Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Finals

[Wayne Komer]

Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Finals

August 16, 2020

Final

Round Three

Ah, Sunday morning chess from the comfort of one’s home! In my neck of the woods, there is a huge summer thunderstorm coming from the north. Hopefully all the games will be completed before that hits with possible power outages.

Game 1, August 16
Nakamura, Hikaru – Carlsen, Magnus
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.Nbd2 O-O 7.Nc4 Nd7 8.O-O f6 9.a4 a5 10.Be3 b6 11.h4 Qe8 12.g3 Be7 13.Ne1 Nc5 14.Ng2 Be6 15.b3 Qd7 16.Qe2 Rae8 17.f3 Bxc4 18.dxc4 Qh3 19.Kf2 Qe6 20.Kg1 f5 21.exf5 Qxf5 22.Rad1 Qh3 23.Bf2 Bd6 24.Rfe1 Re7 25.Qe3 Ref7 26.f4 exf4 27.gxf4 Qg4 28.Qe2 Rxf4 29.Qxg4 Rxg4 30.Rd4 Rg6 31.h5 Rh6 32.Rh4 Rf5 33.Be3 Rhxh5 34.Rxh5 Rxh5 35.Bf4 Bxf4 36.Nxf4 Rf5 37.Ne6 Nxe6 38.Rxe6 c5 39.Re7 h5 40.Rxc7 Kh7 41.Kg2 Kh6 42.c3 Rf6 43.Rc8 Kg5 44.Rd8 Kg4 45.b4 h4 0-1

- After two tough, tough days Magnus Carlsen starts Day 3 with the smoothest win imaginable!

Game 2, August 16
Carlsen, Magnus – Nakamura, Hikaru
C67 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence, open variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.Re1 Nd6 6.Nxe5 Be7 7.Bf1 Nf5 8.c3 Nxe5 9.Rxe5 d6 10.Re1 d5 11.d4 O-O 12.Bf4 Bd6 13.Qf3 Nh4 14.Qg3 Nf5 15.Qf3 Nh4 16.Qg3 Nf5 17.Qf3 1/2-1/2

- Two can play at that game! After winning Game 1, Magnus has no problem making a lightning fast 17-move draw against Hikaru's Berlin

- Magnus Carlsen repeats Hikaru's trick yesterday of making a very quick draw to cut the games remaining to two - but will Magnus fare better than Hikaru yesterday?

Game 3, August 16
Nakamura, Hikaru – Carlsen, Magnus
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.Nbd2 O-O 7.Qe2 Re8 8.Nc4 Nd7 9.h4 a5 10.h5 b5 11.Ne3 Nf8 12.Bd2 Ne6 13.a4 b4 14.b3 Ba6 15.g3 Bxe3 16.Bxe3 f5 17.Rh4 f4 18.Bd2 Nd4 19.Nxd4 Qxd4 20.Rc1 fxg3 21.fxg3 Qg1+ 22.Qf1 Qxg3+ 23.Qf2 Qxf2+ 24.Kxf2 Re6 25.Rg1 Rf8+ 26.Ke1 Bc8 27.h6 g6 28.Bg5 Ree8 29.Rh2 Rf3 30.Rf2 Rxf2 31.Kxf2 Rf8+ 32.Ke3 Kf7 33.Rf1+ Ke8 34.Rxf8+ Kxf8 35.Bd8 c5 36.Bxc7 Ke7 37.Bxe5 Kd7 38.Bf6 Bb7 39.Kf4 Bc6 1-0

Position after Black’s 29…Rf3



- The Berlin theme match continues in Game 3, but Hikaru plays another Anti-Berlin as he needs to mount a comeback:

- Leko pointed out earlier that if all the rooks leave the board Hikaru's Bd8 should let him pick up most of the black pawns... and now it can't be stopped!

- Now Magnus has been punished for a quick draw? Hikaru hits back and we're level going into today's last rapid game, when Magnus has White!

In the interval between the third and fourth games, the guys talk about players who can take you out of your comfort zone and mention in particular Baadur Jobava, the grandmaster from Georgia. He seems to have been out of top-flite chess for the last couple of years. There are games from the World Blitz Championships 2019 held in Moscow and the Aeroflot Open but he was not among the prize winners.

Also, a viewer asks Yasser about the bookshelves behind him in the Zoom shots today. Yasser says that on the third floor of his house, he has book shelves with books, NIC Yearbooks, encyclopedias etc. Even so, his wife Yvette also comes up and shares the room.

The books behind him are copies of ones that he wrote. He hopes they send out a subliminal message to viewers to buy those books. Asked for his favorite he says it is Chess Duels – because of the anecdotes and stories about great players. He met Max Euwe and Botvinnik. He was in Brussels at a GMA meeting when he was approached by Mikhail Botvinnik and his son Igor. Mikhail had bound a book of his best games in leather and inscribed it to Yasser. There was also a bottle of Armenian cognac!

He mentions playing Vasily Smyslov and he always thought that the World Champions put down their piece on a move firmly and slammed the chess clock. But Vasily fumbled the piece in the air and only eventually found the square it was moving to. What Yasser didn’t realize at that point was that Smyslov was going blind and had trouble seeing what he was doing.

Chess Duels: My Games with the World Champions
By Yasser Seirawan
Everyman Chess 2018
Reprint of the 2010 edition
Paperback, 432 pages

Game 4, August 16
Carlsen, Magnus – Nakamura, Hikaru
D02 Queen’s Bishop game

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 Qb6 5.Nc3 Bd7 6.Rb1 e6 7.a3 Nc6 8.Be2 Nh5 9.Be5 cxd4 10.Bxd4 Nxd4 11.Qxd4 Qxd4 12.exd4 Nf4 13.Bf1 Bd6 14.h4 h5 15.g3 Ng6 16.Bb5 Rc8 17.Kd2 a6 18.Bxd7+ Kxd7 19.Nd1 f6 20.Ne3 Ne7 21.c3 Rc6 22.Ne1 Nc8 23.Nd3 Nb6 24.b4 Rb8 25.Nc5+ Ke7 26.a4 Bxc5 27.bxc5 Nxa4 28.Rb3 b5 29.Ra1 Rd8 30.Nc2 e5 31.f4 Kf7 32.Rf1 exf4 33.gxf4 f5 34.Nb4 Rg6 35.Rf2 Ra8 36.Rb1 Rg3 37.Nd3 Re8 38.Ne5+ Kg8 39.Rc1 a5 40.Re2 b4 41.cxb4 axb4 42.Re3 Rg2+ 43.Re2 Rg3 44.Re3 Rg2+ 45.Re2 Rg3 1/2-1/2

- A thriller with chances for both players ended in a draw, and we're again going to blitz games!

