Magnus Carlsen wins Grenke Chess Classic for a third time

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
4/1/2024 – Magnus Carlsen defeated Richard Rapport 1½-½ on Monday to win the seventh edition of the Grenke Chess Classic. This was Carlsen’s sixth consecutive tournament victory. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave grabbed third place after beating Vincent Keymer in blitz playoffs, while Ding Liren beat Daniel Fridman 1½-½ to claim fifth place. | Photo: Angelika Valkova
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A sixth consecutive victory!

The last time Magnus Carlsen played in a tournament and did not emerge as the winner was in November last year, when he played on the top board for Norway at the European Team Championship — Carlsen scored 6½/8 points in Budva, nonetheless. Before that, the world number one had struggled at the Qatar Masters, where he scored 6/9 for a disappointing 16th place in the final standings.

Since then, however, the 33-year-old (his birthday is on November 30) has collected six tournament victories in a row. Carlsen won the Champions Chess Tour Finals, the World Rapid Championship, the World Blitz Championship, the Chessable Masters, the Freestyle G.O.A.T. Challenge and now the Grenke Chess Classic.

In Karlsruhe, Carlsen claimed his third triumph in the Grenke Classic. The Norwegian played in 5 out of the 7 editions of the event, failing to claim first place twice — in 2017, when Levon Aronian took first place, and in 2018, when Fabiano Caruana emerged victorious.

Carlsen won the previous edition of the Classic, in 2019. The event was a 10-player single round-robin with a 2724 average rating. Carlsen remained undefeated and obtained a 7½/9 score to leave Caruana a full 1½ points behind in sole second place. The impressive showing granted the long-standing world number one a 2983 Tournament Performance Rating.

Magnus Carlsen, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

Magnus Carlsen defeated Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in the final round of the 2019 edition | Photo: Georgios Souleidis

This time around, the organizers put forth a more dynamic format, with a ‘fast-classical’ time control (45+10) and a playoff section at the end of the event. Following the 6-player double round-robin, those placed first and second in the standings fought for first place in a 2-game match. Carlsen’s opponent, Richard Rapport, defeated the eventual tournament winner in the first round of the event and finished the all-play-all in clear second place.

The final saw Carlsen winning the first game with the white pieces and then saving a draw from what at times looked like a completely losing position.

Matches for third and fifth places also took place on Monday. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave beat Vincent Keymer in blitz playoffs (2½-1½) to grab third place, while world champion Ding Liren got the better of Daniel Fridman ‘in regulation’ (1½-½) to secure fifth place.

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave grabbed third place after winning a hard-fought match against Vincent Keymer | Photo: Angelika Valkova

