FTX Crypto Cup: Giri leads, Carlsen struggling

by Klaus Besenthal
5/24/2021 – The preliminaries of the FTX Crypto Cup, the sixth event of the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour, started on Sunday. Anish Giri grabbed the sole lead with a 4/5 score, while world champion Magnus Carlsen only managed to get fifty percent of the points. There are ten more preliminary round games to come, so Carlsen is well in time to climb up the standings table. | Photo: Jurriaan Hoefsmit
Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.

FTX Crypto Cup - Day 1

In the second round, our in-house endgame expert Karsten Müller noticed an interesting rook ending — Alexander Grischuk missed a study-like save against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5 8.Be3 Qa5 9.Qd2 Nc6 10.Rb1 a6 11.Rc1 cxd4 12.cxd4 Qxd2+ 13.Kxd2 e6 14.h4 h6 15.Bd3 0-0 16.Rc5 Bd7 17.Rb1 b5 18.a4 bxa4 19.Rb7 Nb8 20.Ra5 Rc8 21.Rb1 Be8 22.Ke2 Nc6 23.Rxa4 a5 24.Rba1 Rab8 25.Bd2 Rb2 26.R4a2 Rcb8 27.e5 Rxa2 28.Rxa2 a4 29.Bc2 Nb4 30.Bxb4 Rxb4 31.Kd2 Bb5 32.Bd3 Bc6 33.Kc3 Rb3+ 34.Kc2 Bf8 35.Nd2 Rb4 36.Kc3 Bxg2 37.Be4 Bh3 38.Bc2 Be7 39.h5 gxh5 40.Ra1 Rb8 41.Rxa4 Bg2 42.Be4 Bxe4 43.Nxe4 h4 44.Ra7 Kf8 45.Ra1 Bg5 46.Rh1 Rc8+ 47.Kd3 Rc1 48.Rh2 Rd1+ 49.Kc4 Kg7 50.f4 Bxf4 51.Rxh4 Bg5 52.Rh3 Rc1+ 53.Kd3 Kg6 54.Rf3 Rg1 55.Nxg5 Rxg5 56.Rf6+ Kg7 57.Ke3 h5 58.Rf4 Rg6 59.Kf3 Rg1 60.Kf2 Rg5 61.Ke3 Kf8 62.Rf6 Rg3+ 63.Kf2 Rg4 All rook endings are drawn But over the board matters are more difficult than behind the computer: 64.Rh6? White loses both central pawns in exchange for the h-pawn. 64.d5 saves the day due to exd5 64...Rg6 65.Rxg6 fxg6 66.d6= 65.e6 Rg7 66.Rf5 d4 67.Rxh5 fxe6 68.Re5 Re7 69.Kf3 Kf7 70.Ke4 Rd7 71.Rh5 Kg6 71...d3 72.Rh7+ Ke8 73.Rxd7 Kxd7 74.Kxd3= 72.Rh3 d3 73.Rg3+= 64.Ke3? h4-+ 64...Rxd4 65.Rxh5 Rd5 The pin is deadly. 66.Ke3 f5 A very beautiful motif! 67.Kf4 67.exf6 runs into Rxh5-+ 67...Rd4+ 68.Kg5 Kg7 69.Rh1 Rg4+ 70.Kh5 Re4 71.Kg5 Rxe5 72.Ra1 Re4 73.Ra7+ Kf8! 74.Kf6 Ke8! The right direction. 74...Kg8? 75.Ra1 f4 76.Ra3 Re3 77.Ra8+ Kh7 78.Ra4 e5 79.Ra1 f3 80.Rh1+ Kg8 81.Rg1+ Kf8 82.Ra1 Ke8 83.Ke6 Kd8 84.Kd6 Kc8 85.Kc6= 75.Re7+ Kd8 76.Rh7 f4 77.Rf7 Re3 78.Kg5 e5 79.Kf5 f3 80.Ke6 e4 81.Kd6 Ke8 82.Re7+ Kf8 83.Ke6 Re2 84.Ra7 f2 0–1
  • 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.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Grischuk,A2784Vachier-Lagrave,M28600–12021D85FTX Crypto Cup Prelims 20212.3

The second round also saw the much-anticipated game between Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi. The Russian went for a Sicilian. At first, everything went according to plan, with Carlsen giving up a pawn for initiative. However, a blunder on move 21 by Nepo resulted in him losing an exchange, which should have been enough to lose the game.

