Super Rapid and Blitz: Gukesh beats Caruana in final round of Rapid event

World champion D. Gukesh defeated American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana in the ninth and final round to be tied fourth in the Super Rapid and Blitz Tournament’s rapid competition here, sustaining a welcome return to form after struggling for the past few months.

The Indian is tied fourth with 18 more rounds to come in the blitz section that follows the rapid event.

The 19-year-old Gukesh had started the final day of the rapid section with a loss against French Grandmaster Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and then in the penultimate round drew with Vladimir Fedoseev of Slovenia.

Wild card American Hans Moke Niemann yet again proved his detractors wrong by emerging as the surprise winner of this section on 13 points in all. Niemann edged out compatriot Wesley So by a full point who ended second ahead of Fedoseev on 11.

“My rapid event was inconsistent. I was playing well, but I missed a few chances. There were also games where I was in trouble and managed to save. The tournament could have been better,” Gukesh told ‘Saint Louis Chess Club’.

Gukesh, Caruana and Duda Jan-Krzystzof of Poland tied for the fourth spot on nine points apiece and the main battle is likely to be between these six players once the blitz competition begins.

“In blitz, all you have to do is play fast and pray. That’s going to be my strategy,” he said.

Gukesh got in to some initial trouble against Caruana who played the black side of a Benoni defense. The American won a pawn in the early middle game but Gukesh kept himself in the hunt by creating counter play on the queen side.

It was on the 38th move that Caruana erred decisively, overlooking a small tactic that allowed Gukesh to win a rook for a Bishop. The rest was a matter of technique and the Indian won after another 11 moves.

Results round 9 with points: D Gukesh (Ind, 9) beat Fabiano Caruana (Usa, 9); Radoslav Wojtaszek (Pol, 5) drew with Hans Moke Niemann (Usa, 13); Vladimir Fedoseev (Slo, 11) beat Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (Fra, 8); Javokhir Sindarov (Uzb, 8) drew with Firoujza Alireza (Fra, 6); Duda Jan-Krzystzof (Pol, 9) drew with Wesley SO (Usa, 12).