FTX Crypto Cup 2021

[Hans Jung]

Game 4 well played by Radjabov. He didnt let Magnus off the hook.

[Hans Jung]

In game 4 Wesley So became a magician! From a nothing position he created play and it turned into a knightmare for Nepo! ( a later Ng7! with pawns on e6, f5 and h5 the knight became like a spider!! and the bishop got trapped!)

[Marc Andre Beaudry]

Wesley So is a very complete player and one of the best. The analysis he does in his e4 Lifetime repertoire on chessable is incredible and he helps me to progress a lot.
We might have an interesting Nepo Carlsen preview or a So Carlsen and maybe even Radjabov who is also very strong and solid.

[Wayne Komer]

FTX Crypto Cup 2021

May 28, 2021

Semifinals

Day 1

Round 12, May 28
So, Wesley – Nepomniachtchi, Ian
C11 French, Steinitz, Boleslavsky variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 a6 8.Ne2 Qb6 9.Qc1 Be7 10.c3 O-O 11.g3 a5 12.Qc2 cxd4 13.Nexd4 Nc5 14.Rb1 Bd7 15.Be2 Rac8 16.O-O Ne4 17.Kh1 Bc5 18.Bd3 Nxd4 19.Nxd4 f6 20.exf6 Rxf6 21.Rfe1 Re8 22.Bxe4 dxe4 23.Qxe4 Bxd4 24.Bxd4 Qb5 25.Kg1 Bc6 26.Qe2 Qd5 27.Bxf6 Qh1+ 28.Kf2 Qxh2+ 29.Ke3 Qxg3+ 30.Kd2 Qxf4+ 31.Kc2 Qf5+ 32.Qd3 Qxd3+ 33.Kxd3 gxf6 34.Re3 Kf7 35.Rg1 h5 36.Reg3 e5 37.Rg7+ Ke6 38.Rh7 Rd8+ 39.Ke3 f5 40.Rh6+ Kf7 41.Rh7+ Ke6 42.Rh6+ Kf7 43.Rxh5 f4+ 44.Ke2 Kf6 45.Rgg5 f3+ 46.Ke3 e4 47.Re5 Rd3+ 48.Kf4 f2 49.Rhf5+ Kg7 50.Rg5+ Kf6 51.Rgf5+ Kg7 52.Rg5+ Kf6 53.Rgf5+ 1/2-1/2

Round 13, May 28
Nepo, Ian – So, Wesley
E04 Catalan, open

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.d4 Nf6 5.O-O e6 6.c4 dxc4 7.Ne5 Bd7 8.Na3 cxd4 9.Naxc4 Be7 10.Qb3 Qc7 11.Bf4 Nh5 12.Nxc6 Nxf4 13.Nxe7 Nxg2 14.Rac1 Kxe7 15.Qa3+ Kf6 16.Qf3+ Ke7 17.Qa3+ Kf6 18.Qf3+ Ke7 19.Qa3+ 1/2-1/2

Round 14, May 28
So, Wesley – Nepo, Ian
C11 French, Steinitz, Boleslavsky variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 a6 8.Qd2 b5 9.a3 Qa5 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.Bxc5 Nxc5 12.Ne2 Qb6 13.Qe3 b4 14.c3 bxc3 15.b4 Na4 16.Qxb6 Nxb6 17.Nxc3 f6 18.exf6 gxf6 19.O-O-O Bb7 20.Bd3 e5 21.Rhe1 e4 22.Bc2 O-O 23.Nh4 Ne7 24.Bb3 Rfc8 25.Kb2 Nc4+ 26.Bxc4 Rxc4 27.Na4 Rac8 28.Nc5 Bc6 29.Rc1 Rxc1 30.Rxc1 d4 31.Rc4 d3 32.Nxe4 Bxe4 33.Rxe4 Nd5 34.Rd4 Rc2+ 35.Kb3 Rc3+ 36.Kb2 Rc2+ 37.Kb3 Rc3+ 38.Ka4 Ne3 39.b5 axb5+ 40.Kxb5 Rxa3 41.Nf3 Nxg2 42.Kb4 Ra2 43.f5 Ne3 44.Rxd3 Nxf5 45.Rd2 Ra7 46.Kc3 Re7 47.Rf2 Kf7 48.Nd4 Ne3 49.Kd3 Ng4 50.Rg2 h5 51.Kd2 Ra7 52.Ne2 Ra2+ 53.Kd3 Ra3+ 54.Ke4 Re3+ 55.Kd4 Ra3 56.Ke4 Kg6 57.h3 f5+ 58.Kd4 Kg5 59.hxg4 fxg4 60.Rf2 h4 61.Rf8 g3 62.Rg8+ Kf5 63.Rg7 Ra4+ 64.Ke3 Ra3+ 65.Kd4 Kf6 66.Rg8 Kf7 67.Rg5 Kf6 68.Rg8 Kf5 69.Rg7 1/2-1/2

Position after White’s 46.Kc3



Wow! Nepo misses 46...Ra3+!, simply winning the knight on f3. Wesley spotted immediately what he'd done...

