Anish Giri comes into round 8 after a solid draw against Arjun Erigaisi, while Awonder Liang is looking to bounce back from a tough loss to Vincent Keymer.
With the tournament nearing its end, both will be eager to finish strong. Will Giri’s solidity hold, or will Liang find a way to strike back?
Liang chooses the solid and well known Berlin Defense in the Ruy Lopez.
Liang readies his bishop for a fianchetto.
Giri secures his king on the kingside and swiftly brings his rook into the game.
Liang pushes his queenside pawn forward, claiming space.
The game remains locked, as both players carefully maneuver and prepare before committing to any critical pawn breaks.
Anish Giri trails on the clock with 31 minutes, while Liang enjoys a comfortable 1 hour and 6 minutes.
Liang initiates a pawn break in the center.
Giri reacts to Liang’s pawn advance in the center.
Liang plays a precise move grounded in tactics, maintaining equality and keeping the position solid.
Giri challenges Liang’s bishop on the long diagonal, seeking to undermine its influence.
With the position remaining balanced, a repetition of moves seems likely, pointing toward an imminent draw.
Round 8 saw Anish Giri and Awonder Liang settle for a draw after 37 moves. The game opened with the Berlin Defense in the Ruy Lopez and remained balanced throughout, with neither player making mistakes.
This result marks Anish Giri’s eighth draw in eight games, maintaining his perfect draw record!