Carlsen 1 - 0 Rapport

CarlsenCarlsen, Magnus28301–0Rapport, Richard2720Rapport
GMGRENKE Chess Classic-TB 2024
Karlsruhe01.04.2024[TA]		GM
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Qg4 Qc7 8.Bd3 Qa5 9.Bd2 9.Qxg7? Qxc3+ 9...Rg8? 10.Qf6-+ 10.Ke2 Rg8-+ 9...c4 10.Be2       10.Qxg7 Rg8 11.Qxh7 cxd3 12.Qxd3 Nd7 12...Rxg2 13.h4 10...Rg8 The position is equal. 11.a4 Nbc6 12.Qh3 h6 13.Bh5 Bd7 14.Ne2 g6 15.Bg4 h5 16.Bf3 Nf5 17.g4 hxg4 18.Bxg4 0-0-0 19.Bxf5 exf5 20.Bg5 Rde8 21.Kd2 Rh8 22.Qf3 Nd8       23.Bf6 Rh6 23...Rh5!? 24.h4       Ne6 25.h5 g5 26.Rae1 26.Qxf5? Nxd4 26...Bxa4? 27.Bg7+- 27.Nxd4 Bxf5-+ 26...f4 Black should play 26...a6= 27.Reg1 Rg8
27...Qxa4? 28.Bxg5 28.Qxd5? Bc6-+ 28...Nxg5 29.Rxg5+- 27...Bxa4 28.Qg4 28.Bxg5 Bxc2 29.Kxc2 Qa2+ 30.Kd1 Qb3+ 31.Ke1 Qb1+ 32.Kd2 Qb2+ 33.Kd1 Qb3+ 34.Ke1 Qb1+ 35.Kd2 Qb2+ 36.Kd1 Qb3+= 28.Nxf4! Rxf6 28...Nxf4? 29.Qxf4 29.Bxg5 Rxh5 30.Rxh5 Nxh5+- 29...Re8 29...gxf4? 30.Rxg8++- 30.Rxg5+- 30.Qxg5 Rh7+- 29.exf6 Nxf4 30.h6 aiming for Qxf4! Ne6 30...Bxa4? 31.Qxf4 31.h7 Rh8+- 31...Bxc2 31...gxf4? 32.Rxg8+ Kc7 33.Ra1+- 32.Rxg5+- 32.Qg4+ Kc7+- 30...Qxa4? 31.h7 Rh8 32.Rxg5+- 31.h7 Dancing on a razor blade. Rh8 32.Qe3 32.Qh5?! Qc7 32...Be8 33.f4± 33.Qxf7 Qf4+ 34.Kd1 Qf3+ 35.Kd2 35.Kc1 Qxc3 36.Rg3 Qa1+ 37.Kd2 Qxd4+ 38.Kc1 Qa1+ 39.Kd2 Qxh1-+ 35...Nd8= 32...Qd8 32...Bxa4? 33.Rxg5 Nxg5 34.Qxg5+- 32...Qxa4? 33.Ra1 Qc6 34.Rxa7+- 33.Rxg5! Nxg5 33...Bxa4? 34.Rg7+- 34.Qxg5 Kc7 35.Qg7       White is really pushing. 35.Rh5 And now Qg3+ would win. Be6 36.Qg7 35...Be6± 36.Re1 36.f4± 36...Kb6 36...Bf5!= 37.Qxf7+ Kc6 37.Re5       White has compensation. Qc8 37...a5 38.f4±       White has more active pieces. a6 38...Qf8± was called for. 39.f5 Bd7 40.a5+ 40.Rxd5 Bxa4 41.Rc5 Bc6± 40...Ka6 41.Rxd5 Ba4 39.Kc1!+- Ka7?
39...Qf8 40.f5 Bc8 41.Rxd5 Qa3+ 42.Kd2 Qf8 40.f5!       Bd7
40...Bxf5? 41.Rxf5 41.Qxf7 Rxh7 42.Qxd5 Bg6 41...Qf8 42.Kb2+- 42.Rxd5 Qc8+- 41.a5! Qf8? 41...Bxf5? loses. 42.Rxf5 42.Qxf7 Rxh7 43.Qxd5 Bg6 42...Qf8 43.Kb2+- 43.Rxd5 Ka8+- 41...Rf8 42.Rxd5 42.Re7 Bxf5 43.Rxf7 Rh8 42...Ba4 42.Kb2 42.Rxd5 Ba4 42...Qa3+ 43.Kd2± 42...Qc8 43.Rxd5 Black is weak on the dark squares Bc6 44.Re5 Bd7 45.Qxf7 Strongly threatening Qg7. Bxf5 46.Rc5 Qe6 47.Qxe6 Bxe6 48.Rc7 Bf5
49.Rg7! And not 49.Rxc4 Rxh7 49...Bxh7 50.d5= 50.Rc5 Bh3 49...Bxh7 50.f7 Bd3 51.cxd3 Weighted Error Value: White=0.10 (very precise) /Black=0.46. Mistake: White=2 Black=6 Inaccurate: White=1 Black=3 OK: White=9 Black=15 Best: White=2 Black=4 Strong: White=3 --- Brilliant: White=1 --- 1–0

