GMs Magnus Carlsen, Jose Martinez, Vladimir Fedoseev, and Denis Lazavik received their matches on day three of the 2024 Champions Chess Tour Chessable Masters to remain within the Winner’s Bracket. In a day of upsets in Division I, Martinez performed the Recreation of the Day in opposition to two-time World Championship Challenger GM Ian Nepomniachtchi and received the match 3-1.

GM Hikaru Nakamura continues to be alive and kicking in Division II. He defeated GM Yu Yangyi 3-1 and is certainly one of eight gamers advancing within the Winners Bracket. 

In Division III, GM Eltaj Safarli is one participant to be careful for. On his approach to the Winners Semifinals, he defeated speed-chess skilled GM Oleksandr Bortnyk 3-0 after which GM Abhimanyu Mishra, the record-holder because the world’s youngest grandmaster, 2.5-1.5. 

Day 4 begins on Saturday, February 3, beginning at 11 a.m. ET / 17:00 CET / 9:30 p.m. IST.

Division I Bracket

The remainder of the match would be the Division part, which can function a double-elimination bracket in all three divisions. Eight gamers duke it out in Division I, 16 in Division II, and 32 in Division III. No one’s eradicated till Saturday. 

Division I: Upsets Galore

Carlsen was the one participant to skirt an upset on Friday, as he defeated GM Wesley So. Then again, Fedoseev took down GM Alireza Firouzja—although it is a slight stretch to name this an upset—and Lazavik, a particular underdog, overcame 2021 World Blitz Chess Champion Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.

Carlsen 2.5-1.5 So

The marquee matchup featured the 2023 CCT champion in opposition to the 2023 Finals runner-up. Whereas an thrilling pairing, the entire match got here right down to recreation two, which Carlsen received on time—able that was, objectively, nowhere close to successful.

Able that the engine marks as higher for Black however not successful, Carlsen wins on time!#ChessChamps #ChessableMasters pic.twitter.com/aN5PZjaKFC

— chess24.com (@chess24com) February 2, 2024

After the sport, Carlsen informed Norway’s TV2 that he had no thought he was taking part in in opposition to So till a number of hours earlier than (although pairings had been posted on Chess.com and his match was introduced on Twitter/X).

On this 12 months’s sooner time management, he mentioned: “You are feeling that you simply get extraordinarily confused within the time bother, as a result of you haven’t any break to assume [with the two-second increment], as a result of you must transfer instantly. There’s a panic among the many gamers that you simply often do not get—you noticed that with Wesley.”

There’s a panic among the many gamers that you simply often do not get—you noticed that with Wesley.

—Magnus Carlsen

Talking from Spain, Carlsen added about his match in opposition to Fedoseev tomorrow: “I feel Fedoseev is in Spain as nicely, so we might simply as nicely play over-the-board!”

Martinez 3-1 Nepomniachtchi

Martinez continued his inspirational run by defeating world number-seven Nepomniachtchi, with two wins and nil losses. The very first recreation featured a Petrosian king march—as his king ran throughout the complete board away from hazard—and it completed with a checkmate on the board—for the white king.

GM Rafael Leitao analyzes the thrilling recreation under. 

After the sport, Martinez shared each his happiness on the victory in addition to his disappointment at “accusations” and “suspicions” levied in opposition to him. His publish is translated from Spanish:

Very proud of immediately’s efficiency, resisting the assault within the first recreation with little time could be very tough however I used to be capable of do it, surviving 2 video games a bit worse to have the ability to advance to the following part!

However unhappy, bitter due to the fixed accusations or suspicions of many.

Muy feliz con el efficiency de hoy, resistir el ataque en la primera partida con poco tiempo es muy dificil pero pude lograrlo, sobrevivir 2 partidas un poco peor Para poder avanzar a la siguiente fase!

Pero triste, amargo por las constantes acusaciones o sospechas de muchos.

— Jose Martínez Alcántara (@GMJoseMartinez) February 2, 2024

Lazavik 3-2 Vachier-Lagrave 

After 4 attracts, Lazavik held with the black items in armageddon. In a determined try to win an equal rook endgame, Vachier-Lagrave misplaced—however a loss and draw meant the identical factor by this level within the match.

“Each win was very particular for me as a result of it is very arduous to beat any prime gamers,” mentioned Lazavik after the match. About taking part in Martinez on Saturday: “I feel it is going to be kind of an equal match.” Contemplating his leads to pace chess during the last two years, over the board and on-line, we would not be calling him an underdog for much longer:

Fedoseev 2.5-1.5 Firouzja

The French number-one in opposition to the Slovenian number-one was the opposite very shut match. After every successful as soon as, then drawing in recreation three, the equal endgame in recreation 4 appeared destined to reel in an armageddon. 

However, in time bother, Firouzja’s 64.Rd7? allowed a reasonably deflection tactic. Sachdev referred to as the rejoinder 64…Rf7! “the large useful resource, the large transfer by the Massive Fish.”

By way of over-the-board ranking, the Loser’s Bracket is curiously higher-rated than the Winner’s. Within the two Losers matches, Vachier-Lagrave vs. Nepomniachtchi and So vs. Firouzja, two super-GMs can be eradicated on Saturday.

Division II: Nakamura Continues To Combat

You’ll find the total brackets and pairings for Division II right here. 

Division III: Watch Out For Safarli! 

You’ll find the total brackets and pairings for Division III right here. 

The 2024 Chessable Masters is the primary of its 4 occasions and determines one of many gamers who’ll make it to the in-person CCT Finals. The occasion begins on January 31 at 11 a.m. ET/17:00 CET and encompasses a $300,000 prize fund.

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