Magnus Carlsen beats Alireza Firouzja to win Julius Baer Generation Cup

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
10/2/2024 – Magnus Carlsen secured victory in the Grand Final of the Julius Baer Generation Cup by defeating Alireza Firouzja with a 2½-1½ score. Carlsen, who had already triumphed in the winners' bracket, drew the first three games before clinching the win in the fourth. Firouzja and Carlsen finished at the top of the Champions Chess Tour standings, earning spots in the prestigious in-person final event, which will be held in December in Oslo. They will join six other qualified participants in the battle for the series' title.
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"My best match so far"

Magnus Carlsen and Alireza Firouzja have dominated this year’s Champions Chess Tour, reaching the Grand Final in three out of the four events. Carlsen bested his younger rival at the Chessable Masters in February, while Firouzja claimed victory over the former world champion at the Chess.com Classic in May. In their latest encounter at the Julius Baer Generation Cup, it was Carlsen who prevailed, securing a 2½-1½ victory in a tense deciding match.

Despite winning two out of their three Grand Finals, Carlsen currently sits second in the overall tour standings, as Firouzja's runner-up finish at the CrunchLabs Masters gave him a slight edge. That tournament was won by Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, while Carlsen was eliminated by Ian Nepomniachtchi in the semifinals of the losers' bracket. Firouzja and Carlsen, along with MVL, Nepomniachtchi, Wesley So, Denis Lazavik, Vincent Keymer, and Levon Aronian, have qualified for the in-person final event in Oslo this December.

Champions Chess Tour 2024

Tuesday's Grand Final was a tightly fought contest, with all three of the initial games ending in draws. The second game was particularly dramatic, as Carlsen managed to salvage a draw from a losing position. In the decisive fourth game, Carlsen outplayed Firouzja in a complex major-piece endgame, finding two critical pawn advances to gain a decisive advantage despite being low on time.

After sealing his victory, Carlsen reflected on his performance and future plans. He stated, "For the rest of the year, I will only be playing rapid and blitz, so it's good to see that I'm playing myself into shape. The Finals are going to be awesome, [it will feature a] good field and a rare chance to play a tournament in Oslo". Carlsen also remarked that this was probably his "best match so far" in the tour.

The Julius Baer Generation Cup also featured exciting action in its lower divisions. Wesley So triumphed in Division II, defeating Denis Lazavik in an Armageddon tiebreaker, while Fabiano Caruana won Division III with a convincing victory over Vincent Keymer.