All games - Round robin

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1.d4 5 d5 1 2.Nf3 3 Nf6 2 3.e3 2 e6 10 4.Nbd2 3 c5 1:49 5.b3 4 Nc6 11 6.Bb2 12 cxd4 34 7.exd4 5 g6 3 8.a3 4:47 Bg7 4 9.Bd3 1 0-0 2 10.Qe2 36 Qb6 35 11.0-0 6:00 Nd7! 10 12.Qe3 13:57
12...e5! 2 13.dxe5 19 Qxe3 2 14.fxe3 4 Ndxe5 2 15.Rab1 4:53 Nxd3 4:37 16.cxd3 2:03 Bf5 2 17.e4 22 dxe4 3 18.dxe4 1
Bxg7 would now be deadly. 18...Be6 2 19.Bxg7 1:25 Kxg7 2 20.Rfc1 2:43 Rfd8 1:16 21.Rc3 46 Rd7 19 22.Rb2 2:54 Rad8 7 23.Kf2 29 Nd4 9:04 24.Nxd4 2:28 The position is equal. Rxd4 2 25.Ke3 1 f5 56 26.Rc7+ 41 R8d7 2 27.Rxd7+ 48 Rxd7= 2       Endgame. KRB-KRN 28.g3 1:58 fxe4 2:52 29.Nxe4 2 Bf5 2 White must now prevent ...Re7. 30.Rd2 1:31 Re7 4:49 31.Rd4 1 Bd7 2:42 32.Kf2 36 Rf7+ 40 33.Ke3 2 Re7 24 34.Kf2 1 Rf7+ 47 35.Ke3 1 Re7 Weighted Error Value: White=0.05 (flawless) /Black=0.05 (flawless) . Inaccurate: White=3 Black=1 OK: White=12 Black=9 Strong: --- Black=1 Brilliant: --- Black=1 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Keymer,V2738Fridman,D2590½–½2024D05GRENKE Chess Classic 20241.1
Rapport,R2720Carlsen,M28301–02024B12GRENKE Chess Classic 20241.2
Vachier-Lagrave,M2728Ding,L2762½–½2024A45GRENKE Chess Classic 20241.3
Ding,L2762Rapport,R2720½–½2024A62GRENKE Chess Classic 20242.1
Fridman,D2590Carlsen,M28300–12024A47GRENKE Chess Classic 20242.2
Keymer,V2738Vachier-Lagrave,M2728½–½2024D20GRENKE Chess Classic 20242.3
Vachier-Lagrave,M2728Fridman,D25900–12024C02GRENKE Chess Classic 20243.1
Carlsen,M2830Ding,L2762½–½2024E10GRENKE Chess Classic 20243.2
Rapport,R2720Keymer,V2738½–½2024C50GRENKE Chess Classic 20243.3
Rapport,R2720Fridman,D25901–02024C00GRENKE Chess Classic 20244.1
Carlsen,M2830Vachier-Lagrave,M2728½–½2024B50GRENKE Chess Classic 20244.2
Ding,L2762Keymer,V2738½–½2024E21GRENKE Chess Classic 20244.3
Vachier-Lagrave,M2728Rapport,R27201–02024C18GRENKE Chess Classic 20245.1
Keymer,V2738Carlsen,M28300–12024A61GRENKE Chess Classic 20245.2
Fridman,D2590Ding,L2762½–½2024A05GRENKE Chess Classic 20245.3
Fridman,D2590Keymer,V2738½–½2024A05GRENKE Chess Classic 20246.1
Carlsen,M2830Rapport,R27201–02024A61GRENKE Chess Classic 20246.2
Ding,L2762Vachier-Lagrave,M2728½–½2024A48GRENKE Chess Classic 20246.3
Rapport,R2720Ding,L27621–02024C26GRENKE Chess Classic 20247.1
Carlsen,M2830Fridman,D25901–02024C08GRENKE Chess Classic 20247.2
Vachier-Lagrave,M2728Keymer,V2738½–½2024E46GRENKE Chess Classic 20247.3
Fridman,D2590Vachier-Lagrave,M2728½–½2024D79GRENKE Chess Classic 20248.1
Ding,L2762Carlsen,M2830½–½2024E11GRENKE Chess Classic 20248.2
Keymer,V2738Rapport,R27200–12024A67GRENKE Chess Classic 20248.3
Ding,L2762Fridman,D2590½–½2024D45GRENKE Chess Classic 20249.1
Carlsen,M2830Keymer,V27381–02024E21GRENKE Chess Classic 20249.2
Rapport,R2720Vachier-Lagrave,M2728½–½2024D30GRENKE Chess Classic 20249.3
Fridman,D2590Rapport,R2720½–½2024E17GRENKE Chess Classic 202410.1
Vachier-Lagrave,M2728Carlsen,M2830½–½2024A05GRENKE Chess Classic 202410.2
Keymer,V2738Ding,L27621–02024A06GRENKE Chess Classic 202410.3