But sometimes even world champions struggle to convert their advantages into victories. The endgame, which looks fairly simple at first sight, becomes more and more difficult and is suddenly no longer so easy to win. Karsten Müller shows in his analysis how it could still have been done.

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 e6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.Be2 b5 8.Nxc6 Qxc6 9.e5 Bb7 10.Bf3 Qc7 11.Bxb7 Qxb7 12.Qd3 Ne7 13.Bc5 Qxg2 14.0-0-0 Qc6 15.Ne4 Nf5 16.Bxf8 Rxf8 17.Rhe1 Rc8 18.Kb1 f6 19.f4 fxe5 20.fxe5 h6 21.Rg1 Qd5 22.Nd6+ Ke7 23.Nxc8+ Rxc8 24.Qxd5 exd5 25.Rxd5 Ke6 26.Rd3 g5 27.a4 bxa4 28.Rg4 Rc6 29.Rxa4 h5 30.Rda3 g4 31.Kc1 Kxe5 32.Rxa6 h4 33.Rxc6 dxc6 34.Kd1 h3 Magnus knightmare A rook usually is much stronger than a knight in the endgame: 35.Ke2? This runs into a tactical refutation. 35.Ra8 is the only winning move: Nd4 36.Ke1 Nf3+ 36...Nxc2+ 37.Kf2+- With pawns on both wings the knight can not compete with the rook. 37.Kf2 Nxh2 38.Ra5+ 38.Kg3? runs into Nf1+ 39.Kxg4 h2 40.Rh8 Ne3+ 41.Kf3 Nxc2 42.Rxh2 Nb4= With pawns only on one wing the knight's drawing chances increase a lot. 38...Kf4 39.Ra4+ and Black's forces on the kingside are powerless, e.g. Kg5 40.Rc4 Kh4 41.b4 Nf3 42.Rxc6+- 35.Ke1? is also met by g3= 35...g3! Now Black's knight can show its might. 36.Kf3 36.Rxg3? even backfires completely due to Nxg3+ 37.hxg3 h2-+ 36...gxh2 37.Ra1 Nd4+ 38.Kg3 Nxc2 39.Rc1 Nb4 40.Kxh2 Kd4 41.b3 c5 42.Kxh3 Nc6 43.Rc4+ 43.Kg2 Na5= 43...Kd5 44.Kg2 Ne5 45.Rc1 c4 46.bxc4+ 46.b4 Nd3= 46...Nxc4 47.Rxc4 Kxc4 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.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Carlsen,M2881Nepomniachtchi,I2778½–½2021B49FTX Crypto Cup Prelims 20212.5

Knight versus rook was already a topic in the first round. If the side with the knight has a few extra pawns, then the side with the rook has a hard time dealing with the situation. It gets even worse when one of these pawns acts “as a nail in the coffin”. Karsten Müller:

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 cxd4 5.Qxd4 Nc6 6.Qd1 exd5 7.Qxd5 Bd6 8.Bg5 Nge7 9.Qd2 h6 10.Rd1 hxg5 11.Qxd6 Qb6 12.Qa3 0-0 13.e3 Nb4 14.Qa4 Bf5 15.e4 Be6 16.a3 Na2 17.Nxa2 Bxa2 18.Qb5 Qe6 19.Bd3 Rfd8 20.Ne2 Nc6 21.0-0 Ne5 22.Nc1 Nxd3 23.Nxa2 a6 24.Qxb7 Nf4 25.Nc3 Rdb8 26.Qd7 Rxb2 27.Qxe6 fxe6 28.g3 Ng6 29.Rd6 Kf7 30.Rd7+ Kf6 31.Rc7 Rd8 32.Rc6 Kf7 33.Rc7+ Kf6 34.Rc6 Kf7 35.Na4 Re2 36.Nc5 Ne5 37.Rxa6 Nf3+ 38.Kg2 g4 39.Ra7+ Kf6 40.Ra6 Rdd2 41.Nxe6 Kf7 42.Nf4 Rxe4 43.h3 Ne1+ 44.Rxe1 Rxe1 45.hxg4 Ra2 46.g5 The nail in the coffin A far advanced pawn can strengthen the attack enormously: Kf8? This retrat is too passive. 46...Rd2 should defend, but matters are not easy of course. 47.g6 The nail in the coffin of Black's king. Re8 48.Ne6+ Kg8 49.Ra7 White's attack is really strong thanks to the nail in the coffin on g6. Kh8 49...Rd2 50.Nxg7+- 49...Rxe6?! 50.Ra8+ Re8 51.Rxe8# 50.Nd4? This retreat is too slow. 50.Rf7 wins, e.g. Rxa3 51.f4 Rg8 52.f5 Ra6 53.Kh3 Rd6 54.Re7 Ra6 55.Rd7 Rb6 56.Ra7 Rd6 57.Ng5+- 50...Rf8? 50...Rb2 51.Nf5 Reb8 52.a4 R2b7 53.Ra5 Kg8 gives Black chances to hold. 51.Nf5! The mighty knight combines attack and defense. A real knightmare for Black. Rb2 52.g4 Rg8 53.Re7 Rb6 54.Re1 Rgb8 55.Rh1+ Kg8 56.Rd1? Both players miss Black's defense. 56.Ne7+ wins as in the game. 56...Kf8? 56...Rf6 57.Rh1 Re8= 57.Rh1 Kg8 58.Ne7+ Kf8 59.Nd5 The final point wins the exchange back and so it is over. 59.Nd5 Rxg6 60.Rh8+ Kf7 61.Rxb8+- 1–0
  • 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.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
So,W2741Grischuk,A27841–02021D32FTX Crypto Cup Prelims 20211.6