Blitz Games

Game 5, August 16
5+3
Nakamura, Hikaru – Carlsen, Magnus
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.Nbd2 O-O 7.Qe2 Re8 8.Nc4 Nd7 9.Bd2 b5 10.Ne3 Nf8 11.h4 Ne6 12.Nxe5 a5 13.Qh5 g6 14.Qf3 f6 15.Nxc6 Qd7 16.Qxf6 Qxc6 17.Bc3 Rf8 18.Qh8+ Kf7 19.Qxh7+ Ke8 20.Qxg6+ Kd7 21.d4 b4 22.dxc5 1-0

Position after Black’s blunder 11…Ne6?



- It looks like Magnus has fallen for a "tricky trap" (Yasser)!

- Blunders on moves 11 and 12 by Carlsen and Nakamura takes the lead! Magnus must now win the next blitz game on demand to force Armageddon!

Game 6, August 16
5+3
Carlsen, Magnus – Nakamura, Hikaru
A20 English, Modern Nimzowitsch

1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.O-O Nb6 7.b3 Be6 8.Nc3 Qd7 9.d4 exd4 10.Nb5 d3 11.Bb2 f6 12.Nbd4 Nxd4 13.Nxd4 Bd5 14.Bxd5 Qxd5 15.Qxd3 c5 16.Qb5+ Qd7 17.Qxd7+ Kxd7 18.Nf5 Ke6 19.e4 Rc8 20.Rac1 c4 21.Rfd1 g6 22.Nd4+ Kf7 23.Nb5 Be7 24.Nxa7 Ra8 25.Nb5 Rxa2 26.Bd4 Nc8 27.Rxc4 Rd8 28.Rc7 b6 29.Nc3 Rc2 30.Kg2 Ke8 31.Nd5 Rxc7 32.Nxc7+ Kf7 33.Nd5 f5 34.f3 Bc5 35.Bxc5 bxc5 36.Rc1 fxe4 37.fxe4 Nd6 38.Rxc5 Nxe4 39.Rc7+ Ke6 40.Nf4+ Kf6 41.Kf3 Nd2+ 42.Kg4 Nxb3 43.Rxh7 Nd4 44.Ra7 Rd6 45.Ra8 Nf5 46.Rf8+ Kg7 47.Ra8 Kf6 48.Ra2 Nh6+ 49.Kf3 g5 50.Ng2 Nf5 51.Ne1 Kg6 52.Kf2 Rf6 53.Ra4 Rb6 54.Nf3 Rb2+ 55.Kg1 Ne3 56.Re4 Rb1+ 57.Kf2 Nd1+ 58.Kg2 Rb2+ 59.Kg1 Rb3 60.Re6+ Kh5 61.Ne5 Ne3 62.h3 Rb2 63.Re8 Kh6 64.g4 Rg2+ 65.Kh1 Rg3 66.Rh8+ Kg7 67.Rh5 Kf6 68.Nd3 Nxg4 69.Nc5 Nf2+ 70.Kh2 Rxh3+ 71.Rxh3 Nxh3 72.Ne4+ Ke7 73.Nxg5 Nxg5 1/2-1/2

- Disaster for Magnus Carlsen, who spoils a totally won position - Hikaru Nakamura wins the set and takes a 2:1 lead in the final!

- Huge frustration for Magnus when he fails to convert a won position to force Armageddon!

- Hikaru Nakamura: "Yesterday I should have won the match and today I should have lost the match, so all is right with the world!"

Result after Game Six

Nakamura-Carlsen 3.5-2.5

[Wayne Komer]

Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Finals

August 17, 2020

Final

Round Four

Game 1, August 17
Carlsen, Magnus – Nakamura, Hikaru
A20 English, Modern Nimzowitsch

1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.O-O Nb6 7.b3 Be6 8.Bb2 f6 9.Nc3 Qd7 10.Qc1 Nd4 11.Nxd4 exd4 12.Ne4 O-O-O 13.a4 d3 14.a5 Nd5 15.Nc5 Bxc5 16.Qxc5 Kb8 17.Bd4 b6 18.axb6 cxb6 19.Qa3 dxe2 20.Rfe1 Rc8 21.Rxe2 Rc7 22.Rae1 Bh3 23.Bxb6 Nxb6 24.Re7 Qxd2 25.Bxh3 Rd8 26.Qa6 Rxe7 27.Rxe7 Qd1+ 28.Bf1 Rd7 29.Re8+ Rd8 30.Re3 h5 31.h4 g5 32.hxg5 fxg5 33.Re7 Rd7 34.Re5 Rd5 35.Re8+ Rd8 36.Qb5 h4 37.Qe5+ Kc8 38.Re6 hxg3 39.Rc6+ Kb7 40.Qc7+ Ka8 41.Qxg3 Nd5 42.Qxg5 Nf4 43.Qxf4 Rg8+ 44.Kh2 Qxf1 45.Qf3 Kb8 46.Qf4+ Ka8 47.Qf3 Kb8 48.Rh6 Qg1+ 49.Kh3 Qf1+ 50.Kh4 Qg1 51.Qf4+ Ka8 52.Qe4+ Kb8 53.Qe5+ Ka8 54.Qd5+ Kb8 55.Qb5+ Ka8 56.Qc6+ Kb8 57.Qd6+ Ka8 58.Qd5+ Kb8 59.Qe5+ Ka8 60.Qe4+ Kb8 61.Qf4+ Ka8 62.Qf3+ Kb8 63.Qf4+ 1/2-1/2

Position after White’s 23.Bxb6



- No Berlin as Magnus opens Day 4 with the English Opening (1.c4)!

- 13.a4! looks very promising for Magnus

- 22...Bh3? 23.Bxb6! and it looks like Magnus is winning the first game of the day!

- A great escape for Hikaru Nakamura after Magnus missed at least one clear win!

- Incredible defensive skills by Nakamura again, as he is able to find the only moves that keeps him in the game.

- This was one heckuva save by Nakamura! Brilliancy on the board
________

In between games, they are listing some of the contributions to the KIVA campaign.

- GM Peter Svidler contributing to the campaign. He’ll be gifting 10% of his prize winnings from the chess24 Legends of Chess!

- WFM Yvette Nagel-Seirawan & GM Yasser Seirawan support our KIVA campaign with EUR 1,000.

