Magnus Carlsen Invitational Prelims 2021

[Wayne Komer]

Magnus Carlsen Invitational Prelims 2021

March 14, 2021

Day 2 (continued)

Round 10

Giri-Mamedyarov 1-0
Nepo-Grandelius 0.5-0.5
Karjakin-Anton 1-0
Radjabov-Carlsen 0.5-0.5
Pichot-Firouzja 0-1
So-MVL 0.5-0.5
Aronian-Van Foreest 1-0
Dubov-Nakamura 0.5-0.5

Games

Round 10, March 14
Giri, Anish – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
B40 Sicilian, Anderssen variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Ndb5 Bb4 7.a3 Bxc3+ 8.Nxc3 d5 9.Bd3 O-O 10.O-O d4 11.Ne2 e5 12.h3 Re8 13.b4 Nd7 14.f4 exf4 15.Bxf4 Nde5 16.b5 Na5 17.Rb1 Nec4 18.Bxc4 Nxc4 19.Qd3 Be6 20.Nxd4 Nxa3 21.Rb4 Bc4 22.Rxc4 Nxc4 23.Qxc4 Rxe4 24.c3 a6 25.bxa6 Rxa6 26.Bg3 Qd7 27.Kh2 h6 28.Qd3 Re8 29.Rf5 Rg6 30.Qf3 Rg5 31.Rf4 b5 32.Bh4 Rg6 33.Nf5 Kh7 34.Bf2 Qc7 35.Bg3 Qc6 36.Nd4 Qxf3 37.Rxf3 Rb6 38.Rxf7 b4 39.cxb4 Rxb4 40.Rd7 Rb2 41.Nf5 Kg6 42.Ne7+ Kh7 43.h4 Re2 44.Nd5 Kg8 45.Kh3 Rf8 46.Nf4 Rfe8 47.Nxe2 1-0

Round 10, March 14
Aronian, Levon – Van Foreest, Jorden
C54 Giuoco Piano, d3 variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.O-O O-O 7.h3 a5 8.Re1 Be6 9.Bxe6 fxe6 10.Be3 Bxe3 11.Rxe3 d5 12.Nbd2 d4 13.cxd4 exd4 14.Re1 a4 15.Rc1 Nb4 16.Nc4 Nxa2 17.Ra1 Nb4 18.Rxa4 Rxa4 19.Qxa4 Nxd3 20.Rd1 Nf4 21.Nxd4 Nxe4 22.Nf3 Qf6 23.Nce5 Ng5 24.Qb3 Nxf3+ 25.Nxf3 Nxh3+ 26.gxh3 Qxf3 27.Qxe6+ Kh8 28.Rd2 h6 29.Re2 Rf5 30.Kh2 Qf4+ 31.Kg2 Rg5+ 32.Kf1 Qc1+ 33.Re1 Qxb2 34.Qe8+ Kh7 35.Qe4+ Rg6 36.Qd3 Qf6 37.Rc1 c6 38.Rc4 Qa1+ 39.Ke2 Qb2+ 40.Kf1 Qb5 41.h4 h5 42.Ke2 Qe5+ 43.Kf1 c5 44.Ra4 Qd6 45.Qf3 Qd7 46.Rc4 b6 47.Qxh5+ Rh6 48.Qf3 Rf6 49.Qh5+ Kg8 50.Rc3 Qf5 51.Qe2 Re6 52.Re3 Qd5 53.Kg1 Rg6+ 54.Rg3 Rxg3+ 55.fxg3 c4 56.h5 Kh7 57.Qg4 Qd3 58.h6 Kxh6 59.Qe6+ Kh7 60.Qh3+ Kg6 61.Qe6+ Kg5 62.Qe5+ Kh6 63.Qe6+ g6 64.Qe5 Qf5 65.Qh8+ Kg5 66.Qh4# 1-0

Position after Black’s 21…Nxe4



Four Knights Game

Van Foreest winning all game and then gets mated by Aronian at the end. Shocking!

Round 10, March 14
Karjakin, Sergey – Anton, David
A45 Queen’s Pawn game

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 e6 3.e3 b6 4.Nf3 Bb7 5.Be2 h6 6.h3 Bd6 7.Bxd6 cxd6 8.O-O d5 9.a4 Nc6 10.c3 O-O 11.Nbd2 Ne4 12.Nb3 a5 13.Bb5 f5 14.Nc1 Nd6 15.Ne2 Nxb5 16.axb5 Ne7 17.h4 Qc7 18.Nf4 Kh7 19.Ra4 Rf6 20.Qe2 Ng6 21.g3 Nxf4 22.exf4 d6 23.Rfa1 Bc8 24.Qd3 Bd7 25.b4 Rff8 26.Nd2 Rfc8 27.R4a3 Qd8 28.bxa5 Rxa5 29.Rxa5 bxa5 30.Nb1 Qc7 31.Ra2 Kg8 32.Rb2 Qb6 33.Na3 Qb7 34.b6 a4 35.Kh2 Rc6 36.Qb5 Rxc3 37.Qb4 Rc1 38.Qxd6 Kh7 39.Qb4 Be8 40.Rc2 Rxc2 41.Nxc2 Bc6 42.Kg2 Qa6 43.Qd6 Qxb6 44.Qxe6 Qb7 45.Qxf5+ Kg8 46.Qe6+ Kh8 47.f5 Qd7 48.Qe5 Qf7 49.g4 Kh7 50.Kg3 Bd7 51.Kf4 Kh8 52.Qb8+ Kh7 53.Qd6 Qe8 54.f3 Qe2 55.Qg6+ Kh8 56.f6 Qh2+ 57.Ke3 Qg1+ 58.Kd2 Qh2+ 59.Kd3 Bb5+ 60.Kc3 Qc7+ 61.Kb4 gxf6 62.Qxh6+ Kg8 63.Qg6+ Kh8 64.Qxf6+ Kh7 65.Qf5+ Kh6 66.Qh5+ Kg7 67.Qe5+ Qxe5 68.dxe5 Be2 69.Nd4 1-0

Round 10, March 14
Pichot, Alan – Firouzja, Alireza
B10 Caro-Kann Defence

1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.d3 g6 4.Qe2 Bg7 5.g3 Bg4 6.Bg2 e6 7.O-O Ne7 8.h3 Bxf3 9.Bxf3 O-O 10.Bg2 a5 11.Kh2 a4 12.a3 Re8 13.f4 c5 14.c3 Nbc6 15.Be3 Qb6 16.Qc2 d4 17.Bg1 Qb3 18.Rc1 Red8 19.Qxb3 axb3 20.e5 g5 21.Be4 gxf4 22.gxf4 Bh6 23.Rf1 Ng6 24.Kg3 Kh8 25.Nd2 dxc3 26.Nxb3 cxb2 27.Rab1 c4 28.dxc4 Rxa3 29.Rxb2 Na5 30.Bb6 Nxb3 31.Rf3 Bxf4+ 32.Kg4 Bxe5 33.Bxg6 Bxb2 34.Rxf7 hxg6 35.Bxd8 Nc5 36.Bb6 Ne4 37.Rxb7 Be5 38.Bd8 Rg3+ 39.Kh4 Nd6 0-1

"Two of the games I won today, were kind of gifts by my opponents. The score today was great, and it puts me in a great position. But I have to do better in the knockout stages." - Carlsen after scoring 4 points on day two.

