GM Magnus Carlsen defeated GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov to safe his seat within the Division I Grand Closing of the Champions Chess Tour Aimchess Speedy 2023. He gained the primary two video games and, regardless of being down two pawns and lifeless misplaced within the third, discovered a miraculous save to clinch the match with no fourth.

Within the Losers Bracket, each matches led to 2-0 sweeps. GM Eduardo Iturrizaga took down GM Levon Aronian and, in an emotional interview, devoted his victory to his mom who just lately handed away. With Black, GM Wesley So outplayed GM Fabiano Caruana in an endgame, after which gained a miniature in 22 strikes the second time round. Iturrizaga and So will play within the Losers Semifinals tomorrow, and Abdusattorov will play the winner of that match for the second Grand Closing spot.

In Division II, GM Sam Sevian and GM Gata Kamsky had a five-game match with zero attracts within the Winners Semifinals. It was determined within the armageddon recreation, the place Sevian gained on time. GM Denis Lazavik superior with no recreation after GM Amin Tabatabaei misplaced by forfeit as a consequence of a battle with an over-the-board occasion. Sevian and Lazavik will play within the Winners Closing.

In Division III, GM Yu Yangyi jumped into the Grand Closing after overcoming GM Tuan Minh Le with a 2-0 rating. Developing within the Losers Bracket will probably be GM Rauf Mamedov vs. GM Liem Le and GM Leinier Dominguez vs. GM Dmitry Andreikin tomorrow.

The knockout match continues on Thursday, July 13, beginning at 11 a.m. ET / 17:00 CEST / 20:30  IST.

Division I

Whereas Abdusattorov is likely one of the few gamers on the planet to boast a plus rating towards Carlsen in classical chess, their fast encounters had been even: one win every with two attracts. The Uzbek grandmaster is simply 18 years outdated, however he (together with Carlsen and GM Hikaru Nakamura) has already certified for the CCT Playoffs in December after successful the ChessKid Cup in Could.

Carlsen gave the impression to be unstoppable within the final week. After defeating Caruana within the Winners Semifinals, he additionally gained the late Titled Tuesday yesterday. This match didn’t betray the narrative of Carlsen’s dominance in pace chess.

The primary recreation was a traditional endgame squeeze by the so-called “Mozart of chess.” Carlsen gained with Black in boa-constrictor trend.

The second was among the best video games we have seen within the Champions Chess Tour. Carlsen performed aggressively towards the Kan Sicilian, organising a Maroczy Bind and marching his g-pawn up the board. Issues began getting loopy when he supplied a knight sacrifice…

🧠 “That is past most people’ capabilities, however Magnus, engines, they see any such stuff!” (🎙️ @DavidHowellGM)#ChessChamps #AimchessRapid pic.twitter.com/sb3P2C2iIP

— chess24.com (@chess24com) July 12, 2023

… that was not accepted. Later, Abdusattorov discovered the tough 27…g5, which objectively was a mistake however troublesome to beat over the board. But, though not with out errors, Carlsen did.

GM Rafael Leitao annotates this mental slugfest, our Sport of the Day, beneath.

Carlsen wanted only a attract recreation three to win the match, however he mentioned he “fell asleep on the wheel” and underestimated the hazard till he was merely misplaced. Down two pawns in a rook endgame, he thought of resigning, however he performed it out, saying Abdusattorov had been “shaky” within the earlier video games.

It paid off as he drew the sport with a miraculous save:

Within the interview, Sachdev requested if Carlsen loved taking part in the youthful technology. Carlsen responded: “I like taking part in anyone, however… it is good to get them whereas they’re younger!”

In his final two matches, he gained the primary recreation with Black. Requested by Rensch about his aggressive method with the black items, the world number-one mentioned: “I am simply taking part in terribly when I attempt to be stable.”

He gained Titled Tuesday yesterday. Does he get pleasure from taking part in in it? “I get pleasure from it after I do nicely.”

The world number-one gained the late #TitledTuesday yesterday. Does he get pleasure from taking part in in Titled Tuesday, even after the #AimchessRapid?

“I get pleasure from it after I do nicely.” 😂 pic.twitter.com/HVU18MRus7

— chess24.com (@chess24com) July 12, 2023

Abdusattorov will nonetheless have a second life within the Losers Closing tomorrow. 

Losers Bracket

The matches on this bracket had been simply two video games, not 4. Each matches led to clear sweeps leading to two American super-GMs being eradicated.

Caruana-So 0-2

Regardless of being decrease on the world rating checklist in classical chess, So is quantity three in fast FIDE score and Caruana is number-five. Moreover, So led their fast head-to-head encounters with 13 wins, 10 losses, and 16 attracts. Nonetheless, the match was shockingly one-sided because the Filipino-American grandmaster gained each video games.

The primary recreation was a 104-mover that ended with the timeless battle of bishop towards knight (with queens on). So had the knight, and Caruana had the bishop. Caruana was higher at first, however after a number of strikes, he was defending, and So took fairly some dangers to keep away from a draw by repetition to outplay the reigning U.S. champion. 

The second recreation lasted simply 22 strikes. Needing only a draw, he nonetheless performed ambitiously, and an alternate sacrifice to complete the sport was the cherry on prime.

Caruana makes $10,000 and 30 tour factors for reaching this stage. He is made it twice to the Grand Closing stage earlier than, however now he might want to qualify for Division I of the subsequent occasion by the Play-In.

Aronian-Iturrizaga 0-2

Aronian was the slight favourite on this matchup, with one win of their solely recorded fast recreation. Nonetheless, Iturrizaga had greater than confirmed himself towards the world’s finest gamers in earlier days, each within the Play-In and in his match victory towards GM Jorden van Foreest.

The Spanish GM gained the primary recreation with the black items after trapping his opponent’s queen. Chess.com awarded him a 98% accuracy rating.

Aronian had a bonus for many of recreation two, however in a tactical skirmish below time strain on the finish of the sport, Iturrizaga gained a chunk, the sport, and the match.

In a teary interview, Iturrizaga mentioned he was “very nervous and really emotional.” He was particularly completely satisfied along with his play within the first recreation. 

What does this win over the previous world number-two imply for him? “It is motivation to attempt to get higher in chess… in fact, it is by no means simple… even this 12 months, my mother died in March and, in fact, I dedicate this for her.” 

❤️ @EduIturri opens up in an emotional interview after eliminating @LevAronian from the match and finishing one of many greatest upsets in CCT historical past. #ChessChamps pic.twitter.com/N1ewelnCWH

— Champions Chess Tour (@ChampChessTour) July 12, 2023

Within the interview, he additionally talked about that he usually appears to be like on the tattoo on his proper arm for inspiration. On his inside wrist, in giant black letters, is a Samuel Beckett quote: “Ever tried, ever failed, regardless of. Attempt once more, fail once more, fail higher.”

Aronian earns $10,000 and 30 tour factors for getting this far in Division I. 

Division I Standings

Division II

Sevian’s second victory featured this creator’s second-favorite checkmating sample (the primary being smothered mate). Can you discover it?

Lazavik will face Sevian within the Winners Closing after successful his match towards Tabatabaei by forfeit. The latter was unable to play as a consequence of collaborating in an over-the-board match on the similar time.

Division II Standings

Division III