Early contributors were Vassily Ivanchuk and Ding Liren.
_______

Game 2, August 17
Nakamura, Hikaru – Carlsen, Magnus
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 d6 5.c3 g6 6.d4 Bd7 7.dxe5 Nxe5 8.Nxe5 dxe5 9.Bxd7+ Qxd7 10.Qxd7+ Nxd7 11.Be3 Bc5 12.Ke2 Bxe3 13.Kxe3 Ke7 14.Rd1 Rhd8 15.Na3 Nc5 16.Nc4 Ke6 17.b3 b6 18.Nb2 a5 19.Rxd8 Rxd8 20.Rd1 Rxd1 21.Nxd1 f5 22.f3 f4+ 23.Ke2 g5 24.Nf2 h5 25.Nd3 Kd6 26.Nxc5 Kxc5 27.Kd3 Kb5 28.a3 c6 29.c4+ Kc5 30.Kc3 b5 31.b4+ axb4+ 32.axb4+ Kd6 33.cxb5 cxb5 34.h3 h4 35.Kc2 Ke6 36.Kc3 Kd6 37.Kc2 Ke6 38.Kc3 Kd6 1/2-1/2

- A new twist in the Berlin (or Anti-Berlin) battles! Not much time for the players to recover from that fiercely fought first game:

- The first 8 moves followed just one game, Maroczy-Euwe from 1921!

- So we have the traditional Game 2 breather, but, as we've seen on the last few days, that's normally followed by incredible tension to come!

Game 3, August 17
Carlsen, Magnus – Nakamura, Hikaru
C50 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.c3 h6 7.Re1 O-O 8.Nbd2 a5 9.Nf1 Be6 10.Bb5 Ne7 11.d4 exd4 12.cxd4 Bb6 13.Ng3 d5 14.e5 Ne4 15.Bd3 Nxg3 16.hxg3 a4 17.Bc2 a3 18.bxa3 Bg4 19.a4 Qd7 20.Ba3 Rfe8 21.Bxe7 Qxe7 22.Qd3 g6 23.Nh4 Qb4 24.Nxg6 Qxd4 25.Ne7+ Kf8 26.Nxd5 Qxf2+ 27.Kh2 Rad8 28.Rf1 Rxe5 29.Rxf2 Rdxd5 30.Rxf7+ Ke8 31.Qxd5 Rxd5 32.Bg6 Kd8 33.Re1 c6 34.Rxb7 Bc7 35.Re8+ Kd7 36.Rh8 1-0

- More resourcefulness from Hikaru, but objectively it seems he's busted after 28.Rf1!

"Hikaru is going crazy, I think!" (Leko)

"26…Qxf2+ was just a shock!" Carlsen wondered if he'd missed some mate, since he felt the move was just impossible for Hikaru (it turns out Magnus was right)

Yasser: "I think if Magnus doesn't win this one we're going to have a suicide watch!"

- Nakamura had to give up his queen and Carlsen is winning, but a lot of play still!

- On chessbomb, an Irish viewer seeing the loss of the Queen quotes the old song Molly Malone

She died of a fever
And sure, so one could save her
(And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone)

- Magnus Carlsen takes a 2-1 lead after cutting off all Hikaru Nakamura's escape routes in a tense tactical skirmish

Anish Giri comes to join Peter and Yasser

Game 4, August 17
Nakamura, Hikaru – Carlsen, Magnus
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 d6 5.c3 g6 6.d4 Bg7 7.O-O O-O 8.Re1 exd4 9.cxd4 Bg4 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.Nbd2 Re8 12.Qc2 c5 13.dxc5 d5 14.h3 Bxf3 15.Nxf3 dxe4 16.Nh2 Qd3 17.Qa4 a6 18.Rd1 Qb5 19.Qc2 Rad8 20.Be3 Nd5 21.Bg5 f6 22.a4 Qc6 23.Bd2 f5 24.Rab1 f4 25.Qc4 Kh8 26.Be1 e3 27.b4 exf2+ 28.Bxf2 Ne3 29.Bxe3 Rxd1+ 30.Rxd1 fxe3 31.b5 axb5 32.axb5 e2 33.Qxe2 Qxc5+ 34.Qf2 Re1+ 35.Rxe1 Bd4 36.Re8+ Kg7 37.Re7+ Kg8 38.Re8+ Kg7 39.Re7+ Kg8 40.Re8+ Kg7 1/2-1/2

Anish Giri (on the opening of Game 4) - When Magnus plays so quickly you know you’re are not only facing Magnus 2800 but his engine 3800!

- It's the Berlin again, but this time Hikaru can't take a quick draw!

Anish Giri: "It's so good to see when someone is able to put up a fight against Magnus!"

- Carlsen's 12...c5! and 13...d5! is "prep for sure, a fantastic idea", says Giri, with Nakamura in a tough situation for a must-win game!

- The way Magnus clinched today's set amused Anish!

- The Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour final is now tied at 2:2, so the best-of-7 match has become a regular best-of-3! Tomorrow is the last day when one of the players won't be able to clinch victory

Final Result of Round Four

Carlsen-Nakamura 2.5-1.5

[Wayne Komer]

Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Finals

August 18, 2020

Final

Round Five

Discussing the action in the first game, Yasser says that he and Canadian Master Bruce Harper are working on a book about King walks. These are voluntary – not King marches, which are forced. It should be published soon.

Yasser said that in Soviet literature, a fourth phase of the game is mentioned. We all know the three phases – opening, middle game and endgame but the fourth is queen endings. These are very difficult. Hikaru and Magnus are in the fourth phase at the moment.

Game 1, August 18
Nakamura, Hikaru – Carlsen, Magnus
C67 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence, open variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.Re1 Nd6 6.Nxe5 Be7 7.Bf1 Nf5 8.Nf3 O-O 9.d4 d5 10.Nc3 Bb4 11.a3 Bxc3 12.bxc3 Nd6 13.h3 Bf5 14.Bf4 Re8 15.Rxe8+ Qxe8 16.Nh4 Be4 17.f3 Bg6 18.Nxg6 hxg6 19.Bd3 Na5 20.Bxd6 cxd6 21.Qd2 Nc4 22.Bxc4 dxc4 23.Re1 Qa4 24.Qc1 Re8 25.Rxe8+ Qxe8 26.Kf2 Qa4 27.Qb2 b6 28.h4 Kf8 29.Qb4 Qc6 30.g4 Ke7 31.Kg3 Qd5 32.Qb1 Qe6 33.Qc1 Kd7 34.Kf2 Kc6 35.Qg5 Kb7 36.Qd8 f5 37.Qf8 fxg4 38.fxg4 Ka6 39.Kf3 d5 40.Kf4 g5+ 41.hxg5 Qe4+ 42.Kg3 Qe1+ 43.Qf2 Qxc3+ 44.Kf4 Qxa3 45.Ke5 Qe7+ 46.Kxd5 Kb5 47.Qf5 a5 48.c3 a4 49.Qb1+ Ka5 50.Kc6 Qe6+ 51.Kc7 Qe7+ 52.Kc6 Qe8+ 53.Kc7 Qe7+ 54.Kc6 1/2-1/2

Position after Black’s 40…g5+




- We're down to a queen and pawn ending - Magnus is better, but Leko calls the advantage "symbolic"

- 42...Qxc2! seems just to have been winning for Magnus, while after 42...Qe1+ White is surviving - but it's balanced on a knife edge!

