Qatar Masters 2023 R5: S L Narayanan displaces India no.1 Gukesh, gains sole lead
16/10/2023 - GM S L Narayanan defeated the India no.1 and World no.8 GM D Gukesh to emerge sole leader at Qatar Masters 2023. The India no.8 got a great position early in the middlegame and kept posing difficult questions to his opponent. It liquidated into a queen endgame which only computer can play precisely and save the day. Gukesh is human and he erred which allowed Narayanan to win the game and move to 4.5/5. A dozen players are trailing him at 4/5 each. The World no.1 GM Magnus Carlsen (NOR) bounced back by scoring a victory over GM Bharath Subramaniyam H. IM Vaishali R continues her impressive unbeaten run. She defeated 44th Olympiad Gold medalist, GM Shamsiddin Vokhidov (UZB) to move to 4/5. Today is a rest day. Round 6 starts tomorrow at 3 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. Photos: Aditya Sur Roy