Firouzja gets a rematch with Carlsen
The same two contenders have reached the two Grand Finals of the first couple of events in this year’s Champions Chess Tour: Magnus Carlsen and Alireza Firouzja. The Chessable Masters, which took place in February, saw the exact same scenario, with Carlsen prevailing in the winners’ bracket and Firouzja reaching the deciding match from the losers’ bracket. Perennial favourite Carlsen would beat Firouzja in the Grand Final Reset to win the event.
This time around, Firouzja got the better of Jan-Krzysztof Duda and Keymer to set up the rematch. In the first game against Duda, the Polish grandmaster blundered the game away from a slightly favourable position.
Firouzja v. Duda - Game #1
29...Rc1+ simply overlooks the fact that the bishop on e3 defends the c1-square. Firouzja grabbed the rook and Duda resigned. A draw in the following game meant Firouzja advanced to the losers’ bracket final against Keymer.
Firouzja also started his match against Keymer with a victory. Keymer was thus in a must-win situation in the second encounter — the German prodigy obtained an extra pawn, but Firouzja had more than enough activity to keep the balance.
Keymer v. Firouzja - Game #2
Black’s rook is very active on d2, while White’s knight on a4 will struggle to get back into the game. Keymer over-pushed from this position and went on to suffer a second defeat in a row.
After getting a rest day, Firouzja will need to beat Carlsen twice on Wednesday to get the title in the second tournament of the 2024 Champions Chess Tour.
All games - Division I
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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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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Carlsen,M | 2896 | Ivic,V | 2654 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division I | 1.1 |
Firouzja,A | 2829 | Duda,J | 2786 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division I | 1.1 |
Keymer,V | 2787 | Sarana,A | 2736 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division I | 1.1 |
Lazavik,D | 2778 | Nepomniachtchi,I | 2815 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division I | 1.1 |
Duda,J | 2795 | Firouzja,A | 2820 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division I | 1.2 |
Ivic,V | 2651 | Carlsen,M | 2899 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division I | 1.2 |
Nepomniachtchi,I | 2806 | Lazavik,D | 2787 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division I | 1.2 |
Sarana,A | 2729 | Keymer,V | 2794 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division I | 1.2 |
Carlsen,M | 2902 | Ivic,V | 2648 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division I | 1.3 |
Firouzja,A | 2819 | Duda,J | 2796 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division I | 1.3 |
Keymer,V | 2801 | Sarana,A | 2722 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division I | 1.3 |
Lazavik,D | 2779 | Nepomniachtchi,I | 2814 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division I | 1.3 |
Duda,J | 2797 | Firouzja,A | 2818 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division I | 1.4 |
Nepomniachtchi,I | 2805 | Lazavik,D | 2788 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division I | 1.4 |
Duda,J | 2789 | Firouzja,A | 2826 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division I | 1.5 |
Carlsen,M | 2897 | Lazavik,D | 2788 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division I | 2.1 |
Keymer,V | 2799 | Duda,J | 2789 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division I | 2.1 |
Duda,J | 2789 | Keymer,V | 2799 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division I | 2.2 |
Lazavik,D | 2782 | Carlsen,M | 2903 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division I | 2.2 |
Carlsen,M | 2900 | Lazavik,D | 2785 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division I | 2.3 |
Keymer,V | 2807 | Duda,J | 2781 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division I | 2.3 |
Lazavik,D | 2788 | Carlsen,M | 2897 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division I | 2.4 |
Carlsen,M | 2895 | Keymer,V | 2814 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division I | 3.1 |
Keymer,V | 2816 | Carlsen,M | 2893 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division I | 3.2 |
Carlsen,M | 2891 | Keymer,V | 2818 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division I | 3.3 |
Keymer,V | 2820 | Carlsen,M | 2889 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division I | 3.4 |
Carlsen,M | 2828 | Firouzja,A | 2724 | | 2024 | | Division I | 4.1 |
Firouzja,A | 2724 | Carlsen,M | 2828 | | 2024 | | Division I | 4.2 |
Carlsen,M | 2828 | Firouzja,A | 2724 | | 2024 | | Division I | 4.3 |
Firouzja,A | 2724 | Carlsen,M | 2828 | | 2024 | | Division I | 4.4 |
Firouzja,A | 2826 | Sarana,A | 2724 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division I | 51.1 |
Nepomniachtchi,I | 2805 | Ivic,V | 2653 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division I | 51.1 |
Ivic,V | 2648 | Nepomniachtchi,I | 2810 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division I | 51.2 |
Sarana,A | 2718 | Firouzja,A | 2832 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division I | 51.2 |
Firouzja,A | 2829 | Lazavik,D | 2790 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division I | 52.1 |
Nepomniachtchi,I | 2815 | Duda,J | 2774 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division I | 52.1 |
Duda,J | 2783 | Nepomniachtchi,I | 2806 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division I | 52.2 |
Lazavik,D | 2783 | Firouzja,A | 2836 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division I | 52.2 |
Duda,J | 2776 | Nepomniachtchi,I | 2813 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division I | 52.3 |
Firouzja,A | 2843 | Duda,J | 2776 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division I | 53.1 |
Duda,J | 2770 | Firouzja,A | 2849 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division I | 53.2 |
Firouzja,A | 2847 | Keymer,V | 2814 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division I | 54.1 |
Keymer,V | 2807 | Firouzja,A | 2854 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division I | 54.2 |
Please, wait...