- Magnus came close to squeezing a draw out of nothing, but Game 1 of Day 5 ends in a draw

(to be continued)

[Wayne Komer]

Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Finals

August 18, 2020

Final

Round Five (continued)

Talking about the change from the past in taking your chess material to tournaments, Peter said that as a 13-year-old boy, he had 15 kg of handwritten notes that he had to carry on to the airplane as hand luggage and he could not be separated from them because they were his life.

Yasser said that the US Team for the Malta Olympiad 1980 had lots of chess stuff. They divvied it up with player A taking Chess Informants 1-8, player B taking 9-16 etc. Yasser said that he didn’t carry 15 kg like Peter did but he carried a lot. Now a laptop might have a million games on it. By the way, Pal Benko was the team captain of the US Team.

Peter said that when he was starting in chess, the Chess Informant came every half year and when it came, he couldn’t fall asleep until he checked out all the lines in his repertoire against the Informant’s.

(Wikipedia) - Chess Informant published two issues per year in 1966–1990, three issues per year in 1991–2011[ and four issues per year since 2012. Each issue offers several hundred games or fragments of games from master play, mostly annotated by the players themselves. A board of leading players selects the best games of each issue, and these are republished in the next issue often with more extensive annotations.

For two decades prior to the emergence of computer databases, Chess Informant publications were a leading source of games and analysis for serious chess players. The publication routinely appears in the bibliography of texts on specific chess openings and other chess texts. Former world champion Garry Kasparov asserted, "We are all children of Informant" and then explained that his own development as a chess player corresponded with the ascent of Chess Informant's popularity.

Other world champions, including Anatoly Karpov, Vladimir Kramnik, and Viswanathan Anand, attest that Informant is central to their tournament preparation. From millions of games played at some of the most important tournaments at the globe, more than 110,000 games have been published in first 112 volumes of Chess Informant series (1966–2011). Among contributors there were more than 5,000 notable chess players including all the world champions from Max Euwe to Anand.

Game 2, August 18
Carlsen, Magnus – Nakamura, Hikaru
C50 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.c3 h6 7.Re1 O-O 8.Nbd2 a5 9.Nf1 Be6 10.Bb5 Ne7 11.d4 exd4 12.cxd4 Bb6 13.Ng3 d5 14.e5 Ne4 15.Bd3 Nxg3 16.hxg3 Bg4 17.Bc2 c5 18.Be3 cxd4 19.Bxd4 Rc8 20.Rc1 Rc4 21.Bxb6 Qxb6 22.b3 Rc7 23.Bb1 Rfc8 24.Rxc7 Qxc7 25.Qd4 Be6 26.Qd3 Bf5 27.Qe3 Qc3 28.Qf4 Bxb1 29.Rxb1 Ng6 30.Qf5 Qc2 31.Nd4 Qxf5 32.Nxf5 Kf8 33.f4 Ne7 34.Nd6 Rc2 35.a4 d4 36.Rd1 Nc6 37.Nb5 Rb2 38.Rd3 Ke7 39.Kh2 Ke6 40.Nxd4+ Nxd4 41.Rxd4 Rxb3 42.Rd6+ Ke7 43.Rd5 b6 44.Rd6 1/2-1/2

- In Game 2 the players blitz out the same opening as the game Magnus won yesterday, but Hikaru varies on move 16:

- A tense start to the day, with Game 2 another draw in which Hikaru showed that he'd repaired the opening that cost him a loss yesterday!

Game 3, August 18
Nakamura, Hikaru – Carlsen, Magnus
C67 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence, open variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.Re1 Nd6 6.Nxe5 Be7 7.Bf1 Nf5 8.Nf3 O-O 9.d4 d5 10.Nc3 Bb4 11.Bg5 f6 12.Bc1 Nce7 13.a3 Bxc3 14.bxc3 Nd6 15.Nd2 Bf5 16.c4 c6 17.a4 Re8 18.c5 Nf7 19.Nb3 Qd7 20.Bf4 Ng6 21.Rxe8+ Rxe8 22.Bg3 h5 23.h4 Bg4 24.f3 Bf5 25.a5 a6 26.Qd2 Nh6 27.Re1 Rxe1 28.Bxe1 Be6 29.Bd3 Bf5 30.Bf1 Be6 31.Bd3 Bf5 32.Bf1 1/2-1/2

- Hikaru had some pressure in Game 3, but it fizzled out into a draw. Magnus now has White in the final rapid game!

Game 4, August 18
Carlsen, Magnus – Nakamura, Hikaru
D02 Queen’s Bishop game

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 Qb6 5.c4 cxd4 6.Qxd4 Nbd7 7.Nc3 Qxd4 8.exd4 dxc4 9.Bxc4 Nb6 10.Bb3 e6 11.Ke2 Bb4 12.Rac1 O-O 13.Ne5 Rd8 14.Rhd1 Bd7 15.Nxd7 Rxd7 16.a3 Be7 17.Be5 Ng4 18.Bg3 Nf6 19.Na4 Nxa4 20.Bxa4 b5 21.Bxb5 Rb7 22.a4 a6 23.Bc6 Rxb2+ 24.Rd2 Rxd2+ 25.Kxd2 Rd8 26.Kd3 Rc8 27.Rc4 Nh5 28.Be5 f6 29.Bg3 Nxg3 30.hxg3 a5 31.Bd7 Rxc4 32.Bxe6+ Kf8 33.Kxc4 Bb4 34.g4 Ke7 35.Bg8 h6 36.Kd5 Be1 37.f3 Bc3 38.Ke4 Bb2 39.Bc4 Bc3 40.d5 Bb4 41.Kf5 Bc5 42.Kg6 Kf8 43.f4 Bd6 44.g5 hxg5 45.fxg5 fxg5 46.Kxg5 Bb4 1/2-1/2

- Magnus plays the London System in a critical game - if either player wins they'll take the lead in the match and could win $140,000 tomorrow!

- For the first time we have all four draws in rapid chess, with the set to be decided in blitz or Armageddon!

