Falling at the last hurdle
World Champion Magnus Carlsen and eleven more of the world's best chess players are competing in the Chessable Masters by chess24, the third event in the $1 million Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour, taking place from June 20 to July 5.
Going by ratings and frequency of participation in top events, Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Alexander Grischuk and Daniil Dubov were the favourites to advance to the quarterfinals from Group A of the Chessable Masters preliminaries. However, with Vladislav Artemiev showing consistently strong chess since the start, one of them had to leave. Carlsen was the top scorer on day two, so Nakamura, Grischuk and Dubov were the ones fighting for the last spot, and it was Dubov who ended up eliminated from the competition.
Dubov, who came from winning the Lindores Abbey Rapid Challenge, caught Artemiev in the lead by beating him in round 7 and was still sharing first place before the penultimate round. From that point on, all went wrong for the Russian — he lost to Carlsen and Nakamura, while Grischuk scored in a must-win situation to take him out on tiebreak criteria.
Carlsen’s strong performance on Monday got him first place in the group, while Artemiev came second. The last five rounds of Group B, to be played on Tuesday, will decide the remaining four spots in the quarterfinals.
Master Class Vol.8: Magnus Carlsen

Scarcely any world champion has managed to captivate chess lovers to the extent Carlsen has. The enormously talented Norwegian hasn't been systematically trained within the structures of a major chess-playing nation such as Russia, the Ukraine or China.

Carlsen beats Nakamura
World numbers one and two in the blitz official ratings list, Nakamura and Carlsen, have been showing their strength as quick-play specialists during this period of online chess events. The fan favourites were paired up against each other in the first round of the day, with Carlsen getting the white pieces. The world champion was in the driver’s seat out of the opening:
A dynamic weapon against the QGD - 5.Bf4

This DVD concentrates on the increasingly popular 5.Bf4 variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined and gives White a dynamic and aggressive weapon against Black's set-up.
Carlsen vs. Nakamura - Round 6
As usual, tactics favour the player holding the positional trumps, thus 16.Ndc6, when Black cannot play 16...bxc6 due to 17.Nxc6 Bf6 18.Bxd6. Nakamura found nothing better than 16...Qh4 and White gained an exchange in a forcing sequence — 17.Bg3 Qg5 18.h4 Qf6 19.Ng4 Qxb2 20.Bxd6 bxc6 21.Rc2 Qb5 22.Bxf8. Carlsen was in good shape tactically and quickly converted his advantage.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 0-0 6.a3 6.e3 Nbd7 7.Be2 dxc4 8.0-0 Nb6 9.Qc2 Nfd5 10.Bg3 c5 11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.Rfd1 Bd7 13.Ne5 Rc8 14.Rac1 Nb4 15.Qe4 N4d5 6...Nbd7 7.Nb5 Ne8! 8.e3 dxc4 9.Bxc4 9...c5N 9...a6!? 10.Nc3 b5 9...a6 10.Nc3 b5 11.Be2 c5 12.0-0 Bb7 13.d5 exd5 14.Nxd5 Bd6 15.a4 c4 10.dxc5 a6 11.Nbd4 Bxc5 12.0-0 Qe7 13.Rc1 Bd6 13...e5= 14.Bg5 Ndf6 14.Ba2± Ndf6 15.Ne5! Nd7 15...Nd5± 16.Ndc6!+- Qh4 17.Bg3 Qg5 18.h4! Qf6 19.Ng4! Qxb2 20.Bxd6 bxc6 21.Rc2 Qb5 22.Bxf8 Nxf8 23.h5 h6 23...Qxh5 24.Qf3 24.Rxc6 Bd7± 24...Ra7 24.Qf3 Qxh5? 24...Bd7 25.Rd1 Ra7 25.Qxc6 Nc7? 25...Nd6 26.Qxd6 26.Qxa8 Bb7± 26...Qxg4 26.Qf3 Nd5 27.e4 e5 28.Nxh6+! 1–0 - Start an analysis engine:
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Carlsen,M | 2881 | Nakamura,H | 2829 | 1–0 | 2020 | | Chessable Masters by chess24-A | 6 |
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Dubov defeats Artemiev in style
These two strong Russian players have contrasting styles, with Artemiev preferring technical fights while Dubov tends to go for complex, tactical battles. The latter had the white pieces in their direct encounter of round 7, and did not hesitate to attack his slightly younger opponent:
And Action! - How to crown positional play by tactics

There are few names which, like that of Alexei Shirov, can be associated with fantastically imaginative and tactically influenced play. Now the Latvian grandmaster is presenting a DVD on precisely that element of the game of chess. And one that is completely based on his own games.
