Magnus Carlsen Invitational Prelims 2021

[Hans Jung]

Game 3 At least in this round all the games were played out. I assume Nepo-Naka and Giri-MVL are headed for playoffs.

[Wayne Komer]

Magnus Carlsen Invitational Prelims 2021

March 16, 2021

Quarterfinals

Day 1 (continued)

Round 3

Game 3, March 16
Carlsen, Magnus – Aronian, Levon
B51 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 a6 6.Bxd7+ Bxd7 7.c4 e6 8.Nc3 Bc6 9.O-O Be7 10.Rd1 Nf6 11.Qd3 O-O 12.Nd4 Qa5 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Bd2 Qh5 15.h3 Rfd8 16.Bf4 g5 17.Qg3 Ne8 18.Be3 c5 19.e5 dxe5 20.Rxd8 Rxd8 21.Qxe5 Qg6 22.Bxc5 Bf6 23.Qe2 Bxc3 24.bxc3 Qd3 25.Qxd3 Rxd3 26.Rb1 f6 27.Rb8 Kf7 28.Rb7+ Kg6 29.Bf8 Rd8 30.c5 Rc8 31.Rb6 Kf7 32.Bd6 Nxd6 33.cxd6 Rxc3 34.Rxa6 Rc1+ 35.Kh2 e5 36.g4 Ke6 37.d7+ Kxd7 38.Rxf6 Rc2 39.Kg3 Rxa2 40.Rf5 Ra3+ 41.Kg2 Ke6 42.Rxg5 Ra7 43.Rf5 Rb7 44.Kg3 Rb3+ 45.Kg2 Rb7 46.Kg3 Rb3+ 47.Kg2 Rb7 1/2-1/2

Magnus takes a draw in a won position to wrap up victory today! Levon must now win tomorrow's mini-match to force tiebreaks:

Game 3, March 16
Nakamura, Hikaru – 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.Qf3 d5 8.Qg3 f5 9.exf5 exf5 10.Bg5 Be7 11.Bxe7 Qxe7+ 12.Qe3 Qxe3+ 13.fxe3 Nf6 14.Na4 a5 15.Bd3 Rb8 16.a3 Ke7 17.Rb1 Kd6 18.b4 axb4 19.axb4 Re8 20.Kd2 Ng4 21.Rhe1 Nxh2 22.Rh1 Ng4 23.Rxh7 Rb7 24.Rh5 g6 25.Rh3 Rbe7 26.Nb6 Bb7 27.c4 Kc7 28.c5 Nxe3 29.Rg3 Ng4 30.Ra1 Ne5 31.Bf1 f4 32.Rga3 Rd8 33.Ra7 Nc4+ 34.Nxc4 dxc4+ 35.Kc3 Re3+ 36.Kxc4 Kb8 37.R7a3 Rxa3 38.Rxa3 Rd2 39.Rf3 g5 40.g3 fxg3 41.Rxg3 Rd7 42.Bg2 Rg7 43.Kd4 Kc7 44.Ke5 g4 1/2-1/2

Game 3, March 16
So, Wesley – Firouzja, Alireza
B12 Caro-Kann, Advance variation

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Ne7 6.O-O h6 7.a4 g5 8.a5 a6 9.b4 Nd7 10.c3 f6 11.exf6 Ng6 12.f7+ Kxf7 13.Nbd2 Bd6 14.Nb3 Qc7 15.g3 Nf6 16.Bd3 g4 17.Ne1 h5 18.Ra2 h4 19.Nc5 Rh5 20.Re2 hxg3 21.fxg3 Bxg3 22.hxg3 Qxg3+ 23.Rg2 Qh3 24.Nxe6 Bxe6 25.Nf3 Nh4 26.Nxh4 Qxh4 27.Bf4 Rah8 28.Qe2 Qh1+ 29.Kf2 Qh4+ 30.Kg1 g3 31.Bxg3 Qh3 32.Be5 R5h6 33.Rxf6+ Rxf6 34.Bxf6 Qh1+ 35.Kf2 Rh2 36.Rxh2 Qxh2+ 37.Ke1 Qg3+ 38.Kd2 Kxf6 39.Qe5+ Qxe5 40.dxe5+ Kxe5 41.Ke3 Bf5 42.Be2 Be4 43.Bg4 Bf5 44.Bf3 Be6 45.Bg2 Bg4 46.Bh1 Bf5 47.Bg2 Bd7 48.Bf3 Bh3 49.Bh1 Bf1 50.Bf3 Bb5 51.Bg2 Ba4 52.Bf3 Bc2 53.Bg2 Bb1 54.Bf3 Be4 55.Bg4 Bg2 56.Bc8 d4+ 57.cxd4+ Kd5 58.Kd3 Bf1+ 59.Kc3 Kd6 60.d5 Kc7 61.Be6 cxd5 62.Bxd5 b6 63.axb6+ Kxb6 64.Bc4 Bxc4 65.Kxc4 a5 66.bxa5+ Kxa5 1/2-1/2

It was a shaky game, but Wesley So joins Magnus Carlsen in clinching a match win on Day 1

Game 3, March 16
Giri, Anish – MVL
B67 Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack

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.Qd2 b5 13.h4 h6 14.Be3 h5 15.Bd3 b4 16.Ne2 e5 17.Bg5 a5 18.c3 Be6 19.Bb5+ Nd7 20.c4 f6 21.Be3 Kf7 22.f4 Kg8 23.Bxd7 Qxd7 24.fxe5 Bxc4 25.exd6 Qxd6 26.Qxd6 Bxd6 27.Rxd6 Bxe2 28.Re1 Bg4 29.e5 fxe5 30.Rd5 Kh7 31.Rxe5 a4 32.Bd2 b3 33.Bc3 Ra7 34.axb3 axb3 35.Re7 Rxe7 36.Rxe7 Rd8 37.Re1 Rd7 38.Kc1 Kg6 39.Bd2 Rc7+ 40.Bc3 Rd7 41.Bd2 Rc7+ 42.Bc3 Rd7 1/2-1/2

Round 4

Game 4, 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 h5 11.Bf4 Be7 12.Rad1 Nh4 13.Nxh4 Bxh4 14.Ne2 Be7 15.Nd4 g5 16.Bh2 Rh6 17.Rfe1 Bd8 18.f4 gxf4 19.Bxf4 Rg6 20.e6 Bxe6 21.Nxe6 Rxe6 22.Rxe6+ fxe6 23.Kf2 Bf6 24.b3 Rc8 25.g4 hxg4 26.hxg4 Ke7 27.Rh1 Rh8 28.Rxh8 Bxh8 29.Bxc7 Bf6 30.Kf3 Kf7 31.Ke4 a6 32.Be5 Be7 33.Kd4 Kg6 34.Bc7 Kf6 35.Bg3 Ba3 36.Bh4+ Kf7 37.Ke5 Bb4 38.c4 a5 39.g5 Bc3+ 40.Kd6 e5 41.Kc7 e4 42.Kxb7 e3 43.Kxc6 Kg6 44.Kd5 Kh5 45.Bg3 Kxg5 46.Ke4 e2 47.c5 Kf6 48.Kd5 Ke7 49.Kc6 Bb4 50.Bh4+ Ke8 51.Kd6 Ba3 52.Kc6 Bb4 53.Kd6 Ba3 54.Kc6 Bb4 1/2-1/2

Final Position



Nepo-Nakamura ends for today in a draw by repetition, though Stockfish 13 points out 55.a4!! is actually a win for White!

Could any master come up with a4?

Game 4, March 16
MVL – Giri, Anish
B54 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.c4 e5 5.O-O Ne7 6.Nc3 a6 7.Bxd7+ Bxd7 8.Rb1 Nc6 9.Nd5 b5 10.d3 Be7 11.Be3 O-O 12.Nd2 Be6 13.f4 exf4 14.Bxf4 Bg5 15.Bg3 Bh4 16.Bf4 Bg5 17.Bg3 Bh4 18.Bf4 Bg5 1/2-1/2

Day One Results

Carlsen-Aronian 2.5-0.5

Nakamura-Nepo 2-2

So-Firouzja 2.5-0.5

Giri-MVL 2-2

Carlsen & So took a step towards the #MagnusInvitational semi-finals, while the other two matches are tied going into tomorrow's 2nd day!

When Magnus was 12 and "merely" an IM his parents took the family on a year-long European Road Trip! Like any family adventure, it included playing Garry Kasparov...

