Opera Euro Rapid SF: Carlsen and So reach the final

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
2/13/2021 – Magnus Carlsen and Wesley So advanced to the final of the Opera Euro Rapid tournament, to be played on Saturday and Sunday starting at 17.00 CET. For a second time in a row, Carlsen knocked out his opponent in the Armageddon decider, while So had a much shorter day at the office, as it was impossible for Teimour Radjabov to win the match once the American collected two points in their second mini-match. | Photo: Lennart Ootes / frchess.com

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A repeat final

The Meltwater Champions Chess Tour is the second tour of online tournaments organized by the Play Magnus Group. In the first one, Magnus Carlsen had a magnificent showing winning all but one event, including the tour final. In the current series, however, the world champion has yet to win a tournament, as he was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Airthings Masters and lost the final against Wesley So in the Skilling Open.

Luckily for him, though, he will get a chance to redeem himself in the final of the Opera Rapid Euro tournament, as he will once again face So in the final match. 

If we look at the results achieved by both finalists in the knockout stage, it is difficult to call Carlsen the favourite, as his matches against both Daniil Dubov and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave were only decided in Armageddon, while So achieved cleaner victories over Jan-Krzysztof Duda and Teimour Radjabov.

Facing a motivated Carlsen is never easy, though, especially when he is in good spirits. After his victory over MVL, a visibly cheerful world champion told Kaja Snare:

This was very different from the match against Dubov. I felt in that match I made it very, very difficult for myself — I feel like today it was more about Maxime playing well and posing me some very difficult problems.

The Norwegian nevertheless acknowledged the fact that he is not playing at his usual level:

I’m still making horrendous blunders in some of these games, but at least I had a lot more fun today than I did against Dubov.

Will Carlsen manage his first tournament victory in the tour? Or will So, unprecedentedly, defeat the world champion in two consecutive finals?

Opera Euro Rapid Chess 2021

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Carlsen* 1 : 3 Vachier-Lagrave

Won the tiebreaker 2:1

Draws in the first two games were followed by a couple of wins by Vachier-Lagrave. As mentioned by the man himself, “horrendous blunders” gave away the last two rapid games. In game 3, Carlsen’s bishop got trapped in the middlegame:

 
Vachier-Lagrave vs. Carlsen - Game #3
Position after 17.e5

17...Ne7 allowed the simple 18.b4 and the bishop has nowhere to go — 18...axb4 19.axb4 Rxa1 20.Bxa1 Nf5 21.bxc5 bxc5 and White is a piece up. Carlsen continued playing until move 31, but the result was never in doubt.

In the blitz tiebreaker, Carlsen kicked off with a win but saw MVL convincingly bouncing back in the rematch — both players won with white. The world champion headed to a second sudden-death decider in a row, and for a second time got to play with the white pieces.

Perhaps Carlsen’s good mood during the post-match interview had a lot to do with his performance in the Armageddon game, as he obtained a convincing win against an in-form opponent. His 27th move was particularly enjoyable:

 
Carlsen vs. Vachier-Lagrave - Armageddon
Position after 26...Bc8

27.Qh6 is a killer blow. Black can only avoid a quick mate with 27...Rf6, but after 28.Bxf6 exf6 29.Rxe8+ Qxe8 30.Qe3 it is difficult to put up much resistance even in a blitz game. Resignation came on move 40.


Analysis by GM Karsten Müller

Endgame specialist Karsten Müller took a closer look at three games from this match.

