Wesley So made short work of young Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan and inched closer to third place after seven rounds of the 2023 Norway Chess championships Tuesday in the oil-rich city of Stavenger, west of the Norway capital.
There is an Italian, a Japanese and a Filipino now taking the top three spots — all representing the United States.
Fabiano Caruana lost in the white side of the Armageddon against the youngest competitor, Dommaraju Gukesh of India, 17, but kept the solo lead going to the last two rounds.
Caruana, born in Miami, Florida to Italian parents and returned to play for the US after representing Italy briefly, has 14.5 points, two ahead of Hikaru Nakamura.
Nakamura, born in Japan to a Japanese father and an American mother, won with white in another Armageddon tiebreaker against Shakriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan and firmed up his hold of second place, two points ahead of So.
There is an Italian, a Japanese and a Filipino now taking the top three spots — all representing the United States.
It was So’s first classical win in the elite tournament after being held to six draws and surged up the standings with 10.5 points. He gained three points for the effort and elevated from a tie of sixth and seventh places in the previous round.
He dislodged Gukesh and Anish Giri of the Netherlands, who have 10 points and tied for fourth and fifth. Firouzja dropped to solo sixth with 9.5 points.
Born in the Philippines, So decided to play for the US in one of the hardest decisions he had to make in his life. He plays the black pieces against Caruana in the penultimate round Wednesday while Nakamura takes on the challenge of Abdusattorov in another crucial match. Firouzja plays white against Giri.
Giri won his classical match against last-placed local bet Aryan Tari, who entered as a wildcard entry by the organizers.
Ex-world champion and semi-retired Magnus Carlsen drew his classical game against talented teen Alireza Firouzja of France, a former Iranian who recently held the world No. 2 spot.
He later beat the 19-year-old with white in the ensuing Armageddon in 29 moves of a Petroff.
Carlsen still has to win a classical game. He is tied for seventh and eighth with Mamedyarov with nine points.
