Seven months before the world title series Norway’s Magnus Carlsen and his US challenger, Fabiano Caruna, are in good form. The American is still benefiting from the momentum he achieved at the Berlin Candidates and in the Grenke Classic while Carlsen has been sparked by the emergence of a dangerous rival.

On Saturday, Magnus Calsen only needed 20 minutes to draw with Ding Liren and clinch his third Gashimov Memorial in Shamkir. At the US Open, Caruana is also playing brilliant chess and currently has a share of the lead after 7 rounds.

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