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Maxime Vachier-Lagrave Wins to Share Lead at FIDE Chess Candidates 2020

2026-06-23 · Maxime Vachier-Lagrave · Match Report

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave improved his chances of facing Magnus Carlsen in the World Championship match by defeating Ian Nepomniachtchi in the seventh round of the FIDE Chess Candidates 2020. The Frenchman's win on Wednesday put him in a joint lead with Nepomniachtchi at the halfway stage of the tournament in Yekaterinburg.

What happened?

Nepomniachtchi had a full point advantage over Vachier-Lagrave before their top-of-the-table clash. Vachier-Lagrave opted for a sharp line in the French Defence while playing with black pieces to look for another win. However, Nepomniachtchi soon came under time trouble and resigned after 42 moves.

Why it matters for Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

The result means that both Vachier-Lagrave and Nepomniachtchi are on 4.5 points after seven rounds. Fabiano Caruana, Anish Giri, Wang Hao, and Alexander Grischuk trail them by a full point. Caruana had to settle for a draw in 41 moves against Hao. Grischuk split points for the seventh straight time when he and Giri shook hands soon after reaching time control.

What comes next?

China's Ding Liren continued to struggle in the tournament and was held to a draw by Russian wildcard Kirill Alekseenko. Both players now have 2.5 points at the halfway stage and look completely out of the title race. The standings after round seven show Vachier-Lagrave and Nepomniachtchi in a strong position. Vachier-Lagrave will look to build on his momentum in the remaining rounds. The tournament is heating up, with several players still in contention for the top spot. And the pressure is on for Vachier-Lagrave to perform well and secure a place in the World Championship match. But he has shown his skills and determination so far, and his fans will be hoping for more of the same. So the next few rounds will be crucial in determining the outcome of the tournament. The FIDE Chess Candidates 2020 is being held in Yekaterinburg, with the winner earning the right to challenge Magnus Carlsen for the World Championship title.

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