Magnus Carlsen Invitational QF: Decisive games

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
3/17/2021 – Magnus Carlsen and Wesley So got off to winning starts in the quarterfinals of the Magnus Carlsen Invitational, as both of them scored 2½:½ victories on Tuesday. The first mini-matches in Anish Giri v Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Hikaru Nakamura v Ian Nepomniachtchi finished drawn. | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour

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A prelude to another final?

Wesley So is the current leader of the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour. The American has as many points as Teimour Radjabov but has one more tournament victory than his colleague — three events have been played so far in the series; So won two and Radjabov won one. Remarkably, So obtained his two triumphs after beating Magnus Carlsen in the finals.

In the fourth event of the tour, So and Carlsen were seeded on opposite sides of the bracket and both scored 2½:½ wins in the first sets of their quarterfinal matches — the symmetry of their results makes us think that we might easily see a three-peat if they continue to get the better of their rivals. It will not be easy though, as the Opera Euro Rapid finalists are facing explosive opponents — Levon Aronian and Alireza Firouzja are totally capable of coming back from behind in Wednesday’s second sets.

Meanwhile, the first sets in Anish Giri v Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Hikaru Nakamura v Ian Nepomniachtchi finished drawn. In both cases, the contenders first traded wins and then drew the remaining games. No fewer than 8 (out of 14) games finished decisively in the first mini-matches of the quarterfinals.

Magnus Carlsen Invitational 2021

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Carlsen 2½ : ½  Aronian

The world champion later described his first-set victory over Aronian as comfortable, explaining that he expects his rival to fight back on day 2 of the quarterfinals. Carlsen won the two first games in Tuesday’s mini-match, outplaying his opponent from queenless positions:

 
Aronian vs. Carlsen - Game 2
Position after 31.Be1

Playing black and already in the driver’s seat, Carlsen continued with 31...g3, vacating the g4-square for his bishop. Aronian resigned after 32.Nxc5 Bg4 33.Rxd6 cxd6:

 

Carlsen was a pawn up in a rook endgame in game 3, but agreeing to a draw was enough to get ahead on the scoreboard.

 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 d5 7.Bg5 c5 8.dxc5 d4 9.Qf3 Nbd7 10.e3 h6 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.0-0-0 e5 13.Ne2 Bg4 14.Qg3 Ne4 15.Qxg4 Nxf2 16.Qf3 Nxd1 17.exd4 Nxb2 18.Kxb2 Rc8 19.d5 Rxc5 20.Nc3 b5 21.Be2 bxc4 22.Ka2 f5 23.Rb1 Qg5 24.Rd1 e4 25.Qf2 e3 26.Qg3 Qxg3 27.hxg3 Kf7 28.Rf1 Ke7 29.Rf3 Kd7 30.Bd1 Rf7 31.Ba4+ Kd8 32.Rxe3 Re7 33.Rf3 Re5 34.d6 h5 35.d7 g5 36.Rf1 Ra5 37.Rh1 Rxa4 38.Nxa4 Re2+ 39.Kb1 Kxd7 40.Rxh5 Re3 41.Rxg5 Rxa3 42.Nb2 Rc3 43.Rxf5 Rxg3 44.Rf2 Rg4 45.Rc2 c3 46.Nd1 Ke6 47.Nxc3 Ke5 48.Re2+ Kd4 49.Kc2 a5 50.Kd2 Rg3 51.Nd1 Rd3+ 52.Kc1 Rg3 53.Kc2 a4 54.Rd2+ Kc4 55.Nb2+ Kb4 56.Nd3+ Kc4 57.Ne5+ Kc5 58.Kb2 a3+ 59.Ka2 Kb4 60.Rc2 Re3 61.Nc6+ Kb5 62.Nd4+ Kb4 63.Re2 Rg3 64.Nc2+ Kc4 65.Nxa3+ Kd3 66.Rb2 Rg4 67.Nc2 Ke2 68.Nd4+ Ke3 69.Nf3 Re4 70.Kb1 Kf4 71.Kc1 Kg3 72.Kd1 Re8 73.Ne1 Re3 74.Kd2 Ra3 75.Ke2 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Carlsen,M2847Aronian,L27811–02021E32Magnus Carlsen Inv KO1.1
Aronian,L2781Carlsen,M28470–12021C77Magnus Carlsen Inv KO1.2
Carlsen,M2847Aronian,L2781½–½2021B51Magnus Carlsen Inv KO1.3

