Chess.com Classic: Carlsen beats Keymer, Nepo and Firouzja advance

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
5/13/2024 – Right after obtaining an impressive triumph at the Superbet Rapid & Blitz Tournament in Poland, Magnus Carlsen defeated Vincent Keymer to reach the Grand Final of the Chess.com Classic. The Norwegian will now get two rest days before facing the winner of the lower bracket, where Keymer, Jan-Krzysztof Duda and Alireza Firouzja remain in contention. | Photo: chess.com / Thomas Tischio
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A champion’s way to get two days off

Two players who participated in the Superbet Poland event reached the winners’ bracket final of Division I in the Chess.com Classic: Magnus Carlsen and Vincent Keymer. Carlsen entered the match right after claiming an astounding tournament victory in Warsaw, while Keymer had ended the event with six losses in a row to finish in second-to-last place. The online match also favoured Carlsen, though Keymer gave a tough fight.

After playing three draws, Carlsen defeated Keymer with black in the fourth encounter, avoiding a potential Armageddon decider and securing a spot in the tournament’s Grand Final. Talking to Tania Sachdev after his (double) victory, Carlsen noted that getting two days off was a big motivation for him, as the Grand Final will take place on Wednesday, once the winner of the losers’ bracket is decided.

The semifinal and final of the lower bracket will take place on Monday. Jan-Krzysztof Duda and Alireza Firouzja will face off in the semis to decide who plays Keymer in the final. Duda and Firouzja knocked out Ian Nepomniachtchi and Denis Lazavik, respectively. While Firouzja got a clear 2-0 victory over his young rival, Duda defeated Nepo in the sudden-death decider.

Much like Carlsen, Duda came from having a strong final-day performance in Warsaw, as he scored 6½/9 points on Sunday to climb to sole third place in the standings.

Keymer 0 - 1 Carlsen

Keymer, Vincent27260–1Carlsen, Magnus2830
CCT Chesscom Classic-D1 2024
Online12.05.2024[CC]
1.Nf3 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.Bxc4 a6 6.e4 c5 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bd6 9.Be3 0-0 10.Rc1 b5 11.Bb3 Bb7 12.Bxe6
Keymer goes for an imbalanced position, as he will get two extra pawns and an exchange for the sacrificed bishop. 12.f3 Qe7 13.0-0 Rd8 is a quieter, playable alternative. 13...Nbd7 12...fxe6 13.Nxe6 Qe7 14.Nxf8 Kxf8 15.f3 Nbd7 16.Ne2 Not accurate, as castling was stronger. Ne5 But Carlsen fails to find the refutation. Strong is 16...Bb4+ 17.Nc3 17.Kf2 Bxe4 18.Ng3 Not 18.fxe4 Ng4+ and Black wins easily. 18...Bg6 17...Ne5 with a better version of what happened in the game. 17.0-0 Rd8 18.Qc2 Rc8 19.Qb1 Nc4 20.Bd4 Bc5 A strategic mistake, though this time it is Keymer who fails to find the refutation. 21.Rfd1 An imprecision. Engines give the quirky 21.Qa1 as the best continuation, preparing to play b2-b3 and the queen is strong on the long dark-squared diagonal, e.g.: Ne5 22.b3 Bxd4+ 23.Nxd4 More human and also good for White is 21.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 22.Kh1 and Black needs to move the queen again - White will emerge with better coordination in all playable continuations. 21...Nxe4
Carlsen grabs the initiative with this good-looking capture. 22.b3 22.fxe4 Bxe4 23.Qa1 is good for Black, as the position is different than the one analysed above, when the queen also went to the corner. 22...Ne3 23.fxe4 Nxd1 24.Rxd1 Bxe4 25.Qb2 Bb4 The material balance has been restored, but Black counts with a strong pair of bishops in a rather open setup. 26.Rc1 Re8 27.Ng3 Kg8 28.Qf2 Bg6 29.h3 Bd6 30.Nf5 Qg5 31.Rf1 Rf8 32.Qe3 Qxe3+ 33.Nxe3 Rxf1+ 34.Kxf1
Carlsen confidently simplified into this endgame. The technical wizard is now playing for two results! 34...Bb1 35.a4 Ba2 36.axb5 axb5 37.Bxg7 Bc5 38.Nf5 Bxb3 39.Bd4 Bf8 40.Kf2 Kf7 41.g4 Ke6 42.Ke3 Bc2 43.Ng7+ Kd5 44.Bb2 b4 45.Nh5 Kc4 46.Bg7 White was already in deep trouble, but this only makes things worse - the knight is too slow. Bxg7 47.Nxg7 Kc3 48.Ne6 b3 49.Nc7 b2 50.Nb5+ Kb4 0–1