 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 Na5 9.Bc2 d5 10.d4 dxe4 11.Nxe5 Bb7 12.Nd2 c5 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Bxe4 Bxe4 15.Rxe4 Qd5 16.Qe1 Rfe8 17.Nf3 Kf8 18.Bf4 Bf6 19.Rxe8+ Rxe8 20.Qb1 Kg8 21.dxc5 Nc4 22.Qc2 Qxc5 23.Rd1 h6 24.b3 Na5 25.Rc1 Nc6 26.Be3 Qa3 27.Rd1 Rc8 28.h3 Qe7 29.c4 Nb4 30.Qf5 "Magnus the mighty defender" - The World Champion is not only a strong attacker: Qe6! Strong defense by the World Champion. White is for choice in the endgame but it is not easy to keep the advantage. All alternativs lose, e.g. 30...Rd8? 31.Rxd8+ Qxd8 32.Bd2 Be7 33.a3 Nc6 34.cxb5 axb5 35.Qxb5+- 30...Qb7? 31.cxb5 axb5 32.Bxh6+- 31.Qxe6 fxe6 32.cxb5 axb5 33.Nd4?! 33.Rd6!? makes more pressure, e.g. Nxa2 34.Rxe6 Rc3 35.Nd2 and White's extra pawn counts for something. Objectively it should still be defensible, but White has practical winning chances as Nc1? runs into 36.Ne4 Rc2 37.Nxf6+ gxf6 38.Rxf6+- 33...Bxd4 34.Rxd4 Nxa2 35.Rd7?! Now the draw is clear as Black manages to eliminate the b-pawn. The prophylactic 35.Kh2!? was a better practical chance as now Nc1? can be met by 35...Nc3 is called for and should defend. But White is pressing of course. 36.Rb4+- 35...Nc1! Again strong defense this time by counterattack. Now it is a clear draw. 36.b4 Rc4 37.Bc5 Nb3 38.Be7 Nd4 What a knight! A real knightmare for White. 39.Rb7 Nc6 40.Bd6 Nxb4 41.Be5 g5 42.Bg7 h5 43.Bh6 g4 44.hxg4 hxg4 45.Rxb5 Nd5 46.Rb7 Rc7!? Black will lose the pawn g4 but not the game. 47.Rxc7 Nxc7 48.Kh2 Kf7 49.Kg3 Kg6 50.Bf4 Nd5 51.Kxg4 Nf6+ 52.Kf3 Kf5 53.Bg3 e5 54.Bh4 e4+ 55.Ke2 Ng4 56.Bd8 Ne5 57.Bc7 Ng4 58.Bb6 Ne5 59.Be3 Ng4 60.Kf1 Nh2+ 61.Kg1 Ng4 62.g3 Black's blockade on the light squares will last forever. Ne5 63.Kg2 Ng4 64.Kh3 Ne5 65.Kh4 Ng4 66.Kh3 Ne5 67.Kh4 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Vachier-Lagrave,M2784Carlsen,M2862½–½2021C89Opera Euro Rapid KO 20212.5
Carlsen,M2862Vachier-Lagrave,M27841–02021A16Opera Euro Rapid KO 20212.9
Vachier-Lagrave,M2784Carlsen,M28621–02021B30Opera Euro Rapid KO 20212.10

