FTX Crypto Cup 2021

[Wayne Komer]

FTX Crypto Cup 2021

May 25, 2021

Preliminaries

Day Three

Half of these incredible 16 players will be knocked out today!

Rounds Eleven and Twelve

Round 11

So-Aronian 0.5-0.5
MVL-Nepo 1-0
Pichot-Mamedyarov 0-1
Giri-Radjabov 1-0
Ding-Caruana 0.5-0.5
Grischuk-Svidler 1-0
Dubov-Firouzja 0-1
Carlsen-Nakamura 0.5-0.5

Round 12

Aronian-Nakamura 0.5-0.5
Firouzja-Carlsen 0.5-0.5
Svidler-Dubov 0.5-0.5
Caruana-Grischuk 1-0
Radjabov-Ding 1-0
Mamedyarov-Giri 0.5-0.5
Nepo-Pichot 1-0
So-MVL 0.5-0.5

Round 11, May 25
So, Wesley – Aronian, Levon
C67 Ruy Lopez, open Berlin Defence, l’Hermet variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.dxe5 Nxb5 7.a4 Nbd4 8.Nxd4 Nxd4 9.Qxd4 d5 10.exd6 Qxd6 11.Qe4+ Qe6 12.Qd4 Qd6 13.Qe4+ Qe6 14.Qd4 Qd6 1/2-1/2

Round 11, May 25
MVL – Nepo, Ian
D24 QGA

1.d4 e6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 d5 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.e4 b5 6.e5 Nd5 7.Nxb5 Nb6 8.a4 Qd7 9.Na3 Bb4+ 10.Bd2 Bxa3 11.Rxa3 a5 12.h4 Nc6 13.h5 h6 14.Rh4 Bb7 15.Qc1 Nb4 16.Rg4 f5 17.exf6 gxf6 18.Bxc4 Nxc4 19.Qxc4 Ba6 20.Qc5 Nd3+ 21.Rxd3 Bxd3 22.Bxh6 Qd6 23.Bg7 Qxc5 24.dxc5 Rg8 25.h6 e5 26.Rg3 Bh7 27.Bxf6 Rxg3 28.fxg3 Ra6 29.Bxe5 Rxh6 30.Bxc7 Rh1+ 31.Kd2 Rb1 32.Kc3 Rc1+ 33.Kd4 Rc2 34.Bxa5 Rxb2 35.Bd2 Bf5 36.a5 Bg4 37.Bf4 Rxg2 38.Ne5 Bc8 39.c6 Ra2 40.Nc4 Be6 41.Nb6 Rxa5 42.c7 Ra6 43.Kc5 Kf7 44.c8=Q Bxc8 45.Nxc8 Kg6 46.Nd6 Kh5 47.Nc4 Kg4 48.Ne5+ Kh3 49.Kd4 Ra3 50.g4 Ra4+ 51.Ke3 Kh4 52.Kf3 Ra8 53.Ng6+ Kh3 54.Bd6 Ra6 55.Nf4+ Kh2 56.Bc5 Ra5 57.Be3 Rb5 58.Bf2 Rb3+ 59.Ke4 Rb5 60.Nd5 Rb2 61.Bd4 Rg2 62.Be5+ Kh3 63.Nf4+ Kxg4 64.Nxg2 Kh3 65.Ne3 Kh4 66.Bf4 Kh3 67.Kf3 Kh4 68.Bg3+ Kh3 69.Bf2 Kh2 70.Nd1 Kh1 71.Be1 Kh2 72.Bg3+ Kh1 73.Nf2+ Kg1 74.Bf4 Kf1 75.Bh2 Ke1 76.Ne4 Kf1 77.Nd2+ Ke1 78.Ke3 Kd1 79.Kd3 Ke1 80.Bg3+ Kd1 81.Nc4 Kc1 82.Bf2 Kd1 83.Nb2+ 1-0

Round 11, May 25
Pichot, Alan – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
B40 Sicilian, Anderssen variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.e5 Nd5 8.Ne4 Qc7 9.f4 f5 10.exf6 gxf6 11.Qh5+ Kd8 12.Qf3 Rb8 13.Bd3 Qb6 14.c3 f5 15.Nf2 Rg8 16.O-O c5 17.Bxf5 exf5 18.Qxd5 Qg6 19.Rd1 Rg7 20.g3 Bb7 21.Qe5 Rc8 22.c4 h5 23.Bd2 Re7 24.Ba5+ Ke8 25.Qh8 Kf7 26.Bc3 Bh6 27.Rd6 Qxd6 28.Qh7+ Ke8 29.Qh8+ Bf8 30.Qxh5+ Kd8 31.Ba5+ Rc7 32.Rd1 Qe6 0-1

Round 11, May 25
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.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.h3 Bd7 10.Rd1 Kc8 11.g4 Ne7 12.Ng5 Be8 13.f4 c5 14.f5 h6 15.Nf3 Nc6 16.Kf2 Nb4 17.Na3 Bc6 18.c3 Nd5 19.Nc2 b5 20.Ne3 Nb6 21.b3 Kb7 22.c4 a6 23.Bb2 Be7 24.Rac1 h5 25.g5 Bxf3 26.Kxf3 Bxg5 27.Rg1 Bh6 28.Rc2 Rhd8 29.Ke4 Rd7 30.cxb5 axb5 31.Rxc5 Rxa2 32.Rc2 Bxe3 33.Kxe3 Nd5+ 34.Ke4 Nb4 35.Rcg2 Nd3 36.Bd4 Rxg2 37.Rxg2 c5 38.Be3 c4 39.bxc4 bxc4 40.Rxg7 Kc6 41.Rh7 Nxe5 42.Rh6+ 1-0

Round 11, May 25
Ding, Liren – Caruana, Fabiano
A08 Reti, KIA etc

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.d4 Nf6 5.O-O cxd4 6.Nxd4 e5 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.c4 Be6 9.Bg5 Rc8 10.Qa4 Qd7 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.e3 Rb8 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.Qxd7+ Kxd7 15.Nc3 d4 16.exd4 Rxb2 17.Rfd1 Bb4 18.Na4 Rxa2 19.d5 Bg4 20.Rxa2 Bxd1 21.Nb2 Be2 22.Rxa7+ Kd6 23.Rxf7 Ra8 24.Rxf6+ Ke7 25.d6+ Kxf6 26.Bxa8 Bxd6 27.Na4 Bd3 28.Nc3 h6 29.Be4 Ba6 30.Kg2 Bc5 31.Nd5+ Kf7 32.Nc7 Bc8 33.f3 Bb6 34.Nd5 Bc5 35.g4 Be6 36.Nc3 Bb4 37.Ne2 Kf6 38.h4 Be1 39.Ng3 Bc4 40.g5+ hxg5 41.Nh5+ Ke7 42.hxg5 Bd2 43.g6 Bh6 44.Kg3 Be6 45.Kh4 Bd2 46.Kg3 Bh6 47.Kf2 Bc4 48.Bf5 Bb3 49.Kg3 Bc4 50.Kg4 Bb3 51.Ng3 Bf4 52.Ne4 Bd5 53.Nc3 Bc4 54.Ne4 Bd5 55.Nc5 Be3 56.Nd7 Bd4 57.g7 Bg8 58.Kg5 Kf7 59.Be4 Kxg7 60.Nf6 Be6 61.Ng4 Bxg4 62.fxg4 1/2-1/2

Round 11, May 25
Grischuk, Alexander – Svidler, Peter
E60 King’s Indian Defence

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.h4 Bg7 4.Nc3 O-O 5.e4 d6 6.Be2 h5 7.Nf3 c5 8.d5 e6 9.Bf4 Re8 10.Ng5 exd5 11.exd5 a6 12.O-O Nbd7 13.Bxd6 Qb6 14.Bf4 Qxb2 15.Rc1 b5 16.cxb5 axb5 17.Bxb5 Ra3 18.Qd2 Qb4 19.Bc6 Ng4 20.Nb5 Qxd2 21.Bxd2 Rxa2 22.Bf4 Ree2 23.Bg3 Ne3 24.Rfe1 Nf5 25.Rxe2 Rxe2 26.Na7 Nxg3 27.Nxc8 Bd4 28.Bxd7 Rxf2 29.Kh2 Be5 30.Re1 Ne2+ 31.Kh1 Bg3 32.Nh3 1-0

Round 11, May 25
Dubov, Daniil – Firouzja, Alireza
E61 King’s Indian

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Nf3 O-O 5.Bg5 c5 6.d5 h6 7.Bh4 d6 8.Nd2 e5 9.e3 Re8 10.Bd3 Qb6 11.O-O a6 12.Qc2 Nh7 13.f4 f5 14.g4 e4 15.Be2 fxg4 16.Ncxe4 Bf5 17.Bd3 Nd7 18.Rab1 Ndf8 19.Kh1 Qc7 20.Rbe1 b5 21.Rg1 h5 22.b3 b4 23.Nf2 Qf7 24.h3 Bxd3 25.Qxd3 g5 26.hxg4 gxh4 27.g5 Ng6 28.Nde4 Rad8 29.Nf6+ Kh8 30.Nxe8 Rxe8 31.Re2 Nhf8 32.Kh2 Ne5 33.fxe5 Qf3 34.Rg2 Bxe5+ 35.Kg1 h3 36.Nxh3 Qxh3 37.Qc2 Kg7 38.Ref2 Qxe3 39.Qf5 Qe1+ 40.Rf1 Bd4+ 41.Kh1 Qh4+ 42.Rh2 Qe4+ 43.Qxe4 Rxe4 44.Rxh5 Ng6 45.Rh2 Be5 46.Rhf2 Nf4 47.Rf3 Kg6 48.Rg1 Ne2 49.Rd1 Rh4+ 50.Kg2 Rh2+ 51.Kf1 Ng3+ 0-1

32...Ne5! turns the game in Firouzja's favour!

Round 11, May 25
Carlsen, Magnus – Nakamura, Hikaru
C53 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 O-O 6.Nbd2 d5 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.Ne4 Be7 9.O-O Nb6 10.Bb3 Bf5 11.a4 a5 12.Be3 Kh8 13.Re1 Bg6 14.Ng3 Nd7 15.d4 f5 16.d5 Ncb8 17.Bc1 f4 18.Ne4 Na6 19.Bc2 Re8 20.b3 Bf6 21.Ba3 Nb6 22.d6 c6 23.Qe2 Nd7 24.Rad1 Bh5 25.b4 axb4 26.cxb4 Qb6 27.b5 cxb5 28.axb5 Nab8 29.Bb4 Nf8 30.Nc3 Qd8 31.Nd5 Ra2 32.Qc4 Rxc2 33.Qxc2 Bxf3 34.gxf3 Qd7 35.Nc7 Rd8 36.Qc4 Qh3 37.Rd3 Nbd7 38.Qf7 Bh4 39.Re2 Nf6 40.Bc3 Qf5 41.Rd1 Qh3 42.Rd3 Qf5 43.Red2 e4 44.Bxf6 Bxf6 45.Rd5 Qc8 46.b6 e3 47.d7 Nxd7 48.Rd1 e2 49.Re1 Ne5 50.Rxe5 Bxe5 51.Kg2 Rf8 1/2-1/2

A huge miss by Magnus, but fantastic resistance from Hikaru!

