Caruana extends his sole lead 10.5/12

Four games of Round 4 required Armageddon. Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov defeated D Gukesh, Anish Giri and Nodirbek Abdusattorov in Armageddon, while Wesley So drew against Aryan Tari with the black pieces. Thus, So won the match. 

D Gukesh played two thrilling games against Magnus Carlsen

Gukesh - Carlsen: 1-1.5

D Gukesh (2732) has played only one Classical rated game against Magnus Carlsen (NOR, 2853). It was earlier this year at the 85th Tata Steel Masters 2023. It ended in a draw. This time also the result was same. The game was far from easy. It reached a queen endgame after the 30th move and it lasted for another 52 moves of fight where both tryin to one up each other.

Gukesh - Carlsen, Classical

Position after 30...Qxe3+

The above complex queen endgame had a lot of tricks and threats. However, both players did not budge and it ended in a draw. Thus, Armageddon was played.

Gukesh - Carlsen, Armageddon

Position after 26...Ra2

Carlsen tempted Gukesh into sacrificing his queen. Guess what did Gukesh do? He did sacrifice his queen 27.Qxa2 Qxa2 28.Nxd7 Rd8 29.Nf6+ Kf7 30.e5 Qd2 31.f3 Qxb4 and Black eventually went on to win the game after Gukesh blundered his knight. Nevertheless, it was a thrilling encounter and Gukesh played really well.

D Gukesh played some fantastic chess against Magnus Carlsen in both Classical and Armaegeddon

Firouzja - Caruana

Position after 22...Rb2

The last encounter between Alireza Firouzja (FRA, 2785) and Fabiano Caruana (USA, 2764) ended in a draw at Superbet Chess Classic last month. 22...Rb2 taunted White into capturing the h8-rook via Qa8+ skewer. Firouzja fell for it. 23.Bd2 Rg8 24.Rf1 would have kept White in the game. 23.Qa8+ Kf7 24.Qxh8 Qxc2 25.Bd2 Qe4+ 26.Kf1 Qd3+ and Black went on to win the game by munching a lot of pawns.

Fabiano Caruana is undoubtedly in a great form

On rest day, 11th Norway Chess 2023 participants had a knitting competition

The winning design by the team of Anish Giri and Nodirbek Abdusattorov

Hikaru Nakamura and Magnus Carlsen were a team

Replay the Live Commentary of Round 4 by Amruta Mokal | Video: ChessBase India

Highlights

Replay Round 4 games

Round 4 results

Fabiano Caruana won the sole Classical game of the round | Photo: Norway Chess

Standings after Round 4

Fabiano Caruana increased his lead by four points | Photo: Norway Chess

Round 5 pairings

Round 5 will witness another chapter of the Abdusattorov-Gukesh saga | Photo: Norway Chess

Schedule

Blitz Round 1 starts on 29th May 2023. Round 1 starts at 7 p.m. local time, 10:30 p.m. IST. 

Classical games will be played from 30th May to 9th June 2023. Everyday game starts at 5 p.m. local time, 8:30 p.m. IST. 2nd and 7th June are the rest days.

11th Norway Chess 2023 Classical games schedule | Photo: Norway Chess

Tie-break schedule | Photo: Norway Chess

Links

Official site

Tournament Regulations