Standings at the end of Day Two

1 Giri 8
2 Carlsen 7.5
3-4 So, Nakamura 6.5
5-6 Firouzja, MVL 6
7-9 Aronian, Dubov, Karjakin 5
10-11 Nepo, Radjabov 4.5
12-13 Mamedyarov, Grandelius 4
14 Van Foreest 3
15 Anton 2.5
16 Pichot 2

Anish Giri leads Magnus Carlsen by half a point after another wild day of #MagnusInvitational action!

The bottom 8 players will be eliminated after tomorrow's final 5 rounds

[Hans Jung]

Grandelius is making a comeback and doing well with the strength of that field. Some very ripe swindles and self-destructions in some of the games.

[Hans Jung]

I still think Wesley So player of the day. Im still talking about that game.

[Hans Jung]

Rd 11 Great attacking game by Radjabov against Anton starting with 15...Nf3

[Wayne Komer]

Magnus Carlsen Invitational Prelims 2021

March 15, 2021

Day 3

Rounds 11 and 12

Round 11

Nakamura-Giri 0.5-0.5
Van Foreest-Dubov 1-0
MVL-Aronian 0.5-0.5
Firouzja-So 0.5-0.5
Carlsen-Pichot 1-0
Anton-Radjabov 0-1
Grandelius-Karjakin 0-1
Mamedyarov-Nepo 0-1

Round 12

Giri-Nepo 0-1
Karjakin-Mamedyarov 0-1
Radjabov-Grandelius 0.5-0.5
Pichot-Anton 0-1
So-Carlsen 0.5-0.5
Aronian-Firouzja 0.5-0.5
Dubov-MVL 0.5-0.5
Nakamura-Van Foreest 0.5-0.5

Games

Round 11, March 15
Van Foreest, Jorden – Dubov, Daniil
C55 Two Knights Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Be7 5.O-O d6 6.a4 O-O 7.Re1 Be6 8.a5 a6 9.Nc3 Nxe4 10.Nxe4 d5 11.Nfg5 Bf5 12.Ng3 Bg6 13.Ba2 Bxg5 14.Bxg5 Qxg5 15.Bxd5 Rfe8 16.Ra4 Qf6 17.h4 Rad8 18.Qf3 Qxf3 19.Bxf3 f6 20.Rc4 e4 21.dxe4 Re5 22.Ra1 Rd7 23.Bg4 Rd4 24.Rxd4 Nxd4 25.Rd1 Nxc2 26.Rc1 Nd4 27.Rxc7 h5 28.Bc8 Rxa5 29.Bxb7 Kh7 30.Bd5 f5 31.Rc4 f4 32.Rxd4 fxg3 33.fxg3 Ra1+ 34.Kf2 Rc1 35.Rb4 Be8 36.Rb8 Bb5 37.Bg8+ Kh6 38.Ke3 g5 39.Bd5 gxh4 40.gxh4 Rc2 41.b3 Kg7 42.g3 Kf6 43.Rb6+ Ke7 44.Kf4 Rc3 45.Rg6 a5 46.Ke5 Be8 47.Rg7+ Kf8 48.Rg8+ Ke7 49.Kd4 Rc1 50.Rg7+ Kf6 51.Ra7 Rd1+ 52.Kc5 Rd3 53.e5+ Kf5 54.e6 Ke5 55.Bc4 Rxg3 56.Ra8 Bg6 57.e7 Rg4 58.Rg8 1-0

Round 11, March 15
Firouzja, Alireza – So, Wesley
D02 Queen’s Bishop game

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.Nbd2 Qb6 6.dxc5 Qxb2 7.Rb1 Qc3 8.Bb5 e6 9.O-O Be7 10.e4 O-O 11.e5 Nd7 12.Nb3 Qb4 13.Nfd4 Nxd4 14.Nxd4 Qxc5 15.Re1 a6 16.Bd3 g6 17.Nf3 b5 18.h4 Bb7 19.Ng5 Bxg5 20.Bxg5 d4 21.f4 Qc6 22.Qg4 h5 23.Qg3 Nc5 24.Bf6 Kh7 25.Bf1 Ne4 26.Rxe4 Qxe4 27.Re1 Qxc2 28.Bd3 Qxa2 29.Re2 Qa1+ 30.Kh2 Qd1 31.Re1 Qd2 32.Re2 Qd1 33.Re1 Qd2 34.Re2 Qd1 1/2-1/2

Round 11, March 15
Carlsen, Magnus – Pichot, Alan
B47 Sicilian, Taimanov

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.g3 a6 7.Bg2 Nf6 8.O-O Nxd4 9.Qxd4 Bc5 10.Bf4 d6 11.Qd2 h6 12.Rad1 e5 13.Be3 Bxe3 14.fxe3 Be6 15.Qxd6 Rc8 16.Rf2 Qxd6 17.Rxd6 Rxc3 18.bxc3 Nd7 19.a4 Ke7 20.Rd1 Rc8 21.Rb1 b6 22.Bf1 a5 23.Ba6 Rxc3 24.Bb7 Kd6 25.Rd1+ Ke7 26.Rfd2 Nc5 27.Bc6 Rxe3 28.Rb1 Nxe4 29.Rd3 Rxd3 30.cxd3 Nc5 31.Rxb6 Nxd3 32.Ra6 f5 33.Rxa5 e4 34.Bb5 Nb4 35.Ra7+ Kf6 36.a5 g5 37.a6 f4 38.Rh7 Bd5 39.Rxh6+ Ke5 40.gxf4+ gxf4 41.a7 Bb7 42.Rb6 1-0

Round 11, March 15
Anton, David – Radjabov, Teimour
A05 Reti, Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.b3 b6 3.g3 Bb7 4.Bg2 e5 5.c4 e4 6.Nd4 d5 7.cxd5 Qxd5 8.Nc2 Nbd7 9.Nc3 Qh5 10.Ne3 O-O-O 11.Qc2 Bc5 12.Bb2 Rhe8 13.Rc1 Kb8 14.h3 Ne5 15.Kf1 Nf3 16.Nb1 Ba6 17.g4 Qg5 18.b4 Bxe3 19.dxe3 Nd5 20.h4 Qxg4 21.Rh3 Nxh4 22.Rg3 Nxe3+ 23.Kg1 Qxg3 24.fxg3 Nxc2 0-1

