Caruana Struggles with Illness as Super Chess Classic Romania Sees Draws Across the Board
Caruana Under the Weather at Super Chess Classic Romania
Bucharest, Romania – The Super Chess Classic Romania witnessed a day of drawn games on Wednesday, as all four matches ended in stalemates. However, the spotlight was on Vincent Keymer, who extended his lead in the tournament without even moving a piece, thanks to Alireza Firouzja’s unfortunate withdrawal due to an ankle injury.
Firouzja, who had already played five games—including two from his hotel room while in a cast—was forced to forfeit his remaining matches. This decision granted Keymer a forfeit win, placing him a full point ahead of a tightly packed group of contenders, including Fabiano Caruana, Anish Giri, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, and Jorden van Foreest.
Round 6 Results
In the day’s matches, Caruana faced off against Javokhir Sindarov, drawing after 34 moves. The American grandmaster later revealed to commentator Cristian Chirila that he had been feeling unwell throughout the tournament. “I first felt ill during my round-three game against Wesley So,” Caruana shared. “I’ve been spending up to 14 hours a day in bed, battling a high fever.” Despite his struggles, he expressed optimism, stating he was beginning to feel more like himself, albeit still fatigued.
The games on Wednesday were characterized by cautious play. Caruana’s encounter with Sindarov, which began with an Italian Opening, saw him gain a slight edge but ultimately led to a draw as he deemed the position insufficient for further play. Similarly, the all-Dutch clash between Van Foreest and Giri ended peacefully, with neither player able to seize the initiative.
The longest game of the day featured Wesley So against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. So initially gained an advantage from a Sicilian Defence, creating an outside passed pawn. However, Vachier-Lagrave’s defensive prowess shone through as he navigated the complexities of a rook endgame, ultimately securing a draw despite So’s extra pawns.
Standings After Round 6
- Vincent Keymer (Germany) – 4.5 points
- Jorden van Foreest (Netherlands) – 3.5 points
- Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu (India) – 3.5 points
- Anish Giri (Netherlands) – 3.5 points
- Fabiano Caruana (USA) – 3.5 points
- Wesley So (USA) – 3 points
- Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France) – 3 points
- Javokhir Sindarov (Uzbekistan) – 2.5 points
- Bogdan-Daniel Deac (Romania) – 2 points
- Alireza Firouzja (France) – 1 point (forfeit)
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Keymer as he seeks to maintain his lead, while Caruana and his fellow competitors aim to bounce back in the coming rounds. The Super Chess Classic Romania continues to deliver thrilling chess action, even amid unforeseen challenges.