Opera Euro Rapid 2021

[Wayne Komer]

Opera Euro Rapid 2021

February 10, 2021

Quarterfinals

Knockouts Day 2

Mykhaylo Oleksiyenko, the Ukrainian grandmaster joins Peter and Tanya doing the commentary.

Game 1, Feb. 10
Dubov, Daniil – Carlsen, Magnus
E00 Catalan Opening

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Bg2 O-O 7.O-O a5 8.Qc2 c6 9.Rc1 Nbd7 10.Bf4 Nh5 11.Bd2 Nhf6 12.Bg5 h6 13.Bf4 Nh5 14.Be3 Nhf6 15.Bf4 Nh5 16.Be5 Nhf6 17.Nc3 Nxe5 18.dxe5 Nd7 19.cxd5 exd5 20.Rd1 Qb6 21.e4 d4 22.Ne2 Bc5 23.Nf4 Re8 24.Rac1 d3 25.Nxd3 Bf8 26.Nd2 Qd4 27.Nc4 Nb6 28.Nd6 Bxd6 29.exd6 Qxd6 30.Nc5 Qc7 31.Rd4 Nd7 32.Rcd1 Nxc5 33.Qxc5 Be6 34.a3 Rad8 35.f4 b6 36.Qc3 c5 37.e5 Rxd4 38.Rxd4 Rd8 39.Rxd8+ Qxd8 40.Bf3 g6 41.h4 h5 42.Kf2 b5 43.Be2 b4 44.Qxc5 Qd2 45.Qxa5 Bg4 46.Qa8+ Kh7 47.Qe4 b3 48.e6 Bxe6 49.Qe5 Bg4 50.Kf1 Qc1+ 51.Kf2 Qd2 52.Kf1 Qc1+ 53.Kf2 Qd2 1/2-1/2

Game 2, Feb. 10
Carlsen, Magnus – Dubov, Daniil
C55 Two Knights Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 h6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.O-O Bxc3 7.bxc3 O-O 8.Bb3 d6 9.Nd2 d5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Ne4 Na5 12.Bxd5 Qxd5 13.Bxh6 f5 14.c4 Qc6 15.Bd2 fxe4 16.Bxa5 Qg6 17.Qe2 Rf4 18.Bd2 Bg4 19.f3 Bxf3 20.Qf2 Rg4 21.g3 Rf8 22.Rae1 Rf6 23.dxe4 Qh5 24.Re3 Bxe4 25.Qe2 Rxg3+ 0-1

Magnus was laughing at the board and nobody could figure out why. Mr. Dodgy opined that instead of seeing Daniil on his screen, he was seeing a white kitten. All this because of a Texas court case on Zoom where one lawyer using his secretary’s computer inadvertently put on the kitten filter and he appeared that way in court.

Magnus isn't laughing anymore after he blunders Bg4 from Dubov and is in real trouble!

Daniil Dubov beats Magnus Carlsen in 25 moves twice in a row and has forced a playoff for a place in the semi-finals!

Game 3, Feb. 10
Dubov, Daniil – Carlsen, Magnus
E15 Queen’s Indian

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 c5 7.Bxb4 cxb4 8.O-O O-O 9.Nbd2 a5 10.Re1 d6 11.e4 Nfd7 12.Qe2 e5 13.Rad1 Nc6 14.Nf1 Qf6 15.Ne3 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 exd4 17.e5 Qxe5 18.Bxb7 Ra7 19.Qg4 Nf6 20.Qxd4 Rxb7 21.Qxd6 Qxb2 22.Rd2 Qc3 23.Nd1 Re8 24.Rxe8+ Nxe8 25.Nxc3 1-0

Game 1, Feb. 10
Aronian, Levon – MVL
B90 Sicilian, Najdorf, Lipnitzky Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Be3 b5 8.Bb3 Be7 9.a3 O-O 10.f3 Bb7 11.Qe2 Nbd7 12.g4 Rc8 13.g5 Nh5 14.Rg1 g6 15.O-O-O Rxc3 16.bxc3 Qa5 17.Nxe6 Rc8 18.Nd4 Ne5 19.Kb1 Nc4 20.Bxc4 bxc4 21.Ka2 d5 22.Bc1 dxe4 23.fxe4 Qxc3 24.Rgf1 Qa5 25.Qf3 Rf8 26.Bb2 c3 27.Nb3 Qc7 28.Qxc3 Qxc3 29.Bxc3 Bxg5 30.Nc5 Bc6 31.Be5 Bb5 32.Rfe1 Rc8 33.Bd6 Nf4 34.a4 Be2 35.Rd4 Bh4 36.Rxe2 Nxe2 37.Rd2 Bf2 38.Rxe2 Bxc5 39.e5 f5 40.Kb3 Kf7 41.e6+ Ke8 42.Bf4 Be7 43.c4 Rc6 44.Kc3 Bf6+ 45.Kd3 Ke7 46.Re1 g5 47.Bb8 Rxe6 48.Rb1 Kd7 49.c5 f4 50.Rb7+ Kc6 51.Rb6+ Kd5 52.Rxe6 Kxe6 53.c6 f3 54.Ke3 g4 55.h3 h5 56.hxg4 hxg4 57.Bg3 Be7 58.Kf4 Bc5 59.Kxg4 f2 60.Bxf2 Bxf2 0-1

Game 2, Feb. 10
MVL – Aronian, Levon
C78 Ruy Lopez, Moeller Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Bc5 6.c3 b5 7.Bc2 d5 8.d4 dxe4 9.Nxe5 Nxe5 10.dxc5 Nd3 11.Bxd3 exd3 12.Re1+ Be6 13.Re3 Qd5 14.Rxd3 Qxc5 15.Nd2 Qf5 16.Nf1 O-O 17.Ng3 Qg6 18.Bf4 Rac8 19.Qd2 Rfe8 20.b3 Bf5 21.Rd4 h5 22.h4 Bb1 23.Qd1 Bc2 24.Qd2 Bb1 25.Qd1 Bc2 26.Qd2 Bb1 1/2-1/2

Game 3, Feb. 10
Aronian, Levon – MVL
B90 Sicilian, Najdorf

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3 e6 7.g4 b5 8.a3 Bb7 9.g5 Nfd7 10.h4 Nc6 11.Nxc6 Bxc6 12.Be3 Qb8 13.Qd4 a5 14.h5 Ne5 15.Be2 b4 16.axb4 axb4 17.Rxa8 Bxa8 18.Na4 Nc6 19.Qb6 Be7 20.Qxb8+ Nxb8 21.Nb6 Bc6 22.Nc8 Bb7 23.Nxe7 Kxe7 24.h6 g6 25.e5 Nd7 26.exd6+ Kxd6 27.Rh4 b3 28.Rb4 Bd5 29.c4 Bc6 30.Rxb3 Ra8 31.Rd3+ Ke7 32.b4 Ne5 33.Rc3 Ra1+ 34.Kf2 Ra2 35.b5 Bb7 36.Bd4 Nd7 37.c5 1-0

Game 4, Feb. 10
MVL – Aronian, Levon
B90 Sicilian, Najdorf, Byrne Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nf3 Be7 8.Bc4 Be6 9.Bb3 O-O 10.O-O b5 11.Re1 Qc8 12.a4 b4 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.Bxd5 Bxd5 15.Qxd5 Nd7 16.Bg5 Nb6 17.Qd3 Bxg5 18.Nxg5 Qc5 19.Red1 Rfd8 20.a5 Nc4 21.Qb3 Rab8 22.Rd5 Qc7 23.Nf3 Rb7 24.h3 g6 25.Nd2 Nxd2 26.Rxd2 Kg7 27.Rad1 Rb5 28.g3 Rxa5 29.Qxb4 Rc5 30.c3 Qc6 31.Qa3 Qxe4 32.Rxd6 Rxd6 33.Rxd6 Qb1+ 34.Kg2 Rb5 35.Rd8 Qe4+ 36.Kg1 Qe1+ 37.Kg2 Qe4+ 38.Kg1 Rd5 39.Rxd5 Qxd5 40.Qxa6 Qd1+ 41.Kg2 Qd5+ 42.Kg1 Qd1+ 43.Kg2 Qd5+ 44.Kg1 1/2-1/2

Game 1, Feb. 10
Duda, Jan-Krzysztof – So, Wesley
A22 English, Bremen, Smyslov System

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.g3 Bb4 4.Bg2 O-O 5.Nf3 e4 6.Ng5 Bxc3 7.bxc3 Re8 8.O-O h6 9.Nh3 Nc6 10.Nf4 d6 11.Nd5 Be6 12.Nxf6+ Qxf6 13.Bxe4 Bh3 14.Bd5 Bxf1 15.Qxf1 Na5 16.e3 c6 17.Bg2 a6 18.a4 Qg6 19.e4 Nb3 20.Ra3 Nxc1 21.Qxc1 b5 22.e5 bxc4 23.Bxc6 Rab8 24.Bxe8 Rb1 25.Ra1 Rxc1+ 26.Rxc1 dxe5 27.a5 Qd3 28.Re1 Qxd2 29.Rxe5 Qxc3 30.Re7 Kf8 31.Re4 g6 32.Bc6 Qb3 33.Re8+ Kg7 34.Rc8 c3 35.Be4 Qe6 0-1

