Skilling Open 2020

[Wayne Komer]

Skilling Open 2020

November 25, 2020

Knockouts

Quarter Finals, Day One

15+10

Round One

Round 1, Nov. 25
Carlsen, Magnus – Giri, Anish
D38 QGD, Ragozin variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bf4 Ne4 7.Rc1 Nc6 8.e3 g5 9.Bg3 h5 10.h4 Nxg3 11.fxg3 gxh4 12.Bb5 Qd6 13.gxh4 Qg3+ 14.Kf1 Rg8 15.Rg1 Bxc3 16.Rxc3 Bd7 17.Rc5 a6 18.Ba4 Qd6 19.Bxc6 Bxc6 20.Ne5 Bb5+ 21.Ke1 O-O-O 22.Kd2 Rde8 23.Qxh5 f6 24.Nf3 Qg3 25.Qf5+ Kb8 26.Qf4 Qf2+ 27.Kc1 Qxe3+ 28.Qxe3 Rxe3 29.Re1 Rxe1+ 30.Nxe1 Rg4 31.Rxd5 Rxh4 32.Rf5 Rxd4 33.Rxf6 Rg4 34.Rf2 Bc6 35.Nf3 Bd5 36.a3 b5 37.Kd2 Kb7 38.Ne5 Rxg2 39.Rxg2 Bxg2 40.b4 a5 41.Kc3 axb4+ 42.axb4 Kb6 43.Kd4 Bh3 44.Nd3 Kc6 45.Ke5 Bg4 46.Nc5 Bh3 47.Nb3 Kb6 48.Nc5 Kc6 49.Nb3 Kb6 50.Nc5 Kc6 1/2-1/2

Position after White’s 27.Kc1



After 27...Qxe3+? it looks like the worst is over for Magnus - it seems Giri was simply winning after e.g. 27...Be2!

Round 1, Nov. 25
Aronian, Levon – Nepomniachtchi, Ian
A48 King’s Indian, East Indian Defence

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 c6 5.e3 Bg7 6.h3 O-O 7.Be2 Qb6 8.Rb1 Nbd7 9.O-O Re8 10.Bh2 Nf8 11.b4 Bf5 12.Nd2 N6d7 13.Na4 Qd8 14.Nc5 Nxc5 15.bxc5 b6 16.Ba6 Bc8 17.Bxc8 Rxc8 18.cxb6 axb6 19.c4 c5 20.cxd5 Qxd5 21.Qb3 Qxb3 22.Nxb3 cxd4 23.Nxd4 Bxd4 24.exd4 Ra8 25.Rxb6 Rxa2 26.d5 Rd2 27.d6 exd6 28.Rxd6 Rxd6 29.Bxd6 Rd8 30.Bxf8 Kxf8 31.h4 h5 32.g3 Kg7 33.Kg2 Rf8 34.Kg1 Kg8 35.Kg2 Kg7 36.Kg1 Kg8 37.Kg2 Kg7 1/2-1/2

Round 1, Nov. 25
So, Wesley – Radjabov, Teimour
C53 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 O-O 6.O-O d6 7.h3 a6 8.a4 h6 9.Re1 Re8 10.Nbd2 Be6 11.Bxe6 Rxe6 12.b4 Ba7 13.Nf1 Qd7 14.Qc2 Rd8 15.b5 Ne7 16.d4 Ng6 17.Ng3 axb5 18.axb5 Bb6 19.Rb1 Ree8 20.Be3 Qe7 21.Rbd1 Nd7 22.Nf5 Qe6 23.Bc1 Qc4 24.Bxh6 gxh6 25.Qd2 f6 26.d5 Ndf8 27.Nxh6+ Kg7 28.Nf5+ Kg8 29.Nh6+ Kg7 30.Nf5+ Kg8 31.Nh2 Nf4 32.Ng4 Nh7 33.g3 Ng5 34.Nh4 Kf7 35.gxf4 Nxh3+ 36.Kh2 Nxf4 37.Nh6+ Ke7 38.Rg1 Kd7 39.Ra1 Qxe4 40.N4f5 Rg8 41.Nxg8 Qxf5 42.Rg7+ Ke8 43.Qd1 Qh3+ 44.Kg1 Kf8 45.Rg4 Kf7 0-1

Round 1, Nov. 25
MVL – Nakamura, Hikaru
C67 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence, open variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.h3 Ke8 10.Nc3 h5 11.Bf4 Be7 12.Rad1 Be6 13.Ng5 Rh6 14.Rfe1 Bb4 15.a3 Bxc3 16.bxc3 h4 17.g4 hxg3 18.fxg3 Ne7 19.h4 Nd5 20.Bc1 Nxc3 21.Rd3 Na4 22.Rf3 Bd5 23.Rf4 Nb6 24.Ref1 Rg6 25.Rf5 Bc4 26.Re1 Be6 27.Rf2 Rd8 28.h5 Rh6 29.Nxf7 Bxf7 30.Bxh6 gxh6 31.e6 Bxh5 32.g4 Bxg4 33.e7 Nd7 34.exd8=Q+ Kxd8 35.Rf7 h5 36.Rg7 Nc5 37.Re5 b6 38.Kf2 a5 39.Rxc5 bxc5 40.Rg5 Kc8 41.Rxc5 Kb7 42.Rxa5 Kb6 43.Rg5 Bd1 44.c3 c5 45.Ke1 Bf3 46.Kd2 Kb5 47.Rg7 c6 48.Kc1 c4 49.Rg5+ c5 50.Kd2 h4 51.Ke3 Bd1 52.Rg1 1-0

A dramatic start to the quarterfinals. Giri missed a win vs. Carlsen, but MVL beat Nakamura with the white pieces and Radjabov took down Wesley So with Black!

Round Two

Round 2, Nov. 25
Giri, Anish – Carlsen, Magnus
B31 Sicilian, Nimzowitsch-Rossolimo Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d3 Qc7 6.O-O e5 7.a4 Nf6 8.a5 Nh5 9.Nc3 Be7 10.Be3 O-O 11.Nd2 Rb8 12.Ne2 Nf4 13.Nc4 Be6 14.b3 b5 15.axb6 axb6 16.Qd2 Nxe2+ 17.Qxe2 b5 18.Nd2 Ra8 19.f3 Ra5 20.Qf2 Rfa8 21.Rac1 Qd6 22.f4 exf4 23.Bxf4 Qd4 24.Be3 Qc3 25.Nf3 Ra1 26.Ng5 Rxc1 27.Bxc1 Rf8 28.Qh4 Qg7 29.Qg3 Qc3 30.Qc7 Qd4+ 31.Kh1 Qd6 32.Qxd6 Bxd6 33.Nxe6 fxe6 34.Rxf8+ Kxf8 35.c4 Kg7 36.Bg5 h6 37.Be3 g5 38.h3 Kg6 39.Kg1 e5 40.Kf2 b4 41.Kf3 h5 42.g4 h4 43.Bf2 Kf6 44.Be3 Kg6 45.Bf2 Kf6 46.Be3 Kg6 1/2-1/2

Round 2, Nov. 25
Nepomniachtchi, Ian – Aronian, Levon
C53 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 O-O 6.O-O d5 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.Re1 Bg4 9.h3 Bh5 10.Nbd2 Nb6 11.Bb3 Kh8 12.Ne4 Nd7 13.Bd5 Bb6 14.Ng3 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 f5 16.d4 f4 17.Ne4 exd4 18.Bxc6 bxc6 19.Bxf4 dxc3 20.bxc3 Ne5 21.Qg3 Nd3 22.Rad1 Nxe1 23.Rxd8 Raxd8 24.Be5 Rd7 25.Kh2 Nd3 26.Bxg7+ Rxg7 27.Qxd3 c5 28.c4 c6 29.g3 Bc7 30.h4 Be5 31.f4 Bd4 32.Ng5 Re7 33.Qf3 h6 34.Qh5 Kg7 35.Nf3 Rf6 36.Kh3 Rg6 37.f5 Rf6 38.g4 Re3 39.g5 hxg5 40.hxg5 Rxf5 41.Qh6+ Kf7 42.Qh7+ Ke6 43.Qg6+ Rf6 44.gxf6 Rxf3+ 45.Kg4 Rf2 46.Qh7 Rg2+ 47.Kh3 Rxa2 48.Qe7+ Kf5 49.f7 Ra3+ 50.Kg2 Ra2+ 51.Kf1 Bg7 52.f8=Q+ Bxf8 53.Qxf8+ Ke4 54.Qxc5 Ra6 55.Qd6 Kf3 56.Qd3+ Kf4 57.Qd4+ Kf3 58.c5 Ra3 59.Qf6+ 1-0

Nepo has taken the lead over Aronian with 2 games to go in today's mini-match!

Round 2, Nov. 25
Radjabov, Teimour – So, Wesley
D41 QGD, Semi-Tarrasch

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 c5 5.cxd5 cxd4 6.Qxd4 exd5 7.e4 dxe4 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Ng5 Be6 10.Nxe6+ fxe6 11.Bg5 h6 12.O-O-O+ Ke7 13.Be3 Nc6 14.g3 Rc8 15.Kb1 Ng4 16.Re1 Kf7 17.Nxe4 Bb4 18.Re2 Nxe3 19.Rxe3 Nd4 20.a3 Be7 21.Bg2 Rhd8 22.Rd1 Nf5 23.Red3 Rxd3 24.Rxd3 Rd8 25.Kc2 Ke8 26.Rxd8+ Kxd8 27.Kd3 b6 28.Bh3 Nd6 29.Bxe6 Nxe4 30.Kxe4 a5 31.a4 Bc5 32.f3 Ke7 33.Bc4 Kf6 34.b3 g5 35.h3 Bf2 36.g4 Bg1 37.Be2 Bf2 38.Bc4 Bg1 39.Be2 Bf2 40.Bc4 1/2-1/2

Radjabov now leads 1.5:0.5 with up to two games to go (if Teimour wins the next game the match would be over!)

Round 2, Nov. 25
Nakamura, Hikaru – MVL
D82 Grunfeld

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3 dxc4 6.Bxc4 O-O 7.Rc1 Nbd7 8.Nf3 c5 9.O-O cxd4 10.Nb5 Nh5 11.Bc7 Qe8 12.exd4 Bh6 13.Re1 Bxc1 14.Nd6 exd6 15.Rxe8 Rxe8 16.Qxc1 Nb6 17.Bxb6 axb6 18.Ng5 Re7 19.h3 Be6 20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.Qg5 Kf7 22.g4 d5 23.Bd3 Nf6 24.Qf4 Kg7 25.Qe5 Kf7 26.a3 Rc8 27.Kg2 Rd8 28.a4 Ne4 29.f3 Nd6 30.h4 Ke8 31.Qe1 Kd7 32.Qb4 Kc7 33.a5 bxa5 34.Qxa5+ Kc8 35.Kg3 Rf7 36.Be2 h5 37.Bd3 Rdf8 38.Qc3+ Kd7 39.Bxg6 Rxf3+ 40.Qxf3 Rxf3+ 41.Kxf3 hxg4+ 42.Kxg4 Nb5 43.h5 Ke7 44.Kg5 Nxd4 45.h6 Nf3+ 46.Kf4 Nh4 47.Bd3 Kf6 48.h7 Kg7 49.Ke5 Nf3+ 50.Kxe6 Ne1 51.Bf5 d4 52.Kd6 d3 53.Bxd3 Nxd3 54.Kc7 b5 55.b4 Nxb4 56.Kb6 Kxh7 57.Kxb5 1/2-1/2

