The Week in Chess

Magnus Carlsen scored a win with the black pieces against young Chinese hope Wei Yi in the second round of the Bilbao tournament. Carlsen said he was pushing for an advantage from around move 20 with black in a sharp Pirc Defence but didn't get a real edge until 35.Ne5? Carlsen was inaccurate with 40...Ne4+ making time control (40..Kc7) but was soon winning again. The game remained extremely complicated 46....Rb2 is given as winning by the computer but following 46....Ra2 Wei Yi had real saving chances. Carlsen said that after 48.b4 he would have headed for a draw. Wei Yi had ambitions of his own and he chose 48.Kc7? missing Carlsen's prepared 48...Nc5! after which there were no more chances.

Anish Giri was much better against Sergey Karjakin but missed some important tactical points and had to settle for a draw. Hikaru Nakamura and Wesley So drew the first game to finish.

Round 2 Standings: 1 Nakamura 4pts, 2 Carlsen 3pts, 3 So 2pts, 4 Karjakin 2pts, 5 Giri 2pts, 6 Wei Yi 1pt.

Round 3 Pairings Friday 14th July 2016 3pm UK time: Giri-So, Carlsen-Karjakin, Nakamura-Wei Yi.