Dubov vs. Artemiev - Round 7
Dubov gave up a pawn in order to open up lines for his pieces, and continued with 15.e5 Nh7 16.Rg3 (note that his pawn is already on h4). Artemiev defended stubbornly, but the tactical nature of the position seemed to better fit Dubov’s style, who ended up getting the win in 34 moves. With this victory, he joined his compatriot in the lead.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.e3 Qa5 7.Nd2 Bb4 8.Rc1 0-0 8...Ne4!? 9.Ndxe4 dxe4= 9.Be2 Bxc3 10.Rxc3 Qxa2 11.Qc1 Qa5 12.Ra3 Qd8 13.e4N 13.0-0 e5 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.Nb3 Qb6 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.Qc7 exd4 18.Nxd4 Ne5 19.Qc5 13...h6 13...dxe4?! 14.Nxe4! h6 15.Nxf6+ Nxf6 16.Bxh6!± 14.h4 Qe8 14...dxe4 15.Qc3 14...e5= 15.e5± Nh7 16.Rg3 Kh8 16...hxg5 17.hxg5 g6 18.Rgh3+- 17.Nf3 f5 17...hxg5? 18.hxg5 Kg8 19.Rgh3+- 17...Rg8± 18.exf6 Ndxf6 19.Bxf6 Nxf6 20.Ne5 Ne4 21.Re3 c5! 22.dxc5 Rf5 23.Rxe4 dxe4 24.Qc3 b6 24...Bd7= 25.g4! 25...Rxe5! 26.Qxe5 Qc6 27.g5 h5? 27...e3± 28.Rf1 Qxc5 29.Qxc5 29.Qxe3 hxg5 30.hxg5 Kg8 29...bxc5 28.0-0 Qxc5? 28...Bb7 29.b4 29.Bxh5 e3± 29...e3 29.Qxe4+- Rb8 30.Qg6 Qf5 31.Qe8+ Kh7 32.Rd1 32.Bxh5 Bd7 33.Qxb8 32...Bb7 33.Qxb8 Qe4 34.Bd3! 1–0 - Start an analysis engine:
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Dubov,D | 2770 | Artemiev,V | 2769 | 1–0 | 2020 | | Chessable Masters by chess24-A | 7 |
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Grischuk and Nakamura win on demand
Everything that could go wrong went wrong for Dubov in the last two rounds. First, he could not help himself in entering a double-edged struggle against Carlsen. The world champion came from showcasing his usual in-control style throughout the day, and won the game by pinning his opponent’s pieces which were stuck on the first and second ranks:
Fundamentals of Chess Tactics

What’s the easiest way to win a chess game? We all know finding a good tactic in a game can let you win a point immediately. Therefore, Fundamentals of Tactics is an excellent choice for you if you wish to learn how to start finding tactics in your games!
Dubov vs. Carlsen - Round 9
Black’s 25...h6 demonstrated just how paralyzed White’s pieces are. Dubov resigned.
