CCT Finals: Carlsen to face MVL, Firouzja to play Nepo in semis

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
12/20/2024 – The Champions Chess Tour Finals in Oslo are heading into the semifinals after an action-packed Thursday that saw the conclusion of the round-robin and the intense survival stage. Magnus Carlsen dominated the all-play-all phase to secure first place, with Alireza Firouzja taking the second direct semifinal spot. Ian Nepomniachtchi (pictured) and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave emerged victorious in the survival stage, completing the final four. Carlsen has chosen to face Vachier-Lagrave in the semis, while Firouzja will battle Nepomniachtchi. | Photo: Maria Emelianova / chess.com
Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.

Keymer, Lazavik knocked out in survival stage  

The stage is set for the semifinals of the Champions Chess Tour Finals in Oslo. The day featured the final round of the round-robin stage, followed by the survival stage, which determined the four players advancing to the knockout phase. The winner of this prestigious tournament will claim the title and continue the tradition of crowning the series champion, a feat achieved by Magnus Carlsen in every edition since the event's inception in 2020.

Carlsen dominated the round-robin, finishing with an impressive 6/7 points after defeating Denis Lazavik in the decisive final round. Alireza Firouzja secured second place by defeating Vincent Keymer, finishing level on 5 points with Ian Nepomniachtchi but edging him out due to their direct encounter victory. With their strong performances, Carlsen and Firouzja earned direct tickets to the semifinals, while Nepomniachtchi, Lazavik, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Keymer were left to battle it out in the survival stage.

Levon Aronian and Wesley So were the two players eliminated after the round-robin stage. In the survival phase, Ian Nepomniachtchi and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave proved their experience and resilience, overcoming Denis Lazavik and Vincent Keymer, respectively, to secure the remaining semifinal spots. The survival stage showcased the intensity of the competition, with every game a do-or-die encounter.

As the top finisher in the round-robin, Carlsen had the privilege of choosing his semifinal opponent and opted to face Vachier-Lagrave. The French grandmaster seemed unfazed by the decision, remarking, "I don't mind! With Magnus, it's always a big, big fight". The other semifinal pairing will see Alireza Firouzja take on Ian Nepomniachtchi.

Champions Chess Tour Finals 2024

Endgame analysis

By GM Karsten Müller

Carlsen, Magnus28311–0Aronian, Levon2747
CCT Final-RR 2024
Oslo18.12.2024[Mueller,Karsten]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.Bg5 Be6 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.Qd3 0-0 11.0-0-0 Be7 12.Nd5 Bxd5 13.Qxd5 Qb6 14.Rhf1 Nd7 15.Nd2 Bg5 16.Kb1 Nf6 17.Qb3 Qc7 18.Nc4 b5 19.Nxd6 Rad8 20.Qa3 Qc6 21.f3 g6 22.c4 b4 23.Qxb4 Be3 24.Nb7 Rb8 25.Na5 Qc7 26.Qa4 Rb6 27.Nb3 Bc5 28.Nxc5 Qxc5 29.Rd2 Rfb8 30.Rfd1 Kg7 31.Rc2 a5 32.a3 h5 33.h4 Rb3 34.Ka2 Qb6 35.Rdd2 Nd7 36.Qxd7 Rxa3+ 37.Kb1 Qb3 38.Rd3 Qa2+ 39.Kc1 Qa1+ 40.Kd2 Ra2 41.b3 a4 42.Rxa2 Qxa2+ 43.Ke3 axb3 44.Qc7 b2 45.Qxe5+ Kh7 46.Rd7 Rf8 47.Bd3 b1Q 48.Bxb1 Qxb1 49.Kf2 Qc2+ 50.Kg3 Qxc4 51.Qd5 Qxd5 52.exd5 Kg7 53.Kf4 Re8 54.Ra7 Re2 55.g4 hxg4 56.fxg4 Kf8 57.d6 Ke8
Almost all rook endings are drawn. But over the board matters are often difficult to defend: 58.Kg5? Carlsen rushes. 58.Ra4 wins, e.g. Kd7 59.Kg5 Kxd6 60.Kf6 Rf2+ 61.Kg7 f5 61...Ke5 62.g5 Ke6 63.Kf8 f5 64.Kg7 f4 65.Kxg6+- 62.g5 f4 63.Kxg6+- 58...Re4? The wrong way to attack the g-pawn. 58...Rg2 defends due to 59.Ra4 f5 60.Rf4 Kd7 61.Kxg6 Rxg4+ 62.Kxf5 Rxf4+ 63.Kxf4 Kxd6 64.Kf5 Ke7 65.Kg6 Kf8= 59.Ra8+ Kd7 60.Rf8 f5 60...Re5+ 61.Kh6 Re4 62.Rxf7+ Kxd6 63.g5 Rxh4+ 64.Kxg6+- 61.gxf5 gxf5 62.h5!
The h-pawn will win the rook. 62...Kxd6 63.h6 Rg4+ 64.Kh5 Rg2 65.h7 Rh2+ 66.Kg6 f4 66...Rg2+ is met by 67.Kf6+- 67.h8Q 67.h8Q Rxh8 68.Rxh8 Ke5 69.Kg5 f3 70.Rf8 Ke4 71.Kg4+- 1–0