Game 2, Feb. 10
So, Wesley – Duda, Jan-Krzysztof
E94 King’s Indian, Orthodox

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 Nbd7 7.O-O e5 8.Be3 c6 9.d5 c5 10.Ne1 Ne8 11.g4 f6 12.Kh1 Rf7 13.Rg1 Kh8 14.a3 Qe7 15.b4 b6 16.Rb1 Nf8 17.Nf3 Rb8 18.a4 Nd7 19.a5 Qf8 20.axb6 axb6 21.Qd2 Nc7 22.b5 Ra8 23.Ra1 Rxa1 24.Rxa1 f5 25.exf5 gxf5 26.Ng5 f4 27.Qc2 Nf6 28.Bd2 Re7 29.Rg1 f3 30.Bd1 h6 31.Nxf3 Nxg4 32.Nh4 Nxf2+ 33.Kg2 Bh3+ 34.Kg3 Qf7 35.Ng6+ Kh7 36.Nxe7+ e4 37.Nxe4 Be5+ 38.Kh4 Bf5 39.Nxf5 Qxf5 40.Nxf2 1-0

So goes through to the semis

Game 1, Feb. 10
Radjabov, Teimour – Giri, Anish
A06 Reti Opening

1.Nf3 d5 2.b3 Bf5 3.Bb2 e6 4.e3 Nd7 5.Be2 h6 6.d3 Ngf6 7.Nbd2 a5 8.a3 Bh7 9.Rg1 Bd6 10.g4 g5 11.c4 Qe7 12.cxd5 exd5 13.h3 c6 14.Qc2 c5 15.Rc1 b5 16.Qd1 d4 17.e4 O-O 18.a4 b4 19.Nc4 Bf4 20.Kf1 Ne8 21.Rc2 f6 22.Bc1 Bxc1 23.Qxc1 Kg7 24.Nfd2 Nc7 25.f4 Ne6 26.f5 Nf4 27.h4 Bg8 28.h5 Rfc8 29.Rh1 Bxc4 30.Nxc4 Ne5 31.Nxe5 Qxe5 32.Rc4 Rc7 33.Qd2 Rac8 34.Bf3 Rc6 35.Kf2 R6c7 36.Kf1 Rc6 37.Kf2 R6c7 38.Kf1 1/2-1/2

Game 2, Feb. 10
Giri, Anish – Radjabov, Teimour
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 d6 5.O-O Bd7 6.c4 Be7 7.Nc3 O-O 8.h3 h6 9.Be3 Nh7 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.d4 exd4 12.Nxd4 Re8 13.Qd3 c5 14.Nde2 Bf6 15.Rad1 Bc6 16.b3 Ng5 17.f3 Ne6 18.Nd5 Bh4 19.Nec3 Bf6 20.Nxf6+ Qxf6 21.f4 Nf8 22.Rde1 Nd7 23.Nd5 Bxd5 24.exd5 Re7 25.Bd2 Rae8 26.Bc3 Qh4 27.Rxe7 Rxe7 28.Qf5 Nf6 29.Bxf6 Qxf6 30.Qxf6 gxf6 31.Kf2 f5 32.Re1 Rxe1 33.Kxe1 h5 34.Kd2 Kf8 35.Kc3 Ke7 36.b4 Kd7 37.Kb3 c6 38.bxc5 dxc5 1/2-1/2

Game 3, Feb. 10
Radjabov, Teimour – Giri, Anish
D38 QGD, Ragozin variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 O-O 8.e3 Bf5 9.Ne5 c5 10.Bd3 cxd4 11.exd4 Bxd3 12.Qxd3 Qd6 13.O-O Bxc3 14.bxc3 Nbd7 15.Bg3 Qe6 16.Rfe1 Ne4 17.c4 Nxg3 18.cxd5 Qxd5 19.Nxd7 Qxd7 20.hxg3 Rad8 21.Rad1 Qd5 22.Qa3 a6 23.Qb4 Rfe8 24.Rxe8+ Rxe8 25.a4 b5 26.axb5 axb5 27.Rb1 Re4 28.Qxb5 Qxb5 29.Rxb5 Rxd4 30.Rb8+ Kh7 31.Rb7 f6 32.f3 Rd1+ 33.Kh2 Rd2 34.Kg1 Rd1+ 35.Kh2 Rd2 36.Kg1 Rd1+ 1/2-1/2


(to be continued)

[Wayne Komer]

Opera Euro Rapid 2021

February 10, 2021

Quarterfinals

Knockouts Day 2 (continued)

Game 4, Feb. 10
Giri, Anish – Radjabov, Teimour
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.Nc3 Bf6 10.Re1 Nf5 11.Nd5 d6 12.c3 Bg5 13.d4 Bxc1 14.Rxc1 c6 15.Ne3 Re8 16.Nxf5 Bxf5 17.Qd2 Qf6 18.Qf4 g5 19.Qd2 h6 20.a3 Kg7 21.Rxe8 Rxe8 22.Re1 Rxe1 23.Qxe1 c5 24.dxc5 dxc5 25.Qd2 Qe5 26.g3 b6 27.Bg2 Be6 28.f3 Qf5 29.Kf2 Bc4 30.h3 Kg6 31.Qd6+ f6 32.Qd2 a5 33.f4 Qb1 34.Ke3 Qg1+ 35.Kf3 Kg7 36.fxg5 hxg5 37.h4 gxh4 38.gxh4 Qh2 39.Qd7+ Kh6 40.Qd8 Qxh4 41.Qh8+ Kg5 42.Qxh4+ Kxh4 43.Kf4 Bd3 44.b4 Bc2 45.bxa5 bxa5 46.Bd5 Kh5 47.Bf3+ Kg6 48.Bd5 Kg7 49.Bf3 Kf7 50.Bd5+ Ke7 51.Bf3 Kd6 52.Bh5 Bb3 53.Be8 Be6 54.Ba4 Kc7 55.Bb5 Kb6 56.Ba4 Kc7 57.Bb5 Kd6 58.Ba4 Bc4 59.Be8 Bd3 60.Bf7 Kc6 61.Be8+ Kb6 62.Ba4 Bb5 63.Bc2 Bd7 64.Bd3 Bc8 65.Be2 Be6 66.Bd3 Bb3 67.Be2 c4 68.Bh5 Bc2 69.Bf7 Kc5 70.Be6 1/2-1/2

Playoffs

Game 1, Feb. 10
Carlsen, Magnus – Dubov, Daniil
C55 Two Knights Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 h6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.O-O Bxc3 7.bxc3 O-O 8.Bb3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.h3 Nxc3 11.Qe1 Nd4 12.Nxe5 Nce2+ 13.Kh1 Bxh3 14.gxh3 Nxb3 15.Qxe2 Qd5+ 16.Kh2 Nxa1 17.Bb2 Rae8 18.Rg1 f6 19.Qg4 g5 20.Qf5 Re7 21.Ng6 Qd6+ 22.Rg3 Nxc2 23.Nxf8 Nd4 24.Bxd4 Qxd4 25.Ne6 Qe5 26.Qg6+ Kh8 27.Qxh6+ Kg8 28.Qf8+ 1-0

Huge relief for Magnus who stared a 3rd defeat in a row in the face, found a way to escape & then went on to win after Dubov overpressed when he could have taken a draw! Dubov must now win on demand to force Armageddon

Game 2, Feb. 10
Dubov, Daniil – Carlsen, Magnus
E11 Bogo-Indian Defence

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Bg2 O-O 7.O-O c6 8.Bc3 Ne4 9.Qc2 Nd7 10.Rc1 Nxc3 11.Nxc3 dxc4 12.a4 Qa5 13.Ne4 e5 14.Qxc4 exd4 15.Nxd4 Rd8 16.Nb3 Qb4 17.Qxb4 Bxb4 18.a5 a6 19.Rd1 Be7 20.Bh3 Rb8 21.Nd6 Nb6 22.Nxc8 Nxc8 23.Rxd8+ Bxd8 24.Rd1 Na7 25.Rd7 Nb5 26.Bf5 g6 27.Bd3 Kf8 28.Nc5 Be7 29.Na4 Ke8 30.Nb6 Bc5 31.Bxb5 Bxb6 32.Rxb7 Rxb7 33.Bxc6+ Ke7 34.Bxb7 Bxa5 35.Bxa6 g5 36.Bd3 h6 37.Kg2 Be1 38.Kf3 Ke6 39.Bc4+ Ke7 40.e3 f6 41.Ke2 Bb4 42.f4 Bc5 43.Kf3 Kd6 44.b3 Bb4 45.h3 Bd2 46.e4 gxf4 47.gxf4 h5 48.Bf7 h4 49.Kg4 Be1 50.Bc4 Ke7 51.e5 fxe5 52.fxe5 Bg3 53.Kf5 Be1 54.Ke4 Kd7 55.Kd5 Ke7 56.Kc5 Bg3 57.e6 Bf2+ 58.Kb5 Be1 59.Kc5 Bf2+ 60.Kb5 Be1 61.b4 Kd6 62.Bd5 Bd2 63.Kc4 Be1 64.Kb5 Bd2 65.Bb3 Be1 66.Ka4 Bf2 67.Bc4 Ke7 68.Ka5 Be1 69.Kb5 Kd6 70.Ka4 Bf2 71.Kb3 Be1 72.b5 Bf2 73.Kc2 Bb6 74.Kd3 Ke7 75.Ke4 Bf2 76.Kd5 Kd8 77.Kc6 Be3 78.Kd5 Ke7 79.Ke5 Bb6 80.Kf5 Bf2 81.Bd5 Bb6 82.Kg5 Bf2 83.Bc4 Ke8 84.Kf6 Bd4+ 85.Kf5 Ke7 86.Ke4 Bf2 87.Kd5 Be3 88.Kc6 Kd8 89.b6 Bf2 90.b7 Bg3 91.Bd5 Ke7 92.Kb6 Bb8 93.Kc5 Kf6 94.Kd4 Ke7 95.Ke4 Kf6 96.Kf3 Bd6 97.Kg4 Bg3 98.Bc4 Ke7 99.Kg5 Kd8 100.Kf6 Bd6 101.b8=Q+ 1-0

Shocker, as just when Magnus had done everything right and was winning, he blunders with 31...Bxb6? and has to defend a miserable ending!

