Kasparov

After that move White can’t play 25.Rxe5 since it runs into 25…Rd1+ 26.Kc2 Rc1#, but there’s also no good way to defend the attacked rook on e1.

That would have been the second time in two days Hikaru had fallen for such a crushing tactic (as he did against Shankland) and would have meant four losses in a row, but instead after 24…Qa5? 25.Bxg4 Hikaru was on top and went on to win. Fabiano talked about that game afterwards.

Here, for instance, Caruana played 32…Qd4+ and after 33.Qc3 Garry began to believe again that he could escape. Instead it was a killer idea to play 32…Bxd5! 33.exd5 and only now 33…Qd4+! This time 34.Qc3 could be met by 34…Nd3+!!, with the point that after 35.cxd3 there’s 35…Re2+.

That might be asking too much for a rapid game, but there were also easier ways to convert after exchanging bishop for knight. Instead Garry’s hustle worked, until Fabiano decided not to risk more and accepted a draw.

The tournament leader, meanwhile, is Leinier Dominguez, who had an amazingly good day at the office, winning all three games, which made it four in a row.

It wasn’t just the results, but the play, with Dominguez winning all three games in completely convincing style. His day was perhaps summed up by the final move of his game against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. Shakh unleashed 23.Rxg7+!?

23…Kxg7 runs into 24.Nf5+ and 23…Bxg7 loses the queen to 24.Qxh4. Even in those cases Leinier would be no worse, but he’d seen in advance that he had an icily cool response — 23…Kh8! Down a huge amount of material, it was time for Shakh to resign.

Leinier then spotted a blunder by Hikaru Nakamura and ruthlessly exploited it.

That means Dominguez leads Caruana by half a point, with MVL, Kasparov and Shankland another half point began.

It seems Chess 9LX has barely begun, but it already ends on Friday, with just three rounds remaining.