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So 2½ : ½  Firouzja

Both wins by So came after the American showed superior technique in rather complex endgames. GM Karsten Müller took a closer look at both (see below). In the second game, it all came down to a single blunder by Firouzja:

 
Firouzja vs. So - Game 2
Position after 56...a3

57.Rd8 failed to 57...Rxd8 58.Rxd8 Nd2+ 59.Ke2 Nxe4+ 60.Ke3 Nxf6+:

 
Position after 56.Nxf6

The black knight has done a good job, jumping from b3 to f6 in just three moves — 61.gxf6+ Kxf6 and the pure rook ending is winning for black thanks to his passer on the a-file.


Endgame analysis by Karsten Müller (two games)

 
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 g6 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bg7 9.f3 Qc7 10.b3 Qa5 11.Bd2 Nc6 12.Nde2 0-0 13.0-0 Nd7 14.Kh1 Nc5 15.Nd5 Qd8 16.Bc3 Bxc3 17.Ndxc3 a6 18.a4 Rc8 19.Rb1 Nb4 20.Qd2 e5 21.f4 f6 22.f5 Rc7 23.Rf3 Rg7 24.a5 b6 25.axb6 Qxb6 26.fxg6 hxg6 27.Nd5 Nxd5 28.Qxd5+ Kh8 29.b4 a5 30.b5 Rh7 31.Nc3 Kg7 32.Rd1 Rd8 33.h3 Rh4 34.Kh2 Rd7 35.Qc6 Qxc6 36.bxc6 Rd8 37.c7 Rc8 38.Rxd6 Rxc7 39.Rfxf6 Nxe4 40.Rxg6+ Kf7 41.Nxe4 Rxe4 42.Rdf6+ Ke7 43.Ra6 Kf7 44.Raf6+ Ke7 45.Rh6 a4 46.Ra6 Rexc4 47.Rhe6+ Kd7 48.Rxe5 R7c6 49.Raa5 Rd6 50.Ra7+ Kc6 51.Rea5 Rdd4 52.R7a6+ Kb7 53.Rg6 Re4 54.Rb5+ Kc7 55.Rf5 Kb7 56.g4 "The rook belongs behind the passed pawn" - Dr Tarrasch's famous guideline is very valuable in the following rook endgame: Rc6? The wrong way to exchange the rook as now White's remaining rook threatens to move to the a-file. 56...Rf4! is the way to play: 57.Rxf4 57.Ra5 Rf3= 57...Rxf4 58.Kg3 a3= Now White's rook has difficulties to stop the a-pawn. 57.Rxc6 Kxc6 58.Kg3? White does not have time for this. The direct 58.g5 wins, e.g. a3 58...Kd7 59.Ra5 Ke7 60.Kg3 Kf7 61.h4 Kg6 62.Ra6+ Kg7 63.h5 Rb4 64.Ra7+ Kg8 65.h6 Rb6 66.Rxa4 Kh7 67.Ra7+ 67.Kg4? Kg6= leads to the famous Kling and Horwitz fortress. 67...Kg6 68.Rg7++- 58...Kb6 59.g6 a3 60.g7 Re8 61.Rf8+- 59.Ra5 Re3 60.g6 Kb6 61.g7 Re8 62.Rxa3 Rg8 63.Rg3 Kc6 64.h4 Kd5 65.h5 Ke6 66.h6 Kf7 67.h7+- 58...Re3+ 59.Kh4 a3 60.Ra5 Kb6 61.Ra8 Kb5 62.g5 Re4+! Black's rook will move behind the passed pawn as the guideline advocates. 63.Kh5 Ra4! 64.Rb8+!? A good practical decision. 64.Rxa4?! Kxa4 65.g6 a2 66.g7 a1Q 67.g8Q Qe5+ 68.Qg5 Qh8+ 68...Qe8+!?= 69.Kg4 Kb3 70.h4 Ka2= and the king has reached the main drawing zone of this endgame in the far away corner. 64...Kc6 65.Rb1 a2 66.Ra1 Kd6? Here the king is in the middle of nowhere. 66...Kd7 is forced: 67.Kh6 Ke8 68.Kg7 Ra7+ 69.Kg8 Ke7 69...Ra6? 70.h4+- 70.Kg7 Ke8+= 67.Kh6! 67.g6? Ke7 68.Kh6 Kf8 69.Rf1+ Kg8 70.Rc1 Rh4+ 71.Kg5 Ra4 72.Ra1 Kg7= 67...Ke7 67...Kc5 68.g6 Kb4 69.g7 Ra8 70.Rxa2+- 68.Kg7! Ke6 69.g6! 69.h4? Ra7+! 70.Kg6 Ke7 71.h5 Kf8 72.h6 Kg8 73.Kh5 Ra5= 69...Kf5 70.h4 Ra7+ 71.Kh6 Ra6 72.Kh7 Ra4 72...Rxg6 73.Rf1++- 73.h5 Kg5 74.g7 74.g7 Ra7 75.Rxa2 Rxa2 76.g8Q++- 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
So,W2770Firouzja,A27591–02021B52Magnus Carlsen Invitational-KO 20211.2
Firouzja,A2759So,W27700–12021C54Magnus Carlsen Invitational-KO 20211.1