Round 12, May 25
Aronian, Levon – Nakamura, Hikaru
D02 Queen’s Bishop game

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4 Bf5 4.c4 e6 5.Qb3 Nc6 6.Nbd2 Be7 7.e3 O-O 8.c5 Rb8 9.Bb5 Ne4 10.Qa4 Nxd2 11.Kxd2 f6 12.Rhc1 Qd7 13.b3 Rfc8 14.h3 g5 15.Bh2 a6 16.Bxc6 Qxc6 17.Qxc6 bxc6 18.g4 Bg6 19.h4 h6 20.Bg3 Kf7 21.Kc3 Ke8 22.Nd2 Kd7 23.Rh1 Rh8 24.Rh2 Rh7 25.hxg5 hxg5 26.Rxh7 Bxh7 27.Rh1 Bg6 28.f3 Rg8 29.e4 dxe4 30.Nxe4 Kc8 31.Rh6 Kb7 32.Nd2 Kc8 33.Nc4 Bf8 34.Rh2 Bg7 35.f4 gxf4 36.Bxf4 Rh8 37.Rxh8+ Bxh8 38.g5 Bg7 39.gxf6 Bxf6 40.Nd2 Bf5 1/2-1/2

Round 12, May 25
Firouzja, Alireza – Carlsen, Magnus
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.Nbd2 Nd7 7.Nc4 f6 8.c3 Nb6 9.Na5 O-O 10.O-O Rb8 11.b4 Bd6 12.Be3 Be6 13.Nd2 Qd7 14.Qc2 Nc8 15.a3 b6 16.Nab3 Ne7 17.f4 exf4 18.Bxf4 Ng6 19.Bxd6 cxd6 20.Nd4 d5 21.Rae1 Rfe8 22.Qd1 Rbd8 23.Qf3 dxe4 24.Nxe4 Bd5 25.Nf5 Bxe4 26.Rxe4 Rxe4 27.Qxe4 Qxd3 28.Qxc6 Qd7 29.Qc4+ Kh8 30.h4 Ne5 31.Qf4 Qf7 32.h5 h6 33.Nxh6 Qxh5 34.Nf5 Qg4 35.Qh2+ Kg8 36.Ne7+ Kf7 37.Qxe5 Rd2 38.Qh2 Kxe7 39.Qc7+ Qd7 40.Re1+ Kf7 41.Qc4+ Qd5 42.Qc7+ Qd7 43.Qc4+ Qd5 44.Qc7+ Qd7 1/2-1/2

Round 12, May 25
Svidler, Peter – Dubov, Daniil
B30 Sicilian, Nimzowitsch-Rossolimo Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e5 4.O-O Nge7 5.Bc4 d5 6.exd5 Nxd5 7.Re1 f6 8.d4 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Nxd4 10.Qxd4 Be6 11.Qh4 Qb6 12.Bxd5 Bxd5 13.Nc3 Bf7 14.Be3 Qc6 15.f4 Be7 16.Bf2 O-O 17.fxe5 Rae8 18.Qe4 Qa6 19.e6 Bg6 20.Qe2 Qc6 21.Qb5 Bxc2 22.Qxc6 bxc6 23.Bxa7 Bf5 24.a3 Ra8 25.Bf2 Rfe8 26.Re2 Bd6 27.Rae1 Be5 28.Bg3 Bd4+ 29.Bf2 Be5 30.Bg3 Bd4+ 31.Bf2 Be5 1/2-1/2

(to be continued)

[Wayne Komer]

FTX Crypto Cup 2021

May 25, 2021

Day Three (continued)

Rounds Twelve and Thirteen

Round 12, May 25
Caruana, Fabiano – Grischuk, Alexander
D45 QGD, Semi-Slav

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 c6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.b3 O-O 8.Be2 b6 9.O-O Bb7 10.Bb2 Qe7 11.Rad1 Rad8 12.Rfe1 Rfe8 13.g3 Bb4 14.a3 Bxc3 15.Qxc3 c5 16.Qc2 cxd4 17.exd4 Rc8 18.Nd2 Qd6 19.Bf3 Qb8 20.Qd3 Qa8 21.Be2 e5 22.dxe5 Nxe5 23.Qf5 Ned7 24.Bf1 h6 25.Qf4 Rxe1 26.Rxe1 Re8 27.Rxe8+ Qxe8 28.Qc7 Qc8 29.Qxc8+ Bxc8 30.b4 Ba6 31.f3 Kf8 32.Kf2 Ke7 33.a4 Kd6 34.c5+ 1-0

Round 12, May 25
Radjabov, Teimour – Ding, Liren
E15 Queen’s Indian, Nimzowitsch variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Be7 7.Bg2 O-O 8.O-O d5 9.Bc3 c5 10.Ne5 Bb7 11.dxc5 bxc5 12.cxd5 exd5 13.Nd2 Nbd7 14.Rc1 Nxe5 15.Bxe5 Qb6 16.e3 Rac8 17.Re1 Rfd8 18.Qc2 Nd7 19.Bc3 Nf8 20.e4 d4 21.Nc4 Qa6 22.Ba5 Rd7 23.Bd2 Ne6 24.Qd3 Re8 25.f4 Bf8 26.Bf1 Rdd8 27.Na5 Qxd3 28.Bxd3 Ba8 29.Bb5 d3 30.Bxe8 Rxe8 31.Rc3 Nd4 32.Rxd3 Bxe4 33.Rc3 f5 34.Kf2 Rd8 35.Nc4 g6 36.Rd1 Nc2 37.Ne5 Nb4 38.Rc4 Bg7 39.Ke2 Bc2 40.Rxc5 Bxe5 41.fxe5 Bxd1+ 42.Kxd1 Kf7 43.Ke2 Nd5 44.Bg5 Rd7 45.Rc6 Nc7 46.Rd6 Ke8 47.Kd3 Rxd6+ 48.exd6 Nb5 49.Bf4 Kd7 50.Kc4 Nxd6+ 51.Bxd6 Kxd6 52.Kd4 Kc6 53.Ke5 a5 54.a3 Kc5 55.h4 Kc6 56.Kf6 Kd5 57.Kg7 Ke4 58.Kxh7 1-0

Round 12, May 25
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Giri, Anish
B22 Sicilian, Alapin’s variation

1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Bc4 Nb6 5.Bb3 d6 6.exd6 Qxd6 7.Nf3 c4 8.Bc2 Qe6+ 9.Kf1 g6 10.b3 Bg7 11.Na3 cxb3 12.axb3 O-O 13.d4 Nc6 14.h4 h5 15.Bg5 Qd7 16.Qe1 Nd5 17.Rd1 b5 18.c4 bxc4 19.bxc4 Ba6 20.Kg1 Nf6 21.d5 Qd6 22.dxc6 Qxa3 23.Ra1 Qb2 24.Bxg6 Bxc4 25.Rb1 Qa2 26.Bxf6 exf6 27.Ra1 Qb2 28.Bf5 Rfe8 29.Qc1 Qxc1+ 30.Rxc1 Be6 31.Nd4 Bh6 32.Rc2 Bf4 33.g3 Be5 34.Nxe6 fxe6 35.Bg6 Re7 36.Kg2 a5 37.Bxh5 a4 38.f4 Bc7 39.Be2 e5 40.f5 e4 41.Bc4+ Kg7 42.Rd1 Kf8 43.Rd7 a3 44.g4 Rxd7 45.cxd7 Ke7 46.Be6 a2 47.Bxa2 Kxd7 48.g5 fxg5 49.hxg5 Bf4 50.g6 Be5 51.Bd5 Rh8 52.Kg1 e3 53.Re2 Rh5 54.Be6+ Ke7 55.Rg2 Bg7 56.Ra2 Bd4 57.Kg2 Kf6 58.Kf3 Rh3+ 59.Ke4 Rh4+ 60.Kd3 Bc5 61.Rg2 Rd4+ 62.Kc3 Rd2 63.Rxd2 exd2 64.Kxd2 Bf8 65.Kd3 Kg7 66.Kc2 Be7 67.Kd3 Bf6 68.Kc2 Be7 69.Kd3 Bf6 70.Kc2 Be7 1/2-1/2

Round 12, May 25
Nepo, Ian – Pichot, Alan
B51 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.a4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.a5 Bg7 7.O-O a6 8.Be2 O-O 9.d3 b5 10.axb6 Nxb6 11.Qd2 a5 12.Qg5 Nfd7 13.Qh4 Nb8 14.Bh6 Nc6 15.Nd5 f6 16.c3 Be6 17.Ne3 Bf7 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.Nd2 Rb8 20.f4 Nd7 21.Ndc4 Nb6 22.Nd2 Nd7 23.Rfb1 Rb7 24.Bd1 Qb8 25.Ba4 Rc8 26.Ndc4 Nd8 27.Nd5 Nf8 28.Re1 Be6 29.b3 Qa7 30.Re3 Nf7 31.Rae1 Rcb8 32.Kh1 Rxb3 33.Bxb3 Rxb3 34.Qf2 a4 35.Qa2 Nh6 36.R3e2 Bxd5 37.exd5 Ng8 38.Rc2 Qa8 39.Ne3 f5 40.Rb1 Rxb1+ 41.Qxb1 Nf6 42.c4 Qa5 43.Kg1 N8d7 44.Kf2 Qb4 45.Qa1 h5 46.Ke2 Qa5 47.Rb2 h4 48.Rb5 Qa8 49.Qe1 a3 50.Ra5 Qb8 51.Qa1 Qh8 52.Rxa3 Qh5+ 53.Kd2 h3 54.g3 Qf3 55.Qf1 Qxf1 56.Nxf1 Kf7 57.Ne3 Nf8 58.Ke2 e6 59.Ra7+ Ke8 60.Kf3 e5 61.g4 1-0

Round 12, May 25
So, Wesley – MVL
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 Bf6 19.Rxa7 Rxd2 20.Rxa6 Qxa6 21.Qxd2 Qb6 22.g3 Bd4 23.Qe2 Rf6 24.Kg2 Qb2 25.Qxb2 Bxb2 26.Rb1 Bd4 27.Rb8+ Rf8 28.Rxf8+ Kxf8 29.Kf1 Kg7 30.Kg2 Kf8 31.Kf1 Kg7 32.Kg2 Kf8 1/2-1/2

Round 13

MVL-Aronian 0.5-0.5
Pichot-So 0-1
Giri-Nepo 0.5-0.5
Ding-Mamedyarov 0.5-0.5
Grischuk-Radjabov 0.5-0.5
Dubov-Caruana 0-1
Carlsen-Svidler 0.5-0.5
Nakamura-Firouzja 0-1

Round 13, May 25
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 Qe7 11.Nd2 Bb7 12.Qe2 Ng6 13.Nb3 O-O 14.a4 Rab8 15.axb5 axb5 16.Nd4 Bd5 17.Nxb5 Qxc5 18.Na3 Qc6 19.c4 Be6 20.b3 Nh4 21.Qe3 Bg4 22.Bd1 Qe6 23.h3 Bf3 24.Bxf3 Nxf3+ 25.gxf3 Rxb3 26.Qxb3 Qxh3 27.Nc2 exf3 28.Ne1 Qg4+ 29.Kh1 Qh3+ 30.Kg1 Qg4+ 31.Kh1 Qh3+ 32.Kg1 1/2-1/2

Round 13, May 25
Pichot, Alan – So, Wesley
C18 French, Winawer, Advance

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Qg4 Kf8 8.Nh3 Nbc6 9.Bd3 Qa5 10.Bd2 cxd4 11.cxd4 Qa4 12.O-O Qxd4 13.Nf4 h5 14.Qg3 h4 15.Qh3 Nxe5 16.Be3 Qa4 17.Be2 N5c6 18.Bg4 Ne5 19.Rfe1 Kg8 20.Bd2 Nxg4 21.Qxg4 Qxc2 22.Qe2 Nc6 23.Nd3 h3 24.Rac1 Qa4 25.Ne5 hxg2 26.Rc3 Qh4 27.h3 Qh5 28.Nxc6 bxc6 29.Qe3 Ba6 30.Kxg2 Bc4 31.Qg3 d4 32.Rxc4 Qd5+ 33.Kh2 Qxc4 0-1

After 10 draws in a row, all but 2 of them without any play, Wesley So picks up a full point against Pichot to move to +3

Round 13, May 25
Giri, Anish – Nepo, Ian
D85 Grunfeld, Modern Exchange variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5 8.Rb1 O-O 9.Be2 Nc6 10.d5 Ne5 11.Nxe5 Bxe5 12.Qd2 Qa5 13.Rb3 e6 14.f4 Bg7 15.c4 Qd8 16.Bb2 Bxb2 17.Rxb2 e5 18.O-O Qd6 19.f5 gxf5 20.exf5 f6 21.Rb3 Bd7 22.Qh6 Rf7 23.Rxb7 Rg7 24.Bf3 Kh8 25.Be4 Rag8 26.Rxa7 Qb6 27.Ra3 Qb2 28.Rg3 Qd4+ 29.Kh1 Qxe4 30.Qxf6 Qxc4 31.Rb1 Be8 32.Rxg7 Rxg7 33.Qf8+ Rg8 34.Qf6+ Rg7 35.Qf8+ Rg8 36.Qf6+ Rg7 1/2-1/2

Round 13, May 25
Ding, Liren – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
E01 Catalan, Closed

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Bd6 6.Nf3 O-O 7.O-O dxc4 8.Qc2 Nc6 9.Rd1 Re8 10.Qxc4 e5 11.d5 Nd4 12.Nc3 Nxf3+ 13.Bxf3 a6 14.a4 Rb8 15.e4 Qe7 16.Qe2 Bd7 17.Bg5 h6 18.Bxf6 Qxf6 19.Bg4 Bxg4 20.Qxg4 Bc5 21.Rd2 c6 22.Kg2 Bd4 23.Qf3 Qxf3+ 24.Kxf3 Bxc3 25.bxc3 cxd5 26.Rxd5 Rbc8 27.Ra3 Rc7 28.Ke3 f6 29.Rb3 Kf7 30.Kd3 Rec8 31.c4 Rxc4 32.Rxb7+ Kg6 33.Rdd7 Rc2 34.Rxg7+ Kh5 35.Rb3 Rxf2 36.Rb6 Rfc2 37.Rb3 Rxh2 38.Rb1 Rcc2 39.Rf1 Rcf2 40.Rxf2 Rxf2 41.a5 Ra2 42.g4+ Kh4 43.Rg6 Ra3+ 44.Ke2 Ra2+ 45.Kf3 Ra3+ 46.Ke2 Rxa5 47.Rxf6 Kg5 48.Re6 Ra2+ 49.Kd3 Ra3+ 50.Kc4 Kf4 51.Rxh6 Kxe4 52.Rh8 Kf4 53.Rg8 e4 54.g5 e3 55.g6 Kg5 56.g7 Kg6 57.Re8 Kxg7 58.Kb4 Kf7 59.Re4 Rd3 60.Kc4 Ra3 61.Kb4 Rd3 62.Kc4 Ra3 63.Kb4 1/2-1/2

