Classical rules, Gukesh is in sole lead

Richard Rapport scored his third Classical victory of the event in a fantastic manner as he halted prevented Karjakin from scoring a hat-trick of match wins. Gukesh has taken sole lead 5.5/6 in the Open section. He is a full point ahead of the competition. 

Rapport is having the best tournament of his career so far | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Norway Chess

Gukesh is in sole lead 5.5/7 and full point ahead of the competition | Photo: Norway Chess

Firouzja - Nepomniachtchi: 3-0

Firouzja made a timely break in the center which gave him the initiative.

Position after 24.d4

24.d4 forces Black to exchange the pawns, otherwise Black just ends up having a terrible pawn structure with an isolated doubled pawn on e-file and the d-file being in White's control.

Position after 37...c5

38.Qd3 Ne7 39.Nc4 and it was all over for Black. White's knights and queen are much better placed which gives him the decisive advantage. Firouzja eventually managed to convert it into a win.

Firouzja scored a big victory over Nepomniachtchi | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Norway Chess

Tari - Carlsen: 0-3

Carlsen grinded a relatively equal queen and knight endgame against Tari.

Position after 39.Qd3

White had to play the unpleasant 39.d5+ and Qd4 to prevent any shenanigans. 39.Qd3 allowed Black to go for 39...h4 40.d5 Qe5 and now Black is in driver's seat. There is no good way for White to continue the fight.

Tari is still in search of his first win | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Norway Chess

Rapport - Karjakin: 3-0

Rapport showcased fantastic technique in the bishop and knight endgame against Karjakin.

Position after 14.c6

It would have been difficult to fathom that the passed c-pawn would be a deciding factor of the game.

Position after 45...h5

45...h5 turned out to be the final straw that cost Black the game in an already dwindling situation. Find out the correct continuation for White.

Rapport is standing tall | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Norway Chess

Photo Gallery

Carlsen has surpassed Nepomniachtchi after the seventh round | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Norway Chess

Nepomniachtchi keeps an eye on Carlsen's games | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Norway Chess

Rapport prevented Karjakin's hat-trick | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Norway Chess

Tournament hall of the Open section | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Norway Chess

Replay Round 7 games

Pairings

Pairings for all rounds | Photo: chess24

Results

Firouzja scores a big win against Nepomniachtchi | Photo: Norway Chess

Carlsen wins against Tari in Classical | Photo: Norway Chess

Rapport stops Karjakin's momentum | Photo: Norway Chess

Standings

Rapport maintains his sole lead | Photo: Norway Chess

Scoring

Players will get the following points per round:

Victory in main game: 3 points

Loss in main game: 0 points

Draw in main game & victory Armageddon: 1.5 points

Draw in main game & loss Armageddon: 1 point

Armageddon Rules

• If there is a draw in the classical game, then the players will move on to Armageddon.

• White pieces will continue with white in Armageddon. With this, there will be a winner in each game due to the fact that black pieces will win if the game ends in a draw.

Replay the Live Stream

Greatest female chess player of all time GM Judit Polgar, GM David Howell and New In Chess editor-in-chief Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam are the Official Commentators | Video: chess24

Links

Norway Chess official site