Fabiano Caruana has painful slip up vs Arjun Erigaisi, Gukesh's winning streak ends, 'Human' Magnus Carlsen blunders whole piece in loss

“This tournament could have very easily been over,” declared Hikaru Nakamura on the Norway Chess broadcast with an undisguised smile on his face as he watched his ashen-faced compatriot Fabiano Caruana extend his hand in resignation to Arjun Erigaisi in round 8 of the strongest invitational tournament of the year.

- GNS News Agency, June 10

But with two rounds remaining at Norway Chess, the tournament is anything but over. Arjun’s victory in 71 moves over leader Caruana ensured that at least five players head into the second rest day of the tournament with their tails up: leader Caruana (12.5 points) finds himself being chased by Magnus Carlsen (12), Nakamura (11.5), Gukesh (11.5), and Arjun (10.5). Wei Yiis last with eight points, but each outright win earns players three points, meaning two straight wins against his next two opponents Gukesh and Nakamura might just ensure him a title. It's very unlikely. But on a day when Carlsen had blundered an entire piece against him for no compensation in return — and then lost! — the Chinese grandmaster cannot be faulted for believing in miracles.