[Wayne Komer]

Magnus Carlsen Invitational Prelims 2021

March 17, 2021

Quarterfinals

Day 2

Round 5

Game 5, March 17
Aronian, Levon – Carlsen, Magnus
C78 Ruy Lopez, Moeller Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Bc5 6.c3 O-O 7.d4 Ba7 8.Bg5 exd4 9.e5 h6 10.Bh4 g5 11.Bxc6 dxc6 12.Nxg5 dxc3 13.Qxd8 Rxd8 14.Nxc3 Nd5 15.Nge4 Nxc3 16.bxc3 Rd3 17.Rad1 Rxd1 18.Rxd1 Be6 19.a3 f5 20.exf6 Re8 21.h3 Bb3 22.f7+ Kxf7 23.Rd7+ Kg6 24.Nd2 Re1+ 25.Kh2 Be6 26.Rd8 Re2 27.Nf3 Bxf2 28.Bxf2 Rxf2 29.Kg3 Rc2 30.Rd3 Bd5 31.Kf4 Kf6 32.g4 Rf2 33.h4 b5 34.Kg3 Rxf3+ 35.Rxf3+ Bxf3 36.Kxf3 c5 37.Ke4 c6 38.Kf4 a5 39.Ke4 a4 40.Kd3 Ke5 41.Ke3 b4 42.Kd2 b3 0-1

Game 5, March 17
Nepo, Ian – 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 Ne7 11.d4 exd4 12.cxd4 Bb6 13.Ng3 d5 14.e5 Ne4 15.Bd3 Nf5 16.Nxe4 dxe4 17.Rxe4 c5 18.Qe2 cxd4 19.Rf4 Qd7 20.Nh4 Nxh4 21.Rxh4 Bd8 22.Rh5 g6 23.Rxh6 Kg7 24.h4 Bf5 25.h5 Rc8 26.Bd2 Bxd3 27.Qxd3 Qf5 28.Qxf5 gxf5 29.Rd6 Re8 30.Re1 Rc2 31.Rxd4 Rxb2 32.Rd7 Kg8 33.h6 Rc2 34.Re3 f4 35.Red3 Bg5 36.Rh3 Rxa2 37.e6 fxe6 38.Bc3 e5 39.Rg7+ 1-0

Game 5, March 17
Firouzja, Alireza – So, Wesley
C54 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 d6 6.O-O h6 7.Re1 O-O 8.Nbd2 a6 9.a4 Re8 10.Qb3 Be6 11.a5 Rb8 12.Nf1 d5 13.exd5 Bxd5 14.Ng3 Bxc4 15.Qxc4 Qd5 16.Ne4 Qxc4 17.Nxf6+ gxf6 18.dxc4 Kh7 19.b4 Bf8 20.Be3 Rbd8 21.Rad1 f5 22.g3 Bg7 23.Rd5 e4 24.Nh4 Bxc3 25.Rc1 Bf6 26.Nxf5 h5 27.b5 Nb4 28.Rxd8 Rxd8 29.h3 Nd3 30.Rb1 Kg6 31.bxa6 bxa6 32.g4 hxg4 33.hxg4 Ne5 34.Ng3 Bg5 35.Nxe4 Bxe3 36.fxe3 Nxg4 37.Rb3 Rd1+ 38.Kg2 Ra1 39.Kg3 Ne5 40.Rb7 Kf5 41.Nc5 Rxa5 42.Rxc7 Ra3 43.Kf2 a5 44.Ra7 Kg4 45.e4 Kf4 46.Ke2 Ra2+ 47.Kd1 Ke3 48.Kc1 Kd4 49.Rxa5 Nd3+ 50.Kd1 Nf2+ 51.Ke1 Nd3+ 52.Kf1 Rxa5 53.Nb3+ Kxc4 54.Nxa5+ Kd4 55.Nb7 f5 56.exf5 Ke5 57.f6 Kxf6 58.Nd6 Nf2 59.Ne4+ Nxe4 1/2-1/2

Game 5, March 17
MVL – Giri, Anish
B92 Sicilian, Najdorf, Opocensky variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.O-O O-O 9.Qd3 Be6 10.Bd2 Re8 11.Nd5 Nxd5 12.exd5 Bc8 13.a4 a5 14.f4 Nd7 15.Qe3 exf4 16.Qxf4 Ne5 17.Bb5 Rf8 18.Rae1 Bf6 19.Nd4 Ng4 20.Ne6 fxe6 21.Qxg4 e5 22.Qg3 Bd7 23.Qb3 Qb6+ 24.Be3 Qc7 25.Bd3 Rae8 26.Bb6 Qc8 27.Qa3 Qb8 28.Be4 Bd8 29.Be3 Bh4 30.g3 Be7 31.Qd3 h6 32.Qd2 b5 33.Bxh6 bxa4 34.Bg5 Bh3 35.Rxf8+ Rxf8 36.Bxe7 Qa7+ 37.Kh1 Qxe7 38.Bg2 Bxg2+ 39.Kxg2 Qb7 40.Qxa5 Ra8 41.Qc3 Rc8 42.Qd3 Qxb2 43.Re2 Qb7 44.c4 Ra8 45.Qa3 Qb6 46.Rf2 Qc7 47.Rc2 Qb6 48.Rf2 Qc7 49.Rc2 Qb6 50.Rf2 1/2-1/2

Round 6

Game 6, March 17
Carlsen, Magnus – Aronian, Levon
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 cxd5 9.O-O O-O 10.Bg5 Be6 11.Nb5 c5 12.a3 Ba5 13.b4 Bb6 14.bxc5 Bxc5 15.c3 h6 16.Bh4 Rc8 17.Nd4 Bxd4 18.cxd4 g5 19.Bg3 Ne4 20.Qa4 Nxg3 21.hxg3 Rc3 22.Qd1 Qf6 23.Qd2 Rfc8 24.Rfe1 Bf5 25.Bxf5 Qxf5 26.Re5 Qd3 27.Qxd3 Rxd3 28.Rxd5 Rc2 29.Ra5 Rxd4 30.Rxa7 Rdd2 31.Rf1 Ra2 32.a4 Kg7 33.Ra5 Rd4 34.Re1 Rdxa4 35.Rxa4 Rxa4 36.f3 g4 37.fxg4 Rxg4 38.Kf2 Rg5 39.Re4 Kg6 40.g4 Ra5 41.Kg3 1/2-1/2

Game 6, March 17
Nakamura, Hikaru – Nepo, Ian
B47 Sicilian, Taimanov (Bastrikov) variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.f4 a6 7.Nb3 b5 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.O-O d6 10.Bd2 Nf6 11.Qf3 Be7 12.Rae1 b4 13.Nd1 a5 14.Nf2 a4 15.Nc1 Nd4 16.Qd1 d5 17.e5 Ne4 18.Ne2 Nf5 19.Kh1 Qb6 20.Nh3 Bh4 21.Bc1 Bxe1 22.Qxe1 O-O 23.Ng3 b3 24.axb3 axb3 25.Ng5 Nfxg3+ 26.hxg3 bxc2 27.f5 exf5 28.Rxf5 0-1

Game 6, March 17
So, Wesley – Firouzja, Alireza
B12 Caro-Kann, Advance variation

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Ne7 6.O-O h6 7.Nbd2 Nd7 8.Nb3 g5 9.Bd2 a5 10.a4 Qc7 11.c3 f6 12.exf6 Ng6 13.c4 Bd6 14.cxd5 exd5 15.Bd3 Bxd3 16.Bxa5 Rxa5 17.Qxd3 Kf7 18.Nxa5 Qxa5 19.Qf5 Qd8 20.Rae1 Ngf8 21.Re7+ Bxe7 22.fxe7+ Kxe7 23.Re1+ Kd6 24.Ne5 Rh7 25.Nxd7 Qxd7 26.Qe5# 1-0

Position after White’s 15.Bd3



Peter and Tania calling this “the move of the tournament”

Game 6, March 17
Giri, Anish – MVL
B67 Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer, Rauzer Attack

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.Qd2 b5 13.g4 h5 14.gxh5 Nxh5 15.h4 b4 16.Ne2 a5 17.c3 f6 18.Be3 e5 19.Bh3 Bxh3 20.Rxh3 Qc4 21.cxb4 axb4 22.b3 Qe6 23.Rh2 f5 24.Bg5 fxe4 25.fxe4 O-O 26.Bxe7 Qxe7 27.Qxb4 Qa7 28.Nc3 Nf6 29.Qxd6 Qe3 30.Qd3 Qc5 31.Nd5 Kh8 32.Nxf6 Rxf6 33.h5 Raa6 34.Rc2 Qa3 35.Qg3 Qe7 36.Rdc1 Rf4 37.Rc8+ Kh7 38.R8c6 Rxc6 39.Rxc6 Qd7 40.Rc1 Rg4 41.Qxe5 Qd3+ 42.Ka1 Rg2 1-0

Meanwhile, Giri has beaten Vachier-Lagrave and taken the lead in the second match!