Round 7

Champions Chess Tour Finals 2024

Champions Chess Tour Finals 2024

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.e4 3 c5 3 2.Nf3 2 Nc6 2 3.Bb5 3 e6 2 4.Bxc6 48 bxc6 2 5.b3 4 f6 6 6.0-0 46 Nh6 11 7.c3 45 Nf7 24 8.d4 1:00 cxd4 43 9.cxd4 2 c5 16 10.d5 13 Bd6 9 11.Na3 28 Ba6 31 12.Nc4 12 Bxc4 17 13.bxc4 1 0-0 4 14.Rb1 27 Qc7 48 15.Be3 14 Rab8 26 16.Qd3 14 Rxb1 37 17.Rxb1 2 Rb8 2 18.Rb3 1 Rb6 8 19.g3 7 Ne5 2:09 20.Nxe5 2 Bxe5 1 21.Kg2 32 Rxb3 1:18 22.axb3 1       Endgame KQB-KQB h6 55 23.f4 10 Bd6 1 24.dxe6 2 dxe6 1 25.f5 1 exf5 12 26.Qd5+ 3 Kh8 13 27.exf5 2 Bf8 10 28.Kh3 50 Qe7 22 29.Bf4 16 Qe2 21 30.Qe6 25 Active counter play! Qh5+ 22 31.Kg2 1 Qd1 2 32.Qf7 1:49 Qe2+ 1 33.Kh3 4 Be7 1 34.Qe6 59 Qxe6 1 35.fxe6= 1 Kg4 is the strong threat. KB-KB Kh7 1 36.g4 4 g5 3 37.Bb8 6 Kg6 2 38.Kg2 13 f5 2 39.h3 2 39.gxf5+ simplifies Kxf5 40.Bxa7 Kxe6 41.Kf3 39...fxg4 7 40.hxg4 0 Kf6 1 Prevents Be5+ 41.Bxa7 2 Kxe6 1 42.Kf3 2 Ke5 3 43.Ke3 1 Bd6 0 44.Bb6 2 Ke6 4 45.Ke4 1 Be7 2 46.Ba5 5 Bf6 1 47.Bd2 2 Bg7? 4
47...Be7= 48.b4!+- 2 cxb4 1 49.Bxb4 1 Be5? 3 49...Kf7+- 50.Kd5 Bf6 50.Bf8 1 Bf4 2 51.Bxh6 2 Kd6 1 52.Bf8+ 1 Kc6 2 53.Kf5 1 Be3 2 54.Be7 1 Bd2 3 55.Bxg5 2 Bb4 3 56.Be3 1 1–0
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Carlsen,M2831Lazavik,D25781–02024B30CCT Final-RR 20247
Firouzja,A2763Keymer,V2733½–½2024A07CCT Final-RR 20247
Nepomniachtchi,I2755Aronian,L27471–02024C55CCT Final-RR 20247
Aronian,L2747Nepomniachtchi,I2755½–½2024C24CCT Final-RR 20247
So,W2747Vachier-Lagrave,M27311–02024D80CCT Final-RR 20247
Keymer,V2733Firouzja,A27630–12024A62CCT Final-RR 20247
Vachier-Lagrave,M2731So,W2747½–½2024C84CCT Final-RR 20247
Lazavik,D2578Carlsen,M2831½–½2024A30CCT Final-RR 20247

