Nakamura leads Tashkent Grand Prix after five rounds

Hikaru is sitting on +2. He tied for 3rd-6th in the first Grand Prix event. Two players from the Grand Prix will qualify for the next (2015-16) Candidates Tournament.

The co-winners of the first Grand Prix (Baku) are having a tough start: Gelfand is -2 and Caruana (almost certain to qualify for the Candidates based on rating) is -1.

Nakamura followed some hair-raising games with a Karpovian grind against Gelfand. R+N+4 pawns vs. R+N+3 pawns is notoriously difficult to defend. Game here (select games in drop-down box).

en.chessbase.com/post/tashkent-closing

An undefeated second place puts Nakamura second in the GP standings. Top two qualify for the Candidates. (Italy’s Fabiano Caruana, in first place, is also a US citizen who was weaned on USCF events!)