Julius Baer Generation Cup 2024

Carlsen 1 - 0 Firouzja

Game 4

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MoveNResultEloPlayers
1.e41,165,57054%2421---
1.d4946,47455%2434---
1.Nf3281,31256%2441---
1.c4181,93756%2442---
1.g319,68856%2427---
1.b314,23654%2427---
1.f45,88648%2377---
1.Nc33,79651%2384---
1.b41,75348%2380---
1.a31,19754%2403---
1.e31,06848%2408---
1.d394850%2378---
1.g466246%2361---
1.h444653%2374---
1.c342651%2425---
1.h327956%2416---
1.a410860%2468---
1.f39147%2431---
1.Nh38966%2508---
1.Na34262%2482---
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.b3 Bg7 4.Bb2 d6 5.Bg2 e5 6.d3 0-0 7.c4 a5 8.Nc3 h6 9.0-0 c6 10.e4 Re8 11.Re1 Na6 12.h3 Bd7 13.d4 exd4 14.Nxd4 Nc5 15.Qc2 Qc8 16.Kh2 Ng4+ 17.hxg4 Bxd4 18.Rad1 Bg7 19.f3 Qc7 20.Qd2 Be6 21.Ne2 Red8 22.Bxg7 Kxg7 23.Qc3+ f6 24.Rd2 Qe7 25.Red1 Bf7 26.Nd4 Rd7 27.f4 Kg8 28.Re2 a4 29.b4 Na6 30.b5 cxb5 31.Nxb5 Rc8 32.Red2 Rxc4 33.Qe3 d5 34.e5 Nc7 35.Nxc7 Rcxc7 36.Bxd5 Bxd5 37.Rxd5 Rxd5 38.Rxd5 Qe6 39.Qd3
This position is balanced according to the engines, but Carlsen had both better coordinated major pieces and an extra minute on the clock (82 seconds to Firouzja's 20). 39...Qxg4 The crucial mistake. Correct is 39...fxe5 and now it is White who must decide how to proceed, e. g.: 40.Rd6 Qxa2+ 41.Kh3 Qc2 42.Rxg6+ Kf7 and engines continue to show zeros, though this is still very complicated to handle with only seconds on the clock. 40.e6 Carlsen finds the winning idea! Rg7 Not 40...Qxe6 due to 41.Qxg6+ Rg7 42.Rd8+ Qe8 43.Rxe8# 41.f5 The remarkable follow-up which justifies the whole line. Carlsen now has a winning position, though he still needs to work hard, as Black will try to escape with a draw by perpetual check. gxf5 42.Rd8+ Kh7 43.Rd7 Qh5+ 44.Kg2 Qg6 45.Rxg7+ Qxg7 46.Qd7 f4 47.g4 f5 48.e7 Qxg4+ 49.Kf2 Qg3+ 50.Ke2 f3+
51.Ke3 Carlsen falters here, as Black could have escaped with a draw had he found the correct continuation. 51.Kd3 was the only winning move here, and e.g.: f2+ 52.Ke2 Qf3+ 53.Kf1 Not 53.Kxf3 f1Q+ 54.Ke3 Qe1+ and White cannot escape the checks due to the potential skewer along the d-file. 51...f2+ But Firouzja fails to find the refutation! Black can save the draw with 51...Qe1+ 52.Kxf3 Qf1+ 53.Kg3 Qg1+ and the white king cannot escape through the d-file because of the skewer. 52.Ke2 Qe5+ 53.Kxf2 Carlsen captures the far-advanced passer and now needs to find shelter for his king - he needed almost 20 moves to do so. Qf4+ 54.Ke2 Qe4+ 55.Kd2 Qf4+ 56.Kc3 Qe3+ 57.Kb4 Qb6+ 58.Kc4 Qa6+ 59.Kc5 Qa5+ 60.Kd6 Qb6+ 61.Ke5 Qe3+ 62.Kf6 Qg5+ 63.Ke6 Qg6+ 64.Kd5 Qg2+ 65.Kc5 Qf2+ 66.Kb5 Qb2+ 67.Ka5 Qc3+ 68.Kb6 Qb4+ 69.Kc7 Qa5+ 70.Kb8 Qe5+ 71.Qc7
1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Carlsen,M2898Firouzja,A28781–02024A15Division I4.4

