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World Cup challenger Jan Nepomnyashchi
Photo:
Kamran Jebreili / dpa
Chess world champion Magnus Carlsen has taken the next big step towards defending his title with his second win.
The 31-year-old Norwegian won the eighth game of the World Cup in Dubai on Sunday two days after his first success against challenger Jan Nepomnjashchi.
Experts speak of a preliminary decision for Carlsen, who now leads 5: 3.
His Russian challenger would need at least two wins from the remaining six games to get at least one jump-off.
Carlsen has only lost twice in 53 World Cup games.
The defending champion opened with the king's pawn, struck a variant against the Russian opening that had never been played at grandmaster level and quickly had a few small advantages.
Nepomnyashchi's position was tenable until his 21st move, which was immediately heavily criticized.
Closed on Monday
“How can you play like that?
Crazy! "Said Fabiano Caruana, 2018 World Cup challenger. Anish Giri, third in the Candidates' tournament, excitedly stated:" The game was over.
A whole pawn gone and the position is still bad.
It's just lost.
To mess up like that is crazy.
Totally crazy."
After 46 moves and around four hours of play, Nepomnjashchi, who was in an almost hopeless position, shook hands with Carlsen and gave up the game.
Carlsen can therefore play safely in the next matches.
There are a maximum of 14 games, the starting right changes after each match.
One point is awarded for a win and half a point for a draw.
Whoever reaches 7.5 points first is world champion.
Carlsen, who successfully defended his title in 2014, 2016 and 2018, has known his opponent since childhood.
The third day of rest is on Monday, before the ninth game continues on Tuesday (1.30 p.m.).
ara / dpa / sid