Sinquefield Cup 2024_ ROUND 6: Nepomniachtchi made a shocking blunder AND LOST AGAINST CARUANA!!

GM IAN NEPOMNIACHTCHI VERSUS GM FABIANO CARUANO

SINQUEFIELD CUP 2024, ROUND 6,

Caruana opted for a Dragon structure with 2.g6, in the Sicilian. In response, Nepomniachtchi eagerly dove head-first into the Yugoslav attack.


Nepomniachtchi continued with an idea that aims to reach a classic Yugoslav middlegame a tempo down, believing in White's attacking play regardless. Despite his confidence, on move 18―with more than the starting two hours left on his clock―he played a quick blunder.

Ready to play in the spirit of the Dragon, Caruana pounced.
Caruana shared his experience as he calculated the winning lines:

"After he played 18.g5, I just didn't understand. But I spent probably like 20 minutes because he's playing instantly. It's possible that he prepared it or something, and I should understand if I'm losing,
I looked at every individual move here to make sure. I looked at every queen move."