TWIC is 30. First issue 17th September 1994.
Airthings Masters 2020 (Games and Results)
Airthings Masters 2020
Mark Crowther - Friday 25th December 2020
The Airthings Masters is the second event of the online Champions Chess Tour and takes place 26th December 2020 to 3rd January 2021. The event is one of three "Majors" on the tour which means the winner will qualify for the tour final. Players: Magnus Carlsen, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Hikaru Nakamura, Alexander Grischuk, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Levon Aronian, Daniil Dubov, Teimour Radjabov, Wesley So, Anish Giri, Pentala Harikrishna and David Anton Guijarro. An initial 12 player all-play-all qualifies the leading players for the final 8 player knockout phase.
Teimour Radjabov wins the Airthings Masters (Day 9)
Teimour Radjabov won the first Masters event of the "Meltwater" Champions Chess Tour winning $60,000 and has qualified for the finals in September. Earlier in the day it was announced that Meltwater were the new tour sponsors. Meltwater are a media monitoring company founded in Norway but now based in San Francisco, the tour finals will be held in that city assuming that the Coronavirus crisis doesn't prevent travel.
Radjabov was extremely hard to defeat losing just one rapid game - to Ian Nepomniachtchi - in the entire event counting both the preliminaries and the final. The match with Nepomniachtchi was when Radjabov was closest to going out. He lost the aforementioned rapid game, then also the first tie-break blitz game before coming back to win in a second blitz game and then holding a draw with black in an Armageddon game to go through. He followed this with classy controlled performances against Daniil Dubov and now Levon Aronian.
Radjabov won the World Cup in 2019 but to me this feels even more like a return to the very top of World Chess. After taking some time to get used to playing online it looks like he has discovered a real taste for the game again. I think this finally puts to rest the disaster Radjabov had in the 2013 Candidates that almost completely derailed his career.
Next tour event doesn't yet have a name but is a regular 16 player event rather than a 12 player Major like the Airthings Masters was. Ding Liren has been voted in as a participant by Chess24 subscribers. The dates are 6th to 14th February 2021.
Summary of the day's play below.
Airthings Masters 2020 (Day 9)
Mark Crowther (Sun Jan 3 19:13:00 2021)
Radjabov wins the Airthings Masters. Photo © | https://chess24.com
Airthings Masters 2020 (Day 8)
Radjabov takes the lead against Aronian on day one of the final of the Airthings Masters
Mark Crowther | Sat Jan 2 19:42:00 2021
Airthings Masters 2020 (Day 7)
Aronian and Radjabov cruise into the final of the Airthings Masters
Mark Crowther | Fri Jan 1 18:24:00 2021
Airthings Masters 2020 (Day 6)
Aronian and Radjabov win the first sets of the Airthings Masters Semifinals 2020
Mark Crowther | Thu Dec 31 18:48:00 2020
Airthings Masters 2020 (Day 5)
Carlsen knocked out by Dubov in the Quarter-finals of the Airthings Masters
Mark Crowther | Wed Dec 30 20:18:00 2020
Airthings Masters 2020 (Day 4)
MVL and Aronian take leads in the first sets of their Airthings Masters Quarter-finals
Mark Crowther | Tue Dec 29 19:14:00 2020
Airthings Masters 2020 (Day 3)
Photo finish on the final day of the Airthings Masters Preliminaries
Mark Crowther | Mon Dec 28 17:51:00 2020
Airthings Masters 2020 (Day 2)
Quiet second day of the Airthings Masters
Mark Crowther | Sun Dec 27 18:46:00 2020
Airthings Masters 2020 (Day 1)
Five way tie for the lead after the first day of the Airthings Masters 2020
Mark Crowther | Sat Dec 26 20:30:00 2020
Airthings Masters 2020 (chess24.com INT)
Sat 26th Dec 2020 - Sun 3rd Jan 2021 -
Official Site - Live
Airthings Masters Prelim (12 players 11 Rds SRR Indiv TC:15m+10spm) - Games in PGN: Games Prelim
Airthings Masters KO 2020 (8 players 3 Rds Minimatch Indiv TC:15m+10spm) - Games in PGN: Games KO
Airthings Masters Prelim (12 players 11 Rds SRR Indiv TC: 15m+10spm) - Games in PGN: Games Prelim
vs
ChessTempo viewer
| Airthings Masters Prelim chess24.com INT Sat 26th Dec 2020 - Sun 3rd Jan 2021
Leading Final Round 11 Standings: |
