Gukesh Holds World Fischer Random Champion Nakamura to a Draw in Freestyle Chess Tournament

Gukesh, the youngest world champion in the history of chess, played out a 59-move draw against reigning World Fischer Random champion Hikaru Nakamura in the first Freestyle Chess tournament of the year. Despite losing four games in the Weissenhaus tournament and drawing seven, the draw with black pieces was particularly heartening for Gukesh.

After being eliminated by Fabiano Caruana in the quarter finals, Gukesh is now battling to at least finish fifth in the 10-player standings. His first opponent was Nakamura, whom he will face with white pieces in the second game of their match.

The game played on Tuesday in position no.360 was tricky for all players, with the evaluation bar already showing a slight advantage for white before any moves were made. The complexity of the starting position was highlighted by Vincent Keymer, who beat Magnus Carlsen in the first game of the semi-final.

Nakamura, who had expressed thoughts of retirement after a defeat in the previous game, found the draw more than acceptable. The uncertainty of the starting position was shared by all players, with only 15 minutes to familiarize themselves before plotting a way to victory.

The starting position led to varied approaches by players, with discussions among some and individual contemplation among others. The unpredictability of the position was evident as players struggled to find the best moves to play.

Despite the challenges, Gukesh’s ability to secure a draw against Nakamura was a commendable result. The tournament continues to provide exciting and unpredictable matchups, with top players facing off in intense battles of strategy and skill.