 
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 g6 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bg7 9.f3 Qc7 10.b3 Qa5 11.Bd2 Nc6 12.Nde2 0-0 13.0-0 Nd7 14.Kh1 Nc5 15.Nd5 Qd8 16.Bc3 Bxc3 17.Ndxc3 a6 18.a4 Rc8 19.Rb1 Nb4 20.Qd2 e5 21.f4 f6 22.f5 Rc7 23.Rf3 Rg7 24.a5 b6 25.axb6 Qxb6 26.fxg6 hxg6 27.Nd5 Nxd5 28.Qxd5+ Kh8 29.b4 a5 30.b5 Rh7 31.Nc3 Kg7 32.Rd1 Rd8 33.h3 Rh4 34.Kh2 Rd7 35.Qc6 Qxc6 36.bxc6 Rd8 37.c7 Rc8 38.Rxd6 Rxc7 39.Rfxf6 Nxe4 40.Rxg6+ Kf7 41.Nxe4 Rxe4 42.Rdf6+ Ke7 43.Ra6 Kf7 44.Raf6+ Ke7 45.Rh6 a4 46.Ra6 Rexc4 47.Rhe6+ Kd7 48.Rxe5 R7c6 49.Raa5 Rd6 50.Ra7+ Kc6 51.Rea5 Rdd4 52.R7a6+ Kb7 53.Rg6 Re4 54.Rb5+ Kc7 55.Rf5 Kb7 56.g4 Rc6 57.Rxc6 Kxc6 58.Kg3 Re3+ 59.Kh4 a3 60.Ra5 Kb6 61.Ra8 Kb5 62.g5 Re4+ 63.Kh5 Ra4 64.Rb8+ Kc6 65.Rb1 a2 66.Ra1 Kd6 67.Kh6 Ke7 68.Kg7 Ke6 69.g6 Kf5 70.h4 Ra7+ 71.Kh6 Ra6 72.Kh7 Ra4 73.h5 Kg5 74.g7 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
So,W2770Firouzja,A27591–02021B52Magnus Carlsen Inv KO1.1
Firouzja,A2759So,W27700–12021C53Magnus Carlsen Inv KO1.2
So,W2770Firouzja,A2759½–½2021B12Magnus Carlsen Inv KO1.3

Nakamura 2 : 2 Nepomniachtchi

The two rapid-play specialists traded wins in the first two games, each winning with the white pieces. While Nakamura took down Nepomniachtchi’s Sicilian in tactical fashion, the Russian defeated his famed opponent by playing an enterprising variation against the Berlin Defence:

 
Nepomniachtchi vs. Nakamura - Game 2
Position after 22.Rdf1

Something has clearly gone wrong for black, but his 22...c5 simply gave away the game in one move. Nepo crashed through with 23.Rxf8 and Naka resigned before allowing 23...Kxf8 24.Bxe7+ Kxe7 25.Rxg7+ Kf8 26.Rf7+ Kg8 27.Nf6+:

 
Analysis diagram

After a draw in game 3, Nepomniachtchi reached a same-coloured bishop endgame a pawn up, but failed to find the precise continuations that would have given him a vital first-set victory.

