Gukesh and Nepo reach the playoff
It was a magnificent final day to what turned out to be an enjoyable first edition of the WR Chess Masters in Düsseldorf. The new super-tournament lived up to the expectations, with experienced grandmasters and strong juniors showing their skills throughout.
The day did not start as auspiciously, though, as co-leaders Levon Aronian and Dommaraju Gukesh signed a quick draw to both secure a spot in the playoff for tournament victory. All that was left to know was whether Ian Nepomniachtchi would join them or not. The Russian had the black pieces against an in-form Vincent Keymer and, true to his nature, displayed a fighting spirit since the start.
As hours went by — and all the remaining encounters finished drawn — Nepo and Keymer continued their strategic battle. In an endgame with queens and knights, it was Nepo who prevailed. Experience, this time, triumphed over youth, in a game that lasted over six hours.
This result meant that an exhausted Nepo would face Aronian and Gukesh in a rapid playoff (10-minute games with 2-second increments). A double round-robin format would be used to keep the colour balance.
In over 4 hours in front of the camera, Karsten Müller presents to you sensations from the world of endgames - partly reaching far beyond standard techniques and rules of thumb - and rounds off with some cases of with own examples.
One might think that sitting and waiting for the playoff was a big advantage for the players who entered the round as co-leaders, but according to commentator Yasser Seirawan, entering the deciding tiebreakers after winning your last game (as Nepo did) might turn out to be favourable. The positive emotions connected to the recent victory might be enough to get a victory over the likely anxious contenders.

Vincent Keymer resigns the game against Ian Nepomniachtchi | Photo: Lennart Ootes
The playoff
As it turned out, it was not a hard-fought tiebreaker mini-tournament. This did not take away from the enjoyment of following the rapid games, though, since Aronian’s display was certainly a treat for the spectators. The US grandmaster, who had been leading the event until round 7 — when he lost to Nepo — kicked off the playoff with back-to-back wins.
Aronian’s 2-0 start meant the next game between Nepo and Gukesh would decide who still had chances to realistically fight for the win. In an ending with rooks and knights, Gukesh’s resourcefulness while a pawn down allowed him to eventually get the win.
Gukesh vs. Nepomniachtchi
Nepo was so fixated on stopping White’s h-pawn that he underestimated his opponent’s active chances on the queenside. His 55...Nf6 was the losing mistake (55...Nc5+ or 55...b5 were better alternatives). Gukesh quickly replied 56.Nxc6, and went on to get the win despite losing his far-advanced passed pawn a couple of moves later.
Garry Kasparov's rise to the top was meteoric and at his very first attempt he managed to become World Champion, the youngest of all time. In over six hours of video, he gives a first hand account of crucial events from recent chess history, you can improve your chess understanding and enjoy explanations and comments from a unique and outstanding personality on and off the chess board.

Gukesh had a great showing in the classical portion of the tournament — he finished undefeated and climbed to the 20th spot in the world ranking! | Photo: Lennart Ootes
These results meant that Aronian was a win away from tournament victory. And in yet another showcase of creative, imaginative play, he defeated Gukesh to secure a memorable triumph and the €40,000 first prize.
Garry Kasparov’s words following Aronian’s victory at the 2015 Sinquefield Cup are once again fitting to the situation:
The chess world is a better place when Aronian is playing well!

Good pals — Levon Aronian and Ian Nepomniachtchi | Photo: Lennart Ootes
All games - Tiebreaks
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1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.a3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Qc2 Nxc3! 7.bxc3 Bd6 8.e3 0-0 9.d4 Bg4 10.Bd3N 10.Be2 Re8 11.dxe5 Bxe5 12.Nxe5 Nxe5 13.f3 Be6 14.0-0 Bc4 15.e4 Qf6 16.Be3 10...Bxf3 11.gxf3 11.Bxh7+ Kh8 12.gxf3 g6 13.Bxg6 fxg6 14.Qxg6 Qh4 11...Qh4 12.Bb2 g6 12...Rfe8 13.Ke2 g6 14.Be4 f5 13.d5 Na5 14.c4 b6 15.0-0-0 Nb7 16.Rdg1 Nc5 17.Bf1! f5 18.Rg3 Rae8 19.Rhg1 Rf7 20.Kb1 Kf8 20...Qxh2?! 21.Bh3= 21.Rh3 Qf6 22.Be2 Ke7 23.Bd1 Kd8 24.Qe2 Qe7 25.Bc2 Kc8 26.Ka2 Qd7 27.Rhg3 f4 28.Rg4 e4! 29.exf4 exf3 29...Rfe7!? 30.Qxf3 Kb7 31.f5 Be5 31...Bxh2 32.Rd1 Be5 32.d6+ c6 33.Bxe5 Rxe5 34.Rd1 gxf5 35.Rg8 35.Rf4 35...Qe6!-+ 36.Qc3 36...Rd7! 36...Re2 37.Kb1 37.Kb1 Ne4 37...Qxg8 38.Qxe5 Qxc4 39.Qxf5 37...Rxd6-+ 38.Rxd6 Qxd6 38.Bxe4 fxe4 39.Qd4 39.Qg3 39...Qxg8 40.Qxe5 Qxc4-+ 41.Qg3 Qe6 42.Kb2 c5 43.Qf4 Rf7 43...Qc4? 44.Rd2 43...b5-+ 44.Re1 Rf7 45.Rxe4 Rxf4 46.Rxe6 Rxf2+ 47.Kc3 Kc6 44.Qe3? 44.d7 Rxd7 45.Rxd7+ Qxd7 46.Qxe4+ Kc7 47.Qf4+ Kb7 48.Qe4+ Kc7 49.Qf4+ Kc6 50.Qe4+ Kd6 51.Qf4+ Kc6 52.Qe4+ Kc7 44...Kc6 44...Rf3 45.Qe2 Qb3+ 46.Ka1 Qa4 45.Kb1? 45.Qe2 45...Rd7 45...Rf3 46.d7 Rxe3 47.d8N+ Kb5 48.Nxe6= 48.a4+ Kxa4 49.Nxe6 Re2 45...Kd7 46.Re1 Rf3 47.Qxf3 exf3 48.Rxe6 Kxe6 46.Qf4 46.f3 46...Qb3+ 46...Rxd6 47.Rxd6+ Qxd6 48.Qxe4+ Qd5 49.Qe8+ Kb7 50.Qe3 0–1 - Start an analysis engine:
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Nepomniachtchi,I | 2793 | Aronian,L | 2736 | 0–1 | 2023 | A28 | WR Chess Masters-TB 2023 | 1 |
Aronian,L | 2736 | Gukesh D | 2718 | 1–0 | 2023 | D38 | WR Chess Masters-TB 2023 | 1 |
Gukesh D | 2718 | Nepomniachtchi,I | 2793 | 1–0 | 2023 | D35 | WR Chess Masters-TB 2023 | 1 |
Gukesh D | 2718 | Aronian,L | 2736 | 0–1 | 2023 | C65 | WR Chess Masters-TB 2023 | 2 |
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Results - Round 9
Final standings
All games
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
- Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
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