Round 13, May 25
Grischuk, Alexander – Radjabov, Teimour
B32 Sicilian, Labourdonnais-Loewenthal variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 d6 6.N1c3 a6 7.Na3 Be7 8.Be3 Nf6 9.Nc4 b5 10.Nb6 Rb8 11.Nxc8 Qxc8 12.Be2 O-O 13.O-O b4 14.Nd5 Nxe4 15.a4 bxa3 16.Rxa3 Nf6 17.Bxa6 Qd7 18.Bc4 Nxd5 19.Qxd5 Nb4 20.Qd1 d5 21.Ra7 Qc6 22.Rxe7 Qxc4 23.Rxe5 Nxc2 24.Qxd5 Qxd5 25.Rxd5 Nxe3 26.fxe3 Rxb2 27.Rf2 Rb1+ 28.Rf1 Rb2 29.Rf2 Rb1+ 30.Rf1 Rb2 1/2-1/2

Round 13, May 25
Dubov, Daniil – Caruana, Fabiano
B48 Sicilian, Taimanov variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.f4 b5 8.e5 Bb7 9.Be2 Nxd4 10.Bxd4 Nh6 11.Bf3 Nf5 12.Bf2 Bb4 13.O-O Bxc3 14.bxc3 O-O 15.Bxb7 Qxb7 16.a4 Qc6 17.axb5 axb5 18.Qd3 Ra4 19.Rxa4 bxa4 20.c4 h5 21.c5 Rb8 22.Rd1 Ra8 23.Ra1 Ne7 24.h3 Qd5 25.Qe2 a3 26.c4 Qb7 27.Qxh5 Qb2 28.Qd1 Nc6 29.h4 a2 30.h5 Rb8 31.Be1 Qb1 32.Bc3 Qxd1+ 33.Rxd1 Rb1 34.Rf1 Nb4 35.g4 Nd3 0-1

Round 13, May 25
Carlsen, Magnus – Svidler, Peter
B51 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 a6 6.Be2 Ngf6 7.O-O g6 8.e5 dxe5 9.Nxe5 Bg7 10.Bf4 O-O 11.Rd1 Qa5 12.Qc3 Qb6 13.Nc4 Qe6 14.Qe3 b5 15.Na5 Nb6 16.Qxe6 Bxe6 17.Be5 Rac8 18.c3 Na4 19.b3 Nb6 20.Bf3 Nfd5 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.c4 bxc4 23.bxc4 Nxc4 24.Bxd5 Bxd5 25.Rxd5 Nxa5 26.Nd2 Nc6 27.Nb3 Rfd8 28.Rc5 Nb4 29.Kf1 Rxc5 30.Nxc5 Rc8 31.Rc1 Rc6 32.a4 e5 33.Ke2 f5 34.Kd2 Kf7 35.Rc4 Nd5 36.Nd3 Rxc4 37.Nxe5+ Ke6 38.Nxc4 Nf6 39.Kc3 Kd5 40.Kb4 Ng4 41.Ne3+ Nxe3 42.fxe3 Ke4 43.Ka5 Kxe3 44.Kxa6 f4 45.a5 g5 46.Kb6 g4 47.a6 f3 48.gxf3 gxf3 49.a7 f2 50.a8=Q f1=Q 51.Qe8+ Kf2 52.Qf7+ Kg2 53.Qxh7 Qg1+ 54.Kc6 Qxh2 55.Qxh2+ Kxh2 1/2-1/2

The 36.Nd3! Rxc4 37.Nxe5+ trick saves Magnus, but he's far from out of the woods! Still, a bit missed chance for Peter

Round 13, May 25
Nakamura, Hikaru – Firouzja, Alireza
A58 Benko Gambit Accepted

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 g6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.g3 O-O 8.Nf3 Qa5 9.Bd2 d6 10.Bg2 Nbd7 11.O-O Nb6 12.Qc2 Qxa6 13.e4 Nc4 14.b3 Nxd2 15.Nxd2 Ng4 16.a4 Qa5 17.Rac1 Ba6 18.Nb5 Bxb5 19.axb5 Qxb5 20.h3 Ne5 21.Rfd1 Ra3 22.Bf1 Qb4 23.Qc3 Qb7 24.Qe3 Ra2 25.Be2 Rb8 26.Kf1 Nd7 27.Nf3 Qb4 28.Bc4 Rba8 29.Qd3 Rb2 30.Rc2 Raa2 31.Rxb2 Rxb2 32.Re1 Ra2 33.Bb5 Ne5 34.Nxe5 Bxe5 35.Re2 Ra1+ 36.Kg2 Qa3 37.Qc2 Rc1 38.Qa2 Qb4 39.Bc4 Qc3 40.Re3 Qd4 41.Bf1 Kg7 42.Qe2 Qa1 43.Qa6 Qb2 44.Qe2 Rc2 45.Qf3 Qa1 46.Bd3 Rc1 47.Re2 Rh1 48.Qe3 Qf1+ 49.Kf3 Qxh3 50.Qg5 Rd1 51.Re3 0-1

Firouzja takes down Nakamura to keep his hopes alive!

(to be continued)

[Hans Jung]

Rd 14 Firoujza tactics meet Aronian tactics.

[Wayne Komer]

FTX Crypto Cup 2021

May 25, 2021

Day Three (continued)

Rounds Fourteen and Fifteen

Round 14

Aronian-Firouzja 0.5-0.5
Svidler-Nakamura 0-1
Caruana-Carlsen 0.5-0.5
Radjabov-Dubov 0.5-0.5
Mamedyarov-Grischuk 0.5-0.5
Nepo-Ding 1-0
So-Giri 0.5-0.5
MVL-Pichot 1-0

Round 15

Pichot-Aronian 0-1
Giri-MVL 0.5-0.5
Ding-So 0.5-0.5
Grischuk-Nepo 0-1
Dubov-Mamedyarov 1-0
Carlsen-Radjabov 1-0
Nakamura-Caruana 0.5-0.5
Firouzja-Svidler 0.5-0.5

Round 14, May 25
Aronian, Levon – Firouzja, Alireza
E10 Queen’s Pawn game

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.Qc2 dxc4 6.e4 c5 7.Bxc4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Ne5 9.Bb5+ Bd7 10.Bf4 Ng6 11.Bg3 Bb4 12.O-O O-O 13.Rfd1 Bxc3 14.bxc3 Bxb5 15.Nxb5 Qb6 16.a4 e5 17.c4 Qc5 18.Kf1 Rfd8 19.f3 a6 20.Bf2 Qc6 21.Na3 Nf8 22.c5 Ne6 23.Nc4 Rxd1+ 24.Qxd1 Rd8 25.Qc1 Nd7 26.Na5 Qc7 27.Nxb7 Qxb7 28.c6 Qb3 29.cxd7 Qd3+ 30.Kg1 Rxd7 31.Qf1 Qd6 32.Be3 h5 33.h4 Nf8 34.a5 Ng6 35.g3 Rc7 36.Rc1 Rd7 37.Rc5 Qe6 38.Kg2 Qa2+ 39.Qf2 Qa3 40.Qe2 Rd3 41.Bf2 Kh7 42.Rc7 Qxa5 43.Rxf7 Rd2 44.Qe3 Qa2 45.Rf5 Qc2 46.Rxh5+ *

Round 14, May 25
Svidler, Peter – Nakamura, Hikaru
C53 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 O-O 6.O-O d5 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.a4 Nb6 9.Bb3 a5 10.Re1 Bg4 11.h3 Bh5 12.Qe2 Bg6 13.Bc2 Qd7 14.Nh4 Rad8 15.Nxg6 hxg6 16.Nd2 Nd5 17.Ne4 Be7 18.Bb3 Qf5 19.Bc4 Nb6 20.Bb5 Na7 21.Be3 Nxb5 22.axb5 Qd7 23.Bc5 a4 24.d4 exd4 25.Bxd4 Nd5 26.Red1 Rfe8 27.c4 Nf4 28.Qf3 Qf5 29.Ng3 Nxh3+ 30.Kf1 Qxf3 31.gxf3 Ng5 32.Be5 Rxd1+ 33.Rxd1 c6 34.Rd7 Nxf3 35.Bc3 cxb5 36.cxb5 b6 37.Ne4 a3 38.bxa3 Bxa3 39.Nd6 Bxd6 40.Rxd6 Re6 41.Rxe6 fxe6 42.Ke2 Ng5 43.Bd4 Ne4 44.Kf3 Nd6 45.Bxb6 Nxb5 46.Kg4 Kf7 47.f4 Nd6 48.Bd4 Nf5 49.Bb2 Kg8 50.Kg5 Kh7 51.Bc3 Nd6 52.Bb2 Nf7+ 53.Kg4 Kh6 54.Bc3 Nd6 55.Be5 Nc4 56.Bd4 Nd6 57.Be5 Nf5 58.Bc3 Ne3+ 59.Kf3 Nd5 60.Be5 Nf6 0-1

Round 14, May 25
Caruana, Fabiano – Carlsen, Magnus
C67 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence, open variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.Re1 Nd6 6.Nxe5 Be7 7.Bf1 Nxe5 8.Rxe5 O-O 9.d4 Bf6 10.Re1 Nf5 11.c3 d5 12.Nd2 Re8 13.Nf3 Rxe1 14.Qxe1 Nd6 15.Bd3 Bf5 16.Bxf5 Nxf5 17.Bf4 Qd7 18.Ne5 Bxe5 19.Qxe5 c6 20.Re1 f6 21.Qe2 g5 22.Bg3 Ng7 23.Qf3 Qf5 24.Qxf5 Nxf5 25.f3 Kf7 26.Kf2 h5 27.h3 Re8 28.Rxe8 Kxe8 29.Bb8 a6 30.g4 Ng7 31.f4 hxg4 32.hxg4 gxf4 33.Bxf4 Kf7 34.Kf3 Kg6 35.Be3 Ne6 36.Bf4 b5 37.Be3 a5 38.Bf4 a4 39.Be3 Nc7 40.b3 axb3 41.axb3 Ne6 42.Ke2 Ng5 43.Bxg5 Kxg5 44.Kf3 b4 45.cxb4 f5 46.gxf5 Kxf5 47.b5 cxb5 48.b4 Kg5 49.Kg3 Kf5 50.Kf3 Kg5 51.Kg3 Kf5 52.Kf3 1/2-1/2

Round 14, May 25
Radjabov, Teimour – Dubov, Daniil
D85 Grunfeld, Modern Exchange variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Be3 c5 8.Nf3 O-O 9.Be2 b6 10.Rc1 e6 11.O-O Bb7 12.dxc5 Nd7 13.cxb6 axb6 14.Qc2 Qc7 15.Nd4 Nc5 16.f3 Be5 17.h3 Rfc8 18.Rfd1 Ra5 19.Rb1 Rca8 20.Rb2 Na4 21.Rb3 Nc5 22.Rb2 Na4 23.Rb3 Nc5 24.Rb2 1/2-1/2

Round 14, May 25
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Grischuk, Alexander
C01 French, Exchange

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Bd3 Bd6 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.O-O O-O 7.Re1 Bg4 8.Bg5 Nbd7 9.Nbd2 c6 10.c3 Qc7 11.h3 Bh5 12.Qc2 Rfe8 13.a4 a5 14.Bf5 Bg6 15.Qd3 Bf4 16.Bxg6 hxg6 17.Bxf4 Qxf4 18.Rxe8+ Rxe8 19.Re1 Rxe1+ 20.Nxe1 Ne4 21.Nef3 Nxd2 22.Nxd2 Nf8 23.g3 Qd6 24.Kg2 Ne6 25.h4 g5 26.h5 Qf4 27.Qe2 Qf5 28.Nf1 g4 29.Nh2 Qxh5 30.Qxg4 Qxg4 31.Nxg4 Kf8 32.Kf3 Ke7 33.Ne5 Ng5+ 34.Ke3 Ne4 35.g4 g5 36.f3 Nd6 37.b3 f6 38.Nd3 b6 39.Ke2 Ke6 40.Ke3 Ke7 41.Ke2 Ke6 42.Ke3 Ke7 1/2-1/2

