In his first game against Gukesh too, Vidit had offered a bishop sacrifice. After defeating Nakamura, he joked that he was hoping the bishop sacrifice could become his insignia as a player.

Vidit Gujrathi’s bishop shot forward like a bullet fired from a sniper rifle, assassinating Hikaru Nakamura’s harmless-looking pawn resting on the h3 square.

It was only the 11th move of the game in the second round of the Candidates, but in Nakamura’s mind, alarm bells started going off. He now faced a choice. He could wrest back the h3 square with the pawn that sat in front of his king. But that was what Vidit wanted him to do, which is why he’d so boldly offered him the bishop. Or, the world No. 3 could ignore the bishop sacrifice. Nakamura chose the latter, electing to send his knight to the c4 square. It was a decision that eventually led to the 29-year-old from India defeating one of the pre-tournament favourites.

On the chessboard, there is perhaps no move more gloriously eye-catching than offering up a piece as a sacrifice. The sport has plenty of trick moves: the pin using the bishop, the fork with the knight, but nothing comes close to the dramatic flourish of a minor or major piece offered up at the altar because it helps you drastically improve your chances of winning.

That’s what Vidit was doing with his bishop. In the previous game too, against D Gukesh, he had offered his bishop up.

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After defeating Nakamura, Vidit joked that he was hoping the bishop sacrifice could become his insignia as a player.

“You know how Tigran Petrosian was famous for exchange sacrifices? It would be nice if the bishop sacrifice could be my (signature move),” smiled Vidit after ending Nakamura’s 47-game unbeaten streak in the classical format, a streak which had started at the last Candidates tournament in 2022.

“I’m not sure whether he missed bishop h3. Because he thought about his next move for quite some time. But it’s also hard to recommend some alternatives. Bishop to h3 was the star move. It’s rare to play a game like this where you get everything right. You get all the moves from your preparation in, and then he misplays the position. It’s rare that this happens against such a strong player,” Vidit said while analysing his game in the post-match press conference. “This is probably one of the best games of my career because of the importance of the event and my opponent. I’m definitely proud of it.”

If Nakamura took the bait and captured Vidit’s bishop, he would slide his queen on the back rank to the b8 square, thereby paralysing the American’s knight in the centre of the board. If Nakamura moved the knight, Vidit could easily place his queen on the g3 square, crippling his king. The last pawn in front of the king on f2 was already at the mercy of Vidit’s second bishop sitting on b6.

Anand concurred. “It’s losing with white pieces in the second round of the Candidates!! It’s not going to be a fun recap video,” the five-time world champion grinned before lapsing into more laughter.