Hikaru key win against Daniil Dubov today

four key steps in game 3. Nakamura-Dubov Magnus Chess Tour Finals

Position 1 : white to play

Hikaru plays 17 b3 and after 17axb3 18 Qb3, White has a passed pawn. Shirov played 17 0-0 versus Dubov in Moscow 2019 and the game ended in a draw at move 20

Position 2 : white to play

Here White could try 21 b7 but 21..Bh4 22g3 Bg5 is a messy position. Hikaru uncorked 31 Ne3! which is the star move of the game. Black loses the bishop pair and white will use his knight to jump to c4, then a5-c6 supporting the b-pawn. The knight on c4 is much stronger than the bishop in d8

Position 3: white to play

Hikaru built a strong  advantage.

His pawn is on b7. How to go further? he played 38 Rdc1 renewing the Nc6 threat on which Dubov played 38..Bf4 attacking a rook. 

Position 4: white to play

White played 40 Qxd8+ and you can replay the moves above.

Full game replay here

yay go hikaru

Let's go hikaru!!

Watched all the matches against Dubov.

I am a feeling Hikaru will play Magnus in the final. This will be interesting as in Lindores Hikaru won the match but in one event before Magnus won the match.

let's go hikaru