Another spectacular round leaves Aronian, Nakamura and Firouzja all needing to win both the next two games on demand, while MVL needs one win!

(to be continued)

[Wayne Komer]

Magnus Carlsen Invitational Prelims 2021

March 17, 2021

Quarterfinals (continued)

Day 2

Round 7

Game 7, March 17
Aronian, Levon – 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.Rd1+ Ke8 10.Nc3 Ne7 11.Nd4 Bg4 12.f3 Bd7 13.a4 Nf5 14.Nde2 Bc5+ 15.Kf1 h5 16.Ne4 Be7 17.Kf2 c5 18.Bg5 b6 19.Nf4 Bc6 20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.Rxd5 Nd4 22.c3 Ne6 23.Be3 Rd8 24.Rad1 Rxd5 25.Rxd5 h4 26.f4 Rh5 27.c4 Nd8 28.Kf3 Nc6 29.b3 Na5 30.Rd3 Nc6 31.Rd5 Nb4 32.Rd2 Nc6 33.Kg4 Rh6 34.Rd5 Rg6+ 35.Kf3 Re6 36.Bf2 Nd4+ 37.Bxd4 c6 38.Bxc5 cxd5 39.cxd5 Rh6 40.Bd4 Rh5 41.Kg4 g6 42.Kf3 Kd7 43.Nd2 Bb4 44.Nc4 Ke7 45.Ke4 Rh8 46.Bf2 h3 47.g4 Bc5 48.Bg3 b5 49.Na5 bxa4 50.bxa4 f5+ 51.gxf5 gxf5+ 52.Kxf5 Rg8 53.Bh4+ Kd7 54.e6+ Kc7 55.Bg5 Bg1 56.Kg4 Kd6 57.Nc6 Bxh2 58.Kxh3 Rh8+ 59.Kg4 Kxd5 60.Nd4 Bxf4 61.Kxf4 Kxd4 62.Bf6+ Kd5 63.Bxh8 Kxe6 64.Ke4 Kd6 65.a5 Kc6 66.Bc3 a6 67.Kd4 Kb7 68.Kc5 Ka8 69.Kb6 Kb8 70.Kxa6 Ka8 71.Be5 1/2-1/2

"I guess I was outplayed at some point, and I certainly was lost. But somehow I managed to get out of it." - @MagnusCarlsen after saving the third game to a draw, securing his spot in the semifinal

Magnus Carlsen shakes his head after a tough game, but he's through to the #MagnusInvitational semi-final against Ian Nepomniachtchi!

Game 7, March 17
Nepo, Ian – Nakamura, Hikaru
C70 Ruy Lopez, Fianchetto Defence deferred

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 g6 5.d4 exd4 6.Bg5 f6 7.Bh4 Bg7 8.Nxd4 Nge7 9.Nc3 Nxd4 10.Qxd4 O-O 11.Qd2 d6 12.O-O g5 13.Bg3 Ng6 14.Nd5 f5 15.exf5 Bxf5 16.c3 b5 17.Bc2 Bxc2 18.Qxc2 c6 19.Ne3 Qf6 20.a4 Rae8 21.axb5 axb5 22.Rfe1 h5 23.h3 d5 24.Nf1 Re6 25.Rxe6 Qxe6 26.Qd1 h4 27.Bh2 d4 28.cxd4 Qe4 29.Qb3+ Kh8 30.Be5 Nxe5 31.dxe5 Qxe5 32.Ra2 Qc5 33.Ne3 Qc1+ 34.Qd1 Bxb2 35.Rxb2 Qxb2 36.Qh5+ Kg8 37.Qxg5+ Qg7 38.Qxh4 Qa1+ 39.Kh2 Qf6 40.Qg4+ Kh7 41.Qd7+ Rf7 42.Qd3+ Qg6 43.Qd2 Qe4 44.g3 c5 45.Ng4 Qd4 46.Qh6+ Kg8 47.Qe6 Kf8 48.Qh6+ Ke7 49.Qg5+ Ke8 50.Qg8+ Ke7 51.Qg5+ Kd7 52.Ne5+ Ke6 53.Nxf7 Qxf2+ 54.Kh1 Qf1+ 55.Kh2 Qf2+ 56.Kh1 Kxf7 57.Qd5+ Ke7 58.Qb7+ Kd6 59.Qxb5 Ke5 60.h4 Kd4 61.Qa4+ Ke3 62.Qb3+ Kd4 63.Qa4+ Ke3 64.Qb3+ Ke2 65.h5 Qf5 66.Kg2 Qf1+ 67.Kh2 Qf5 68.Kg2 Qe4+ 69.Kh2 c4 70.Qb2+ Kd1 71.h6 Qd3 72.Qa1+ Kc2 73.Qa2+ Kc1 74.Qa1+ Kd2 75.Qb2+ Kd1 76.Qa1+ Ke2 77.Qe5+ Kf1 78.Qf4+ Ke1 79.Qe5+ Kd2 80.Qb2+ Kd1 1/2-1/2

And Ian Nepomniachtchi has knocked out Hikaru Nakamura to reach the #MagnusInvitational semi-finals!

Game 7, March 17
Firouzja, Alireza – So, Wesley
A45 Queen’s Pawn game

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bf4 a6 4.e3 e6 5.g4 Bb4 6.Ne2 O-O 7.a3 Be7 8.g5 Nh5 9.h4 Nxf4 10.Nxf4 c5 11.Bd3 c4 12.Bxh7+ Kxh7 13.Qh5+ Kg8 14.g6 fxg6 15.Nxg6 Rf5 16.Qh8+ Kf7 17.Qh7 Bf6 18.e4 dxe4 19.Nh8+ Ke7 20.O-O-O Nd7 21.Nxe4 Nf8 22.Qg8 Qe8 23.h5 Nd7 24.Ng6+ Kd8 25.Qxe8+ Kxe8 26.Nd6+ Kd8 27.Nxf5 exf5 28.f4 a5 29.d5 Ra6 30.Rhe1 Nc5 31.Ne5 Bd7 32.Rg1 Kc7 33.Nxc4 Ne4 34.Ne5 Kd6 35.h6 gxh6 36.Rg6 h5 37.Rh6 Be8 38.Rh7 b5 39.a4 Nf2 40.Rh6 Kc5 41.d6 Bxe5 42.fxe5 Nxd1 43.d7 Ra8 44.Rh8 Bxd7 45.Rxa8 Ne3 46.Ra6 Nc4 47.e6 Be8 48.e7 bxa4 49.Ra8 Nd6 50.Rxa5+ Kb6 51.Ra8 h4 0-1

Wesley So wins 2.5:0.5 for a 2nd day in a row and is the first player into the #MagnusInvitational semi-finals!

Game 7, March 17
MVL – Giri, Anish
B92 Sicilian, Najdorf, Opocensky variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.O-O O-O 9.Qd3 Be6 10.Bd2 Nc6 11.Nd5 Bxd5 12.exd5 e4 13.Qe3 Nxd5 14.Qxe4 Nf6 15.Qf5 d5 16.Rad1 g6 17.Qh3 Qc7 18.Bd3 Rfe8 19.Rfe1 Rad8 20.Qf3 Nh5 21.g4 Ng7 22.Bf4 Bd6 23.Rxe8+ Rxe8 24.Bg3 Bxg3 25.hxg3 Ne5 26.Qxd5 Nxg4 27.Qc4 Qxc4 28.Bxc4 Nf5 29.Bd3 Re5 30.f3 Nf6 31.Kf2 h5 32.Rd2 Kf8 33.Re2 Rxe2+ 34.Bxe2 Ke7 35.Na5 b6 36.Nc4 Nd7 37.a4 Nd4 38.Bd1 b5 39.axb5 axb5 40.Ne3 Kd6 41.c3 Ne6 42.b4 f5 43.f4 Nf6 44.Bf3 h4 45.c4 hxg3+ 46.Kxg3 bxc4 47.Nxc4+ Kc7 48.b5 g5 49.b6+ Kb8 50.fxg5 Nxg5 51.Bc6 Ne6 52.Ne5 f4+ 53.Kh4 Nd4 54.Bh1 f3 55.Nxf3 Nxf3+ 56.Bxf3 Nd7 57.Bh1 Nxb6 1/2-1/2

Round 8

Game 8, March 17
Giri, Anish – MVL
B06 Robatsch Defence

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d6 4.Be3 a6 5.Nc3 b5 6.Bd3 Nd7 7.O-O Bb7 8.a4 b4 9.Nb1 Ngf6 10.Nbd2 c5 11.c3 O-O 12.a5 cxd4 13.cxd4 e5 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Nxe5 dxe5 16.Qb3 Qe7 17.Ra4 Rfb8 18.Rxb4 Bf8 19.Rb6 Ng4 20.Bc4 1-0

Anish has vastly more experience in the Robatsch than Maxime – and it shows!