Round 15, May 28
Nepo, Ian – So, Wesley
A08 Neo-Sicilian, King’s Indian Attack, French variation

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.O-O Be7 5.d3 O-O 6.Nbd2 c5 7.e4 Nc6 8.Re1 b5 9.e5 Nd7 10.Nf1 a5 11.h4 b4 12.Bf4 a4 13.a3 bxa3 14.bxa3 Rb8 15.Ne3 Bb7 16.c4 Nb6 17.cxd5 Nxd5 18.Qxa4 Nc3 19.Qc4 Qa5 20.Rac1 Nb5 21.Nc2 Nxa3 22.Nxa3 Qxa3 23.Bg5 Rfd8 24.Bxe7 Nxe7 25.Qxc5 Qxc5 26.Rxc5 Bxf3 27.Bxf3 Rxd3 28.Be4 Rd7 29.h5 g6 30.Kg2 Kg7 31.Rh1 Ng8 32.Rhc1 gxh5 33.Rh1 Rb4 34.Bc2 Kh6 35.Bd1 h4 36.Be2 Ne7 37.Rxh4+ Rxh4 38.gxh4 Ng6 39.Kg3 Rd4 40.Rc4 Rxc4 41.Bxc4 Nxe5 42.Bb3 Kg7 43.f4 Nc6 44.Bc2 h6 45.Bb1 Ne7 46.Kg4 Nd5 47.Kg3 Kf8 48.Kg4 Nf6+ 49.Kf3 Ke7 50.Bc2 Nh5 51.Kg4 Ng7 52.Bb1 f6 53.Ba2 Kd6 54.Kf3 h5 55.Kg3 Kc5 56.Bb3 Kd4 57.Kf3 Kd3 58.Ba4 Nf5 59.Bb5+ Kd4 60.Be8 Nxh4+ 61.Kg3 Nf5+ 62.Kf3 Ng7 63.Bf7 Kd5 64.Bg6 f5 65.Bf7 Kd6 66.Kg3 Ke7 67.Bg6 Kf6 68.Bh7 Ne8 0-1

Wesley So grinds out a win with Black in the final game of the day to win set 1 against Ian Nepomniachtchi, who missed the chance to pick up a full piece in the previous game!

Ian Nepomniachtchi must win on demand tomorrow to force a tiebreak against Wesley So, while Carlsen-Radjabov is tied 2:2 after the players traded fine wins

Ian - "I didn't care about the game at all - I just didn't want to get eaten by mosquitoes!"

Ian Nepomniachtchi: "I became an expert mosquito hunter during this game, but it was never enough!" (See below for explanation)

Round 12, May 28
Carlsen, Magnus – Radjabov, Teimour
C50 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 O-O 6.Bg5 Be7 7.h3 h6 8.Bd2 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nc3 Be6 11.Bb3 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Bxb3 13.axb3 a5 14.Re1 Bd6 15.c4 Re8 16.Bc3 Bb4 17.Bxb4 axb4 18.Rxa8 Qxa8 19.Qd2 Re6 20.c3 Qa5 21.cxb4 Qxb4 22.Qxb4 Nxb4 23.Rxe5 Rxe5 24.Nxe5 f6 25.Nf3 Nxd3 26.Kf1 Kf7 27.Nd4 c5 28.Nf5 Nc1 29.Nd6+ Ke7 30.Nxb7 Nxb3 31.Ke2 Kd7 32.Kd3 Kc7 33.Kc3 Kxb7 34.Kxb3 Ka6 35.Ka4 f5 36.f4 h5 37.h4 g6 38.g3 Kb6 39.Ka3 Ka5 40.Kb3 Ka6 41.Ka3 Ka5 42.Kb3 Ka6 43.Ka3 Ka5 1/2-1/2

Round 13, May 28
Radjabov, Teimour – Carlsen, Magnus
D31 QGD, Janowski variation

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 a6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Bg5 Be6 7.e3 Nbd7 8.Bd3 c6 9.Bh4 Bd6 10.Qc2 Bg4 11.Nd2 Bh5 12.O-O Bg6 13.e4 dxe4 14.Ndxe4 Be7 15.Nxf6+ Nxf6 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Rfe1+ Kf8 18.Rad1 Qd6 19.d5 c5 20.g3 Bd4 21.a4 Bxd3 22.Qxd3 Rd8 23.Qc4 h5 24.Ne4 Qxd5 25.Qxd5 Rxd5 26.Nxc5 Rh6 27.b4 Rhd6 28.Nxb7 Rd7 29.Nc5 Bxc5 30.Rxd5 Rxd5 31.bxc5 Rxc5 32.Re4 g5 33.g4 h4 34.Kg2 Kg7 35.h3 Kf6 36.f4 Rc2+ 37.Kg1 Ra2 38.fxg5+ Kxg5 39.Rc4 f6 40.Rd4 a5 41.Rc4 Rb2 42.Kf1 Ra2 43.Kg1 Kg6 44.Rf4 Ra1+ 45.Kf2 Ra2+ 46.Kg1 Ra1+ 47.Kf2 Ra2+ 48.Kg1 1/2-1/2

Round 14, May 28
Carlsen, Magnus – Radjabov, Teimour
E60 King’s Indian

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.g3 c5 5.Bg2 cxd4 6.Nxd4 O-O 7.Nc3 Qc7 8.Nd5 Nxd5 9.cxd5 Qb6 10.Nb3 d6 11.O-O Nd7 12.Be3 Qa6 13.Bd4 Nf6 14.Re1 Bd7 15.e4 Ng4 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Qd4+ Kg8 18.h3 Ne5 19.f4 Nc4 20.e5 Qb6 21.Kh2 Rfc8 22.Rac1 Qxd4 23.Nxd4 Be8 24.b3 Nb6 25.e6 f6 26.g4 Rc5 27.Rxc5 dxc5 28.Ne2 Nc8 29.Rc1 Nd6 30.Rxc5 Kf8 31.Kg3 a5 32.Nc3 f5 33.g5 b5 34.Ne2 b4 35.Nd4 a4 36.Kf2 axb3 37.axb3 Ra1 38.Bf3 Ra2+ 39.Rc2 Ra3 40.h4 Kg7 41.Rb2 Ra7 42.Nc6 Rb7 43.Ke3 h6 44.Ra2 hxg5 45.hxg5 Rc7 46.Ra8 1-0