So Dubov was a half point behind co-leaders Artemiev and Carlsen going into the last round, with Nakamura and Grischuk a full point behind. Dubov had black against Nakamura and Grischuk played white against Harikrishna. The one scenario in which he would be knocked out became a reality, as Grischuk defeated Harikrishna and Nakamura beat him in a game that had a spectacular finish:
Nakamura vs. Dubov - Round 10
White is two pieces up, but has to deal with the pin along the dark-squared diagonal and the f-file. The most elegant solution? 27.Qe5+ — Black resigned. A heartbreaking end of the tournament for the ever-combative Russian.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 e6 5.g3 Nbd7 6.Bg2 Be7 7.0-0 0-0 8.b3 b6 9.Re1 Ba6 10.Nd2 Rc8 11.Bb2 c5 12.dxc5 12...Nxc5N 12...dxc4 13.c6 Nb8 14.Nxc4 Nxc6 15.Rc1 Bc5 16.Ne4 Nxe4 17.Bxe4 Qe7 18.e3 Bb4 13.b4 Nce4 14.Ncxe4 dxe4 15.b5 Bb7 16.e3 Bb4 17.Re2 Qd3 18.Rb1 Bc3 19.Ba3? 19.Bxc3= Qxc3 20.Qa4 19...Rfd8-+ 20.Rb3 20.Bb4 20...Qxc4! 21.Qe1 21.Nxc4 Rxd1+ 21...Qd5 22.Bb4 22...Qxb3! 23.axb3 Bxb4 24.Bf1 a5 25.Qd1 h6 0–1 - Start an analysis engine:
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Dubov,D | 2770 | Carlsen,M | 2881 | 0–1 | 2020 | | Chessable Masters by chess24-A | 9 |
Grischuk,A | 2784 | Harikrishna,P | 2690 | 1–0 | 2020 | | Chessable Masters by chess24-A | 10 |
Nakamura,H | 2829 | Dubov,D | 2770 | 1–0 | 2020 | | Chessable Masters by chess24-A | 10 |
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Select an entry from the list to switch between games
Final standings - Group A
1 |
|
GM |
Carlsen Magnus |
NOR |
2881 |
6,0 |
1,0 |
3 |
28,00 |
4,5 |
2 |
|
GM |
Artemiev Vladislav |
RUS |
2769 |
6,0 |
1,0 |
3 |
27,00 |
4,0 |
3 |
|
GM |
Nakamura Hikaru |
USA |
2829 |
5,0 |
2,5 |
1 |
24,50 |
4,0 |
4 |
|
GM |
Grischuk Alexander |
RUS |
2784 |
5,0 |
2,0 |
1 |
25,00 |
4,0 |
5 |
|
GM |
Dubov Daniil |
RUS |
2770 |
5,0 |
1,5 |
3 |
24,00 |
3,5 |
6 |
|
GM |
Harikrishna Pentala |
IND |
2690 |
3,0 |
0,0 |
1 |
15,50 |
3,0 |
All games - Group A
Live: European Womens-ch 2025
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.d3 Nd7 8.Nbd2 f6 9.Nh4 g6 10.Nc4 Nc5 11.Bh6 Be6 12.Ne3 Bf7 13.Nf3 Qd7 14.a4 a5 15.Qd2 b6 16.h3 Be6 17.Qe2 Bxh3 18.Nxe5 fxe5 19.gxh3 Ne6 20.Qg4 0-0-0 21.Nc4 Bf6 22.b4 g5 23.Qf5 Nd4 24.Qxf6 Qxh3 25.f3 Qg3+ 26.Kh1 Qh3+ 27.Kg1 Ne2+ 28.Kf2 Qh2+ 29.Ke3 Nd4 30.Rf2 Nxc2+ 31.Ke2 Nd4+ 32.Ke3 Qf4+ 33.Qxf4
- Start an analysis engine:
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- Drag the split bars between window panes.