 
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 Ng4 7.Bc1 Nf6 8.Be3 Ng4 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bh4 g5 11.Bg3 Bg7 12.Qd2 Nc6 13.Nb3 b5 14.h4 gxh4 15.Bxh4 Be6 16.0-0-0 Rc8 17.f4 Bxb3 18.cxb3 Qb6 19.Rh3 0-0 20.Kb1 e6 21.f5 exf5 22.exf5 Qd4 23.Qxd4 Bxd4 24.Be2 Ne3 25.Rg3+ Kh7 26.Rxd4 Nxf5 27.Bd3 Ncxd4 28.Bf6 Rg8 29.Bxd4 Rxg3 30.Bxf5+ Kg8 31.Bxc8 Rxg2 32.Bxa6 b4 33.Nd5 Rd2 34.Ne7+ Kf8 35.Nf5 h5 36.Bf6 Rf2 37.Bc8 Rf1+ 38.Kc2 Ra1 39.Be7+ Kg8 40.Bxd6 Rxa2 41.Bxb4 Ra8 42.Nd6 Ra1 43.Bc5 h4 44.b4 Rh1 45.Ne4 Re1 46.Nf2 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Nakamura,H2736Nepomniachtchi,I27891–02021B90Magnus Carlsen Inv KO1.1
Nepomniachtchi,I2789Nakamura,H27361–02021C67Magnus Carlsen Inv KO1.2
Nakamura,H2736Nepomniachtchi,I2789½–½2021B46Magnus Carlsen Inv KO1.3
Nepomniachtchi,I2789Nakamura,H2736½–½2021C67Magnus Carlsen Inv KO1.4

Giri 2 : 2 Vachier-Lagrave

Unlike Naka and Nepo, Giri and Vachier-Lagrave traded wins with black in the first two games of their mini-match. Giri had the upper hand in game 1, but chose the wrong strategy on move 28:

 
Giri vs. Vachier-Lagrave - Game 1
Position after 27...Ng7

White has more space and other positional pluses, thus the quiet 28.a3 or the improving 28.Bd3 would have kept his advantage, with Black needing to find a way to untangle his pieces. Instead, Giri was tempted to go for it with 28.c4.

White was not worse at that point, but allowed Black to get tactical resources to free his pieces. Giri misplayed the ensuing tactical skirmish and ended up losing the game.

The Dutchman bounced back in game 2, and draws in the last two encounters of the day meant the players go into day 2 of the quarterfinals with the score tied. Giri tweeted:

 
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6 8.0-0-0 Bd7 9.f3 Nxd4 10.Qxd4 Be7 11.Kb1 Qc7 12.g4 h5 13.gxh5 Nxh5 14.Bxe7 Kxe7 15.Rg1 g6 16.Qd2 Nf6 17.f4 Rh5 18.Rg5 Rah8 19.e5 Ne8 20.Ne4 d5 21.Rxh5 Rxh5 22.Qb4+ Kd8 23.Ng5 Bc6 24.Qf8 Qe7 25.Nxf7+ Kd7 26.Qg8 Rf5 27.Ng5 Ng7 28.c4 Rxf4 29.cxd5 Bxd5 30.Bh3 Kc6 31.Qc8+ Kb6 32.Nxe6 Bxe6 33.Bxe6 Nxe6 34.Rd6+ Ka7 35.Rxe6 Rf1+ 36.Kc2 Rf2+ 37.Kb3 Rf3+ 38.Kc4 Qh4+ 39.Kc5 b6+ 40.Kc6 Qc4+ 41.Kd7 Rf7+ 42.Ke8 Qxc8+ 43.Kxf7 Qc4 44.b3 Qf4+ 45.Kxg6 Kb7 46.Re8 Kc7 47.e6 Kd6 48.Kg7 Qxh2 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Giri,A2776Vachier-Lagrave,M27580–12021B67Magnus Carlsen Inv KO1.1
Vachier-Lagrave,M2758Giri,A27760–12021B51Magnus Carlsen Inv KO1.2
Giri,A2776Vachier-Lagrave,M2758½–½2021B67Magnus Carlsen Inv KO1.3
Vachier-Lagrave,M2758Giri,A2776½–½2021B51Magnus Carlsen Inv KO1.4

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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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