Round 11, March 15
Grandelius, Nils – Karjakin, Sergey
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.c3 O-O 9.a4 b4 10.a5 Rb8 11.Nbd2 Be6 12.Nc4 h6 13.Re1 Qc8 14.h3 Rd8 15.Bc2 Bf8 16.Qe2 b3 17.Bb1 Rb5 18.Be3 Re8 19.d4 exd4 20.Nxd4 Nxd4 21.Bxd4 Bxh3 22.Bxf6 gxf6 23.gxh3 Qxh3 24.f4 Kh8 25.Qg2 Qh4 26.Re3 d5 27.Rh3 Qe1+ 28.Kh2 dxc4 29.e5 Rbxe5 30.fxe5 Qxe5+ 31.Qg3 Qe2+ 32.Qg2 Bd6+ 33.Kh1 Qd1+ 34.Qg1 Qd5+ 35.Be4 Qxe4+ 36.Qg2 Qxg2+ 37.Kxg2 Re2+ 38.Kf3 Rxb2 39.Rxh6+ Kg7 40.Rh4 Rc2 41.Rxc4 b2 42.Rb1 Ba3 43.Rg1+ Kf8 44.Rxc7 Rc1 45.Rc8+ Ke7 46.Rgg8 b1=Q 0-1

Round 11, March 15
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Nepo, Ian
B22 Sicilian, Alapin

1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 Nc6 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Be2 cxd4 7.cxd4 e6 8.Nc3 Qd6 9.O-O Be7 10.Bg5 O-O 11.Qd2 b6 12.Rad1 Bb7 13.Rfe1 Rad8 14.Bf4 Qd7 15.a3 Qc8 16.Bd3 Na5 17.Qe2 Qa8 18.b4 Bxf3 19.Qxf3 Qxf3 20.gxf3 Nc6 21.d5 Nxd5 22.Nxd5 Rxd5 23.Be4 Rxd1 24.Rxd1 Rd8 25.Rxd8+ Nxd8 26.Bc7 f5 27.Bxd8 Bxd8 28.Bd3 Be7 29.h3 Kf7 30.Kf1 Kf6 31.Bc4 e5 32.Bg8 h6 33.Bc4 Kg5 34.Ba6 Kf4 35.Ke2 e4 36.fxe4 Kxe4 37.Bd3+ Kf4 38.Bc4 Ke5 39.Kd3 g5 40.f3 Kf4 41.Be6 b5 42.Ke2 Bf6 43.Bd7 Bb2 44.a4 bxa4 45.Bxa4 Ba3 46.b5 Kg3 47.Bc2 f4 48.Bf5 h5 49.Be6 Kg2 50.Bf5 Bc5 51.Be6 g4 52.fxg4 f3+ 53.Kd2 f2 54.Bc4 h4 55.g5 f1=Q 56.Bxf1+ Kxf1 57.g6 Bf8 0-1

Carlsen beats Pichot to catch Giri, but in the more important section of the table there are big wins for Radjabov, Karjakin & Nepo while Mamedyarov & Dubov are in trouble after losses!

Round 12, March 15
Giri, Anish – Nepo, Ian
B46 Sicilian, Taimanov variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Qd3 d5 8.Qg3 d4 9.Nb1 h5 10.h4 Nf6 11.e5 Ne4 12.Qf4 Bb4+ 13.Nd2 Nxd2 14.Bxd2 Bxd2+ 15.Qxd2 Qd5 16.f4 a5 17.Be2 Ba6 18.Bf3 Qc5 19.O-O-O Rd8 20.Kb1 O-O 21.Rhg1 Rd7 22.g4 Rb8 23.Ka1 d3 24.cxd3 Rxd3 25.Qg2 hxg4 26.Bxg4 a4 27.Rxd3 Bxd3 28.Bxe6 g6 29.f5 Kf8 30.fxg6 fxe6 31.Rd1 a3 32.Qf3+ Bf5 33.b3 Qxe5+ 0-1

Round 12, March 15
Karjakin, Sergey – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
B29 Sicilian, Nimzowitsch-Rubinstein

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Qd3 d5 8.Qg3 d4 9.Nb1 h5 10.h4 Nf6 11.e5 Ne4 12.Qf4 Bb4+ 13.Nd2 Nxd2 14.Bxd2 Bxd2+ 15.Qxd2 Qd5 16.f4 a5 17.Be2 Ba6 18.Bf3 Qc5 19.O-O-O Rd8 20.Kb1 O-O 21.Rhg1 Rd7 22.g4 Rb8 23.Ka1 d3 24.cxd3 Rxd3 25.Qg2 hxg4 26.Bxg4 a4 27.Rxd3 Bxd3 28.Bxe6 g6 29.f5 Kf8 30.fxg6 fxe6 31.Rd1 a3 32.Qf3+ Bf5 33.b3 Qxe5+ 0-1

Round 12, March 15
Radjabov, Teimour – Grandelius, Nils
D85 Grunfeld, Exchange variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bg5 Bg7 6.Nf3 O-O 7.e3 Nxc3 8.bxc3 c5 9.Bd3 Nc6 10.O-O h6 11.Bh4 Be6 12.Rb1 Qd7 13.Qe2 Rac8 14.Rfd1 Rfd8 15.h3 cxd4 16.cxd4 a6 17.a4 Na5 18.e4 Bb3 19.Rd2 Qxa4 20.Bxe7 Re8 21.Bc5 b5 22.Rdb2 Bc4 23.e5 Bxd3 24.Qxd3 Qc4 25.Qa3 Nb7 26.Bb6 Ra8 27.Qa2 Qc6 28.Ba5 Nxa5 29.Qxa5 Bf8 30.Ra2 Qd5 31.Rba1 Rec8 32.Qd2 b4 33.Ra5 Qe4 34.Re1 Qc2 35.Qf4 Qf5 36.Qd2 b3 37.e6 Qf6 38.exf7+ Kg7 39.Rb1 Rab8 40.Qd3 b2 41.Re5 Rc1+ 42.Re1 Rxe1+ 43.Nxe1 Rb5 44.Qe2 Qxd4 45.Nd3 a5 46.g3 a4 47.Nf4 Rb6 48.Ne6+ Rxe6 49.Qxe6 a3 50.Qb3 Qa7 51.h4 Qxf7 52.Qc3+ Kh7 53.Rxb2 axb2 54.Qxb2 Bg7 55.Qe2 Qf5 56.Kg2 Qd5+ 57.Kh2 Bf6 58.Qc2 Kg7 59.Kg1 Bd4 60.Qe2 Qe5 61.Qf3 Qf5 62.Qe2 Kf6 63.Kg2 Qd5+ 64.Kg1 Be5 65.Qa6+ Qe6 66.Qd3 Qd6 67.Qf3+ Kg7 68.Kg2 Bf6 69.Qb7+ Be7 70.Qe4 Qf6 71.Qb7 Kf7 72.Qd5+ Qe6 73.Qf3+ Qf5 74.Qb3+ Kg7 75.Qb7 Qe5 76.Qf3 Bc5 77.Qb7+ Qe7 78.Qd5 Bb6 79.Qc6 Qc7 80.Qd5 Qf7 81.Qd2 Qb7+ 82.Kg1 Kh7 83.Qe2 Bd4 84.Qd3 Qd5 85.Qe2 Kg7 86.Qe7+ Qf7 87.Qe2 h5 88.Kg2 Qd5+ 89.Kg1 Kf6 90.Qd2 Qe4 91.Kh2 Ke5 92.Qa5+ Qd5 93.Qxd5+ Kxd5 94.g4 Ke4 95.gxh5 gxh5 96.f3+ Kf4 97.Kg2 Be3 98.Kh1 Kxf3 99.Kh2 Kg4 100.Kg2 Kxh4 101.Kh1 Kg3 1/2-1/2