Results of Day Two Matches

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

Semi-finals Matches

Carlsen-Nepo
So-Giri

[Hans Jung]

Wesley So playing nice attacking chess - starting with 15.Bd3 which shows a deep flare for the initiative and the following Re7+ breakthru sacrifice for a crisp checkmate finish. (Game 2) In game 3 he uses great piece coordination to transpose into a picturesque N+B and pawns vs rook and pawns endgame.
Giri ends with a miniature showing great piece coordination against MVL's modern defence.
So and Giri are humming.

[Wayne Komer]

Magnus Carlsen Invitational Prelims 2021

March 18, 2021

Semifinals

Day 1

Rounds 9 to 12

Game 9, March 18
Carlsen, Magnus – Nepo, Ian
C24 QGA

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.e4 b5 6.Nxb5 Nxe4 7.Qa4 c6 8.Nc3 Nxc3 9.bxc3 Ba6 10.Bxc4 Bxc4 11.Qxc4 Bd6 12.O-O O-O 13.Rb1 Qc7 14.Qd3 Nd7 15.c4 c5 16.d5 exd5 17.Qxd5 Nb6 18.Qd3 Rad8 19.Qc2 h6 20.a4 Rfe8 21.Be3 Bf4 22.a5 Nc8 23.Bxf4 Qxf4 24.Rfd1 Rxd1+ 25.Rxd1 Nd6 26.Qa4 Re6 27.Qd7 Ne4 28.Re1 a6 29.Qd8+ Kh7 30.Qd3 f5 31.g3 Rd6 32.Qb3 Qg4 33.Kg2 Qg6 34.Rd1 Rxd1 35.Qxd1 Qd6 36.Qb3 Qe6 37.Qd3 Qd6 38.Qe3 Qc7 39.Nh4 g6 40.Qd3 Qb7 41.Nf3 Kg7 42.Ne5 Kf6 43.Nd7+ Kf7 44.Nb6 Nf6+ 45.f3 Qe7 46.Nd5 Qd7 47.h4 g5 48.Qb3 Qe6 49.Qb7+ Kg6 50.Kf2 Nxd5 51.cxd5 Qf6 52.Qb6 Kf7 53.hxg5 hxg5 54.Qxc5 Qb2+ 55.Ke3 Qb3+ 56.Kd4 Qd1+ 57.Ke5 Qxf3 58.Qa7+ Kg6 59.Qxa6+ Kh5 60.Qe6 Qxg3+ 61.Kf6 Qc3+ 62.Qe5 Qxe5+ 63.Kxe5 f4 64.Ke4 Kg4 65.d6 f3 66.Ke3 Kg3 67.d7 f2 68.d8=Q f1=Q 69.Qxg5+ Kh3 70.Qh5+ Kg3 71.Qg6+ Kh3 72.Qd3 Qf8 73.a6 Qf7 74.Ke2+ Kg2 75.Qe4+ Kh2 76.Qh4+ Kg2 77.Qg5+ Kh2 78.Qe5+ Kg2 79.Qe4+ Kh2 80.Ke3 Qb3+ 81.Kf2 Qb6+ 82.Kf3 Qb3+ 83.Qe3 Qd5+ 84.Kf2 Qf5+ 85.Ke1 Qb1+ 86.Ke2 Qb5+ 87.Qd3 Qe5+ 88.Kd2 Qa5+ 89.Ke3 Qe5+ 90.Kf3 Qg3+ 91.Ke2 Qe5+ 92.Kd1 Qa1+ 93.Kd2 Qa2+ 94.Ke1 Qa1+ 95.Kf2 Qf6+ 96.Qf3 Qb6+ 97.Qe3 Qf6+ 98.Qf3 Qb6+ 99.Ke1 Qa5+ 100.Kf2 Qb6+ 1/2-1/2

Position after Black’s 79…Kh2



What would you play for White’s 80^th move to win?

Game 9, March 18
Giri, Anish – So, Wesley
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.O-O Nd7 7.c3 O-O 8.d4 Bd6 9.Bg5 f6 10.Bh4 Qe7 11.Nbd2 Qf7 12.Bg3 Re8 13.Qc2 a5 14.b3 exd4 15.cxd4 Bxg3 16.hxg3 Nb6 17.a4 Bg4 18.Rfe1 h6 19.Re3 Re7 20.Rae1 Rae8 21.Qc3 Qh5 22.Nh2 Be6 23.f4 f5 24.Qxa5 Bf7 25.g4 fxg4 26.Qc3 Qh4 27.Ndf1 g3 28.Nxg3 Qxf4 29.Nf5 Rxe4 30.Rxe4 Rxe4 31.Rf1 Qg5 32.Nxh6+ gxh6 0-1

Giri has blundered and Wesley is set to take an early lead!

Game 10, March 18
Nepo, Ian – Carlsen, Magnus
C83 Ruy Lopez, open, Classical Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 9.c3 Be7 10.Nbd2 Nc5 11.Bc2 d4 12.Nb3 dxc3 13.bxc3 Qxd1 14.Rxd1 Na4 15.Be4 Bd7 16.Rxd7 Kxd7 17.Bf5+ Ke8 18.Be4 Kd7 19.Bf5+ Ke8 20.Be4 Kd7 1/2-1/2

Game 10, March 18
So, Wesley – Giri, Anish
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 cxd4 10.cxd4 Qa5+ 11.Bd2 Qxa2 12.O-O Bg4 13.Rxb7 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Bxd4 15.e5 Na6 16.Rxe7 Rad8 17.e6 fxe6 18.Qe1 Nc5 19.Bc3 Nd3 20.Bxd4 Nxe1 21.Rg7+ Kh8 22.Rd7+ Kg8 23.Rg7+ Kh8 24.Rd7+ Kg8 25.Rg7+ 1/2-1/2

Game 11, March 18
Carlsen, Magnus – Nepo, Ian
D24 QGA

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.e4 b5 6.e5 Nd5 7.Nxb5 Nb6 8.Be2 Nc6 9.O-O Be7 10.Qd2 Bb7 11.Rd1 Qd7 12.Nc3 Nb4 13.a3 N4d5 14.Ne4 Qc6 15.Re1 O-O-O 16.Bf1 f5 17.exf6 gxf6 18.Qe2 Kb8 19.Bd2 Rhg8 20.Rac1 Bd6 21.g3 f5 22.Nxd6 cxd6 23.Bg2 Rde8 24.Nh4 Qb5 25.Rb1 Qb3 26.Bc3 Nf4 27.gxf4 Rg4 28.h3 Rxh4 29.Bxb7 Kxb7 30.Qf3+ Ka6 31.d5 Nxd5 32.Rxe6 Rxe6 33.Qxd5 Rg6+ 34.Kf1 Qb5 35.Rd1 Qxd5 36.Rxd5 Rxf4 37.Bd4 Rf3 38.Be3 f4 39.Rf5 Re6 40.Bd4 Re4 41.Kg2 Rd3 42.Bc3 d5 43.Rf6+ Kb5 44.Rf7 d4 45.Bb4 Re2 0-1

A terrifying position for Magnus with little time on the clock - he has a way to force a draw, but will he find it

Nepomniachtchi draws first blood, beating Carlsen with his trademark combination of tactical trickery and speed!

Game 11, March 18
Giri, Anish – So, Wesley
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.O-O Nd7 7.c3 a5 8.d4 Bd6 9.Re1 a4 10.Nbd2 exd4 11.cxd4 Nb6 12.Nf1 O-O 13.Bg5 f6 14.Bh4 Bg4 15.h3 Bh5 16.Qd3 Qd7 17.g4 Bg6 18.Ne3 Nd5 19.Nf5 Nf4 20.Qf1 Bxf5 21.gxf5 g6 22.Bg3 Nh5 23.fxg6 hxg6 24.Qg2 Kh7 25.Rad1 Rae8 26.a3 Bxg3 27.fxg3 Qd6 28.Kh2 Re7 29.Rd2 Kg7 30.e5 Qd7 31.Re4 Qd5 32.exf6+ Kxf6 33.Re5 Qd7 34.Rg5 Qd6 35.Rf2 Kg7 36.Nh4 Re6 37.Nf5+ Rxf5 38.Rfxf5 Qxd4 39.Rg4 Qd6 40.Rf2 Re3 41.Re2 Rd3 42.Qf2 c5 43.Rg5 c4 44.Rge5 Nxg3 45.Re7+ Kh6 46.Qf8+ Kg5 47.Rg2 Re3 48.Rf7 Qd1 49.Rf1 Qd3 50.Rf4 1-0

Now Wesley has gone badly astray and Anish looks set to level the scores!

