FIDE Grand Prix Tournament 1, Round 5

 We're reaching the business end of the tournament now, and it's starting to become clear who will and will not qualify for the knockout stage:

Group A: Nakamura won a fine attacking game against Grischuk to end the latter's chances of qualification, while Esipenko outplayed Bacrot in a fine positional game. With Nakamura and Esipenko playing in the final round, this ensured one of the two will qualify outright.

Scores after round 5: Nakamura 3½, Esipenko 3, Grischuk 2, Bacrot 1½

Group B: Oparin needed to beat Rapport to maintain any chance of qualifying, but, despite having a better position for a long time, could only draw. The other game, between Fedoseev and Wojtaszek, was also a draw, maintaining their lead at the top of the group.

Scores after round 5: Fedoseev and Wojtaszek 3, Rapport 2½, Oparin 1½

Group C: Aronian won a tactical melee against Keymer, which proved to be enough to win the group with a round to spare when Dubov-Vidit ended in a draw.

Scores after round 5: Aronian 4, Dubov and Vidit 2½, Keymer 1. 

Group D: Shirov, needing to beat So to keep his qualification hopes alive, could only draw on the white side of a Berlin. In the other game, Dominguez ended Harikrishna's hopes with his second black win of the tournament.

Scores after round 5: So 3½, Dominguez 3, Harikrishna 2, Shirov 1½

World Championship 2022 Cycle Index



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