The candidates tournament in Moscow has just concluded the 10th round, and American Fabiano Caruana has bolted into a tie for first (with just four games to go) after a great win over former world champ Vishy Anand. Anand was tied for first with Sergey Karjakin of Russia before this loss. Now, he falls back into a tie for third. Caruana is tied with Karjakin, whom he plays in the last round.

The other American hopeful, Hikaru Nakamura has had a dismal event so far. Not only has his play been poor, but he was involved in a “J’adoube.’’ incident. The touch move rule is sacred in chess, even more so at the highest level. Before you can touch a piece without having to move it, you need to say “J’adoube’’ or just “I adjust,’’ then all is good. If you don’t, you have to move the piece you touched if it is legal to do so. In a long rook and pawn endgame against Levon Aronian of Armenia, Nakamura, under a great deal of pressure the whole, long game, touched his king. Then seeing that any king move loses, he said “J’adoube.’’ This is the wrong order. Aronian immediately called the arbiter over, and, with everything on video, Nakamura acknowledged the error and moved his king. He lasted only a few more moves after that. Showing great signs of stress, he quickly left the playing room. We are not sure what penalty, if any, will be imposed on Nakamura, but he is still in the event, though in next-to-last place.

It would be truly great if Caruana should go on and win the event. The last American to play a world championship match was Gata Kamsky back in 1996 vs. Anatoly Karpov. And the last native born American (Kamsky’s family emigrated from Siberia when he was 15) was Bobby Fischer in 1972. And with the possibility of the world championship match coming to New York City, a Caruana Candidates victory would be that much nicer.

Winners: Spring Chess Tournament at Fuller Craft Museum: Quad Section: 1st: Paul Sciaraffa: 2.5-.5, Swiss Section, Juan Fernandez: 2.5-.5; Wachusett CC’s: George E. O’Rourke Memorial: 1st: Ed Harris, Marlboro, N.H., 4.5-.5, 2nd-5th: Ray Paulson, Lowell, George Mirijanian. Fitchburg, Paul Godin, Bedford, Larry Gladding, Leominster: all 4-1

Coming events: Waltham Brandeis April G/15; d3, April 1, Waltham CC, www.WalthamChessClub.org/Schedule.html; April Quads, April 2, Boylston CC, Cambridge, www.BoylstonChessClub.org; MACA’s 2016 Hurvitz Cup/State (Scholastic) Team Championship, April 2, Holiday Inn Boxborough, www.MassChess.org or info@masschess.org.

Answer to today’s problem: 1.Qf3 with the threat of 2.Qxf7 mate wins material, i.e.; 1…QxQ 2.BxB+! Kg8 3.gxQ.

Today’s problem