Total Chess: Abhimanyu holds his own against Carlsen

Abhimanyu Mishra had welcomed the chance to play Magnus Carlsen twice when the Total Chess World Championship Tour pilot’s draw was announced. On Thursday, the youngest Grandmaster in the field drew both games against the World No.

1, who had to defend an inferior position in their second meeting. Abhimanyu, the 17-year-old American with a rating of 2644 to Carlsen’s 2823, held firm with black in round three of the Fast Classic group stage. The position in the Italian Game remained balanced despite Carlsen’s bishop sacrifice on h6, and a rook exchange on move 50 led to a draw.

Carlsen chose the Scandinavian Defence in the return game, but his position worsened after he moved his king to d7 on move 26. Abhimanyu manoeuvred his knight to h5 and picked up the g7 and h6 pawns, gaining a substantial advantage.

Carlsen reached an opposite-coloured bishop ending and held on for an 80-move draw, his fourth in as many games. Abhimanyu moved to three points in Group C, one behind Carlsen with six games to go. Ian Nepomniachtchi and Haik Martirosyan shared the lead with six points.

Martirosyan and Anish Giri won a game each. In Group D, Bibisara Assaubayeva (Elo 2532), upset the higher-rated Arjun Erigaisi (2746) with black in round three. Arjun won the return game, also with black, to draw level with Assaubayeva on five points and be placed third.

R. Vaishali lost both games to Hans Niemann and stayed last with one point. Niemann joined Maxime Vachier-Lagrave on eight after the Frenchman secured a win and a draw against Wesley So. R. Praggnanandhaa lost twice to Fabiano Caruana and remained bottom of Group B with two points.

Caruana led with 10, two clear of Liem Le, who posted a win and a draw against Vincent Keymer. Alireza Firouzja led Group A with eight points after a win and a draw against Jorden van Foreest. (The writer is in Budapest at the invitation of Total Chess).