Round 15, May 28
Radjabov, Teimour – Carlsen, Magnus
D38 QGD, Ragozin variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.Qa4+ Nc6 8.e3 O-O 9.Rc1 Qg6 10.h4 Rd8 11.h5 Qf6 12.Rh4 e5 13.cxd5 Rxd5 14.dxe5 Bxc3+ 15.Rxc3 Nxe5 16.Qe8+ Kh7 17.Rf4 Qd6 18.Be2 f5 19.Nd4 c6 20.Nxf5 Qd8 21.Qxd8 Rxd8 22.Nd4 Bd7 23.Re4 Re8 24.Rc5 Nf7 25.Bd3 Kh8 26.Rxe8+ Rxe8 27.b4 Nd6 28.Bg6 Re7 29.a4 Kg8 30.Ke2 Ne4 31.Rc2 Nf6 32.b5 cxb5 33.axb5 a6 34.bxa6 bxa6 35.Rb2 Be8 36.Rb8 Kf8 37.Nf5 Re6 38.Ra8 Nd5 39.Bxe8 Rxe8 40.Rxa6 Nf4+ 41.Kf3 Nxh5 42.g4 Nf6 43.Nxh6 Ne4 44.Nf5 Ng5+ 45.Kg2 Rb8 46.Nd4 Kf7 47.Ra5 Ne4 48.Re5 Nf6 49.f3 g6 50.Kg3 Rb1 51.Rb5 Rxb5 52.Nxb5 g5 53.Nc3 Kg6 54.f4 1-0

Semifinals Match Results Day One

So-Nepo 2.5-1.5
Carlsen-Radjabov 2-2

In the postgame interview, Nepo said he was attacked by mosquitoes during the last game. The commentators said that they could actually see them from his transmission. Maybe he can light citronella candles. Nepo says he might wear a mask or move from his village to Moscow tomorrow.

Later, Wesley said he saw Ian shaking his fists during the game but didn’t know why. Wesley is playing from Minnetonka, Minnesota.

[Wayne Komer]

FTX Crypto Cup 2021

May 29, 2021

Semifinals

Day 2

Peter Leko, Tania Sachdev and Peter Svidler are the commentators

Round 16, May 29
Nepo, Ian – So, Wesley
A28 English, Four Knights

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.e3 Bb4 5.Nd5 e4 6.Ng1 O-O 7.Nh3 Re8 8.Nhf4 b6 9.Nxb4 Nxb4 10.b3 d5 11.Bb2 dxc4 12.Bxc4 Ba6 13.Bxa6 Nxa6 14.O-O Qe7 15.f3 Rad8 16.fxe4 Nxe4 17.d3 Nb4 18.Rf3 f6 19.Qe2 Ng5 20.Rg3 Ne6 21.Nh5 Kh8 22.Rf1 Rf8 23.d4 c5 24.a3 Nd5 25.e4 Nxd4 26.Bxd4 cxd4 27.Rxg7 d3 28.Qf2 Qxe4 29.Re1 Ne3 30.Rxe3 Qxe3 31.Qxe3 d2 32.Rxh7+ Kxh7 33.Nxf6+ Kg6 34.Qg3+ Kf7 35.Qc7+ Kg6 36.Qg3+ Kf7 37.Qc7+ Ke6 38.Qc4+ Kf5 39.Qe4+ Kxf6 40.Qf4+ Ke7 41.Qe3+ Kf6 42.Qf4+ Ke6 43.Qe3+ Kf5 44.Qf3+ Kg6 45.Qg4+ Kf7 46.Qf4+ Ke7 47.Qe3+ Kf7 48.Qf4+ Ke7 1/2-1/2

Round 17, May 29
So, Wesley – 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 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 18, May 29
Nepo, Ian – So, Wesley
D35 QGD, Exchange variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 c5 7.Rb1 Be7 8.Nf3 O-O 9.h4 b6 10.h5 h6 11.Bd3 cxd4 12.cxd4 Nc6 13.Be2 Bb7 14.Rh3 Rc8 15.Rg3 Kh8 16.a3 Na5 17.Bd3 Nc4 18.Kf1 Nd6 19.d5 exd5 20.Bb2 dxe4 21.Bxg7+ Kh7 22.Bxf8 Bxf8 23.Rg4 exd3 24.Rd4 Rc3 25.Qd2 Qc7 26.Qf4 Bxf3 27.gxf3 Rc4 28.Rd1 Rxd4 29.Qxd4 Qc4 30.Qe3 Nb5 31.Rxd3 Bxa3 32.Kg2 Bc5 33.Qd2 Nd4 34.Re3 a5 35.Re5 f6 36.Re4 f5 37.Re8 Qf7 38.Qe1 Qg7+ 39.Kh1 Nxf3 40.Qd1 Qf7 0-1

Congratulations to Wesley So on showing icily cool defence to reach his 3rd final on the @Meltwater Champions Chess Tour!

Nepo - Great performance from Wesley, impeccable calculation today, congrats on reaching the finals! Looking forward to witness the finals and especially upcoming Bucharest #GrandChessTour OTB battles! Great performance from Wesley, impeccable calculation today, congrats on reaching the finals! Looking forward to witness the finals and especially upcoming Bucharest #GrandChessTour OTB battles!

In the postgame interview, Wesley is asked about three boxes behind him in the camera view marked “Galaxy”. They are boxes belonging to his mother and sister. He is storing them for them. The containers had Galaxy apples.

