Reigning world champion D Gukesh crossed another hurdle, beating China’s Wei Yi in the ninth and penultimate round to earn three full points and emerge as a top contender, along with Norwegian star Magnus Carlsen, for the prestigious Norway Chess title here.

With one round to go, Gukesh is placed second on 14.5 points, while five-time world champion Carlsen — who fought back from a losing position to defeat American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana and earn full points — is just half-a-point ahead in the six-player double round-robin tournament on Thursday. 

Gukesh will take on American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana, while Carlsen will play India’s Arjun Erigaisi in the deciding 10th round, with both hoping to prove a point in one-upmanship by claiming the title and a USD 69,000 prize purse.