MOSCOW, Sep 3 Russian chess player Ian Nepomniachtchi lost to reigning world champion Norwegian Magnus Carlsen in the first round of the fifth stage of the Grand Chess Tour in St. Louis (USA). The game in which the Russian played black pieces ended on the 43rd move. Firouzja (France) — Fabiano Cauana (USA), Leinier Dominguez (USA) — Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France), Hans Niemann (USA) — Levon Aronian (USA) — ended in a draw. The final stage of the Grand Chess Tour takes place in the USA with 1 to September 12. In early July, Nepomniachtchi won the Candidates Tournament in Madrid and won the right to play again with Magnus Carlsen for the world crown in 2023. However, the Norwegian refused to play a match for the world title. Now Nepomniachtchi must face the Chinese Ding Liren, who came second in the Candidates Tournament.