All games - Division I

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1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.e3 Qa5 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Qd2 Bb4 9.Rc1 h6 10.Bh4 0-0 11.a3 Bxc3 12.bxc3 N5f6 13.Bd3 b6 14.e4 Ba6 15.c4 Qxd2+ 16.Kxd2 Rfe8 17.e5 Nh5 18.Be4 Rac8 19.g4 Nf4 20.Bg3 Ng6 21.Rhe1 c5 22.d5 exd5 23.cxd5 Rcd8 24.Kc3 Bb7 25.a4 Ndf8 26.Rcd1 Ne7 27.d6 Bxe4 28.Rxe4 Nc6 29.Nh4 f6 30.f4 fxe5 31.fxe5 Re6 32.Kc4 Rde8 33.Nf5 Nd7 34.Rde1 a6 35.Kd5 Nb4+ 36.Rxb4 cxb4 37.Nd4 Rg6 38.e6 Nf6+ 39.Kc6 Rxg4 40.d7 Rd8 41.Be5 Nxd7 42.exd7 b3 43.Kc7 Rxd7+ 44.Kxd7 b2 45.Rb1 Re4 46.Kd6 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Firouzja,A2856Fedoseev,V28281–02024Division I1.1
Grischuk,A2704Erigaisi Arjun27341–02024Division I1.1
Nepomniachtchi,I2827Carlsen,M2901½–½2024Division I1.1
Vachier-Lagrave,M2878Aronian,L27901–02024Division I1.1
Aronian,L2784Vachier-Lagrave,M2884½–½2024Division I1.2
Carlsen,M2899Nepomniachtchi,I2829½–½2024Division I1.2
Erigaisi Arjun2725Grischuk,A27131–02024Division I1.2
Fedoseev,V2821Firouzja,A2863½–½2024Division I1.2
Firouzja,A2862Fedoseev,V28220–12024Division I1.3
Grischuk,A2705Erigaisi Arjun2733½–½2024Division I1.3
Nepomniachtchi,I2831Carlsen,M2897½–½2024Division I1.3
Vachier-Lagrave,M2882Aronian,L27860–12024Division I1.3
Aronian,L2796Vachier-Lagrave,M28721–02024Division I1.4
Carlsen,M2896Nepomniachtchi,I2832½–½2024Division I1.4
Erigaisi Arjun2732Grischuk,A27060–12024Division I1.4
Fedoseev,V2831Firouzja,A28530–12024Division I1.4
Nepomniachtchi,I2833Carlsen,M28950–12024Division I1.5
Carlsen,M2895Aronian,L2806½–½2024Division I2.1
Firouzja,A2860Grischuk,A27151–02024Division I2.1
Aronian,L2808Carlsen,M28930–12024Division I2.2
Grischuk,A2710Firouzja,A2865½–½2024Division I2.2
Carlsen,M2899Aronian,L2802½–½2024Division I2.3
Firouzja,A2862Grischuk,A27131–02024Division I2.3
Aronian,L2804Carlsen,M2897½–½2024Division I2.4
Firouzja,A2867Carlsen,M28950–12024Division I3.1
Carlsen,M2902Firouzja,A28600–12024Division I3.2
Firouzja,A2869Carlsen,M2893½–½2024Division I3.3
Carlsen,M2892Firouzja,A28701–02024Division I3.4
Firouzja,A2877Carlsen,M2899½–½2024Division I4.1
Carlsen,M2898Firouzja,A2878½–½2024Division I4.2
Firouzja,A2878Carlsen,M2898½–½2024Division I4.3
Carlsen,M2898Firouzja,A28781–02024Division I4.4
Erigaisi Arjun2723Fedoseev,V28230–12024Division I51.1
Vachier-Lagrave,M2862Nepomniachtchi,I28331–02024Division I51.1
Fedoseev,V2829Erigaisi Arjun2717½–½2024Division I51.2
Nepomniachtchi,I2826Vachier-Lagrave,M2869½–½2024Division I51.2
Fedoseev,V2827Aronian,L28060–12024Division I52.1
Vachier-Lagrave,M2868Grischuk,A2708½–½2024Division I52.1
Aronian,L2814Fedoseev,V28191–02024Division I52.2
Grischuk,A2711Vachier-Lagrave,M2865½–½2024Division I52.2
Grischuk,A2714Vachier-Lagrave,M28620–12024Division I52.3
Vachier-Lagrave,M2862Aronian,L2822½–½2024Division I53.1
Aronian,L2823Vachier-Lagrave,M28611–02024Division I53.2
Firouzja,A2863Aronian,L28321–02024Division I54.1
Aronian,L2825Firouzja,A28700–12024Division I54.2