Round 16, May 29
Radjabov, Teimour – Carlsen, Magnus
D31 QGD

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 h6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bf4 Bd6 6.Bg3 O-O 7.e3 c5 8.cxd5 Bxg3 9.hxg3 cxd4 10.Qxd4 exd5 11.Bb5 Nc6 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.O-O Re8 14.Rac1 Bg4 15.Nd2 Qb6 16.Nb3 Qxd4 17.Nxd4 c5 18.Nb3 Rab8 19.Nxc5 Rxb2 20.f3 Bf5 21.g4 Bg6 22.Rfe1 Rc8 23.Nb3 Bc2 24.Nb5 Rxa2 25.N3d4 a6 26.Nd6 Rd8 27.Nxf7 Kxf7 28.Rxc2 Rxc2 29.Nxc2 a5 30.Ra1 Ra8 31.Nd4 a4 32.Kf2 Nd7 33.Ke2 Ne5 34.Kd2 Nc4+ 35.Kd3 a3 36.e4 Ne5+ 37.Ke3 dxe4 38.Kxe4 Kf6 39.Nb5 Ra4+ 40.Kd5 Ra5 41.Kc5 a2 42.Kb4 Nc6+ 43.Kc4 Ra4+ 44.Kc5 Na5 0-1

Round 17, May 29
Carlsen, Magnus – Radjabov, Teimour
C67 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence, open variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.Re1 Nd6 6.Nxe5 Be7 7.Bf1 Nxe5 8.Rxe5 O-O 9.d4 Bf6 10.Re1 Re8 11.Bf4 Rxe1 12.Qxe1 Ne8 13.c3 d5 14.Bd3 g6 15.Nd2 c6 16.Nf3 Ng7 17.Qe2 Bf5 18.Bxf5 Nxf5 19.Re1 Ng7 20.Be5 Bxe5 21.Nxe5 Qe7 22.Qd2 Re8 23.Nd3 Qd8 24.Rxe8+ Nxe8 25.Qe2 Nd6 26.g3 Kf8 27.Kf1 Qe7 28.f3 f6 29.Kf2 Kf7 30.g4 g5 31.Qxe7+ Kxe7 32.f4 h6 33.f5 Nc4 34.Ke2 b6 35.b3 Nd6 36.Nf2 Kf7 37.Kd3 b5 38.Nd1 h5 39.h3 h4 40.Ne3 Ne4 41.Nd1 Nd6 42.Ne3 Ne4 43.Nd1 Nd6 1/2-1/2

Round 18, May 29
Radjabov Teimour – Carlsen, Magnus
D41 QGD Semi-Tarrasch

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c5 5.cxd5 cxd4 6.Qxd4 exd5 7.e4 dxe4 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Ng5 Be6 10.Nxe6+ fxe6 11.Bg5 h6 12.O-O-O+ Ke7 13.Bxf6+ gxf6 14.Nxe4 Bg7 15.Bd3 f5 16.Ng3 Nc6 17.Rhe1 Be5 18.Nxf5+ exf5 19.f4 Rad8 20.fxe5 Rhf8 21.Re3 Rd4 22.Bc2 Rxd1+ 23.Kxd1 Rg8 24.g3 Rd8+ 25.Ke1 Ke6 26.Bb3+ Ke7 27.Rf3 Nd4 28.Rc3 Nxb3 29.Rxb3 Rd7 30.Ra3 b6 31.Rc3 Ke6 32.Rc6+ Kxe5 33.Rxh6 Rc7 34.Kd2 Rd7+ 35.Ke3 Rc7 36.Rh5 Kf6 37.Kd3 Rd7+ 38.Kc3 Rc7+ 39.Kb3 Re7 40.a4 Re3+ 41.Kc4 Re4+ 42.Kb5 Re5+ 43.Kc6 Re4 44.Kb5 Re5+ 45.Kc4 Re4+ 46.Kb3 Re3+ 47.Ka2 Kg6 48.Rh8 f4 49.gxf4 Re4 50.Ka3 Rxf4 51.Rg8+ Kf7 52.Rb8 Rh4 53.b3 Ke6 54.Re8+ Kd6 55.Re2 a5 56.Rd2+ Kc5 57.Rc2+ Kd5 1/2-1/2

As Leko correctly points out, all this is still theory - 21...Rd5 was played in Nepo-So and Radjabov-So. Magnus' 21...Rd4 is the first new move

Round 19, May 29
Carlsen, Magnus – Radjabov, Teimour
B00 Owen Defence

1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Bd3 e6 4.Nf3 d6 5.O-O Nd7 6.a4 a6 7.Re1 Ngf6 8.Nbd2 Be7 9.Nf1 O-O 10.Ng3 e5 11.c3 Re8 12.Bd2 Bf8 13.b4 g6 14.Qc1 Bg7 15.a5 b5 16.Bh6 Bh8 17.d5 c5 18.h3 c4 19.Bc2 Nf8 20.Qd2 Bc8 21.Nh2 Bg7 22.Rf1 Bxh6 23.Qxh6 Kh8 24.Qd2 N6d7 25.f4 exf4 26.Rxf4 Ne5 27.Nf3 Nfd7 28.Rf1 Nxf3+ 29.R4xf3 Ne5 30.Rf6 Bf5 31.exf5 Qxf6 32.fxg6 Qh4 33.Nf5 Qh5 34.g7+ Kg8 35.Nxd6 Red8 36.Nf5 f6 37.d6 Ra7 38.Qd5+ Rf7 39.Bd1 1-0

1.e4 b6 from Teimour in this must-win game - "the Adhiban spirit from the black side!" says Peter Leko

Peter Svidler is very surprised by 17...c5!? and suggests that after 18.h3! Black has almost no way of playing for a win in such a closed structure (even if objectively e.g. 18.dxc6 might be stronger). Magnus makes the move!