Blitz Games

Game 5, August 18
5+3
Nakamura, Hikaru – Carlsen, Magnus
B03 Alekhine’s Defence, Four Pawns Attack

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 Bf5 7.Nc3 e6 8.Nf3 Bb4 9.Be2 c5 10.a3 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 Nc6 12.O-O O-O 13.Be3 Na5 14.Nd2 Bg6 15.Qe1 Na4 16.Nf3 Nb2 17.Bg5 Qd7 18.Qh4 cxd4 19.cxd4 Nbxc4 20.Qg4 Qd5 21.Rae1 Rac8 22.h4 h5 23.Qg3 Nxa3 24.Bf6 Nc2 25.Bd3 Nxe1 26.Rxe1 Qd7 27.d5 Rc3 28.Re3 Rxd3 29.Rxd3 exd5 30.e6 Qxe6 31.Bd4 Nc6 32.Rd2 Qg4 33.Qf2 Be4 34.Ne5 Nxe5 35.Bxe5 Rc8 36.Kh2 f6 37.Bd4 b6 38.Ra2 Rc2 39.Rxc2 Bxc2 40.Bxf6 gxf6 41.Qxc2 Qxh4+ 42.Kg1 Qe1+ 43.Kh2 Qe5+ 44.Kh1 Kg7 45.Qc6 d4 46.Qb7+ Kh6 47.Qxa7 d3 48.Qd7 Qe1+ 49.Kh2 d2 50.Qd8 Qh4+ 51.Kg1 Qf4 52.Qh8+ Kg5 53.Qg8+ Kh4 54.Qd5 Qe3+ 55.Kh2 Qe5+ 56.g3+ Qxg3+ 57.Kh1 Qe1+ 58.Kg2 Qe2+ 0-1

- If the Alekhine Defense was good enough for Bobby Fischer to try it in a world championship match, it surely is good enough for an online blitz game and Magnus Carlsen proves it.

- Hikaru had his chance with 28. Bxg6
- Headshaking by Naka, position is bad now
- always a bad decision to play the 4 pawns against the Alekhine

- Magnus Carlsen's Alekhine surprise pays off to perfection as he wins the first blitz game - Hikaru must now win on demand with Black to force Armageddon!

Game 6, August 18
5+3
Carlsen, Magnus – Nakamura, Hikaru
E94 King’s Indian, Orthodox variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 O-O 5.e4 d6 6.Be2 Nbd7 7.O-O e5 8.Be3 Ng4 9.Bg5 f6 10.Bh4 h5 11.h3 Nh6 12.Bg3 Kh7 13.Qc2 c6 14.Rad1 Qe7 15.c5 dxc5 16.d5 Nb6 17.dxc6 bxc6 18.Na4 Nxa4 19.Qxa4 Rb8 20.b3 Rb4 21.Qxc6 Bb7 22.Qd7 Rf7 23.Qxe7 Rxe7 24.Nd2 Bxe4 25.Nxe4 Rxe4 26.Bc4 Rd4 27.f3 Red7 28.Ra1 Nf5 29.Bf2 Bh6 30.Rfe1 Bd2 31.Bxd4 cxd4 32.Red1 Be3+ 33.Kh2 h4 34.b4 Bf4+ 35.Kg1 Ne3 36.Rdc1 d3 37.Bb5 Rd4 38.Rc7+ Kh6 39.Rd7 Rxb4 40.Bxd3 Rb2 41.Bf1 Nf5 42.a4 Be3+ 43.Kh2 Bd4 44.Rc1 Ne3 45.a5 Rf2 46.Kg1 Ra2 47.a6 Nxf1+ 48.Kxf1 Rf2+ 49.Ke1 Rxg2 50.f4 Rg1+ 51.Kd2 Be3+ 52.Kxe3 Rxc1 53.fxe5 Re1+ 54.Kf3 Rxe5 55.Rxa7 Ra5 56.Ra8 Ra3+ 57.Kg4 Ra4+ 58.Kf3 Kg5 59.a7 Ra1 60.Ke3 Ra3+ 61.Ke4 Ra2 62.Kf3 Ra6 63.Ke4 Ra3 64.Kd5 Kf4 65.Rh8 Rxa7 66.Rxh4+ Kf5 67.Rh8 Rd7+ 68.Kc5 g5 69.Rh6 Ke5 70.h4 gxh4 71.Rxh4 Rc7+ 72.Kb6 Rc2 73.Rh1 f5 74.Re1+ Kf4 75.Rf1+ Ke4 76.Re1+ Kf3 77.Rf1+ Rf2 78.Rd1 f4 79.Kc5 Kg2 80.Kd4 f3 0-1

Position after Black’s 77….Rf2



Black wins in 27 moves

- What a thriller, as Hikaru Nakamura wins with Black to force Armageddon!

Armageddon, August 18
Carlsen, Magnus – Nakamura, Hikaru
E29 Nimzo-Indian, Samisch, Capablanca variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 c5 6.e3 Nc6 7.Bd3 O-O 8.Ne2 b6 9.e4 Ne8 10.O-O Ba6 11.f4 f5 12.exf5 exf5 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.Be3 d6 15.Ng3 g6 16.Re1 Nf6 17.Bf2 Qd7 18.Nf1 Na5 19.Bh4 Rae8 20.Rxe8 Qxe8 21.Bxf6 Rxf6 22.Qf3 Re6 23.Rb1 Bxc4 24.Bxc4 Nxc4 25.a4 Kg7 26.Qb7+ Qf7 27.Qa6 Re7 28.Rb8 Kh6 29.h3 Qe6 30.Ra8 Nd2 31.Rd8 Nxf1 32.Qxf1 Qe3+ 33.Kh2 Re4 34.Rxd6 Qxf4+ 35.Qxf4+ Rxf4 36.a5 Rc4 37.Ra6 Rxc3 38.Rxa7 Ra3 39.Kg1 c4 40.Kf2 Ra2+ 41.Ke3 Rxg2 42.Kd4 Rh2 43.a6 Rxh3 44.Kxc4 Rh1 45.Rd7 Ra1 46.Kb5 Kg5 47.Rd4 f4 48.Ra4 Rxa4 49.Kxa4 f3 50.a7 f2 51.a8=Q f1=Q 52.Qd5+ Qf5 53.Qd2+ Qf4+ 0-1

Final Position



- A perfect Armageddon by Nakamura to clinch the 5th set and take a 3:2 lead!

Final Result After Round Five

Nakamura-Carlsen 4-3

Final Match Result After Round Five

Nakamura-Carlsen 3-2

- Hikaru Nakamura leads 3:2 and can now win the title and $140,000 tomorrow! If Magnus is going to win he needs to win the remaining two sets

[Wayne Komer]

Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Finals

August 19, 2020

Final

Round Six

Magnus starts the session looking very discombobulated. He just has a white T-shirt on and his hair is a mess. It turns out that he was on the beach earlier and hurt his back.

Naturally, Yasser recalls Tony Miles hurting his back and having to play a tournament prone, facing the board.

The picture of Tony Miles lying flat while playing Ljubomir Ljubojevic, “…who played lying down, suffering from back pain, caused a stir — and not only in the chess world.”

You can see it at:

https://xpertchesslessons.wordpress....rs-tony-miles/


Tony won that game, and the other game versus Ljubo, which helped him to finish in a three way tie for first place at Tilburg in 1985 with Robert Huebner and Victor Korchnoi.