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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 Na5 9.Bc2 C89: Closed Ruy Lopez: Marshall Attack. d5 10.d4 dxe4 11.Nxe5 White is slightly better. Bb7 12.Nd2 c5 13.Nxe4
13...Nxe4N Predecessor: 13...cxd4 14.Nxf6+ Bxf6 15.cxd4 Rc8 16.Bf4 Nc4 17.Bf5 Nxb2 18.Qg4 g6 19.Bh6 Bxe5 20.dxe5 1-0 (44) Korneev,O (2638)-Todorcevic,M (2459) Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2006 14.Bxe4 Bxe4 15.Rxe4 Qd5 16.Qe1 Rfe8 17.Nf3 Kf8 18.Bf4 Bf6 19.Rxe8+ Rxe8 20.Qb1 Kg8 21.dxc5 Nc4 22.Qc2 Qxc5 23.Rd1 h6 24.b3 24.h3± 24...Na5 24...g5!= keeps the balance. 25.Rc1± Nc6 26.Be3 Qa3 27.Rd1 Rc8 28.h3 Qe7 29.c4 Nb4! 30.Qf5 Qe6 31.Qxe6 fxe6 32.cxb5 axb5 33.Nd4 33.Rd6 looks sharper. Nxa2 34.Rxe6 Rc3 35.Nd2 Rd3 36.Ne4 33...Bxd4 34.Rxd4 Nxa2 Endgame KRB-KRN 35.Rd7 Nc1 36.b4 Rc4 37.Bc5 Nb3 38.Be7 Nd4 39.Rb7 Nc6 40.Bd6 Nxb4 41.Be5 g5 42.Bg7 h5 43.Bh6 g4 43...Rc1+ keeps more tension. 44.Kh2 Rc5 45.Kg3 Nd3 46.f3 b4 44.hxg4 hxg4 45.Rxb5 Nd5 46.Rb7 Rc7 47.Rxc7 Nxc7= KB-KN 48.Kh2 Kf7 48...Kh7!= remains equal. 49.Bf4 Nd5 49.Kg3± Kg6 50.Bf4 Nd5 51.Kxg4 Nf6+ 52.Kf3 Kf5 53.Bg3 Better is 53.Be3± 53...e5 54.Bh4
Strongly threatening Bxf6. 54...e4+ 55.Ke2! Threatens to win with Bxf6. Ng4 56.Bd8 Ne5 57.Bc7 Ng4 58.Bb6 Ne5 59.Be3 Ng4 60.Kf1 60.Kd2 60...Nh2+ 60...Nxe3+= 61.fxe3 Kg4 61.Kg1 Ng4 62.g3 62.Bd4 62...Ne5 The position is equal. 63.Kg2 Ng4 64.Kh3 Ne5 65.Kh4 Ng4 66.Kh3 Ne5 67.Kh4 Weighted Error Value: White=0.09/Black=0.11
½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Vachier-Lagrave,M2784Carlsen,M2862½–½2021Opera Euro Rapid KO 20212.5
Carlsen,M2862Vachier-Lagrave,M2784½–½2021Opera Euro Rapid KO 20212.6
Vachier-Lagrave,M2784Carlsen,M28621–02021Opera Euro Rapid KO 20212.7
Carlsen,M2862Vachier-Lagrave,M27840–12021Opera Euro Rapid KO 20212.8
Carlsen,M2862Vachier-Lagrave,M27841–02021Opera Euro Rapid KO 20212.9
Vachier-Lagrave,M2784Carlsen,M28621–02021Opera Euro Rapid KO 20212.10
Carlsen,M2862Vachier-Lagrave,M27841–02021Opera Euro Rapid KO 20212.11

