it was the result of poor preparation, although this move he played was already known to be bad. But not only did this game effect Nepo's standings, it also had an effect on Caruana, who could not believe what he was seeing. Although both Nepo and Caruana won in round 7, the unexpected win for Nepo may have played on Caruan's mind, as he lost to Nakamura in Round 8.


Rapport,Richard (2764) - Nepomniachtchi,Ian (2766) [C42]
FIDE Candidates Tournament chess24.com (7.1), 25.06.2022


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