Round Three

Round 3, Nov. 25
Carlsen, Magnus – Giri, Anish
C47 Four Knights, Scotch variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Bb4 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Bd3 d5 8.exd5 O-O 9.O-O cxd5 10.Bg5 c6 11.Qf3 h6 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.Qxf6 gxf6 14.Ne2 Rb8 15.b3 Re8 16.Ng3 Re5 17.h3 Bd7 18.f4 Re3 19.Kh2 Kf8 20.Rad1 Bc3 21.Bf5 Be6 22.Rd3 Rxd3 23.Bxd3 c5 24.Rf3 Rb4 25.f5 Bd7 26.a3 Rh4 27.Bb5 Bxb5 28.Rxc3 c4 29.bxc4 dxc4 30.Kg1 Rd4 31.Kf2 Rd2+ 32.Ne2 h5 33.Ke3 Rd5 34.Nd4 Ba6 35.g4 hxg4 36.hxg4 Re5+ 37.Kf4 Rd5 38.Ne2 Rd1 39.Re3 Bb7 40.Nc3 Rf1+ 41.Kg3 Rg1+ 42.Kf4 Rf1+ 43.Kg3 Rg1+ 44.Kf4 Rf1+ 1/2-1/2

Round 3, Nov. 25
Aronian, Levon – Nepomniachtchi, Ian
D00 Queen’s Pawn, Three Knights

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3 O-O 6.Nb5 Na6 7.h3 Ne4 8.c3 c6 9.Na3 Nc7 10.Be2 Ne8 11.O-O N8d6 12.c4 dxc4 13.Nxc4 Be6 14.Rc1 Nxc4 15.Bxc4 Bxc4 16.Rxc4 Qd5 17.Qe2 Nd6 18.Bxd6 exd6 19.b4 Rfe8 20.a4 a5 21.bxa5 Rxa5 22.Rb1 c5 23.Qc2 Qc6 24.Qb3 Rea8 25.dxc5 Rxc5 26.Rf4 Rc1+ 27.Rxc1 Qxc1+ 28.Kh2 Qc7 29.g3 h6 30.h4 Ra5 31.Rb4 Qc3 32.Qb1 Rf5 33.Kg2 Qc6 34.e4 Ra5 35.Rb6 Qc4 36.Rxd6 Rxa4 37.Rd8+ Kh7 38.Qxb7 Ra1 39.Nh2 Re1 40.Re8 Re2 41.h5 gxh5 42.Qd7 Bd4 43.Ng4 hxg4 44.Qf5+ Kg7 45.Qxg4+ Kf6 46.e5+ Rxe5 47.Qf4+ Kg6 48.Rxe5 Qc6+ 49.Qe4+ Qxe4+ 50.Rxe4 Bb2 51.Rg4+ Kh7 52.Rf4 Kg6 53.g4 Bc1 54.Rf5 Bg5 55.Rb5 Bh4 56.f3 Bg5 57.Rb6+ Kg7 58.Kf2 Bd8 59.Rb5 Bg5 60.Ke2 Kg6 61.Kd3 Bc1 62.Ke4 Kf6 63.Rc5 Bd2 64.Rc2 Be1 65.Rc6+ Kg7 66.Kf5 Bg3 67.Ra6 Bh2 68.Ra7 Bg3 69.f4 Bf2 70.Rd7 Be1 71.Rc7 Ba5 72.Rc6 Bd8 73.Ke5 Be7 74.Rc7 Bd8 75.Rd7 Ba5 76.Rd5 Bc3+ 77.Kd6 Bb4+ 78.Kd7 Kf8 79.Rd3 Be1 80.Rd6 Bg3 81.Rf6 Kg7 82.Rf5 Kf8 83.Kd6 Bh2 84.Ke5 Bg1 85.Rh5 Kg7 86.g5 1-0

Levon is back with the tricky 43.Ng4!!, and Nepo falls for it

(to be continued)

[Wayne Komer]

Skilling Open 2020

November 25, 2020

Knockouts

Quarter Finals, Day One

Round Three (continued)

Round 3, Nov. 25
So, Wesley – Radjabov, Teimour

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.e3 Bb4 5.Qc2 O-O 6.Nd5 Re8 7.Qf5 d6 8.Nxf6+ Qxf6 9.Qxf6 gxf6 10.a3 Bc5 11.b4 Bb6 12.Bb2 a6 13.O-O-O Bf5 14.Rg1 Ne7 15.d4 Be4 16.Nd2 Bg6 17.Nf3 a5 18.b5 c6 19.a4 cxb5 20.axb5 a4 21.Ba3 exd4 22.exd4 Nd5 23.Kb2 Ba5 24.Bxd6 Nc3 25.Rc1 Ne4 26.Bg3 a3+ 27.Ka2 Nc3+ 28.Kxa3 Bb4+ 29.Kxb4 Na2+ 30.Kc5 Re6 31.b6 Ra5# 0-1

Round 3, Nov. 25
MVL – Nakamura, Hikaru
C76 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defence, Fianchetto variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.c3 g6 6.d4 Bd7 7.O-O Bg7 8.Re1 b5 9.Bb3 Nf6 10.Nbd2 O-O 11.Nf1 exd4 12.cxd4 Bg4 13.Be3 Na5 14.h3 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 Nd7 16.Rad1 Qe7 17.Bd5 c6 18.Bd2 cxd5 19.Bxa5 dxe4 20.Rxe4 Qf6 21.Qb3 Rae8 22.Rxe8 Rxe8 23.Qc2 Bh6 24.Ng3 d5 25.Qb3 Qc6 26.Qd3 Rc8 27.Bd2 Bxd2 28.Qxd2 Qc2 29.Ne2 b4 30.b3 a5 31.Nf4 Nf6 32.f3 g5 33.Nd3 Qxd2 34.Rxd2 Ne8 35.Nc5 Nd6 36.Kf2 f6 37.Nd7 Kf7 38.Nb6 Rc1 39.Nxd5 f5 40.g3 Rh1 41.Kg2 Rc1 42.Nb6 Rc6 43.Nd7 Rc7 44.Nc5 Nb5 45.Nd3 Ke6 46.h4 h6 47.hxg5 hxg5 48.d5+ Kd6 49.f4 gxf4 50.Nxf4 Nc3 51.Kf3 Ne4 52.Re2 Rc3+ 53.Re3 Rc1 54.Re2 Rc3+ 55.Re3 Rc2 56.Re2 Rxe2 57.Nxe2 Kxd5 58.Ke3 Ke5 59.Nd4 Nxg3 60.Nc6+ Kd5 61.Nxa5 Ne4 62.Nc4 Nc3 63.a3 bxa3 64.Nxa3 Kc5 65.Kf4 Kb4 66.Kxf5 Ne4 67.Kxe4 Kxb3 1/2-1/2

Round Four

Round 4, Nov. 25
Giri, Anish – Carlsen, Magnus
C50 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.c3 h6 7.Nbd2 O-O 8.Re1 a5 9.Nf1 Be6 10.Bb5 Ne7 11.d4 Ba7 12.dxe5 Ng4 13.Be3 Nxe3 14.Nxe3 dxe5 15.Nxe5 Ng6 16.Nxg6 fxg6 17.Qxd8 Raxd8 18.Re2 Bxe3 19.fxe3 Kf7 20.Ba4 Ke7 21.h3 Bc4 22.Rc2 Rd3 23.Re1 Kd6 24.Bb3 Ba6 25.Rcc1 Ke5 26.Rcd1 Rfd8 27.Rxd3 Bxd3 28.Kf2 Rd6 29.Bd1 Bc4 30.b3 Rd2+ 31.Kg3 Be6 32.Rf1 Rxa2 33.Bg4 Bxb3 34.Rf8 Kxe4 35.Rc8 Kxe3 36.Rxc7 Bd5 37.Bf3 Bxf3 38.gxf3 Rb2 39.Rxg7 Rb6 40.c4 Kd4 41.Rc7 a4 42.c5 Ra6 43.Rxb7 Kxc5 44.Rc7+ Kb6 45.Rc1 a3 46.h4 a2 47.Ra1 Ra4 48.f4 h5 49.Kf3 Kc5 50.Ke3 Kd5 51.Kf3 Ke6 0-1

Anish Giri was on top for much of today's match, but it's Magnus Carlsen who wins the final game of the day to take the lead in their quarterfinal!

Giri must now win tomorrow to force tiebreaks!

Round 4, Nov. 25
Nepomniachtchi, Ian – Aronian, Levon
C53 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 O-O 6.O-O d6 7.h3 Re8 8.Nbd2 Be6 9.b4 Bb6 10.a4 a6 11.Bxe6 Rxe6 12.Qc2 d5 13.Bb2 Nh5 14.b5 Ne7 15.c4 dxe4 16.Nxe4 c6 17.Nxe5 Ng6 18.d4 Nhf4 19.Nf3 Nh4 20.Nxh4 Qxh4 21.Ng3 Rae8 22.bxc6 bxc6 23.Bc3 h5 24.Rab1 Bc7 25.Rb7 Nxh3+ 26.gxh3 Bxg3 27.d5 Qxh3 28.fxg3 Re2 0-1

Nepo throws in the towel with mate-in-7 on the board, and will have to beat Aronian on demand tomorrow to force tiebreaks in their quarterfinal

Round 4, Nov. 25
Nakamura, Hikaru – MVL
A45 Trompovsky Attack

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3.e3 c5 4.Bxf6 gxf6 5.c3 Qb6 6.Qd2 Nc6 7.dxc5 Qxc5 8.Ne2 e5 9.Ng3 Be6 10.Be2 O-O-O 11.O-O Kb8 12.b4 Qd6 13.Na3 d4 14.Nc4 Qc7 15.b5 Bxc4 16.Bxc4 Na5 17.Bd3 Qxc3 18.Qe2 dxe3 19.Rad1 exf2+ 20.Kh1 Bc5 21.Ne4 Qa3 22.Nxf6 Bd4 23.Ng4 Qc5 24.Rc1 Qd5 25.Be4 Qe6 26.Ne3 Bxe3 27.Qxe3 f5 28.Bc2 Nc4 29.Qxf2 Rd2 30.Bxf5 Rxf2 31.Bxe6 Rxf1+ 32.Rxf1 Na3 33.Rf7 Nxb5 34.Bd5 Nc7 35.Be4 h6 36.g4 b5 37.Kg2 a5 38.h4 b4 39.Rf6 Kc8 40.Rd6 Nb5 41.Rd5 Nc3 42.Rxa5 Kc7 43.Bg6 Kd6 44.Ra6+ Kc5 45.Bf7 e4 46.g5 hxg5 47.hxg5 e3 48.g6 e2 49.Re6 Rh5 50.Kf2 Rf5+ 51.Ke1 Rf1+ 52.Kd2 Rd1+ 53.Kc2 e1=Q 54.Rxe1 Rxe1 55.g7 Rg1 56.g8=Q Rxg8 57.Bxg8 Nxa2 58.Bxa2 b3+ 59.Bxb3 1/2-1/2

Radjabov has won his match today against So.

Tarjei J. Svensen: "Diego Maradona has always been interested in chess, and was glad to be part of a remarkable Chess & Society campaign." Rest in peace.

Maradona died at the age of 60 today, of a heart attack

MVL beats Nakamura after holding a draw in the final game, while Carlsen, Aronian and Radjabov also win on Day 1! Their opponents must win tomorrow to force playoffs:

Results of Day One

Carlsen-Giri 2.5-1.5
Aronian-Nepo 2.5-1.5
Radjabov-So 2.5-0.5
MVL-Nakamura 2.5-1.5

Each knockout match consist of 2 rapid mini matches of 4 games. Time control is 15+10.

If the matches end 1/1, a tiebreak of 2 blitz games follows and armageddon if necessary.

[Hans Jung]

Killing knight moves by Aronian in his last two games. Lovely!
Wesley So has a sense of humor.