Bracket - Division I

Division II

All games - Division II

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MoveNResultEloPlayers
1.e41,165,57054%2421---
1.d4946,47455%2434---
1.Nf3281,31256%2441---
1.c4181,93756%2442---
1.g319,68856%2427---
1.b314,23654%2427---
1.f45,88648%2377---
1.Nc33,79651%2384---
1.b41,75348%2380---
1.a31,19754%2403---
1.e31,06848%2408---
1.d394850%2378---
1.g466246%2361---
1.h444653%2374---
1.c342651%2425---
1.h327956%2416---
1.a410860%2468---
1.f39147%2431---
1.Nh38966%2508---
1.Na34262%2482---
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6 5.Bg5 Nc6 6.Bb5 Qa5+ 7.Nc3 Qxb5 8.Nxb5 Nxd4 9.Nfxd4 Nxe4 10.Nc7+ Kd8 11.Nxa8 Nxg5 12.Nb5 a6 13.Nc3 b5 14.h4 Ne6 15.a4 b4 16.Nd5 Bb7 17.Nab6 Nd4 18.0-0-0 Nc6 19.Rh3 e6 20.Rf3 Ne5 21.Rb3 a5 22.Ne3 Kc7 23.Nbc4 Nc6 24.Rbd3 d5 25.Nxd5+ exd5 26.Rxd5 Bc8 27.Nxa5 Be7 28.g3 Bg4 29.R1d2 Ra8 30.Nxc6 Kxc6 31.b3 Be6 32.R5d4 Kc5 33.Re4 Bf6 34.Kd1 Bc3 35.Rd3 Bd5 36.Re7 Kc6 37.Ke2 Bf6 38.Ree3 Rb8 39.f3 Be6 40.Re4 Bd5 41.Ree3 h5 42.Kf1 Be6 43.Re4 Bd5 44.Ree3 Ra8 45.Kg2 Ra5 46.Kf2 Rc5 47.Re2 Be6 48.Rdd2 Bf5 49.Kf1 Kc7 50.Kf2 Rc3 51.Kg2 Rc5 52.Kf2 g6 53.Kg2 Bc3 54.Rd1 Be5 55.Rdd2 Bc3 56.Rd1 Be6 57.Rd3 Bf6 58.Kf2 Bf5 59.Rdd2 Kc6 60.Kg2 Bc3 61.Rd8 Bg7 62.Rdd2 Bh6 63.Rd4 Bxc2 64.Rxb4 Bd3 65.Ra2 Be3 66.a5 Rc1 67.a6 Ba7 68.Rb7 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Anton Guijarro,D2654Durarbayli,V26621–02024Division II1.1
Bok,B2676Madaminov,M25861–02024Division II1.1
Bortnyk,O2679Daneshvar,B26610–12024Division II1.1
Le,T2726Sargsyan,S26640–12024Division II1.1
Martinez Alcantara,J2734Indjic,A26160–12024Division II1.1
Oparin,G2683Lazavik,D27520–12024Division II1.1
So,W2826Yakubboev,N26681–02024Division II1.1
Vidit,S2694Robson,R2696½–½2024Division II1.1
Daneshvar,B2669Bortnyk,O26710–12024Division II1.2
Durarbayli,V2654Anton Guijarro,D26621–02024Division II1.2
Indjic,A2627Martinez Alcantara,J27230–12024Division II1.2
Lazavik,D2758Oparin,G26771–02024Division II1.2
Madaminov,M2580Bok,B26821–02024Division II1.2
Robson,R2696Vidit,S26941–02024Division II1.2
Sargsyan,S2673Le,T2717½–½2024Division II1.2
Yakubboev,N2663So,W28311–02024Division II1.2
Anton Guijarro,D2654Durarbayli,V26621–02024Division II1.3
Bok,B2672Madaminov,M2590½–½2024Division II1.3
Bortnyk,O2679Daneshvar,B26610–12024Division II1.3
Le,T2716Sargsyan,S26741–02024Division II1.3
Martinez Alcantara,J2729Indjic,A26211–02024Division II1.3
Oparin,G2671Lazavik,D2764½–½2024Division II1.3
So,W2819Yakubboev,N26751–02024Division II1.3
Vidit,S2686Robson,R27041–02024Division II1.3
Daneshvar,B2669Bortnyk,O26711–02024Division II1.4
Durarbayli,V2654Anton Guijarro,D26621–02024Division II1.4
Indjic,A2615Martinez Alcantara,J2735½–½2024Division II1.4
Madaminov,M2592Bok,B26701–02024Division II1.4
Robson,R2696Vidit,S26940–12024Division II1.4
Sargsyan,S2667Le,T27231–02024Division II1.4
Yakubboev,N2670So,W2824½–½2024Division II1.4
Anton Guijarro,D2654Durarbayli,V26620–12024Division II1.5
Daneshvar,B2677Sargsyan,S26761–02024Division II2.1
Martinez Alcantara,J2732Lazavik,D2762½–½2024Division II2.1
So,W2821Madaminov,M26021–02024Division II2.1
Vidit,S2702Durarbayli,V26621–02024Division II2.1
