Rd. 8 - GM Anish Giri vs. GM Fabiano Caruana

Written and annotated by GM Alejandro Ramirez.

 

This was the second longest game of round eight. Caruana was able to minimize the danger from the opening with his typical Grunfeld, though this time he brought in an interesting idea with an early e5 break. Giri’s advantage was negligible, and he started playing carelessly. Suddenly he saw himself down a pawn without full compensation. He had to suffer in a very long 2v1 rook endgame that he eventually drew.