Sergey Karjakin vs Wesley So, Nimzo-Indian Defense, E46
2018 Chess Candidates Tournament, Round 7
The former challenger for the world championship title, Sergey Karjakin, has finally started playing the chess he is known for! He played a positional masterpiece in the Nimzo-Indian Defense against Wesley So. Both players have had a rough start to the Candidates Tournament, and were at the bottom of the scoreboard before round 7, so they’ve definitely wanted to push for a win at all costs.
That meant an exciting game no matter what the outcome was, and they didn’t fail to deliver. The theoretical opening battle soon became a positional maneuvering game in which Sergey managed to outwit Wesley So and slowly but surely increase his positional edge, finally converting it into a material advantage.
A super instructive game for Nimzo-Indian and 1.d4 players as it shows great ideas of how central tension can be a source of possibilities and double edged since any pawn break or change in central structure opens up new chances for both colors.
With this amazing victory, Sergey Karjakin has finally risen up from the bottom of the scoreboard and he is no longer in last place. Let’s hope he continues to play at this level!
Standings after round 7:
1. Fabiano Caruana 5/7
2. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov 4.5/7
3. Alexander Grischuk 3.5/7
4. Ding Liren 3.5/7
5. Vladimir Kramnik 3.5/7
6. Sergey Karjakin 3/7
7. Wesley So 2.5/7
8. Levon Aronian 2.5/7