Magnus Carlsen even lost a game in round 4 — it was a very strong performance by his opponent Maxime Vachier-Lagrave:

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.f3 Nc6 4.Bb5 g6 5.Nge2 Bg7 6.d4 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Be3 Nf6 9.Qd2 0-0 10.0-0-0 Rc8 11.Be2 a6 12.Kb1 b5 13.g4 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 e5 15.Be3 b4
What is the right way forward in this sharp position? 16.Nd5?! Not necessarily! The best solution consisted in 16.Qxd6! bxc3 17.g5 16...Nxd5 17.exd5 17.Qxd5 Be6 18.Qxd6 Qa5 19.Qxa6 Qc7! with strong pressure against the king. 17...e4 18.fxe4 Re8 Objectively, the game is still almost equal, but Black probably felt quite comfortable here: White can hardly do anything active. 19.Bd4?! 19.Bd3 Bxg4 20.Rdf1 was probably the better solution here: White has a backward pawn on e4, but Black cannot exploit this weakness. 19...Rxe4 20.Bxg7 Kxg7 21.h3 a5 22.Rhf1 Qe7 23.Bd3 23.Bf3 war nicht unbedingt besser: Re3 Every exchange makes the d5-pawn (and perhaps also the ones on c2 and h3) weaker. The black position is simply more compact. 23...Re5 24.Qf2 Rxd5 Now that the pawn is gone, MVL finally holds all the trumps. The Frenchman calmly takes the point! 25.Rde1 Re5 26.Qd4 Rcc5 27.Re4 Be6 28.b3 Kg8 29.Rfe1 Rxe4 30.Rxe4 Qc7 31.h4 Re5 32.g5 Rxe4 33.Qxe4 Qc5 34.Qa8+ Kg7 35.Qf3 Qg1+ 36.Kb2 Qd4+ 37.Kb1 h5 38.Qf1 Bd5 39.Qe1 Kf8 40.Qg3 Ke7 41.Qe1+ Be6 42.Qh1 Bd5 43.Qe1+ Qe5 44.Qf2 Be6 45.Qf1 Bf5 46.Bxf5 gxf5 47.Qd1 f4 48.Qxh5 Qe1+ 49.Kb2 Qc3+ 50.Kb1 f3 51.g6 Qe1+ 52.Kb2 f2 53.Qg5+ f6 0–1
  • 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.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Carlsen,M2881Vachier Lagrave,M28600–12021B76FTX Crypto Cup Prelims 20214.4

In round 5, the world champion drew with Alan Pichot, who got his first half point of the day against the Norwegian.

Levon Aronian had to deal with entirely different difficulties at his Yerevan home: the Armenian sat in the dark for a while due to a power failure, but was able to continue playing because the battery of his computer was still sufficiently charged. These are a few problems of online chess for which the ideal solution has not yet been found: cheating (with the help of an engine — of course, this is not to be expected with these world-class players), power failures, server crashes, and so on.

This tweet shows a poorly lit Aronian:

Standings after round 5

Loading Table...

All games

 
Loading...
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
  • 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.

Links

Klaus Besenthal is computer scientist, has followed and still follows the chess scene avidly since 1972 and since then has also regularly played in tournaments.

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register

We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.