Armageddon, Feb. 10
Carlsen, Magnus – Dubov, Daniil
B31 Sicilian, Nimzowitsch-Rossolimo Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.O-O Bg7 5.Bxc6 bxc6 6.Re1 Nh6 7.e5 Nf5 8.d3 O-O 9.Nbd2 d6 10.b3 Nd4 11.Nxd4 cxd4 12.exd6 exd6 13.Qf3 Re8 14.Rxe8+ Qxe8 15.Ba3 Be6 16.Ne4 d5 17.Nf6+ Bxf6 18.Qxf6 Qd8 19.Qxd4 f6 20.Re1 Kf7 21.Bb2 a6 22.Qh4 h5 23.Qf4 g5 24.Qf3 Bg4 25.Qe3 Qd6 26.h3 Bd7 27.Qf3 g4 28.hxg4 hxg4 29.Qg3 Qxg3 30.fxg3 Re8 31.Rc1 c5 32.Kf2 c4 33.Rd1 Bf5 34.Rd2 Rc8 35.Bd4 cxd3 36.cxd3 Rc1 37.b4 Rb1 38.Bc3 d4 39.Bxd4 Rxb4 40.Ke3 Ra4 41.Bc5 Ke6 42.a3 Kd5 43.Bb4 a5 44.Be7 Ke6 45.Bf8 Kd5 46.Rc2 Ke6 47.Rc6+ Kf7 48.Bc5 Be6 49.Rd6 Bf5 50.Ra6 Be6 51.d4 Rc4 52.Ke4 Rc2 53.Rxa5 Re2+ 54.Kd3 Rxg2 55.Bd6 f5 56.d5 Bd7 57.Ra7 Ke8 58.a4 Rg1 59.Kd4 Re1 60.a5 Re4+ 61.Kc5 f4 62.Bxf4 Ra4 63.Ra8+ Kf7 64.a6 1-0

Magnus has chosen White for the Armageddon so has one more minute but must win or he'll have lost a quarterfinal to Dubov for a 2nd tournament in a row!

Sheer relief for Magnus Carlsen after somehow coming through a crazy match against Daniil Dubov that went all the way to Armageddon!

Game 1, Feb. 10
Giri, Anish – Radjabov, Teimour
D00 Queen’s Pawn, Three Knights

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Nb5 Na6 7.h3 c6 8.Nc3 Qb6 9.Rb1 c5 10.Be2 Bf5 11.O-O Rac8 12.Be5 Rfd8 13.Bxa6 Qxa6 14.dxc5 Rxc5 15.Nd4 Bd7 16.Nb3 Rcc8 17.Qd4 Bc6 18.Rfd1 b6 19.a4 Qb7 20.a5 Ne8 21.Bxg7 Nxg7 22.Ra1 Nf5 23.Qg4 h5 24.Qg5 e5 25.e4 Qe7 26.Qxe7 Nxe7 27.exd5 Nxd5 28.axb6 Nxc3 29.bxc3 axb6 30.Rxd8+ Rxd8 31.Ra6 Rb8 32.c4 Be4 33.c5 bxc5 34.Nxc5 Bxc2 35.Nd7 Rb5 36.Nf6+ Kg7 37.Ne8+ Kf8 38.Nf6 e4 39.Ra7 Rf5 40.Nd7+ Kg7 41.Rc7 Bd3 42.Nc5 h4 43.Nxd3 exd3 44.Rd7 Re5 45.Rxd3 Re1+ 46.Kh2 Rf1 47.f3 g5 48.Rd5 f6 49.Ra5 Kg6 50.Ra6 1/2-1/2

Giri saves a tricky endgame in the 1st blitz game and now Radjabov will have White in the 2nd blitz game - if they draw again it'

Game 2, Feb. 10
Radjabov, Teimour – Giri, Anish
C44 Green’s Opening (d3)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d3 g6 4.g3 Bg7 5.Bg2 Nge7 6.O-O O-O 7.c4 d6 8.Nc3 h6 9.Nd5 Kh7 10.Bd2 f5 11.Rc1 g5 12.exf5 Bxf5 13.Be3 Qd7 14.Nxe7 Qxe7 15.h4 Bf6 16.hxg5 hxg5 17.Nxg5+ Bxg5 18.Qh5+ Kg7 19.Bxg5 Qe6 20.Be3 Bxd3 21.Rfd1 Qg6 22.Qxg6+ Bxg6 23.c5 Rad8 24.cxd6 cxd6 25.a3 Rd7 26.Rd2 Bf5 27.Rcd1 Rf6 28.Bc5 e4 29.Rxd6 Rfxd6 30.Rxd6 Rxd6 31.Bxd6 Kf6 32.f4 exf3 33.Bxf3 Bc8 34.Bc5 a6 35.Kf2 Kg6 36.Ke3 Ne5 37.Be4+ Kg5 38.Kd4 Nc6+ 39.Kd5 Kg4 40.Kd6 Kxg3 41.Kc7 Be6 42.Kxb7 Na5+ 43.Kxa6 Nc4 44.Bd4 Kf4 45.Bd3 Nd2 46.Kb5 Bd7+ 47.Kb4 Nf3 48.Kc3 Ng5 49.b4 Ne4+ 50.Kb2 Ba4 51.b5 Nd6 52.b6 Nb7 53.Kc3 Bc6 54.Kb4 Be4 55.Bf1 Bf3 56.a4 Ke4 57.Bg1 Kd5 58.a5 Nd6 59.a6 Kc6 60.Bc5 Nf5 61.Bb5+ Kd5 62.b7 1-0

It's Carlsen-MVL and So-Radjabov in the semi-finals after tour leader Teimour Radjabov ends a dramatic day by beating Anish Giri in the final blitz game!

Quarterfinals Day Two Results

Carlsen-Dubov 0.5-2.5

Carlsen-Dubov (playoff) 2-1

So-Duda 2-0

Aronian-MVL 2-2

Giri-Radjabov 2-2

Giri-Radjabov (playoff) 0.5-1.5

Semifinals (Feb. 11-12)

Carlsen-MVL
So-Radjabov

Match in the final and also for third place will be on Feb. 13-14.

[Hans Jung]

Enjoyed the So - Duda series. In game 2 Wesley had the three minors for the queen. Even though the 3 minors have good winning chances (with pawns on the board) its very difficult to coordinate especially in rapid chess. After losing that Wesley went on to win 4 in a row.
Also enjoyed Radjabovs win in armageddon.

[Brad Thomson]

Not long ago many of us were complaining about all of the boring draws in chess. Now the time controls have been radically sped up, more blunders take place as a result, which leads to more decisive games, and thus no one complains. It seems that we prefer bad chess to good. Bad is exciting but good is boring. I never realized until now what an incredibly exciting chess player I have been all these years. Although I do not ever remember myself or my opponent engaging in such overt emotional outbursts, as we have seen from both Nakamura and Carlsen, when our games became more and more exciting. All that is required now is jumping up and down for joy, screaming in delight and fist-pumping when opponents blunder or resign.

[Wayne Komer]

Opera Euro Rapid 2021

February 11, 2021

Semifinals

Day One

Game 1, Feb. 11
Carlsen, Magnus – MVL
D85 Grunfeld, Exchange variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bd2 Bg7 6.e4 Nb6 7.Be3 O-O 8.h3 e5 9.Nf3 exd4 10.Bxd4 Nc6 11.Bxg7 Qxd1+ 12.Rxd1 Kxg7 13.Bb5 Nb4 14.a3 a6 15.Be2 Nc6 16.Nd4 Nxd4 17.Rxd4 Be6 18.O-O Rfd8 19.Rfd1 Rxd4 20.Rxd4 Kf6 21.f4 Ke7 22.Kf2 Rd8 23.Ke3 Rxd4 24.Kxd4 f6 25.h4 Nd7 26.b4 h6 27.a4 g5 28.g3 gxf4 29.gxf4 Nb8 30.Nd5+ Bxd5 31.exd5 b6 32.h5 a5 33.bxa5 bxa5 34.Kc5 f5 35.Bb5 Kd8 36.Kd4 1-0

"Wonderful judgment!" says Peter Leko, as he points out how Magnus now dominates Maxime's knight on b8!