So 2 : 1 Radjabov

For a second match in a row, So qualified to the following stage of the knockout without even needing to play four games in his second mini-match. Against Radjabov, he drew the first two encounters and won the third to secure a spot in the final — the American had won the first ‘set’, so it was already impossible for Radjabov to tie the overall score.

So’s win in game 3 came after Radjabov, understandably, played a risky opening, leaving his king in the centre while marshalling the white pieces — not a great idea against a player as technically strong as So:

 
Radjabov vs. So - Game 3
Position after 18.Rd2

The Filipino-born grandmaster had not trouble finding the lethal 18...Nd3+, when White is forced to give up his queen with 19.Qxd3 Bxd3 20.Rxb2. The alternatives do not work: 19.Ke3 is met by 19...Nxf4 (attacking the queen) 20.gxf4 Qxc3+; while 19.Nxd3 allows 19...Rxd2+.

So converted his advantage into a deciding 52-move win.


Analysis by GM Karsten Müller

 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 c5 5.d5 0-0 6.e4 b5 7.Nh3 bxc4 8.Bxc4 Nxd5 9.Bxd5 exd5 10.Qxd5 Nc6 11.Be3 Ba6 12.Nf4 Qh4+ 13.g3 Qf6 14.Kf2 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Rab8 16.Rad1 Ne5 17.Bxc5 Rb2+ 18.Rd2 Nd3+ 19.Qxd3 Bxd3 20.Rxb2 Qxc3 21.Nxd3 Qxd3 22.Be3 f5 23.Rd2 Qb5 24.e5 Qxe5 25.Rhd1 a6 26.Rxd7 Re8 27.R7d3 "The battering ram" - Sometimes rook and bishop can construct a fortress against the queen, but not this time: f4! Wesley So opens inroads for his queen. 28.Bxf4 28.gxf4 Qe6 29.Kg3 Qxa2 should win as well in the long run. This is no fortress as White has no convincing way to deal with the a-pawn. 28...Qe2+ 29.Kg1 Qxa2 30.R3d2 Qb3 31.Kg2 h6 32.Rd8?! 32.Ra1!? Qb5 33.Raa2 a5 34.Rf2 a4 should also not defend in the long run, but is more tenacious. 32...Rxd8 33.Rxd8+ Kf7 34.Rd7+ Ke8 35.Rd2 a5 36.Re2+ Kf7 37.h4 a4 38.Be5 a3 39.Re4 One computer sample line after 39.Rf2 runs Qb1 40.Rf1 a2 41.Ba1 g6 42.Bh8 h5 43.Ba1 Ke6 44.Bh8 Kd5 45.Ba1 Kc4 46.Bh8 Kd3 47.Ba1 Ke3 48.Bh8 Qc2+ 49.Kg1 Qc8 50.Be5 Qc5 51.Bf6 Qf5 Now the long diagonal is too short. 52.Bh8 g5 53.hxg5 Qxg5 54.Kg2 h4 55.g4 h3+ 56.Kg3 Qf4+ 57.Kxh3 Qh6+ 58.Kg3 Qxh8-+ 39...a2 40.Re2 40.Re1 Qc2+ 41.Kf1 Qf5 42.f4 Qc2 43.Kg1 Qd2 44.Kf1 Qh2 45.Ra1 g6 46.Bh8 Ke6 47.Re1+ Kf5 48.Be5 Kg4-+ 40.Rf4+ Kg8 41.Rg4 Qc2+ 42.Kh3 Qf5 43.Bxg7 h5-+ 40...Qb5 41.Re1 Qxe5 42.Rxe5 a1Q 43.Re4 This is no fortress as Black's king will invade with the help of zugzwang. Qb2+ 44.Kg1 44.Kh3 Qf2 45.h5 Qc5 46.Rf4+ Ke6 47.Re4+ Kd6 48.Rh4 Qe5 49.Kg2 Qe2+-+ 44...Qd2 45.Rf4+ 45.h5 Kf6 46.Kf1 Qd5 47.Rf4+ Kg5-+ 45...Ke6 46.Re4+ Kd5 47.Re8 47.Rf4 Qe2 48.Rf8 Kd4 49.Rd8+ Kc3 50.Rc8+ Kd2 51.Rf8 Ke1-+ 47...Kc4 48.Re4+ Kd3 49.Re8 49.h5 Qc1+ 50.Kg2 Qc2+ 51.Kh3 Qc5 52.g4 Qf2-+ 49...Qc1+ 50.Kg2 Qc2+ 51.Kg1 Qb1+ 52.Kg2 Qa2+ 52...Qa2+ 53.Kh3 Qf7 54.Rd8+ Ke3 55.f4 h5 56.Kg2 Qa2+ 57.Kh3 Kf2 58.Rd3 Qe2 59.Ra3 Qf1+ 60.Kh2 Qg2# 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Radjabov,T2765So,W27700–12021E20Opera Euro Rapid KO 20212.7

 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Bxf6 7.e3 0-0 8.Rc1 c6 9.Bd3 Nd7 10.0-0 dxc4 11.Bxc4 c5 12.Qe2 cxd4 13.exd4 Nb6 14.Bd3 g6 D55: Queen's Gambit Declined: 4 Bg5 Be7: Lines without ...h6 and 6...h6 7 Bxf6. 15.Be4 Rb8 16.Rfd1
16...Bd7N The position is equal. Predecessor: 16...Bg7 17.Qb5 Bd7 18.Qa5 Na4 19.Qb4 Qb6 20.Qe7 Nxc3 21.Rxc3 Bc6 22.Bxc6 Qxb2 0-1 (72) Shabalov,A (2375) -Pigusov,E (2520) Tashkent 1987 17.Ne5 Qe7 18.Qf3 Be8 19.g3 Bg7 20.h4 h5 21.Qe3 Nc8 22.Bb1 Nd6 23.Re1 Bc6 24.Qf4 Qd8 25.Rcd1 Nb5 26.Nxb5 Bxb5 27.Be4 Qf6 28.Qe3 Rfd8 29.Qb3 Be8 30.Qa3 Don't go for 30.Bxb7? Qe7-+ 30...a6 31.Rd3
Rf3 is the strong threat. 31...Bf8 32.Qb3 Bg7 33.Qa3 And now Rf3 would win. Bf8 34.Qb3 Bg7 35.Qa3 An uneventful encounter. Weighted Error Value: White=0.03/Black=0.05
½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Radjabov,T2765So,W2770½–½2021Opera Euro Rapid KO 20212.5
So,W2770Radjabov,T2765½–½2021Opera Euro Rapid KO 20212.6
Radjabov,T2765So,W27700–12021Opera Euro Rapid KO 20212.7

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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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