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| Chelushkina,I | 2134 | Wagner,D | 2440 | | 2.27 | 954427 |
| Piddubna,B | 2145 | Heinemann,J | 2297 | | 2.22 | 954414 |
 | Schneider,J | 2251 | Beydullayeva,G | 2400 | | 2.5 | 954389 |
| Danielian,E | 2398 | Wikar,M | 2239 | | 2.6 | 954391 |
| Narva,M | 2380 | Velikic,A | 2214 | | 2.9 | 954395 |
| Stefanova,A | 2426 | Abdinova,N | 2165 | | 2.29 | 954429 |
| Milliet,S | 2371 | Yildiz,E | 2160 | | 2.31 | 954433 |
 | Injac,T | 2454 | Silva,A | 1893 | | 2.43 | 954450 |
 | Rudzinska,M | 2223 | Socko,M | 2369 | | 2.13 | 954400 |
 | Tsolakidou,S | 2445 | Kosma,M | 1826 | | 2.26 | 954426 |
| Javakhishvili,L | 2429 | Rodshtein,T | 2171 | | 2.28 | 954428 |
| Donghvani,N | 2025 | Sieber,F | 2276 | | 2.38 | 954443 |
| Allahverdiyeva,A | 2266 | Ushenina,A | 2428 | | 2.3 | 954386 |
 | Smietanska,W | 2254 | Khotenashvili,B | 2418 | | 2.4 | 954387 |
| Maltsevskaya,A | 2376 | Dwilewicz,K | 2203 | | 2.11 | 954397 |
 | Zherebtsova,A | 2229 | Atalik,E | 2375 | | 2.12 | 954398 |
| Lehaci,M | 2212 | Bulmaga,I | 2362 | | 2.15 | 954406 |
| Zawadzka,J | 2326 | Kirtadze,A | 2180 | | 2.19 | 954410 |
| Karacsonyi,K | 2198 | Unuk,L | 2301 | | 2.21 | 954413 |
 | Kiolbasa,O | 2360 | Heinatz,G | 2111 | | 2.32 | 954434 |
| Gaponenko,I | 2349 | Vidic,T | 2100 | | 2.34 | 954436 |
| Zhukova,N | 2306 | Mihaljevic,E | 2039 | | 2.45 | 954453 |
| Urh,Z | 2244 | Fataliyeva,U | 2387 | | 2.8 | 954394 |
 | Gevorgyan,M | 2234 | Vega Gutierrez,S | 2380 | | 2.10 | 954396 |
| Ibrahimova,S | 2199 | Antolak,J | 2314 | | 2.20 | 954412 |
| Radeva,V | 2297 | Bochnickova,A | 2051 | | 2.23 | 954415 |
| Golsta,M | 1979 | Yao,L | 2294 | | 2.24 | 954416 |
 | Bochnickova,S | 2167 | Daulyte-Cornette,D | 2389 | | 2.30 | 954430 |
 | Khachatryan,A | 2091 | Guichard,P | 2355 | | 2.33 | 954435 |
 | Ter-Avetisjana,A | 2100 | Mammadova,G | 2342 | | 2.35 | 954438 |
| Sliwicka,A | 2342 | Hapala,E | 2092 | | 2.36 | 954441 |
| Bhatia,K | 2012 | Doluhanova,E | 2287 | | 2.37 | 954442 |
| Harutyunyan,G | 1793 | Sandu,M | 2230 | | 2.41 | 954448 |
 | Kochavi,D | 2301 | Caku,K | 2036 | | 2.46 | 954454 |
| Zvereva,M | 2033 | Schippke,M | 2247 | | 2.47 | 954455 |
| Khurtsilava,I | 2214 | Subramanian,A | 2026 | | 2.48 | 954457 |
| Karadas,H | 1931 | Cornileau,J | 2130 | | 2.55 | 954472 |
| Saraci,N | 1692 | Zagorac,L | 2106 | | 2.62 | 954484 |
| Zimina,O | 2293 | Korenova,M | 2045 | | 2.25 | 954425 |
| Krasteva,B | 2257 | Szente Varga,F | 2083 | | 2.39 | 954446 |