Simple chess... What an incredibly smooth win for Magnus!

Game 2, Feb. 11
MVL – Carlsen, Magnus
C95 Ruy Lopez, Closed, Breyer, Borisenko variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.c3 d6 9.h3 Nb8 10.d4 Nbd7 11.Nbd2 Bb7 12.Bc2 Re8 13.Nf1 Bf8 14.Ng3 g6 15.a4 Nb6 16.a5 Nbd7 17.b4 Bg7 18.d5 Rc8 19.Bb3 c6 20.dxc6 Rxc6 21.Qc2 Qc8 22.Qa2 Re7 23.Bb2 Bh6 24.Rad1 Bf4 25.Nf1 Rc7 26.N1d2 Qa8 27.Qb1 Nf8 28.c4 bxc4 29.Nxc4 Bxe4 30.Nb6 Qc6 31.Rxe4 Qxe4 32.Qxe4 Nxe4 33.Nd5 Red7 34.g3 Bh6 35.Re1 Nd2 36.Nxd2 Bxd2 37.Rd1 Bxb4 38.Nxb4 Rc5 39.Nxa6 Rxa5 40.Bc4 d5 41.Bd3 d4 42.Bc1 e4 43.Bc4 Ra1 44.Nc5 Rc7 45.Nb3 Rb1 46.Rxd4 Ne6 47.Bxe6 fxe6 48.Rxe4 Rxb3 49.Be3 Rc6 50.Ra4 Rb7 51.Kg2 Kf7 52.Ra5 Rd6 53.h4 Rd5 54.Ra8 Rbd7 55.Rh8 Kf6 56.Rf8+ Kg7 57.Re8 Kf7 58.Rh8 h5 59.Ra8 e5 60.Kf3 Ke6 61.Rg8 Kf7 62.Ra8 Rb5 63.Ra6 Rb4 64.Bg5 e4+ 65.Kg2 Rd1 66.Rf6+ Kg7 67.Re6 Ra4 68.Re7+ Kf8 69.Re6 Re1 70.Be3 Kf7 71.Re5 Rb4 72.Bd2 1/2-1/2

Game 3, Feb. 11
Carlsen, Magnus – MVL
D85 Grunfeld, Exchange variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Qa4+ Qd7 8.Qxd7+ Bxd7 9.Rb1 b6 10.f4 c5 11.Nf3 Bc6 12.Bd3 Nd7 13.Ke2 e6 14.Be3 c4 15.Bc2 Nf6 16.Nd2 b5 17.a4 a6 18.d5 exd5 19.e5 Ne4 20.Nxe4 dxe4 21.Rhd1 O-O 22.Rd6 Rac8 23.axb5 axb5 24.Rxc6 Rxc6 25.Bxe4 Ra6 26.Rxb5 Rd8 27.Rc5 Ra4 28.Kf3 Bf8 29.Rc7 Ba3 30.f5 gxf5 31.Bxf5 Bb2 32.e6 fxe6 33.Bxe6+ Kh8 34.Bd4+ Rxd4 35.cxd4 Bxd4 36.Bf5 Ra7 37.Rxc4 Bf6 38.h4 Kg7 39.Kg4 Be7 40.Kh5 Ra5 41.g4 Ra7 42.Rc6 Bf8 43.g5 Rb7 44.Bc2 Bb4 45.Kg4 Bd2 46.Rh6 Kg8 47.Rd6 Bc1 48.Be4 Rc7 49.Rd8+ Kf7 50.Bxh7 1-0

Position after Black’s 33….Kh8



Magnus is furious with himself after rushing and missing the winning 34.Rc8!! here!

Magnus Carlsen finds a study-like win anyway and has won Day 1 of his semi-final against MVL!

Game 1, Feb. 11
So, Wesley – Radjabov, Teimour
B30 Sicilian, Nimzowitsch-Rossolimo Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.O-O Nge7 5.Re1 a6 6.Bxc6 Nxc6 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 d6 9.c4 Be7 10.Nc3 O-O 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.Bf4 e5 13.Bg3 Be6 14.b3 f6 15.Re3 Qb6 16.Qe2 Rfd8 17.Rd1 Rd7 18.h3 Rad8 19.Red3 Bf8 20.Kh2 Qb7 21.f4 Kh8 22.f5 Bf7 23.Qf3 h6 24.Bf2 Qb4 25.Be1 Qb8 26.Kh1 Qb7 27.g4 a5 28.h4 Be7 29.Bf2 Kg8 30.Be3 a4 31.g5 axb3 32.axb3 hxg5 33.hxg5 fxg5 34.Qg4 Bf6 35.Bxg5 Kf8 36.Rh3 Ke7 37.Rh7 Qxb3 38.Bxf6+ gxf6 39.Rxf7+ Kxf7 40.Qg6+ Kf8 41.Qxf6+ Ke8 42.Qh8+ Kf7 43.Qh5+ Kf8 44.Rg1 Rf7 45.f6 Rxf6 46.Qh7 1-0

Wesley So inflicts only the 2nd loss on Teimour Radjabov in the #OperaEuroRapid! (He lost to Giri in Knockout, Day 1).

Game 2, Feb. 11
Radjabov, Teimour – So, Wesley
D55 QGD, Petrosian variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Bxf6 7.e3 O-O 8.Rc1 c6 9.Bd3 Nd7 10.O-O dxc4 11.Bxc4 e5 12.d5 Nb6 13.b3 cxd5 14.Nxd5 Nxc4 15.bxc4 e4 16.Nd2 Bf5 17.f3 Be7 18.Nxe4 Bxe4 19.fxe4 Rc8 20.Qg4 Rc6 21.e5 Bg5 22.Rcd1 Qc8 23.Qxg5 hxg5 24.Ne7+ Kh7 25.Nxc8 Rcxc8 26.Rd7 Rxc4 27.Rfxf7 Rxf7 28.Rxf7 Re4 29.Rxb7 Rxe3 30.Rxa7 Rxe5 31.Kf2 Rb5 32.Re7 Ra5 33.Re2 g4 34.Ke3 Kg6 35.Kd4 Kf5 36.g3 Ra8 37.Kd5 g5 38.Rf2+ Kg6 39.Kc6 Ra3 40.Kb5 Ra8 41.a4 Rb8+ 42.Kc6 1-0

Game 3, Feb. 11
So, Wesley – Radjabov, Teimour
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 d5 8.e5 Ne4 9.Bxc6 bxc6 10.Be3 cxd4 11.cxd4 Qb6 12.Qc1 a5 13.Nc3 Nxc3 14.Qxc3 Bf5 15.b3 Rfb8 16.Nd2 h5 17.h3 Rc8 18.Rac1 Bf8 19.a3 Rab8 20.Qb2 Qd8 21.Rc3 Qd7 22.Rec1 f6 23.Rc5 Rb5 24.a4 Rxc5 25.Rxc5 Bxh3 26.gxh3 Qxh3 27.Nf1 fxe5 28.dxe5 Bg7 29.Qd4 Qe6 30.Rxa5 Bxe5 31.Qh4 Rf8 32.Ra7 Bd6 33.b4 Rf3 34.Ra8+ Kf7 35.Bh6 Qe2 36.Rf8+ Ke6 37.Rxf3 Qxf3 38.Be3 Kd7 39.a5 Kc8 40.Bc5 Bf4 41.Qxe7 Qg4+ 42.Ng3 Bxg3 43.fxg3 Qxg3+ 44.Kf1 Qd3+ 45.Kf2 Qd2+ 46.Kf3 Qd1+ 47.Kf4 Qg4+ 48.Ke5 Qe4+ 49.Kf6 Qxe7+ 50.Kxe7 h4 51.Kd6 h3 52.Bg1 d4 53.Kxc6 d3 54.a6 Kb8 55.b5 d2 56.a7+ Ka8 57.b6 1-0

Peter describes 25...Bxh3 by Radjabov as a "defensive idea", since passive play was likely to end badly

Game 4, Feb. 11
Radjabov, Teimour – So, Wesley
D37 QGD

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 O-O 8.Be2 dxc4 9.Bxc4 a6 10.a4 c5 11.O-O cxd4 12.Nxd4 Ne5 13.Be2 Bd7 14.Qb3 Nc6 15.Rfd1 Na5 16.Qc2 Rc8 17.Nb3 g5 18.Bg3 Qb6 19.Nxa5 Qxa5 20.Bf3 Bc6 21.Qe2 Rfd8 22.Rxd8+ Qxd8 23.h4 Qa5 24.Rd1 Bb4 25.hxg5 hxg5 26.Bxc6 Rxc6 27.Na2 Be7 28.Nc3 Bb4 29.Qd3 Bxc3 30.bxc3 Kg7 31.c4 Qc5 32.Qb1 b6 33.Qb2 Kg6 34.Rc1 Ne4 35.Be5 f6 36.Bd4 Qf5 37.f3 Nc5 38.Qa3 e5 39.Bxc5 Rxc5 40.Qb3 b5 41.axb5 1/2-1/2

Wesley So holds a draw in the final game, so he joins Magnus Carlsen in winning today's matches. Radjabov and MVL must win tomorrow's rapid matches to force playoffs!