All games - Playoffs

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1.d4 1 Nf6 1 2.c4 1 e6 1       3.Nc3 1 Bb4 1 4.Nf3 1 d6 1 5.Qc2 3 0-0 3 6.e3 1 e5 25 7.Bd2 1 Re8 22 8.Be2 1 a5 23 9.a3 11 Bxc3 2 10.Bxc3 2 e4 2 11.Nd2 1 d5 0 12.0-0 16 Bg4 26 13.Bxg4 4 Nxg4 1 14.h3 20 Nf6 2 15.Rfc1 1 Nc6 29 16.b4 5 axb4 1:42 17.axb4 3 Rxa1 6 18.Rxa1 1 dxc4 10
Und ...b5 würde nun gewinnen. 19.Nxc4 10 Qd5 54 20.Ne5 7 Nxe5 2:09 21.dxe5 2 Nd7 1 22.Bd4 13 c6 59 23.Ra7 1:56 b5 1:12 23...h5 ist eher angebracht. 24.Rc7± 8 Schwarz hat schwache schwarze Felder Nxe5 1 25.Bxe5 2 Qxe5 1 26.Qxc6 13       Endspiel. KQR-KQR g6 45 27.Rb7 14 Weiß steht aktiver. Rd8 5
28.Rd7 15 28.Rxb5? Rd1# 28.g4!± 28...Qa1+ 17 Die Stellung ist ausgeglichen. 29.Kh2 1 Qe5+ 1 30.Kg1 5 Qa1+ 1 31.Kh2 0 Qe5+ 1 32.Kg1 6 Gewichteter Fehlerwert: Weiß=0.10 (sehr präzise) /Schwarz=0.05 (makellos) . Fehler: Weiß=1 Schwarz=1 Ungenau: Weiß=2 Schwarz=1 OK: Weiß=10 Schwarz=13 Bester: Weiß=3 Schwarz=2 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Ding,L2762Keymer,V2738½–½2024E21GRENKE Chess Classic-TB 20241.1
Fridman,D2590Ding,L27621–02024A08GRENKE Chess Classic-TB 20241.2
Keymer,V2738Fridman,D25901–02024A13GRENKE Chess Classic-TB 20241.3
Keymer,V2738Ding,L27621–02024A06GRENKE Chess Classic-TB 20241.4
Ding,L2762Fridman,D25901–02024D02GRENKE Chess Classic-TB 20241.5
Carlsen,M2830Rapport,R27201–02024C18GRENKE Chess Classic-TB 20242.1
Ding,L2762Fridman,D25901–02024A14GRENKE Chess Classic-TB 20242.1
Keymer,V2738Vachier-Lagrave,M2728½–½2024D33GRENKE Chess Classic-TB 20242.1
Vachier-Lagrave,M2728Keymer,V2738½–½2024A29GRENKE Chess Classic-TB 20242.1
Rapport,R2720Carlsen,M2830½–½2024C50GRENKE Chess Classic-TB 20242.2
Vachier-Lagrave,M2728Keymer,V2738½–½2024C50GRENKE Chess Classic-TB 20242.3
Fridman,D2590Ding,L2762½–½2024A06GRENKE Chess Classic-TB 20242.3
Keymer,V2738Vachier-Lagrave,M27280–12024A48GRENKE Chess Classic-TB 20242.4

Game analysis by Robert Ris

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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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