World Blitz Championships: Magnus grabs the triple crown!

by ChessBase
12/30/2019 – It was a memorable final day of action at the World Blitz Championships in Moscow! Magnus Carlsen arrived as sole leader, but was caught up by an inspired Hikaru Nakamura. Two extra games were played to decide the champion, and the Norwegian prevailed. Carlsen won his third world blitz title and became the world champion in all three formats — classical, rapid and blitz! In the women's section, Kateryna Lagno defended her title from 2018. | Photo: Lennart Ootes

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Lagno still the queen of blitz

It was all Magnus Carlsen in 2019! The Norwegian star came from a 2018 in which he had won the World Championship title in London and the World Blitz Championship at the end of the year (he finished a half point behind Daniil Dubov in the Rapid). When things seemed all but impossible to improve for the ultra-talent from Tønsberg, he went on to obtain a host of tournament wins and get the triple crown the very next time he got a chance!

But there was no lack of drama in Moscow. Hikaru Nakamura and Vladimir Kramnik had remarkable runs of good results to put extra pressure on the leader. After beating Kramnik in round 18, Carlsen faced 16-year-old Alireza Firouzja, who ended up losing on time after failing to convert a winning position (there was a huge controversy involved though — Sagar Shah sent a detailed video explaining what went on). The all-important half point left Carlsen in the sole lead, but did not prevent Nakamura from catching up with him thanks to back-to-back wins in the final two rounds! 

Thus, Carlsen and Nakamura tied for first place on 16½/21 and, although prize money was distributed evenly (each received USD 55,000), the title had to be decided in tiebreaks. After drawing game one with Black, Carlsen scored the win he needed to close a remarkable year with yet another triumph.

Vladimir Kramnik won the bronze medal after scoring six wins and a single loss in the final day of action. Let us not forget that the Russian is currently retired from classical chess.

Meanwhile, Kateryna Lagno began the day with a full-point advantage over a four-player chasing pack, but a loss against Alisa Galliamova in round 13 meant she had to suffer a bit before getting the title. In fact, she reached the final round tied with Anna Muzychuk atop the standings table. Lagno drew Antoaneta Stefanova with the white pieces, while Muzychuk fell against Tan Zhongyi. Muzychuk got the silver nonetheless, while Tan Zhongyi clinched the bronze with her last round win. 

Lagno defended the Women's World Blitz title she had obtained in Saint Petersburg in 2018.

Replay the games with computer analysis. Full report will be published shortly.

The rapid event

Magnus Carlsen and Humpy Koneru were crowned 2019 World Rapid Champions in Moscow. Carlsen all but secured first place with a round to spare, and then confirmed it with a 22-move draw against Hikaru Nakamura. Humpy, on the other hand, caught up with Lei Tingjie in the final round after the latter lost against Ekaterina Atalik — the Indian star would then go on to beat Lei in the Armageddon phase of tiebreaks.

Full story: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

Live games and commentary

Players receive 3 minutes plus a 2 seconds per move for the entire game.

 

Commentary by GM Leko, GM Miroschnichenko & WGM Skripchenko | FIDE Chess

 

Final standings (Open, top 25)

Rk. Name Pts.  TB1 
1 Carlsen Magnus 16,5 261,0
2 Nakamura Hikaru 16,5 259,0
3 Kramnik Vladimir 15,0 246,5
4 Grischuk Alexander 14,0 251,5
5 Vachier-Lagrave Maxime 14,0 245,5
6 Firouzja Alireza 13,5 265,5
7 Artemiev Vladislav 13,5 263,0
8 Yu Yangyi 13,5 255,5
9 Matlakov Maxim 13,5 254,5
10 Duda Jan-Krzysztof 13,5 253,0
11 Andreikin Dmitry 13,5 250,5
12 Fedoseev Vladimir 13,5 240,5
13 Giri Anish 13,5 239,0
14 Zubov Alexander 13,5 237,0
15 Aronian Levon 13,5 233,5
16 Wang Hao 13,5 231,5
17 Inarkiev Ernesto 13,5 229,5
18 Svidler Peter 13,5 220,5
19 Gelfand Boris 13,5 216,0
20 Cheparinov Ivan 13,5 213,5
21 Dreev Aleksey 13,0 247,0
22 Nepomniachtchi Ian 13,0 245,0
23 Mamedov Rauf 13,0 240,5
24 Salem A.R. Saleh 13,0 231,5
25 Chigaev Maksim 13,0 230,5

...207 players

Final standings (Women, top 20)