Semi-final Matches Day 1 Results

Carlsen-MVL 2.5-0.5

So-Radjabov 2.5-1.5

[Wayne Komer]

Opera Euro Rapid 2021

February 12, 2021

Semifinals

Kevin Goh: On the @chess24com platform, you could find extensive commentary of the #OperaEuroRapid with no less than 12 different channels and 9 languages. Elite coverage of the #ChessChamps tour.

Day Two

Game 1, Feb. 12
MVL – Carlsen, Magnus
C88 Ruy Lopez, Closed

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.c3 Na5 9.Bc2 d5 10.d4 dxe4 11.Nxe5 Bb7 12.Nd2 c5 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Bxe4 Bxe4 15.Rxe4 Qd5 16.Qe1 Rfe8 17.Nf3 Kf8 18.Bf4 Bf6 19.Rxe8+ Rxe8 20.Qb1 Kg8 21.dxc5 Nc4 22.Qc2 Qxc5 23.Rd1 h6 24.b3 Na5 25.Rc1 Nc6 26.Be3 Qa3 27.Rd1 Rc8 28.h3 Qe7 29.c4 Nb4 30.Qf5 Qe6 31.Qxe6 fxe6 32.cxb5 axb5 33.Nd4 Bxd4 34.Rxd4 Nxa2 35.Rd7 Nc1 36.b4 Rc4 37.Bc5 Nb3 38.Be7 Nd4 39.Rb7 Nc6 40.Bd6 Nxb4 41.Be5 g5 42.Bg7 h5 43.Bh6 g4 44.hxg4 hxg4 45.Rxb5 Nd5 46.Rb7 Rc7 47.Rxc7 Nxc7 48.Kh2 Kf7 49.Kg3 Kg6 50.Bf4 Nd5 51.Kxg4 Nf6+ 52.Kf3 Kf5 53.Bg3 e5 54.Bh4 e4+ 55.Ke2 Ng4 56.Bd8 Ne5 57.Bc7 Ng4 58.Bb6 Ne5 59.Be3 Ng4 60.Kf1 Nh2+ 61.Kg1 Ng4 62.g3 Ne5 63.Kg2 Ng4 64.Kh3 Ne5 65.Kh4 Ng4 66.Kh3 Ne5 67.Kh4 1/2-1/2

Going a pawn down for nothing can't have been the plan... but Magnus drew it anyway in 67 moves!

Game 2, Feb. 12
Carlsen, Magnus – MVL
B90 Sicilian, Najdorf

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Qd3 Nbd7 7.a4 Nc5 8.Qe3 e5 9.Nb3 Nxb3 10.cxb3 Be6 11.Bc4 Be7 12.O-O Rc8 13.Qe2 O-O 14.Rd1 Qc7 15.Bg5 Bxc4 16.bxc4 Qxc4 17.Qf3 Qe6 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Nd5 Rc6 20.Ra3 Rb8 21.g3 Bd8 22.a5 g6 23.Kg2 Kg7 24.h4 h5 25.b4 Rc4 26.Rc3 Rxc3 27.Qxc3 Rc8 28.Qd3 Rc6 29.Rd2 Qc8 30.Ne3 b6 31.axb6 Bxb6 32.Nd5 Bd8 33.Qe2 Rc4 34.Ra2 Qc6 35.Rxa6 Qxa6 36.Ne3 Rc6 37.b5 Qa4 38.bxc6 Qxe4+ 39.Qf3 Qa4 40.Qd5 Bc7 41.Nc4 Qb3 42.Ne3 Qa4 43.Qc4 Qxc4 44.Nxc4 Kf6 45.Na3 Ke7 46.Nb5 Bb6 47.c7 Kd7 48.c8=Q+ Kxc8 49.Nxd6+ Kd7 50.Nxf7 Ke6 51.Ng5+ Kf6 52.Kf3 Kf5 53.Ne4 Ke6 54.Ke2 Bd8 55.Kd3 Kd5 56.f3 Ba5 57.Nf6+ Ke6 58.Ne4 Kd5 59.Nf6+ Ke6 60.Ne4 Kd5 1/2-1/2

Game 3, Feb. 12
MVL – Carlsen, Magnus
B30 Sicilian, Nimzowitsch-Rossolimo Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.O-O Nge7 5.b3 Nd4 6.Nxd4 cxd4 7.Bb2 a6 8.Be2 Nc6 9.f4 Bc5 10.d3 O-O 11.Nd2 d5 12.Kh1 b6 13.a3 a5 14.Qe1 dxe4 15.dxe4 Bb7 16.Nf3 Qc7 17.e5 Ne7 18.b4 axb4 19.axb4 Rxa1 20.Bxa1 Nf5 21.bxc5 bxc5 22.c3 Ne3 23.Rg1 Nd5 24.Qc1 Rc8 25.cxd4 cxd4 26.Qd2 Qc2 27.Qxc2 Rxc2 28.Nxd4 Ra2 29.Bf3 Ba8 30.f5 Ra4 31.fxe6 1-0

Position after Carlsen’s 17….Ne7



Another complete shocker, as World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen makes the simplest of blunders, losing a piece!

MVL wraps up victory, so now Magnus must win on demand in Game 4 or we're going to have a playoff for a place in the final vs. So!

Game 4, Feb. 12
Carlsen, Magnus – MVL
D85 Grunfeld, Exchange variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bd2 Bg7 6.e4 Nb6 7.Be3 O-O 8.a4 a5 9.h3 Nc6 10.Nf3 Nb4 11.Be2 c6 12.O-O Be6 13.Ng5 Bc4 14.Rc1 Rc8 15.b3 Bxe2 16.Nxe2 Nd7 17.f4 h6 18.Nf3 e6 19.Ne5 c5 20.Nxd7 Qxd7 21.dxc5 Qc6 22.e5 Rfd8 23.Nd4 Qe4 24.Qd3 0-1

The match goes to a playoff

Game 1, Feb. 12
Radjabov, Teimour – So, Wesley
D55 QGD, Petrosian variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Bxf6 7.e3 O-O 8.Rc1 c6 9.Bd3 Nd7 10.O-O dxc4 11.Bxc4 c5 12.Qe2 cxd4 13.exd4 Nb6 14.Bd3 g6 15.Be4 Rb8 16.Rfd1 Bd7 17.Ne5 Qe7 18.Qf3 Be8 19.g3 Bg7 20.h4 h5 21.Qe3 Nc8 22.Bb1 Nd6 23.Re1 Bc6 24.Qf4 Qd8 25.Rcd1 Nb5 26.Nxb5 Bxb5 27.Be4 Qf6 28.Qe3 Rfd8 29.Qb3 Be8 30.Qa3 a6 31.Rd3 Bf8 32.Qb3 Bg7 33.Qa3 Bf8 34.Qb3 Bg7 35.Qa3 1/2-1/2

Game 2, Feb. 12
So, Wesley – Radjabov, Teimour
D37 QGD, Hastings variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 O-O 6.e3 Nbd7 7.a3 c5 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Nxd5 exd5 10.dxc5 Nxc5 11.Be5 Bf5 12.Be2 Bf6 13.Bxf6 Qxf6 14.Qd4 Qd6 15.Rd1 Rfd8 16.Qd2 Qf6 17.Qd4 Qd6 18.Qd2 Qf6 19.Qd4 Qd6 1/2-1/2

A lightning-fast 19-move draw by Wesley So with White in Game 2 gets him a game closer to reaching the final, but Teimour still has 2 games to strike

Game 3, Feb. 12
Radjabov, Teimour – So, Wesley
E20 Nimzo-Indian, Kmoch variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 c5 5.d5 O-O 6.e4 b5 7.Nh3 bxc4 8.Bxc4 Nxd5 9.Bxd5 exd5 10.Qxd5 Nc6 11.Be3 Ba6 12.Nf4 Qh4+ 13.g3 Qf6 14.Kf2 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Rab8 16.Rad1 Ne5 17.Bxc5 Rb2+ 18.Rd2 Nd3+ 19.Qxd3 Bxd3 20.Rxb2 Qxc3 21.Nxd3 Qxd3 22.Be3 f5 23.Rd2 Qb5 24.e5 Qxe5 25.Rhd1 a6 26.Rxd7 Re8 27.R7d3 f4 28.Bxf4 Qe2+ 29.Kg1 Qxa2 30.R3d2 Qb3 31.Kg2 h6 32.Rd8 Rxd8 33.Rxd8+ Kf7 34.Rd7+ Ke8 35.Rd2 a5 36.Re2+ Kf7 37.h4 a4 38.Be5 a3 39.Re4 a2 40.Re2 Qb5 41.Re1 Qxe5 42.Rxe5 a1=Q 43.Re4 Qb2+ 44.Kg1 Qd2 45.Rf4+ Ke6 46.Re4+ Kd5 47.Re8 Kc4 48.Re4+ Kd3 49.Re8 Qc1+ 50.Kg2 Qc2+ 51.Kg1 Qb1+ 52.Kg2 Qa2+ 0-1

Wesley So is on the brink of the final after Teimour Radjabov has had to give up his queen and is now fighting to survive!

