Iranian exile Alireza Firouzja, 16, shares the lead at tournament in the Netherlands after an impressive win against Anish GiriMagnus Carlsen’s streak of 111 games without defeat is a new landmark in the 29-year-old Norwegian’s career, but its climax has been four lacklustre draws at Wijk aan Zee which threaten to derail his impressive record there.
Carlsen’s halved games in the first four rounds completed an unbeaten sequence which broke Sergei Tiviakov’s 2004-05 record of 110 against weaker opposition. Arguably the champion’s splendid run at the elite Tata Steel Wijk tournament of seven victories and a second place in eight attempts is a still more outstanding achievement.