JMHO - Nakamura has spent a lot of time over the last 10 years focused too much on blitz. He's a very strong GM of course but seems less comfortable with slower time controls.
I never understood why the best players waste so much time with bullet games online (one minute or less) it's nothing but wins on time and ridiculous mistakes.
Now Nakamura is paying the price. It's a long tournament though and I'm sure he'll bounce back and be a contender for a good finish.
This is the time scramble game with Alireza.
The clip is just the last 10 minutes when it gets crazy.
They were down to less than 10 seconds to make 4 moves to reach the time control but Alireza won before that.
At the halfway mark of the 2024 FIDE Candidates Tournament, GM Ian Nepomniachtchi is back in the sole lead. In round seven, he survived over 20 moves of preparation from GM Hikaru Nakamura to make the draw.
GM Gukesh Dommaraju was moves away from winning and entering the sole lead himself, but in time trouble he suffered a heartbreaking loss against GM Alireza Firouzja. GM Fabiano Caruana vs. GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu and GM Nijat Abasov vs. GM Vidit Gujrathi ended in draws.
Fide candidates...
08 Apr '24 01:23
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