Wesley So is in the final, but Teimour Radjabov's event isn't over, as he'll be playing in the 3rd place playoff!

Playoff

The play-off consists of 2 blitz games, followed by an Armageddon game

Game 1, Feb. 12
5+3
Carlsen, Magnus – MVL
A16 English

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.h4 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Qxd1+ 7.Kxd1 f6 8.h5 g5 9.e4 Nd7 10.Nd4 Ne5 11.Be2 Bd7 12.Kc2 O-O-O 13.Be3 c5 14.Nf3 Ng4 15.Bxc5 b6 16.Be3 Nxe3+ 17.fxe3 g4 18.Nd4 e5 19.Nf5 Bxf5 20.exf5 Bh6 21.Rae1 g3 22.Bc4 Rd6 23.Rh3 Rhd8 24.Re2 Bg5 25.Rxg3 h6 26.Rg4 Kc7 27.Ba6 Rd5 28.Rc4+ Rc5 29.e4 Rxc4 30.Bxc4 Bf4 31.Be6 Bg3 32.b4 b5 33.Bd5 Kb6 34.Kb3 Rd7 35.a4 a6 36.Ra2 Ra7 37.a5+ Kc7 38.c4 bxc4+ 39.Bxc4 1-0

Game 2, Feb. 12
5+3
MVL – Carlsen, Magnus
B30 Sicilian, Nimzowitsch-Rossolimo Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.O-O Nge7 5.Re1 Nd4 6.Nxd4 cxd4 7.c3 a6 8.Bf1 Nc6 9.b4 Be7 10.a4 O-O 11.Na3 dxc3 12.dxc3 Bf6 13.b5 axb5 14.Nxb5 d5 15.Ba3 Be7 16.exd5 exd5 17.Bxe7 Nxe7 18.Qd4 Nc6 19.Qf4 Be6 20.Rab1 d4 21.Nc7 Rxa4 22.Nxe6 fxe6 23.Qg4 Qf6 24.f3 Qf5 25.Qxf5 exf5 26.Rxb7 dxc3 27.Bb5 Nd8 28.Rc7 Rb4 29.Ree7 Kh8 30.Bd3 Rd4 31.Bxf5 Rd2 32.h4 Rd4 33.Be4 Rg8 34.h5 h6 35.Rxc3 Rd6 36.Rc8 Ne6 37.Rxg8+ Kxg8 38.Rxe6 Rxe6 39.Bd5 Kf7 40.Kf2 Kf6 41.Bxe6 Kxe6 42.Ke3 Ke5 43.g4 Kd5 44.Kf4 Ke6 45.Ke4 Kf6 46.Kd5 Kf7 47.Kd6 Kf6 48.f4 Kf7 49.Ke5 Ke7 50.f5 Kf7 51.f6 1-0

Armageddon, Feb. 12
Carlsen, Magnus – MVL
D85 Grunfeld, Exchange variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bd2 Bg7 6.e4 Nb6 7.Be3 O-O 8.a4 a5 9.h3 Nc6 10.Nf3 f5 11.exf5 Bxf5 12.Be2 Nb4 13.Rc1 c6 14.O-O N6d5 15.Bd2 Qd6 16.Re1 Kh8 17.Nxd5 Nxd5 18.Bc4 Nb4 19.Qb3 Rad8 20.Bg5 Bf6 21.Bh6 Bg7 22.Qe3 Rde8 23.Bf4 Nd5 24.Bxd5 Qxd5 25.Rc5 Qd8 26.Be5 Bc8 27.Qh6 Rf6 28.Bxf6 exf6 29.Rxe8+ Qxe8 30.Qe3 Qd8 31.Qe1 Bf8 32.Rxa5 Bd7 33.Ra7 Qb8 34.Qa5 Kg7 35.Ra8 Qf4 36.Qd8 Qc1+ 37.Kh2 Qf4+ 38.Kh1 Qd6 39.Qb8 Qb4 40.Ra7 1-0

Tomorrow it's Carlsen vs. So, a repeat of the #SkillingOpen final, after a thrilling Armageddon win for Magnus. The 3rd place match will be Radjabov vs. MVL

Day Two Results

MVL-Carlsen 3-1
Radjabov-So 1-2

Carlsen-MVL 2-1

Playoff

Carlsen-MVL 2-1

[Wayne Komer]

Opera Euro Rapid 2021

February 13, 2021

Finals

Day One

Game 1, Feb. 13
Carlsen, Magnus – So, Wesley
E21 Nimzo-Indian, Three Knights variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 O-O 5.Qb3 c5 6.dxc5 Na6 7.Bd2 Bxc5 8.Bg5 b6 9.e3 Bb7 10.Be2 Bb4 11.a3 Bxc3+ 12.Qxc3 Ne4 13.Bxd8 Nxc3 14.Be7 Rfe8 15.Bd6 Nxe2 16.Kxe2 Rac8 17.Rac1 Nc5 18.Rhd1 Ne4 19.a4 f6 20.b3 a5 21.Ba3 d5 22.Nd4 dxc4 23.bxc4 Nc5 24.Nb5 Red8 25.Bxc5 bxc5 26.f3 Kf8 27.e4 Ke7 28.Ke3 e5 29.g4 Rb8 30.h4 Bc6 31.Rxd8 Rxd8 32.g5 Be8 33.gxf6+ gxf6 34.Rg1 Bf7 35.Rg7 h5 36.f4 Kf8 37.Rg1 Bxc4 38.fxe5 fxe5 39.Rc1 Rd3+ 40.Kf2 Rd2+ 41.Ke3 Re2+ 42.Kf3 Bd3 43.Rxc5 Rxe4 44.Nc3 Rxh4 45.Rxa5 Rc4 46.Nd1 Bc2 47.Ne3 Rf4+ 48.Ke2 Bxa4 49.Rxe5 h4 50.Rf5+ Rxf5 51.Nxf5 Bd7 52.Nxh4 Bg4+ 53.Nf3 Bxf3+ 1/2-1/2

Position after White’s 11.a3



"11...Nc5! would almost strategically have won the game!" (Leko)

But Wesley played 11...Bxc3+ and the game is roughly equal

Game 2, Feb. 13
So, Wesley – Carlsen, Magnus
C58 Two Knights Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Bd3 Nd5 9.Nf3 Bd6 10.O-O O-O 11.Re1 f5 12.Nxe5 Qf6 13.Nf3 g5 14.c4 Nf4 15.Bf1 g4 16.d4 gxf3 17.Qxf3 Ne6 18.Qc3 Nb7 19.c5 Bc7 20.b4 a5 21.b5 Qxd4 22.Qxd4 Nxd4 23.Bc4+ Be6 24.Bxe6+ Nxe6 25.Rxe6 Nxc5 26.Re2 Rfe8 27.Nc3 cxb5 28.Be3 Be5 29.Bxc5 Bxc3 30.Rxe8+ Rxe8 31.Rb1 b4 32.Kf1 Re5 33.Be3 a4 34.Rc1 a3 35.g3 Rb5 36.Rc2 b3 37.axb3 Rxb3 38.Kg2 Kf7 39.Bd2 Be5 40.Bf4 Bxf4 41.gxf4 Rb7 42.Ra2 Ra7 43.Kg3 Ra4 44.Kh4 Kg6 45.Kg3 Kf6 46.h3 h5 47.Kh4 Kg6 48.Kg3 Kg7 49.Kf3 h4 50.Ke2 Kf6 51.Kd1 Ke6 52.Kc1 Kd5 53.Kb1 Ke4 54.Rd2 Kf3 55.Ka2 Kg2 0-1

Did Carlsen or his seconds not check So's Chessable course? Also, So had this line against Abdusattorov already. I'm just baffled what's happening in the Opera Euro Rapid final

21...Qxd4?! is the first move not in Wesley's course, and it looks like a serious mistake by Magnus!

Wesley failed to exploit Magnus' mistake and now it's the World Champion who's on top!

Magnus Carlsen takes the lead in the #OperaEuroRapid final after Wesley So came with brilliant preparation but went astray himself the moment Magnus stumbled off the correct path! The World Champion's conversion looked flawless

Game 3, Feb. 13
Carsen, 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.Qe2 c6 17.Re1 Bf5 18.Bxf5 Nxf5 19.Nf3 Ng7 20.Be5 Bxe5 21.Nxe5 Qd6 22.Nd3 Re8 23.Qd2 f6 24.Rxe8+ Nxe8 25.Qe3 Kf7 26.Qh6 Kg8 27.Qe3 Kf7 28.Qh6 Kg8 29.Qe3 1/2-1/2

Game 3 in Carlsen-MVL is over almost before it began, so Wesley is putting all his eggs in the White in Game 4 basket!

