Tata Steel Masters wide open after 8 rounds - 8

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Ian Nepomniachtchi defeated the leader Nodirbek Abdusattorov in the eighth round of the Tata Steel Masters which left the event wide open going into the second rest day. Gukesh, Giri and Firouzja lead on 5/8 but 6 more players are a point or less from the leaders with five rounds to go. Nepomniachtchi inflicted a broken pawn structure on Abdusattorov and whilst this wasn't immediately winning Abdusattorov didn't find a way to organise his pieces and he was soon just lost. Alireza Firouzja was gifted a point by Ding Liren in an equal position when the World Champion missed a straightforward tactic. The remaining game were drawn, those were Vidit-Donchenko, Warmerdam-Praggnanandhaa, Ju Wenjun, Giri-Wei Yi and Van Foreest Maghsoodloo. In the Challengers Marc'Andria Maurizzi leads on 5.5/8 after beating former leader Salem Salah. Round 8 Standings: 1st= Gukesh, Giri, Firouzja 5pts, 4th= Abdusattorov, Praggnanandhaa, Vidit, Nepomniachtchi 4.5pts, 8th Wei Yi, Warmerdam 4pts, 10th= Ding Liren, Ju Wenjun 3.5pts, 12th Van Foreest 3pts, 13th= Maghsoodloo, Donchenko 2.5pts. Round 9 23rd Jan 12pm is the away day at the AFAS Circustheater in Scheveningen Donchenko-Firouzja, Gukesh-Vidit, Praggnanandhaa-Ju Wenjun, Maghsoodloo-Warmerdam, Abdusattorov-Van Foreest, Wei-Nepomniachtchi, Ding-Giri.

Source: https://theweekinchess.com/chessnews/ev ... r-8-rounds