Survival stage

Champions Chess Tour Finals 2024

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.e4 1 e5 1 2.Nf3 1 Nc6 1 3.Bb5 3 a6 1 4.Ba4 0 Nf6 1 5.0-0 0 Be7 1 6.Re1 1 0-0 2 7.Bxc6 17 bxc6 17 8.Nxe5 3 Bb7 7 9.Nc3 44 Re8 3 10.Nf3 9 White is more active. c5 9 11.d3 7 d5 1 12.Bg5 30 h6 1:07 13.Bh4 31 13.Bf4± 13...dxe4 1:58 14.dxe4 2 Nxe4 1:04 15.Qxd8 1:27 Bxd8 56 This pair of bishops is nice. 16.Nxe4 11 Bxe4 31 17.Nd2 9 And now Bxd8 would win. Bc6 23 18.Rxe8+ 8 Bxe8 2 19.Bxd8 14 Rxd8= 1       Endgame KRB-KRN 20.Nc4 1 f6 10 21.Ne3 13 Rd2 11 22.Rd1 1:20 Rxd1+ 1 23.Nxd1 1 KB-KN Kf7 1 24.f3 10 Ke6 8 25.Kf2 1 g5 6 26.Ke3 9 Bg6 5 27.c4 1 Be8 47 28.g3 23 Bc6 18 29.Nf2 6 h5 22 29...Bb7 30.Nd3 1:02 Kd6 1 31.f4 14 31.a3± 31...h4 1:10 31...g4= keeps the balance. 32.gxh4± 12 gxh4 1 33.f5! 15 a5 30 34.Kf4 8 Bg2 17 35.Nf2 7 Ke7 6 36.b3 39       Bf1? 4      
36...Kd6± 37.Ne4+ Ke7 38.Nxc5 Kd6 37.Ne4!+- 2 37.Kg4 Be2+ 38.Kxh4 Kd6± 37...Bd3 1 37...a4 38.bxa4 38.Nxc5 a3± 38...Bxc4 39.a3+- 39.Nxc5 Bxa2 40.a5 Bd5± 38.Nxc5 5 Bb1 1
39.a3! 15 39.Nb7 Bxa2 40.Nxa5 c5= 39...Ba2 6 39...Bc2 keeps fighting. 40.b4 axb4 41.axb4 Bd1 40.Kg4 6 a4 5 41.b4 17 41.Nxa4 Bxb3 42.Nb2 Bc2 43.Kxh4 Bxf5± 41.Kxh4 axb3 42.Na4 Kd6-+ 41...Bxc4 3 42.Nxa4 1 Weaker is 42.Kxh4 Bb3 43.Kh5 Kf7± 42...Kd6 1 43.Kf4 5 Kd5 2 44.Nc3+ 1 Kd6 4 45.Ne4+ 5 Ke7 0 46.a4 1       Bb3 3 47.a5 1 Bc4 2 48.Nd2 10 Bd3 3 49.Nf3 2 h3 1 50.Nd2 5 Bb5 2 51.Ne4 1 Bc4 1 52.Nf2 3 Kd6 0 53.Nxh3 16 Kc6 1 54.Nf2 1 Kb5 1 55.h4 1       Kxb4 3 56.h5 1 Kxa5 3 57.h6 0 Bg8 2 58.Ne4 1 c5 2 59.Nxc5 3 1–0
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Vachier-Lagrave,M2763Keymer,V26491–02024C87CCT Final-Survival 20241.1
Vachier-Lagrave,M2763Lazavik,D25531–02024B35CCT Final-Survival 20241.1
Nepomniachtchi,I2758Lazavik,D2553½–½2024B30CCT Final-Survival 20241.1
Keymer,V2649Vachier-Lagrave,M27630–12024A29CCT Final-Survival 20241.1
Lazavik,D2553Nepomniachtchi,I27580–12024D03CCT Final-Survival 20241.1
Lazavik,D2553Vachier-Lagrave,M2763½–½2024D85CCT Final-Survival 20241.1

Links

Carlos Colodro is a Hispanic Philologist from Bolivia. He works as a freelance translator and writer since 2012. A lot of his work is done in chess-related texts, as the game is one of his biggest interests, along with literature and music.
We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.