Game 4, Feb. 13
So, Wesley – 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 Bg6 13.Qb3 Ne7 14.O-O c6 15.Bd3 Nf5 16.Qc2 Nxc3 17.bxc3 Nxe3 18.fxe3 Bxd3 19.Qxd3 f6 20.c4 Bc7 21.cxd5 Qxd5 22.exf6 gxf6 23.e4 Qd7 24.Rad1 Rad8 25.Nh4 Kh8 26.Nf5 c5 27.d5 Be5 28.Rb1 b6 29.Qc4 Rfe8 30.Kh1 Bd4 31.Rf4 Rxe4 32.Rxe4 Qxf5 33.Rbe1 Rxd5 34.Rg4 h5 35.Re8+ Kh7 36.Re7+ Kh8 37.Qc1 1-0

A fist pump from Wesley So as he beats Magnus to level the match going into tomorrow's final

Third Place Match

Game 1, Feb. 13
MVL – Radjabov, Teimour

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 d6 6.c4 Be7 7.N1c3 a6 8.Na3 Nf6 9.Nc2 O-O 10.Be2 Be6 11.Be3 Rc8 12.Qd2 Na5 13.b3 b5 14.O-O bxc4 15.b4 Nc6 16.Rfd1 Ng4 17.Bxg4 Bxg4 18.f3 Be6 19.a4 f5 20.Rab1 Kh8 21.Nd5 Bh4 22.b5 axb5 23.axb5 c3 24.Nxc3 Na5 25.Nd5 Nc4 26.Qe2 f4 27.Bf2 Bxf2+ 28.Qxf2 Rb8 29.Rb4 Bxd5 30.Rxd5 Qc7 31.Rd3 Nb6 32.Rb1 Na4 33.Na3 Nc3 34.Rb3 Nxb5 35.Nxb5 Qc1+ 36.Qf1 Qc5+ 37.Qf2 Qc1+ 38.Qf1 Qc5+ 39.Qf2 Qc1+ 1/2-1/2

Game 2, Feb. 13
Radjabov, Teimour – MVL
A16 English

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Qxd1+ 7.Kxd1 f6 8.h4 h5 9.e5 Nc6 10.Bd3 Kf7 11.Re1 Bg4 12.Kc2 Rd8 13.Bf4 Bh6 14.Bg3 Kg7 15.Be4 f5 16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.Ng5 Bxg5 18.hxg5 f4 19.Bxf4 Rhf8 20.Be3 Bf5+ 21.Kb3 Rd5 22.c4 Rd3+ 23.Ka4 Kf7 24.b3 Rfd8 25.Ka5 a6 26.Bc5 Ke6 27.Be3 Be4 28.f3 Bf5 29.Re2 Ra8 30.Rh1 Rdd8 31.Bc5 Rd3 32.Rh4 Rd1 33.g4 Bd3 34.Reh2 Re1 35.gxh5 Rxe5 36.b4 gxh5 37.Rxh5 Bxc4 38.Rh6+ Kd7 39.g6 Rg8 40.f4 Rf5 41.Rh7 Re8 42.Rd2+ Kc8 43.g7 Rxf4 44.Rh8 Bg8 45.Re2 Kd7 46.Rxe7+ Rxe7 47.Rxg8 Rf3 48.Rd8+ Kxd8 49.g8=Q+ Re8 50.Qg5+ 1-0

Radjabov takes the lead against MVL in the 3rd place match!

Game 3, Feb. 13
MVL – Radjabov, Teimour
B32 Sicilian, Labourdonnais-Loewenthal variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 d6 6.c4 Be7 7.N1c3 a6 8.Na3 Nf6 9.Nc2 O-O 10.Be2 Be6 11.Be3 Rb8 12.O-O Qd7 13.f3 Na5 14.b3 b5 15.cxb5 axb5 16.Nb4 Nc6 17.Na6 Ra8 18.Bxb5 Qb7 19.Qd3 Rfc8 20.a4 Na5 21.Nb4 Nxb3 22.Rab1 Nc5 23.Qe2 Bf8 24.Rfd1 Ra5 25.Nbd5 Nxd5 26.Nxd5 Rb8 27.Qe1 Raa8 28.h4 Qc8 29.Rbc1 Qb7 30.h5 Rc8 31.h6 Nxa4 32.Rxc8 Bxc8 33.Bxa4 Rxa4 34.hxg7 Bxg7 35.Rb1 Qa6 36.Qh4 1-0

Game 4, Feb. 13
Radjabov, Teimour – MVL
A16 English

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Qxd1+ 7.Kxd1 Nd7 8.Bf4 Nc5 9.Nd2 Bd7 10.f3 Bg7 11.Kc2 b5 12.Be3 Na4 13.Nb3 a6 14.Be2 Rc8 15.Nc5 Nxc5 16.Bxc5 Be5 17.a4 Bd6 18.Bxd6 exd6 19.axb5 axb5 20.Ra7 Ke7 21.Rha1 Rhd8 22.R1a6 c6 23.Kd2 Kf8 24.Ke3 Be6 25.Rb6 Rd7 26.Raa6 Rdc7 27.Bd3 Ke7 28.h4 h6 29.f4 f5 30.g3 Bd7 31.Kd4 fxe4 32.Bxe4 Kf6 33.Bf3 g5 34.fxg5+ hxg5 35.Ra1 Re8 36.Rf1 Kg7 37.Be4 Re5 38.h5 c5+ 39.Kd3 Re6 40.Bd5 Re7 41.Rxd6 Bh3 42.h6+ Kh7 43.Rf8 1-0

Radjabov strikes back again to win today's 3rd place match against MVL

Finals Day One Results

Carlsen-So 2-2
MVL-Radjabov 1.5-2.5

[Hans Jung]

11...Nc5 in Game 1 is a beautiful move!! - hidden tactics - wonderful commentary by Leko.

[Wayne Komer]

Opera Euro Rapid 2021

February 14, 2021

Finals

Day Two

Sam Shankand is the guest commentator and says that Hikaru was his boyhood hero. There is only four years between them but when Hikaru was a grandmaster at fifteen, Sam had just started playing tournaments and was following Hikaru’s career.

Game 1, Feb. 14
So, Wesley – Carlsen, Magnus

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.O-O Nge7 5.c3 a6 6.Ba4 b5 7.Bc2 Bb7 8.Re1 Rc8 9.a4 b4 10.d4 cxd4 11.cxd4 Ng6 12.Nbd2 Na5 13.g3 Be7 14.h4 Bxh4 15.gxh4 Nxh4 16.Nxh4 Qxh4 17.Re3 f5 18.Rg3 O-O 19.Nf3 Qh5 20.Ne5 Qxd1+ 21.Bxd1 d6 22.Nd3 fxe4 23.Nxb4 Nc4 24.a5 d5 25.Bg4 Rf6 26.Bg5 Rg6 27.Bh5 Rxg5 28.Rxg5 1-0

Position after Black’s 14….Bxh4



Magnus goes for the shock sacrifice 14...Bxh4?!
Leko: "I just cannot imagine that it would work!"

"I haven't seen Magnus so hopeless in any of his games almost in his career!" (Leko)

Magnus went for a dubious piece sacrifice and never got a chance, so now Wesley only needs 3 draws to claim the title!

"I do think Wesley is the 2nd best player in the world at this time control" (Shankland)

Game 2, Feb. 14
Carlsen, Magnus – So, Wesley
C50 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 O-O 6.c3 d5 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.Re1 Bg4 9.Nbd2 Nb6 10.h3 Bh5 11.Bb3 Qxd3 12.Nxe5 Qf5 13.Nef3 Rad8 14.Qe2 Qc8 15.Qb5 Nd7 16.Nh4 a6 17.Qf1 Be7 18.Nf5 Rfe8 19.Nxe7+ Rxe7 20.Rxe7 Nxe7 21.Ne4 Bg6 22.f3 h6 23.Bf4 Nc6 24.Re1 Bxe4 25.fxe4 Nce5 26.Bg3 Re8 27.Rd1 Nc5 28.Bxe5 Nxb3 29.Bxg7 Kxg7 30.axb3 Rxe4 31.Qf3 Re7 32.Rd4 Qe6 33.Rg4+ Kh7 34.Qd3+ f5 35.Rf4 Kg6 36.Qg3+ Kh7 37.Qd3 Kg6 38.Kh1 Qe1+ 39.Rf1 Qe5 40.b4 c6 41.Qd8 Re8 42.Qd3 Re7 43.Qd2 Re6 44.Qf2 Re7 45.Rd1 f4 46.Kg1 Qe2 47.Rd6+ Kg5 48.Rd2 Qe1+ 49.Qxe1 Rxe1+ 50.Kf2 Rb1 51.Kf3 Rf1+ 52.Ke2 Rb1 53.Kf3 Rf1+ 54.Ke2 Rb1 55.Kf3 1/2-1/2

"I think Magnus will be mad at himself for this one!" (Shankland)
Magnus fails to make use of a better position and now Wesley can win the #OperaEuroRapid title with a win in the next game!

