Ian Nepomniachtchi defeated the leader Nodirbek Abdusattorov
in the eighth round of the Tata Steel Masters which left
the event wide open going into the second rest day. Gukesh, Giri and Firouzja
lead on 5/8 but 6 more players are a point or less from the leaders with five rounds to go.
Nepomniachtchi inflicted a broken pawn structure on Abdusattorov
and whilst this wasn't immediately winning Abdusattorov didn't
find a way to organise his pieces and he was soon just lost.
Alireza Firouzja was gifted a point by Ding Liren in an equal
position when the World Champion missed a straightforward tactic. The remaining
game were drawn, those were Vidit-Donchenko, Warmerdam-Praggnanandhaa,
Ju Wenjun, Giri-Wei Yi and Van Foreest Maghsoodloo.
In the Challengers Marc'Andria Maurizzi leads on 5.5/8 after beating former leader Salem Salah.
Round 8 Standings:
1st= Gukesh, Giri, Firouzja 5pts,
4th= Abdusattorov, Praggnanandhaa, Vidit, Nepomniachtchi 4.5pts,
8th Wei Yi, Warmerdam 4pts,
10th= Ding Liren, Ju Wenjun 3.5pts,
12th Van Foreest 3pts,
13th= Maghsoodloo, Donchenko 2.5pts.
Round 9 23rd Jan 12pm is the away day at the AFAS Circustheater in Scheveningen
Donchenko-Firouzja,
Gukesh-Vidit,
Praggnanandhaa-Ju Wenjun,
Maghsoodloo-Warmerdam,
Abdusattorov-Van Foreest,
Wei-Nepomniachtchi,
Ding-Giri.
