Carlsen clinches his third World Triple Crown

IM Bibsara Assaubayeva became the third woman in history after GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR) and GM Kateryna Lagno to win World Blitz Women title in consecutive editions. Anna did it in 2014 and 2016, Lagno in 2018 and 2019 and now Bibisara in 2021 and 2022. Both Bibisara and Humpy made fantastic comebacks in the last few rounds. While Bibisara scored 7/8 on the second day, Humpy made 7.5/8 on the final day. The former lost to lost to the eventual Bronze medalist IM Polina Shuvalova in Round 12, the latter beat her in Round 16. The top two finishers, Bibisara and Humpy did not face each other.

World Blitz 2022 Women and Open champions - IM Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ) and GM Magnus Carlsen (NOR) | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

World Blitz 2022 Women Top 3 (L to R): Silver - GM Koneru Humpy, Gold - IM Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ) and Bronze - IM Polina Shuvalova | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

World Blitz Open Top 3 (L to R): Silver - Hikaru Nakamura (USA), Gold - Magnus Carlsen (NOR) and Bronze - Haik Martirosyan (Bronze) | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

World Blitz 2022 medalists | Photo: Amruta Mokal

World Rapid Women Top 3 (L to R): Gold - GM Tan Zhongyi (CHN), Bronze - WIM Savitha Shri B and Silver - IM Dinara Saduakassova (KAZ, not in picture) | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

World Rapid 2022 Open Top 3 (L to R): Silver - Vincent Keymer (GER), Gold - Magnus Carlsen (NOR) and Bronze - Fabiano Caruana (USA) | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

It's a tradition now! The Magnus Carlsen interview after World Rapid and Blitz 2022 | Video: ChessBase India

Carlsen's no draw approach

On the final day of World Blitz 2022, Magnus Carlsen did not make a single draw. He started with a win over the eventual Bronze medalist, GM Haik Martirosyan (ARM, 2745).

Only Magnus Carlsen's pawns can move backwards! | Anish and Dubov attempt to troll Magnus! | Video: ChessBase India

GM Haik Martirosyan showed why he is a Blitz specialist at World Blitz 2022 | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Then he beat GM Richard Rapport (ROU, 2654) in an outstanding game. It is the game which Carlsen enjoyed the most in recent times as he mentioned in the post-tournament interview linked above.

Here 39.f3 shuts the long diagonal for the queen and then f8Q in the next move is a deadly threat which Black cannot stop and keep d5-pawn protected at the same time. Carlsen missed this as he did not realize that Black has no threat in this position. He only realized 39.f3 was there afterwards.

The most insane Magnus Carlsen game you will ever see | Carlsen vs Rapport | Video: ChessBase India

After an exhausting win against Rapport, Carlsen lost to his former World Championship Challenger, Ian Nepomniachtchi (2782). Well, Nepo ultimately got his bargain, albeit in a different format and stakes altogether.

Why was Magnus Carlsen extremely angry at the end of this game against Nepo? | Video: ChessBase India

The World Champion struck back immediately in the next game against World Rapid 2022 Silver medalist, GM Vincent Keymer (GER, 2600).

49.g4 would have still kept the game going. 49.Ke3 allowed Carlsen to find the beautiful resource Rh8!

World Rapid 2022 Bronze medalist, Fabiano Caruana put up a very good fight against Magnus Carlsen | Photo: Amruta Mokal

16-year-old IM Madaminov Mukhiddin (UZB, 2333) was unable to keep his calm and make a draw in an equal same colored bishop endgame. This win helped Carlsen gain sole lead for the first time in this event 14/18.

The agony of losing to Magnus Carlsen - Carlsen vs Madaminov | Video: ChessBase India

The 16-year-old IM Madaminov will certainly look for way to redeem this loss against Carlsen in the years to come | Photo: Amruta Mokal

IM Madaminov had beaten GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov in Round 13 and eventually became the top IM finisher | Photo: Amruta Mokal

In Round 19, Carlsen lost to GM Alexey Sarana (2708). Having coffee before the game despite not being a coffee person, made him over excited and he suffered his second loss of the day. This one got over in just 24 moves. Sarana scored 9.5 points in his last ten games before he faced Carlsen. That is what momentum does in sports.

The way in which Magnus Carlsen resigns this game is epic | Sarana vs Carlsen | Video: ChessBase India

Carlsen was paired against the former World Rapid champion, GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB, 2666) in the final round. After an epic battle in the World Rapid 2022, the world champion had one final test to pass. He was quite okay to draw the game and was ready for Playoff. However, Abdusattorov wanted more.

Magnus Carlsen's moment of pure happiness on becoming World Blitz 2022 after beating Abdusattorov | Video: ChessBase India

The moment of joy after beating Abdusattorov and realizing that he has become the World Blitz champion, triple crown winner for the third time | Photo: Amruta Mokal

"Of the three world titles this one is the dearest!" - Carlsen on winning World Blitz 2022 | Video: ChessBase India

The curious controversial case of shouting in between the game | Video: ChessBase India

Women: Bibisara retains her crown, Humpy wins Silver, Polina Bronze

IM Polina Shuvalova (2361) was leading for the better part of the tournament. The first-ever FIDE Women's World Cup winner, GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (2469) halted her momentum in Round 14.

It was Polina Shuvalova's tournament to lose, nevertheless she delivered a stellar performance to secure the Bronze medal | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

She drew with IM Meri Arabidze (GEO, 2404) in Round 15. Polina was still leading by a half point 11.5/15. Bibisara 11/15 and Humpy 10.5/15 were close on her heels. The defending champion Bibisara defeated Kosteniuk in Round 15.

In Round 16, Humpy struck Polina and dethroned her from the top of the leaderboard.

In the final round, Humpy beat GM Tan Zhongyi (CHN, 2510) to finish clear second. If Harika managed to hold IM Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ, 2404) to a draw, Humpy would have faced the defending champion in Playoffs. Harika lost and Assaubayeva became clear champion 13/17, Humpy second 12.5/17 and Shuvalova third 12/17.

Harika made an uncharacteristic positional mistake 15.Ne4. This is something that does not work in this type structure. Bibisara had no trouble converting her advantage into a win.

IM Bibisara Assaaubayeva registered her fifth consecutive victory to defend her World Blitz Women's title successfully | Photo: Amruta Mokal

GM Koneru Humpy en route her win over GM Tan Zhongyi (CHN) in the final round to win the Silver | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Koneru Humpy personifies - Form is temporary, Class is Permanent | Photo: FIDE/Lennart Ootes

World Blitz Women's champion 2022 - IM Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ) | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

More game videos and interviews are coming soon, stay tuned.

Replay Blitz Open Round 13-21 games