[Wayne Komer]

Skilling Open 2020

November 26, 2020

Knockouts

Quarter Finals, Day Two

15+10

Round Five

Results of Round Five

Giri-Carlsen 0.5-0.5
Nepo-Aronian 1-0
Radjabov-So 0.5-0.5
Nakamura-MVL 1-0

Round 5, Nov. 26
Giri, Anish – Carlsen, Magnus
C53 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 d5 7.Bb5 Ne4 8.cxd4 Bb6 9.Nc3 O-O 10.Be3 Bg4 11.h3 Bh5 12.Qc2 Nxc3 13.bxc3 f6 14.Bxc6 bxc6 15.exf6 Bxf3 16.fxg7 Rf7 17.gxf3 Qd6 18.Rg1 c5 19.Rg5 cxd4 20.cxd4 Rxg7 21.Rxg7+ Kxg7 22.Ke2 Qg6 23.Qa4 Rd8 24.Rc1 Kf7 25.Bf4 Re8+ 26.Be5 Re7 27.Qb3 Bxd4 28.Qxd5+ Qe6 29.Qxd4 Qxe5+ 30.Qxe5 Rxe5+ 31.Kd3 Ra5 32.Rxc7+ Kg6 33.Rc2 Kf5 34.Kc4 Ra3 35.Kb4 Rxf3 36.Rc7 a5+ 37.Kxa5 Ra3+ 38.Kb4 Rxa2 39.Rxh7 Kg6 40.Rh8 Rxf2 41.Kc3 Rf5 42.Kd4 Rh5 43.Rxh5 Kxh5 44.h4 Kxh4 1/2-1/2

For a second day in a row Anish Giri lets Magnus Carlsen escape from his clutches in the first game of the day!

Round 5, Nov. 26
Nepomniachtchi, Ian – Aronian, Levon
C53 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 O-O 6.O-O d6 7.h3 Bb6 8.Re1 Ne7 9.d4 Ng6 10.Bf1 c6 11.Nbd2 Re8 12.Qc2 Bc7 13.b3 d5 14.exd5 Nxd5 15.c4 Ndf4 16.dxe5 Nxe5 17.Bb2 Neg6 18.Qc3 f6 19.Ne4 Bf5 20.Rad1 Bxe4 21.Rxd8 Raxd8 22.g3 Bxf3 23.Rxe8+ Rxe8 24.Qxf3 Ne6 25.Qd3 Nc5 26.Qd4 Bb6 27.b4 Ne5 28.Qd1 Rd8 29.Qb1 Ncd3 30.Bxe5 Nxe5 31.c5 Bc7 32.Qb3+ Kf8 33.f4 Nf7 34.Qe6 h5 35.Bc4 Nh6 36.h4 a5 37.b5 cxb5 38.Bxb5 a4 39.Bxa4 Ba5 40.Bb3 Bc3 41.Qb6 Bd4+ 42.Kf1 Rd7 43.Qb4 Nf5 44.c6+ Re7 45.cxb7 Ne3+ 46.Kg1 1-0

Nepo also gets off to a winning start in his must-win match, though Aronian managed to come from behind yesterday and win!

Round 5, Nov. 26
Radjabov, Teimour – So, Wesley
D41 QGD, Semi-Tarrasch

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 c5 5.cxd5 cxd4 6.Qxd4 exd5 7.e4 dxe4 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Ng5 Be6 10.Nxe6+ fxe6 11.Bg5 h6 12.O-O-O+ Ke7 13.Bxf6+ gxf6 14.Nxe4 Bg7 15.Ng3 f5 16.Bd3 Nc6 17.Rhe1 Be5 18.Nxf5+ exf5 19.f4 Rad8 20.fxe5 Rhf8 21.Re3 Rd5 22.Rh3 Nxe5 23.Bc2 Rxd1+ 24.Kxd1 Rf6 25.Ke2 Rb6 26.b3 Ra6 27.Bb1 f4 28.Rh5 Re6 29.Bf5 Ra6 30.Bb1 Re6 31.Bf5 Ra6 32.Bb1 1/2-1/2

Round 5, Nov. 26
Nakamura, Hikaru – MVL
B90 Sicilian, Najdorf, Kristiansen Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bd3 e5 7.Nde2 Nc6 8.O-O Be6 9.Ng3 d5 10.Bg5 dxe4 11.Ncxe4 Be7 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Qh5 Qc7 14.Qh6 O-O-O 15.Nxf6 Nd4 16.Rad1 Bxa2 17.Nf5 Be6 18.Nxe7+ Qxe7 19.Rfe1 Nc6 20.Bxh7 Qb4 21.b3 Kb8 22.Qg5 Rd4 23.Be4 Rhd8 24.Rc1 Qc3 25.h4 Ka8 26.h5 Rd2 27.Bd3 1-0

Hikaru Nakamura thought he was out yesterday (!), but he's started today with a 27-move crush of MVL's Najdorf!

Round Six

Results of Round Six

Carlsen-Giri 0.5-0.5
Aronian-Nepo 0.5-0.5
So-Radjabov 1-0
MVL-Nakamura

Round 6, Nov. 26
Carlsen, Magnus – Giri, Anish
E60 King’s Indian

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 c6 4.Bg2 d5 5.e3 Bg7 6.Ne2 O-O 7.O-O Re8 8.Nd2 Bf5 9.b3 Nbd7 10.Bb2 h5 11.Nf4 e6 12.h3 a5 13.a4 Qb6 14.Rc1 Rad8 15.Qe2 Bf8 16.Rfd1 Bb4 17.c5 Qc7 18.Nf3 Be4 19.Ne5 Bxg2 20.Kxg2 Nxe5 21.dxe5 Nd7 22.Nd3 b6 23.Nxb4 axb4 24.cxb6 Qxb6 25.e4 Qb7 26.Qf3 Nb6 27.exd5 Rxd5 28.Rxd5 Nxd5 29.Bd4 Kg7 30.h4 Qc7 31.Rc4 Kg8 32.Qe4 Qb7 33.Bc5 Kg7 34.Bd6 Rc8 35.Kg1 Rh8 36.Qd4 Rc8 37.Rc5 Qa6 38.Qc4 Qa8 39.Kf1 Qb7 40.Ra5 c5 41.Rxc5 Nc3 42.Kg1 Rxc5 43.Bxc5 Qf3 44.a5 Ne4 45.a6 Nxc5 46.Qxc5 Qxb3 47.a7 Qb1+ 48.Kh2 Qa2 49.g4 hxg4 50.h5 gxh5 51.Qe3 Qa5 52.Qg5+ Kf8 53.Qh6+ Kg8 54.Qg5+ Kf8 55.Qh6+ Kg8 56.Qg5+ Kf8 1/2-1/2

Round 6, Nov. 26
Aronian, Levon – Nepomniachtchi, Ian
A34 English, symmetrical, Rubinstein System

1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bg2 Nc7 6.d3 e5 7.Be3 Be7 8.Rc1 O-O 9.Na4 b6 10.Bxa8 Nxa8 11.Nf3 Nc6 12.O-O Nc7 13.a3 Bb7 14.b4 cxb4 15.axb4 Bxb4 16.d4 exd4 17.Bxd4 Ne6 18.Bb2 Qe7 19.Nc3 Rd8 20.Nd5 Qf8 21.Qb3 Ncd4 22.Nxd4 Bxd5 23.Qa4 a5 24.Nc6 Qe8 25.Qc2 Bxc6 26.Qxc6 Qxc6 27.Rxc6 Bc5 28.Ra1 h5 29.e3 Rd3 30.h4 Kf8 31.Rc8+ Ke7 32.Rh8 Rb3 33.Ra2 a4 34.Bxg7 a3 35.Be5 b5 36.Rb8 Kd7 37.g4 hxg4 38.h5 Ng5 39.Kf1 Nf3 40.Bg7 Kc7 41.Rg8 b4 42.Ra1 a2 43.h6 Rb1+ 44.Ke2 f6 45.Bxf6 Bd4 46.Bd8+ Kc6 47.Rxa2 b3 48.Rg6+ Kd7 49.Ra5 Re1+ 50.Kd3 Ne5+ 51.Kxd4 Nxg6 52.Rd5+ Ke6 53.Rg5 b2 54.Rxg6+ Kf7 55.Rg7+ Ke6 56.Rg6+ Kf7 57.Rg7+ Ke6 58.Re7+ Kf5 59.Rf7+ Kg6 60.Rf6+ Kh7 61.Rb6 b1=Q 62.Rxb1 Rxb1 63.Ke4 Kxh6 64.Kf4 Kh5 65.Kg3 Rh1 66.Kg2 Rh3 67.Bc7 Rf3 68.Bf4 Kg6 69.Kg1 Kf5 70.Kg2 Ke4 71.Kg1 Kd3 72.Kg2 Kd2 73.Kg1 Ke2 74.Kg2 Kd1 75.Kg1 Ke1 76.Kg2 Ke2 77.Bg3 Kd3 78.Bf4 Ke4 79.Kg1 Kd3 80.Kg2 1/2-1/2

Final Position



Levon Aronian missed a great chance to level the score with Ian Nepomniachtchi, so Nepo now leads 1.5:0.5

Round 6, Nov. 26
So, Wesley – Radjabov, Teimour
C50 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 O-O 6.c3 d6 7.Re1 h6 8.Nbd2 a6 9.Nf1 Re8 10.Ng3 Ba7 11.Bb3 Be6 12.Bc2 d5 13.exd5 Qxd5 14.h3 Rad8 15.Qe2 Bc5 16.b4 Bf8 17.Bb2 Qd7 18.Qf1 Bd5 19.Re3 b5 20.a3 Re6 21.Rae1 e4 22.Nxe4 Nxe4 23.c4 Ng5 24.Nxg5 Rxe3 25.fxe3 hxg5 26.cxd5 Qxd5 27.d4 a5 28.Qd3 g6 29.Bb3 Ne5 30.Qc3 axb4 31.axb4 Nc4 32.e4 Qd6 33.Bxc4 bxc4 34.d5 f6 35.Qxf6 Qxf6 36.Bxf6 Rb8 37.Bxg5 Bxb4 38.Rc1 c3 39.Bf6 Re8 40.Bxc3 Bc5+ 41.Kh1 Rxe4 42.Ba5 Bb6 43.Bxb6 cxb6 44.Rc6 Kf7 45.Rxb6 Rd4 46.d6 Ke6 47.Kh2 Kf5 48.Kg3 g5 49.Kf3 Rd3+ 50.Ke2 Rd4 51.Ke3 Rd1 52.d7 Rxd7 53.g4+ Ke5 54.Rg6 Rh7 55.Rxg5+ Kf6 56.Rf5+ Kg6 57.Rf3 Kg5 58.Kf2 Kh4 59.Rf5 1-0

Round 6, Nov. 26
MVL – 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.dxc5 Bxc5 19.Be3 Rc8 20.Bxc5 Rxc5 21.Qd2 Qb6 22.Bd3 Bf5 23.Bxf5 Nxf5 24.g4 Ne7 25.g5 Qb4 26.Qxb4 axb4 27.gxh6 gxh6 28.a3 Rc2 29.axb4 Rxb2 30.e6 Rxb4 31.exf7+ Kxf7 32.Ne5+ Kg7 33.Nd3 Re4 34.Nc5 Rxe1+ 35.Rxe1 Kf7 36.Nxb7 Rb8 37.Nc5 Ng6 38.Rd1 Rd8 39.Nb3 Nf4 40.Nd4 Ne6 41.Nc6 Rd6 42.Ne5+ Kf6 43.Nd3 d4 44.g3 Rb6 45.Kf1 Ra6 46.Rd2 h5 47.Rb2 Ra1+ 48.Ke2 h4 49.gxh4 Rh1 50.Rb6 Kf5 51.Rb5+ Kf6 52.h5 Rh4 53.Kf3 Rh3+ 54.Ke4 Ng5+ 55.Kxd4 Rxh5 56.Rb8 Ne6+ 57.Ke3 Ra5 58.Rb6 Kf5 59.f4 Ra3 60.Rb5+ Kf6 61.Rd5 Ra4 62.Rd6 Rc4 63.Rb6 Kf5 64.Rb5+ Kf6 65.Ra5 Rc3 66.Rd5 Rc4 67.Ra5 Rc3 68.f5 Nc5 69.Rxc5 Rxc5 70.Nxc5 Kxf5 1/2-1/2