Game 12, March 18
Nepo, Ian – Carlsen, Magnus
B51 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.O-O Nf6 5.Re1 a6 6.Bf1 b6 7.c4 Bb7 8.Nc3 Ne5 9.a3 e6 10.b4 Be7 11.Rb1 Qc7 12.d3 O-O 13.Nxe5 dxe5 14.bxc5 Bxc5 15.Na4 Bd4 16.Be3 Bxe3 17.fxe3 b5 18.cxb5 axb5 19.Rxb5 Bc6 20.Rb4 Rfb8 21.Nb2 Rxa3 22.Rxb8+ Qxb8 23.Nc4 Ra8 24.Qc2 Nd7 25.Rb1 Qa7 26.Nb6 Nxb6 27.Qxc6 Nd7 28.d4 Nf6 29.Rb7 Qa3 30.Rb3 Qf8 31.dxe5 Rc8 32.Qa4 Ng4 33.Qd4 Rd8 34.Qc3 Qe7 35.h3 Nh6 36.Qb2 g6 37.Rb8 Rxb8 38.Qxb8+ Kg7 39.Kf2 Qh4+ 40.Kf3 Ng8 41.Qd6 Qh5+ 42.Kf2 Qg5 43.g3 h5 44.h4 Qg4 45.Bg2 Nh6 46.Qd8 Kh7 47.Qd7 g5 48.Bf3 Qh3 49.hxg5 Qh2+ 50.Kf1 Qxg3 51.Bxh5 Qxe3 52.g6+ Kg7 53.gxf7 Qh3+ 54.Ke1 Qh4+ 55.Kd2 Qxh5 56.Qxe6 Nxf7 57.Qf6+ Kg8 58.e6 Qh2+ 59.Kc3 Qc7+ 60.Kb2 Qb6+ 61.Ka1 Qa5+ 62.Kb1 Qb5+ 63.Ka1 Nd6 64.Qd8+ Ne8 65.Qd7 Qe5+ 66.Ka2 1/2-1/2

Peter Leko is speechless at how Nepo is handling this game he only needs to draw: "Black can never be worse, but he can be seriously better!"

Final Position



Game 12, March 18
So, Wesley – Giri, Anish
D83 Grunfeld, Grunfeld Gambit, Capablanca variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3 O-O 6.Rc1 Be6 7.c5 c6 8.Bd3 Bg4 9.Nge2 b6 10.Na4 Nfd7 11.f3 e5 12.Bxe5 Nxe5 13.dxe5 Bc8 14.f4 f6 15.exf6 Qxf6 16.O-O Qe7 17.Qd2 Re8 18.Rf3 Bg4 19.Rg3 Bxe2 20.Bxe2 Nd7 21.b4 Nf6 22.Nc3 bxc5 23.bxc5 Rad8 24.f5 gxf5 25.Rf1 Ne4 26.Nxe4 fxe4 27.Bg4 Rf8 28.Bf5 Rf6 29.Qe2 Qf7 30.Qg4 Rf8 31.Rf2 Kh8 32.Be6 Qe7 33.Bf5 Bh6 34.Rh3 Qe5 35.Rf1 Rxf5 36.Rxf5 Rxf5 0-1

"Wesley seems to be busted!" - Giri seems to have found the correct move and seems to be winning the game, which means he will also win the match!

Anish Giri has done it, coming from behind to beat Wesley So!

Giri: "I was thinking it's really unfortunate if you have to play Magnus for 3rd place - it's not the match you want to be in!"

Results of Day 1 of the Semis

Carlsen-Nepo 1.5-2.5
Giri-So 2.5-1.5

[Hans Jung]

So - Giri - old fashioned slug fest - throw as many tactical shots as you can! Loved it!

[Hans Jung]

Magnus - Nepo game 3 26...Nf4! ouch!

[Brad Thomson]

As I fell asleep listening to CBC radio last evening I suddenly heard again the voices of Peter and Tania laughing and explaining the Bongcloud Opening that was played, and then the announcers explained everything to us including the meaning of "Bongcloud". They even used the clever line, "leave no turn un-stoned".

[Hans Jung]

In round 4, game3 Wesley So dodged a bullet. The endgame was winning for quite some time for Anish Giri but he allowed the knight too much leeway.

[Brad Thomson]

Magnus folds like a cheap accordion.

[Wayne Komer]

Magnus Carlsen Invitational Prelims 2021

March 19, 2021

Semifinals

Day 2

Rounds 13 to 16

Game 13, March 19
Nepo, Ian – Carlsen, Magnus

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.d3 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.a3 O-O 9.Nc3 Rb8 10.Nd5 Nxd5 11.Bxd5 Bd7 12.b4 Bf6 13.Be3 Ne7 14.Bb3 Ng6 15.a4 bxa4 16.Bxa4 Rxb4 17.Bxd7 Qxd7 18.Rxa6 Ra4 19.Rxa4 Qxa4 20.Qb1 Qc6 21.Qb3 Ra8 22.Rb1 Nf8 23.g3 Ne6 24.h4 h5 25.Nd2 g6 26.Qd5 Qa4 27.Nc4 Rd8 28.Rc1 Rb8 29.Qa5 Qd7 30.Qa7 Qc8 31.Ra1 Kg7 32.Kf1 Rb7 33.Qa8 Rb1+ 34.Ke2 Rb8 35.Qa6 Qd7 36.Qa4 Qd8 37.Qc6 Kh7 38.Nd2 Bg7 39.Nf3 Bh6 40.Bxh6 Kxh6 41.Qc3 Kg7 42.Kf1 Rb5 43.Kg2 Qb8 44.d4 exd4 45.Nxd4 Nxd4 46.Qxd4+ Kg8 47.Ra4 Re5 48.Qa1 Qb7 49.Kh2 Re8 50.Qc3 Rxe4 51.Rxe4 Qxe4 52.Qxc7 d5 53.Qc8+ Kg7 54.Qc3+ Kf8 55.Qc8+ Ke7 56.Qc7+ Kf6 57.Qc3+ Qe5 58.Qc6+ Kg7 59.Qc5 Qe4 60.Qc3+ Kh7 61.Qc7 Qe6 62.Qc5 1/2-1/2

Game 13, March 19
So, Wesley – Giri, Anish
B51 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O e6 6.Re1 a6 7.c4 Be7 8.Nc3 O-O 9.d4 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Qc7 11.Qe2 Ne5 12.Bb3 Ng6 13.Kh1 Re8 14.Be3 b6 15.Ba4 Bd7 16.Bxd7 Nxd7 17.Rac1 Rac8 18.b3 Qb7 19.f3 Nf6 20.Bf2 Bf8 21.Qd2 Qb8 22.a4 h6 23.Nc2 Red8 24.Red1 Qb7 25.h3 Be7 26.Qe3 Qa8 27.Qd2 Qb7 28.Rb1 d5 29.exd5 exd5 30.Nxd5 Nxd5 31.cxd5 Bg5 32.Ne3 Ne7 33.d6 Nf5 34.Qd5 Qxd5 35.Nxd5 Rc2 36.Ne7+ Nxe7 37.dxe7 Re8 38.Bxb6 Rxe7 39.b4 Ree2 40.Rg1 Ra2 41.a5 Be7 42.Bd4 Ra4 43.Bc3 Rc2 44.Rgc1 Rxc1+ 45.Rxc1 Bxb4 46.Bxb4 Rxb4 47.Rc8+ Kh7 48.Rc6 Ra4 49.Rxa6 h5 50.Ra8 h4 51.a6 Ra1+ 52.Kh2 Ra2 53.a7 g5 54.Kg1 Kg7 55.Kf1 Kf6 56.Ke1 Kf5 57.Kf1 Kf4 58.Re8 Rxa7 59.Re4+ Kf5 60.Kg1 f6 61.Kh2 Rd7 62.Re3 Rc7 63.Re4 Rd7 64.Re3 Rc7 65.Re4 Rd7 1/2-1/2

Lennart Ootes: The FIDE Candidates Tournament will resume in exactly one month in Ekaterinburg. Who will win the Candidates and why?

