DAVID R. SANDS: Nakamura rocks Gibraltar, reclaims top U.S. rating slot in chess
By David R. Sands – The Washington Times – Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Top-ranked U.S. GM Hikaru Nakamura rules the Rock, having just won this year’s edition of the strong Tradewise Gibraltar open tournament on the Mediterranean island with an 8½-1½ score. Nakamura, now being challenged by rising GM Wesley So as the top-rated American player, didn’t drop a game, defeating ex-world champion Veselin Topalov and Chinese star GM Yu Yangyi along the way.
English GM David Howell was second, a half-point back, and Topalov and women’s world champion Hou Yifan of China were in a group of nine players at 7½-2½.
The St. Louis-based Nakamura offered a practical lesson in Swiss success against Indian GM Baskaran Adhiban, first confusing his opponent with a lesser-known opening line and then slowly rebuilding his position after an oversight nearly cost him his early advantage.
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