Round 14, May 25
Nepo, Ian – Ding, Liren
B19 Caro-Kann, Classical

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Qxd3 e6 10.Bf4 Ngf6 11.O-O-O Be7 12.Qe2 O-O 13.Kb1 a5 14.Ne4 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 Nf6 16.Qe2 a4 17.g4 Nd5 18.Bd2 Qb6 19.c4 Ba3 20.Be1 Nf4 21.Qc2 Rfd8 22.h5 c5 23.Bc3 cxd4 24.Rxd4 Rxd4 25.Nxd4 Bb4 26.Bxb4 Qxb4 27.a3 Qc5 28.Qe4 Rd8 29.Nf3 Qd6 30.Ka1 b6 31.g5 hxg5 32.Nxg5 f5 33.Qb7 Rd7 34.Qa8+ Rd8 35.Qxa4 Qe7 36.Nf3 Qb7 37.Rd1 Rxd1+ 38.Qxd1 Kh7 39.Qb3 Kh6 40.c5 Nd5 41.Ne5 Qc7 42.Qg3 Kxh5 43.Qh2+ Kg5 44.Nf3+ Kf6 45.Qxc7 Nxc7 46.cxb6 Na6 47.b4 Ke7 48.Kb2 Kd6 49.Kc3 Kc6 50.Nd4+ Kxb6 51.Nxe6 g6 52.a4 1-0

Round 14, May 25
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

Round 14, May 25
MVL – Pichot, Alan
B51 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.O-O g6 7.Re1 Bg7 8.Bf1 Nc5 9.Nc3 O-O 10.Nb3 Nxb3 11.axb3 Bg4 12.f3 Be6 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.exd5 Bf5 15.c3 e5 16.dxe6 Bxe6 17.b4 a5 18.b5 d5 19.Be3 Qd6 20.Bd4 Rfc8 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.Qd4+ Kg8 23.Ra4 b6 24.Qf6 Qc5+ 25.Rd4 a4 26.h4 a3 27.bxa3 Rxa3 28.h5 gxh5 29.Kh1 Rxc3 30.Rxe6 fxe6 31.Qxe6+ Kh8 32.Qe5+ Kg8 33.Rxd5 Qc7 34.Qe6+ Kh8 35.Rd7 Qf4 36.Qe7 Qh6 37.Qe5+ Kg8 38.Bd3 Rxd3 39.Rxd3 Rf8 40.Rd6 Qc1+ 41.Kh2 Qf4+ 42.Qxf4 Rxf4 43.Rxb6 Kg7 44.Rb8 Rb4 45.b6 h4 46.b7 h5 47.f4 1-0

Round 15, May 25
Pichot, Alan – Aronian, Levon
B40 Sicilian, Anderssen variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.e5 Nd5 8.Ne4 Qc7 9.f4 Bb7 10.c4 Bb4+ 11.Ke2 O-O 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.Ng5 f6 14.Nf3 fxe5 15.fxe5 Rf5 16.Be3 d4 17.Bxd4 Raf8 18.Qb3 Rxf3 19.gxf3 Bxf3+ 20.Kd3 Qb7 21.Kc2 Bxh1 22.a3 Qe4+ 23.Bd3 Rc8+ 24.Kb1 Qxd4 25.axb4 Qxe5 0-1

von gets the win he needed - an 8th loss in a row for Pichot - but it's anything but clear if he'll qualify!

Round 15, May 25
Giri, Anish – MVL
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.Be3 Nd3 20.Bxd4 Nxe1 21.Rg7+ Kh8 22.Rd7+ Kg8 23.Rg7+ Kh8 24.Rd7+ Kg8 25.Rg7+ 1/2-1/2

Round 15, May 25
Ding, Liren – So, Wesley
C67 Ruy Lopez, open Berlin Defence, l’Hermet variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.dxe5 Nxb5 7.a4 Nbd4 8.Nxd4 Nxd4 9.Qxd4 d5 10.exd6 Qxd6 11.Qe4+ Qe6 12.Qd4 Qd6 13.Qe4+ Qe6 14.Qd4 Qd6 1/2-1/2

Round 15, May 25
Grischuk, Alexander – Nepo, Ian
D85 Grunfeld, Modern exchange variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5 8.Be3 Qa5 9.Nd2 O-O 10.Nb3 Qc7 11.Nxc5 Nd7 12.Na4 a6 13.Rc1 b5 14.Nb2 Bb7 15.f3 Qa5 16.Qb3 e5 17.d5 Rfc8 18.Be2 Bf8 19.O-O Nc5 20.Bxc5 Rxc5 21.Nd3 Rc7 22.Nxe5 Rac8 23.c4 Qd2 24.Qd3 Qf4 25.d6 Rc5 26.d7 Rd8 27.Ng4 Rc7 28.Qc3 Bg7 29.e5 Rcxd7 30.cxb5 axb5 31.Bxb5 Rd2 32.a4 h5 33.Nf6+ Bxf6 34.exf6 Qg5 35.Rf2 Rxf2 36.Kxf2 Rd2+ 37.Be2 Rxe2+ 38.Kxe2 Qxg2+ 39.Kd3 Qxf3+ 40.Kc4 Qe2+ 41.Kb4 Qxh2 42.Qd4 Qb8 43.Ka3 Qg3+ 44.Rc3 Qe1 45.Re3 Qc1+ 46.Kb4 Bc6 47.Rc3 Qb2+ 48.Ka5 Kh7 49.Qc4 Bd5 50.Qc5 Be6 51.Ka6 Qe2+ 52.Ka7 h4 53.Qd4 g5 54.a5 h3 55.Re3 Qg4 56.Qd3+ Kh6 57.Re1 Qf5 58.Qd2 Qc5+ 59.Kb8 Qc8+ 60.Ka7 Qc7+ 61.Ka8 Bd7 62.Rc1 Bc6+ 63.Rxc6 Qxc6+ 64.Kb8 Qg2 0-1

Grischuk's position is good, but unsurprisingly he's playing moves with seconds to spare!

Round 15, May 25
Dubov, Daniil – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
D79 Neo-Grunfeld

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.Bg2 O-O 5.O-O d5 6.c4 c6 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.Ne5 Ng4 9.Nxg4 Bxg4 10.Nc3 Nc6 11.h3 Bd7 12.e4 dxe4 13.d5 Ne5 14.Nxe4 Bb5 15.Re1 Nd3 16.Re3 Nxc1 17.Rxc1 Bh6 18.f4 Qb6 19.Qd2 Rac8 20.Kh2 Rxc1 21.Qxc1 Qd8 22.Qc5 a6 23.Nc3 Qd6 24.Qxd6 exd6 25.Nxb5 axb5 26.Rb3 Ra8 27.a3 Ra5 28.Bf1 Bg7 29.Bxb5 Bd4 30.Kg2 h5 31.Kf3 Kg7 32.g4 hxg4+ 33.hxg4 Ra8 34.Bd7 b6 35.Rb4 Bg1 36.Re4 Ra7 37.Bc6 f5 38.Re2 fxg4+ 39.Kxg4 Bd4 40.a4 Kf7 41.Be8+ Kf8 42.b3 Kg7 43.Re6 1-0

Dubov beats Mamedyarov, who is now out!

(to be continued)

[Wayne Komer]

FTX Crypto Cup 2021

May 25, 2021

Day Three (continued)

Round Fifteen concluded

Round 15, May 25
Carlsen, Magnus – Radjabov, Teimour
B30 Sicilian Defence

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Bc4 Be7 5.d3 Nf6 6.O-O O-O 7.Nd5 d6 8.c3 Rb8 9.a4 Nxd5 10.Bxd5 Bf6 11.Re1 Re8 12.Bd2 Ne7 13.Bc4 Ng6 14.b4 b6 15.b5 Be6 16.Bxe6 Rxe6 17.c4 Nf4 18.Qb3 g5 19.Be3 g4 20.Nd2 h5 21.Nf1 h4 22.Qd1 Bg7 23.Bc1 Rg6 24.Ne3 Qd7 25.Nf5 Bf6 26.a5 Kh7 27.axb6 axb6 28.Be3 d5 29.Bxf4 exf4 30.cxd5 Bxa1 31.Qxa1 Re8 32.Nxh4 Rg5 33.g3 f3 34.h3 Rh5 35.Nf5 Rxf5 36.exf5 Rxe1+ 37.Qxe1 Qxd5 38.Qe7 Qxf5 39.hxg4 Qd5 40.Qf6 Kg8 41.Qf5 Qb3 42.Qxf3 Qxb5 43.Qd5 Qe8 44.g5 Qe6 45.Qxe6 fxe6 46.f4 Kf7 47.Kf2 b5 48.Ke3 Kg6 49.g4 b4 50.Kd2 e5 51.fxe5 Kxg5 52.Kc2 1-0

Huge relief for Magnus Carlsen as he beats Teimour Radjabov to confirm qualification for tomorrow's #FTXCryptoCup quarterfinals!

Round 15, May 25
Nakamura, Hikaru – Caruana, Fabiano
C67 Ruy Lopez, open Berlin Defence, l’Hermet variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.dxe5 Nxb5 7.a4 Nbd4 8.Nxd4 d5 9.exd6 Nxd4 10.Qxd4 Qxd6 11.Qe4+ Qe6 12.Qd4 Qd6 13.Qe4+ Qe6 14.Qd4 Qd6 1/2-1/2

Round 15, May 25
Firouzja, Alireza – Svidler, Peter
A30 English symmetrical

1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.e3 Nf6 5.d4 cxd4 6.exd4 d5 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Qb3 Nxc3 9.Bc4 e6 10.bxc3 Bd7 11.Be2 Na5 12.Qb1 Bg7 13.Ba3 Bf8 14.Bxf8 Kxf8 15.c4 Bc6 16.Qb4+ Kg7 17.O-O Rc8 18.Ne5 b6 19.Rad1 Qg5 20.g3 Rhd8 21.Qb2 Ba4 22.Rd2 Qe7 23.d5 f6 24.Ng4 Nxc4 25.Bxc4 Rxc4 26.d6 Qf7 27.Ne3 Rc5 28.Rc1 Rdc8 29.Re1 e5 30.f4 Re8 31.Rf2 Qd7 32.fxe5 Rcxe5 33.Rxf6 Qb5 34.Qd4 Qc5 35.Rf4 Qxd4 36.Rxd4 Bd7 37.Rc4 Rc5 38.Rxc5 bxc5 39.Rb1 Bc6 40.Nc4 Kf6 41.Na5 Bd5 42.Nb7 Bxb7 43.Rxb7 Rd8 44.Rxh7 Rxd6 45.Rxa7 Rd2 46.a4 Ra2 47.a5 c4 48.Rc7 Rxa5 49.Rxc4 Ra2 50.Rf4+ Kg7 51.Rf2 Ra4 52.Kg2 g5 53.Rb2 Kg6 54.Rb6+ Kg7 55.Kf3 Kf7 56.h3 Kg7 57.Re6 Kf7 58.Re4 Ra6 59.Rd4 Kg6 60.Ke4 Re6+ 61.Kd3 Ra6 62.Rc4 Ra3+ 63.Rc3 Ra4 64.Ke3 Rb4 65.Rd3 Ra4 66.Rd6+ Kf5 67.g4+ Ke5 68.Rd3 Kf6 69.Rd6+ Ke5 70.Rh6 Ra3+ 71.Kf2 Ra2+ 72.Kg3 Ra3+ 73.Kg2 Ra2+ 74.Kg3 Ra3+ 75.Kg2 Ra2+ 76.Kg3 1/2-1/2

Final Standings

1 Caruana 10
2-5 Giri, Nakamura, MVL, So 9
6-7 Carlsen, Radjabov 8.5
8-9 Nepo, Aronian 8
10 Mamedyarov 7.5
11-13 Firouzja, Svidler, Ding 7
14 Dubov 6
15 Grischuk 5
16 Pichot

Nepo takes the last place over Aronian in the tie-break

Knockout Pairings for the Quarterfinals

Caruana-Nepo
So-MVL
Nakamura-Carlsen
Radjabov-Giri

[Wayne Komer]

FTX Crypto Cup 2021

May 26, 2021

Quarter-Final Knockouts

Day 1

Round 1, May 26
Nepo, Ian – Caruana, Fabiano
C42 Petrov, Classical Attack, Marshall variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Bd6 7.O-O O-O 8.c4 c6 9.Nc3 Nxc3 10.bxc3 dxc4 11.Bxc4 Bg4 12.h3 Bh5 13.g4 Bg6 14.Ne5 Bxe5 15.dxe5 Qa5 16.Qd4 Na6 17.Bg5 b5 18.Be2 Rfe8 19.Bf3 Rac8 20.Rfe1 Nc7 21.Qb4 Qxb4 22.cxb4 Ne6 23.Be3 c5 24.bxc5 Nxc5 25.Rec1 Nd3 26.Rxc8 Rxc8 27.Bg2 Nxe5 28.f4 Nc4 29.Bxa7 f6 30.Rd1 Be8 31.Bd5+ Kf8 32.Bf2 Ke7 33.Rd3 h6 34.Be1 Bc6 35.Bb4+ Ke8 36.Be6 Ra8 37.a3 Ra7 38.Kf2 Bd7 39.Bg8 f5 40.g5 hxg5 41.fxg5 g6 42.Kg3 Ra6 43.h4 Be6 44.Bh7 Kf7 45.Rd8 Rxa3+ 46.Bxa3 Nxa3 47.Rd6 Nc4 48.Bxg6+ Ke7 49.Ra6 b4 50.Ra7+ Kd6 51.Rb7 Ne5 52.Be8 Nd3 53.Bf7 f4+ 54.Kh2 Bxf7 55.Rxf7 b3 56.Rb7 Nc5 57.Rb5 Kc6 58.Rb4 f3 59.g6 1-0

