Saint Louis Masters: Caruana, Lodici and Durarbayli share the lead

Three co-leaders, nine chasers

Three players share the lead after rounds three and four of the Saint Louis Masters, both played on Thursday. Top seed Fabiano Caruana is joined at the top of the standings by sixth seed Vasif Durarbayli and twelfth seed Lorenzo Lodici, with all three players on 3½/4 points.

Caruana began the day as one of six players on a perfect score after the opening rounds and was the only member of that group to remain at the top by the end of the double round. In round three, the world number three was held to a draw with the white pieces by Mikhail Antipov, a result that temporarily cost him sole leadership.

That draw allowed 16-year-old Brewington Hardaway to move into the outright lead after round three. Hardaway was the last player to maintain a perfect score, having defeated Bharath Subramaniyam with the black pieces. He was then paired against Caruana in round four, where the top seed struck back decisively. Caruana scored a notable win with the black pieces from a Sicilian Rossolimo, ending Hardaway’s run and returning to the top of the table.

Brewington Hardaway was the sole leader after round three | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Both Durarbayli and Lodici enjoyed flawless days. Durarbayli recorded victories against Dimitris Alexakis and Francesco Sonis, while Lodici defeated Robby Kevlishvili and Jennifer Yu to join the lead. In Friday’s fifth round, Lodici will have the white pieces against Durarbayli on the top board.

Caruana has requested a half-point bye for Friday’s morning round, a decision also taken by a few other players during the event’s demanding schedule of four double-round days. Yasser Quesada previously took a bye in round three, while Aryan Chopra and Nikolozi Kachavara will also receive half points in round five.

A nine-player group sits just half a point behind the leaders on 3/4, with Chopra, Andy Woodward and Antipov the highest-rated players among them.

Aryan Chopra | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Thirteen further players are on 2/4. The lowest-rated in that group is Yu, who continued her strong tournament with a second upset win in round three, defeating Max Warmerdam – she had defeated Nico Chasin in round one. Moreover, Yu could have drawn – or even won – her game against Lodici in round four, as there were plenty of mistakes by both players in a time-trouble-fuelled final stage of the game.

Yu made the last mistake with 65…Rf7??, though, when 65…Ne3 would have kept the dynamic balance in the position.

The text move allowed 66.Bxb6 (which would not be possible after 65…Ne3) Bxb4 67.Ra8+ Kh7 68.Bd4

In this video course, experts (Pelletier, Marin, Müller and Reeh) examine the games of Judit Polgar. Let them show you which openings Polgar chose to play, where her strength in middlegames were, or how she outplayed her opponents in the endgame.

White simply allows Black to go for the knight, as the threat of checkmate on h8 is unstoppable. Resignation came shortly after.

Jennifer Yu | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Hardaway 0-1 Caruana

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Free sample video: Introduction
Free sample video: Scandinavian Defence

The last stages of the top-board game in round four | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Standings after round 4

…70 players

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