Tense final is left on a knife-edge
The final of the Magnus Carlsen Invitational was touched by Hollywood stardust today as it got off to a tense start. Anish Giri and Ian Nepomniachtchi were left level-pegging overnight as the two form horses of the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour event shared the first set. But in between rounds the tournament was visited by Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr., The Jerry Maguire star played the Play Magnus app for charity and lost in 16 moves to Magnus Carlsen aged 10. Meanwhile back in the main event, everything now hangs on tomorrow’s second set – and if that also ends all-square then the final will go to tiebreaks. Today saw four consecutive draws between the two who were both rock-solid and played near error-free chess. And despite no decisive results, there was no shortage of action. Game 1 was dramatic as Giri went three pawns up in the endgame, but Nepomniachtchi pulled off a stunning escape right at the death. “What a save by Ian Nepomniachtchi!” said GM Peter Leko. Game 2 saw a rare stalemate on the board and then in the third and fourth both players pushed but both were also immovable. In the third-place play-off match, World Champion Magnus Carlsen was back to his blistering best as he demolished Wesley So in the first game. The exciting encounter included a rare opening idea and was named “Murder on a Chessboard” on Norwegian TV. The game can be seen here. With the pressure now off, Carlsen smiled when he delivered the final blow. “It was okay,” he said afterward. Carlsen added: “I wasn’t particularly motivated before today, but the 1st game helped immensely!” The Norwegian, who was dramatically dumped out of the event yesterday by Nepomniachtichi, went on to win 3-1 and pick up the valuable points for the Tour leaderboard for finishing third overall. Both matches start again for the final set at 17:00 CET tomorrow. For further information, please contact: Leon Watson, PR for Champions Chess Tourleon@chessable.com+44 7786 078 770
Haik Martirosyan and Anna Sargsyan win individual blitz
Haik Martirosyan and Anna Sargsyan became the first champions of the First FIDE World University Online Blitz Championship after winning the individual titles in blitz. The biggest university chess event that brought together over a thousand participants from all around the world kicked off not the way it was planned. Due to some technical problems the organizers had to nullify the results of the first four rounds played on Saturday, March 13, and restart the blitz championship on Sunday after slightly changing the format. Four groups of 272 participants each of approximately equal strength played 10-round Swiss preliminary tournaments. Two winners and two female winners from each group qualified for the final stage. There were two final stages, one for the overall winners of each group and one for women. All the games were played with the time control 3+2. The finals of the First FIDE World University Online Blitz Championship were played on March 18 with the eight best players from the group stage – GM Mikhail Antipov and GM Iniyan P from group A, GM Grigoriy Oparin and IM Irakli Beradze from group B, GM Haik Martirosyan and GM Xu Yinglun from group C and GM Hovhannes Gabuzyan and IM Yoseph Theolifus Taher from group D – fighting for the title in the open section. Haik Martirosyan, representing the Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture got off to a running start with four straight victories and sealed the title by drawing three subsequent games. The champion had a couple of tough positions along the way but his quickness and resourcefulness bailed him out of trouble. Haik Martirosyan Photo: Maria Emelianova (chess.com) On the contrary, Iniyan P from Bharathiar University slipped in the first round but picked up steam and caught up with Martirosyan at the finish line. Despite his valiant effort he had to settle for silver due to inferior tiebreaks. Mikhail Antipov representing the University of Missouri took bronze despite losing to both top-finishers. Final standings: 1. Haik Martirosyan (ARM Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture) – 5½ 2. Iniyan P (IND Bharathiar University) – 5½3. Mikhail Antipov (RUS University of Missouri) – 4½4. Xu Yinglun (CHN Shanghai University of Finance and Economics) – 45. Hovhannes Gabuzyan (ARM University of Texas Rio Grande Valley) – 3½6. Yoseph Taher (INA Gunadarma University) – 27. Grigoriy Oparin (RUS University of Missouri) – 28. Irakli Beradze (GEO University of Texas Rio Grande Valley) – 1 IM Polina Shuvalova, WIM Julia Antolak, WIM Alicja Sliwicka, IM Iulija Osmak, IM Olga Badelka, WIM Nur Abidah Shanti, IM Stavroula Tsolakidou, WGM Anna Sargsyan qualified for the women’s final. Anna Sargsyan (Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture) lost the direct encounter to Olga Badelka (University of Missouri) but reeled off five straight wins and finished a full point ahead of her main competitor. Three players tied for second place with Olga Badelka and Alicija Sliwicka earning silver and bronze respectively according to Sonneborn-Berger. Anna Sargsayn Photo: David Llada Final standings: 1. Anna Sargsyan (ARM Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture) – 62. Olga Badelka (BLR University of Missouri) – 53. Alicja Sliwicka (POL University of Texas Rio Grande Valley) – 44. Polina Shuvalova (RUS Ural State Mining University) – 45. Iulija Osmak (UKR University of Texas Rio Grande Valley) – 46. Stavroula Tsolakidou (GRE Saint Louis University) – 27. Shanti Nur Abidah (INA Gunadarma University) – 1½8. Julia Antolak (POL University of Texas Rio Grande Valley) – 1½ The following four teams have qualified for the FIDE World University Team Online Blitz Cup, which will be held on 27 March on Chess24: University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (USA) University of Missouri (USA) Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture and Sport (ARM) Saint Louis University (USA)
