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.
By GM Karsten Müller
"I want him to lose" - Jakob, from Oslo on hometown hero Magnus Carlsen 😂 pic.twitter.com/s2UpUBtPxo
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