Bracket - Division I
Calculation Training Booster
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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.
Division II: So to face MVL in the Grand Final
The Grand Final in Division II will take place on Tuesday. Wesley So prevailed in the losers’ bracket after having lost his first-round match against José Martínez. To reach the deciding match, So obtained victories over Jorden van Foreest, Dmitrij Kollars, Andrey Esipenko, Daniil Dubov, Levon Aronian and Grigoriy Oparin. The Filipino-born grandmaster will face Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, who prevailed in the winners’ bracket.
On Monday, So obtained back-to-back victories over Oparin. Playing white in the first encounter, So found a nice tactical idea to force his opponent’s resignation.
77.Rh7+ Kxh7 78.Ng5+ wins on the spot. Oparin resigned.
All games - Division II
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
- 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.
Aronian,L | 2730 | Vidit,S | 2652 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 1.1 |
Bluebaum,M | 2656 | Dubov,D | 2681 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division II | 1.1 |
Caruana,F | 2770 | Hakobyan,A | 2657 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 1.1 |
Esipenko,A | 2728 | Rakhmanov,A | 2651 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division II | 1.1 |
Kollars,D | 2632 | Dominguez Perez,L | 2663 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 1.1 |
Sevian,S | 2759 | Oparin,G | 2647 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 1.1 |
So,W | 2846 | Martinez Alcantara,J | 2735 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 1.1 |
Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2869 | Van Foreest,J | 2669 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 1.1 |
Dominguez Perez,L | 2654 | Kollars,D | 2641 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 1.2 |
Dubov,D | 2688 | Bluebaum,M | 2649 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 1.2 |
Hakobyan,A | 2659 | Caruana,F | 2768 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 1.2 |
Martinez Alcantara,J | 2729 | So,W | 2852 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 1.2 |
Oparin,G | 2641 | Sevian,S | 2765 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 1.2 |
Rakhmanov,A | 2661 | Esipenko,A | 2718 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 1.2 |
Van Foreest,J | 2665 | Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2873 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 1.2 |
Vidit,S | 2654 | Aronian,L | 2728 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division II | 1.2 |
Caruana,F | 2764 | Hakobyan,A | 2663 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 1.3 |
Aronian,L | 2734 | Vidit,S | 2648 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 1.3 |
Bluebaum,M | 2642 | Dubov,D | 2695 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 1.3 |
Esipenko,A | 2717 | Rakhmanov,A | 2662 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 1.3 |
Kollars,D | 2633 | Dominguez Perez,L | 2662 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 1.3 |
Sevian,S | 2754 | Oparin,G | 2652 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division II | 1.3 |
So,W | 2841 | Martinez Alcantara,J | 2740 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 1.3 |
Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2861 | Van Foreest,J | 2677 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 1.3 |
Dominguez Perez,L | 2661 | Kollars,D | 2634 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 1.4 |
Hakobyan,A | 2663 | Caruana,F | 2764 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 1.4 |
Martinez Alcantara,J | 2742 | So,W | 2839 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 1.4 |
Oparin,G | 2662 | Sevian,S | 2744 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division II | 1.4 |
Rakhmanov,A | 2655 | Esipenko,A | 2724 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division II | 1.4 |
Van Foreest,J | 2681 | Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2857 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 1.4 |
Dominguez Perez,L | 2660 | Kollars,D | 2635 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division II | 1.5 |
Oparin,G | 2656 | Sevian,S | 2750 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 1.5 |
Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2853 | Van Foreest,J | 2685 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 1.5 |
Aronian,L | 2740 | Kollars,D | 2635 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 2.1 |
Dubov,D | 2694 | Hakobyan,A | 2673 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 2.1 |
Esipenko,A | 2730 | Oparin,G | 2656 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division II | 2.1 |
Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2853 | Martinez Alcantara,J | 2752 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 2.1 |
Hakobyan,A | 2673 | Dubov,D | 2694 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division II | 2.2 |
Kollars,D | 2629 | Aronian,L | 2746 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division II | 2.2 |
Martinez Alcantara,J | 2746 | Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2859 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 2.2 |
Oparin,G | 2666 | Esipenko,A | 2720 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division II | 2.2 |
Aronian,L | 2751 | Kollars,D | 2624 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 2.3 |
Dubov,D | 2702 | Hakobyan,A | 2665 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 2.3 |
Esipenko,A | 2727 | Oparin,G | 2659 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 2.3 |
Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2857 | Martinez Alcantara,J | 2748 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 2.3 |
