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The primary occasion of the 2024 Champions Chess Tour, the 2024 Chessable Masters, is within the books, and lots has occurred within the match that lasted eight days.
Some issues aren’t new, like the truth that GM Magnus Carlsen gained once more. However lots is. First we announce the Finest Sport of the Match and Sensible Transfer of the Match, after which we dive into 5 issues we realized since final Wednesday.
Finest Sport of the Match: Indjic-Svidler 0-1
We had to decide on only one. With votes from the commentary staff, our resident GM Rafael Leitao, and day by day report writer (me!), the Finest Sport of the Match is: GM Peter Svidler‘s absolute demolition of the Vienna Opening from the black facet, performed on day one. You’ll be able to see the annotated sport right here.
Sensible Transfer of the Match: Dubov-Minh Le 23.Nf6!!
The Sensible Transfer of the Match was GM Daniil Dubov‘s 23.Nf6!!. After a pawn sacrifice, this knight sacrifice would later be adopted by a rook sacrifice for a ravishing win. You’ll be able to see the full sport right here.
On to what we have realized.
1. Carlsen Is The Finest Fast Chess Participant Proper Now
Okay, all of us have our opinions on who the G.O.A.T. of chess is. Nevertheless it’s laborious to argue with Carlsen’s dominance in speedy chess, particularly during the last two years.
He is number-one on the FIDE speedy ranking checklist, has gained the final two FIDE World Fast Chess Championships (and the Blitz too), added a 3rd Champions Chess Tour title to his accolades this previous December, and with this newest victory has gained 14 of 17 CCT finals.
Whether or not or not you imagine he is one of the best participant of all time, he is fairly darn good at speedy chess in the intervening time.
2. Favorites Do not Win Each Time
Whereas we did see a number of of the world’s top-20 make it into Division I—GM Wesley So, GM Ian Nepomniachtchi, GM, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, GM Alireza Firouzja—not all of them did.
GM Fabiano Caruana did not make it previous the Play-in on day one, scoring 3.5/8 and withdrawing earlier than the final spherical. GM Leinier Dominguez, quantity 10 on the planet, scored 4.5/9, which wasn’t sufficient to make it into Division III Placement.
On the match’s final day, even Grand Finalist Firouzja stated: “It is not simple to get out of the Play-in [on day one] even, so I am pleased that I am right here [in the Grand Final].”
It is not simple to get out of the Play-in even.
—Alireza Firouzja
It is a grueling match, and issues solely acquired tougher for individuals who made it into Division Play. GM Hikaru Nakamura, a participant we might usually count on to have probabilities of profitable Division I, was overwhelmed by GM Denis Lazavik on day two and eradicated by GM Rauf Mamedov within the second spherical of the Division II Loser’s Bracket.
GM Anish Giri is one other participant we’d count on in Division I. He made it so far as the Losers Quarterfinals of Division II.
Nice battle!
Me I misplaced to Lazavik, Xiong and Bok, I really feel like I certified to a one-on-one remedy session with Kramnik!
— Anish Giri (@anishgiri) February 5, 2024
3. Suspicions About Truthful Play Persist
Truthful Play has been a scorching subject in chess just lately with each direct and oblique accusations often being circulated with out proof. Sadly, the Chessable Masters was not exempt from these conversations.
In chat and on social media, suspicions have been levied in opposition to a few of the proficient, younger gamers who succeeded within the occasion. GM Jose Martinez publicly voiced his frustration and disappointment with the scenario on Twitter/X.
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
Such accusations have been additionally levied in opposition to Lazavik, a 2023 CCT Finalist who had a wonderful occasion and in addition carried out at a robust degree over the board in each the CCT Finals and the World Blitz Championship in December. He spoke concerning the expertise of such accusations in an interview on the CCT Finals.
Chess.com’s Truthful Play staff famous that each Martinez and Lazavik have been absolutely compliant with all Truthful Play procedures, and per their statement, every has lengthy performed at a robust, however solely human, degree.
4. Keymer Is On The Rise
GM Vincent Keymer, the winner of Division II, has proven progress each on-line and over the board. The 19-year-old will play in Division I of the following occasion.
The world number-17 continues to compete on the very best levels in chess, however for now it has been a sequence of “almost there” tournaments if we’re speaking about breaking into the Candidates and the world championship cycle. On the 2023 FIDE World Cup, he gained the primary sport in opposition to Carlsen however was unable to win the match. On the 2023 FIDE Grand Swiss, the German number-one completed a degree behind the winner, GM Vidit Gujrathi, who together with Nakamura (half a degree behind) certified for the Candidates.
Nonetheless below 20 years previous, Keymer’s going to play in Division I for the primary time, the place he may have one other shot at upsetting the world number-one and different high gamers. There is no Candidates spot on the road, after all, however Keymer may have a crucial likelihood to determine himself among the many best—and to win a $30,000 prize.
Congratulations to @VincentKeymer04 for profitable the #ChessableMasters Division II! 🥇🇩🇪
This victory grants Keymer $15,000 and 50 Tour Factors, in addition to an essential spot in Division I for the following occasion! pic.twitter.com/cptSmHv9IM
— Champions Chess Tour (@ChampChessTour) February 6, 2024
5. The Previous Guard Marches On
In the identical breath, we are able to say that the earlier generations aren’t happening with no battle. Whereas some favorites faltered within the early levels of the match, there have been veterans who prospered.
GM Levon Aronian (41) and GM Alexander Grischuk (40) have been probably the most profitable. The previous reached the Grand Last of Division II after defeating GMs David Anton Guijarro, Sam Sevian, and Vladislav Artemiev—although he lastly misplaced in opposition to Keymer within the Winners Last and Grand Last.
Three-time Blitz World Champion Grischuk, alternatively, in Division III surpassed Dubov and GMs Aleksandr Rakhmanov, Jaime Santos Latasa, Eltaj Safarli, and Oleksandr Bortnyk. He lastly misplaced solely in opposition to GM Alexey Sarana, twice.
Svidler (47) deserves an honorable point out, as he completed ninth within the Play-in and performed a brilliancy, the Sport of the Match, alongside the way in which. The successes ended there, nevertheless, as he was knocked out within the early rounds of Division II by Keymer after which Giri within the Loser’s Bracket.
Curiously, in Division I, the 33-year-olds have been the oldest: Carlsen, Nepomniachtchi, Vachier-Lagrave.
What was your largest takeaway from the Chessable Masters? Tell us within the feedback under!
The 2024 Chessable Masters was the primary of 4 occasions on the 2024 Champions Chess Tour 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 incorporates a $300,000 prize fund.
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