Home Chess AI Cup (Day 4): MVL Beats Nepo To Set Up Carlsen Rematch

AI Cup (Day 4): MVL Beats Nepo To Set Up Carlsen Rematch

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AI Cup (Day 4): MVL Beats Nepo To Set Up Carlsen Rematch

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GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave was once more in glowing type as he defeated GM Ian Nepomniachtchi 2-0 to earn one other shot at GM Magnus Carlsen in Friday’s 2023 AI Cup Grand Ultimate. Nepomniachtchi had earlier knocked out GM Anish Giri 1.5-0.5.

GM Vladimir Fedoseev saved his dream of reaching the Toronto Finals alive as he beat GM Vladislav Artemiev within the Division II Winners Ultimate, however he’ll now face the identical opponent once more within the Grand Ultimate.

GM Sam Sevian has an opportunity to win Division III for a exceptional third time this season when he takes on GM Rauf Mamedov. 

The match ends on Friday, September 29, beginning at 11 a.m. ET / 17:00 CEST / 20:30 IST.

See what occurred

Division I

After a marathon day three, day 4 of the AI Cup was over within the minimal potential variety of video games. Nepomniachtchi after which Vachier-Lagrave wrapped up their matches in two video games, with out the necessity for armageddon.

Nepomniachtchi 1.5-0.5 Giri

First up was the conflict between Nepomniachtchi and Giri, with the winner difficult Vachier-Lagrave within the Losers Ultimate. Giri admitted afterward, nonetheless, that his ideas had already strayed to a possible Grand Ultimate towards Carlsen, who had expressed a choice for taking part in his Dutch rival:

“I had some form of a deja vu, as a result of as soon as I keep in mind Magnus needed to satisfy me within the closing, and it was just a few years in the past, the Chessable Masters, and in that match I delivered, so I felt possibly I used to be destined to get there.”

Again in 2020, Carlsen had commented, “See you within the closing!” when each gamers nonetheless needed to win two matches to get there.

It occurred, with Giri beating Nepomniachtchi within the Semifinals, however in 2023 the two-time world championship challenger could be his nemesis. Nepomniachtchi knocked him out of the Winners bracket on day one of many AI Cup, then ended his match on day 4. Giri commented:

“It was higher than my earlier match with Ian, however I am very slowly studying from my errors. I have to lose a few extra occasions to him to get higher!”

The primary recreation confirmed that Nepomniachtchi meant enterprise. He performed the Petroff Protection, his world championship weapon of alternative, and unveiled a novelty on transfer 11, sacrificing a pawn.

There was ample compensation for the pawn, however no extra, and a well-played recreation led to a 48-move draw.

Sport two featured that different famously stable possibility for Black, the Berlin Protection, however Nepomniachtchi went for the Anti-Berlin with 4.d3, later pushed 14.f4!?, after which did one thing not often seen within the Berlin, castled queenside. It was unconventional, but it surely labored, and after 22.Qf2 the commentators felt there is likely to be no protection for Giri towards the approaching assault on his king.  

Giri dug deep, nonetheless, and located 22…Qe8! 23.Qg3 Qg6!, ending the quick hazard by swapping off queens. It appeared like he was saving the sport and we might get an armageddon, however immediately an innocuous-looking rook endgame swung in Nepomniachtchi’s favor, and similar to that Giri was out of the match.  

That meant the tip of Giri’s hopes of qualifying for the eight-player Tour Finals in Toronto this December, however not of his hopes of visiting the Canadian metropolis within the close to future.

For Nepomniachtchi, in the meantime, Toronto was tantalizingly shut. If he gained the subsequent match towards Vachier-Lagrave he would clinch the eighth spot, no matter what occurred within the Grand Ultimate towards Carlsen. Because it turned out, nonetheless, his French opponent was as soon as once more in impressed type.