Round 12, March 15
Pichot, Alan – Anton, David
B10 Caro-Kann Defence

1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.d3 Qc7 4.exd5 cxd5 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.g3 Qd8 8.Bg2 Nc6 9.Bf4 Be7 10.O-O O-O 11.Ne5 Re8 12.Nb5 Rf8 13.Nc3 h6 14.Rc1 g5 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.Bd2 Rb8 17.b3 Kg7 18.Qe2 Bd6 19.f4 g4 20.Na4 c5 21.cxd5 exd5 22.Nxc5 d4 23.f5 Bxc5 24.Rxc5 Bb7 25.Bf4 Re8 26.Qd2 Bxg2 27.Kxg2 Nd5 28.Bxh6+ Kh7 29.f6 Re5 30.Kg1 Qd6 31.b4 Rxb4 32.Rc8 Ne3 33.Bf8 Qe6 34.Rc7 Rbb5 35.Re7 Rf5 36.Re1 Qxf6 37.R7xe3 dxe3 38.Qe2 Rf3 39.d4 Rbf5 40.d5 Rxd5 41.Qc4 Qf5 42.Bb4 Rf2 43.Rxe3 Rd4 0-1

Round 12, March 15
Aronian, Levon – Firouzja, Alireza
D02 Queen’s Bishop game

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.Nbd2 Bg4 6.h3 Bxf3 7.Nxf3 e6 8.Be2 Bd6 9.dxc5 Bxf4 10.exf4 Qa5+ 11.c3 Qxc5 12.Bd3 O-O 13.O-O Qd6 14.g3 Rfe8 15.Re1 e5 16.fxe5 Nxe5 17.Nxe5 Rxe5 18.Rxe5 Qxe5 19.Qf3 Re8 20.Rd1 g6 21.Kg2 Kg7 22.Rd2 Qe1 23.Qd1 Qxd1 24.Rxd1 Kf8 25.Kf3 Re6 26.Bc2 Ke7 27.Bb3 Re5 28.g4 h5 29.Rd4 hxg4+ 30.hxg4 b6 31.c4 dxc4 32.Rxc4 Kf8 33.Rc8+ Re8 34.Rc6 Nd7 35.Rc7 Ne5+ 36.Kg3 Re7 37.Rc8+ Kg7 38.Rd8 g5 39.f4 gxf4+ 40.Kxf4 Ng6+ 41.Kf3 Ne5+ 42.Kf4 Ng6+ 43.Kf3 Ne5+ 44.Kf4 1/2-1/2

Standings after Round 12

1 Carlsen 9
2 Giri 8.5
3-4 Nakamura, So 7.5
5-6 MVL, Firouzja 7
7 Nepo 6.5
8-10 Radjabov, Aronian, Karjakin 6
11 Dubov 5.5
12 Mamedyarov 5
13 Van Foreest 4.5
14 Grandelius 4
15 Anton 3.5
16 Pichot 2

[Wayne Komer]

Magnus Carlsen Invitational Prelims 2021

March 15, 2021

Day 3 (continued)

Rounds 13 and 14

Round 13

Van Foreest-Giri 0.5-0.5
MVL-Nakamura 0.5-0.5
Firouzja-Dubov 0.5-0.5
Carlsen-Aronian 0.5-0.5
Anton-So 0.5-0.5
Grandelius-Pichot 1-0
Mamedyarov-Radjabov 0.5-0.5
Nepo-Karjakin 0.5-0.5

Round 14

Giri-Karjakin 0.5-0.5
Radjabov-Nepo 0.5-0.5
Pichot-Mamedyarov 0.5-0.5
So-Grandelius 1-0
Aronian-Anton 1-0
Dubov-Carlsen 0.5-0.5
Nakamura-Firouzja 0.5-0.5
Van Foreest-MVL 0.5-0.5

Games

Round 13, March 15
Van Foreest, Jorden – Giri, Anish
D77 Neo-Grunfeld

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.O-O O-O 6.c4 dxc4 7.Na3 c5 8.dxc5 c3 9.Nb5 Na6 10.Nxc3 Nxc5 11.Be3 Nfe4 12.Nxe4 Nxe4 13.Bd4 Bxd4 14.Qxd4 Qxd4 15.Nxd4 Nd6 16.Rac1 Rd8 17.f4 Kf8 18.Kf2 Bg4 19.Rc3 Rac8 20.Rfc1 Rxc3 21.Rxc3 Rc8 22.Rxc8+ Bxc8 23.b3 f5 24.Ke3 Bd7 25.Bd5 Kg7 26.Nf3 Kf6 27.Ne5 Be8 28.a4 e6 29.Bf3 b6 30.Kd4 a5 31.Bc6 Bxc6 32.Nxc6 Ne4 33.Ne5 Nd2 34.Nd7+ Ke7 35.Nxb6 Nxb3+ 36.Kc4 Nd2+ 37.Kb5 Kd6 38.Kxa5 Kc7 39.Kb5 Nf1 40.a5 Nxh2 41.a6 Kb8 42.Nc4 Ka7 43.Nd6 Ng4 44.Nc8+ Ka8 45.Kb6 Nf6 46.Nd6 Nd5+ 47.Ka5 Nc3 48.Nb5 Nd5 49.Nd4 Nc7 50.Kb6 Nd5+ 51.Ka5 Nc7 52.Kb6 Nd5+ 53.Kb5 Nc7+ 54.Kc6 Nxa6 55.Nxe6 Nb4+ 56.Kd6 Na2 57.Nc7+ Kb7 58.Nd5 Nc1 59.Nc3 Kb6 60.e4 fxe4 61.Nxe4 Ne2 62.Ke5 h5 63.Kf6 h4 64.gxh4 Nxf4 65.Kg5 Ng2 66.Kxg6 Nxh4+ 67.Kf6 Nf5 68.Kxf5 1/2-1/2

Black checks with 53…Nc7+, where should White move his king?