Durarbayli,V2655Vidit,S2709½–½2024Division II2.2
Lazavik,D2761Martinez Alcantara,J27330–12024Division II2.2
Madaminov,M2598So,W2825½–½2024Division II2.2
Sargsyan,S2668Daneshvar,B26851–02024Division II2.2
Daneshvar,B2677Sargsyan,S2676½–½2024Division II2.3
Martinez Alcantara,J2742Lazavik,D27520–12024Division II2.3
So,W2820Madaminov,M26031–02024Division II2.3
Vidit,S2708Durarbayli,V26561–02024Division II2.3
Lazavik,D2760Martinez Alcantara,J27340–12024Division II2.4
Sargsyan,S2676Daneshvar,B26771–02024Division II2.4
So,W2824Sargsyan,S26841–02024Division II3.1
Vidit,S2715Martinez Alcantara,J27431–02024Division II3.1
Martinez Alcantara,J2734Vidit,S27241–02024Division II3.2
Sargsyan,S2679So,W2829½–½2024Division II3.2
So,W2826Sargsyan,S26821–02024Division II3.3
Vidit,S2716Martinez Alcantara,J2742½–½2024Division II3.3
Martinez Alcantara,J2741Vidit,S2717½–½2024Division II3.4
Vidit,S2718Martinez Alcantara,J27400–12024Division II3.5
So,W2831Martinez Alcantara,J27400–12024Division II4.1
Martinez Alcantara,J2750So,W2821½–½2024Division II4.2
So,W2819Martinez Alcantara,J27521–02024Division II4.3
Martinez Alcantara,J2746So,W28250–12024Division II4.4
So,W2831Lazavik,D2775½–½2024Division II5.1
Lazavik,D2776So,W28300–12024Division II5.2
So,W2837Lazavik,D27690–12024Division II5.3
Lazavik,D2779So,W2827½–½2024Division II5.4
So,W2826Lazavik,D27801–02024Division II5.5
Anton Guijarro,D2654Robson,R26881–02024Division II51.1
Bok,B2660Yakubboev,N26731–02024Division II51.1
Le,T2714Bortnyk,O26630–12024Division II51.1
Oparin,G2673Indjic,A26180–12024Division II51.1
Bortnyk,O2672Le,T27051–02024Division II51.2
Indjic,A2627Oparin,G26641–02024Division II51.2
Robson,R2679Anton Guijarro,D26631–02024Division II51.2
Yakubboev,N2665Bok,B26680–12024Division II51.2
Anton Guijarro,D2655Robson,R26871–02024Division II51.3
Anton Guijarro,D2655Daneshvar,B26690–12024Division II52.1
Bok,B2676Lazavik,D2751½–½2024Division II52.1
Bortnyk,O2681Durarbayli,V26491–02024Division II52.1
Indjic,A2636Madaminov,M2599½–½2024Division II52.1
Daneshvar,B2677Anton Guijarro,D2647½–½2024Division II52.2
Durarbayli,V2642Bortnyk,O26881–02024Division II52.2
Lazavik,D2749Bok,B26781–02024Division II52.2
Madaminov,M2600Indjic,A26350–12024Division II52.2
Bortnyk,O2679Durarbayli,V26511–02024Division II52.3
Bortnyk,O2679Lazavik,D27550–12024Division II53.1
Daneshvar,B2676Indjic,A26421–02024Division II53.1
Indjic,A2635Daneshvar,B26831–02024Division II53.2
Lazavik,D2761Bortnyk,O2673½–½2024Division II53.2
Daneshvar,B2674Indjic,A26440–12024Division II53.3
Lazavik,D2759Sargsyan,S26771–02024Division II54.1
Vidit,S2718Indjic,A26441–02024Division II54.1
Indjic,A2638Vidit,S27240–12024Division II54.2
Sargsyan,S2671Lazavik,D27650–12024Division II54.2
Vidit,S2730Lazavik,D2771½–½2024Division II55.1
Lazavik,D2770Vidit,S2731½–½2024Division II55.2
Vidit,S2732Lazavik,D27690–12024Division II55.3
Martinez Alcantara,J2740Lazavik,D2769½–½2024Division II56.1
Lazavik,D2768Martinez Alcantara,J27411–02024Division II56.2

Bracket - Division II

Division III

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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