Vachier-Lagrave 2-0 Nepomniachtchi 

The primary recreation of the Loser’s Ultimate promised little out of the opening. Nepomniachtchi once more performed the Petroff, queens had been exchanged on transfer seven, and it was exhausting to think about a quieter place. That made it all of the extra exceptional, due to this fact, that by the tip Vachier-Lagrave had crashed by means of, gained a bit, and his opponent had no alternative however to resign. 

In our Sport of the Day, GM Rafael Leitao appears to be like at the way it occurred.

That meant that Nepomniachtchi needed to win on demand, which made it maybe stunning that he met the Sicilian with the stable 3.Bb5 as a substitute of sharper traces.

It quickly appeared like an honest alternative, since an advanced middlegame arose the place, regardless of Vachier-Lagrave feeling like he’d solved most of his issues, there have been nonetheless robust decisions to be made. In truth, after 33…Rf7?, the win White wanted was up for grabs, but it surely was tough sufficient that whilst nice a tactician as Nepomniachtchi went astray.  

The journey of the black king made for a dramatic finish to the match.

That was one other fantastic end result for Vachier-Lagrave, who just lately gained the Tata Metal Chess India Speedy and confirmed indicators of his greatest chess regardless of his defeat to Carlsen. He commented:

I really feel good, as a result of it has been a really very long time since I performed at that stage. Clearly it is a superb feeling, particularly with the Grand Swiss for the final two Candidates spots not too distant. It provides me motivation to work much more. While you play effectively, it is simpler to get pleasure from chess and push ahead.

While you play effectively, it is simpler to get pleasure from chess and push ahead.

—Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

The French star defined that he’d been working very exhausting for the previous couple of years with little apparent end result however feels his efforts to rework his beforehand slim opening repertoire are lastly paying off. The following check forward is that rematch with Carlsen, when Vachier-Lagrave must beat the world number-one not as soon as however twice to clinch the AI Cup title and a spot within the Finals in Toronto. What does he take into consideration that activity?

I am simply hoping he will not play as effectively tomorrow as he did yesterday! If I can present up at what appears like my greatest stage prior to now two video games, I’ve an excellent probability, however after all, if he performs in addition to he performed yesterday, it is going to be nonetheless be an uphill activity, irrespective of how effectively I play.

Carlsen vs. Vachier-Lagrave is the one remaining match in Division I.

Division I Bracket

Division II

If Vachier-Lagrave does not beat Carlsen twice, that might be an enormous probability for Fedoseev, who can qualify for Toronto if he wins Division II—whereas if neither Vachier-Lagrave nor Fedoseev wins, Nepomniachtchi will probably be going to Toronto in any case.

The winner in Toronto will take house $200,000.

Which means the stakes are excessive, however thus far Fedoseev has executed his half. On day 4 he beat Artemiev within the Winners Ultimate after a bumpy experience. He took the lead however then fell for a sucker punch.

25.Rxd5! gained the sport and led to armageddon, but it surely was Fedoseev who acquired to strike the ultimate blow after 42.Re2??.

That wasn’t the tip of the street for Artemiev, nonetheless, since he fought again to win a good match towards GM Yuriy Kuzubov and arrange a Grand Ultimate rematch. Kuzubov had himself been on an unbelievable run, knocking star GMs Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Leinier Dominguez, Alexey Sarana, and Fabiano Caruana out of the match. 

Division II Bracket

Division III

The stakes are decrease in Division III, however Sevian has an opportunity to perform the unlikely feat of profitable Division III thrice in a six-event season. He overcame his fellow US GM Ray Robson in armageddon after which acquired revenge over GM Evgeny Alekseev, who had knocked him out of the Winners Bracket. Up subsequent? The Grand Ultimate towards Mamedov, the place Sevian must win twice to take the title.

Division III Bracket

The Champions Chess Tour 2023 (CCT) is the most important on-line match of the 12 months. It’s composed of six occasions that span your complete 12 months and culminate in reside in-person finals. With the very best gamers on the earth and a prize fund of $2,000,000, the CCT is Chess.com’s most necessary occasion.

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