It's over and Magnus Carlsen qualifies for his 4th @Meltwater Champions Chess Tour final, his 3rd against Wesley So! Will it be 3rd time lucky?

It's So-Carlsen in the #FTXCryptoCup final and Nepomniachtchi-Radjabov for 3rd place!

Semifinals Matches Day 2 Results

Nepo-So 1-2
Carlsen-Radjabov 3-1

Finals

So-Carlsen

(3^rd Place)

Nepo-Radjabov

[Hans Jung]

Lots of entertaining games! Good to hear the two Peters together! Go Wesley!

[Marc Andre Beaudry]

This is going to be a great betwee, Wesley and Magnus. Wesley So keeps improving and he is now near the top, he has a great and profound knowledge of chess. Magnus well he is Magnus, in a few years he will be considered the greatest player of all time.

[Wayne Komer]

FTX Crypto Cup 2021

May 30, 2021

Finals

Day 1

Round 20, May 30
So, Wesley – Carlsen, Magnus
C53 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 d5 7.Bb5 Ne4 8.cxd4 Bb6 9.Nc3 O-O 10.Be3 Bg4 11.Qc2 Bf5 12.Qb3 Ne7 13.O-O c6 14.Be2 Rb8 15.Na4 Bc7 16.Nh4 f6 17.Bf3 b5 18.Nc3 Nxc3 19.exf6 Be4 20.bxc3 Qd6 21.g3 Bxf3 22.Bf4 Qxf6 23.Bxc7 Rb7 24.Be5 Qf7 25.Nxf3 Qxf3 26.Qb4 Nf5 27.Qc5 Rbf7 28.Rae1 h5 29.h3 h4 30.Qxc6 Nxg3 31.Bxg3 hxg3 32.Re8 g2 33.Rxf8+ Rxf8 0-1

What a start for Magnus Carlsen, who wins the first game of the final with a crushing attack with the black pieces!

Round 21, May 30
Carlsen, Magnus – So, Wesley
C67 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence, open variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.Re1 Nd6 6.Nxe5 Be7 7.Bf1 Nxe5 8.Rxe5 O-O 9.d4 Bf6 10.Re1 Re8 11.Bf4 Rxe1 12.Qxe1 Ne8 13.c3 d5 14.Bd3 g6 15.Nd2 Ng7 16.Nf3 Bf5 17.Bxf5 Nxf5 18.Qe2 c6 19.Re1 Ng7 20.Be5 Bxe5 21.Nxe5 Qd6 22.Qf3 f6 23.Nd3 Re8 24.Rxe8+ Nxe8 25.Qe3 Kf7 26.Qh6 Kg8 27.Qe3 Kf7 28.Qh6 Kg8 29.Qe3 1/2-1/2

Round 22, May 30
So, Wesley – Carlsen, Magnus
C53 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 d5 7.Bb5 Ne4 8.cxd4 Bb6 9.Nc3 O-O 10.Be3 Bg4 11.h3 Bh5 12.Rc1 Ba5 13.O-O Bxc3 14.bxc3 Na5 15.g4 Bg6 16.Ne1 f6 17.f3 c6 18.Bd3 Ng5 19.Bxg6 hxg6 20.Bxg5 fxg5 21.Qd3 Nc4 22.Qxg6 Qe7 23.Rf2 c5 24.Ng2 Rac8 25.Rcf1 cxd4 26.cxd4 Rc6 27.Qd3 Ra6 28.f4 Ra3 29.Qg6 Rxh3 30.f5 Kh8 31.f6 gxf6 32.exf6 Qh7 33.Qg7+ 1-0

Final Position



Wesley So hits back in just as crushing style as Magnus won Game 1!

Round 23, May 30
Carlsen, Magnus – So, Wesley
C67 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence, open variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.Re1 Nd6 6.Nxe5 Be7 7.Bf1 Nxe5 8.Rxe5 O-O 9.d4 Bf6 10.Re1 Re8 11.Bf4 Rxe1 12.Qxe1 Ne8 13.c3 d5 14.Bd3 g6 15.Nd2 Ng7 16.Nf3 Bf5 17.Bxf5 Nxf5 18.Qe2 c6 19.Re1 Ng7 20.Be5 Bxe5 21.Nxe5 Qd6 22.Qf3 f6 23.Nd3 Re8 24.Rxe8+ Nxe8 25.Qe3 Kf7 26.Qh6 Kg8 27.Qe3 Kf7 28.Qh6 Kg8 29.Qe3 1/2-1/2

Result of Day One Finals Match

So-Carlsen 2-2
_________

Third-Place Match

Round 20, May 30
Radjabov, Teimour – 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 Qxc3+ 11.Bd2 Qb2 12.Bc1 Qc3+ 13.Bd2 Qb2 14.Bc1 Qc3+ 15.Bd2 1/2-1/2

Round 21, May 30
Nepo, Ian – Radjabov, Teimour
C67 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence, open variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.Qe2 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.Qxe5+ Qe7 8.Qa5 Qd8 9.Qe5+ Qe7 10.Qa5 Qd8 11.Qe5+ 1/2-1/2

Round 22, May 30
Radjabov, Teimour – 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 Nd7 10.Nb3 Qxc3+ 11.Bd2 Qb2 12.Bc1 Qc3+ 13.Bd2 Qb2 14.Bc1 Qc3+ 15.Bd2 1/2-1/2

Round 23, May 30
Nepo, Ian – Radjabov, Teimour
C54 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Bxd2+ 8.Nbxd2 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Qb3 Na5 11.Qa4+ Nc6 12.Qb3 Na5 13.Qa4+ Nc6 14.Qb3 1/2-1/2

Radjabov-Nepo 2-2

Peter says he's disappointed at not seeing Nepo & Radjabov play the chess they're capable of, but he notes even if they take 8 quick draws we'll get a blitz battle: "Finally there will be a decision & there will be blood also in this match!"