Round 2, May 26
Caruana, Fabiano – Nepo, Ian
C02 French, Advance, Euwe variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bd7 6.Be2 Nge7 7.Na3 Ng6 8.Nc2 cxd4 9.cxd4 f6 10.h4 fxe5 11.h5 Nf4 12.dxe5 Nxe2 13.Qxe2 Qa5+ 14.Bd2 Qa4 15.Bc3 Be7 16.Nfd4 Nxd4 17.Nxd4 O-O 18.O-O Rf4 19.b3 Qa6 20.Qxa6 bxa6 21.g3 Rg4 22.Kg2 Rg5 23.Rac1 Rxh5 24.Ba5 Be8 25.Rfe1 Rh6 26.b4 Rg6 27.Rc7 Bd8 28.Rb7 Bxa5 29.bxa5 h5 30.Rc1 h4 31.Rcc7 hxg3 32.fxg3 Bb5 33.Nxb5 axb5 34.a6 Kh7 35.Rxb5 Rg5 36.Rbb7 d4 37.Rd7 Rc8 38.Rxd4 Rc3 39.Rxa7 Rgxg3+ 40.Kf2 Rcf3+ 41.Ke2 Ra3 42.Rd2 Rg5 43.Kd1 Rg1+ 44.Ke2 Rg5 45.Kd1 Rg1+ 46.Ke2 Rg5 1/2-1/2

Round 3, May 26
Nepo, Ian – Caruana, Fabiano
B48 Sicilian, Taimanov variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.g4 Nxd4 8.Qxd4 b5 9.O-O-O Bb7 10.Kb1 Nf6 11.g5 Ng4 12.Bf4 e5 13.Nd5 O-O-O 14.f3 exd4 15.Bxc7 Re8 16.Bg3 Bxd5 17.exd5 Ne3 18.Rxd4 Nf5 19.Rd1 Nxg3 20.hxg3 Kc7 21.a4 Rb8 22.axb5 axb5 23.Bd3 h6 24.gxh6 Rxh6 25.Rxh6 gxh6 26.Rh1 b4 27.Rh5 Rb6 28.Rf5 f6 29.Bc4 Bd6 30.f4 Bc5 31.d6+ Bxd6 32.Rxf6 Bc5 33.Rf5 Bd4 34.Rh5 Rg6 35.Rh3 Bf2 36.f5 Rxg3 37.Rxh6 Be3 38.Ra6 Bc5 39.f6 Rf3 40.f7 Rf5 41.Ka2 Kb7 42.Rh6 d5 43.Rh7 Kc6 44.Bd3 Rf6 45.Kb3 Bf8 46.Be2 Kc5 47.Bh5 Rh6 48.Rxh6 Bxh6 49.c3 bxc3 50.Kxc3 Bg7+ 51.Kb3 Kd6 52.Kc2 Ke7 53.b4 Bd4 54.Kd3 Ba7 55.Ke2 d4 56.Kd3 Kf8 57.Ke4 Ke7 58.b5 Kf8 59.Bg6 Bb6 60.Kd3 Ba7 61.Kc4 Bb6 62.Bh5 Ba7 63.Kb4 Bb6 64.Bg6 Ke7 65.Kc4 Kf8 66.Kd3 Ba7 67.Ke4 Bb6 68.Bh5 Ba7 69.Kd5 d3 70.Kc6 d2 71.b6 Bxb6 72.Kxb6 d1=Q 73.Bxd1 Kxf7 1/2-1/2

Round 4, May 26
Caruana, Fabiano – Nepo, Ian
C02 French, Advance, Euwe variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bd7 6.Be2 Nge7 7.Na3 cxd4 8.cxd4 f6 9.exf6 gxf6 10.O-O Bg7 11.Nc2 O-O 12.b4 a6 13.a4 e5 14.Ba3 e4 15.Nd2 f5 16.Nb3 Ng6 17.f4 Nce7 18.a5 Ba4 19.Ne3 Qc7 20.Rc1 Qd6 21.g3 Rac8 22.Rc5 Rxc5 23.bxc5 Qe6 24.c6 Qxc6 25.Bc5 Rc8 26.Qb1 Bb5 27.Nc1 Bxe2 28.Nxe2 Qd7 29.Qb3 Kh8 30.Rb1 Nc6 31.Qxb7 Qxb7 32.Rxb7 Nxa5 33.Rd7 Nb3 34.Nxf5 Bf6 35.Bd6 a5 36.Ra7 h5 37.Be5 Bxe5 38.dxe5 Rc2 39.Ned4 Nxd4 40.Nxd4 Rd2 41.Nf5 d4 42.e6 e3 43.e7 Nxe7 44.Rxe7 a4 45.Nxd4 Rxd4 46.Rxe3 h4 47.Kg2 Rd8 48.g4 Rb8 49.Re4 Ra8 50.Re2 a3 51.Ra2 Kg7 52.Kh3 Kg6 53.Kxh4 Ra4 54.Kg3 Kf6 55.h4 Kg6 56.h5+ Kf6 57.Kh4 Ra8 58.f5 Kg7 59.g5 Ra4+ 60.Kg3 Kf7 61.h6 Kg8 62.g6 Kh8 63.Kf3 Kg8 64.f6 Kh8 65.Re2 Ra8 66.f7 1-0

Caruana on the final game where he came back to draw 2:2 against Nepo: "I was ready to resign after about 20 moves - it was beyond hopeless!"

Ian Nepomniachtchi throws something in disgust after squandering many chances to win today's match against Fabiano Caruana!

Round 1, May 26
MVL – 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.Nc3 Ne8 10.Nd5 Bd6 11.Re1 c6 12.Ne3 Be7 13.c4 Nc7 14.d4 d5 15.cxd5 Bb4 16.Bd2 Bxd2 17.Qxd2 Nxd5 18.Nxd5 Qxd5 19.Re5 Qd6 20.Bc4 Bd7 21.Rae1 Rae8 22.Qc3 Rxe5 23.dxe5 Qe7 24.Qa5 a6 25.Qb6 Bc8 26.h3 g6 27.a3 Rd8 28.Qe3 b5 29.Be2 c5 30.Rd1 Rxd1+ 31.Bxd1 h5 32.f4 Be6 33.Be2 c4 34.Qd4 a5 35.a4 bxa4 36.Bxc4 Bxc4 37.Qxc4 Qb4 38.Qc1 h4 39.Kh1 Qd4 40.Qc8+ Kg7 41.Qc1 Kh7 42.Kh2 Kg7 43.Kh1 Kh7 44.Kh2 Kg7 45.Kh1 1/2-1/2

Round 2, May 26
So, Wesley – MVL
D85 Grunfeld, Modern Exchange variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Be3 c5 8.Nf3 Qa5 9.Nd2 Nd7 10.Nb3 Qc7 11.Rc1 O-O 12.Be2 Nf6 13.f3 b6 14.dxc5 Nd7 15.cxb6 axb6 16.Qc2 Qa7 17.Ra1 Ba6 18.Bd4 Rfc8 19.O-O Bxe2 20.Qxe2 e5 21.Be3 Rxc3 22.Rfc1 Rxc1+ 23.Rxc1 Qxa2 24.Qxa2 Rxa2 25.Rc7 Nf8 26.Bxb6 Rb2 27.Rc3 Ne6 28.Be3 Bf8 29.Rd3 Rb1+ 30.Kf2 Nf4 31.Bxf4 exf4 32.g3 Rb2+ 33.Kg1 Bd6 34.Rxd6 Rxb3 35.Kg2 Rb2+ 36.Kh3 fxg3 37.hxg3 h5 38.g4 hxg4+ 39.Kxg4 Kg7 40.Kf4 Rb5 41.Kg4 Ra5 42.Kf4 Rb5 43.Kg4 Ra5 44.Kf4 Rb5 1/2-1/2

Round 3, May 26
MVL – 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 Bd7 10.Rd1 Be7 11.g4 Nh4 12.Nxh4 Bxh4 13.Nd2 Kc8 14.Ne4 h6 15.a4 a5 16.Nc5 Be8 17.b3 b6 18.Nd3 c5 19.Bb2 h5 20.f3 Kb7 21.Kg2 Bc6 22.Bc3 f5 23.gxf5 Raf8 24.e6 Rxf5 25.Ne5 Re8 26.Nxc6 Kxc6 27.Rd2 Rxe6 28.Rf1 Be1 29.Rd3 Re2+ 30.Kh1 Bxc3 31.Rxc3 Rd5 32.f4 Rdd2 33.Rg3 Rxc2 34.Kg1 Re7 0-1

Round 4, May 26
So, Wesley – MVL
A70 Benoni, Classical

1.d4 e6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nc3 g6 7.e4 Bg7 8.h3 O-O 9.Bd3 a6 10.a4 Nbd7 11.O-O Qc7 12.Re1 c4 13.Bf1 Re8 14.Bf4 Rb8 15.Bh2 b5 16.axb5 axb5 17.Nd4 Qc5 18.Nc6 Bb7 19.Nxb8 Rxb8 20.Ra5 Bc8 21.Qa1 Ne8 22.Ra8 Bd4 23.Bg3 Nef6 24.Rxb8 Nxb8 25.Ne2 Be5 26.Bxe5 dxe5 27.b4 Qxb4 28.Rb1 Qc5 29.Qxe5 Nbd7 30.Qd4 1-0

Round 1, May 26
Nakamura, Hikaru – Carlsen, Magnus
C80 Ruy Lopez, open, Bernstein variation

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.Nbd2 Nc5 10.c3 Be7 11.Bc2 d4 12.Nb3 dxc3 13.Nxc5 Bxc5 14.Be4 Qd7 15.bxc3 Rd8 16.Qc2 Ne7 17.Bg5 h6 18.Rfd1 Qc8 19.Bxe7 Rxd1+ 20.Rxd1 Kxe7 21.Nd4 Re8 22.Bf3 g6 23.Qd2 Bxd4 24.cxd4 Bg4 25.d5 Bxf3 26.d6+ Kd7 27.gxf3 Re6 28.Rc1 c5 29.Qe3 c4 30.Qa7+ Ke8 31.Rd1 Qd7 32.Qa8+ Qd8 33.Qxa6 Kf8 34.Qxb5 Qg5+ 35.Kf1 Rxe5 36.Qxe5 1-0

Round 2, May 26
Carlsen, Magnus – Nakamura, Hikaru
C50 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 O-O 6.h3 h6 7.c3 d6 8.Re1 a5 9.d4 Bb6 10.Be3 exd4 11.cxd4 d5 12.exd5 Ne7 13.Nc3 Nexd5 14.Qd2 c6 15.Bxh6 gxh6 16.Qxh6 Bf5 17.Re5 Bg6 18.Rg5 Nh7 19.Rg4 Re8 20.Nxd5 cxd5 21.Bd3 Nf8 22.Ne5 Re6 23.Bf5 Rd6 24.Nxg6 fxg6 25.Bxg6 Rxg6 26.Rxg6+ Nxg6 27.Qxg6+ Kh8 28.Qh5+ Kg8 29.Qg4+ Kh7 30.Re1 Rc8 31.Re6 1-0

Hikaru spent 6 minutes varying from 14...Nxe3 he played against Caruana in the semi-final of last year's Magnus Carlsen Invitational with 14...c6!? - and now 2 moves later after 16...Bf5? (16...Nh7!) he's lost!