Round Seven

Results of Round Seven

Giri-Carlsen 0.5-0.5
Nepo-Aronian 0.5-0.5
Radjabov-So 0.5-0.5
Nakamura-MVL 1-0

Round 7, Nov. 26
Giri, Anish – Carlsen, Magnus
C67 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence, open variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.h3 h6 10.Rd1+ Ke8 11.Nc3 Ne7 12.a4 a6 13.a5 Bf5 14.Nd4 Bh7 15.e6 Nd5 16.Nxd5 cxd5 17.Bf4 c6 18.c3 fxe6 19.Nxe6 Kf7 20.Nxf8 Rhxf8 21.Rd4 Rad8 22.Be3 Rfe8 23.Rf4+ Kg8 24.h4 Rd7 25.b4 Rf7 26.Rxf7 Kxf7 27.Re1 Re4 28.f3 Re5 29.Kf2 h5 30.Rd1 Bc2 31.Rd2 Bb3 32.Bd4 Re6 33.g4 Bc4 34.gxh5 Rh6 35.Be3 Rxh5 36.Bg5 Rh8 37.Ke3 Re8+ 38.Kd4 Re2 39.Rd1 Rf2 40.f4 Rf3 41.Rc1 Rf1 42.Rxf1 Bxf1 43.f5 g6 44.f6 Bb5 45.Ke5 c5 46.bxc5 Ba4 47.Kd6 Bb5 48.Ke5 Ba4 49.Be3 Bb5 50.Bd4 Ba4 51.Kd6 Bb5 52.Kc7 Bc6 53.Kc8 Ke8 54.Kb8 Kf7 55.Kc7 Ke6 56.Kd8 Kf7 57.Kc7 Ke6 58.Be5 Kf7 59.Kd6 Bb5 60.Kc7 Bc6 61.Kd6 Bb5 62.Kc7 Bc6 1/2-1/2

(to be continued)

[Wayne Komer]

Skilling Open 2020

November 26, 2020

Quarter Finals, Day Two

Round Seven (continued)

Round 7, Nov. 26
Nepomniachtchi, Ian – Aronian, Levon
C43 Petrov, Modern Attack, symmetrical variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 Nxe4 4.dxe5 Bc5 5.Bc4 Nxf2 6.Bxf7+ Kxf7 7.Qd5+ Kg6 8.Qxc5 Nxh1 9.Nc3 h6 10.Qc4 Nc6 11.Nd5 d6 12.Nf4+ Kh7 13.Qd3+ Kg8 14.Qd5+ Kh7 15.Qd3+ Kg8 16.Qd5+ Kh7 17.Qd3+ 1/2-1/2

Round 7, Nov. 26
Radjabov, Teimour – So, Wesley
D41 QGD, Semi-Tarrasch

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 c5 5.cxd5 cxd4 6.Nxd4 Nxd5 7.Bd2 Be7 8.e3 O-O 9.Be2 Bf6 10.O-O Bxd4 11.exd4 Nc6 12.Nxd5 Qxd5 13.Bf3 Qxd4 14.Bc3 Qxd1 15.Rfxd1 e5 1/2-1/2

Round 7, Nov. 25
Nakamura, Hikaru – MVL
B90 Sicilian, Najdorf, Kristiansen Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bd3 e5 7.Nde2 Nc6 8.O-O Be6 9.Ng3 g6 10.Bg5 Be7 11.Bh6 Ng4 12.Bd2 h5 13.Nd5 Bxd5 14.exd5 Nb8 15.h3 Nf6 16.c4 Nbd7 17.b4 O-O 18.Rc1 a5 19.a3 b6 20.Bc2 h4 21.Ne2 axb4 22.axb4 b5 23.cxb5 Qb8 24.Bd3 Nb6 25.Qb3 Nbxd5 26.Bh6 Rc8 27.Bc4 Rxc4 28.Qxc4 Ra4 29.Bd2 Kg7 30.Ra1 Rxa1 31.Rxa1 Nc7 32.Qxh4 Qxb5 33.Bh6+ Kg8 34.Bg5 Kg7 35.Rc1 Qb7 36.Ng3 Ncd5 37.b5 Ng8 38.Bxe7 Ngxe7 39.Ne4 Nf4 40.Qf6+ Kg8 41.Re1 Nf5 42.Qd8+ Kg7 43.b6 Ne6 44.Qf6+ Kg8 45.Rc1 d5 46.Rc7 Nxc7 47.Qd8+ Kg7 48.bxc7 1-0

Round Eight

Results of Round Eight

Carlsen-Anish 0.5-0.5
Aronian-Nepo 0-1
So-Radjabov 0.5-0.5

Round 8, Nov. 26
Carlsen, Magnus – Giri, Anish
B22 Sicilian, Alapin

1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 g6 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.Na3 cxd4 7.Nb5 Na6 8.Be3 Nf6 9.Bxd4 O-O 10.Be2 Bg4 11.a4 e5 12.Bxa7 e4 13.Qxd5 Nxd5 14.Nfd4 Bd7 15.Bc4 Nf4 16.g3 Rfc8 17.Bxf7+ Kxf7 18.gxf4 Kg8 19.Nb3 Nc7 20.O-O Nxb5 21.axb5 Bxb5 22.Rfe1 Bd3 23.Bd4 Bh6 24.Rxa8 Rxa8 25.Be5 Ra2 26.Nc5 Rxb2 27.Nxe4 Kf7 28.c4 Re2 29.Nd6+ Ke6 30.Rxe2 Bxe2 31.Nxb7 Bxc4 32.Nc5+ Kf5 33.f3 Bxf4 34.Bxf4 Kxf4 35.Kf2 h6 36.h4 Bb5 37.Ne6+ Ke5 38.Nc5 Kd4 39.Ne6+ Ke5 40.Nc5 Kd5 41.Ne4 Ke5 42.Kg3 Bd7 43.Nf2 Bf5 44.Nd1 Be6 45.Ne3 Bf5 46.h5 gxh5 47.Nxf5 Kxf5 48.Kh4 Kf4 49.Kxh5 Kxf3 50.Kxh6 1/2-1/2

Round 8, Nov. 26
Aronian, Levon – Nepo, Ian
A34 English, symmetrical, Rubinstein System

1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bg2 Nc7 6.d3 e5 7.Be3 Be7 8.Rc1 Ne6 9.Nh3 O-O 10.O-O Nc6 11.Bxc6 bxc6 12.f3 Rb8 13.b3 f5 14.Nf2 h5 15.Kh1 g5 16.Na4 Rb5 17.Bd2 g4 18.e4 Nd4 19.f4 Nf3 20.Be3 h4 21.Kg2 Qe8 22.Bxc5 Bxc5 23.Nxc5 Qh5 24.Rh1 exf4 25.gxf4 h3+ 26.Kf1 fxe4 27.Ncxe4 Rxf4 28.Rxc6 Bb7 29.Rf6 Rbf5 30.Ng3 Nd2+ 31.Ke1 Qe8+ 0-1

Scores at the end of Round Eight

Giri-Carlsen 2-2
Nepo-Aronian 3-1
Radjabov-So 1.5-2.5
Nakamura-MVL 2.5-0.5

Playoffs

5+3

Carlsen is through on the basis of the quarterfinals

Round 9, Nov. 26
Aronian, Levon – Nepo, Ian
A34 English, symmetrical, Rubinstein System

1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bg2 Nc7 6.d3 e5 7.Be3 Be7 8.Rc1 Ne6 9.Nf3 Nc6 10.O-O O-O 11.a3 Bd7 12.Nd5 b6 13.b4 Rc8 14.Nxe7+ Qxe7 15.bxc5 Nxc5 16.Bxc5 bxc5 17.e3 Rfd8 18.Qb3 Bf5 19.Rfd1 e4 20.dxe4 Rxd1+ 21.Qxd1 Bxe4 22.Qa4 h6 23.h4 Rb8 24.Nd2 Bxg2 25.Kxg2 Ne5 26.Qe4 Qd6 27.Nc4 Nxc4 28.Rxc4 g6 29.h5 g5 30.Qf5 Rb5 31.a4 Qc6+ 32.e4 Ra5 33.Kh2 Qa6 34.Rc3 c4 35.e5 Rxa4 36.Qc8+ Kg7 37.Qd7 Ra2 38.Rf3 Qe6 39.Qc7 Qd5 40.e6 Qxf3 41.Qe5+ Qf6 0-1

Round 10, Nov. 26
Nepo, Ian – Aronian, Levon
B06 Robatsch Defence

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 a6 4.Nf3 d6 5.Be2 Nd7 6.O-O e6 7.Be3 Ne7 8.Qd2 h6 9.a4 b6 10.Rfe1 Bb7 11.h3 Nf6 12.Bd3 g5 13.e5 Nd7 14.exd6 cxd6 15.Ne4 Qc7 16.Qc3 Kd8 17.Qa3 Nf5 18.c4 Rg8 19.Rac1 Bf8 20.c5 d5 21.Nexg5 hxg5 22.Bxf5 bxc5 23.dxc5 a5 24.Bxg5+ Kc8 25.Qe3 Ra6 26.Bf4 d4 27.Qxd4 Bxf3 28.Bxc7 Rxg2+ 29.Kf1 exf5 30.Re8+ Kb7 31.Qxd7 Rag6 32.Bb6+ 1-0

The suspicion is Levon Aronian picked the Hippopotamus just to hear Peter Leko pronounce it with the stress on the penultimate syllable!

Nepo goes through to the Semifinals and plays Carlsen

Round 9, Nov. 26
Radjabov, Teimour – So, Wesley
D41 QGD, Semi-Tarrasch

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 c5 5.cxd5 cxd4 6.Qxd4 exd5 7.Bg5 Be7 8.e3 O-O 9.Be2 h6 10.Bh4 Nc6 11.Qd3 Qb6 12.O-O Rd8 13.Rfd1 Be6 14.Qb5 Qxb5 15.Nxb5 g5 16.Bg3 Ne4 17.Rac1 Bf6 18.Nfd4 Nxd4 19.Nxd4 Nxg3 20.hxg3 Rac8 21.Bd3 Rxc1 22.Rxc1 Rc8 23.Rd1 Bxd4 24.exd4 Kf8 25.f3 Ke7 26.Kf2 h5 27.Rh1 Rh8 28.Ke3 Kf6 29.g4 h4 30.g3 Re8 31.Kf2 hxg3+ 32.Kxg3 Rg8 33.Rh2 Ke7 34.Rh5 Kf6 35.Rh6+ Kg7 36.Rh7+ Kf6 37.Rh1 Ke7 38.Bf5 Bxf5 39.gxf5 Rc8 40.Re1+ Kf6 41.Re5 Rc2 42.Rxd5 Rxb2 43.a4 a6 44.Kg4 Rg2+ 45.Kh3 Rb2 46.Kg4 Rg2+ 47.Kh3 Rg1 48.Kh2 Ra1 49.a5 Rb1 50.Kg3 Rb5 51.Rd7 Rxf5 52.d5 Kg6 53.Rxb7 Rxd5 54.Rb6+ Kh5 55.Rxa6 f5 56.Ra8 f4+ 57.Kf2 Rd2+ 58.Ke1 Ra2 59.Rh8+ Kg6 60.Rg8+ Kf5 61.Rf8+ Ke5 62.Re8+ Kd4 63.Re4+ Kd5 64.Re2 Rxa5 65.Kf2 Ra3 66.Rd2+ Ke5 67.Re2+ Kd4 68.Re4+ Kd3 69.Re5 Ra2+ 70.Kf1 Rb2 71.Re6 Kd4 72.Re4+ Kd5 73.Re8 Kd6 74.Re4 Rb5 75.Kg2 Re5 76.Rd4+ Ke6 77.Kf2 Kf5 78.Rd8 Ra5 79.Rf8+ Kg6 80.Rg8+ Kh7 81.Rd8 Ra2+ 82.Kf1 Kg6 83.Rg8+ Kh6 84.Rh8+ Kg7 85.Rd8 Ra7 86.Kg2 Kg6 87.Rg8+ Rg7 88.Rd8 Rh7 89.Rd6+ Kh5 90.Rd8 Kh4 91.Rd1 Kh5 92.Rd8 g4 93.fxg4+ Kxg4 94.Rg8+ Kf5 95.Rf8+ Kg5 1/2-1/2

