Chessable Masters: Lazavik to face Carlsen in winners’ bracket final

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
2/4/2024 – Denis Lazavik and Magnus Carlsen advanced to the winners’ bracket final in Division I of the Chessable Masters. Lazavik defeated Jose Martinez, while Carlsen got the better of Vladimir Fedoseev. In the losers’ bracket, Ian Nepomniachtchi and Vladimir Fedoseev remain in contention, as they knocked out Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Wesley So respectively. | Photo: chess.com / Thomas Tischio

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Division I: Missed chances

In the duel of underdogs between Jose Martinez and Denis Lazavik, Martinez got off to the worst possible start, as a one-move blunder prevented him from converting a clear advantage into a win.

Martinez v. Lazavik

White has a rook and two minor pieces for Black’s queen, with a clearly superior position. However, after 47.dxe4 (instead of, for example, 47.Re3), the balance was restored due to 47...Qb5, with a double attack — Martinez saved his rook with 48.Re3, but after 48...Qxa5 Black has enough play with his queen to save the draw.

Following this disappointing start, Martinez lost the next two games, which means Lazavik advanced to the final match in the winners’ bracket.

Much like Martinez, the loser in the other semifinal of the winners’ bracket missed a chance to obtain what would have been a crucial victory in game 2. Magnus Carlsen had won the first encounter, and Vladimir Fedoseev missed a difficult-to-find manoeuvre to bounce right back.

Fedoseev v. Carlsen - Game #2

Despite being two pawns down, it seems like Black’s active king and knight will manage to save the day. And indeed, after 66.Kxg3, as played by Fedoseev in the game, White eventually got the half point.

However, Fedoseev missed the one winning move in the diagrammed position: 66.Ne3+. The Slovenian representative failed to notice that after 66...Kxd4 he has 67.Nc2+ (diagram), and there is no stopping the a-pawn!

Analysis diagram

Both 67...Nxc2 and 67...Kc5 lose to 68.a6 in this setup.

After this miss and a draw in game 3, Fedoseev got to even the score in the fourth encounter. However, it was Carlsen who prevailed in the Armageddon, where he held a draw with black in a topsy-turvy confrontation.

Division I winners’ bracket

Chessable Masters 2024

Meanwhile, four elite grandmasters faced each other in the losers’ bracket. Alireza Firouzja knocked out Wesley So by drawing with white and winning with black (two-game matches are played in the losers’ bracket), while Ian Nepomniachtchi first bounced back and then won the Armageddon against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.

In the sudden-death decider, MVL was better in the endgame, but a mistake on move 48 turned the tables in Nepo’s favour, as analysed below by GM Karsten Müller.

