Carlsen beats Abdusattorov in hard-fought match
In almost every chess game there comes a moment when you just can’t go on without tactics. You must strike, because nothing is more annoying than missing a winning combination in the decisive situation, and thus giving away the advantage you have worked for the whole game. So it is vital to train tactics properly – and Master Class Tactics offers you the perfect tool for this! On this Fritztrainer, IM Oliver Reeh has compiled his favourites from the CBM column “Tune your Tactics” issues 219 to 227.
Free sample video: Introduction
Free sample video: Do you know the Archangelsk? / Sukovic – Kazakousky
As winner of the rapid round-robin, Magnus Carlsen had the privilege of selecting his opponent and opted to face Nodirbek Abdusattorov. The four-game match proved more demanding than the final score of 3–1 might suggest.
Carlsen’s day began in slightly unusual fashion, as he arrived somewhat late for the opening game and was unable to participate in the joint pre-game analysis. From the outset, he invested considerable time in the opening, spending several minutes on his first moves. Abdusattorov reacted energetically and obtained the more comfortable position, but Carlsen gradually equalised and secured a draw with the black pieces.
The second game was also drawn. Abdusattorov held a significant advantage on the clock – around ten minutes against less than a minute for Carlsen – when the players agreed to split the point. Despite the imbalance in time, the position on the board was assessed as level. The scoreboard remained tied.
The critical moment of the match occurred in game three. Both players had advanced passed pawns in a sharp middlegame that eventually simplified to a heavy-piece ending. Abdusattorov chose to press for a win rather than steer towards a safe draw, which turned out to be a serious miscalculation. Carlsen converted his newfound advantage with accurate play and moved ahead in the match.
In the fourth game, Carlsen maintained a stable position from the outset. Although complications arose and he once again allowed his clock to run dangerously low, he retained control of the position. Abdusattorov, needing to win to force tiebreaks, took risks and erred in the decisive phase. Carlsen capitalised and closed out the match, finishing 3–1.
Carlsen, who relinquished the classical world title but currently holds the FIDE rapid and blitz crowns, now has the opportunity to add another world title to his record.
Magnus Carlsen | Photo: Freestyle Chess / Stev Bonhage
Nodirbek Abdusattorov | Photo: Freestyle Chess / Stev Bonhage
Carlsen v. Abdusattorov
Caruana edges past Keymer
The semifinal between Fabiano Caruana and Vincent Keymer followed a different trajectory, but was equally competitive. Caruana struck in game one, winning an exchange in the middlegame and eventually converting the advantage. Later analysis indicated that Keymer might have been able to escape with a draw at one stage, but the American grandmaster secured the full point.
Game two ended peacefully. In the third encounter, the roles were reversed. Caruana committed an early inaccuracy and found himself under sustained pressure. Keymer missed one opportunity to finish the game and then another, but Caruana was unable to stabilise the position and eventually went down, bringing the match level at 1½–1½.
The fourth and final game decided matters. Rather than producing another tense struggle, the game developed in a more one-sided fashion. Caruana gained the initiative and did not allow it to slip, converting convincingly to take the match 2½–1½ and advance to the final.
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Sunday’s championship match will therefore see Carlsen and Caruana meet again in a world title contest, echoing their 2018 classical championship encounter, which tool place in London.
Vincent Keymer | Photo: Freestyle Chess / Stev Bonhage
Caruana v. Keymer
Placement matches
In the battle for fifth to eighth places, Hans Niemann defeated Levon Aronian by 2½–1½, while Arjun Erigaisi got the better of Javokhir Sindarov by 3–1.
Niemann, who had finished fifth in the round robin and thus was entitled to choose his opponent, selected Aronian. The decision was vindicated in game one, where Aronian drifted in the early middlegame and fell into severe time trouble. After move 25 he had just over half a minute remaining, compared to nearly ten minutes for Niemann, and resigned shortly thereafter in a lost position.
Aronian responded in game two after Niemann experimented with an early rook manoeuvre that left the piece sidelined for much of the game. The US grandmaster seized the initiative and equalised the match. The third game proved decisive: Aronian, a pawn down and again short of time, was unable to locate the path to a draw while a pawn down in an endgame with rook and knight against rook and bishop. Niemann required only a draw in the final game and achieved it without major incident.
Hans Niemann | Photo: Freestyle Chess / Lennart Ootes
Niemann v. Aronian
The match between Erigaisi and Sindarov began with two hard-fought draws. In the second game, Erigaisi played an endgame of two knights against a lone king for dozens of additional moves before the inevitable draw was agreed.
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Game three featured an early queen move to a5 – an idea discussed in the pre-game analysis session – and a bold exchange sacrifice by Erigaisi. Although computer evaluations initially suggested the sacrifice was unsound, practical play told a different story. After a tactically rich struggle, Erigaisi emerged with the point. Sindarov, needing a win in the final game with the black pieces, made an early strategic error and soon found himself under pressure. Erigaisi converted to win the match 3–1.
On Sunday, Carlsen and Caruana will contest the title, while Abdusattorov and Keymer will compete for third place. Niemann and Erigaisi will meet in the match for fifth, while Aronian and Sindarov will play for seventh.
Arjun Erigaisi | Photo: Freestyle Chess / Stev Bonhage
