Carlsen to face Niemann next month in Paris

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
8/10/2024 – Magnus Carlsen and Hans Niemann are paired up against each other in the semifinals of the Speed Chess Championship, set to take place as an in-person event in Paris - though games will be played on computers. In the other semifinal, Hikaru Nakamura will play against Alireza Firouzja. The semis, the finals and the match for third place will take place on 6-8 September. | Photo: Crystal Fuller / Saint Louis Chess Club
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In-person but not over-the-board

At the recent World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships in Astana, WR Chess, with Magnus Carlsen on the top board, and GMHans.com, with Hans Niemann on the top board, were paired up against each other in both sections. Carlsen sat out the matches, as Ian Nepomniachtchi took his spot and faced Niemann.

A huge controversy grabbed the world's attention once Carlsen withdrew from the Sinquefield Cup in 2022 after losing a classical game against Niemann. Public statements, lawsuits, investigations and settlements followed. The contenders did not play a single over-the-board game since then. But now they cannot escape it, and according to the interviews they gave to chess.com, it seems like we will finally get to see the much-anticipated confrontation.

The players will face off in the semifinals of the Speed Chess Championship. This year's series will see the final stages (semis, final and match for third place) taking place at Espot in Paris on 6-8 September.

Niemann stunned Wesley So in the quarterfinals, while Carlsen got the better of Arjun Erigaisi. The other semifinal will see Alireza Firouzja facing Hikaru Nakamura.

The event in Paris will feature the four qualified players competing on computers in a series of 5-minute, 3-minute and 1-minute games (all with 1-second increments):

  • 90 minutes of 5+1 games
  • 60 minutes of 3+1 games
  • 30 minutes of 1+1 games

Speed Chess Championship 2024

Carlsen 1 - 0 Arjun

3-minute game

Carlsen, Magnus33081–0Erigaisi Arjun3122
Speed Chess Championship 2024
Chess.com06.08.2024[CC]
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bd3 c5 5.Nf3 cxd4 6.Nxd4 Nc6 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.0-0 Be7 9.b3 0-0 10.Bb2 a5 11.Qe2 Nd7 12.Na4 Re8 Only here did players deviate from theory - elite GMs are greatly prepared even in lines they don't often play in classical games! 13.Rad1
13...Qc7 14.c4 Bb7 15.f4 dxe4 16.Bxe4 Rad8 17.Rd3 f5 The most principled continuation, leaving the e6-pawn weakened but creating active counterchances. 18.Bf3 Bf6
Allowing simplifications with this move was a mistake, as White will emerge with a better setup in the endgame. Stronger is 18...Bd6 and after 19.g3 Black has Correct is 19.Bh5 g6 20.Qd2 and White can exert a lot of pressure on his opponent. 19...Nc5 20.Nxc5 Bxc5+ 21.Kh1 and White is slightly better, though Black has more than enough recourses to keep fighting. 19.Bxf6 Nxf6 20.Rxd8 Qxd8 21.Rd1 Qe7 22.Qe5 White now has a clear positional edge - Carlsen has made the most of Arjun's inaccurate plan. Qa3 23.Nc5 Ba8 24.h3 Qxa2 25.Rd6 a4 26.Rxe6 Rf8 Black's light-squared bishop is out of play, and White has gained control of the dark squares in the centre and on the kingside. 27.bxa4 Qxc4 28.Re7 h6 29.Kh2 Black is completely paralysed. Kh7 Placing the king on the seventh rank gives way to the good-looking, winning combination. 30.Ne6
30...Rg8 31.Qxf6 1–0

All games - SCC quarterfinals

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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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