Round 13, March 15
Grandelius, Nils – Pichot, Alan
B48 Sicilian, Taimanov variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.g4 b5 8.Nxc6 dxc6 9.Qf3 e5 10.h4 Be6 11.g5 Bb4 12.a3 Ba5 13.Bc5 Bb6 14.Qe3 Rb8 15.O-O-O Ne7 16.h5 Qa7 17.Bxb6 Qxb6 18.Qg3 b4 19.axb4 Qxb4 20.Qxe5 Qxb2+ 21.Kd2 Rd8+ 22.Bd3 Qb6 23.Ke2 O-O 24.h6 Qd4 25.Qxd4 Rxd4 26.hxg7 Kxg7 27.Ke3 Rfd8 28.f4 Bg4 29.Rdg1 Bc8 30.f5 Kg8 31.Rh2 c5 32.Rgh1 c4 33.Rxh7 Kf8 34.Rh8+ Ng8 35.Be2 Rd2 36.f6 Rxc2 37.Nd5 Rxd5 38.exd5 c3 39.Bd3 Rg2 40.Bh7 Rxg5 41.Rxg8+ Rxg8 42.Bxg8 Kxg8 43.Rc1 1-0

7 draws in Round 13, but with two rounds to go Karjakin, Radjabov, Dubov and Mamedyarov are all in the drop zone, with Aronian balancing on the edge of the abyss!

The penultimate round has begun, including a must-win game for Dubov against Carlsen!

Round 14, March 15
So, Wesley – Grandelius, Nils
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.Rb1 O-O 9.Be2 b6 10.O-O Qc7 11.Re1 Nc6 12.d5 Ne5 13.c4 f5 14.exf5 Bxf5 15.Rb3 Rad8 16.Bb2 e6 17.Nxe5 Bxe5 18.Bxe5 Qxe5 19.Bf3 Qf6 20.g4 b5 21.gxf5 bxc4 22.Rbe3 Qxf5 23.d6 Qf4 24.d7 Rf7 25.Bc6 Qxf2+ 26.Kh1 c3 27.Rxe6 c2 28.Re8+ Kg7 29.Qa1+ 1-0

Round 14, March 15
Aronian, Levon – Anton, David
D02 Queen’s Pawn, London System

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 b6 4.e3 Bb7 5.h3 Bd6 6.Bxd6 cxd6 7.c4 d5 8.Nc3 dxc4 9.Bxc4 O-O 10.Rc1 a6 11.O-O b5 12.Be2 Nc6 13.Nd2 Rc8 14.a4 b4 15.Nce4 Nxe4 16.Nxe4 d6 17.d5 Ne7 18.Rxc8 Nxc8 19.Ng3 e5 20.e4 Nb6 21.a5 Nd7 22.Qa4 Nc5 23.Qxb4 g6 24.Rc1 Ba8 25.Qc4 Qg5 26.Rc3 Qd2 27.b4 Nd7 28.Nf1 Qb2 29.Rc2 Qb1 30.Bd3 Nf6 31.Rc1 Qb2 32.Qc3 Qa2 33.Nd2 Qa4 34.Bxa6 Kg7 35.Bd3 Bb7 36.Qb3 Qd7 37.a6 Ba8 38.b5 Rb8 39.b6 Nh5 40.Rb1 Nf4 41.Bf1 Qe7 42.b7 Bxb7 43.axb7 Qg5 44.Qe3 1-0

Levon Aronian picks up a crucial win and still has his fate in his own hands going into the final round:

Round 14, March 15
Dubov, Daniil – Carlsen, Magnus
D43 QGD, Semi-Slav

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.g3 Nbd7 6.Bg2 dxc4 7.O-O Bd6 8.Bg5 h6 9.Bxf6 Qxf6 10.Nd2 Nb6 11.a4 a5 12.Nce4 Qe7 13.b3 cxb3 14.Nxd6+ Qxd6 15.Qxb3 Qxd4 16.Rfd1 O-O 17.Rab1 Nd5 18.Nc4 Qc3 19.e4 Qxb3 20.Rxb3 Nb4 21.e5 Nd5 22.f4 b5 23.axb5 cxb5 24.Bxd5 exd5 25.Nb6 Ra6 26.Nxc8 Rxc8 27.Rxb5 a4 28.Rdxd5 a3 29.Ra5 Rcc6 30.Rd8+ Kh7 31.Ra8 Rxa8 32.Rxa8 Rc1+ 33.Kg2 Rc2+ 34.Kf3 a2 35.f5 Rxh2 36.e6 fxe6 37.fxe6 Rh1 38.Rxa2 Re1 39.Ra6 Kg6 40.g4 Kf6 41.Kg3 Re3+ 42.Kf2 Rxe6 43.g5+ hxg5 44.Ra2 Kf5 45.Kf3 g4+ 46.Kg3 Re3+ 47.Kf2 Rf3+ 48.Kg2 Kg5 49.Ra8 Rb3 50.Ra2 Kh4 51.Rc2 Rb8 52.Ra2 Rc8 53.Rb2 Ra8 54.Rc2 Ra4 55.Rb2 g3 56.Rc2 Rf4 57.Rc7 Rf2+ 58.Kg1 g6 59.Rc6 g5 60.Rh6+ Kg4 61.Rh8 Re2 62.Ra8 Re4 63.Kg2 Rf4 64.Kg1 Rf2 65.Ra7 Re2 66.Ra8 g2 67.Ra3 Kf4 68.Rb3 Re3 69.Rxe3 Kxe3 70.Kxg2 Kf4 71.Kf2 g4 72.Kg2 g3 73.Kg1 Kg4 74.Kg2 Kh4 75.Kg1 Kh3 76.Kh1 g2+ 77.Kg1 Kg3 1/2-1/2

Surprising, to put it mildly, that Carlsen - with plenty of time on the clock - thought for only 14 seconds and played 29...Rcc6? here (allowing the white rook to get behind the pawn after 30.Rd8+ and 31.Ra8) rather than 29...Raa8!

Karjakin, Radjabov (who play each other!) and Dubov are out of the qualification spots but within touching distance going into the final round!