Mr. Dodgy posts an altered photo with Magnus on the massage table and Hikaru sitting at the table as Ljubo did!

https://twitter.com/ChessProblem?ref...20%2F1%2F1%2F1


Game 1, August 19
Carlsen, Magnus – Nakamura, Hikaru
E47 Nimzo-Indian

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 c5 6.Ne2 d5 7.a3 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 dxc4 9.Bxc4 Qc7 10.Ba2 b6 11.O-O Ba6 12.Bb2 Nc6 13.Rc1 Rac8 14.c4 cxd4 15.exd4 Qe7 16.d5 exd5 17.Re1 Bxc4 18.Ng3 Qd8 19.Bb1 b5 20.Nf5 d4 21.Qd2 Be6 22.Rc5 a6 23.Nxg7 Kxg7 24.Qg5+ Kh8 25.Qh4 Rg8 26.Rxc6 Rxc6 27.Bxd4 Kg7 28.Qxh7+ Kf8 29.Qh6+ Ke8 30.Bxf6 Qa5 31.Qe3 Qb6 32.Rd1 Rd6 33.Bd4 Qc6 34.Be4 Qc4 35.h3 Kd7 36.Rd2 Re8 37.Kh2 Bd5 38.Bf5+ Be6 39.Bd3 Qa4 40.Be5 Rd5 41.Qa7+ 1-0

Position after 25.Qh4



- Magnus has given up 2 pawns - will the compensation be enough?

- 23.Nxg7! is playable now for Magnus!

- Brilliancies, blunders, nerves and pain all round, but Magnus Carlsen crashes through in the end to win Game 1 of what for him is a must-win set!

- Time trouble and chessbomb evaluations covered in red!

[Wayne Komer]

Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Finals

August 19, 2020

Final

Round Six (continued)

Magnus’s back must continue to hurt. The camera just shows the top of his head, so he must be sitting on the floor in front of the board.

- Magnus Carlsen says he was feeling great until 30 minutes before today's set when he hurt his back when going for a swim!

Game 2, August 19
Nakamura, Hikaru – Carlsen, Magnus
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 d6 5.O-O Be7 6.c3 a6 7.Ba4 O-O 8.Re1 Re8 9.Nbd2 Bf8 10.Nf1 h6 11.Ng3 b5 12.Bc2 d5 13.a4 Rb8 14.axb5 axb5 15.h3 dxe4 16.dxe4 Qxd1 17.Rxd1 b4 18.Ba4 Bb7 19.cxb4 Bxb4 20.Be3 Ra8 21.b3 Red8 22.Rac1 Rxd1+ 23.Rxd1 Bd6 24.Nd2 Nb4 25.Rc1 Nd3 26.Rc2 Nb4 27.Rc4 Ba6 28.Rc1 Bd3 29.Rc3 Rd8 30.Nc4 Bxc4 31.Rxc4 Nd3 32.Rc2 Nf4 33.f3 g6 34.Nf1 Nd7 35.Nd2 Bc5 36.Nf1 Ne6 37.Bxd7 Bxe3+ 38.Nxe3 Rxd7 39.Ng4 Re7 40.Nxh6+ Kg7 41.Ng4 Nd4 42.Rc5 f6 43.b4 c6 44.Kh2 Rb7 45.Rc4 g5 46.Ne3 Kg6 47.Kg3 Ra7 48.Nc2 Nxc2 49.Rxc2 Ra4 50.Rb2 Ra3 51.Kf2 Kh5 52.Rc2 Ra6 53.Ke2 Kh4 54.Kd3 Kg3 55.Kc4 Ra1 56.Kc5 Rb1 57.Re2 Rc1+ 58.Kd6 Rb1 59.Ke6 Rxb4 60.Kxf6 Kf4 61.Rc2 c5 62.Rc3 Rb6+ 63.Ke7 Rb2 64.Ke6 Rxg2 65.Rxc5 Rg3 66.Rxe5 Rxf3 67.Rf5+ Kxe4 68.Rxf3 Kxf3 69.Kf5 Kg3 70.Kxg5 Kxh3 1/2-1/2

Position after Black’s 61….c5. Did Hikaru miss the win here?



- Magnus is having his version of Jordan's flu game. He's in a must win today and he has a back injury that won't let him sit comfortably in his chair. And he's winning.

- Will Magnus be punished for playing on when it seems he could have forced a draw? He's now down a pawn, but it seems with sufficient compensation!

Plot twist! Hikaru is winning Game 2!

- Huge miss for Hikaru! Magnus escapes with a "Houdini-like escape" (Yasser) and leads 1.5:0.5 with two rapid games to go:

Game 3, August 19
Carlsen, Magnus – Nakamura, Hikaru
C67 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence, open variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.Re1 Nd6 6.Nxe5 Be7 7.Bf1 Nf5 8.c3 Nxe5 9.Rxe5 d6 10.Re1 d5 11.d4 O-O 12.Bf4 Bd6 13.Qf3 Nh4 14.Qg3 Nf5 15.Qf3 Nh4 16.Qg3 Nf5 17.Qf3 1/2-1/2

- Magnus tempts fate again with a lightning fast 17-move draw against Hikaru's Berlin - will he be the first player in the final who won't live to regret it, or will he get the draw he needs in the final rapid game to clinch the set?

Game 4, August 19
Nakamura, Hikaru – Carlsen, Magnus
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 d6 5.c3 g6 6.O-O Bg7 7.Re1 O-O 8.Nbd2 Re8 9.Nf1 a6 10.Ba4 h6 11.Ng3 d5 12.h3 b5 13.Bc2 Be6 14.Bd2 Qd7 15.a4 Rad8 16.axb5 axb5 17.b4 d4 18.Qc1 dxc3 19.Bxc3 Nh7 20.Qb2 Qd6 21.Ne2 Ng5 22.Nd2 Bc8 23.Ra8 Bf8 24.Rb1 Bd7 25.Ra6 Ra8 26.Rxa8 Rxa8 27.h4 Ne6 28.Nf3 Bg7 29.Bb3 Ncd4 30.Nfxd4 Nxd4 31.Bxd4 exd4 32.f4 Bg4 33.e5 Qe7 34.Nxd4 Qxh4 35.Rc1 Rd8 36.Qc3 Qg3 37.Qxc7 Rd7 38.Qc8+ Kh7 39.Ra1 Rxd4 40.e6 Rxf4 0-1

Position after 36.Qc3?



- Game 4 has begun, with Magnus needing a draw or win to take the final to a decider tomorrow! I

- After 37...Qg3! Magnus is winning the game & set!

- Magnus has done it - winning on demand to take the Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour final to a decider tomorrow!

Result of Round Six

Carlsen-Nakamura 3-1

Series Status After Round Six

Carlsen-Nakamura 3-3

[Wayne Komer]

Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Finals

August 20, 2020

Final

Round Seven

It is Tania’s birthday today. She was born in 1986 in Delhi.