Montenegro Chess Festival goes big
Montenegro Chess Festival organized by Montenegro Chess Federation, in cooperation with the chess club „Elektroprivreda“ stretches from February 26 to March 25 and includes four tournaments held in Nikšić and Podgorica. IM and GM competitions were 10-player round-robin while the mixed tournament attracted 18 participants. The festival brought together twenty-nine players from ten federations (Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Northern Macedonia, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, and Montenegro) including six GMs, eight IMs, five FMs, and one WIM. Two IM and a GM tournament have already been completed, while the mixed tournament is still underway. Montenegro Chess Festival IM 2021/01, February 26th – March 4th 1. Dario Alivodic (MNE) – 6½2. Predrag Nikac (MNE) – 5½3. Nebojsa Nikcevic (MNE) – 5½ Montenegro Chess Festival IM 2021/02, March 5-11th 1. Milos Pecurica (MNE) – 72. Nebojsa Nikcevic (MNE) – 6½3. Predrag Nikac (MNE) – 5 Montenegro Chess Festival GM 2021/01, March 12-18th 1. Nikola Djukic (MNE) – 72. Aleksander Delchev (BUL) – 5½3. Aydin Suleymanli (AZE) – 5½ Milos Pecurica (MNE) earned the IM norm in one of the IM-tournaments, while Gleb Dudin (RUS) completed the GM norm in the Grandmaster event. The pool of participants was a good mix of experienced players and aspiring youngsters: Sanal Vahap (TUR), Aleksandar Delchev (BUL), Thybo Jesper Sondergaard (DEN), Suleymanli Aydin (AZE) just to name a few. It is worth mentioning the participation of the two world champions: Predrag Nikac (IBCA World Champion for Blind 2019) and Vladimir Klasan (ICCD World Chess Champion for Deaf 2012; pictured below). The tournaments were held in strict accordance with all the public health measures related to the Covid-19 pandemic. Thirsty for over-the-board chess all the participants of all the tournaments demonstrated a great fighting spirit and most importantly, every player left Montenegro in good health and with great impressions. The organizers are calling everyone interested in future participation to contact them, emphasizing that these tournaments are going to become traditional. The dates of the forthcoming tournaments are 16-22 April and 23-29 April. Official website: http://sahcg.me/montenegro-chess-festival-mix-2021-1/
Nepomniachtchi and Giri make final
World Champion Magnus Carlsen is out of his namesake tournament after two of his biggest rivals sprung surprises to make the final. On a day of high drama, Dutch No.1 Anish Giri booked his place by beating Meltwater Champions Chess Tour leader Wesley So. But it was Russian star Ian Nepomniachtchi’s nerve-shredding win over Carlsen that sent shockwaves through the $220,000 Magnus Carlsen Invitational event. Carlsen started the day behind and fell further back after losing the second game. Levelling the tie looked like an impossible task as the world number 1 needed to win both remaining games. Yet Carlsen is the master of bouncing back and after throwing everything at his opponent with some risky attacking play, he got back on terms to take the semi to a tiebreaker. At that stage, Carlsen could partly thank Nepomniachtchi who suffered an attack of nerves at the crucial moment to blunder away the final rapid game. Later that would be reversed. With the momentum seemingly with Carlsen, Ian then managed to compose himself again for the blitz play-offs. And after a first-game draw, he took control of the second to book his final place. “Clearly today was a lottery, and I was the one who got the winning ticket,” Nepomniachtchi said afterward. Carlsen added: “Ultimately, what decided the match was that he managed to keep his head in the blitz, and I most certainly did not.” Nepomniachtchi is the only player in world chess to have a positive score against Carlsen in classical games and will face Giri, another big rival of Carlsen. In Giri’s semi, the first three games ended in cagey draws with the Dutchman looking super-solid and showing no weaknesses. It meant So, the US champ, was left needing a win in the last game to take the match to tiebreaks. The pressure got to him, however, and out of nowhere So made a dramatic blunder. It was game, set and match to Giri and the Dutchman was through to his first Meltwater Champions Chess Tour final. “It’s really, really great. I am happy to be in the final!” he said afterward. The two-day final starts tomorrow at 17:00 CET with Carlsen and So also playing in a third-place play-off. For further information, please contact: Leon Watson, PR for Champions Chess Tourleon@chessable.com+44 7786 078 770