MVL didn't play his usual opening repertoire playing 1.d4 and heading for a sharp theoretical endgame in a Nimzo-Indian where he eventually ground down Anish Giri. In game 2 MVL played the Slav instead of his usual Gruenfeld and Giri reacted aggressively to try to get back into the match but was busted very quickly with the trouble probably beginning with 11.dxc5. The two remaining games were drawn with considerably less action.
Caruana could easily have been 2-0 down after two games against his opponent Nepomniachtchi as well, he thought he was particularly fortunate to survive game two. Caruana was a lot worse out of the opening in the final game (21.ab ab 22.c4 was a solid edge for white) but after the mistaken plan starting with 22.c4 Caruana quickly took over the initiative and with some adventures along the way won in 73 moves.
This new event format is just starting and so everyone is getting used to it. A couple of observations based on Round 1.
The games haven't been of tremendous quality so far, the players are very used to playing blitz online, the slower rapid time control not so much, it does look as if they are generally playing a bit too fast, I am sure they will adjust. Caruana observed that an event he played a few months ago with a 45 minute time control seemed like an age to him.
The players are competing from their homes which means that they are playing at different parts of the day. The games start at 4pm in CET Europe Summer time which I believe is 10am on the East Coast of the US and 10pm in China. Will this impact the play and results of those at the extreme ends of the day?
Round 1 Standings: MVL, Ding, Caruana 3 pts, Carlsen 2pts, Nakamura 1pt, Firouzja, Nepomniachtchi, Giri 0pts.
Round 2 Day 1 20th April 3pm BST: Carlsen-Firouzja and Nakamura-Giri,
Round 2 Day 2 21st April 3pm BST: Nepomniachtchi-MVL and Ding Caruana.