Round 3, May 26
Nakamura, Hikaru – Carlsen, Magnus
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.O-O d6 6.Nc3 Bd7 7.Na4 Bb6 8.Nxb6 axb6 9.Re1 h6 10.c3 Ne7 11.Bc4 b5 12.Bb3 Ng6 13.d4 O-O 14.h3 Re8 15.Bc2 Bc6 16.Nd2 d5 17.dxe5 Nxe4 18.f4 Nh4 19.Nxe4 dxe4 20.Qxd8 Raxd8 21.Be3 Nf5 22.Kf2 g5 23.Rad1 Nxe3 24.Kxe3 gxf4+ 25.Kxf4 e3 26.Rd4 b4 27.g4 bxc3 28.bxc3 Rxd4+ 29.cxd4 Bd5 30.Bb3 Rd8 31.Kxe3 Bxb3 32.axb3 c6 33.h4 Rd5 34.b4 Rb5 35.Rb1 Kg7 36.Ke4 Kg6 37.h5+ Kg7 38.Kf5 Rd5 39.Ke4 Rb5 40.Rb2 Kf8 41.Kd3 Ke7 42.Kc4 f6 43.Re2 Rd5 44.exf6+ Kxf6 45.Re5 b5+ 46.Kd3 Rd8 47.Rc5 Rd6 48.Ke4 Re6+ 49.Re5 Rd6 50.d5 cxd5+ 51.Rxd5 Rb6 52.Kd4 Rb8 53.Rd6+ Kg5 54.Rg6+ Kh4 55.Kc5 Kg3 56.Rxh6 Kxg4 57.Rb6 Rc8+ 58.Kxb5 1-0

Round 4, May 26
Carlsen, Magnus – Nakamura, Hikaru
C50 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 O-O 6.h3 d5 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.a4 Be6 9.Ng5 Bf5 10.Qf3 Nde7 11.c3 h6 12.Ne4 Bd6 13.b4 a6 14.Nbd2 Kh8 15.Ba3 Bg6 16.Nxd6 cxd6 17.b5 Na5 18.Bb4 axb5 19.axb5 b6 20.Bd5 Rc8 21.c4 f5 22.Be6 Rb8 23.Bxa5 bxa5 24.d4 Rf6 25.d5 Bf7 26.Bxf7 Rxf7 27.Nb3 Ra8 28.c5 a4 29.c6 Qb6 30.Qd3 Rb8 31.Rxa4 Ng6 32.Rb4 Nf4 33.Rxf4 exf4 34.Nd4 f3 35.Rc1 Ra7 36.Ne6 Ra2 37.Qd4 1-0

(to be continued)

[Wayne Komer]

FTX Crypto Cup 2021

May 26, 2021

Quarter-Final Knockouts

Day 1 (continued)

Round 1, May 26
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.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.h3 Ke8 10.Nc3 h5 11.Ne2 b6 12.Rd1 Ba6 13.Nf4 Be7 14.e6 Bd6 15.a4 Bb7 16.exf7+ Kxf7 17.Ng5+ Kf6 18.Ne4+ Kf7 19.Nxd6+ cxd6 20.h4 Nxh4 21.Rxd6 Rad8 22.Rxd8 Rxd8 23.Nd3 Ng6 24.a5 c5 25.axb6 axb6 26.Ra7 Rd7 27.Be3 Re7 28.b4 Be4 29.Rxe7+ Kxe7 30.bxc5 Bxd3 31.cxd3 bxc5 32.Bxc5+ Ke6 33.Be3 Ne5 34.Bd4 Nxd3 35.Bxg7 Kf5 36.Bd4 Nf4 37.Be3 Nd5 38.Bd2 Nf6 39.Kh2 Ng4+ 40.Kg3 Ne5 41.Bc3 Ng6 42.Bb2 Ke4 43.Bf6 Kf5 44.Bh4 Ke4 45.Bd8 Kf5 46.Kf3 Ne5+ 47.Ke2 Ng6 48.Ke3 Nf4 49.Kf3 Ng6 50.Kg3 Ke4 51.Bc7 Kf5 52.f3 Ne7 53.Kf2 Nd5 54.Bd8 Kg6 55.Bh4 Kf5 56.Bg3 Kg6 57.Bh2 Kf5 58.Ke2 Kg6 59.Bb8 Kf5 60.Kf2 Kg6 61.Bd6 Kf5 62.Bh2 Kg6 63.Bb8 Kf5 64.Ke2 Kg6 65.Kd3 Kf5 66.Kd4 Ne7 67.Bd6 Ng6 68.g3 Ke6 69.Bb8 Kf5 70.Kd5 Nh8 71.Bc7 Nf7 72.Kd4 Ng5 73.Ke3 Ne6 74.Bd6 Ng5 75.Be7 Nf7 76.Bb4 Ne5 77.Bc3 Nf7 78.Bd2 Ne5 79.Ke2 Nf7 80.Ba5 Ne5 81.Bc7 Nf7 82.Kf2 Ng5 83.Kg2 Ne6 84.Bb6 Ng5 85.Be3 Nf7 86.Bd2 Ne5 87.Bf4 Nf7 88.Kh3 Nd8 89.Kh4 Ne6 90.Be3 Kg6 91.Kh3 Kf5 92.Kg2 Nf8 93.Kf2 Ng6 94.Ke2 Nf8 95.Bh6 Nd7 96.Ke3 Ne5 97.Bf4 Nf7 98.Bc7 Ng5 99.Bd8 Nf7 100.Ba5 Ne5 101.Bc3 Nf7 102.Kd3 Ng5 103.Ke2 Nf7 104.Bd2 Ne5 105.Bf4 Nf7 106.Ke3 Nd8 107.Bd6 Nf7 108.Bb4 Ng5 109.Bd2 Nf7 110.Ba5 Ne5 111.Bd8 Nf7 112.Bh4 Ne5 113.Be7 Nc4+ 114.Ke2 Ne5 115.Bd6 Nf7 116.Bf4 h4 117.gxh4 Kxf4 118.h5 Nh6 119.Kd3 Nf5 120.Kc4 Kg5 121.f4+ Kxh5 122.Kd5 Kg6 123.Ke5 Ng7 124.f5+ Kf7 125.f6 Ne8 126.Kf5 Nc7 127.Ke5 Nb5 128.Kf5 Na3 129.Ke5 Nb1 130.Kf5 Nd2 131.Ke5 Nf1 132.Kf5 Nh2 133.Ke5 Nf3+ 134.Kf5 Ne1 135.Ke5 Nd3+ 136.Kf5 Nc5 137.Ke5 Nb7 138.Kf5 Nd8 139.Ke5 Ne6 140.Kf5 Nc5 141.Ke5 Nb3 142.Kf5 Na1 143.Ke5 Nc2 144.Kf5 Ne3+ 145.Ke5 Nd1 146.Kf5 Nf2 147.Ke5 Ng4+ 148.Kf5 Ne3+ 149.Ke5 Nc4+ 150.Kf5 Na5 151.Ke5 Nb7 152.Kf5 Nd6+ 153.Ke5 Nc8 154.Kf5 Nb6 155.Ke5 Na8 156.Kf5 Nc7 157.Ke5 Ne6 158.Kf5 Nf8 159.Ke5 Ng6+ 160.Kf5 Nh4+ 161.Kg4 Kxf6 1/2-1/2

Position after White’s 130.Kf5



Round 2, May 26
Radjabov, Teimour – Giri, Anish
D80 Grunfeld, Stockholm variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bg5 Bg7 5.e3 c5 6.Nf3 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Ne4 8.Bh4 Nxc3 9.bxc3 dxc4 10.Bxc4 O-O 11.O-O Qc7 12.Be2 Nc6 13.Rb1 a6 14.Qb3 Ne5 15.a4 Re8 16.Bg3 Qc5 17.Rfc1 Bd7 18.Qxb7 Bxa4 19.Qb4 Qxb4 20.cxb4 Nd7 21.Ra1 Bxd4 22.Rxa4 Be5 23.Bxe5 Nxe5 24.Rxa6 Rxa6 25.Bxa6 Rb8 26.b5 Kf8 27.f4 Nd7 28.Rc8+ Rxc8 29.Bxc8 Ke8 30.Bb7 Kd8 31.Bd5 e6 32.Bc6 Nb8 33.Bf3 Kc7 34.Kf2 Kb6 35.Be2 Nd7 36.Kf3 Nc5 37.h4 Na4 38.Kg4 Nc3 39.Bd3 Nd1 40.Kg5 Nxe3 41.g3 Nd1 42.Kf6 Nf2 43.Bc2 Nh1 44.g4 Nf2 45.g5 Nh3 46.Kxf7 Nxf4 47.Kf6 Kxb5 48.Bb3 Ng2 49.Bxe6 Nxh4 50.Bg8 Nf3 51.Bxh7 Nxg5 52.Kxg5 Kb4 53.Bxg6 1/2-1/2

Almost a great technical win for Teimour Radjabov, but one slip (48.Bb3) and Anish Giri escapes!

Round 3, May 26
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.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.h3 Ke8 10.Nc3 h5 11.Bf4 Be7 12.Rad1 Be6 13.Ng5 Rh6 14.Rfe1 Rd8 15.Rxd8+ Kxd8 16.Nxe6+ Rxe6 17.g4 Nh4 18.Re3 Rg6 19.Rg3 hxg4 20.hxg4 Ke8 21.Kf1 Re6 22.Re3 Rg6 23.f3 f5 24.exf6 Rxf6 25.Ne2 Kf7 26.Rd3 Bc5 27.Rd7+ Kg8 28.Rxc7 Ng6 29.Bg3 Rxf3+ 30.Kg2 Re3 31.Kf1 Rf3+ 32.Kg2 Re3 33.Kf1 Rf3+ 1/2-1/2

Round 4, May 26
Radjabov, Teimour – Giri, Anish
D32 QGD, Tarrasch Defence

1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.e3 e6 5.d4 d5 6.cxd5 exd5 7.Bb5 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bd7 9.O-O Bd6 10.Nf3 Bg4 11.Be2 O-O 12.b3 a6 13.Bb2 Re8 14.Rc1 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 d4 16.exd4 Nxd4 17.Bxb7 Ra7 18.Ne4 Nxe4 19.Qxd4 Bxh2+ 20.Kxh2 Qxd4 21.Bxd4 Rxb7 22.Rfe1 f5 23.f3 Rd8 24.Rc4 Ng5 25.Re5 Rbd7 26.Bb6 Rf8 27.Be3 h6 28.Rcc5 f4 29.Bc1 Rd6 30.Rf5 Rdf6 31.Rxf6 Rxf6 32.Rc4 Ne6 33.Rc6 Kf7 34.Rxa6 Rf5 35.Ra7+ Ke8 36.Ba3 Kd8 37.Bb4 Rh5+ 38.Kg1 Rd5 39.Bc3 g6 40.a4 Kc8 41.Re7 Nc5 42.a5 Rd3 43.Be5 Nd7 44.Bxf4 g5 45.Bg3 Rxb3 46.a6 Kd8 47.Rh7 Ra3 48.Bd6 Ra1+ 49.Kh2 Ke8 50.Re7+ Kd8 51.Re6 g4 52.fxg4 Ra4 53.Rxh6 Ke8 54.Re6+ Kd8 55.g5 Nb6 56.Bc5 Nc8 57.g6 Kd7 58.Rf6 Rh4+ 59.Kg3 Rh5 60.Be3 Ne7 61.a7 Ra5 62.g7 1-0

Carlsen and Caruana both hit back to draw today's matches, while Giri and MVL must win tomorrow to force tiebreaks after losing to Radjabov & So!

Results of the Day 1 Quarterfinal Matches

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

[Hans Jung]

Methinks somebody finally wore down Anish Giri. Will we see a resilient comeback tomorrow?

[Hans Jung]

Wesley So is so smooth before you know it he has won with the Berlin. Amazing, truly amazing!

