Aimchess US Rapid Finals - Carlsen beats Artemiev

by ChessBase
9/5/2021 – Magnus Carlsen is the Aimchess US Rapid winner after a near-faultless display against Vladislav Artemiev. The World Champion now marches into next month’s $300,000 Meltwater Champions Chess Tour Final top of the leaderboard and in top form. | Full report to follow shortly

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Finals - Day 2

The last ‘regular’ tournament of the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour, the Aimchess US Rapid, is taking place from August 28 to September 5.

The knockout matchups consist of 4-game matches on the first two days. If the match score is 1-1, two 5+3 games are then played followed, if needed, by Armageddon, where White has 5 minutes to Black’s 4, but a draw counts as a win for Black.

The time control is 15 minutes for all moves, with a 10-second increment from move 1. No draw offers are allowed before move 40.

Aimchess US Rapid 2021

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Previous reports: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8

Live games and commentary

 

Find all the games of the tournament at Live.ChessBase.com

Commentary by GMs Daniel King and Simon Williams

Final standings - Preliminaries

 

Links

<< European Championship - Final round
Remembering Dima >>
Topics: Aimchess US Rapid 2021
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Discussion and Feedback Join the public discussion or submit your feedback to the editors

See also

Aimchess US Rapid: Carlsen and Artemiev reach the final

9/4/2021 – Magnus Carlsen and Vladislav Artemiev emerged victorious from their semifinal duels at the Aimchess US Rapid on Friday. While the world champion beat Levon Aronian in the second set, Artemiev only went through after beating Alireza Firouzja in Armageddon. | Photo: Alina l’Ami
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See also

Aimchess US Rapid SF: All square

9/3/2021 – The first day of the Aimchess US Rapid semifinals saw both mini-matches finishing drawn. In Magnus Carlsen vs Levon Aronian, the players split points in all four games. Meanwhile, Alireza Firouzja managed to tie the score after tricking Vladislav Artemiev in the last game of the first set. | Photo: Bryan Adams / Grand Chess Tour

Video

60m Caro Kann Exchange Variation

The Exchange Variation (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3) is a simple and easy to learn answer to the Caro-Kann. By clarifying the central tension White gives himself a clear plan of attack using the half open e-file and the e5 square. This is far from easy for Black to meet as Bobby Fischer, Jan Timman, Walter Browne and other leading Grandmasters have demonstrated in their games. Black too has his resources but he needs to know what he's doing. On this DVD you will find a clear explanation of the strategy for both sides as well as answers to popular treatments such as 4...Nc6 5.c3 Qc7. Whilst the main focus is on the White side of this opening you will also find ways for Black to defend.

Discuss

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fair1play fair1play 9/5/2021 09:35
totally lack of fairplay by Firouzja. He would have played the finals against Carlsen if he had qualified. but then he gave priority to Norway Chess and decided not to play Aronian for 3rd place match. most likely a contract breach.
unsportsmanship and poor professional behavior.
nielslau nielslau 9/4/2021 11:49
Would Firouzja still be unable to play the last match, if he had qualified for the final?
lajosarpad lajosarpad 9/4/2021 05:03
@e-mars that's a false comparison, a false parallel. Of course, a beginner plays in lesser quality in classical chess than a top player in blitz. But let's be correct in our comparison: let's compare a player's game in blitz against his own game in rapid and against his own game in class. It is trivial that rapid and blitz diminishes quality. Because the alternative to Carlsen playing Aronian a rapid online game is the same players playing classical.
e-mars e-mars 9/4/2021 12:50
@Theochessman @lajosarpad not necessarily. You may have two amateurs playing a classical time control match and get a low quality game which is comparable to low quality food. Vice versa a blitz/rapid game played by GMs will be often much more superior to the former. To be fair, fast food is not a synonym of poor quality food.
The comparison stands always true if you compare the quality of the players. I give you that the shorter the time control more difficult is to get a masterpiece. It's even more difficult whenever players are of a low level though.
EyeM EyeM 9/3/2021 09:41
I had to give up classical chess. It was getting in the way of my Blitz chess.
Theochessman Theochessman 9/3/2021 05:18
I totally agree with lajosarpad.
The difference between Chess and blitz is like the difference between McDonalds and gourmet food.
Speed chess being the junkfood, ofcourse.
lajosarpad lajosarpad 9/3/2021 10:07
I think that most of people who prefer the rapid games have their reason of seeing more fighting in chess. For this, much of the quality in the game is sacrificed. Yet, we see all-drawn matches, like Carlsen-Aronian. I do not mind draws, to be honest, But I would prefer to see a really good game instead of four online games. It's like the difference between a sandwitch and a well-cooked lunch. Not the same at all.
fgkdjlkag fgkdjlkag 9/3/2021 01:57
@John, if he didn't take it, Bh6 won for white.
John Maccormack John Maccormack 9/3/2021 12:58
Why did Artemiev take the knight with his queen? Was it a mouse slip? Did he not see the bishop protecting the knight or was it something else? Like an act of suicide. I'm puzzled. Someone please explain. Thx. JXM
parselmouth parselmouth 9/2/2021 10:28
Firouzja and Artimiev are massive talents. Fun to watch.
Mike Magnan Mike Magnan 9/1/2021 01:16
Guess Hanssen is more like a SISSSSSSSSSSSSSSta!
apple_playa apple_playa 8/31/2021 08:27
Carlsen kept his game complex for longer by ensuring more pieces on board. And of course the clock was ticking!
Keith Homeyard Keith Homeyard 8/30/2021 11:33
eric b: If you want the very best games then why not look at engine games? For my interests, their opening theory/prep is top standard and their rapid play is far better than most of us can play at classical time controls and that is good enough for me.
eric b eric b 8/30/2021 11:43
Leaven fish. How do shorter time controls give you their best chess when players are more prone to mistakes?
Leavenfish Leavenfish 8/29/2021 11:18
They exist...primarily OTB.
Personally, I think you still get 'the very best' with these time controls...only speeded up and time added after each move.
What I don't care for about these 'tours' as a spectator is how someone like Aronian can coast with 5 move draws into a desired spot. That should be okay...but a price should be paid. Split the lions share of the prize fund 'BY WINS' - this encourages even people who will not qualify/advance $$ for playing hard...and it will take a little $$ from the pockets of these 'coasters'...
eric b eric b 8/29/2021 07:05
What happened to chess tournaments with top players using classical time controls? Do they still have them? If so, do they have them less often now? I like the classical time controls because we know we're getting the very best games from the players.
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