Round 10, Nov. 26
So, Wesley – Radjabov, Teimour
B32 Sicilian, Labourdonnais-Loewenthal variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 d6 6.N1c3 a6 7.Na3 b5 8.Nd5 Nf6 9.Bg5 Be7 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.c3 Rb8 12.Nc2 Bg5 13.a3 O-O 14.h4 Bh6 15.g4 f6 16.Be2 Ne7 17.Ncb4 Bb7 18.Qd3 Kh8 19.Rd1 Rc8 20.Bf3 Nxd5 21.Nxd5 Rc5 22.Ne3 Bxe3 23.Qxe3 Rc4 24.b3 Rc8 25.O-O Qa5 26.b4 Qxa3 27.Rd3 Rc6 28.Rfd1 h6 29.Bg2 Qb3 30.Rxd6 Qxc3 31.Qxc3 Rxc3 32.g5 hxg5 33.hxg5 Rc4 34.Rd8 Rc8 35.R8d7 Bc6 36.Ra7 fxg5 37.Rxa6 g4 38.Rb6 Be8 39.Rd2 Rc1+ 40.Kh2 Rc3 41.Rb8 Kh7 42.Kg1 Rc1+ 43.Kh2 Rc3 44.Kg1 Rc1+ 45.Kh2 Rc3 1/2-1/2

Armageddon, Nov. 26
Radjabov, Teimour – So, Wesley
A06 Reti Opening

1.Nf3 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.b3 e6 4.Bb2 Be7 5.g3 O-O 6.Bg2 c5 7.O-O Nc6 8.d3 b6 9.Nbd2 Bb7 10.Re1 Nd7 11.e4 d4 12.h4 b5 13.a3 Rc8 14.Qe2 Qc7 15.Bc1 Nb6 16.Ng5 h6 17.Nh3 c4 18.bxc4 bxc4 19.Nf4 Ne5 20.Nf3 cxd3 21.cxd3 Nxf3+ 22.Qxf3 Qc3 23.Rd1 Qxa1 24.Bd2 Qxa3 25.Nh5 Rc5 26.Bh3 Kh7 27.Qg4 Rxh5 28.Qxh5 Qxd3 29.Bg2 Qc2 30.Bf4 Bxe4 31.Rc1 Qd3 32.Rd1 Qc2 33.Rc1 Qd3 34.Rd1 Qc2 1/2-1/2

So wins the Armageddon and goes on to meet the winner of MVL/Nakamura

(to be continued)

[Wayne Komer]

Skilling Open 2020

November 26, 2020

Quarter Finals, Day Two

Playoffs (continued)

Round 9, Nov. 26
MVL – 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.dxc5 Bxc5 19.Be3 Rc8 20.Bxc5 Rxc5 21.Qd2 Qc7 22.Bd3 Bxf3 23.gxf3 Nc6 24.f4 Nb4 25.Rad1 Nxd3 26.Qxd3 Qb6 27.Qe3 Qc6 28.f5 Rc2 29.f6 Rxb2 30.Qf3 Re8 31.fxg7 Rxa2 32.Rd4 Rc2 33.Re3 Rc4 34.Rxd5 a4 35.Kh2 b5 36.Qf6 Rc1 37.Rf3 Rh1+ 38.Kxh1 Qxd5 39.Qxh6 Qxf3+ 40.Kg1 f6 41.Qh8+ Kf7 42.e6+ Ke7 43.Qxe8+ Kxe8 44.g8=Q+ Ke7 45.Qf7+ Kd6 46.Qd7+ Kc5 47.e7 1-0

Round 10, Nov. 26
Nakamura, Hikaru – MVL
A45 Trompovsky Attack

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3.e3 c5 4.c3 Qb6 5.Qc1 Bf5 6.Nd2 Nbd7 7.Ngf3 e6 8.Nh4 Be4 9.a4 a6 10.Be2 h6 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.g3 Be7 14.O-O O-O 15.Qc2 Rac8 16.Rfd1 Rfd8 17.Rac1 cxd4 18.exd4 Nd5 19.Ng2 f5 20.Qb1 Bg5 21.Rc2 Qb3 22.a5 Nb4 23.Rcc1 Bxc1 24.Rxc1 Nd5 25.f3 exf3 26.Bxf3 Qb5 27.Re1 Re8 28.Qa2 Kh8 29.Bh5 Re7 30.Nh4 Kh7 31.Ng6 Rec7 32.Ne5 Kg8 33.Ng6 Kh7 34.Rxe6 Nf6 35.Be2 Qd5 36.Qxd5 Nxd5 37.Bd3 Rf7 38.Ne5 Rff8 39.Rd6 Ne3 40.Rd7 Rb8 41.Rd6 Rbc8 42.Rb6 Rc7 43.Kf2 Nd5 44.Rd6 Ne7 45.Nd7 Rf7 46.Nc5 Nc6 47.b4 g6 48.h4 Ne7 49.Bc4 Rg7 50.Bb3 Rc6 51.Rd7 Nc8 52.Rxg7+ Kxg7 53.Bd5 Rc7 54.Ne6+ 1-0

Armageddon, Nov. 26
MVL – 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.dxc5 Bxc5 19.Be3 Rc8 20.Bxc5 Rxc5 21.Qd2 Qc7 22.Bd3 Nc6 23.Qe3 Nb4 24.Nd4 Nxd3 25.Qxd3 Qb6 26.b3 Rfc8 27.Kh2 Qb4 28.Qe3 Rc3 29.Qf4 Bd7 30.Red1 a4 31.Ne2 Qxf4 32.Nxf4 Be6 33.bxa4 Rc2 34.Kg1 Ra8 35.Rd4 Rc4 36.Rd2 Rcxa4 37.Ne2 d4 38.Nxd4 Bxa2 39.f4 Bc4 40.Rb1 Ra1 41.Rb2 Bd5 42.Rxa1 Rxa1+ 43.Kf2 Ra2 44.Rxa2 Bxa2 45.g4 Bc4 46.Ke3 b5 47.Nc6 Kf8 48.g3 Bd5 49.Nb4 Bb3 50.f5 Bd1 51.Kf4 g5+ 52.fxg6 fxg6 53.g5 hxg5+ 54.Kxg5 Kf7 55.Kf4 Ke6 56.Ke4 Bb3 57.Na6 Ke7 58.Kd4 Bd1 59.Nc7 Be2 60.Nd5+ Kf7 61.e6+ Kxe6 62.Nf4+ Kf5 63.Nxe2 Kg4 64.Ke3 b4 65.Kf2 b3 66.Kg2 b2 67.Nc3 Kf5 68.Kf3 Ke5 69.Ke3 Kf5 70.Kf3 Ke5 71.Nb1 Kd4 72.Ke2 Ke4 73.Nc3+ Kf5 74.Ke3 Kg4 75.Kf2 Kf5 76.Kf3 1/2-1/2

Nakamura goes through to the Semifinals and plays Wesley So

Carlsen is set for the semifinal in #SkillingOpen where he will be facing Nepomniachtchi: "I have to commend Anish for a very tough fight. It was never easy at any moment.

Ouch! Wesley So is set to join Nepo and Nakamura in pulling off comeback wins today

Nepo: "I don't think anyone in the roster is afraid of Magnus, but he's probably the most challenging opponent, and not for me only!"

[Wayne Komer]

Skilling Open 2020

November 27, 2020

Semi-Finals

Day One

Round 12, Nov. 27
Carlsen, Magnus – Nepomniachtchi, Ian
D85 Grunfeld, Exchange variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bd2 Bg7 6.e4 Nxc3 7.Bxc3 O-O 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.Nf3 Bg4 10.d5 Bxf3 11.Bxg7 Kxg7 12.gxf3 Ne5 13.O-O-O c6 14.Bh3 Kg8 15.Qc3 Qb8 16.d6 exd6 17.f4 Re8 18.Rhe1 a5 19.Kb1 a4 20.fxe5 Rxe5 21.f4 Rc5 22.Qf6 a3 23.b3 Rh5 24.Rxd6 Qe8 25.Be6 fxe6 26.Red1 1-0

Position after Black’s 17…Re8




Nepo's knight is lost on move 17...

There was no miracle and it's Carlsen 1-0 Nepo in the 1st game of their #SkillingOpen semifinal!

Round 12, Nov. 27
Nakamura, Hikaru – So, Wesley
C28 Vienna game

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 Nc6 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Nf3 d6 6.h3 Na5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.O-O c6 9.Ne2 Nxb3 10.axb3 Ba5 11.Ng3 h6 12.Nh4 Bc7 13.Nhf5 d5 14.Qf3 Kh7 15.Nh5 g6 16.Nxf6+ Qxf6 17.Nd4 Qd6 18.Ne2 f5 19.exf5 Bxf5 20.Ng3 e4 21.dxe4 Bxe4 22.Qe3 h5 23.c4 Kg8 24.c5 Qe5 25.f4 Qe7 26.Nxe4 dxe4 27.Ra4 Rf5 28.Rxe4 Qxc5 29.Qxc5 Rxc5 30.Re7 Bb6 31.Be3 Rb5 32.Bxb6 Rxb6 33.f5 Rf8 34.f6 Rf7 35.Re8+ Rf8 36.Re7 Rf7 37.Re8+ Rf8 38.Re7 1/2-1/2

Round 13, Nov. 27
Nepomniachtchi, Ian – Carlsen, Magnus
B35 Sicilian, Accelerated Fianchetto, Uogele variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 O-O 8.Bb3 d6 9.h3 Na5 10.O-O b6 11.Qd2 Bb7 12.f3 Rc8 13.Bh6 Bxh6 14.Qxh6 e5 15.Nde2 b5 16.a3 Nxb3 17.cxb3 d5 18.exd5 Nxd5 19.Kh1 Qb6 20.Ne4 f6 21.Rfc1 Ne7 22.Rxc8 Rxc8 23.Rc1 Bxe4 24.fxe4 Rxc1+ 25.Qxc1 a6 26.Qd1 Kf7 27.b4 Qe6 28.Nc3 Nc6 29.Nd5 Qd6 30.Qc1 Ne7 31.Qc7 Qxc7 32.Nxc7 Nc8 33.Nxa6 Nd6 34.Nc7 Ke7 35.Nd5+ Ke6 36.Nc3 f5 37.Kg1 f4 38.b3 Kd7 39.a4 g5 40.Kf2 h5 41.Kf3 Kc6 42.Nd5 g4+ 43.hxg4 hxg4+ 44.Kxg4 Nxe4 45.Ne7+ Kd6 46.Ng6 Nf6+ 47.Kf5 Nd5 48.Nxe5 bxa4 49.bxa4 Nxb4 50.Ng6 Nd5 51.Nxf4 Ne3+ 52.Ke4 Nxg2 53.Nxg2 Kc5 1/2-1/2

A great escape for Magnus, who manages to draw Game 2 and now leads 1.5:0.5!