[Wayne Komer]

FTX Crypto Cup 2021

May 27, 2021

Quarter-Final Knockouts

Day 2

Round 5, May 27
Caruana, Fabiano – Nepo, Ian
A48 King’s Indian, East Indian Defence

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.b3 Bg7 4.Bb2 O-O 5.e3 b6 6.g3 Bb7 7.Bg2 d5 8.O-O Nbd7 9.Nbd2 c5 10.Qe2 Rc8 11.c4 dxc4 12.bxc4 e6 13.a4 Ne4 14.Nxe4 Bxe4 15.Rfd1 Qe7 16.a5 Rfd8 17.h4 h6 18.Ne1 Bxg2 19.Nxg2 Nf6 20.axb6 axb6 21.Nf4 Qb7 22.Rab1 cxd4 23.Bxd4 Qc6 24.Rxb6 Qxc4 25.Qxc4 Rxc4 26.Rbb1 Ng4 27.Bxg7 Rxd1+ 28.Rxd1 Kxg7 29.Rd2 g5 30.hxg5 hxg5 31.Ne2 Ne5 32.Kg2 g4 33.Nd4 Rc1 34.Rc2 Rb1 35.Rd2 Kg6 36.Kh2 Nc4 37.Rc2 Nd6 38.Kg2 Ne4 39.f3 gxf3+ 40.Kxf3 Ng5+ 41.Kg2 Re1 42.Re2 Ra1 43.Rc2 Ra3 44.Kf2 e5 45.Nc6 Kf5 46.g4+ Ke6 47.Nb4 Ra4 48.Rc6+ Kd7 49.Rb6 Ne4+ 50.Kf3 Nd2+ 51.Ke2 Nc4 52.Rb7+ Ke6 53.Kd3 Nd6 54.Rb6 Ra3+ 55.Ke2 Rb3 56.Nd5 1/2-1/2

Round 6, May 27
Nepo, Ian – Caruana, Fabiano
C55 Two Knights Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 h6 5.Nc3 Bc5 6.h3 d6 7.Na4 Bb6 8.a3 O-O 9.O-O Re8 10.b4 Ne7 11.c3 Ng6 12.Bb3 Be6 13.Bc2 Qd7 14.Kh2 Rad8 15.Nxb6 axb6 16.d4 Bc4 17.Re1 b5 18.a4 bxa4 19.Bxa4 c6 20.Bc2 Qc7 21.Kg1 d5 22.exd5 e4 23.d6 Qxd6 24.Nd2 Bd3 25.Bxd3 exd3 26.Rxe8+ Rxe8 27.Nf3 Nd5 28.Qxd3 b5 29.g3 Qe6 30.Kg2 Nf6 31.Bd2 Qd5 32.Re1 Ne4 33.Kg1 Re6 34.Re3 f5 35.Re1 Kh7 36.h4 Nf6 37.Rxe6 Qxe6 38.Ne1 Ne7 39.Ng2 Ned5 40.f3 Kg8 41.Kf2 Nh5 42.Bf4 Nhxf4 43.Nxf4 Nxf4 44.gxf4 Kf7 45.Qe3 Qa2+ 46.Qe2 Qb3 47.Qe5 Qc2+ 48.Kg3 Qb1 49.Qe3 Qd1 50.Qf2 Qb3 51.Qd2 Qb1 52.Kg2 Qb3 53.Qd3 Qd5 54.Kg3 Qe6 55.Qd2 Kg6 56.Kh3 Kh5 57.Qf2 Qc4 58.Qe3 Qf1+ 59.Kg3 g6 60.Kh2 Kxh4 61.Qe7+ Kh5 62.Qe3 Kh4 63.Qe7+ Kh5 64.Qe3 Kh4 1/2-1/2

Round 7, May 27
Caruana, Fabiano – Nepo, Ian
A48 King’s Indian, East Indian Defence

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.e3 Bg7 4.Be2 O-O 5.O-O d5 6.b4 a5 7.b5 c5 8.bxc6 Nxc6 9.a4 Ne4 10.Bb2 Bf5 11.Na3 Rc8 12.Nb5 Re8 13.Rc1 Nd6 14.c3 Nc4 15.Bxc4 dxc4 16.Re1 Bd3 17.e4 Qb6 18.Qd2 Na7 19.Nxa7 Qxa7 20.Ba3 Qb6 21.Ne5 Bxe5 22.dxe5 Qc6 23.Qg5 Rc7 24.e6 Qxe6 25.Qxa5 Qc6 26.f3 Rcc8 27.Qg5 e5 28.a5 b6 29.axb6 Qxb6+ 30.Kh1 Kg7 31.Ra1 f6 32.Qh4 Ra8 33.h3 h5 34.Bb4 Ra7 35.Rxa7+ Qxa7 36.f4 Qb6 37.f5 Rh8 38.fxg6 Rh6 39.Qg3 Rxg6 40.Qf3 Qa7 41.Qf5 Qf7 42.Bc5 Rg5 43.Qf3 Qb7 44.Bb4 Kg6 45.Kh2 Kg7 46.Re3 Qf7 47.Re1 Qg6 48.Bc5 Qe8 49.Be3 Rg6 50.Ra1 Kg8 51.Qf5 Rg7 52.Bh6 Rb7 53.Qxf6 Kh7 54.Be3 Qg6 55.Qxe5 Bxe4 56.Rg1 Qf5 57.Qd6 Qg6 58.Qf4 Rb2 59.Bf2 Qf5 60.Qc7+ Kg6 61.Bd4 Qf7 62.Qg3+ Kh7 63.Qe5 Re2 64.Qg3 Bd5 65.Qb8 Be4 66.Qe5 Kg6 67.Qg3+ Kh7 68.Rf1 Qd7 69.Rf2 Rxf2 70.Qxf2 Qd6+ 71.Kg1 Qg6 72.Qa2 Qc6 73.Qf2 Qg6 74.Be5 Bb7 75.Kh2 Bd5 76.Qa7+ Qf7 77.Qd4 Qg8 78.Bg3 Qe6 79.Qd2 Qe4 80.Qf2 Kg6 81.Bf4 Kf7 82.Be3+ Ke6 83.Bd4 Kd7 84.Qg3 Kc6 85.Qf2 Kd7 86.Qg3 Kc6 87.Qf2 Kd7 1/2-1/2

Fabiano Caruana misses a win again, with the match tied 1.5:1.5 going into the final rapid game!

Round 8, May 27
Nepo, Ian – Caruana, Fabiano
C47 Four Knights, Scotch variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Bb4 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Bd3 d5 8.exd5 O-O 9.O-O Bg4 10.f3 Bh5 11.Bg5 Qd6 12.Qe1 Nxd5 13.Ne4 Bxe1 14.Nxd6 Bb4 15.Nc4 Rfe8 16.Rad1 f6 17.Bd2 a5 18.a3 Bxd2 19.Rxd2 Bg6 20.Kf2 Nf4 21.Bxg6 hxg6 22.a4 g5 23.Re1 Rxe1 24.Kxe1 Nd5 25.b3 Kf7 26.Kf2 Ke6 27.Rd4 Nb6 28.Ne3 Nd5 29.Re4+ Kd7 30.Nc4 Nb6 31.Nd2 Rh8 32.h3 c5 33.f4 gxf4 34.Rxf4 Rh5 35.Rg4 Rf5+ 36.Ke2 g5 37.g3 Nd5 38.Nc4 Nb4 39.Ne3 Re5 40.Kd2 Nc6 41.h4 Nd4 42.Kd3 Nf3 43.hxg5 fxg5 44.Nc4 Re1 45.Re4 Rg1 46.g4 Nh2 47.Ne3 Nf3 48.Nc4 Nh2 49.Ne5+ Kd6 50.Kc4 Rg2 51.c3 Rg3 52.Nf7+ Kc6 53.Ne5+ Kd6 54.Nf7+ Kc6 55.Ne5+ Kd6 1/2-1/2

Round 5, May 27
So, Wesley – MVL
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

Round 6, May 27
MVL – So, Wesley
D02 Queen’s Bishop game

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.Nc3 Bg4 6.Be2 e6 7.Ne5 Bxe2 8.Nxe2 Rc8 9.c3 Bd6 10.Nd3 c4 11.Ndc1 Bxf4 12.Nxf4 b5 13.b4 a5 14.a4 Qb6 15.axb5 Qxb5 16.bxa5 O-O 17.O-O Ra8 18.Nce2 Rxa5 19.Rb1 Qa6 20.Ng3 Ra3 21.Nfh5 Nxh5 22.Nxh5 Ne7 23.Qc2 Qa4 24.Qc1 Qa5 25.Rb4 Nc6 26.e4 Nxb4 27.Qg5 g6 28.Nf6+ Kg7 29.Qe5 Ra8 30.Nxd5+ Kg8 31.cxb4 Qd8 32.Nf6+ Kg7 33.Ne8+ Kf8 34.Nc7 Rc8 35.Nb5 Ra6 36.d5 Kg8 37.Nc3 Qd6 38.Qd4 e5 39.Qd2 Qxb4 40.Rb1 Qc5 41.h4 Qd4 42.Qe1 h5 43.Kh2 Qc5 44.Qd2 Qd4 45.Qe1 Rca8 46.Nb5 Qc5 47.Nc3 Rb6 48.Rc1 Qe7 49.g3 Qc5 50.Nd1 Rc8 51.Nc3 Rb3 52.Rc2 Rcb8 53.Qd2 Qd4 54.Qe1 Rb2 55.Qc1 Rxc2 56.Qxc2 Rb3 0-1

Round 7, May 27
So, Wesley – MVL
E10 Queen’s Pawn game

1.d4 e6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 Nc6 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Nbd2 d6 6.a3 Bxd2+ 7.Qxd2 Qe7 8.Bg2 e5 9.O-O O-O 10.b4 Bf5 11.Bb2 Be4 12.Rfe1 Rfe8 13.b5 Nxd4 14.Nxd4 exd4 15.f3 Bg6 16.Qxd4 Qe3+ 17.Qxe3 Rxe3 18.Bd4 Rb3 19.e4 Nd7 20.f4 f6 21.e5 fxe5 22.fxe5 dxe5 23.Bxe5 Nxe5 24.Rxe5 Bf7 25.Rc5 c6 26.bxc6 bxc6 27.Rxc6 Rd8 28.Rc7 h5 29.Rxa7 Bxc4 30.Ra8 Rxa8 31.Bxa8 g5 32.Rc1 Bf7 33.Rd1 Rxa3 34.Bd5 h4 35.Bxf7+ Kxf7 36.gxh4 gxh4 37.Rd4 h3 38.Rg4 Kf6 39.Rg3 Rxg3+ 40.hxg3 Kg5 41.Kh1 Kh5 42.Kg1 Kg5 43.Kh1 Kh5 44.Kg1 Kg5 1/2-1/2

With a draw in Game 3, Wesley So is the first to qualify for the #FTXCryptoCup semi-finals! He'll play the winner of Caruana-Nepomniachtchi tomorrow:

Round 5, May 27
Carlsen, Magnus – Nakamura, Hikaru
C50 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 O-O 6.Re1 Ng4 7.Re2 Kh8 8.h3 f5 9.Bg5 Nf6 10.Nc3 d6 11.Nd5 fxe4 12.dxe4 Be6 13.Nxf6 gxf6 14.Bxe6 fxg5 15.c3 Qf6 16.Bg4 Ne7 17.Qd2 Rg8 18.b4 Bb6 19.a4 a5 20.Qa2 Qg6 21.Qe6 Qg7 22.bxa5 Bxa5 23.Rb1 Ra7 24.Qc4 Qg6 25.Rb5 c6 26.Nxe5 dxe5 27.Rxe5 Rd8 28.Re6 Qg7 29.g3 Raa8 30.Kg2 Ng6 31.e5 Bc7 32.Bf5 Nxe5 33.Qb4 Rf8 34.Re7 Rf7 35.Qxb7 Raf8 36.Rxf7 Qxf7 37.Be4 h5 38.Bxc6 Qc4 39.Bb5 Qxc3 40.Qe4 Qc5 41.Rc2 Qd6 42.Be2 h4 43.gxh4 Ng6 44.Kf1 Bb6 45.Bf3 Ne5 46.Rd2 Qc5 47.Rc2 Nxf3 48.Rxc5 Nd2+ 49.Ke2 Nxe4 50.Rc6 Bxf2 51.hxg5 Nxg5 52.a5 Ne4 53.Kd3 Nc5+ 54.Kc4 Nb7 55.Rh6+ Kg7 56.Rh5 Ra8 57.Rf5 Nd6+ 0-1

It looks like Magnus has missed 27...Rd8! when sacrificing on e5!

After 4 wins for White, Nakamura wins the 1st game today with Black after spotting the refutation of Magnus' piece sacrifice!

Round 6, May 27
Nakamura, Hikaru – Carlsen, Magnus
B51 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O a6 6.c4 e6 7.Nc3 Be7 8.d4 cxd4 9.Nxd4 O-O 10.Qe2 Qc7 11.Bb3 b6 12.Be3 Bb7 13.f3 Rac8 14.Rac1 Rfe8 15.Rfd1 Qb8 16.Ba4 Rc7 17.b4 Rec8 18.Bb3 b5 19.Ncxb5 axb5 20.Nxb5 h5 21.a4 h4 22.a5 h3 23.Ra1 hxg2 24.Nxc7 Qxc7 25.b5 Ba8 26.Rdb1 d5 27.b6 Qe5 28.f4 Qc3 29.Qe1 Qd3 30.Ba4 Nc5 31.a6 Nxa6 32.b7 Bxb7 33.Rxb7 Bc5 34.Rb3 Qxc4 35.Bxc5 Nxc5 36.Rb4 Qf1+ 37.Qxf1 gxf1=Q+ 38.Kxf1 Nd3 39.Rd4 dxe4 40.f5 exf5 41.Bd7 Nxd7 42.Rxd7 Rc2 43.Ra8+ Kh7 44.Re8 Kg6 45.Ree7 Kg5 46.Rxf7 g6 47.Rd6 Rxh2 48.Rg7 Nf4 49.Re7 0-1

Round 7, May 27
Carlsen, Magnus – Nakamura, Hikaru
A00 Sokolsky Opening

1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 Bxb4 3.Bxe5 Nf6 4.c3 Be7 5.e3 c5 6.Bxf6 Bxf6 7.g3 b6 8.Bg2 Nc6 9.d4 Ba6 10.Ne2 O-O 11.O-O Re8 12.Re1 Rc8 13.a3 Bxe2 14.Rxe2 cxd4 15.cxd4 Nxd4 16.exd4 Rxe2 17.Qxe2 Bxd4 18.Ra2 Rc1+ 19.Bf1 Rxb1 20.Qd3 Rb2 21.Rxb2 Bxb2 22.Qd6 g6 23.a4 Qe8 24.Qd2 Ba3 25.Bb5 Bc5 26.Bxd7 Qe4 27.Bb5 h5 28.Qe2 Qf5 29.Kg2 h4 30.gxh4 Qf4 31.h5 gxh5 32.Qf3 Qxf3+ 33.Kxf3 a5 34.Kg2 h4 35.h3 f6 36.f3 Kg7 37.Bc6 Kg6 38.Bb5 f5 39.Bc6 f4 40.Bb5 Kf6 41.Bc6 Ke5 42.Bb5 Kd4 43.Bc6 Ke3 44.Bb5 Bb4 45.Bc6 Bc5 46.Bb5 Bb4 47.Bc6 Bc5 1/2-1/2

Wow! Magnus plays 1.b4 again with the stakes high!

