A surprise new leader at the Grand Prix
Vugar Gashimov takes shock lead
In an increasingly unpredictable and exciting tournament, the new leader is the rank outsider, Vugar Gashimov (pictured) from the host country of Azerbaijan.
Gashimov knocked back yesterday's leader Gata Kamsky by beating him with the Ruy Lopez. Despite being the second lowest rated player in the event and perhaps the least familiar to chess fans, he is now undefeated with a score of 4.5/7.
Elsewhere, in a thrilling seventh round, Magnus Carlsen unleashed the Sicilian Dragon to win with black against Teimour Radjabov, thereby leapfrogging past him on the leaderboard. Ivan Cheparinov continued his comeback with another win; this time Shakhriyar Mamedyarov was his victim. Can Cheparinov pull off a comeback to rival those of his friend and compatriot Topalov?
Taking Cheparinov's place at the bottom of the table is Ernesto Inarkiev who lost his second game in a row, this time to Sergey Karjakin.
With 6 rounds still to go, there could be more upsets yet as the race hots up.
The results in round 7:
| Gashimov, Vugar | - Kamsky, Gata | 1-0 | 52 | C88 | Ruy Lopez Closed |
| Grischuk, Alexander | - Wang Yue | ½-½ | 59 | D15 | Slav Defence |
| Radjabov, Teimour | - Carlsen, Magnus | 0-1 | 40 | B77 | Sicilian Modern Dragon |
| Adams, Michael | - Bacrot, Etienne | ½-½ | 47 | C88 | Ruy Lopez Closed |
| Karjakin, Sergey | - Inarkiev, Ernesto | 1-0 | 43 | C99 | Ruy Lopez Chigorin |
| Navara, David | - Svidler, Peter | ½-½ | 39 | E94 | King's Indian Classical |
| Cheparinov, Ivan | - Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | 1-0 | 40 | D43 | Anti-Meran Gambit |
The leaderboard after 7 rounds:
| Rank | Name | Rtg | FED | Pts | Tie-break |
| 1 | Gashimov Vugar | 2679 | AZE | 4½ | 16.00 |
| 2 | Wang Yue | 2689 | CHN | 4½ | 15.50 |
| 3 | Grischuk Alexander | 2716 | RUS | 4½ | 14.50 |
| 4 | Carlsen Magnus | 2765 | NOR | 4 | 13.75 |
| 5 | Kamsky Gata | 2726 | USA | 4 | 12.50 |
| 6 | Radjabov Teimour | 2751 | AZE | 3½ | 11.75 |
| 7 | Bacrot Etienne | 2705 | FRA | 3½ | 11.75 |
| 8 | Svidler Peter | 2746 | RUS | 3½ | 11.25 |
| 9 | Karjakin Sergey | 2732 | UKR | 3½ | 10.75 |
| 10 | Adams Michael | 2729 | ENG | 3½ | 10.75 |
| 11 | Mamedyarov Shakhriyar | 2752 | AZE | 3 | 11.75 |
| 12 | Navara David | 2672 | CZE | 2½ | 9.50 |
| 13 | Cheparinov Ivan | 2695 | BUL | 2½ | 6.75 |
| 14 | Inarkiev Ernesto | 2684 | RUS | 2 | 7.00 |