Round 13, Nov. 27
So, Wesley – Nakamura, Hikaru
C54 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.O-O h6 7.Re1 O-O 8.Nbd2 a5 9.Nf1 Be6 10.Bb5 Bb6 11.Ng3 Nh7 12.h3 Ng5 13.Nxg5 hxg5 14.d4 exd4 15.Bxc6 bxc6 16.cxd4 c5 17.d5 Bd7 18.a4 Re8 19.Bd2 c4 20.Qf3 Rb8 21.Bc3 Bc5 22.Re2 f6 23.Nf5 Bb4 24.Bd4 Bc5 25.Bc3 Bb4 26.Ne3 Bc8 27.Bd4 Ba6 28.Nf5 Bc8 29.Ne3 Ba6 30.Nf5 Bc8 31.Rc1 Qd7 32.Rec2 Ba6 33.h4 gxh4 34.Qg4 Kf8 35.Bxf6 gxf6 36.Qxh4 Kg8 37.Re2 Re5 38.Re3 Rxf5 39.Rh3 Rg5 40.Qh8+ Kf7 41.Rh7+ 1-0

Round 14, Nov. 27
Carlsen, Magnus – Nepomniachtchi, Ian
D85 Grunfeld, Modern Exchange variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5 8.h3 O-O 9.Be2 Nc6 10.Be3 cxd4 11.cxd4 Qa5+ 12.Bd2 Qa3 13.Be3 Qa5+ 14.Bd2 Qa3 15.Be3 Qc3+ 16.Bd2 Qb2 17.Rb1 Qxa2 18.d5 Ne5 19.O-O Nxf3+ 20.Bxf3 a5 21.Bf4 a4 22.e5 Qc4 23.Qd2 a3 24.Rfc1 Qa4 25.Ra1 Bf5 26.Ra2 Rfc8 27.Rca1 Qb3 28.Bd1 Qc3 29.Qxc3 Rxc3 30.Bd2 Rd3 31.f4 g5 32.Bb4 gxf4 33.Bc2 Rd4 34.Bxe7 Bxc2 35.Rxc2 Bxe5 36.Rxa3 Rxa3 37.Bxa3 Rxd5 38.Kf2 Kg7 39.Bb2 b5 40.Bxe5+ Rxe5 41.Rb2 Kg6 42.Kf3 Kg5 43.Rb4 f6 44.Kf2 Rd5 45.Kf3 Rc5 46.Kf2 Kf5 47.Kf3 Ke6 48.Re4+ Re5 49.Rb4 Rf5 50.Rb1 h5 51.Ke4 h4 52.Ra1 Rd5 53.Ra8 Rd2 54.Rb8 Rxg2 55.Rb6+ Kf7 56.Rxb5 Kg6 57.Kxf4 Rg3 58.Rb8 Rxh3 59.Kg4 Rh1 60.Rg8+ Kf7 61.Ra8 Kg7 62.Rb8 h3 63.Kg3 Kg6 64.Rb6 Kg5 65.Rb5+ f5 66.Ra5 Rb1 67.Kxh3 Rb3+ 68.Kg2 Kg4 69.Ra8 Rb2+ 70.Kg1 Rb3 71.Kg2 Kf4 72.Ra4+ Ke3 73.Kg3 Rd3 74.Rf4 Ke2+ 75.Kg2 Rd5 76.Kg3 1/2-1/2

Position after White’s 54.Rb8



Can Magnus hold a draw 2 pawns down in a rook ending?
- MC best defender ever
- Well done, Magnus.
- Compliments for Carlsen
- I thought for sure Nepo would win that game.
- well, he has to study endings first

Round 14, Nov. 27
Nakamura, Hikaru – So, Wesley
D41 QGD, Semi-Tarrasch

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c5 5.cxd5 cxd4 6.Qa4+ Bd7 7.Qxd4 exd5 8.e3 Nc6 9.Qd1 Bb4 10.Be2 Ne4 11.Bd2 Bxc3 12.Bxc3 Nxc3 13.bxc3 Be6 14.Rb1 Qc7 15.O-O O-O 16.Ng5 Rad8 17.Qc2 g6 18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.c4 Ne5 20.c5 b6 21.Rbc1 bxc5 22.Qxc5 Qxc5 23.Rxc5 Rc8 24.Ra5 Rc2 25.Bd1 Rc7 26.Ra6 Kf7 27.Bb3 Nd3 28.h4 Nc5 29.Ra5 Nxb3 30.axb3 Rb8 31.Rfa1 Rxb3 32.Rxa7 Rc3 33.Kh2 h5 34.Ra8 Rc1 35.R1a4 R1c4 36.g3 Rxa4 37.Rxa4 Rc4 38.Ra7+ Kf6 39.Ra8 d4 40.exd4 Rxd4 41.Rf8+ Kg7 42.Ra8 Kf6 43.Rf8+ Kg7 44.Ra8 Kf6 1/2-1/2

After a draw in Game 3, Nakamura will have to beat So on demand with the black pieces to get a draw out of today's mini-match!

Sam Shankland is the guest commentator with Peter and Tania.

Sam on Wesley So: "I just think people are completely wrong when they think he's all so solid and strategic. He's most at home in wild, aggressive positions - it's just you don't get those very often in classical chess"

Round 15, Nov. 27
Nepomniachtchi, Ian – 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 Nxe5 8.Rxe5 O-O 9.d4 Bf6 10.Re1 Nf5 11.c3 d5 12.Bf4 Bg5 13.Qd2 Bxf4 14.Qxf4 Qd6 15.Qf3 c6 16.Bd3 g6 17.Nd2 Bd7 18.Re5 f6 19.Re2 Rae8 20.Rae1 Nh4 21.Qg3 Qxg3 22.hxg3 Rxe2 23.Bxe2 Nf5 24.g4 Nd6 25.f3 Re8 26.Kf2 a5 27.b3 f5 28.gxf5 Nxf5 29.Rc1 h5 30.Bd3 Kg7 31.Nf1 Kf6 32.Bxf5 Bxf5 33.Ne3 a4 34.c4 axb3 35.axb3 dxc4 36.bxc4 Ra8 37.d5 cxd5 38.Nxd5+ Ke5 39.Re1+ Kd4 40.Rd1+ Kc5 41.Ne3 Be6 42.Rb1 Kc6 43.c5 Kxc5 44.Rxb7 Ra2+ 45.Kg3 Re2 46.Nd1 h4+ 1/2-1/2

Round 15, Nov. 27
So, Wesley – Nakamura, Hikaru
A81 Dutch Defence

1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.O-O O-O 6.b3 Nc6 7.Bb2 Ne4 8.Nbd2 e6 9.c4 g5 10.Nxe4 fxe4 11.Ne5 d5 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Qc2 Ba6 14.Rac1 g4 15.e3 Rf6 16.Ba3 h5 17.Rfd1 Bh6 18.Qd2 Bc8 19.Qb4 Bf8 20.Qa5 Bxa3 21.Qxa3 Bd7 22.Rc2 h4 23.Rdc1 Rh6 24.Qa5 Kg7 25.b4 a6 26.a4 Rb8 27.b5 axb5 28.axb5 Ra8 29.Qb4 hxg3 30.hxg3 Rb8 31.Qa5 Ra8 32.Qb4 Be8 33.bxc6 Rb8 34.Qa5 Bf7 35.cxd5 exd5 36.Rc5 Ra8 37.Qb4 Ra6 38.Ra5 Raxc6 39.Rac5 Rb6 40.Rb5 Rxb5 41.Qxb5 Rb6 42.Qc5 c6 43.Bf1 Be6 1/2-1/2

Day One Final Results

Carlsen-Nepo 2.5-1.5
Nakamura-So 1.5-2.5

[Wayne Komer]

Skilling Open 2020

November 28, 2020

Semi-Finals

Day Two

Round 16, Nov. 28
Nepomniachtchi, Ian – Carlsen, Magnus
C84 Ruy Lopez, Closed

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.d3 d6 7.c3 O-O 8.Nbd2 Re8 9.Re1 Bf8 10.d4 b5 11.Bc2 exd4 12.cxd4 Bg4 13.Nf1 g6 14.Ng3 Bg7 15.Be3 Nd7 16.Rc1 Bxf3 17.gxf3 Qf6 18.Bb3 Nxd4 19.Bxd4 Qxd4 20.Rxc7 Ra7 21.Rxa7 Qxa7 22.Qxd6 Bxb2 23.f4 Nc5 24.Bd5 Bd4 25.Re2 Nd3 26.Kg2 Kg7 27.Rd2 Bc5 28.Qc6 Nxf4+ 29.Kf3 Rd8 30.Kxf4 Rd6 31.Qe8 Bxf2 32.Kg4 Rf6 33.e5 h5+ 34.Kh3 Rf4 35.e6 fxe6 36.Bxe6 Bd4 37.Nxh5+ gxh5 38.Rg2+ Kf6 39.Rg6+ Ke5 40.Bb3+ 1-0

Nepo crashes through with a mating attack against Magnus - match on!

Tania: This is something to see. Carlsen plays best when his back is against the wall. When the tough get going, the tough… Well, you know the expression I mean.

Round 16, Nov. 28
So, Wesley – Nakamura, Hikaru
C70 Ruy Lopez, Fianchetto Defence deferred

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 g6 5.c3 Bg7 6.O-O Nge7 7.d4 exd4 8.cxd4 b5 9.Bc2 d5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Re1+ Be6 12.Bg5 Qd7 13.Nbd2 O-O 14.Nb3 Bg4 15.h3 Be6 16.Nc5 Qd6 17.Nxe6 fxe6 18.Re4 Rae8 19.h4 Nf6 20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.h5 gxh5 22.Qd3 Rf7 23.a3 Kh8 24.Qe3 Qf8 25.d5 Nd8 26.dxe6 Rfe7 27.Bb3 Bxb2 28.Rd1 Nb7 29.Ng5 Nd6 30.Rxd6 cxd6 31.Nf7+ Rxf7 32.exf7 Rxe4 33.Qxe4 Bf6 34.Qf5 Kg7 35.Qxh5 Qc8 36.g3 h6 37.Qd5 Qd8 38.Qb7 Be7 39.Bd5 a5 40.Qxb5 Bf8 41.a4 Qc7 42.Qb2+ Kg6 43.Qb1+ Kg7 44.Qb2+ Kg6 45.Qh8 Qe7 46.Qc3 Qd8 47.Kg2 h5 48.Qd3+ Kh6 49.Qd2+ Kg6 50.Qe2 Qg5 51.Qb5 Kh6 52.Qxa5 h4 53.Qa8 Kg7 54.Qc6 Qe5 55.gxh4 Be7 56.Qc4 Bxh4 57.Qg4+ Bg5 58.Qf3 Bf4 59.a5 Qf5 60.Qe4 Qg4+ 61.Kf1 Qd1+ 62.Kg2 Qg4+ 63.Kf1 Qd1+ 64.Kg2 Qg4+ 1/2-1/2

Final Position



It looks like So will crush Nakamura and then he blunders into a perpetual.

Round 17, Nov. 28
Carlsen, Magnus – Nepomniachtchi, Ian
B22 Sicilian, Alapin

1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bc4 Nb6 6.Bb3 d5 7.exd6 Qxd6 8.O-O Be6 9.Bxe6 Qxe6 10.a4 Qd7 11.a5 Nd5 12.a6 b6 13.d4 cxd4 14.Nxd4 e6 15.Nxc6 Qxc6 16.Qg4 h5 17.Qe2 b5 18.Na3 Bxa3 19.Rxa3 f6 20.Rb3 Nc7 21.Rb4 Qxa6 22.Rh4 Kf7 23.Rxh5 Nd5 24.Re1 Qc6 25.h4 a5 26.Rxh8 Rxh8 27.h5 a4 28.Bd2 Ne7 29.h6 gxh6 30.Qh5+ Ng6 31.Bxh6 Qd6 32.Rd1 Qc6 33.Rd4 f5 34.Rd3 Rg8 35.Bg5 Rh8 36.Qe2 Qc7 37.Rh3 Rxh3 38.gxh3 Qe5 39.Qd1 Nf8 40.h4 Kg6 41.Qd8 Qg7 42.Qe8+ Kh7 43.Qxb5 Ng6 44.Qxa4 Ne5 45.Qf4 Qh8 46.b4 Kg6 47.Qe3 Kf7 48.b5 Qb8 49.Bf4 Qg8+ 50.Kf1 Ng4 51.Qa7+ Kg6 52.Qe7 Nf6 53.h5+ 1-0