| Calzetta Ruiz,M | 2230 | Tirpan,C | 1996 | | 2.40 | 954447 |
| Terbe,Z | 2179 | Valkova,A | 2001 | | 2.50 | 954464 |
| Pavlidou,E | 2160 | Kiousi,P | 1998 | | 2.51 | 954465 |
| Eric,J | 2147 | Krkyasharyan,S | 1989 | | 2.52 | 954469 |
| Zaksaite,S | 2137 | Golsta,R | 1943 | | 2.53 | 954470 |
| Alexandri,D | 1995 | Ciolacu,A | 2136 | | 2.54 | 954471 |
| Dicen,E | 2129 | Alexandri,V | 1927 | | 2.56 | 954475 |
| Nenova,A | 1903 | Nadzamova,V | 2122 | | 2.57 | 954476 |
| Mitraka,C | 1820 | Koridze,L | 2115 | | 2.59 | 954480 |
| Paasikangas,J | 2106 | Bania,E | 1809 | | 2.61 | 954483 |
| Tsetskhladze,M | 2105 | Recica,J | 1716 | | 2.63 | 954486 |
| Sivanandan,B | 2073 | Korinioti,M | 1667 | | 2.64 | 954487 |
| Kaka,R | 1509 | Grapsa,G | 2065 | | 2.65 | 954488 |
| Krkyasharyan,S | 1989 | Schneider,J | 2251 | | 1.48 | 875347 |
| Mkrtchyan,M | 2282 | Batsiashvili,N | 2473 |  | 2.1 | 954383 |
| Mkrtchian,L | 2388 | Jarocka,L | 2231 |  | 2.7 | 954393 |
| Avramidou,A | 2275 | Arabidze,M | 2447 |  | 2.2 | 954384 |
| Roebers,E | 2367 | Mgeladze,K | 2200 |  | 2.14 | 954403 |
 | Abrahamyan,T | 2310 | Lee,A | 2386 |  | 3.2 | 1279479 |
 | Brunello,M | 2330 | Prado Acebo,I | 2199 |  | 2.17 | 954408 |
 | Gaboyan,S | 2200 | Toncheva,N | 2329 |  | 2.18 | 954409 |
| Nahapetyan,A | 1887 | Lach,A | 2208 |  | 2.42 | 954449 |
 | Johnson,D | 2326 | Stearman,J | 2441 |  | 9.2 | 912762 |
 | Cordts,I | 2151 | Schneider-Zinner,H | 2327 |  | 4.1 | 943748 |
 | Belkahia,T | 2068 | Lindam,I | 2151 |  | 4.6 | 943753 |
 | Mamedjarova,T | 2206 | Savina,A | 2331 |  | 2.16 | 954407 |
 | Kulon,K | 2401 | Shuqja,K | 2049 |  | 2.44 | 954452 |
| Schloffer,J | 2188 | Hariharan,S | 2024 |  | 2.49 | 954463 |
| Berke,A | 2119 | Kalyva,K | 1885 |  | 2.58 | 954477 |
 | Rida,R | 2065 | Lamprianou,M | 1498 |  | 2.66 | 954490 |
| Revelioti,E | 1470 | Huseynova,L | 2065 |  | 2.67 | 954491 |
 | Acarbay,A | 2052 | Lamprianou,D | - |  | 2.68 | 954493 |
 | Sheehan,E | 2363 | Gauri,S | 2348 |  | 9.1 | 912761 |
 | Adewumi,T | 2362 | Paragua,M | 2439 |  | 9.3 | 912763 |
| Kolthoff,S | 2121 | Belke,F | 2235 |  | 4.2 | 943749 |
| Hess,C | 2168 | Mueller,M | 2307 |  | 4.3 | 943750 |
 | Pieper,T | 2178 | Schober,R | 2077 |  | 4.4 | 943751 |
| Pollmann,S | 2071 | Loew,G | 2175 |  | 4.5 | 943752 |
 | Schrems,H | 2114 | Scheckenbach,F | 2045 |  | 4.7 | 943754 |
| Freundorfer,J | 2068 | Kannenberg,K | 2113 |  | 4.8 | 943756 |
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