[Stephen Wright]

Wonder how many fines there would be if Luis Rentero were in charge ...

[Hans Jung]

Lovely exchange of wins in Magnus - Wesley - beautiful pawn play.

Is that some sort of energy saving scheme like chess light saving time? (Nepo - Rado)

[Wayne Komer]

FTX Crypto Cup 2021

May 31, 2021

Finals

Day 2

From chess.com yesterday:

The four non-games between Nepo and Radjabov show that neither of them was motivated to play—four more quick draws in theoretical variations! As said, this tournament will go down in history as the one where some kind of dubious record was set.

Icelandic FM Ingvar Johannesson was quite critical in a YouTube video and on Twitter, GM Jorden van Foreest, GM Johan-Sebastian Christiansen, and GM Ivan Sokolov criticized the players.

Round 24, May 31
Carlsen, Magnus – So, Wesley
D40 QGD, Semi-Tarrasch

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c5 5.e3 dxc4 6.Bxc4 a6 7.O-O b5 8.Be2 Bb7 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.Qxd8+ Kxd8 11.Nd2 Ke7 12.Nb3 Nbd7 13.Rd1 Bb6 14.a4 b4 15.a5 Ba7 16.Na4 Bd5 17.Nd4 Rhb8 18.Bd2 Nc5 19.Nxc5 Bxc5 20.Rac1 Bxd4 21.exd4 Kd7 22.Bf4 Rb7 23.h4 Bb3 24.Rd3 Ba4 25.Be5 Bb5 26.Bf3 Nd5 27.Bxd5 exd5 28.Rg3 g6 29.Rc5 Bc6 30.Rf3 f5 31.h5 Rb5 32.Rc1 Re8 33.hxg6 hxg6 34.Rh3 Re6 35.Rh7+ Kd8 36.b3 g5 37.Bc7+ Ke8 38.Bb6 f4 39.Rg7 1-0

Just as yesterday Magnus opens with a crushing win! Will Wesley be able to hit back?

Round 25, May 31
So, Wesley – Carlsen, Magnus
B30 Sicilian, Nimzowitsch-Rossolimo Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e5 4.O-O Bd6 5.c3 a6 6.Ba4 b5 7.Bb3 Nge7 8.d4 c4 9.Bc2 Ng6 10.dxe5 Be7 11.Nd4 Ngxe5 12.f4 Ng6 13.Nxc6 dxc6 14.Qh5 Qb6+ 15.Kh1 Qc5 16.Qf3 O-O 17.Be3 Qd6 18.Qh5 c5 19.Nd2 Bb7 20.e5 Qc7 21.Nf3 h6 22.Rae1 Qc6 23.e6 Nh4 24.exf7+ Rxf7 25.Qxf7+ Kxf7 26.Ne5+ Kf8 27.Nxc6 Bxc6 28.Re2 Re8 29.Bc1 Rc8 30.Kg1 Bf6 31.f5 b4 32.Bd2 Rd8 33.Be1 b3 34.axb3 cxb3 35.Bxb3 Bb5 36.c4 Bc6 37.Rf4 Rd4 38.Rxd4 Bxd4+ 39.Bf2 Nxf5 40.Bc2 1-0

It's all gone completely wrong for Magnus who is an exchange down with absolutely no compensation!

Round 26, May 31
Carlsen, Magnus – So, Wesley
D41 QGD, Semi-Tarrasch

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c5 5.cxd5 cxd4 6.Qxd4 exd5 7.e4 dxe4 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Ng5 Be6 10.Nxe6+ fxe6 11.Bg5 Ke8 12.O-O-O Nc6 13.Bc4 Ne5 14.Bxe6 Nd3+ 15.Kc2 Nxf2 16.Bxf6 Nxd1 17.Rxd1 gxf6 18.Rd7 Rd8 19.Rxb7 Rd6 20.Bc4 f5 21.Rxa7 Kd8 22.Ra8+ Ke7 23.Ra5 Bh6 24.Nd5+ Kf7 25.Ne3+ Kg6 26.Nxf5 Rd2+ 27.Kc3 Rf2 28.Ne7+ Kf6 29.Nd5+ Kg7 30.Ra7+ Kg6 31.Ra6+ Kg7 32.Ra7+ Kg6 33.Ra6+ Kg7 34.Ra7+ 1/2-1/2

Wesley So's 20...f5!? is the first move to deviate from VItiugov's play (20...Rd4), and it seems to be an inaccuracy - at least it's got Magnus thinking!