The Prize Fund for the tournament:

Winner $140,000
Runner-up $80,000
3^rd and 4^th place $40,000

Game 1, August 20
Nakamura, Hikaru – Carlsen, Magnus
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.Nbd2 O-O 7.h3 Nd7 8.Nc4 a5 9.Be3 f6 10.O-O b5 11.Ncd2 Bxe3 12.fxe3 a4 13.Nh4 c5 14.Nf5 Nb6 15.Qe2 Be6 16.Nf3 Qd7 17.N3h4 Rad8 18.Rfd1 Kh8 19.d4 cxd4 20.exd4 exd4 21.Rxd4 Qc6 22.Rad1 Qc5 23.Qf2 Rxd4 24.Nxd4 Bxa2 25.b3 Rd8 26.Nhf5 axb3 27.cxb3 Bxb3 28.Nxg7 Rxd4 29.Rxd4 Kxg7 30.Qg3+ Kf8 31.Qe3 Nd7 32.Kh1 Ke8 33.Qd2 Be6 34.e5 Qxe5 35.Rh4 Nf8 36.Qb4 Kf7 37.Re4 c5 38.Qb1 Qd5 39.Rf4 b4 40.Qa1 Nd7 41.Qb1 Kg7 42.Qe1 b3 43.Qg3+ Qg5 0-1

- Magnus grabs a pawn, but Hikaru will have serious compensation after 25.b3!

- Today it's Hikaru who plays Nxg7 in Game 1 - objectively it doesn't work, but will Magnus prove it with little time on the clock?

- Magnus Carlsen opens the final set by winning with the black pieces! Hikaru Nakamura has 3 rapid games left to mount a comeback

Game 2, August 20
Carlsen, Magnus – Nakamura, Hikaru
B31 Sicilian, Nimzowitsch-Rossolimo Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.O-O Bg7 5.c3 Nf6 6.Re1 O-O 7.d4 cxd4 8.cxd4 d5 9.e5 Ne4 10.Be3 Bd7 11.Ba4 Na5 12.Bxd7 Qxd7 13.Nfd2 Nxd2 14.Nxd2 Nc4 15.Nxc4 dxc4 16.a4 Qd5 17.Qf3 Qxf3 18.gxf3 e6 19.Rec1 Rfc8 20.Rc3 Rc6 21.b3 Rac8 22.bxc4 Rxc4 23.Rb3 R4c7 24.Rab1 b6 25.a5 bxa5 26.Ra3 f6 27.Rxa5 g5 28.Kg2 h6 29.h4 Rd7 30.Ra6 Re8 31.Rb5 Kf7 32.h5 Ree7 33.Kg3 fxe5 34.dxe5 Rd5 35.Rxd5 exd5 36.Kg4 Rxe5 37.Rxa7+ Re7 38.Rxe7+ Kxe7 39.Kf5 Kf7 40.f4 gxf4 41.Bxf4 d4 42.Bd2 d3 43.Ke4 Ke6 44.Kxd3 Kf5 45.f3 Bf8 46.Kc4 Ke5 47.Be3 Bg7 48.Kc5 Ke6 49.Kc6 Kf7 50.Kd5 Bf8 51.Bd4 Ba3 52.Bc5 Bc1 53.Ke4 Bb2 54.Be3 Bg7 55.f4 Ke6 56.f5+ Kf7 57.Bc5 Bb2 58.Bd4 Ba3 59.Ke5 Be7 60.Be3 Bf6+ 61.Kd5 Bg7 62.Bd4 Bf8 63.f6 Ba3 64.Ke5 Bc1 65.Kf5 Bg5 66.Be5 Bh4 67.Bf4 Bxf6 68.Bxh6 Bg7 69.Bxg7 Kxg7 70.Kg5 Kh7 71.h6 Kh8 72.Kg6 Kg8 73.h7+ Kh8 74.Kh6 1/2-1/2

- A Sicilian in Game 2, so no temptation for Magnus to go for a quick draw now he's taken the lead!

- It's now Magnus trying to squeeze out a win which would put him on the brink of overall victory!

- Nakamura holds on to make a draw, but Magnus continues to lead 1.5:0.5, with two rapid games to go!

Game 3, August 20
Nakamura, Hikaru – Carlsen, Magnus
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.Nbd2 O-O 7.h3 Nd7 8.Nc4 a5 9.g4 Re8 10.Rg1 a4 11.Ne3 Bxe3 12.Bxe3 Nf8 13.h4 Qd6 14.Qd2 c5 15.h5 b5 16.Nh4 Qc6 17.Nf5 c4 18.Qb4 a3 19.b3 cxd3 20.cxd3 Qc2 21.h6 g6 22.Rc1 Qxd3 23.Rd1 Qc2 24.Ng7 Bb7 25.Nxe8 Rxe8 26.f3 Qxa2 27.Rd2 Qb1+ 28.Kf2 a2 29.Qc3 Ra8 30.Rxb1 axb1=Q 31.Qxe5 1-0

Final Position



- Hikaru is 9 minutes up on the clock in a great position it seems the drama might not be over yet!

- Nakamura is winning Game 3 - if he converts, the scores will be level again going into the final rapid game!

Leko: "I don't know any argument in this position that is in Black's favour"

- Nakamura crashes through with a mating attack and this amazing final is going down to the wire again!

- Advantage Magnus as he has white in the last rapid game? Or will the momentum be all on Hikaru's side now?

- You almost feel sense of emptiness as The Magnus Carlsen tour is coming to an end. Big shout-out to all commentators

- Absolutely insane play! Masterful time management and pressure from Hikaru to strike back against the world champ. What an amazing match so far today

- I have watched every match since this beginning of the Magnus tour and I have to say this is the best match up of the tour. A befitting end to a wonderful couple of months.

Ivan Sokolov -Great match Borg-McEnroe - chess edition!
We are definitely getting more we bargained for!

- This is it! $220k on the line for a single game!