Round 17, Nov. 28
Nakamura, Hikaru – So, Wesley
C28 Vienna game

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 Nc6 4.Nc3 Na5 5.Nge2 c6 6.Bb3 d6 7.O-O Be7 8.f4 O-O 9.h3 exf4 10.Nxf4 d5 11.exd5 Nxb3 12.axb3 cxd5 13.Qf3 Be6 14.Nce2 Qc7 15.Nd4 Bd7 16.Nfe2 a5 17.c3 Rfe8 18.Kh1 Ra6 19.Bf4 Bd6 20.Rf2 b5 21.g4 Bxf4 22.Nxf4 Re5 23.Rg1 h6 24.h4 Qc8 25.Rfg2 g5 26.hxg5 Rxg5 27.Nh5 Nxg4 28.Nf4 Rf6 29.Rf1 b4 30.cxb4 axb4 31.Qg3 Qc7 32.Nde2 Qe5 33.d4 Qe4 34.Rf3 Kh7 35.Kg1 Bb5 36.Kh1 Bd7 37.Kg1 Bb5 38.Kh1 Bxe2 39.Rxe2 Qb1+ 40.Re1 Qxb2 41.Nh3 Rgg6 42.Nf4 Ne5 43.Nxg6 Nxf3 44.Nf8+ Kh8 45.Nd7 Re6 46.Rxe6 fxe6 47.Qxf3 Qxd4 48.Qf8+ Kh7 49.Qf7+ Kh8 50.Qe8+ Kg7 51.Qe7+ Kh8 52.Qxe6 Qd1+ 53.Kg2 Qxb3 54.Qf6+ Kh7 55.Qe7+ Kg6 56.Qe6+ Kg5 57.Qe5+ Kg6 58.Qf6+ Kh5 59.Qf5+ Kh4 60.Qf2+ Kh5 61.Qe2+ Kh4 62.Qe7+ Kh5 63.Qe5+ Kg6 64.Qe2 Qc3 65.Qe6+ Kg7 66.Qe7+ Kg6 67.Qe6+ Kg7 68.Qe7+ Kg6 69.Nf8+ Kf5 70.Qe6+ Kf4 71.Qxh6+ 1/2-1/2

Both Wesley So & Hikaru Nakamura are in shock after that draw! Wesley spoilt a 2nd totally winning position in a row, but Hikaru couldn't quite force a win at the end either:

Round 18, Nov. 28
Nepomniachtchi, Ian – Carlsen, Magnus
C84 Ruy Lopez, Closed

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.d3 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.a3 Na5 9.Ba2 c5 10.Nc3 Be6 11.Nh4 O-O 12.Nf5 Bxf5 13.exf5 d5 14.Qf3 c4 15.Bg5 e4 16.dxe4 dxe4 17.Qh3 Qc7 18.Rae1 Rfe8 19.Bb1 Rad8 20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.Nxe4 Bxb2 22.f6 Qd7 23.Qg3 g6 24.Qe3 Rxe4 25.Qxe4 Bxf6 26.a4 b4 27.Qf3 Qc6 28.Qxc6 Nxc6 29.Re4 Nd4 30.Rfe1 Kf8 31.Kf1 b3 32.c3 Nc2 33.Bxc2 bxc2 34.Rc1 Rd1+ 35.Re1 Rd2 36.Re2 Rd1+ 37.Re1 Rd2 38.Re2 Rd1+ 39.Re1 1/2-1/2

Round 18, Nov. 28
So, Wesley – Nakamura, Hikaru
E32 Nimzo-Indian, Classical variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 O-O 5.e4 d5 6.e5 Ne4 7.Bd3 c5 8.Nf3 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Nd7 10.Bf4 Qh4 11.g3 Qh5 12.O-O g5 13.cxd5 Bxc3 14.bxc3 exd5 15.e6 gxf4 16.exd7 Bxd7 17.Bxe4 dxe4 18.Qxe4 fxg3 19.fxg3 b6 20.Nf5 Rae8 21.Qd5 Bxf5 22.Rxf5 Qe2 23.Raf1 Qe3+ 24.R1f2 Qe1+ 25.Rf1 Qe3+ 26.R1f2 Qe1+ 27.Rf1 Qe3+ 1/2-1/2

Round 19, Nov. 28
Carlsen, Magnus – Nepomniachtchi, Ian
B51 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.a4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 b6 7.d4 cxd4 8.Qxd4 Bb7 9.O-O e6 10.Rd1 Qc7 11.Be3 Ng4 12.Bg5 h6 13.Bh4 Nge5 14.Nxe5 dxe5 15.Qc4 Qxc4 16.Bxc4 Rc8 17.Bd3 Bc5 18.Kf1 Bd4 19.f3 Bxc3 20.bxc3 Rxc3 21.Rdb1 Bc8 22.Rb2 O-O 23.Bf2 f5 24.Bxb6 fxe4 25.Bxe4 Nf6 26.Bd3 e4 27.fxe4 Nxe4+ 28.Kg1 Nc5 29.Bxc5 Rxc5 30.a5 e5 31.Rb6 Rf6 32.Rf1 Rxb6 33.axb6 Bb7 34.c4 a5 35.Bf5 Rc6 1/2-1/2

It's Carlsen-So in the #SkillingOpen final tomorrow after Ian offered Magnus a draw in their last game:

Round 19, Nov. 28
Nakamura, Hikaru – So, Wesley
A07 Reti, King’s Indian Attack, Pachman System

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.O-O e5 5.d3 Ne7 6.c4 dxc4 7.dxc4 O-O 8.Nc3 Nbc6 9.Rb1 Nd4 10.b3 Bg4 11.Nd2 c6 12.h3 Bf5 13.Nde4 Qc7 14.e3 Ne6 15.b4 a5 16.a3 Rad8 17.Qb3 axb4 18.axb4 Bxe4 19.Bxe4 f5 20.c5 Qc8 21.Na4 Nd5 22.Bxd5 cxd5 23.Nb6 Qc6 24.Rd1 Ng5 25.h4 Ne4 26.b5 Qe6 27.Rxd5 Rxd5 28.Qxd5 Qxd5 29.Nxd5 Rd8 30.c6 Rxd5 31.cxb7 Rd8 32.Ra1 Nc5 33.Ra7 Nxb7 34.Rxb7 Rd1+ 35.Kg2 Rxc1 36.Rb8+ Kf7 37.Rb7+ Kg8 38.Rb8+ Kf7 39.Rb7+ Kg8 1/2-1/2

Wesley So has done it, taking a draw in a winning position to reach tomorrow's final of the #SkillingOpen!

Final Score on Day Two of the Semis

Nepo-Carlsen 2-2
So-Nakamura 2-2

After 7 days our 16 starting players have been reduced to 2 - it's a Magnus Carlsen vs. Wesley So final, taking place Sunday & Monday

[Hans Jung]

Congratulations to Wesley for bouncing back in game 4. White wins all four. How often do you see that nowadays?

[Wayne Komer]

Skilling Open 2020

November 29, 2020

Finals

Day One

Round 20, Nov. 29
Carlsen, Magnus – So, Wesley
D41 QGD, Semi-Tarrasch

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c5 5.cxd5 cxd4 6.Qxd4 exd5 7.e4 dxe4 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Ng5 Be6 10.Nxe6+ fxe6 11.Bc4 Ke7 12.O-O Nbd7 13.Be3 Rc8 14.Bb3 Nc5 15.Bxc5+ Rxc5 16.Rfe1 g6 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.Rxe4 e5 19.f4 Bg7 20.Rae1 Rf8 21.fxe5 Rf5 22.e6 Bxb2 23.Rd1 Rc7 24.g4 Rf8 25.Kg2 b5 26.Re2 Bc3 27.Re3 Bb4 28.Red3 a5 29.Rd7+ Rxd7 30.Rxd7+ Kf6 31.Rb7 a4 32.g5+ Kxg5 33.Rxb5+ Rf5 34.Rxb4 axb3 35.e7 bxa2 36.e8=Q a1=Q 37.Qe7+ Kh6 38.Rh4+ Rh5 39.Qf8+ Qg7 40.Qf4+ g5 41.Qd6+ Qg6 42.Qf8+ Qg7 43.Rxh5+ 1-0

Position after White’s 42.Qf8+



One mistake and Magnus Carlsen has done what Nakamura didn't manage in 8 games in the semi-finals - beaten Wesley So!

Round 21, Nov. 29
So, Wesley – Carlsen, Magnus
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 Ba7 12.Ng3 Ng6 13.h3 c6 14.Bd3 a4 15.Be3 Re8 16.Qc2 b5 17.b4 axb3 18.axb3 Qc7 19.Ra6 Qb7 20.Rea1 Bb6 21.Rxa8 Rxa8 22.Rxa8+ Qxa8 23.dxe5 Qa1+ 24.Bf1 Bxe3 25.exf6 Bb6 26.fxg7 Ne5 27.Qd2 Nxf3+ 28.gxf3 Kxg7 29.Kg2 b4 30.Nh5+ Kg6 31.Nf4+ Kh7 32.Nxe6 bxc3 33.Qf4 fxe6 34.Qf7+ Kh8 35.Qf8+ Kh7 36.e5 Qd1 37.Qf7+ Kh8 38.Qe8+ Kh7 39.Qd7+ Kh8 40.Qc8+ Kg7 41.Qd7+ Kh8 42.Qe8+ Kg7 43.Qe7+ Kh8 44.Qxe6 Qd4 45.Qe8+ Kg7 46.Qe7+ Kg8 47.Qe6+ Kg7 48.Qf6+ Kh7 49.Qe7+ Kg8 50.Qe6+ Kg7 51.Qd7+ Kf8 52.Qf5+ Ke8 53.Qc8+ Ke7 54.exd6+ Qxd6 55.Qf5 Qd4 56.Qc2 Qg7+ 57.Kh1 Qe5 58.Bd3 Bc7 59.Kg2 Qh2+ 60.Kf1 Qxh3+ 61.Ke2 Qe6+ 62.Be4 Be5 63.Qa2 Qd6 64.Qa7+ Kf6 65.Qh7 Qd2+ 66.Kf1 Bd4 67.Qg6+ Ke7 68.Qg3 Bf6 69.Qc7+ Qd7 70.Qf4 h5 71.Qe3 Qd4 72.Qf4 Qd6 73.Qe3 c5 74.Bg6+ Kd8 75.Qe8+ Kc7 76.Be4 h4 77.Kg2 Qd7 78.Qh5 Kb6 79.f4 Qe6 80.Qg6 Ka5 81.Bf5 Qd6 82.Qe8 Kb6 83.Be4 Kc7 84.Qa8 Qxf4 85.Qc6+ Kd8 86.Qd5+ Ke8 87.Bg6+ Ke7 88.Qxc5+ Qd6 89.Qe3+ Kf8 90.Qe8+ Kg7 91.Qf7+ Kh6 92.Qh7+ Kg5 93.Qh5+ 1-0


The #SkillingOpen final is about to get even better, with none other than 14th World Chess Champion Vladimir Kramnik joining Peter & Tania!

So seems winning and has an excellent chance to strike back and tie the score against Carlsen.

Kramnik "Even if Magnus is the best player in the world the difference with So is not so big. In 1 match anything can happen! I wouldn't say he has more than a 55% chance. He always has 55/60 against top players but gets to 100 at the end of the day. That's the miracle of Magnus!"

It seems Wesley So has blown another +10 position! But will Magnus find salvation?

What a stunning turnaround, as after surviving a lost position Magnus had been pushing for 10 minutes only to stumble into mate! We're back to 1:1

Kramnik: "I would say the match with Vishy was not so difficult, because I was crushed like a potato!"

Kramnik says he felt that in 2004 playing Peter Leko was a tougher World Championship match than if he was playing Garry Kasparov

Carlsen-So Game 3 has begun, with the scores level at 1:1!

Round 22, Nov. 29
Carlsen, Magnus – So, Wesley
D38 QGD, Ragozin variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Qa4+ Nc6 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 O-O 8.Bg5 h6 9.Bh4 Bd7 10.Qc2 Na5 11.g4 g5 12.Bg3 Ne4 13.h4 Nxg3 14.fxg3 gxh4 15.Rxh4 Kg7 16.g5 Rh8 17.Ne5 Nxc4 18.gxh6+ Kf8 19.Nxc4 Qg5 20.Kf2 dxc4 21.Qc1 Qf6+ 22.Qf4 Ke7 23.Qxf6+ Kxf6 24.Bg2 Rab8 25.Rh5 Kg6 26.Rah1 f5 27.g4 Rh7 28.g5 Bc6 29.Bf3 Bxf3 30.Kxf3 Rd8 31.Kf4 Rd5 32.R5h3 c5 33.Re3 Rd6 34.dxc5 Ra6 35.Rd1 1-0

Another rollercoaster game, but Magnus Carlsen bounces back to take a 2:1 lead! Wesley So now needs to win the next game to draw today's mini-match:

Vladimir Kramnik: "The most important is to play better than your opponent - that's enough. You don't need more than that, you don't need to play perfect chess, it just has to be a little better than your opponent's chess!"