Hakobyan,A | 2666 | Dubov,D | 2701 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division II | 2.4 |
Martinez Alcantara,J | 2750 | Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2855 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 2.4 |
Oparin,G | 2661 | Esipenko,A | 2725 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 2.4 |
Oparin,G | 2662 | Esipenko,A | 2724 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 2.5 |
Aronian,L | 2748 | Oparin,G | 2662 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 3.1 |
Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2853 | Dubov,D | 2708 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 3.1 |
Dubov,D | 2703 | Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2858 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 3.2 |
Oparin,G | 2656 | Aronian,L | 2754 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 3.2 |
Aronian,L | 2744 | Oparin,G | 2666 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division II | 3.3 |
Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2855 | Dubov,D | 2706 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 3.3 |
Dubov,D | 2709 | Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2852 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 3.4 |
Oparin,G | 2676 | Aronian,L | 2734 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 3.4 |
Dubov,D | 2720 | Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2841 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 3.5 |
Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2841 | Oparin,G | 2677 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 4.1 |
Oparin,G | 2680 | Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2838 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division II | 4.2 |
Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2843 | Oparin,G | 2675 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 4.3 |
So,W | 2722 | Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2747 | | 2024 | | Division II | 5.1 |
Caruana,F | 2754 | Bluebaum,M | 2643 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 51.1 |
Dominguez Perez,L | 2660 | Vidit,S | 2642 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 51.1 |
Sevian,S | 2750 | Rakhmanov,A | 2649 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 51.1 |
So,W | 2829 | Van Foreest,J | 2685 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 51.1 |
Bluebaum,M | 2637 | Caruana,F | 2760 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 51.2 |
Rakhmanov,A | 2643 | Sevian,S | 2756 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division II | 51.2 |
Van Foreest,J | 2688 | So,W | 2826 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division II | 51.2 |
Vidit,S | 2642 | Dominguez Perez,L | 2660 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 51.2 |
Bluebaum,M | 2648 | Caruana,F | 2749 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division II | 51.3 |
Caruana,F | 2749 | Esipenko,A | 2724 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 52.1 |
Martinez Alcantara,J | 2752 | Vidit,S | 2650 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division II | 52.1 |
Sevian,S | 2762 | Hakobyan,A | 2659 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 52.1 |
So,W | 2831 | Kollars,D | 2627 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 52.1 |
Esipenko,A | 2725 | Caruana,F | 2748 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 52.2 |
Hakobyan,A | 2653 | Sevian,S | 2768 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division II | 52.2 |
Kollars,D | 2631 | So,W | 2827 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 52.2 |
Vidit,S | 2660 | Martinez Alcantara,J | 2742 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 52.2 |
Caruana,F | 2747 | Esipenko,A | 2726 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division II | 52.3 |
Kollars,D | 2635 | So,W | 2823 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 52.3 |
Sevian,S | 2773 | Vidit,S | 2670 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 53.1 |
So,W | 2823 | Esipenko,A | 2726 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 53.1 |
Esipenko,A | 2720 | So,W | 2829 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 53.2 |
Vidit,S | 2672 | Sevian,S | 2771 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 53.2 |
Aronian,L | 2733 | Vidit,S | 2682 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 54.1 |
So,W | 2827 | Dubov,D | 2720 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 54.1 |
Dubov,D | 2714 | So,W | 2833 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division II | 54.2 |
Vidit,S | 2683 | Aronian,L | 2732 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division II | 54.2 |
Aronian,L | 2739 | So,W | 2838 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 55.1 |
So,W | 2836 | Aronian,L | 2741 | ½–½ | 2024 | | Division II | 55.2 |
So,W | 2834 | Aronian,L | 2743 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 55.3 |
So,W | 2834 | Oparin,G | 2671 | 1–0 | 2024 | | Division II | 56.1 |
Oparin,G | 2666 | So,W | 2839 | 0–1 | 2024 | | Division II | 56.2 |
Please, wait...
Bracket - Division II
Middlegame Secrets Vol.1 + Vol.2
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Let us learn together how to find the best spot for the queen in the early middlegame, how to navigate this piece around the board, how to time the queen attack, how to decide whether to exchange it or not, and much more!
Division III
Dmitry Andreikin and Nils Grandelius reached the Grand Final in Division III, with Grandelius getting there by winning the losers’ bracket. Andreikin defeated Grandelius in the winners’ bracket final of this division.
Replay all the games of the division on Live.ChessBase.com.
Bracket - Division III
Links