Carlsen keeps on winning
On the second day of the Chessable Masters Playoffs, the knockout phase of the tournament, the winners' group semifinals were on the agenda, as well as the second round in the losers' group. Magnus Carlsen faced Arjun Erigaisi, who had previously eliminated Wei Yi in convincing fashion with a 3-0 victory.
The Jobava London System is a minor form of the London System. White tries to play Lf4 quickly followed by Nc3.
Carlsen took the lead in the first game after winning a pawn in a Spanish Opening during the late middlegame and converting his material advantage in the endgame. Two draws followed. In the fourth game, Arjun equalised. In a sharp yet balanced endgame, Carlsen ventured too far with his rook and was unable to prevent his opponent from queening a pawn.
In the second semifinal match between Hikaru Nakamura and Alireza Firouzja, the US grandmaster took the lead by winning a rook endgame. However, Firouzja immediately levelled the score in the second game. A very tough battle with interlocked pawn chains lasted 102 moves before Firouzja secured the full point. Two draws followed.
Both semifinal matches went into extra time. In the Armageddon deciders, Carlsen and Nakamura each prevailed and subsequently contested the winners' group final. This turned out to be a one-sided affair. Carlsen won the first game with white, practically deciding it in the opening, thanks to the Jobava London System.
In the second game, Nakamura narrowly saved an endgame with a pawn deficit. However, Carlsen then secured victory in the third game after a wild tactical battle and is now through to the Grand Final.
Winners' Group

In the losers' group, Ian Nepomniachtchi defeated Vladislav Artemiev after Armageddon. Fabiano Caruana was convincingly beaten by Andrey Esipenko with a 0-2 score.
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Jan-Krzysztof Duda and Wei Yi each won one game in their match. In the bidding Armageddon, the Polish grandmaster got the black pieces and secured a draw and, according to the rules, won the match. Meanwhile, Yu Yangyi eliminated Anish Giri after just two games with a 1½-½ score.
Losers' Group

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