All games - Division I

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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Re1 Be6 10.Bf3 Nbd7 11.a4 Rc8 12.Nd2 Nb6 13.a5 Nc4 14.Nxc4 Rxc4 15.Be3 Qb8 16.Na4 Bd8 17.b3 Rc6 18.Nb6 Bxb6 19.Bxb6 Rc3 20.Re3 Rfc8 21.Rxc3 Rxc3 22.Be3 Qc7 23.Ra2 Qd7 24.Bd2 Rc6 25.c4 Bg4 26.Bxg4 Nxg4 27.f3 Nf6 28.Be3 Qc7 29.Bb6 Qb8 30.Rd2 Nd7 31.Be3 Qc7 32.Qa1 Nc5 33.Qc3 h6 34.Rd5 Nd7 35.h3 Nf6 36.Rd3 Nd7 37.Kh2 Kh7 38.Qd2 Kg8 39.Bf2 Kh7 40.Be3 Kg8 41.Kg1 Kh7 42.Kh1 Kg8 43.b4 Rxc4 44.Rxd6 Nf6 45.Bc5 Kh7 46.Qd3 Rc1+ 47.Kh2 Qc8 48.Qd2 Rc4 49.Qa2 Ne8 50.Rb6 Rc1 51.Qxf7 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Carlsen,M2896Ivic,V26541–02024Division I1.1
Firouzja,A2829Duda,J27860–12024Division I1.1
Keymer,V2787Sarana,A27361–02024Division I1.1
Lazavik,D2778Nepomniachtchi,I28151–02024Division I1.1
Duda,J2795Firouzja,A2820½–½2024Division I1.2
Ivic,V2651Carlsen,M28990–12024Division I1.2
Nepomniachtchi,I2806Lazavik,D27871–02024Division I1.2
Sarana,A2729Keymer,V27940–12024Division I1.2
Carlsen,M2902Ivic,V2648½–½2024Division I1.3
Firouzja,A2819Duda,J2796½–½2024Division I1.3
Keymer,V2801Sarana,A2722½–½2024Division I1.3
Lazavik,D2779Nepomniachtchi,I28141–02024Division I1.3
Duda,J2797Firouzja,A28180–12024Division I1.4
Nepomniachtchi,I2805Lazavik,D2788½–½2024Division I1.4
Duda,J2789Firouzja,A28261–02024Division I1.5
Carlsen,M2897Lazavik,D27881–02024Division I2.1
Keymer,V2799Duda,J2789½–½2024Division I2.1
Duda,J2789Keymer,V27990–12024Division I2.2
Lazavik,D2782Carlsen,M2903½–½2024Division I2.2
Carlsen,M2900Lazavik,D2785½–½2024Division I2.3
Keymer,V2807Duda,J27811–02024Division I2.3
Lazavik,D2788Carlsen,M2897½–½2024Division I2.4
Carlsen,M2895Keymer,V2814½–½2024Division I3.1
Keymer,V2816Carlsen,M2893½–½2024Division I3.2
Carlsen,M2891Keymer,V2818½–½2024Division I3.3
Keymer,V2820Carlsen,M28890–12024Division I3.4
Firouzja,A2826Sarana,A27241–02024Division I51.1
Nepomniachtchi,I2805Ivic,V26531–02024Division I51.1
Ivic,V2648Nepomniachtchi,I28100–12024Division I51.2
Sarana,A2718Firouzja,A2832½–½2024Division I51.2
Firouzja,A2829Lazavik,D27901–02024Division I52.1
Nepomniachtchi,I2815Duda,J27740–12024Division I52.1
Duda,J2783Nepomniachtchi,I28060–12024Division I52.2
Lazavik,D2783Firouzja,A28360–12024Division I52.2
Duda,J2776Nepomniachtchi,I28131–02024Division I52.3

Bracket - Division I

Division II: Oparin and MVL in the winners’ bracket final

Grigoriy Oparin and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave defeated Levon Aronian and Daniil Dubov respectively to reach the final of the winners’ bracket in Division II. While MVL drew with black in Armageddon to knock Dubov down to the lower bracket, Oparin defeated Aronian ‘in regulation’ by a 2½-1½ score.

