Round 6 sees Karthikeyan Murali take on Ray Robson in a battle where both players are looking to make up ground.
Karthikeyan comes from a marathon draw against Anish Giri, while Robson is aiming to recover after a tough loss to Jorden van Foreest.
With both eager to shift momentum in their favor, expect a fighting game as they search for a much-needed win!
Robson chooses the dynamic Sicilian defense.
With a short castle, Karthikeyan completes his development on the kingside.
Robson plants his knight in the center, immediately eyeing Karthikeyan’s undefended bishop.
While his knight rests on the flank for the moment, Karthikeyan has plans to reposition it soon, steering it toward more active squares.
Robson pushes his central pawn forward, staking more control and challenging his opponent’s position.
Karthikeyan places his knight in the center, putting direct pressure on Robson’s bishop.
Robson retreats his bishop, responding to the threat.
Karthikeyan’s minor slip hands Robson a subtle advantage to build upon.
With a clever intermezzo, Karthikeyan levels the position.
The position’s unique nature with pawns on one side and opposite color bishops, keeps the endgame perfectly balanced despite Robson’s extra pawn!
The clock is ticking rapidly as both players face intense time pressure in this critical phase of the game!
While this endgame is generally drawn, it remains highly complex and can pose serious challenges for the defender!
The final game to finish in Round 6 was a gripping 123-move draw between Murali Karthikeyan and Ray Robson.
The Sicilian Defense set the stage for a balanced struggle throughout, transitioning from a tense middlegame into a complex endgame. Despite Robson holding an extra pawn, the presence of opposite colored bishops leveled the position.
The game featured a challenging rook and bishop versus rook endgame, where Karthikeyan’s precise play ensured he held firm for a well deserved draw!