Round 8, May 27
Nakamura, Hikaru – Carlsen, Magnus
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.O-O Nd4 6.Be3 Nxf3+ 7.Qxf3 Bxe3 8.Qxe3 c6 9.Bc4 O-O 10.Bb3 d6 11.Nd2 Qe7 12.f4 Be6 13.Rae1 exf4 14.Rxf4 Bxb3 15.Nxb3 Rae8 16.Qf2 d5 17.e5 Nd7 18.d4 Qe6 19.Nc1 f6 20.Nd3 fxe5 21.Nxe5 Rxf4 22.Qxf4 Nxe5 23.Rxe5 Qg6 24.Rxe8+ Qxe8 25.Kf2 h6 26.c3 Qg6 27.Qb8+ Kh7 28.Qe5 Qc2+ 29.Qe2 Qf5+ 30.Qf3 Qb1 31.Kg3 Qxb2 32.Qf5+ Kg8 33.Qc8+ Kh7 34.Qf5+ Kg8 35.Qc8+ Kh7 36.Qf5+ 1/2-1/2


(to be continued)

[Wayne Komer]

FTX Crypto Cup 2021

May 27, 2021

Quarter-Final Knockouts

Day 2 (continued)

Round 5, May 27
Radjabov, Teimour – 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.Be3 c5 8.Nf3 Qa5 9.Nd2 O-O 10.Nb3 Qxc3+ 11.Bd2 Qb2 12.Bc1 Qc3+ 13.Bd2 Qb2 14.Bc1 Qc3+ 15.Bd2 1/2-1/2

Round 6, May 27
Giri, Anish – Radjabov, Teimour
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.Nc3 O-O 8.Ne2 Re8 9.Be3 Bd6 10.Nd2 Nf8 11.Ng3 Ng6 12.Qf3 Be6 13.Nf5 Qd7 14.g4 c5 15.b3 f6 16.Kh1 Nf4 17.Rg1 g6 18.h4 Kh8 19.Nxd6 Qxd6 20.Nc4 Bxc4 21.dxc4 g5 22.Rad1 Qe7 23.Bxf4 exf4 24.hxg5 fxg5 25.Kg2 Rad8 26.Qc3+ Kg8 27.f3 c6 28.a4 b6 29.a5 Rd6 30.axb6 axb6 31.Rd3 Rxd3 32.cxd3 Rd8 33.Ra1 Qg7 34.Qxg7+ Kxg7 35.Ra6 Rb8 36.Ra7+ Kf6 37.Kf2 Ke5 38.Ke2 b5 39.Kd2 bxc4 40.bxc4 h6 41.Kc3 Rf8 42.Re7+ Kd6 43.Rh7 Rf6 44.Rh8 Ke5 45.Re8+ Re6 46.Rxe6+ Kxe6 47.d4 cxd4+ 48.Kxd4 c5+ 49.Kxc5 h5 50.gxh5 g4 51.h6 Kf7 52.e5 gxf3 53.h7 Kg7 54.e6 f2 55.e7 f1=Q 56.h8=Q+ Kxh8 57.e8=Q+ Kg7 58.Qe5+ Kg6 59.Qe4+ Kg5 60.Qe5+ Kg4 61.Qe6+ Kg5 62.Qe5+ Kg4 63.Qe6+ Kg5 64.Qe5+ 1/2-1/2

Round 7, May 27
Radjabov, Teimour – 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.Be3 c5 8.Nf3 Qa5 9.Nd2 O-O 10.Nb3 Qxc3+ 11.Bd2 Qb2 12.Bc1 Qc3+ 13.Bd2 Qb2 14.Bc1 Qc3+ 15.Bd2 1/2-1/2

Round 8, May 27
Giri, Anish – Radjabov, Teimour
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.O-O Bd6 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 Be6 9.d4 Be7 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.dxe5 Qxd1 12.Rxd1 fxe5 13.Nxe5 Bf6 14.Nd3 O-O-O 15.Nc3 Bc4 16.g3 Rhe8 17.f3 a5 18.Kg2 b6 19.a3 Bd4 20.Nf4 Rd7 21.Nfd5 c5 22.Rab1 f5 23.b3 Ba6 24.exf5 Bb7 25.Rd3 Bxd5 26.Nxd5 Rxd5 27.c3 Re2+ 28.Kh3 Rxf5 29.cxd4 cxd4 30.Rxd4 Rxf3 31.Rh4 Rf6 32.b4 axb4 33.axb4 Kb7 34.b5 c6 35.bxc6+ Rxc6 36.Rhb4 Rd6 37.Rf1 Rdd2 38.Rh1 Rb2 39.Rh4 Re6 40.Rh5 b5 41.Kh4 Kb6 42.h3 Rb4+ 43.g4 Rb3 44.Rd1 Rc6 45.Ra1 Rbc3 46.Rf5 b4 47.Ra8 Kb7 48.Rff8 b3 49.Rab8+ Ka7 50.Rb4 Rb6 51.Ra4+ Kb7 52.Raa8 Rcc6 53.Rfb8+ Kc7 54.Rxb6 Rxb6 55.Ra1 b2 56.Rb1 Rb5 57.Kg3 Kd6 58.h4 1/2-1/2

Final Position



Teimour Radjabov draws all 4 games today to knock Giri out and reach a semi-final tomorrow against either Nakamura or Carlsen!

Playoffs

(5-minute blitz)

Round 9, May 27
Carlsen, Magnus – Nakamura, Hikaru
D37 QGD, Hastings variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 O-O 6.e3 Nbd7 7.Be2 dxc4 8.O-O Nb6 9.a4 a5 10.e4 c5 11.Nb5 Ne8 12.dxc5 Nd7 13.Bxc4 Bxc5 14.Qc2 Qe7 15.e5 h6 16.Rad1 Nb6 17.Ba2 Nd5 18.Bb1 f5 19.exf6 Nexf6 20.Be5 Bd7 21.Bxf6 gxf6 22.Rfe1 Qg7 23.Qxc5 1-0

Hikaru is puzzled that he blundered a full piece at the end, but his position was hopeless anyway! Magnus has taken the lead for the 1st time in the match and Hikaru now needs to win on demand to force Armageddon

Round 10, May 27
Nakamura, Hikaru – Carlsen, Magnus
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 O-O 6.O-O d6 7.Re1 a6 8.Ba4 Ba7 9.h3 Ne7 10.Nbd2 Ng6 11.Nf1 d5 12.Qe2 c6 13.Bd2 Re8 14.Rad1 h6 15.Ng3 Be6 16.Qf1 b5 17.Bb3 Qc7 18.exd5 cxd5 19.d4 e4 20.Nh2 Bb8 21.Qe2 Nf4 22.Bxf4 Qxf4 23.Nhf1 Qg5 24.Kh1 Bd6 25.Qd2 Bf4 26.Qc2 Rac8 27.Ne2 Bb8 28.Qd2 Qh4 29.Kg1 Nh5 30.a4 f5 31.axb5 axb5 32.Ra1 f4 33.Ra6 Rcd8 34.f3 e3 35.Qd1 Bxh3 36.Rg6 Bf5 37.Bc2 Bxc2 0-1

Magnus Carlsen celebrates beating Hikaru Nakamura to set up a semi-final tomorrow against Teimour Radjabov!

Round 9, May 27
Nepo, Ian – Caruana, Fabiano
A20 English, Kingside Fianchetto

1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 c6 4.Nf3 e4 5.Nd4 d5 6.cxd5 Qxd5 7.Nc2 Bc5 8.Nc3 Qe5 9.O-O O-O 10.Nxe4 Nxe4 11.d4 Qe7 12.dxc5 Nxc5 13.Ne3 Be6 14.b3 a5 15.Qc2 Nba6 16.Bb2 f6 17.Qc3 Nb4 18.Rfc1 b6 19.Nc4 Nd7 20.Qe3 Rab8 21.a3 Nd5 22.Qd2 Nc5 23.Qc2 Bf7 24.e4 Nc7 25.Bd4 Nxb3 26.Qxb3 b5 27.Qe3 Bxc4 28.Bc5 Qe5 29.Bxf8 Rxf8 30.a4 Ra8 31.axb5 Bxb5 32.f4 Qe7 33.e5 fxe5 34.Bxc6 Bxc6 35.Rxc6 Qd7 36.Rac1 exf4 37.Qb3+ Qd5 38.Qb6 Ne8 39.gxf4 Nf6 40.Qc5 Qxc5+ 41.R1xc5 a4 42.Rc8+ Rxc8 43.Rxc8+ Kf7 44.Kg2 Nd5 45.Kf3 Ne7 46.Ra8 Kf6 47.Ra6+ Kf5 48.Rxa4 Kf6 49.Ke4 g6 50.Ra6+ Kg7 51.Ra7 Kf6 52.h3 Ke6 53.Ra6+ Kf7 54.Ke5 Kf8 55.Ra8+ Kf7 56.Ra7 Kf8 57.Ke6 1-0

Round 10, May 27
Caruana, Fabiano – Nepo, Ian
C02 French, Advance, Euwe variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bd7 6.Be2 Nge7 7.O-O Ng6 8.Bd3 Qb6 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.b4 Be7 11.Re1 Qc7 12.Qe2 O-O 13.Na3 a6 14.Nc2 f6 15.Bxg6 hxg6 16.Bf4 fxe5 17.Bxe5 Nxe5 18.Nxe5 Bf6 19.Rad1 Bxe5 20.Qxe5 Qxe5 21.Rxe5 Ba4 22.Rd2 Bxc2 23.Rxc2 Kf7 24.Rce2 Rac8 25.Rxe6 Rxc3 26.h4 Rc7 27.Rd6 Kg8 28.g3 Rf5 29.Rxg6 Rd7 30.Kg2 d4 31.Rd2 a5 32.Rg4 d3 33.bxa5 Rxa5 34.Kf3 Rad5 35.Ke3 R5d6 36.Re4 Kh7 37.h5 Kh6 38.Re5 Rd8 39.g4 R6d7 40.f4 Rd6 41.Kf3 R8d7 42.Kg3 Rd8 43.Kh4 Rd4 44.Re6+ Kh7 45.Kg3 Rc8 46.Re3 Rcc4 47.Rf3 Rc3 48.g5 b5 49.Kg4 b4 50.Kg3 b3 51.axb3 Rxb3 52.Kf2 Ra3 53.Kg3 Rb3 54.Kh4 Rbb4 55.Kg4 Rb3 56.Kg3 Ra3 57.Kf2 Raa4 58.f5 Rg4 59.f6 gxf6 60.gxf6 Rgf4 61.Rxd3 Rxf3+ 62.Kxf3 Ra6 63.Rd7+ Kh6 64.f7 Rf6+ 65.Ke4 Kg7 66.h6+ Rxh6 67.Ke5 Ra6 68.Rd6 Rxd6 69.Kxd6 Kxf7 1/2-1/2

Quarterfinal Match Results after Day 2

Caruana-Nepo 2-2
So-MVL 2-1
Carlsen-Nakamura 2-2
Radjabov-Giri 2-2

Playoff Results

Nepo-Caruana 1.5-0.5
Carlsen-Nakamura 2-0

Semifinal Matchups

Nepo-So
Carlsen-Radjabov

[Marc Andre Beaudry]

Magnus completely crushes Hikary in the blitz. Amazing stuff. Magnus is quite a clutch player.

[Hans Jung]

What a delightful squeeze in the second Magnus - Hikaru game. Piece coordination maxed.

[Marc Andre Beaudry]

I totally agree with you Hans, and it comes from the berlin. The first blitz is a total destruction of Hikaru who is a very strong blitz player. Magnus has got nerves of steel.
Magnus has had a so so 2021, but he is still the best chess player around.

[Hans Jung]

I totally agree with you Hans, and it comes from the berlin. The first blitz is a total destruction of Hikaru who is a very strong blitz player. Magnus has got nerves of steel.
Magnus has had a so so 2021, but he is still the best chess player around.

Yes Magnus is the best.
We are being treated to a display of pawn play dynamics in game 3 in both matches (except Nepo missed a win in the endgame)