Reigning world champion D. Gukesh moved a step closer to glory by defeating China’s Wei Yi in the ninth and penultimate round of Norway Chess, collecting three full points and positioning himself as a strong contender for the title alongside Norwegian legend Magnus Carlsen.
Heading into the final round, Gukesh stands second with 14.5 points — just half a point behind Carlsen, who pulled off a dramatic comeback victory against American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana to claim maximum points in Thursday’s round of the six-player double round-robin tournament.
In the decisive 10th round, Gukesh will face Caruana, while Carlsen will be up against Arjun Erigaisi. Both are eyeing the championship crown and the winner’s prize of USD 69,000.
A win for Carlsen would mark his seventh Norway Chess title since 2016, while Gukesh will be aiming for his first, in just his second appearance at the tournament.
Looking sharp and composed after Wednesday’s rest day, Gukesh capitalized on a blunder by Wei Yi — a missed Bishop f7 move — and forced a resignation after 40 moves, finishing the game with a clear upper hand.
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