Bengaluru: Javokhir Sindarov continued his steamrolling run over the Candidates tournament field, crushing Hikaru Nakamura in a one-sided game.
The 20-year-old Uzbek Grandmaster now holds a commanding 4.5/5 lead, trampling all in his path, and remains the only unbeaten player in the Open section.
Sindarov's win on Friday also moved him up to world No 5 in the live ratings, and he has now defeated both the world No 2 and 3 in a row.
Playing with the White pieces, Nakamura went with the Queen's Pawn opening, but Sindarov's precise play and thorough preparation proved too much for him.
Nakamura laid the blame on his team of seconds, saying he considered 13.Ne4 during the game but without any preparation it's impossible to play that position.
Sindarov seemed surprised that Nakamura chose a line in which he wasn't sure of the details, and took advantage of the situation to play well.
As the tournament nears its halfway mark, endurance and nerves will be put to the test, but Sindarov's confidence is high after his strong start.