Rk. Name Pts.  TB1 
1 Lagno Kateryna 13,0 170,5
2 Muzychuk Anna 12,5 168,5
3 Tan Zhongyi 12,0 167,5
4 Gunina Valentina 12,0 164,0
5 Kosteniuk Alexandra 11,5 169,0
6 Lei Tingjie 11,5 168,5
7 Arabidze Meri 11,5 161,5
8 Stefanova Antoaneta 11,5 157,0
9 Khademalsharieh Sarasadat 11,5 142,0
10 Bodnaruk Anastasia 11,0 167,5
11 Mammadova Gulnar 11,0 148,5
12 Koneru Humpy 10,5 173,5
13 Munguntuul Batkhuyag 10,5 165,5
14 Paehtz Elisabeth 10,5 161,5
15 Abdumalik Zhansaya 10,5 161,5
16 Galliamova Alisa 10,5 156,0
17 Saduakassova Dinara 10,5 156,0
18 Zhukova Natalia 10,5 156,0
19 Krush Irina 10,5 146,0
20 Mkrtchian Lilit 10,5 144,5

...122 players

Starting list Blitz (Open)

No. Name Rtg
1 Nakamura Hikaru 2885
2 Carlsen Magnus 2865
3 Karjakin Sergey 2836
4 Nepomniachtchi Ian 2826
5 Yu Yangyi 2807
6 Svidler Peter 2805
7 Duda Jan-Krzysztof 2796
8 Artemiev Vladislav 2793
9 Andreikin Dmitry 2780
10 Giri Anish 2769
11 Le Quang Liem 2768
12 Vachier-Lagrave Maxime 2768
13 Andriasian Zaven 2766
14 Vidit Santosh Gujrathi 2756
15 Zubov Alexander 2754
16 Kramnik Vladimir 2748
17 Grischuk Alexander 2741
18 Dubov Daniil 2736
19 Korobov Anton 2720
20 Matlakov Maxim 2720
21 Vitiugov Nikita 2719
22 Dominguez Perez Leinier 2715
23 Fedoseev Vladimir 2714
24 Wang Hao 2714
25 Jobava Baadur 2712
26 Morozevich Alexander 2712
27 Mamedyarov Shakhriyar 2706
28 Meier Georg 2701
29 Gelfand Boris 2700
30 Kamsky Gata 2699
31 Aronian Levon 2698
32 Ponkratov Pavel 2698
33 Tari Aryan 2689
34 Amin Bassem 2685
35 Nihal Sarin 2685

... 205 Players

Starting list Rapid (Women)

No. Name Rtg
1 Lagno Kateryna 2606
2 Lei Tingjie 2543
3 Kosteniuk Alexandra 2521
4 Muzychuk Anna 2504
5 Koneru Humpy 2489
6 Tan Zhongyi 2480
7 Khademalsharieh Sarasadat 2463
8 Kulon Klaudia 2457
9 Stefanova Antoaneta 2452
10 Harika Dronavalli 2445
11 Dzagnidze Nana 2432
12 Ushenina Anna 2424
13 Abdumalik Zhansaya 2415
14 Galliamova Alisa 2415
15 Gaponenko Inna 2415
16 Arabidze Meri 2412
17 Saduakassova Dinara 2390
18 Cramling Pia 2383
19 Sargsyan Anna M. 2382
20 Paehtz Elisabeth 2380
21 Bodnaruk Anastasia 2375
22 Zatonskih Anna 2374
23 Krush Irina 2371
24 Gunina Valentina 2366
25 Buksa Nataliya 2356
26 Muzychuk Mariya 2344
27 Danielian Elina 2341
28 Girya Olga 2337
29 Guichard Pauline 2335
30 Pourkashiyan Atousa 2327
31 Heinemann Josefine 2325
32 Mamedjarova Zeinab 2325
33 Assaubayeva Bibisara 2323
34 Mammadzada Gunay 2314
35 Bulmaga Irina 2308

... 122 Players

Schedule (Open)

Because there are only 17 rounds in the women's tournament, there is no round at 15.30, 16.00 or 16.30 (UTC) on Saturday or 14.00 (UTC) on Sunday. Otherwise the schedule is the same for both tournaments.

Round Date Time (UTC)
1 Dec. 29 11.00
2   11.30
3   12.00
4   12.30
5   13.00
6   13.30
7   14.00
8   14.30
9   15.00
10   15.30 (Open only)
11   16.00 (Open only)
12   16.30 (Open only)
13 Dec. 30 10.00
14   10.30
15   11.00 
16   11.30
17   12.00 
18   12.30
19   13.00
20   13.30 
21   14.00 (Open only)

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