Game 14, March 19
Carlsen, Magnus – Nepo, Ian
C35 QGD, Exchange, positional line

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Bb4 6.Qa4+ Nc6 7.e3 h6 8.Bxf6 Qxf6 9.Ne2 O-O 10.a3 Bxc3+ 11.Nxc3 Ne7 12.Be2 c6 13.O-O Nf5 14.b4 Nh4 15.Kh1 Qg6 16.g3 Nf5 17.b5 h5 18.bxc6 bxc6 19.Rg1 h4 20.gxh4 Qf6 21.h5 c5 22.Nxd5 Bb7 23.Bf3 Bxd5 24.Bxd5 Rad8 25.Qc6 Qxc6 26.Bxc6 cxd4 27.Rg5 Ne7 28.Bf3 dxe3 29.fxe3 Rd3 30.Re5 Nc8 31.a4 Nd6 32.Rc1 Rb8 33.Kg2 Rbb3 34.Rc6 Kf8 35.a5 f6 36.Re6 Nf5 37.h6 Nxh6 38.Rc8+ Kf7 39.Ra6 Rd2+ 40.Kg3 Nf5+ 41.Kf4 Rf2 42.Rxa7+ Kg6 43.Rcc7 Kh6 44.Kxf5 Rxe3 45.Rc5 g6+ 46.Kg4 Rfxf3 0-1

Game 14, March 19
Giri, Anish – So, Wesley
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 Ne7 10.Nc3 Bd7 11.Ne4 b6 12.Re1 Kc8 13.Nfg5 Be8 14.Nd6+ cxd6 15.exd6 Kd7 16.dxe7 Bxe7 17.Bf4 Rd8 18.Rad1+ Kc8 19.Ne4 Rxd1 20.Rxd1 Bd7 21.Nd6+ Bxd6 22.Rxd6 Re8 23.Be3 c5 24.a3 Bf5 25.Rd2 h5 26.Kf1 Be4 27.Bf4 Rd8 28.Rxd8+ Kxd8 29.c3 Kd7 30.g3 Kc6 31.Ke1 Kb5 32.Bb8 a6 33.Kd2 Kc4 34.Ba7 b5 35.b4 cxb4 36.axb4 g6 37.h4 Bf5 38.Bb6 Bg4 39.Ba7 Bf5 40.Bb6 Bg4 41.Ba7 Bf5 1/2-1/2

Game 15, March 19
Nepo, Ian – Carlsen, Magnus
B40 Sicilian Defence

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nc3 a6 6.a3 Qc7 7.g3 Nf6 8.Bg2 Nc6 9.O-O h5 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Bf4 e5 12.Bg5 Bc5 13.Qf3 d6 14.h3 Nd7 15.Rad1 Nf8 16.Na4 Ne6 17.Be3 Bxe3 18.Qxe3 h4 19.Nb6 Rb8 20.Nc4 O-O 21.Nxd6 hxg3 22.fxg3 Rxb2 23.Qc3 Qb8 24.Nf5 Rb5 25.Ne7+ Kh7 26.Kh2 Qc7 27.Nf5 Rc5 28.Qd2 Rd8 29.Qf2 Rc3 30.a4 Nd4 31.Nxd4 Rxd4 32.Qe2 Be6 33.Rxd4 exd4 34.Qh5+ Kg8 35.Rf4 Qe7 36.Rh4 f6 37.e5 fxe5 38.Qxe5 Rxc2 39.Re4 d3 40.Qxe6+ Qxe6 41.Rxe6 d2 42.Rd6 c5 43.g4 c4 44.Kg3 c3 45.Kh4 Kf8 46.Bf3 Rc1 47.Rd3 Ke7 48.Kg5 Rf1 49.Re3+ Kd6 50.Rd3+ Ke5 51.Rxc3 Rxf3 52.Rxf3 d1=Q 53.Rf5+ Ke4 54.a5 Qd6 55.Kh4 g6 0-1

Game 15, March 19
So, Wesley – Giri, Anish
A48 King’s Indian, East Indian Defence

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nbd2 d5 4.c4 c5 5.dxc5 Bg7 6.cxd5 Qxd5 7.e4 Qxc5 8.Bd3 O-O 9.O-O Nc6 10.h3 Rd8 11.Qe2 Be6 12.Nb3 Bxb3 13.axb3 Nh5 14.Kh1 e6 15.Ra4 Qd6 16.Bc2 a6 17.Bg5 Rdc8 18.Rd1 Qc7 19.Rc4 Nf6 20.e5 Nd7 21.Bf4 Nb6 22.Re4 Rd8 23.Rxd8+ Rxd8 24.h4 h5 25.g3 Rd5 26.Kg2 a5 27.Bd3 Qd7 28.Bb5 Qc7 29.Be3 Rd8 30.Bc5 Nc8 31.Be3 N8e7 32.Bg5 Rd5 33.Bc4 Rd7 34.Bb5 Rd5 35.Bc4 Rd7 36.Bxe7 Rxe7 37.Bb5 Rd7 38.g4 hxg4 39.Rxg4 Rd5 40.Bxc6 Qxc6 41.Rc4 Rc5 42.Kg3 b5 43.Rxc5 Qxc5 44.Qe4 Qd5 45.Qxd5 exd5 46.Kf4 f6 47.e6 Bh6+ 48.Kg3 Bc1 49.Nd4 Bxb2 50.Nxb5 Kf8 51.f4 f5 52.Nc7 Ke7 53.Nxd5+ Kxe6 54.Ne3 Bc3 55.Kh3 Bf6 56.Nc4 Bc3 57.Ne3 Bb4 58.Nc4 Bc3 59.Ne3 1/2-1/2

Game 16, March 19
Carlsen, Magnus – Nepo, Ian
B90 Sicilian Najdorf

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.a4 e5 7.Nf3 h6 8.g3 Be7 9.Bg2 O-O 10.O-O Be6 11.Nh4 Nbd7 12.Nf5 Bxf5 13.exf5 Qc7 14.a5 Rab8 15.Be3 Rfc8 16.Qd3 Bf8 17.Rfc1 b6 18.axb6 Nxb6 19.Rxa6 Nc4 20.Nd5 Qd8 21.b3 Nxe3 22.Qxe3 Rc5 23.c4 Qc8 24.Nxf6+ gxf6 25.Ra7 Qxf5 26.Bd5 Qg5 27.Rb1 Qxe3 28.fxe3 Rb4 29.Bxf7+ Kh8 30.Bd5 Rc8 31.Kg2 Rcb8 32.Rf7 Bg7 33.Ra1 1-0

It's a must-win game for Magnus, and we get a Najdorf!

Game 16, March 19
Giri, Anish – So, Wesley
C02 French, Advance, Euwe variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Bd7 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Be2 Nge7 7.Na3 Nf5 8.Nc2 cxd4 9.cxd4 Be7 10.O-O O-O 11.Bd2 Rc8 12.Bd3 f6 13.exf6 Bxf6 14.Bc3 Qb6 15.Qd2 Kh8 16.Bxf5 exf5 17.Ne5 Be6 18.Nxc6 Rxc6 19.Rfe1 Bg8 20.Re2 h6 21.Rae1 Bg5 22.f4 Bf6 23.Re8 Rxe8 24.Rxe8 Kh7 25.Qd3 Be6 26.g4 Qc7 27.Rxe6 1-0

Position after White’s 26.g4



Congratulations to Anish Giri on reaching the #MagnusInvitational final after tricking Wesley So into blundering a piece!

An amazing end as Giri catches So in a blunder to reach tomorrow's #MagnusInvitational final - "I was hoping he would fall for it!"

Magnus has done it, winning two games on demand to force a playoff!

