Carlsen and Lagno take titles in Steinitz Memorial
Carlsen waltzes to victory Magnus Carlsen brought the FIDE Online Steinitz Memorial to a fitting end with a crushing win in the inaugural event held to honor his predecessor. The 16th World Champion’s performance echoed the dominance of the first undisputed king of chess, Austrian great Wilhelm Steinitz, as he waltzed to victory. Carlsen had led the field after the first day’s play but was overtaken yesterday by Russia’s former World Champion in rapid Daniil Dubov. However, the young pretender’s challenge quickly fizzled out today as he lost three straight games against fellow Russian Alexander Grischuk, China’s Bu Xiangzhi and the American teenager Jeffery Xiong. In the Bu game, in particular, the under-pressure Dubov played a shocker. IM Lawrence Trent, while commentating, likened Dubov’s dramatic slump to an “English batting collapse” – a phenomenon well known to cricket fans. Meanwhile, Carlsen benefitted from another shocker played by Grischuk in Round 15. In the chess24 commentary box, GM Peter Leko was absolutely brutal in his assessment of the out-of-form Grischuk’s play. “This is unbelievable,” he said. “Black is absolutely toast!” Carlsen was cruising ahead on 10/15 while Dubov fell back to second on 9/15. Yet in Round 17, Dubov had one last chance to get back in it as he faced the tournament leader. Dubov had to win and win again in Round 18, while Carlsen had to lose both, which was highly unlikely. Carlsen duly closed out the draw to secure the title with a round to spare. The champion was downbeat in his interview after the match and typically hard on his own play. He said: “I was terrible from start to finish. The result is OK, so I move on.” FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich paid tribute to the quality of play and the consistency of the top players. “No matter whether it’s online or offline the same guys win the tournaments,” he said. Lagno clinches the title in a thrilling tiebreak against Lei Tingjie Kateryna Lagno won a bizarre Armageddon tiebreak to secure first place in the inaugural FIDE Online Steinitz Memorial’s Women’s Section today. The Russian kept her cool as her play-off with Lei Tingjie went to a marathon 152 moves. The Chinese player, playing with White and needing to win, tried to flag her on time. Sunday’s final 6 rounds were full of drama as momentum swung back-and-forth before the focused Lagno eventually came out on top. Earlier Tingjie came from under the radar to draw level with Lagno at the end of 18 rounds of blitz. It followed a stunning charge from Zhansaya Abdumalik who, at one point, was on seven straight games and in the lead. The Kazakhstani’s momentum appeared unstoppable until Tingjie spoiled her run by holding her to a draw. With Tan Zhongyi and Lagno’s fellow Russian Alexandra Kosteniuk also in the mix, it looked like the tournament was wide open. Then Tingjie took up the mantle winning her final two games to finish the day’s blitz unbeaten on 5/6. Meanwhile, Lagno, the pre-tournament favorite, and overnight leader started with a loss and it took a “lucky” win on game 14 to spark her into life. Lagno then followed it up with a smooth win over Marie Sebag to wrest back the lead. Tingjie ended Kosteniuk’s hopes while in the 17th Abdumalik lost to Tan Zhongyi. By the final round, it was incredibly tight at the top with Lagno just ahead in a three-horse race. All eyes were on Abdumalik vs Lagno with Abdumalik needing a win. But in a tense encounter Lagno held the draw and Abdumalik was squeezed out. Tingjie, meanwhile, beat Elisabeth Paehtz to go into the tiebreak which Lagno eventually won. “We’ve witnessed a fantastic event with so many dramas,” said commentator GM Peter Leko More information at Chess24.com: FIDE Women’s Steinitz MemorialFIDE Open Steinitz Memorial
Steinitz Memorial: Dubov and Lagno on fire