Round 27, May 31
So, Wesley – Carlsen, Magnus
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

Wow! Wesley decides he wants to play a blitz playoff against Magnus for all the marbles:

Round 24, May 31
Nepo, Ian – Radjabov, Teimour
A01 Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack, Symmetrical variation

1.b3 b6 2.e4 Bb7 3.Nc3 g6 4.Bb2 Bg7 5.d4 e6 6.h4 h6 7.Nge2 d6 8.Qd2 Nd7 9.O-O-O Ne7 10.Kb1 a6 11.h5 g5 12.g3 b5 13.Bg2 b4 14.Na4 a5 15.f4 Nc8 16.d5 Bxb2 17.Nxb2 e5 18.Bh3 Ncb6 19.Nd3 Qe7 20.fxe5 dxe5 21.Rhf1 O-O 22.Bxd7 Nxd7 23.g4 Bc8 24.Ng3 Nc5 25.Nxc5 Qxc5 26.Rf6 Kg7 27.Rdf1 a4 28.Rc6 Qa7 29.Qf2 Qxf2 30.Rxf2 Ra7 31.Nf5+ Bxf5 32.Rxf5 f6 33.bxa4 Rf7 34.Rc4 Rxa4 35.Rf3 Ra3 36.Rb3 1-0

Anish Giri - Social media bullying works

Round 25, May 31
Radjabov, Teimour – Nepo, Ian
B08 Pirc, Classical System

1.Nf3 g6 2.e4 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.Be2 a6 6.a4 O-O 7.O-O Nc6 8.Be3 Bg4 9.h3 Bxf3 10.Bxf3 Nd7 11.Ne2 Na5 12.c3 Nc4 13.Bc1 c5 14.b3 Na5 15.Be3 cxd4 16.cxd4 Qb6 17.Rb1 Rac8 18.Qd2 Qd8 19.d5 Nc5 20.Qd1 Nd7 21.Bg4 b5 22.axb5 axb5 23.Qd2 Ra8 24.Nd4 Nc5 25.Qb4 Qb6 26.Nxb5 Rfb8 27.Be2 Nab7 28.Qc4 Qd8 29.b4 Nd7 30.Nd4 Ne5 31.Qc2 Rc8 32.Nc6 Qe8 33.Rfc1 e6 34.Bf1 h5 35.b5 exd5 36.exd5 Nd7 37.Re1 Kh7 38.b6 Qf8 39.Qd2 Re8 40.Bb5 Nbc5 41.Bd3 Nb7 42.Bf1 Ra3 43.Qb4 Raxe3 44.Rxe3 Rxe3 45.fxe3 Qe8 46.e4 Ndc5 47.e5 dxe5 48.Na5 Bf8 49.Qb5 Qc8 50.Nxb7 Nxb7 51.Qc6 Bc5+ 52.Kh1 Qf5 53.Ra1 Bd4 54.Rd1 Nc5 55.Qb5 Be3 56.Bd3 e4 57.Rf1 exd3 58.Rxf5 gxf5 59.d6 d2 60.Qb1 Kg7 61.g4 hxg4 62.hxg4 fxg4 63.Kg2 Kf6 64.Kf1 Bf4 65.Ke2 Bxd6 66.b7 Nd7 67.Qb5 Nb8 68.Qd5 Bf4 69.Qd8+ Kf5 70.Qc8+ Kg5 71.Qg8+ Kf5 72.Qxf7+ Kg5 73.Qd5+ Kf6 74.Qg8 Kf5 75.Qc8+ Kg5 76.Qc5+ Kg6 77.Qg1 Kf5 78.Qh1 Kf6 79.Qh5 g3 80.Qd5 Bc7 81.Kxd2 Ke7 82.Kd3 Bd6 83.Kc4 Kd7 84.Kb5 Ke7 85.Qg8 Kf6 86.Qg4 Ke7 87.Qe4+ Kd7 88.Qf5+ Ke7 89.Qh3 Kf6 90.Kc4 Kg5 91.Kd5 Bc7 92.Ke4 Kf6 93.Qf5+ Ke7 94.Kd5 Nd7 95.Kc6 1-0

Round 26, May 31
Nepo, Ian – Radjabov, Teimour
A01 Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack, Classical variation

1.b3 d5 2.Bb2 Nf6 3.g3 Bf5 4.Bg2 e6 5.d3 Nbd7 6.Nd2 Bc5 7.e4 Bg6 8.e5 Ng8 9.h4 h6 10.Nh3 Ne7 11.Nf4 Bh7 12.Nh5 O-O 13.g4 Ng6 14.Nf3 f6 15.exf6 Nxf6 16.Nxf6+ gxf6 17.Qd2 e5 18.Qxh6 Nf4 19.g5 Rf7 20.gxf6 Nxg2+ 21.Kf1 Qxf6 22.Qxf6 Rxf6 23.Kxg2 Raf8 24.Rh3 d4 25.Rg3+ Kh8 26.Rf1 Bd6 27.Ng5 c5 28.Nxh7 Kxh7 29.Rg4 b5 30.Bc1 c4 31.Bg5 Rf3 32.Rg3 R3f7 33.Rh3 Rc8 34.Rd1 cxd3 35.cxd3 Rc2 36.Rd2 Rxd2 37.Bxd2 Rc7 38.Rf3 Rc2 39.Bg5 Rxa2 40.Rf7+ Kg8 41.Rd7 Bb4 42.h5 Be1 43.Bh4 a5 44.h6 1-0

Round 27, May 31
Radjabov, Teimour – Nepo, Ian
A35 English, symmetrical, Four Knights System

