Ian Nepomniachtchi leads the FIDE Candidates 2024 after round 5, with D Gukesh joining him at the top.
He drew with R Praggnanandhaa, who gave him a tough fight in the Petrov Defence.
What happened in round 5?
D Gukesh beat Nijat Abasov in a hard-fought win, joining Nepomniachtchi in the lead.
Gukesh got off to an aggressive start, dominating the e5 and winning a pawn.
How did Gukesh beat Abasov?
Abasov fought hard for a draw, but Gukesh obtained a position where he was up a pawn in a queen endgame.
Gukesh pounced on the chance to grab the win after Abasov slipped up.
Nepomniachtchi defended doggedly to wrap up the draw with Praggnanandhaa.
Why did Praggnanandhaa trouble Nepomniachtchi?
Praggnanandhaa came well prepared, deviating from well-known paths with 16. Bh3 and sacrificing two pawns for a kingside attack.
He had a slight edge, but let go of his advantage by exchanging queens.
Vidit Gujrathi earned a creditable draw with Fabiano Caruana after nearly snatching an upset win.
What's next for Ian Nepomniachtchi?
Nepomniachtchi will look to maintain his lead in the next round, with Gukesh and other contenders close behind.
The tournament is heating up, with several players still in contention for the top spot.
As of April 10, 2024, Nepomniachtchi and Gukesh are tied for the lead with 3.5 points each.
The FIDE Candidates 2024 will continue with round 6, where Nepomniachtchi will face another tough challenge.