In game 2 of the semis, Aronian’s innocent-looking 21...0-0 was a one-move blunder.

Oparin v. Aronian - Game #2

Black is actually clearly better here, as threatening mate-in-one with 21...Qe5 is a very strong continuation — e.g. 22.Qxc6+ Kf8 (not 22...Kf7 due to 23.Qd5+ forcing a queen swap) 23.Qxa8+ Kg7 24.Qxh8+ Kxh8 25.Kg2 (escaping the checkmate on h2), and despite having two rooks for the queen White is completely busted.

None of this appeared on the board, though, as Aronian’s 21...0-0 was too much of a finesse, which in fact led to a quick resignation after 22.Qb3+

A killer fork, as Black will lose the all-important knight on f3.

After losing on Sunday, Aronian and Dubov will face incredibly strong opponents in the lower bracket, where elite GMs Vidit Gujrathi and Wesley So continue fighting to reach the division’s Grand Final. Both Vidit and So scored 1½-½ wins on the tournament’s fifth day of action, against Sam Sevian and Andrey Esipenko respectively.

All games - Division II

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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 Nf6 5.h3 d6 6.c3 a6 7.a4 Ba7 8.Nbd2 0-0 9.Bb3 Ne7 10.Nf1 Ng6 11.Ng3 h6 12.0-0 Re8 13.Re1 Be6 14.d4 Bxb3 15.Qxb3 Qd7 16.Be3 exd4 17.Bxd4 Ne5 18.Nxe5 dxe5 19.Bxa7 Rxa7 20.Qc4 g6 21.Rad1 Qe7 22.Nf1 Raa8 23.Nd2 a5 24.Qb5 b6 25.Qc6 Qe6 26.Qxe6 Rxe6 27.Nc4 Kf8 28.Ne3 Ree8 29.f3 Ke7 30.Kf2 Red8 31.Ke2 Ke6 32.h4 Nh5 33.Nd5 Nf4+ 34.Nxf4+ exf4 35.Rd4 c5 36.Rxd8 Rxd8 37.b3 f6 38.Rb1 h5 39.b4 cxb4 40.cxb4 Rd4 41.bxa5 bxa5 42.Rb6+ Kf7 43.Rb7+ Kf8 44.Rb6 Kg7 45.Rb7+ Kg8 46.Rb6 Kf7 47.Rb7+ Kf8 48.Rb6 Kf7 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Aronian,L2730Vidit,S2652½–½2024Division II1.1
Bluebaum,M2656Dubov,D26810–12024Division II1.1
Caruana,F2770Hakobyan,A2657½–½2024Division II1.1
Esipenko,A2728Rakhmanov,A26510–12024Division II1.1
Kollars,D2632Dominguez Perez,L26631–02024Division II1.1
Sevian,S2759Oparin,G26471–02024Division II1.1
So,W2846Martinez Alcantara,J27351–02024Division II1.1
Vachier-Lagrave,M2869Van Foreest,J26691–02024Division II1.1
Dominguez Perez,L2654Kollars,D26411–02024Division II1.2
Dubov,D2688Bluebaum,M26491–02024Division II1.2
Hakobyan,A2659Caruana,F2768½–½2024Division II1.2
Martinez Alcantara,J2729So,W28521–02024Division II1.2
Oparin,G2641Sevian,S27651–02024Division II1.2
Rakhmanov,A2661Esipenko,A2718½–½2024Division II1.2
Van Foreest,J2665Vachier-Lagrave,M28731–02024Division II1.2
Vidit,S2654Aronian,L27280–12024Division II1.2
Caruana,F2764Hakobyan,A2663½–½2024Division II1.3
Aronian,L2734Vidit,S26481–02024Division II1.3
Bluebaum,M2642Dubov,D2695½–½2024Division II1.3
Esipenko,A2717Rakhmanov,A26621–02024Division II1.3
Kollars,D2633Dominguez Perez,L2662½–½2024Division II1.3
Sevian,S2754Oparin,G26520–12024Division II1.3
So,W2841Martinez Alcantara,J2740½–½2024Division II1.3
Vachier-Lagrave,M2861Van Foreest,J2677½–½2024Division II1.3
Dominguez Perez,L2661Kollars,D2634½–½2024Division II1.4
Hakobyan,A2663Caruana,F27641–02024Division II1.4
Martinez Alcantara,J2742So,W28391–02024Division II1.4
Oparin,G2662Sevian,S27440–12024Division II1.4
Rakhmanov,A2655Esipenko,A27240–12024Division II1.4
Van Foreest,J2681Vachier-Lagrave,M2857½–½2024Division II1.4