1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.d4 e6 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.Bg2 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Nxc3 9.bxc3 Nxd4 10.Qxd4 Qxd4 11.cxd4 Bd6 12.a4 Rb8 13.e4 b6 14.Ba3 Bxa3 15.Rxa3 Bb7 16.Kd2 Ke7 17.Rb1 Rhd8 18.Ke3 Bc6 19.Bf1 Rdc8 20.Ba6 Bb7 21.Bb5 Rc7 22.a5 Bc8 23.Bd3 Bd7 24.Rab3 Rc6 25.e5 h6 26.Be4 Rc4 27.axb6 Rxb6 28.Rxb6 axb6 29.Rxb6 Rc3+ 30.Kd2 Ra3 31.Rb7 Ke8 32.d5 Ra2+ 33.Ke3 Ra3+ 34.Ke2 Ra2+ 35.Kf3 Ra3+ 36.Kg2 exd5 37.Bxd5 Rd3 38.Be4 Ra3 39.h4 Ra5 40.f4 Ra2+ 41.Kf3 Ra3+ 42.Kf2 Ra2+ 43.Ke1 Ra1+ 44.Kd2 Ra2+ 45.Kc3 Ra3+ 46.Rb3 Rxb3+ 47.Kxb3 f6 48.Kc3 fxe5 49.fxe5 Ke7 50.Kd4 Bg4 51.Bg6 Bd1 52.Ke3 Bb3 53.Kf4 Be6 54.g4 Bd7 55.g5 hxg5+ 56.Kxg5 Ba4 57.Bf5 Be8 58.Bg4 Kf8 59.h5 Ke7 60.h6 gxh6+ 61.Kxh6 Bf7 62.e6 Bxe6 1/2-1/2

Congratulations to Ian Nepomniachtchi on beating Teimour Radjabov to take 3rd place in the #FTXCryptoCup!

Nepo-Radjabov 2.5-1.5

Playoff

The playoff consists of 2 blitz games (5 minutes + 3 seconds per move). If still tied, an Armageddon game will be played. Higher seed selects colour.

Round 28, May 31
Carlsen, Magnus – So, Wesley
A00 Sokolsky Opening

1.b4 d5 2.Bb2 Nf6 3.e3 Bg4 4.Be2 Bxe2 5.Qxe2 Nbd7 6.Nf3 e6 7.a3 c6 8.c4 Bd6 9.d3 a5 10.c5 Bc7 11.O-O O-O 12.Nbd2 b6 13.cxb6 Bxb6 14.Rfc1 axb4 15.axb4 Qe7 16.Rab1 Rfc8 17.Bxf6 Nxf6 18.d4 Bc7 19.Ne1 Bd6 20.Nd3 Rcb8 21.Nf3 Rb6 22.Nfe5 Qb7 23.Qc2 Bxe5 24.dxe5 Nd7 25.Rb3 c5 26.Nxc5 Nxc5 27.Qxc5 Rc6 28.Rbc3 Rxc5 29.Rxc5 h5 30.b5 Ra5 31.h3 g6 32.Rb1 Kg7 33.h4 Qb8 34.g3 Qxe5 35.Rcc1 Ra2 36.b6 Qf5 37.Rf1 Rxf2 38.b7 Rxf1+ 39.Rxf1 Qe5 0-1

Position after White’s 27.Qxc5?



Round 29, May 31
So, Wesley – 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.Nxe5 dxe5 10.d3 e6 11.a3 Be7 12.b4 O-O 13.Rb1 Nd7 14.Be3 Qc7 15.Rb2 cxb4 16.axb4 a5 17.bxa5 bxa5 18.Nb5 Qd8 19.Qc2 Bc6 20.Ra1 h6 21.Na7 Qc7 22.Nb5 Qc8 23.h3 Nc5 24.Rba2 a4 25.Qc3 Nb3 26.Na7 Qd7 27.Nxc6 Qxc6 28.Rb1 Nd4 29.f4 f6 30.Bxd4 exd4 31.Qc2 a3 32.c5 Qxc5 33.Qxc5 Bxc5 34.Be2 Rfb8 35.Rc1 Rb2 36.Bg4 f5 0-1

Armageddon, May 31
Carlsen, Magnus – So, Wesley
C50 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.O-O h6 6.c3 O-O 7.b4 Bb6 8.a4 a6 9.Nbd2 d6 10.Re1 Ne7 11.d4 exd4 12.cxd4 d5 13.e5 Nh5 14.Bf1 Nf4 15.Nb3 Neg6 16.a5 Ba7 17.Bxf4 Nxf4 18.Qd2 Ng6 19.Nc5 f6 20.Bd3 f5 21.Bc2 Re8 22.g3 Bxc5 23.bxc5 Be6 24.Rab1 Rb8 25.Re3 Ne7 26.Reb3 Qc8 27.Nh4 Rf8 28.Ng2 Bd7 29.h4 Ba4 30.R3b2 Bxc2 31.Qxc2 Nc6 32.Qc3 g5 33.hxg5 hxg5 34.f4 Kg7 35.Kf2 Rh8 36.fxg5 Rh2 37.Qf3 Nxd4 38.Qxd5 Nc6 39.e6 Qd8 40.Qd7+ Qxd7 41.exd7 Rd8 42.Rd2 Ne5 43.Rxb7 Kg6 44.Rxc7 1-0

Congratulations to @MagnusCarlsen on beating Wesley So in Armageddon to win the #FTXCryptoCup and book a place in the San Francisco finals of the @Meltwater Champions Chess Tour!

Today’s Match

Carlsen-So 2-2 and the Tiebreak was Carlsen-So 2-1

Tournament winner is Magnus Carlsen with $60,000 + 0.6 BTC
Runner-Up is Wesley So with $40,000 + 0.4 BTC
Third Place is Ian Nepomniachtchi with $25,000 + 0.25 BTC

Other Prizes Fourth Teimour Radjabov $15,000 + 0.15 BTC, Fifth, Fabiano Caruana $10,000 + 0.10 BTC. The same cash prizes and BTC for Anish Giri, Hikaru Nakamura and MVL.

[Hans Jung]

Magnus - what a gamer! - what a competitor! Down by one in the blitz and then wins the next two!

[Hans Jung]

Thanks! Enjoyed the games.