Magnus Carlsen is suddenly right back in contention for the Tata Steel Masters title after defeating his great rival Fabiano Caruana in a game that was all but decided by move 22. Nodirbek Abdusattorov kept his 1-point lead with a draw, as the other wins were for players who had been struggling. Richard Rapport, Jorden van Foreest and Gukesh all picked up their first full points.

The trick is that 22.exf6? loses to 22…Rxe1+, since 23.Bxe1, trying to keep hold of the b3-bishop, runs into 23…Rxb3! 24.Qxb3 Qxd4+, forking the king and undefended rook on a1.

22.Rf1 should have been played.

23.Re2 and perhaps the move he’d missed, 23…Rb4! 24.Kh2 Rxd4

The game is over.

Nodirbek Abdusattorov grabbed the lead at the Tata Steel Masters in round 5, and has topped the standings ever since. In Tuesday’s round 9, however, he could have been caught by Anish Giri, who got the better of Ding Liren in a sharp encounter. The Dutchman would be now in the shared lead had Vincent Keymer made the most of his advantage against Abdusattorov — the Uzbek defended resourcefully, though, and the game ended in an 89-move draw.

Still undefeated — Levon Aronian