It's now two blitz games and potentially Armageddon to decide who faces Giri in the final

Scores at the end of the standard Day 2

Nepo-Carlsen 1.5-2.5
So-Giri 1.5-2.5

Playoff

Game 17, March 19
5+3
Nepo, Ian – Carlsen, Magnus

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.d3 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.a3 O-O 9.Nc3 Rb8 10.Nd5 Nxd5 11.Bxd5 Bd7 12.b4 Bf6 13.Be3 Ne7 14.Bb3 Ng6 15.c3 a5 16.bxa5 Ra8 17.a4 bxa4 18.Bxa4 Rxa5 19.Bxd7 Rxa1 20.Qxa1 Qxd7 21.Rb1 Qc6 22.Nd2 Ra8 23.Qb2 Nf8 24.d4 exd4 25.cxd4 h6 26.Qb3 Qa4 27.Qxa4 Rxa4 28.d5 Bd4 29.Bxd4 Rxd4 30.Rb2 f5 31.f3 fxe4 32.fxe4 Nd7 33.Kf2 Nc5 34.Ke3 Rd3+ 35.Ke2 Rd4 36.Ke3 Rd3+ 37.Ke2 Rc3 38.Rb8+ Kf7 39.Rc8 Nd7 40.Nf3 Nf6 41.Nd2 Kg6 42.g3 Kh5 43.e5 Nxd5 44.exd6 cxd6 45.Rd8 Re3+ 46.Kf2 Re6 47.Nc4 Nf6 48.Kf3 d5 49.Ne3 Re5 50.Kf4 Re4+ 51.Kf3 Rd4 52.Nf5 Rd3+ 53.Ke2 Ra3 54.Nxg7+ Kg6 55.Ne6 Ra2+ 56.Kf3 Rxh2 57.Nf4+ Kf7 58.Nxd5 Rd2 59.Rh8 Rxd5 60.Rxh6 Ke6 61.Rh4 Rd3+ 62.Ke2 Rxg3 63.Ra4 Nd5 64.Ra8 Ke5 65.Re8+ Kd4 66.Rd8 Re3+ 67.Kf2 Re5 68.Ra8 Kd3 69.Ra3+ Nc3 70.Kf3 Rf5+ 71.Kg4 Rf8 72.Ra7 Nb5 73.Rd7+ Nd4 74.Re7 Nf5 75.Ra7 Ne3+ 76.Kg3 Nf5+ 77.Kf4 Nd4+ 78.Kg3 Nc6 79.Ra4 Ne5 80.Ra3+ Ke4 81.Ra4+ Ke3 82.Ra3+ Nd3 83.Kg4 Rf1 84.Kg5 Ke4 85.Ra4+ Kd5 86.Ra5+ Nc5 87.Kg4 Kd4 88.Ra8 Ne6 89.Ra4+ Ke5 90.Ra5+ Ke4 91.Ra4+ Nd4 92.Kg5 Rf5+ 93.Kg6 Rb5 94.Kf6 Rd5 95.Kg6 Kf4 96.Kf6 Rd7 97.Ra6 Rh7 98.Ra4 Rh6+ 99.Ke7 Ke4 100.Ra1 Nc6+ 101.Kf7 Ne5+ 102.Ke7 Nd3 103.Kf7 Kf5 104.Ke7 Re6+ 105.Kd7 Ne5+ 106.Kc7 Rb6 107.Kxb6 Ke4 108.Ra4+ Kd5 109.Rh4 Nc4+ 110.Kc7 Ne5 111.Rh5 Kd4 112.Kd6 Nc4+ 113.Ke6 Ne3 114.Rh4+ Kd3 115.Ke5 Nc4+ 116.Kd5 Ne3+ 117.Kc5 Nc2 118.Ra4 Ne3 119.Rd4+ Kc3 120.Rd8 Nc2 121.Kd5 Kd3 122.Ke5+ Ke3 123.Rc8 Kd3 124.Rd8+ Ke3 125.Rh8 Kd3 126.Rh4 Kc3 127.Kd5 Ne3+ 128.Ke4 Nc2 129.Rh8 Kd2 130.Rh3 Nb4 131.Rb3 Nc2 132.Rd3+ Ke2 133.Rh3 Kd2 134.Rb3 Ne1 135.Ra3 Nc2 136.Rd3+ Ke2 137.Rd8 Ne1 138.Rh8 Kd2 139.Rh1 Nc2 140.Rh3 Ne1 141.Rg3 Nc2 142.Rd3+ 1/2-1/2

Carlsen tortures Nepo in the endgame, up a knight but then with a mouse-slip, Carlsen loses his rook (on move 106) and Nepo tortures him up to the draw.

Game 18, March 19
5+3
Carlsen, Magnus – Nepo, Ian
D35 QGD, Exchange, positional line

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Bb4 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 g5 8.Bg3 Ne4 9.Ne2 h5 10.h3 Nxg3 11.Nxg3 h4 12.Nh5 c6 13.Be2 Nd7 14.Qb3 Bxc3+ 15.Qxc3 Nf6 16.Nxf6+ Qxf6 17.b4 a6 18.a4 Bf5 19.b5 axb5 20.axb5 O-O 21.O-O Qe6 22.Rfc1 cxb5 23.Qb3 Rxa1 24.Rxa1 Rc8 25.Bf3 Be4 26.Bxe4 Qxe4 27.Qxb5 Rc7 28.Qb6 Qe7 29.Qa5 Qd6 30.Rb1 Kg7 31.Qb5 b6 32.Qd3 Qe6 33.Qa6 Qd6 34.Qe2 Qg6 35.Ra1 Qe4 36.Qb5 Qe6 37.Qb4 Rc4 38.Qb1 Qc6 39.Qf5 Rc1+ 40.Rxc1 Qxc1+ 41.Kh2 Qc7+ 42.g3 hxg3+ 43.Kg2 Qd8 44.Kxg3 b5 45.Qb1 Qd6+ 46.Kf3 b4 47.Qb3 Qf6+ 48.Kg2 Qd6 49.Kg1 f6 50.Kg2 Qb6 51.h4 gxh4 52.Kh3 Qb5 53.Kxh4 Kf7 54.Kg4 Ke6 55.Kf4 Qc4 56.Qa4 b3 57.Qe8+ Kd6 58.Qb8+ Kc6 59.Kf5 Qb5 60.Qc8+ Kb6 61.Qb8+ Ka5 62.Qa7+ Kb4 63.Qa1 Qe2 64.Ke6 b2 65.Qa6 Qxa6+ 0-1

Magnus lost control of the endgame around move 49 and loses to Ian.

Madness from Magnus who overpresses again and again and Ian Nepomniachtchi will play Anish Giri in the final of the #MagnusInvitational! It's a Carlsen-So battle for 3rd place.

[Wayne Komer]

Magnus Carlsen Invitational Prelims 2021

March 19, 2021

Semifinals

Leonard Barden on today’s matches:

Nepomniachtchi won Thursday’s first set 2.5-1.5, and Carlsen’s cause looked hopeless when the Russian led 1.5-0.5 in the second set, needing just one draw for the match. Somehow Carlsen fought back to win the second set 2.5-1.5, forcing a two-game blitz tie-break.

The first blitz game was a marathon of 142 moves, where for a long time Carlsen was trying to win with king, rook and knight against king and rook. Then he blundered away his rook by a mouse slip! Rook against knight was still a draw. The decisive game was an anti-climax as Carlsen, with a tiny queen endgame edge, overpressed, allowed his opponent’s passed pawn to get too far up the board, and resigned when his last desperate throw of the dice, attacking the queen with his own unguarded queen, failed.

Carlsen’s semi-final conqueror, “Nepo” as he is universally called, has yet to capture the interest of Western chess fans to the same extent as the urbane eight-time Russian champion Peter Svidler, the 2016 world title challenger Sergey Karjakin, or the creative and imaginative Daniil Dubov. This could be about to change. In addition to being on the verge of his greatest success to date, Nepomniachtchi has a lifetime plus score against the Norwegian in their one-to-one classical games, and is the halfway co-leader of the candidates tournament which was halted by the pandemic a year ago and will resume at the same venue, Ekaterinburg in the Urals, on 19 April.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/mar/19/chess-magnus-carlsen-on-the-brink-of-elimination-from-his-own-tournament

[Wayne Komer]

Magnus Carlsen Invitational Prelims 2021

March 20, 2021

Final

Day 1

Rounds 20 to 23

Game 1, March 20
Giri, Anish – Nepo, ian
B22 Sicilian, Alapin

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.d4 Nf6 6.Na3 Nc6 7.Be3 cxd4 8.Nb5 Qd8 9.Nbxd4 Nxd4 10.Bxd4 Be7 11.Bd3 O-O 12.Qc2 h6 13.O-O-O Qa5 14.Kb1 b5 15.Be4 Rb8 16.Ne5 Bb7 17.Bxb7 Rxb7 18.Rd3 Rc8 19.Rg3 b4 20.Nxf7 bxc3 21.Nxh6+ Kf8 22.Rxc3 Rxc3 23.Bxc3 Qd5 24.Bxf6 Bxf6 25.Qc8+ Bd8 26.Ng4 Rc7 27.Qb8 Kf7 28.Ne3 Qd3+ 29.Ka1 Qd6 30.Qb3 Bf6 31.Rb1 a5 32.a4 Qd7 33.Ka2 Rb7 34.Qc2 Kg8 35.b3 Rc7 36.Nc4 Rc5 37.Rd1 Qc6 38.f3 Kh8 39.h3 Rd5 40.Rxd5 exd5 41.Ne3 Qe6 42.Ng4 Bd4 43.Qd3 Bc5 44.f4 Qe1 45.Qxd5 Qc3 46.Qh5+ Kg8 47.Qe8+ Kh7 48.Qe4+ Kh8 49.Qa8+ Kh7 50.Qe4+ Kh8 51.Qa8+ Kh7 52.Qe4+ 1/2-1/2

20.Nxf7! for Giri as the final heats up as well!