Division I losers’ bracket

Chessable Masters 2024

All games - Division I

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1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c5 3.c4 d4 4.b4 cxb4 5.a3 b3 6.Bg2 Nc6 7.d3 a5 8.a4 e5 9.0-0 Nf6 10.Qxb3 Bb4 11.Ba3 Nd7 12.Bxb4 axb4 13.Ne1 Nc5 14.Bxc6+ bxc6 15.Qxb4 Qa5 16.Nc2 Bh3 17.Qxa5 Rxa5 18.Re1 Kd7 19.f4 f6 20.fxe5 fxe5 21.Nd2 Rb8 22.Reb1 Rxb1+ 23.Nxb1 Nb3 24.Ra3 Nc1 25.Kf2 Bg4 26.Nd2 Bxe2 27.Ra1 Bxd3 28.Rxc1 Rxa4 29.Nf3 Kd6 30.Ncxd4 exd4 31.Nxd4 Rxc4 32.Rxc4 Bxc4 33.Nf5+ Ke5 34.Nxg7 Bf7 35.g4 Bg6 36.g5 Kf4 37.Ne6+ Kg4 38.Ke3 Bf5 39.Nd8 Bd7 40.Nf7 Be8 41.Nd6 Bh5 42.h4 Kxh4 43.Kf4 Bg6 44.Nb7 Kh3 45.Nc5 Kg2 46.Nd7 Kh3 47.Nc5 Bf7 48.Ne4 Kh4 49.Nf6 Bg6 50.Nd7 Kh3 51.Nf6 Kh4 52.Nd7 Kh3 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Carlsen,M2901So,W2857½–½2024Division I1.1
Fedoseev,V2791Firouzja,A28230–12024Division I1.1
Nepomniachtchi,I2831Martinez Alcantara,J27240–12024Division I1.1
Vachier-Lagrave,M2886Lazavik,D2763½–½2024Division I1.1
Firouzja,A2830Fedoseev,V27840–12024Division I1.2
Lazavik,D2766Vachier-Lagrave,M2883½–½2024Division I1.2
Martinez Alcantara,J2734Nepomniachtchi,I2821½–½2024Division I1.2
So,W2858Carlsen,M29000–12024Division I1.2
Carlsen,M2907So,W2851½–½2024Division I1.3
Fedoseev,V2793Firouzja,A2821½–½2024Division I1.3
Nepomniachtchi,I2819Martinez Alcantara,J2736½–½2024Division I1.3
Vachier-Lagrave,M2880Lazavik,D2769½–½2024Division I1.3
Firouzja,A2820Fedoseev,V27940–12024Division I1.4
Lazavik,D2771Vachier-Lagrave,M2878½–½2024Division I1.4
Martinez Alcantara,J2738Nepomniachtchi,I28171–02024Division I1.4
So,W2852Carlsen,M2906½–½2024Division I1.4
Vachier-Lagrave,M2876Lazavik,D27730–12024Division I1.5
Carlsen,M2905Fedoseev,V28031–02024Division I2.1
Martinez Alcantara,J2748Lazavik,D2773½–½2024Division I2.1
Fedoseev,V2797Carlsen,M2911½–½2024Division I2.2
Lazavik,D2772Martinez Alcantara,J27491–02024Division I2.2
Carlsen,M2908Fedoseev,V2800½–½2024Division I2.3
Martinez Alcantara,J2742Lazavik,D27790–12024Division I2.3
Fedoseev,V2802Carlsen,M29061–02024Division I2.4
Fedoseev,V2812Carlsen,M2896½–½2024Division I2.5
Carlsen,M2823Lazavik,D25532024Division I3.1
Firouzja,A2811So,W2853½–½2024Division I51.1
Vachier-Lagrave,M2876Nepomniachtchi,I28071–02024Division I51.1
Nepomniachtchi,I2801Vachier-Lagrave,M28821–02024Division I51.2
So,W2852Firouzja,A28120–12024Division I51.2
Nepomniachtchi,I2811Vachier-Lagrave,M28721–02024Division I51.3

Division II: Artemiev beats Nakamura

The semi-finalists in the winners’ bracket of Division II are Vincent Keymer, Benjamin Bok, Vladislav Artemiev and Levon Aronian. In the one match of the quarter-finals that went to Armageddon, Artemiev beat Hikaru Nakamura with black to knock him down to the losers’ bracket, where he is set to face Rauf Mamedov on Sunday.

Keymer beat Jeffery Xiong 3-1, and got to win the second game in only 21 moves. Xiong’s innocuous-looking 20.e3 was the losing mistake.

Keymer v. Xiong - Game #2

The refutation is 20...Qg4, attacking the bishop and making the most of White’s weakened light squares around the king. After 21.Bd3, Keymer played 21...e4 and Xiong resigned.

22.exd4 exd3+ 23.Kd2 Rxd4 is devastating for White.