Standings after the end of Round 14

1 Carlsen 10
2 Giri 9.5
3 So 9
4 Nakamura 8.5
5-6 Firouzja, MVL 8
7-8 Aronian, Nepo 7.5
9-10 Karjakin, Radjabov 7
11 Dubov 6.5
12 Mamedyarov 6
13-14 Grandelius, Van Foreest 5.5
15 Anton 4
16 Pichot 2.5

(to be continued)

[Wayne Komer]

Magnus Carlsen Invitational Prelims 2021

March 15, 2021

Day 3 (continued)

Round 15

Round 15

MVL-Giri 0.5-0.5
Firouzja-Van Foreest 0.5-0.5
Carlsen-Nakamura 0.5-0.5
Anton-Dubov 0-1
Grandelius-Aronian 0.5-0.5
Mamedyarov-So 0.5-0.5
Nepo-Pichot 1-0
Karjakin-Radjabov 1-0

Games

Carlsen plays a stunning second move and everyone starts laughing

Round 15, March 15
Carlsen, Magnus – Nakamura, Hikaru
C20 King’s Pawn game

1.e4 e5 2.Ke2 Ke7 3.Ke1 Ke8 4.Ke2 Ke7 5.Ke1 Ke8 6.Ke2 Ke7 1/2-1/2

Carlsen & Nakamura play the Immortal Bong Cloud Draw!

Round 15, March 15
Nepo, Ian – Pichot, Alan
B48 Sicilian, Taimanov variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.Qf3 Ne5 8.Qg3 b5 9.O-O-O Nf6 10.f4 Neg4 11.Bd2 b4 12.Na4 h5 13.Bd3 d5 14.e5 Ne4 15.Bxe4 dxe4 16.h3 Nh6 17.Qb3 Bd7 18.Bxb4 Rb8 19.Bxf8 Rxb3 20.Bd6 Qa5 21.axb3 Bxa4 22.bxa4 Qxa4 23.Ba3 Kd7 24.Rhe1 Kc8 25.Rxe4 Rd8 26.Rd3 Nf5 27.Nxe6 1-0

27.Nxe6! "Boom!" (Leko) and Nepo has qualified to the knockout in style

Round 15, March 15
MVL – Giri, Anish
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 O-O 9.O-O Nc6 10.Re1 Be6 11.Bb3 Na5 12.Bg5 Nxb3 13.axb3 Ng4 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.Qxd5 Nf6 17.Qd3 b5 18.b4 Rfd8 19.c3 g6 20.Qe3 Kg7 21.h3 Qc7 22.Ra5 Qb7 23.Nh2 d5 24.exd5 Rxd5 25.Ng4 Nxg4 26.hxg4 Rad8 27.Raa1 R8d6 28.Re2 Qd7 29.Qe4 Rd1+ 30.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 31.Kh2 Qd5 32.Qxe5+ Qxe5+ 33.Rxe5 Rd2 34.f3 Rxb2 35.Rc5 h6 36.Rc6 Ra2 37.c4 bxc4 38.Rxc4 a5 39.bxa5 Rxa5 40.Re4 g5 41.Re2 Rb5 42.Re4 Ra5 43.Re2 Rb5 44.Re4 Ra5 1/2-1/2


A draw for Giri means that Carlsen has now won all 4 of the preliminary stages in the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour... though he's yet to win a knockout!

Round 15, March 15
Karjakin, Sergey – Radjabov, Teimour
B30 Sicilian Defence

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Bc4 Be7 5.d3 d6 6.O-O h6 7.Nd5 Nf6 8.a3 O-O 9.c3 Nd7 10.b4 Nb6 11.Nxb6 axb6 12.Be3 Bf6 13.Qb3 Bd7 14.h3 Ne7 15.a4 Qc7 16.Rfb1 Ra7 17.Nd2 Ng6 18.Kh2 Nf4 19.Ra2 g5 20.Nf1 d5 21.exd5 e4 22.bxc5 bxc5 23.Qb6 Qxb6 24.Rxb6 Bd8 25.Rxh6 Kg7 26.Bxc5 Re8 27.Rd6 b6 28.Bd4+ Kh7 29.Rxd7 Rxd7 30.Bb5 1-0

Games are still underway, but it turns out Levon's draw secures him a place in the knockout whatever happens! So the 8 quarterfinalists are set and Karjakin, Radjabov and Dubov are all out

Round 15, March 15
Anton, David – Dubov, Daniil
A05 Reti, Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.b3 g6 3.Bb2 Bg7 4.g3 d6 5.d4 c5 6.dxc5 Qa5+ 7.Nbd2 Qxc5 8.e3 O-O 9.c4 Nc6 10.Bg2 Qh5 11.O-O Bg4 12.Qc2 Rac8 13.Nd4 Nb4 14.Qb1 Bh3 15.f3 a6 16.a3 Nc6 17.Qe1 Bxg2 18.Kxg2 b5 19.g4 Qc5 20.b4 Qb6 21.Rc1 Ne5 22.Qe2 bxc4 23.Nxc4 Nxc4 24.Rxc4 Nd5 25.Rfc1 Rxc4 26.Rxc4 e5 27.Nc2 Qb5 28.Kf2 Bf6 29.Bc1 e4 30.Nd4 Bh4+ 31.Kf1 exf3 32.Nxf3 Bf6 33.Rc2 Qa4 34.Qd3 Re8 35.Kf2 Bg7 36.g5 Nb6 37.e4 d5 38.exd5 Nxd5 39.Re2 Rd8 40.Bb2 Bxb2 41.Rxb2 Rd6 42.Re2 Qd7 43.Qe4 Qa7+ 44.Qd4 Qxd4+ 45.Nxd4 Nxb4 46.axb4 Rxd4 47.Ra2 Rd6 48.Kg3 Kg7 49.h4 h6 50.Rc2 Rd3+ 51.Kf2 hxg5 52.hxg5 Rd5 53.Rc5 Rxc5 54.bxc5 Kf8 55.Ke3 Ke7 56.Ke4 a5 57.Kd5 0-1

Standings at the end of the Preliminaries

1 Carlsen 10.5
2 Giri 10
3 So 9.5
4 Nakamura 9
5-7 Nepo, Firouzja, MVL 8.5
8-9 Aronian, Karjakin 8
10 Dubov 7.5
11 Radjabov 7
12 Mamedyarov 6.5
13-14 Grandelius, Van Foreest 6
15 Anton 4
16 Pichot 2.5

The #MagnusInvitational Quarterfinals start tomorrow, with Carlsen-Aronian, Nepo-Naka, So-Firouzja and MVL-Giri!

[Hans Jung]

Rd 12 Was Be6 a finger fehler from Giri vs Nepo. He went from winning to losing with it. What a difference between that and Bf5!

[Hans Jung]

Karjakhin - Shak was quite the tactical melee. It was unusual for Karjakhin to come unglued like that.