Game 4, August 20
Carlsen, Magnus – Nakamura, Hikaru
A22 English, Bremen, reverse Dragon

1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nc3 Nb6 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.O-O Be7 8.d3 O-O 9.Be3 Be6 10.Rc1 Nd5 11.Nxd5 Bxd5 12.Qc2 Re8 13.a3 Qd7 14.Nd2 Rad8 15.Bxd5 Qxd5 16.Qc4 a5 17.Rc2 f5 18.Rfc1 Qxc4 19.Rxc4 Rd5 20.R1c2 Bd6 21.Kg2 f4 22.Bc5 b5 23.R4c3 Nd4 24.Bxd4 exd4 25.Rc6 fxg3 26.hxg3 Rxe2 27.Kf3 Re6 28.Ne4 a4 29.Ra6 Re8 30.Ra7 h5 31.Kg2 Rf8 32.Rb7 Kh7 33.f4 h4 34.Nxd6 Rxd6 35.Rxb5 hxg3 36.Kxg3 Rdf6 37.Rh2+ Kg8 38.Rbh5 Re6 39.Kg4 Re3 40.R2h3 Rxh3 41.Rxh3 Re8 42.Rh5 Re3 43.Rc5 Rxd3 44.Rxc7 Rd1 45.Rd7 Rd2 46.Rb7 d3 47.Kf3 Rh2 48.Ke3 d2 49.Rd7 d1=N+ 50.Rxd1 Rxb2 51.Ke4 Rb3 52.Rd3 Rxd3 53.Kxd3 Kf7 54.Ke4 Kf6 55.f5 g6 56.fxg6 Kxg6 57.Kd5 Kf6 58.Kc6 Ke6 59.Kb5 Kd6 60.Kxa4 Kc7 61.Kb5 Kb8 62.Ka6 Ka8 63.Kb6 Kb8 64.a4 Ka8 65.a5 Kb8 66.a6 Ka8 67.a7 1/2-1/2

- It had to happen... The Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour final is going to blitz... and perhaps Armageddon!

Blitz Games

Game 5, August 20
5+3
Nakamura, Hikaru – Carlsen, Magnus

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 d6 5.O-O a6 6.Bxc6+ bxc6 7.d4 exd4 8.Qxd4 Be7 9.e5 c5 10.Qf4 dxe5 11.Nxe5 O-O 12.Nc6 Qd6 13.Nxe7+ Qxe7 14.Nc3 Bb7 15.Be3 Rfe8 16.Qg5 Qe6 17.h3 Qc6 18.f3 h6 19.Qxc5 Nd5 20.Nxd5 Qxd5 21.Qxd5 Bxd5 22.Kf2 Be6 23.Bf4 c5 24.Rfd1 a5 25.Rd2 a4 26.a3 Ra6 27.Re1 Rb6 28.Be5 Bf5 29.Bc3 Rxe1 30.Kxe1 f6 31.g4 Bg6 32.Rd8+ Kh7 33.Kd2 Rb7 34.Rc8 Rd7+ 35.Kc1 Re7 36.Rxc5 Re3 37.b4 axb3 38.cxb3 Rxf3 39.a4 Rxh3 40.a5 Rh2 41.a6 Ra2 42.Ba5 Be4 43.a7 g5 44.b4 Kg6 45.Rc8 f5 46.Re8 Bf3 47.gxf5+ Kf7 48.a8=Q Bxa8 49.Rxa8 g4 50.Ra7+ Kf8 51.Bb6 1-0

- Hikaru Nakamura has won a pawn and is close to taking the lead

- Hikaru Nakamura wins the first blitz game and now Magnus Carlsen must win on demand or Hikaru is the Champion!

Game 6, August 20
5+3
Carlsen, Magnus – Nakmura, Hikaru
A28 English, Four Knights

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.e3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Qc2 Ndb4 7.Qb1 f5 8.a3 Nd5 9.d3 Be6 10.Be2 Be7 11.O-O O-O 12.Nxd5 Bxd5 13.b4 a6 14.Bb2 Bd6 15.e4 Be6 16.Bc3 fxe4 17.dxe4 Bg4 18.Qa2+ Kh8 19.Ne1 Bd7 20.Rd1 Qf6 21.Nd3 Qh4 22.f3 Rae8 23.g3 Qe7 24.Rf2 Be6 25.Qd2 Bb3 26.Rc1 Rd8 27.Qe3 a5 28.Nc5 axb4 29.axb4 Bxc5 30.Qxc5 Qxc5 31.bxc5 Nd4 32.Kg2 Nxe2 33.Rxe2 Rd3 34.Bxe5 Rdxf3 35.Rb2 Ba4 36.Rxb7 R3f7 37.c6 h5 38.Bxc7 Kh7 39.Bd6 Rf2+ 40.Kg1 R8f6 41.c7 Bd7 42.Bf4 Bc8 43.Rb8 1-0

- Incredible stuff, as Magnus wins on demand to force a final Armageddon game for stunning stakes!

- Carlsen has chosen the black pieces for Armageddon, so he has one minute less than Nakamura, but Hikaru must win or Magnus is the champion!

Armageddon, August 20
Nakamura, Hikaru – Carlsen, Magnus
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.Nbd2 Be6 7.h3 Nd7 8.Nf1 f6 9.g4 Qe7 10.Ng3 O-O-O 11.Qe2 Kb8 12.a3 Bb6 13.Be3 Nf8 14.O-O-O Ng6 15.Nh5 Bxe3+ 16.Qxe3 c5 17.Nd2 b6 18.Nb1 Nh4 19.Rhg1 g5 20.Nc3 Ng6 21.Kb1 Nf4 22.Nxf4 gxf4 23.Qe2 h5 24.f3 hxg4 25.hxg4 Rh3 26.Rg2 Rdh8 27.Rdg1 Rh1 28.b3 c4 29.dxc4 Qxa3 30.g5 fxg5 31.Rxg5 a5 32.Qd3 Kb7 33.Rg7 Rxg1+ 34.Rxg1 Rh7 35.Na4 Qd6 36.Qc3 Bd7 37.Nb2 Rh3 38.Rd1 Qe7 39.Nd3 Rxf3 40.Qxe5 Rxd3 41.Qxe7 Rxd1+ 42.Kb2 Bc6 43.e5 f3 44.Qf6 Rd2 45.e6 f2 46.e7 Re2 47.Qf7 Rxe7 48.Qxf2 Rg7 49.Qf4 Rg2 50.Qe5 Rg6 51.c3 Rg2+ 52.Kc1 Rg4 53.Qe6 Re4 54.Qf7 Re1+ 55.Kd2 Re4 56.b4 axb4 57.cxb4 b5 58.cxb5 Bxb5 59.Qd5+ Bc6 60.Qc5 Re6 61.Kc3 Rd6 62.b5 Bd7 63.Qe5 Bc8 64.Kc4 Rb6 65.Kc5 Kb8 66.Qe8 Rd6 67.Qf8 Rb6 1/2-1/2

Final Position



"To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself" (Sun Tzu - "Art of War")

- MagnusCarlsen wins it by a fortress Feel really sorry for @GMHikaru

Result of Round Seven

Nakamura-Carlsen 3.5-3.5

Result of the Match

Carlsen-Nakamura 4-3

Sergey Karjakin - Congratulations both Hikaru and Magnus with a really amazing tournament! Finally we have seen what I always felt, that Hikaru and Magnus have very close level in rapid + blitz formats.

Tarjei J. Svensen - Here's Carlsen's total earnings in the corona crisis: Magnus Carlsen Invitational: $70.000 Clutch Chess: $30.000 Steinitz Memorial: $4500 Lindores Abbey: $15000 Chessable Masters: $45.000 Legends of Chess: $45.000 Grand Final: $140,000 TOTAL: $349,500