"What a save by Ian Nepomniachtchi!" (Leko)

Game 1, March 20
Carlsen, Magnus – So, Wesley
C47 Four Knights game

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.a4 Bb4 5.Bd3 d6 6.O-O O-O 7.Nd5 Bc5 8.c3 a5 9.Bc2 Nxd5 10.exd5 Ne7 11.Ng5 h6 12.d4 Bb6 13.Nh7 Re8 14.Nf6+ gxf6 15.Qh5 e4 16.Re1 f5 17.Bxh6 Nxd5 18.Bg5 f6 19.Bb3 c6 20.Re3 Kf8 21.Qg6 f4 22.Bh6+ Ke7 23.Qh7+ 1-0

Position after 22.Bh6+




After 16...f5? 17.Bxh6! Magnus is completely winning!

Game 2, March 20
Nepo, Ian – Giri, Anish
B97 Sicilian, Najdorf, Poisoned Pawn variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6 8.Qd2 Qxb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.f5 Nc6 11.fxe6 Bxe6 12.Rxb7 Nxd4 13.Qxd4 Be7 14.Bd3 h6 15.Bd2 Qc5 16.Ne2 Qxd4 17.Nxd4 Bc8 18.Rb1 O-O 19.Nf5 Bxf5 20.exf5 d5 21.Be3 Ng4 22.Bd4 Rfe8 23.O-O Bf6 24.Bxf6 Nxf6 25.Rb4 a5 26.Rd4 Reb8 27.a3 Kf8 28.Re1 Re8 29.Rb1 Rab8 30.Rxb8 Rxb8 31.Ra4 Ra8 32.c4 Ke7 33.cxd5 Kd6 34.Kf2 Kxd5 35.Bc4+ Ke5 36.Bxf7 Kxf5 37.Kf3 Ra7 38.Ba2 Ke5 39.h4 g5 40.hxg5 hxg5 41.Rc4 g4+ 42.Kf2 Rb7 43.Rc2 Kf4 44.g3+ Ke5 45.Ke3 Ne4 46.Rc4 Nxg3 47.Rxg4 Nf5+ 48.Kd3 Rd7+ 49.Kc3 Rc7+ 50.Rc4 Rxc4+ 51.Kxc4 Ne3+ 52.Kb5 Nc2 53.a4 Nb4 54.Bb3 Nd5 55.Bxd5 Kxd5 56.Kxa5 Kc5 57.Ka6 Kc6 58.a5 Kc7 59.Ka7 Kc8 60.a6 Kc7 61.Ka8 Kc8 62.a7 Kc7 1/2-1/2

Game 2, March 20
So, Wesley – Carlsen, Magnus
C88 Ruy Lopez, Closed, anti-Marshall

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.a4 Bb7 9.d3 Re8 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4 d6 12.Nc3 Na5 13.Ba2 b4 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.Bxd5 c6 17.Ba2 Rb8 18.Nd2 Bg5 19.Nb3 Nxb3 20.Bxb3 a5 21.g3 Qd7 22.Qh5 Rf8 23.Rad1 Rbe8 24.h4 Bd8 25.d4 exd4 26.Rxd4 Bb6 27.Rdd1 Qa7 28.Qf3 Bc5 29.Kg2 Re5 30.Re2 Qe7 31.Rde1 Re8 32.Bc4 Qf6 33.Qxf6 gxf6 34.f4 R5e7 35.Kf3 Kg7 36.g4 Bd4 37.Rd1 Bc5 38.Rdd2 Kf8 39.b3 Kg7 40.Bd3 d5 41.exd5 Re3+ 42.Rxe3 Rxe3+ 43.Kg2 cxd5 44.Bf5 d4 45.Bd3 Bd6 46.Rf2 Bc7 47.Rf3 Re1 48.h5 Re3 49.Rxe3 dxe3 50.Kf3 Bb6 51.Ke4 Bc5 52.Kd5 Bb6 53.Kc6 Bd8 54.Kd7 Bb6 55.Kc6 Bd8 56.Kd7 Bb6 57.Kc6 1/2-1/2

Game 3, March 20
Giri, Anish – Nepo, Ian
B48 Sicilian, Taimanov variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.Nxc6 Qxc6 8.Be2 b5 9.e5 Bb7 10.Bf3 Qc7 11.Bxb7 Qxb7 12.Qd3 Bb4 13.O-O Bxc3 14.Qxc3 Ne7 15.Bc5 Rc8 16.b4 O-O 17.a4 Rfe8 18.axb5 axb5 19.Qd3 Nd5 20.f4 Ra8 21.Rxa8 Rxa8 22.f5 f6 23.exf6 Nxf6 24.Bd4 Rf8 25.fxe6 dxe6 26.Qg3 Nd5 27.Rxf8+ Kxf8 28.Bc5+ Kg8 29.Qe5 Qd7 30.Qd4 Nf6 31.c4 bxc4 32.Qxc4 Qd1+ 33.Qf1 Qc2 34.Qf2 Qb1+ 35.Qf1 Qc2 36.Qf2 Qb1+ 37.Qf1 Qc2 1/2-1/2

Game 3, March 20
Carlsen, Magnus – So, Wesley
C47 Four Knights game

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.h3 Bb4 5.Nd5 Nxd5 6.exd5 e4 7.dxc6 exf3 8.Qxf3 dxc6 9.Bc4 Qe7+ 10.Kd1 O-O 11.Re1 Be6 12.Re2 Bc5 13.d3 Qh4 14.Qf4 Qh5 15.Qg5 Qxg5 16.Bxg5 Bxc4 17.dxc4 Rfe8 18.c3 Kf8 19.Bf4 Rad8+ 20.Ke1 Bd6 21.Be3 a6 22.c5 Be5 23.Rd1 f5 24.Rxd8 Rxd8 25.Bd2 Re8 26.Kd1 Kf7 27.Kc2 Bf6 28.Rxe8 Kxe8 29.Bf4 Kd7 30.Kd3 h5 31.f3 g6 32.g4 Be7 33.gxf5 gxf5 34.Kd4 Bf6+ 35.Be5 Bd8 36.Bf4 Bf6+ 37.Be5 Bd8 38.Bf4 Bf6+ 1/2-1/2

Leko is a fan of Carlsen's 12.Re2!!
"And look at this - I'm loving it!"

Game 4, March 20
Nepo, Ian – Giri, Anish
B97 Sicilian, Najdorf, Poisoned Pawn variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6 8.Qd2 Qxb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.f5 Nc6 11.fxe6 Bxe6 12.Rxb7 Nxd4 13.Qxd4 Be7 14.Bc4 Rc8 15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.Bxd5 Nxd5 17.Qxd5 Qc3+ 18.Ke2 Qxc2+ 19.Bd2 Rc5 20.Rc1 Qxc1 21.Bxc1 Rxd5 22.exd5 h5 23.g3 h4 24.g4 f5 25.Kf3 fxg4+ 26.Kxg4 Rf8 27.Bf4 g6 28.Rb8+ Kf7 29.Rb6 Rc8 30.Rxa6 Rc4 31.Kf3 g5 32.Bxd6 Bxd6 33.Rxd6 g4+ 34.Ke3 Rc2 35.Kf4 Rxa2 36.Kxg4 Rxh2 37.Rh6 Ke7 38.Rxh4 Rxh4+ 39.Kxh4 Kd6 40.Kh3 Kxd5 1/2-1/2

4 draws so far in the Giri-So final, so it will all come down to tomorrow's match!

Game 4, March 20
So, Wesley – Carlsen, Magnus
C54 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.Nbd2 O-O 7.h3 a6 8.Bb3 Be6 9.Bc2 d5 10.Ng5 Bc8 11.exd5 Qxd5 12.O-O Bf5 13.Nde4 Be7 14.Qf3 Qd7 15.b4 Rad8 16.Rd1 Nd5 17.d4 Bg6 18.dxe5 Nxe5 19.Qg3 Nc4 20.h4 Qc6 21.Rd4 Nxb4 22.Rxd8 Nxc2 23.Rxf8+ Bxf8 24.Rb1 Bxe4 25.Nxe4 Qxe4 0-1

Magnus Carlsen wraps up a 3:1 win today after Wesley So blunders in a tricky position in the final game!

Finals Day One Results

Giri-Nepo 2-2
Carlsen-So 3-1

[Hans Jung]

Final Rd 2 Game 2 Wesley So gives a beautiful demonstration of piece play after Blacks 16...Nc6 (instead of Ng6)