Superbet Classic 2024 R6: Firouzja outplays So, catches up with Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh
Alireza Firouzja (FRA) scored the sole victory of Round 6 at Grand Chess Tour Superbet Classic 2024. Wesley So (USA) opted for a sharp line in the Nimzo-Indian. Things backfired and the former World Fischer Random champion could not get out of the gate. Fabiano Caruana (USA) made a quick 19-move draw against Ian Nepomniachtchi to maintain his sole lead 4/6. D Gukesh opted for the Marshall Attack in Ruy Lopez against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA). He managed to defend an unpleasant position for a very long time. R Praggnanandhaa could not break through Bogdan-Daniel Deac's (ROU) resistance. Firouzja joined Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh in pursuit at 3.5/6 each. In Round 7, it will be Gukesh vs Caruana and Nepomniachtchi vs Praggnanandhaa. Round 7 starts today from 3 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Grand Chess Tour/Lennart Ootes
Caruana maintains his sole lead
The sixth round witnessed only one decisive game between Alireza Firouzja (FRA) and Wesley So (USA). The American does not lose often. However, in this game he got himself in a worse position out of the opening.
Firouzja - So: 1-0
Last year, Wesley So (USA, 2757) defeated Alireza Firouzja (FRA, 2744) at the same event in the very first round. That was their last decisive Classical game. This time, So made a strange knight retreat.
12...Nb7?! is not a good idea as after 13.Qd4 Qa5+ and Qxc5 does not work. White will trade the queens and play Bd6. 13...Re8 14.Ne2 Qa5+ 15.Nc3 a6 16.Be3 Qxa3 Black gained a pawn, however, his pieces are neither developed nor well coordinated. Soon White recovered the pawn and Black had to give up his two minor pieces for a rook.
Vachier-Lagrave - Gukesh: 0.5-0.5
D Gukesh (2763) faced Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA, 2718) for the first time in a Classical rated game. Gukesh opted for the Marshall Attack in the Ruy Lopez. The World Championship Challenger defended the rook and opposite color bishop endgame correctly to secure a draw.
The Chief Arbiter, IA Christopher Bird celebrated his birthday yesterday.
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Schedule and Format
Superbet Chess Classic will have one round played each day from 26th June to 5th July 2024. Each round starts at 3 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. Except the last round on 5th July which will start at 2 p.m. local time, 4:30 p.m. IST. The sole rest day is on Monday 1st July. It will be a 10-player Round Robin event. Time control will be 120 minutes KO + 30 sec./move.
Prize
The total prize fund of each Classical event is the double of Rapid and Blitz events - US$ 350000.
Replay Round 6 games
Round 6 results
Standings after Round 6
Round 7 pairings
| Bo. | No. | Rtg | Name | Result | Name | Rtg | No. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 2763 | GM | Gukesh, Dommaraju | GM | Caruana, Fabiano | 2805 | 10 | ||
| 2 | 5 | 2745 | GM | Giri, Anish | GM | Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime | 2732 | 3 | ||
| 3 | 6 | 2757 | GM | So, Wesley | GM | Abdusattorov, Nodirbek | 2766 | 2 | ||
| 4 | 7 | 2680 | GM | Deac, Bogdan-Daniel | GM | Firouzja, Alireza | 2737 | 1 | ||
| 5 | 8 | 2770 | GM | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | GM | Praggnanandhaa, Rameshbabu | 2747 | 9 |
