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GM Magnus Carlsen gained Division I of the 2024 Champions Chess Tour Chessable Masters on Wednesday. GM Alireza Firouzja took the primary set of the Grand Remaining, impressively successful the primary two video games in a row, however the world number-one struck again within the second set. Carlsen gained the match reset with a 2-0 sweep.
That is Carlsen’s 14th victory in 17 CCT finals. He makes $30,000, good points 100 tour factors, as properly direct entry into each Division I of the following occasion and the dwell Finals on the finish of the yr.
Division I Bracket
Grand Remaining: Firouzja Dominates First Set, Carlsen Doubles Down In Second
Carlsen was a favourite in opposition to his 13-years-younger opponent, as he can be in opposition to nearly anybody. Carlsen gained their solely earlier Grand Remaining encounter within the 2023 Julius Baer Technology Cup. Firouzja’s been in two Grand Finals however has but to win one.
Set 1: Carlsen 1.5-2.5 Firouzja
Firouzja was in almost full management within the first set. After the French number-one gained the primary two video games back-to-back, the Herculean activity of successful twice on demand was an excessive amount of even for the previous world champion.
“We could not have hoped for a extra thrilling starting to this sport,” mentioned Howell throughout sport one, after the opening stage. By high quality of play and intrigue, it was one of the best of the primary 4 video games.
We could not have hoped for a extra thrilling starting to this sport.
—David Howell
Firouzja, with Black, sacrificed a bit for a wall of pawns. The 2 grandmasters performed an ideal sport for 41 strikes, and only one slip, 41.Qf7?, misplaced the sport for Carlsen after 41…h6!—cementing 99.1% accuracy within the sport—made Firouzja’s king untouchable.
Firouzja shocked the commentators and followers alike in sport two by outplaying the world’s endgame maestro within the endgame. In hindsight, it is easy to understand the way in which he prompts his king from transfer 34 to 38 in order that it turns into a pacesetter in threatening checkmates.
“He outplayed me utterly,” mentioned Carlsen about this sport after the match.
He outplayed me utterly.
—Magnus Carlsen
“He’s simply dominating Magnus Carlsen!” mentioned Hess after the second win, whereas Howell concluded: “It is one-way site visitors proper now.”
He’s simply dominating Magnus Carlsen!
—Robert Hess
Carlsen performed the London System and gained a pleasant rook endgame in sport three, however he appeared to expire of steam within the fourth sport. After he made a mistake, he himself supplied a draw to throw within the towel.
In a must-win sport, Magnus surprisingly agrees to a draw and provides up the primary match!https://t.co/GJzfuwfrJw#ChessChamps #ChessableMasters pic.twitter.com/Z7JxJ9rJTk
— chess24.com (@chess24com) February 7, 2024
Carlsen later defined: “I simply missed Be2 and I used to be sort of pissed about that and there have been no successful probabilities, so I believed, it is fantastic, I get White the following sport, I begin anew.”
Match Reset: Carlsen 2-0 Firouzja
They generally say that you must beat a grandmaster thrice to win one sport—that means they maintain combating their manner again in. From this angle, Carlsen may be just like the mythological Hydra—you narrow off one head, two develop as a replacement.
“I do not know if he misplaced power, if he acquired nervous, however it’s arduous to stick with it,” mentioned Carlsen after successful the following, and final, two video games.
I do not know if he misplaced power, if he acquired nervous, however it’s arduous to stick with it.
—Magnus Carlsen
The primary sport was the higher one, the place we had been handled to a dynamic, opposite-sides castling place that arose from the Trompowsky Opening. A pointy middlegame changed into a successful endgame, which Carlsen transformed with distinctive energy.
GM Rafael Leitao analyzes the Sport of the Day beneath.
Firouzja was a lot better, and really near successful, within the second sport. However when Carlsen traded queens—nonetheless a lot worse—endgame magic occurred. Firouzja’s greatest likelihood would have been 33.Rf1, however after drifting into an equal place, 37.Re4?? was the nail within the coffin. Carlsen wanted simply three strikes to complete the sport.
There have been 32 CCT tournaments in complete and Carlsen has gained 18 of them. After this newest win, he began the interview with: “I actually wanted my additional life at this time, that is for positive.”
The previous world champion, true to his nature, mirrored: “It was not a glowing occasion for me by any means, however it feels superior to win.”
Followers will not have to attend lengthy to see Carlsen and Firouzja play once more. Actually, they’ll meet over the board in Germany at a event beginning this Friday, the 2024 Freestyle Chess G.O.A.T. Problem—together with an illustrious record of different individuals that features World Champion Ding Liren.
Firouzja nonetheless pockets $20,000 and 80 tour factors for reaching the Grand Remaining. He additionally good points direct entry to Division I of the following occasion, as does GM Vincent Keymer for successful Division II.
There are simply three extra CCT occasions earlier than the dwell Finals on the finish of the yr, and so the clock is ticking for everybody whose title just isn’t Magnus Carlsen.
The 2024 Chessable Masters is 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.
Earlier protection:
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