Division II winners’ bracket

Chessable Masters 2024

Division II losers’ bracket

Chessable Masters 2024

All games - Division II

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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 d6 5.0-0 Bd7 6.c3 g6 7.d4 Bg7 8.h3 Nxe4 9.Re1 f5 10.Qb3 Qe7 11.Be3 a6 12.Bf1 b5 13.a4 b4 14.a5 g5 15.Nbd2 Nxd2 16.Bxd2 h6 17.d5 Nd8 18.cxb4 e4 19.Rac1 c5 20.dxc6 Bxc6 21.b5 axb5 22.Rxc6 Nxc6 23.Bxb5 Rc8 24.Qd5 Qd7 25.Bc3 Bxc3 26.bxc3 Kd8 27.Nd4 Re8 28.Bxc6 Re5 29.Bxd7 Rxd5 30.Bxc8 Kxc8 31.Ra1 Kb7 32.a6+ Ka8 33.Nc6 Rc5 34.Nd4 f4 35.Ra3 Ka7 36.g3 h5 37.Kg2 Rc4 38.h4 f3+ 39.Kf1 g4 40.Ke1 e3 41.fxe3 Rc5 42.Kf2 d5 43.Ke1 Rc8 44.Nb5+ Ka8 45.a7 Rc5 46.Nd4 Rc7 47.Ne6 Rb7 48.Ra1 Re7 49.Nf4 Rxe3+ 50.Kd2 Re5 51.Kd3 Rf5 52.Ke3 Re5+ 53.Kd4 Re4+ 54.Kd3 Re5 55.Ra2 Re1 56.Nxd5 Rd1+ 57.Kc4 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Anton Guijarro,D2661Aronian,L27421–02024Division II1.1
Artemiev,V2788Martirosyan,H26251–02024Division II1.1
Giri,A2739Xiong,J2688½–½2024Division II1.1
Keymer,V2736Svidler,P26601–02024Division II1.1
Mamedov,R2727Bok,B2626½–½2024Division II1.1
Nakamura,H2755Yu,Y27481–02024Division II1.1
Sevian,S2766Vokhidov,S2641½–½2024Division II1.1
Ter-Sahakyan,S2653Shimanov,A2640½–½2024Division II1.1
Aronian,L2732Anton Guijarro,D26711–02024Division II1.2
Bok,B2628Mamedov,R2725½–½2024Division II1.2
Martirosyan,H2620Artemiev,V2793½–½2024Division II1.2
Shimanov,A2640Ter-Sahakyan,S2653½–½2024Division II1.2
Svidler,P2654Keymer,V27420–12024Division II1.2
Vokhidov,S2644Sevian,S27630–12024Division II1.2
Xiong,J2689Giri,A2738½–½2024Division II1.2
Yu,Y2740Nakamura,H27630–12024Division II1.2
Anton Guijarro,D2664Aronian,L27390–12024Division II1.3
Artemiev,V2789Martirosyan,H26241–02024Division II1.3
Giri,A2737Xiong,J2690½–½2024Division II1.3
Keymer,V2748Svidler,P26481–02024Division II1.3
Mamedov,R2723Bok,B26300–12024Division II1.3
Nakamura,H2770Yu,Y27330–12024Division II1.3
Sevian,S2768Vokhidov,S2639½–½2024Division II1.3
Ter-Sahakyan,S2653Shimanov,A2640½–½2024Division II1.3
Aronian,L2745Anton Guijarro,D26581–02024Division II1.4
Bok,B2640Mamedov,R27131–02024Division II1.4
Shimanov,A2640Ter-Sahakyan,S26530–12024Division II1.4
Vokhidov,S2642Sevian,S2765½–½2024Division II1.4
Xiong,J2691Giri,A2736½–½2024Division II1.4
Yu,Y2742Nakamura,H27610–12024Division II1.4
Xiong,J2692Giri,A27351–02024Division II1.5
Artemiev,V2793Nakamura,H2769½–½2024Division II2.1
Keymer,V2754Xiong,J2692½–½2024Division II2.1
Sevian,S2762Aronian,L27510–12024Division II2.1
Ter-Sahakyan,S2661Bok,B2650½–½2024Division II2.1
Aronian,L2759Sevian,S27541–02024Division II2.2
Bok,B2650Ter-Sahakyan,S2661½–½2024Division II2.2
Nakamura,H2770Artemiev,V2792½–½2024Division II2.2
Xiong,J2693Keymer,V27530–12024Division II2.2
Artemiev,V2791Nakamura,H2771½–½2024Division II2.3
Keymer,V2760Xiong,J2686½–½2024Division II2.3
Sevian,S2746Aronian,L2767½–½2024Division II2.3
Ter-Sahakyan,S2661Bok,B26500–12024Division II2.3
Bok,B2658Ter-Sahakyan,S26531–02024Division II2.4
Nakamura,H2771Artemiev,V2791½–½2024Division II2.4
Xiong,J2688Keymer,V27580–12024Division II2.4
Nakamura,H2771Artemiev,V27910–12024Division II2.5
Artemiev,V2737Aronian,L27462024Division II3.1
Keymer,V2627Bok,B25942024Division II3.1
Anton Guijarro,D2652Vokhidov,S26451–02024Division II51.1
Giri,A2735Svidler,P26421–02024Division II51.1
Mamedov,R2703Shimanov,A2632½–½2024Division II51.1
Yu,Y2734Martirosyan,H2620½–½2024Division II51.1
Martirosyan,H2623Yu,Y2731½–½2024Division II51.2
Shimanov,A2634Mamedov,R27010–12024Division II51.2
Svidler,P2636Giri,A27411–02024Division II51.2
Vokhidov,S2637Anton Guijarro,D2660½–½2024Division II51.2
Giri,A2731Svidler,P26461–02024Division II51.3
Martirosyan,H2625Yu,Y27290–12024Division II51.3

Division III: Paravyan, Safarli, Sarana and Grischuk in semis

Out of the four semi-finalists in the winners’ bracket of Division III, Alexander Grischuk had the easiest victory on Saturday. The 40-year-old got a 3-0 victory over Jaime Santos, who did not show up for the match as he was representing FC Bayern Munich in the German Bundesliga — Santos won his game with white against Matthias Bluebaum.

Santos, nonetheless, remains in contention in the losers’ bracket.

All games - Division III

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In this video course, twenty-nine examples with multiple questions are presented in the interactive format, which is ideal for a range of playing strengths. Step by step you will be taken through the complex positions.


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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.

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