Dominguez Perez,L2660Kollars,D26350–12024Division II1.5
Oparin,G2656Sevian,S27501–02024Division II1.5
Vachier-Lagrave,M2853Van Foreest,J26851–02024Division II1.5
Aronian,L2740Kollars,D26351–02024Division II2.1
Dubov,D2694Hakobyan,A2673½–½2024Division II2.1
Esipenko,A2730Oparin,G26560–12024Division II2.1
Vachier-Lagrave,M2853Martinez Alcantara,J27521–02024Division II2.1
Hakobyan,A2673Dubov,D26940–12024Division II2.2
Kollars,D2629Aronian,L27460–12024Division II2.2
Martinez Alcantara,J2746Vachier-Lagrave,M2859½–½2024Division II2.2
Oparin,G2666Esipenko,A27200–12024Division II2.2
Aronian,L2751Kollars,D2624½–½2024Division II2.3
Dubov,D2702Hakobyan,A2665½–½2024Division II2.3
Esipenko,A2727Oparin,G2659½–½2024Division II2.3
Vachier-Lagrave,M2857Martinez Alcantara,J2748½–½2024Division II2.3
Hakobyan,A2666Dubov,D27010–12024Division II2.4
Martinez Alcantara,J2750Vachier-Lagrave,M2855½–½2024Division II2.4
Oparin,G2661Esipenko,A2725½–½2024Division II2.4
Oparin,G2662Esipenko,A27241–02024Division II2.5
Aronian,L2748Oparin,G26621–02024Division II3.1
Vachier-Lagrave,M2853Dubov,D27081–02024Division II3.1
Dubov,D2703Vachier-Lagrave,M2858½–½2024Division II3.2
Oparin,G2656Aronian,L27541–02024Division II3.2
Aronian,L2744Oparin,G26660–12024Division II3.3
Vachier-Lagrave,M2855Dubov,D2706½–½2024Division II3.3
Dubov,D2709Vachier-Lagrave,M28521–02024Division II3.4
Oparin,G2676Aronian,L2734½–½2024Division II3.4
Dubov,D2720Vachier-Lagrave,M2841½–½2024Division II3.5
Vachier-Lagrave,M2747Oparin,G26552024Division II4.1
Caruana,F2754Bluebaum,M26431–02024Division II51.1
Dominguez Perez,L2660Vidit,S2642½–½2024Division II51.1
Sevian,S2750Rakhmanov,A26491–02024Division II51.1
So,W2829Van Foreest,J2685½–½2024Division II51.1
Bluebaum,M2637Caruana,F27601–02024Division II51.2
Rakhmanov,A2643Sevian,S27560–12024Division II51.2
Van Foreest,J2688So,W28260–12024Division II51.2
Vidit,S2642Dominguez Perez,L26601–02024Division II51.2
Bluebaum,M2648Caruana,F27490–12024Division II51.3
Caruana,F2749Esipenko,A2724½–½2024Division II52.1
Martinez Alcantara,J2752Vidit,S26500–12024Division II52.1
Sevian,S2762Hakobyan,A26591–02024Division II52.1
So,W2831Kollars,D2627½–½2024Division II52.1
Esipenko,A2725Caruana,F2748½–½2024Division II52.2
Hakobyan,A2653Sevian,S27680–12024Division II52.2
Kollars,D2631So,W2827½–½2024Division II52.2
Vidit,S2660Martinez Alcantara,J27421–02024Division II52.2
Caruana,F2747Esipenko,A27260–12024Division II52.3
Kollars,D2635So,W2823½–½2024Division II52.3
Sevian,S2773Vidit,S2670½–½2024Division II53.1
So,W2823Esipenko,A27261–02024Division II53.1
Esipenko,A2720So,W2829½–½2024Division II53.2
Vidit,S2672Sevian,S27711–02024Division II53.2

Bracket - Division II

Division III

Nils Grandelius and Dmitry Andreikin reached the winners’ bracket final in Division III, while Tuan Minh Le, Adam Kozak, Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son and Karthikeyan Murali remain in contention in the losers’ bracket.

Replay all the games of the division on Live.ChessBase.com.

Bracket - Division III

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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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