Game 3, Feb. 14
So, Wesley – Carsen, Magnus
C50 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.c3 a5 7.Re1 O-O 8.Nbd2 Ba7 9.Nf1 Be6 10.Bb5 Ne7 11.d4 c6 12.Bd3 Ng6 13.h3 Nh5 14.Be3 Nhf4 15.Bc2 Qc8 16.Bb3 exd4 17.Nxd4 Bxd4 18.Qxd4 Bxb3 19.axb3 d5 20.Qd2 Nxh3+ 21.gxh3 Qxh3 22.f4 Nh4 23.Nh2 dxe4 24.Qf2 Rfe8 25.Qf1 Qg3+ 26.Kh1 Nf5 27.Qg2 Qxg2+ 28.Kxg2 Nxe3+ 29.Rxe3 f5 30.Nf1 Red8 31.Ree1 Kf7 32.Red1 Kf6 33.Rxd8 Rxd8 34.Rxa5 g5 35.fxg5+ Kxg5 36.Kf2 h5 37.Ne3 b5 38.Nf1 h4 39.Ra7 Rh8 40.Rf7 h3 41.Ng3 h2 42.Rxf5+ Kg4 43.Rf6 h1=N+ 44.Nxh1 Rxh1 45.Rxc6 Kf4 46.Rf6+ Ke5 47.Rf8 Rh2+ 48.Ke3 Rxb2 49.b4 Rh2 50.Re8+ Kd5 51.Rd8+ Ke5 52.Re8+ Kd5 53.Rd8+ Ke5 54.Re8+ 1/2-1/2


Position after White’s 18.Qxd4? How can Black win here?



Wesley has blundered and Hari's suggestion of 18...Nxg2! wins almost on the spot for Magnus if he finds it! The problem is e.g. 18...Bxh3 is also strong

A huge missed chance for Magnus to level the score and now he must win on demand in the final rapid game to force a playoff!

Game 4, Feb. 14
Carlsen, Magnus – So, Wesley
C50 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 O-O 6.O-O d6 7.Re1 a5 8.Bg5 h6 9.Bh4 g5 10.Bg3 Bb6 11.Na3 Nh7 12.Nc2 h5 13.h3 h4 14.Bh2 g4 15.hxg4 Bxg4 16.d4 exd4 17.Ncxd4 Nxd4 18.cxd4 Ng5 19.Qd3 Nxf3+ 20.gxf3 Bh5 21.e5 d5 22.Bb3 a4 23.Bd1 Qg5+ 24.Kh1 Bg6 25.Qe2 Bxd4 26.Rg1 Qh5 27.Qd2 c5 28.f4 Qh6 29.Rg5 f6 30.exf6 Bxf6 31.Qxd5+ Kh8 32.Bf3 a3 33.Rag1 axb2 34.Rxg6 Qxg6 35.Rxg6 b1=Q+ 36.Rg1 Qh7 37.f5 Rg8 38.Re1 Rae8 39.Re6 Rxe6 40.Qxe6 Qh6 41.Bd1 Qg5 42.Qe4 Qd2 43.Bg4 Qg5 44.f3 Qc1+ 45.Kg2 h3+ 46.Kxh3 Qh6+ 47.Kg3 Rd8 48.Bh3 Qg5+ 49.Bg4 Qh6 50.Bg1 Qh4+ 51.Kg2 Rd2+ 52.Kf1 Rd1+ 53.Kg2 Rd2+ 54.Kf1 Rd1+ 55.Kg2 Rd2+ 1/2-1/2

23.Kh1!! axb3? 24.Rg1+! was completely winning according to the comp, but Magnus goes for 23.Bd1 instead. He's still better, but Wesley has good chances to hold & win the tournament

29...f6! and this looks like it for Wesley, who's now better but only needs a draw!

Congratulations to Wesley So on winning the #OperaEuroRapid after beating Magnus Carlsen for a 2nd time in a Meltwater Champions Chess Tour final!

Wesley So is also now the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour leader, on the tiebreaker of having won 2 events rather than Radjabov's 1!

Final Standings

1 Wesley So, First Prize $30,000
2 Magnus Carlsen, Second Prize $15,000
3 Teimour Radjabov, Third Prize $8,500
4 MVL, Fourth Prize $6,500

Third Place Match

Game 1, Feb. 14
Radjabov, Teimour – MVL
A04 Reti, Dutch

1.Nf3 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.b3 d6 4.d4 g6 5.Bb2 Bg7 6.g3 Ne4 7.Bg2 Nd7 8.Nbd2 Ndf6 9.O-O O-O 10.d5 e5 11.dxe6 Bxe6 12.Nxe4 fxe4 13.Ng5 Bf5 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Qd5+ Rf7 16.Bxg7 c6 17.Qd4 Nxf2 18.Bh6 Ng4 19.Bf4 Qb6 20.Rad1 Re7 21.Bf3 Ne3 22.Bxe3 Rxe3 23.Qxb6 axb6 24.Rxd6 Re7 25.Rd2 Kg7 26.g4 Be6 27.Kg2 g5 28.a4 h6 29.Kg3 Ra5 30.Rc1 Re5 31.Rc3 Kf6 32.Rcd3 Kg7 33.h3 b5 34.cxb5 cxb5 35.a5 b4 36.Rd4 Bxb3 37.Rxb4 Bf7 38.Ra4 Rb5 39.Rd6 Bb3 40.Ra3 Bc4 41.Kf2 Rbe5 42.Rb6 Ba6 43.Ra2 Rc5 44.Rd2 Rxa5 45.Rdd6 Ra2 46.Rg6+ Kf8 47.Rbf6+ Ke8 48.Rd6 Kf8 49.Rd8+ Kf7 50.Rxh6 Kg7 51.Rh5 Bxe2 52.Rxg5+ Kh7 53.Rh5+ Kg7 54.Bxe2 Raxe2+ 55.Kg3 R2e3+ 56.Kh4 Rc3 57.Rg5+ Kf7 58.Rb5 Ke6 59.Rdd5 Re3 60.Rh5 Kd6 61.Rh6+ Kc7 62.Rc5+ Kd7 63.Kg5 Rg7+ 64.Kf4 Rge7 65.Rd5+ Kc7 66.Rc5+ Kd7 67.h4 Re1 68.Rd5+ Kc7 69.Rc5+ Kd7 70.g5 Rf1+ 71.Kg4 Re4+ 72.Kh5 Rff4 73.Rb6 Rxh4+ 74.Kg6 Rb4 75.Rf6 Rhf4 76.Rd5+ Kc7 77.Rfd6 Rf1 78.Rd7+ Kc6 79.R5d6+ Kc5 80.Rd5+ Kc6 81.Kg7 Rg4 82.R7d6+ Kc7 83.Re6 Rc1 84.Rf6 Rc6 85.Rf7+ Kb6 86.Rdf5 Ka6 87.Kh7 Rh4+ 88.Kg7 Rg4 89.R7f6 Rxf6 90.Kxf6 b5 91.g6 Ka5 92.Rg5 Rf4+ 93.Ke6 Rf8 94.g7 Rg8 95.Kf7 Rxg7+ 96.Rxg7 Kb4 97.Ke6 Kc4 98.Rc7+ Kd4 99.Rb7 Kc4 100.Ke5 b4 101.Ke4 Kc3 102.Ke3 b3 103.Rc7+ 1-0

Position after White’s 84.Rf6



103 moves, but Teimour finally wins the 1st game of the day in the 3rd place match! MVL must now win at least 2 of the next 3 games or Radjabov will be the winner

Game 2, Feb. 14
MVL – Radjabov, Teimour
B32 Sicilian, Labourdonnais-Loewenthal variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 d6 6.c4 Be7 7.N1c3 a6 8.Na3 f5 9.exf5 Bxf5 10.Nc2 Nf6 11.Ne3 Be6 12.g3 O-O 13.Bg2 Qd7 14.Ncd5 Rae8 15.O-O Bd8 16.b3 Bh3 17.Bb2 Bxg2 18.Kxg2 Ne7 19.Nxf6+ Rxf6 20.Rc1 Qc6+ 21.Nd5 Bb6 22.f4 Bd4 23.Bxd4 Nxd5 24.cxd5 Qxd5+ 25.Qf3 Qxf3+ 26.Kxf3 exd4 27.Rfd1 Re3+ 28.Kf2 Rfe6 29.Rxd4 Re2+ 30.Kf3 Rxh2 31.a4 h5 32.f5 Re5 33.g4 hxg4+ 34.Kg3 Rb2 35.Rxd6 Rxf5 36.Kxg4 Rbf2 37.Rc8+ Kh7 38.Rc4 b5 39.axb5 Rxb5 40.Kg3 Rf6 41.Rxf6 gxf6 42.b4 a5 43.bxa5 Rxa5 44.Rh4+ Kg6 45.Rg4+ Rg5 46.Rxg5+ Kxg5 47.Kf3 Kf5 48.Kf2 Kf4 0-1

Position after 45….Rg5. Draw after 46.K3



Congratulations to Teimour Radjabov on finishing 3rd in the #OperaEuroRapid after his victory in the #AirthingsMasters!

Radjabov on MVL's blunder: "46.Rxg5+?? is just an epic blunder, let’s be fair, on the highest level, that you don’t see every day!"

[Hans Jung]

Magnus is a truly amazing competitor but sometimes I think he likes to put extra challenges on himself. Case in point: Game 1 when he sacrificed on h4. The thinking: lets see if Wesley can defend this? Very impulsive - but even after losing this game Magnus did get his chances in later games.