Status quo maintained in Medias

Hikaru Nakamura
Three draws in the fourth round kept the leader board as it was with Carlsen still half-a-point ahead. Today he soon obtained a pull with black against Sergey Karjakin, but it was insufficient for victory.

A steady day with no decisive results doesn't mean that the players weren't seeking the full point.

Nakamura maintained an edge after the opening against Ivanchuk's sideline in the Nimzo-indian. He was even able to win a pawn, but Black was too active and he never looked like making any progress.

The same could be said for Carlsen (who won a pawn) against Karjakin (who was sufficient active to be in any danger).

Nisipeanu played cautiously against Radjabov's Schliemann defence and Black equalized comfortably. Opposite bishops led to the players abandoning any hopes of winning.

At club level the Schliemann (or Jänisch) Defence is an aggressive weapon, but at this level it is used quite successfully by Radjabov and others to nullify White's opening advantage.

White

Black Result Moves ECO Opening
Sergey Karjakin Magnus Carlsen ½-½ 35 B12 Caro Kann Advanced
Hikaru Nakamura Vassily Ivanchuk ½-½ 49 E40 Nimzo-Indian Rubinstein
Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu Teimour Radjabov ½-½ 31 C63 Spanish Schliemann

Tomorrow (Wednesday) there will be the fifth round, and then there follows a rest day before the sixth round on Friday.

Standing  Name (World Ranking) Country Rating Age C C I I K K Na Na Ni Ni R R Score so far
1 Magnus Carlsen (2) NOR 2815 20 * * . ½ . ½ 1 . . . ½ .
2= Vassily Ivanchuk (5) UKR 2776 42 ½ . * * . . . ½  . 0 1 . 2
2= Sergey Karjakin (6) RUS 2776 21 ½ . . . * * ½ . . ½ . ½ 2
2= Hikaru Nakamura (8)  USA 2774 23 0 . ½ . . ½ * * 1 . . . 2
2= Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu (81)  ROU 2659 34 . . 1 . ½ . . 0 * * ½ . 2
6 Teimour Radjabov (13) AZE 2744 24 . ½ 0 . ½ . . . . ½ * *

The previous results were as follows.

The official site gives more information, plus the possibility of following the games live

http://www.turneulregilor.com/

The games begin at 3.30 pm local time.

The games will be played from the 11th to 15th and from the 17th to 21st of June.


Published on , Updated on