Dubov’s day: Young Russian on fire as wheels come off for Carlsen Speed-chess specialist, Daniil Dubov, raced into the lead on drama-filled Day 2 of the FIDE Online Steinitz Memorial. The Russian won a key game against Magnus Carlsen as the World Champion suffered his first real wobble. Carlsen managed to steady himself but stays a half-point behind Dubov going into the final six rounds tomorrow. On a day of fast-paced action in practically every game, Carlsen got off to the perfect start by dispatching Bu Xiangzhi. He then rode his luck in a wild finish to come out on top against Jeffery Xiong, the youngest player in the field. Hot on his heels, however, was Dubov who dispatched Xiong and Peter Svidler in short order. It set up a key Game 9 clash between the pair when Dubov had the chance to overtake Carlsen. With Magnus in trouble, Dubov used his time advantage and stayed cool to close out a spectacular win. The former the World Rapid Champion leapfrogged Carlsen to go top. “Amazing stuff,” remarked IM Lawrence Trent. “This was incredible,” GM Peter Leko said. “Kudos to Daniil Dubov. Incredible.” Carlsen’s crushing loss set up a must-win game for the champion playing Black against Peter Svidler. But instead of straight bouncing back – as sometimes happens Magnus – the wheels really came off. The champion was in trouble all through the game and eventually fell to a checkmate. 48. Rxh6!+ 1-0 Dubov, meanwhile, calmly drew with Le Quang Liem to move a full point clear. Next up in Game 11 it was Carlsen’s turn to face Le while Dubov took on third-placed Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. The Norwegian found himself in an inferior position but bagged a huge win to keep up the pressure before Dubov’s lead was cut to half a point when he failed to convert. In the final round of the day, Dubov drew quickly against Anton Korobov to secure at least the joint lead overnight while Carlsen’s game was still ongoing. The champion, needing the win, seemed on top but Mamedyarov pulled off an amazing save to escape with a draw. Dubov, like his fellow Russian Kateryna Lagno in the Women’s section, claimed the day and leads overnight. In the other games, Alexander Grischuk dented Mamedyarov’s hopes with a win in Game 8 which Leko described as a “strategic masterpiece”. Mamedyarov, however, ended the day still in with a shout in third place on 7/12 while Svidler and Le are on 6.5. “I promised that I would play better today, but I didn’t. I don’t know what to say. It was so messy that it was terrible”, said Magnus Carlsen to 2Sjakk after the games where over. Kateryna Lagno claws her way to the top Kateryna Lagno, Russia’s reigning Women’s World Champion in blitz, hit top form as she battled her way into the lead on Day 2 of the FIDE Online Steinitz Memorial. The big pre-tournament favorite drew ahead of the overnight leader, and fellow Russian, Alexandra Kosteniuk with four wins out of six to finish a half-point clear at the top of the table. Yesterday, Kosteniuk blew away the field with 5.5/6. But on Day 2 she got off to a terrible losing her first two games – and after that, it didn’t get much better. In the key third game of the day against Lagno, Kosteniuk was cruising. But with just 10 seconds left on the clock, the former Women’s World Champion appeared to miss a huge opportunity and Lagno escaped with a draw. It was a huge result. In the next game, Lagno moved smoothly into the lead when she was too strong for Elisabeth Paehtz. Tan Zhongyi and Marie Sebag also briefly challenged for the lead but fell back while Antoaneta Stefanova scored 2.5/6 to sit in seventh place. Meanwhile, Zhansaya Abdumalik, the talented Kazakhstani IM, catapulted herself into the running by winning her last four games. Earlier, after her wipeout yesterday, Peru’s Deysi Cori had picked up her first win. In the final round of the day, Round 12 of 18, Lei Tingjie made a shocking blunder that put Tan Zhongyi back in business. However, despite losing her final game against Sarasadat Khademalsharieh, it was Lagno’s day. Lawrence Trent, commentating, said: “It’s going to be a very, very interesting day tomorrow.” The tournament is broadcast with commentary in multiple languages at www.Chess24.com/watch SCHEDULE:(all times are CEST) Friday, May 15th Saturday, May 16th Sunday, May 17th Rounds 1-6 Women:15:00 – 18:15 Rounds 7-12 Women:15:00 – 18:15 Rounds 13-18 Women:15:00 – 18:15 Rounds 1-6 Open:18:30 – 21:30 Rounds 7-12 Open:18:30 – 21:30 Rounds 13-18 Open:18:30 – 21:30 More information at Chess24.com: FIDE Women’s Steinitz MemorialFIDE Open Steinitz Memorial