[Brad Thomson]

1.e4 e5 2.Ke2 Ke7 3.Ke1 Ke8 4.Ke2 Ke7 5.Ke1 Ke8 6.Ke2 Ke7 1/2-1/2.

Rather than this, or allowing the same game to be played twice, which also happened, might it be less of a mockery to simply allow players to agree to a draw without playing? I found it sad that both players were laughing as they "played" this out, thus proving that it WAS a mockery. No points should be awarded for non-games.

[Hans Jung]

I agree with you, its a shame. I also noticed that two other sets of opponents played identical positions - so thats collusion. With all the strides forward in marketing the game and sportsmanship and rule changes (30 move rule etc). This is a large step backward and casts a slight on professional chess. After all you are playing to an audience and broadcasting those games.

[Egidijus Zeromskis]

I agree with you, its a shame. I also noticed that two other sets of opponents played identical positions - so thats collusion. With all the strides forward in marketing the game and sportsmanship and rule changes (30 move rule etc). This is a large step backward and casts a slight on professional chess. After all you are playing to an audience and broadcasting those games.

That the cons for the round robin or other tournament format when the game has a low value for players. I think the audience got their dose of fun and could go back to usual stuff.

[Hans Jung]

Quarter finals game one MVL defends incredibly against Giri and then counter attacks with a king walk. Giri's king survives but the position is lost for him.
I love Aronian's sacrificial concept against Magnus but alas it wasnt enough.

[Wayne Komer]

Magnus Carlsen Invitational Prelims 2021

March 16, 2021

Quarterfinals

Day 1

Round 1

Game 1, March 16
Carlsen, Magnus – Aronian, Levon
E32 Nimzo-Indian, Classical variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 O-O 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 d5 7.Bg5 c5 8.dxc5 d4 9.Qf3 Nbd7 10.e3 h6 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.O-O-O e5 13.Ne2 Bg4 14.Qg3 Ne4 15.Qxg4 Nxf2 16.Qf3 Nxd1 17.exd4 Nxb2 18.Kxb2 Rc8 19.d5 Rxc5 20.Nc3 b5 21.Be2 bxc4 22.Ka2 f5 23.Rb1 Qg5 24.Rd1 e4 25.Qf2 e3 26.Qg3 Qxg3 27.hxg3 Kf7 28.Rf1 Ke7 29.Rf3 Kd7 30.Bd1 Rf7 31.Ba4+ Kd8 32.Rxe3 Re7 33.Rf3 Re5 34.d6 h5 35.d7 g5 36.Rf1 Ra5 37.Rh1 Rxa4 38.Nxa4 Re2+ 39.Kb1 Kxd7 40.Rxh5 Re3 41.Rxg5 Rxa3 42.Nb2 Rc3 43.Rxf5 Rxg3 44.Rf2 Rg4 45.Rc2 c3 46.Nd1 Ke6 47.Nxc3 Ke5 48.Re2+ Kd4 49.Kc2 a5 50.Kd2 Rg3 51.Nd1 Rd3+ 52.Kc1 Rg3 53.Kc2 a4 54.Rd2+ Kc4 55.Nb2+ Kb4 56.Nd3+ Kc4 57.Ne5+ Kc5 58.Kb2 a3+ 59.Ka2 Kb4 60.Rc2 Re3 61.Nc6+ Kb5 62.Nd4+ Kb4 63.Re2 Rg3 64.Nc2+ Kc4 65.Nxa3+ Kd3 66.Rb2 Rg4 67.Nc2 Ke2 68.Nd4+ Ke3 69.Nf3 Re4 70.Kb1 Kf4 71.Kc1 Kg3 72.Kd1 Re8 73.Ne1 Re3 74.Kd2 Ra3 75.Ke2 1-0

Game 1, March 16
Nakamura, Hikaru – Nepomniachtchi, Ian
B90 Sicilian, Najdorf, Byrne Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 Ng4 7.Bc1 Nf6 8.Be3 Ng4 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bh4 g5 11.Bg3 Bg7 12.Qd2 Nc6 13.Nb3 b5 14.h4 gxh4 15.Bxh4 Be6 16.O-O-O Rc8 17.f4 Bxb3 18.cxb3 Qb6 19.Rh3 O-O 20.Kb1 e6 21.f5 exf5 22.exf5 Qd4 23.Qxd4 Bxd4 24.Be2 Ne3 25.Rg3+ Kh7 26.Rxd4 Nxf5 27.Bd3 Nxd4 28.Bf6 Rg8 29.Bxd4 Rxg3 30.Bxf5+ Kg8 31.Bxc8 Rxg2 32.Bxa6 b4 33.Nd5 Rd2 34.Ne7+ Kf8 35.Nf5 h5 36.Bf6 Rf2 37.Bc8 Rf1+ 38.Kc2 Ra1 39.Be7+ Kg8 40.Bxd6 Rxa2 41.Bxb4 Ra8 42.Nd6 Ra1 43.Bc5 h4 44.b4 Rh1 45.Ne4 Re1 46.Nf2 1-0

Game 1, March 16
So, Wesley – Firouzja, Alireza
B52 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 g6 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bg7 9.f3 Qc7 10.b3 Qa5 11.Bd2 Nc6 12.Nde2 O-O 13.O-O Nd7 14.Kh1 Nc5 15.Nd5 Qd8 16.Bc3 Bxc3 17.Ndxc3 a6 18.a4 Rc8 19.Rb1 Nb4 20.Qd2 e5 21.f4 f6 22.f5 Rc7 23.Rf3 Rg7 24.a5 b6 25.axb6 Qxb6 26.fxg6 hxg6 27.Nd5 Nxd5 28.Qxd5+ Kh8 29.b4 a5 30.b5 Rh7 31.Nc3 Kg7 32.Rd1 Rd8 33.h3 Rh4 34.Kh2 Rd7 35.Qc6 Qxc6 36.bxc6 Rd8 37.c7 Rc8 38.Rxd6 Rxc7 39.Rfxf6 Nxe4 40.Rxg6+ Kf7 41.Nxe4 Rxe4 42.Rdf6+ Ke7 43.Ra6 Kf7 44.Raf6+ Ke7 45.Rh6 a4 46.Ra6 Rexc4 47.Rhe6+ Kd7 48.Rxe5 R7c6 49.Raa5 Rd6 50.Ra7+ Kc6 51.Rea5 Rdd4 52.R7a6+ Kb7 53.Rg6 Re4 54.Rb5+ Kc7 55.Rf5 Kb7 56.g4 Rc6 57.Rxc6 Kxc6 58.Kg3 Re3+ 59.Kh4 a3 60.Ra5 Kb6 61.Ra8 Kb5 62.g5 Re4+ 63.Kh5 Ra4 64.Rb8+ Kc6 65.Rb1 a2 66.Ra1 Kd6 67.Kh6 Ke7 68.Kg7 Ke6 69.g6 Kf5 70.h4 Ra7+ 71.Kh6 Ra6 72.Kh7 Ra4 73.h5 Kg5 74.g7 1-0

A clear chance missed for So: 38.Nb5! Nxe4 39.c5!, etc. Again, played very quickly (after only 13 seconds, with plenty of time remaining).