Magnus now needs just a draw to clinch today's match:

"You gotta give real credit to both players for their fighting spirit. It's brilliant to watch!" - @ginger_gm's verdict after the first three games today.

Round 23, Nov. 29
So, Wesley – Carlsen, Magnus
B33 Sicilian, Pelikan variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Nd5 Nxd5 8.exd5 Nb8 9.Qf3 a6 10.Qa3 b6 11.Bg5 Be7 12.Bxe7 Kxe7 13.O-O-O Bb7 14.Nc3 Nd7 15.f4 Qc7 16.fxe5 Nxe5 17.Qb4 h5 18.Be2 Kf8 19.Rhf1 Re8 20.Rf5 h4 21.Rf4 Qd8 22.Kb1 Rh6 23.Rdd4 h3 24.g3 Bc8 25.a4 Kg8 26.Rde4 Qc7 27.Rh4 a5 28.Qd4 Rxh4 29.Rxh4 Bf5 30.Rh5 Qc8 31.Qxb6 Ng4 32.Ba6 Re1+ 33.Ka2 Qe8 34.Rxf5 Ne3 35.Bb5 Qe7 1-0

For the first time in the #SkillingOpen the 1st day of a match has ended 2:2 (after 4 wins for White!). If tomorrow's mini-match were to be drawn 2:2 we'd go to tiebreaks:

Magnus Carlsen sighing and leaning back in his chair until he falls into a void, then snapping back into frame only to immediately get up and leave is the ultimate 2020 mood.

wow this was an amazing night well when you choose to watch chess instead of football, you guys are doing a great job

Score in the Finals after Day One

Carlsen-So 2-2

[Wayne Komer]

Skilling Open 2020

November 30, 2020

Finals

Day Two

Peter and Tania are LIVE now as Magnus Carlsen has a chance to win the #SkillingOpen on his 30th birthday! Wesley So may have something to say about that, but either way we must have a winner today

Magnus begins his 30s with the Caro-Kann!

Round 24, Nov. 30
So, Wesley – Carlsen, Magnus
B12 Caro-Kann, Advance variation

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nd2 e6 5.Nb3 Nd7 6.Nf3 h6 7.Be2 a5 8.a4 Bb4+ 9.c3 Bf8 10.O-O Ne7 11.h3 Bh7 12.Bd2 Qb6 13.Ne1 Nf5 14.Bd3 Be7 15.Qc2 Bg6 16.c4 dxc4 17.Qxc4 Nxd4 18.Qxd4 Qxb3 19.Bxg6 fxg6 20.Qe4 O-O 21.Bxh6 Rf5 22.Be3 Qd5 23.Qxd5 exd5 24.f4 g5 25.e6 Nc5 26.g4 gxf4 27.gxf5 fxe3 28.Rf4 Bf6 29.Nc2 e2 30.Rf2 d4 31.Rxe2 d3 32.Rd2 dxc2 33.Rxc2 Rd8 34.Re1 Nxa4 35.Ra1 Nxb2 36.Rxa5 Nd3 37.Kh2 Nb4 38.Rc1 Nd5 39.Ra7 Rb8 40.Kg3 Ne7 41.Kg4 b5 42.Rd1 b4 43.Rad7 b3 44.Rd8+ Rxd8 45.Rxd8+ Kh7 46.Rb8 b2 47.Kf4 Nd5+ 0-1

Peter Leko is shocked by Magnus playing Bb4-Bf8, returning his bishop to its starting square

Our commentators think So may just have missed Carlsen's 17...Nxd4!, but if Wesley survives the shock his position doesn't seem too bad... yet

And now it's Carlsen's time to sacrifice, as the World Champion has given away a rook for a bishop!

Magnus Carlsen gets his 30s off to a perfect start with a powerful win with the black pieces over Wesley So!

Round 25, Nov. 30
Carlsen, Magnus – So, Wesley
C41 QGD, Semi-Tarrasch

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c5 5.cxd5 cxd4 6.Qxd4 exd5 7.e4 dxe4 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Ng5 Be6 10.Nxe6+ fxe6 11.Bc4 Ke7 12.O-O Nbd7 13.Rd1 Rc8 14.Be2 a6 15.Be3 Rc6 16.Rac1 Kd8 17.Bd4 Bd6 18.Na4 Rxc1 19.Rxc1 Ke7 20.g3 Rd8 21.Be3 Nd5 22.Bg5+ N7f6 23.Nc5 Bxc5 24.Rxc5 h6 25.Bc1 Nb4 26.Rc7+ Rd7 27.Rxd7+ Kxd7 28.Bd2 Nfd5 29.a3 Nd3 30.b3 Kd6 31.f3 Nc5 32.fxe4 Nxe4 33.Bc1 e5 34.b4 Nec3 35.Bf1 e4 36.Kf2 Ke5 37.Bh3 b6 38.Bb2 Kd4 39.Bf1 b5 40.Ke1 Ke3 41.Bc1+ Kd4 42.Bb2 e3 43.Ba1 g6 44.Bh3 Kd3 45.Bc8 Nb1 46.Bb2 Nd2 47.Bg4 Nc3 48.Bxc3 Kxc3 49.Ke2 Nc4 50.Bc8 Nxa3 51.Bxa6 Kd4 52.h4 Nb1 53.Kd1 Nc3+ 54.Kc2 g5 55.hxg5 hxg5 56.g4 Kc4 57.Bc8 Kxb4 58.Kd3 e2 59.Kd2 Ka3 60.Bf5 b4 61.Bd3 b3 0-1

Final Position



Wesley So is suddenly looking very comfortable as he sips his green concoction.

Peter Leko: "I somehow have the feeling that maybe Magnus, if he can, should just shut this game down!"

It's roles reversed in Game 2, with Wesley So doing all the pressing with the black pieces!

Once again it looks like So has great winning chances, but will he succeed this time? "It will be a very lucky escape if Magnus can escape again."

Jonathan Tisdall: Who's scripting this thing?

What a match! 6 games, all decisive, neither player winning 2 in a row. Wesley So beats Magnus with Black to level the scores today at 1:1

Round 26, Nov. 30
So, Wesley – Carlsen, Magnus
B12 Caro-Kann

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.dxc5 e6 5.a3 Bxc5 6.Qg4 Ne7 7.Bd3 Ng6 8.Nf3 Nc6 9.O-O O-O 10.Qh5 Qc7 11.b4 Be7 12.Bb2 Bd7 13.Re1 Be8 14.Nc3 Qd7 15.Qh3 f6 16.exf6 Bxf6 17.Rxe6 Nce7 18.Bb5 Qc8 19.Rxf6 Rxf6 20.Qxc8 Rxc8 21.Bd3 Nf4 22.Ne2 Nxe2+ 23.Bxe2 Re6 24.Bd3 Bg6 25.Nd4 Rb6 26.Re1 Kf7 27.Be2 Bxc2 28.Bg4 Rc4 29.Be2 Rc8 30.Bg4 Rc4 31.Be2 Rc8 1/2-1/2

Round 27, Nov. 30
Carlsen, Magnus – So, Wesley
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 Nxe5 8.Rxe5 O-O 9.d4 Bf6 10.Re1 Re8 11.c3 Rxe1 12.Qxe1 Ne8 13.Bf4 d5 14.Bd3 g6 15.Nd2 Ng7 16.Nf3 Bf5 17.Bxf5 Nxf5 18.Qe2 c6 19.Re1 Ng7 20.Be5 Bxe5 21.Nxe5 Qd6 22.Nd3 Re8 23.Qd2 1/2-1/2

David Anton is the player who was voted back in to the Champions Chess Tour next month after failing to make the #SkillingOpen knockout. Kramnik says he expected Alireza Firouzja to be chosen, but the Iranian just missed out

Score at the end of Day Two regulation:

Carlsen-So 2-2


Playoffs

5+3

The two 5+3 blitz games are about to begin, with Magnus playing Black in the first game:

Round 28, Nov. 30
So, Wesley – Carlsen, Magnus
B12 Caro-Kann, Advance variation

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 h6 6.O-O Ne7 7.a4 a5 8.Nbd2 Nd7 9.Nb3 Bh7 10.Bd2 Qb6 11.h3 Ng6 12.Qe1 Bb4 13.Bxb4 Qxb4 14.Qxb4 axb4 15.Bd3 c5 16.Nxc5 Nxc5 17.dxc5 Ra5 18.Bb5+ Ke7 19.Rfe1 Rc8 20.c3 bxc3 21.b4 Raa8 22.Rac1 Nf4 23.Rxc3 Be4 24.a5 f6 25.h4 g5 26.g3 Ng6 27.exf6+ Kxf6 28.hxg5+ hxg5 29.Nh2 Ne5 30.Rce3 Rh8 31.f3 Rxh2 32.Kxh2 Nxf3+ 33.Rxf3+ Bxf3 34.c6 d4 35.Rf1 Rh8+ 36.Kg1 Rh1+ 37.Kf2 Rxf1+ 38.Bxf1 Bxc6 39.b5 Bd7 40.a6 bxa6 41.bxa6 d3 42.Bxd3 Ke5 43.a7 Bc6 44.Bf1 1-0

"He has messed it up again" @DavidHowellGM says as Carlsen makes the last blunder, and now So is winning again! What a thriller!

It was anything but smooth, but Wesley So wins the first blitz game and now Magnus Carlsen must win the next game to force Armageddon!

Round 29, Nov. 30
Carlsen, Magnus – So, Wesley
D40 QGD, Semi-Tarrasch Defence]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c5 5.e3 dxc4 6.Bxc4 a6 7.O-O b5 8.Be2 Bb7 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.Qxd8+ Kxd8 11.Nd2 Ke7 12.Nb3 Nbd7 13.Na5 Rab8 14.Nxb7 Rxb7 15.Bd2 Rc7 16.Rfd1 Rhc8 17.Be1 Bd6 18.Bxb5 axb5 19.Nxb5 Rc6 20.Na7 Be5 21.Nxc8+ Rxc8 22.Rab1 Ra8 23.a3 Nd5 24.Rdc1 f5 25.h3 g5 26.Kf1 h5 27.Rc2 g4 28.Ke2 N7f6 29.Ra1 f4 30.hxg4 fxe3 31.fxe3 Nxg4 32.Bh4+ Kd6 33.e4 Nge3 34.Rcc1 Nxg2 35.Bf2 Ngf4+ 36.Kf3 Bxb2 37.Bc5+ Kd7 38.exd5 Bxc1 39.dxe6+ Nxe6 40.Rxc1 Nxc5 41.Rxc5 Rxa3+ 42.Kf4 h4 43.Kg4 h3 44.Rh5 Rb3 45.Rxh3 Rxh3 46.Kxh3 1/2-1/2

"This is why we don't need the engine bar when we've got Vlad & Peter with us!"

Kramnik foresaw the whole of So's winning line:

Kramnik points out the players are following Ivanchuk-Kramnik from the Legends of Chess earlier this year!


Congratulations to Wesley So on crashing Magnus Carlsen's 30th birthday party to win the #SkillingOpen, the 1st tournament on the $1.5 million Champions Chess Tour!

Winner: Wesley So $30,000 First Prize
Runner-Up: Magnus Carlsen $15,000 Second Prize

[Hans Jung]

Big congratulations to Wesley So for thrilling chess and a big win. Today was a big day for black to balance all the white wins yesterday!

[Hans Jung]

Game 1 Magnus plays 29...e2!, and d4 and d3! Gotta love it!
Game 2 Wesley's two knights take on the two bishops in the endgame. Gotta love it!
Game 5 Great endgame play for speed chess.