Game 1, March 16
Giri, Anish – MVL
B67 Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6 8.O-O-O Bd7 9.f3 Nxd4 10.Qxd4 Be7 11.Kb1 Qc7 12.g4 h5 13.gxh5 Nxh5 14.Bxe7 Kxe7 15.Rg1 g6 16.Qd2 Nf6 17.f4 Rh5 18.Rg5 Rah8 19.e5 Ne8 20.Ne4 d5 21.Rxh5 Rxh5 22.Qb4+ Kd8 23.Ng5 Bc6 24.Qf8 Qe7 25.Nxf7+ Kd7 26.Qg8 Rf5 27.Ng5 Ng7 28.c4 Rxf4 29.cxd5 Bxd5 30.Bh3 Kc6 31.Qc8+ Kb6 32.Nxe6 Bxe6 33.Bxe6 Nxe6 34.Rd6+ Ka7 35.Rxe6 Rf1+ 36.Kc2 Rf2+ 37.Kb3 Rf3+ 38.Kc4 Qh4+ 39.Kc5 b6+ 40.Kc6 Qc4+ 41.Kd7 Rf7+ 42.Ke8 Qxc8+ 43.Kxf7 Qc4 44.b3 Qf4+ 45.Kxg6 Kb7 46.Re8 Kc7 47.e6 Kd6 48.Kg7 Qxh2 0-1

Round 2

Game 2, March 16
Aronian, Levon – Carlsen, Magnus
C77 Ruy Lopez, Anderssen variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d3 Bc5 6.c3 d6 7.Bg5 Ba7 8.O-O h6 9.Bh4 g5 10.Bg3 h5 11.h4 Nh7 12.Kh1 g4 13.Nh2 Nf8 14.d4 Ng6 15.Bxc6+ bxc6 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.Nd2 Be6 18.Nb3 Qxd1 19.Rfxd1 Bb6 20.Nf1 Ke7 21.Ne3 a5 22.Kg1 a4 23.Nc1 Bxe3 24.fxe3 Rhb8 25.Nd3 f6 26.Rd2 Nh8 27.Nb4 Rb6 28.Rf1 c5 29.Nd3 Rd8 30.Rfd1 Rbd6 31.Be1 g3 32.Nxc5 Bg4 33.Rxd6 cxd6 0-1

A classic grind and now Magnus needs only a draw in one of the next two games to clinch today's set!

Game 2, March 16
Nepo, Ian – 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.Nc3 Ke8 10.h3 Be6 11.g4 Ne7 12.Nd4 Bd7 13.f4 h5 14.f5 hxg4 15.e6 fxe6 16.fxe6 Bc8 17.Bg5 gxh3 18.Kh2 Ng6 19.Ne4 Rh5 20.Rg1 a6 21.Rad1 Ne7 22.Rdf1 c5 23.Rxf8+ 1-0

Hikaru is in shock as Nepo crushes his Berlin in just 23 moves to level the score:

"We're always happy when the Berlin gets punished!" (Grandelius)

Game 2, March 16
Firouzja, Alireza – So, Wesley
C54 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.O-O O-O 7.Re1 h6 8.h3 a5 9.Bb3 Be6 10.Ba4 Bb6 11.d4 Bd7 12.Be3 exd4 13.cxd4 Re8 14.d5 Ne5 15.Nxe5 Bxa4 16.Qxa4 Bxe3 17.Rxe3 Rxe5 18.Nd2 Qd7 19.Qc2 Rae8 20.Rae1 R5e7 21.Qc3 Qa4 22.f3 Qb4 23.Kf2 Qxc3 24.bxc3 a4 25.g4 Nd7 26.Rb1 Nc5 27.Nf1 c6 28.c4 Rc7 29.Ra3 g6 30.Ne3 Kg7 31.Ke2 Rh8 32.Rc3 h5 33.g5 h4 34.Rcc1 Rh5 35.Rg1 Rh8 36.Rb4 Rh5 37.Rg4 Rh8 38.Rg1 Rh5 39.Rb2 Rh8 40.Rd2 Rh5 41.Rd4 Rh8 42.Rb1 Re7 43.Kf2 Rh5 44.Rg1 Re5 45.Ng4 Re7 46.Nf6 Rh8 47.dxc6 bxc6 48.Rxd6 Rb7 49.Ke3 Rb2 50.Rgd1 Rxa2 51.Rxc6 Ra3+ 52.Ke2 Ra2+ 53.Ke3 Ra3+ 54.Ke2 Ra2+ 55.Kf1 Nb3 56.Rcd6 a3 57.Rd8 Rxd8 58.Rxd8 Nd2+ 59.Ke2 Nxe4+ 60.Ke3 Nxf6 61.gxf6+ Kxf6 62.Ra8 Ra1 63.Ra6+ Kf5 64.Ra5+ Ke6 65.Ra6+ Kf5 66.Ra5+ Ke6 67.Ra6+ Kd7 68.Kf2 a2 69.Kg2 Kc7 70.c5 Kb7 71.Ra4 Kc6 72.Ra5 g5 73.Kh2 Kd5 74.Kg2 f6 75.Kh2 Kc4 76.c6 Kb3 77.c7 Rc1 78.Ra7 Rc2+ 79.Kg1 Rxc7 0-1

It's all gone wrong for Alireza Firouzja!

Game 2, March 16
MVL – Giri, Anish
B51 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.O-O Be7 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 O-O 9.Bxd7 Bxd7 10.Be3 a6 11.a4 Qa5 12.Rc1 Rfc8 13.b3 d5 14.e5 Ne8 15.Nde2 Nc7 16.c5 Bxc5 17.Bxc5 Qxc5 18.Ne4 Qb6 19.Nd6 Rcb8 20.Nf4 Ne8 21.Nh5 Nxd6 22.exd6 f5 23.Rc3 Rf8 24.Qd2 Qxd6 25.Rfc1 Bc6 26.Rg3 Rf7 27.Rcc3 f4 28.Rg5 e5 29.Qe2 Re8 30.Rh3 h6 0-1

Giri hits back

(to be continued)

[Hans Jung]

Game 2 Its not easy to find tactics against the Berlin and the finish is superb. Nepo as white against Naka finishes with Rxf8+! supposing that Kxf8, Bxe7+ Kxe7, Rg7+ Kf8, e7+ Ke8, Nf6checkmate - wonderful!!
Giri against MVL - what a center!