||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rk | Name | Ti | FED | Rtg | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Pts | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 |
| 1 | Carlsen Magnus | GM | NOR | 2862 | * | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 6.5 | 6.5 | 1.5 | 2 |
| 2 | So Wesley | GM | USA | 2770 | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 6.5 | 6.5 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | Nakamura Hikaru | GM | USA | 2736 | 0 | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 0.5 | 3 |
| 4 | Nepomniachtchi Ian | GM | RUS | 2784 | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 6 | 6 | 0.5 | 2 |
| 5 | Radjabov Teimour | GM | AZE | 2765 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0.5 | 1 |
| 6 | Aronian Levon | GM | ARM | 2781 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | Vachier-Lagrave Maxime | GM | FRA | 2784 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | 5 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| 8 | Dubov Daniil | GM | RUS | 2702 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 1.5 | 2 |
| 9 | Harikrishna Pentala | GM | IND | 2732 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | 0 | ½ | 5 | 5 | 1.5 | 0 |
| 10 | Grischuk Alexander | GM | RUS | 2777 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 11 | Giri Anish | GM | NED | 2764 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ½ | * | ½ | 4.5 | 4.5 | 0.5 | 2 |
| 12 | Anton Guijarro David | GM | ESP | 2675 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | 4.5 | 4.5 | 0.5 | 1 |
| Round 1 (December 26, 2020) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlsen, Magnus | - Aronian, Levon | ½-½ | 61 | D38 | QGD Ragozin | |
| Harikrishna, Pentala | - Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime | ½-½ | 27 | B51 | Sicilian Rossolimo | |
| Grischuk, Alexander | - Nakamura, Hikaru | 0-1 | 64 | C53 | Giuoco Piano | |
| Dubov, Daniil | - Radjabov, Teimour | ½-½ | 36 | E06 | Catalan | |
| Anton Guijarro, David | - So, Wesley | ½-½ | 64 | C67 | Ruy Lopez Berlin | |
| Giri, Anish | - Nepomniachtchi, Ian | ½-½ | 42 | D90 | Gruenfeld Flohr | |
| Round 2 (December 26, 2020) | ||||||
| So, Wesley | - Carlsen, Magnus | ½-½ | 32 | E92 | King's Indian Classical | |
| Nepomniachtchi, Ian | - Grischuk, Alexander | 0-1 | 59 | C53 | Giuoco Piano | |
| Radjabov, Teimour | - Anton Guijarro, David | 1-0 | 51 | D38 | QGD Ragozin | |
| Aronian, Levon | - Giri, Anish | 1-0 | 40 | B90 | Sicilian Najdorf Variation | |
| Harikrishna, Pentala | - Dubov, Daniil | ½-½ | 39 | B33 | Sicilian Sveshnikov | |
| Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime | - Nakamura, Hikaru | ½-½ | 48 | C50 | Giuoco Piano | |
| Round 3 (December 26, 2020) | ||||||
| Carlsen, Magnus | - Radjabov, Teimour | ½-½ | 47 | D37 | QGD 5.Bf4 | |
| Nakamura, Hikaru | - Nepomniachtchi, Ian | ½-½ | 40 | B51 | Sicilian Rossolimo | |
| Grischuk, Alexander | - Aronian, Levon | ½-½ | 18 | C53 | Giuoco Piano | |
| Dubov, Daniil | - Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime | ½-½ | 69 | A33 | English Symmetrical | |
| Anton Guijarro, David | - Harikrishna, Pentala | ½-½ | 45 | D45 | Anti-Meran Variations | |
| Giri, Anish | - So, Wesley | 0-1 | 25 | A14 | Reti Opening | |
| Round 4 (December 26, 2020) | ||||||
| So, Wesley | - Grischuk, Alexander | ½-½ | 38 | C42 | Petroff's Defence | |
| Radjabov, Teimour | - Giri, Anish | ½-½ | 38 | D38 | QGD Ragozin | |
| Aronian, Levon | - Nakamura, Hikaru | ½-½ | 35 | C70 | Ruy Lopez | |
| Harikrishna, Pentala | - Carlsen, Magnus | ½-½ | 24 | B33 | Sicilian Sveshnikov | |
| Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime | - Nepomniachtchi, Ian | 0-1 | 69 | B90 | Sicilian Najdorf Variation | |
| Dubov, Daniil | - Anton Guijarro, David | 1-0 | 44 | E04 | Catalan | |
| Round 5 (December 27, 2020) | ||||||
| Carlsen, Magnus | - Dubov, Daniil | 1-0 | 58 | B31 | Sicilian Rossolimo | |
| Nakamura, Hikaru | - So, Wesley | ½-½ | 14 | C67 | Ruy Lopez Berlin | |
| Nepomniachtchi, Ian | - Aronian, Levon | ½-½ | 51 | C45 | Scotch Game | |
| Grischuk, Alexander | - Radjabov, Teimour | ½-½ | 46 | D37 | QGD 5.Bf4 | |
| Anton Guijarro, David | - Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime | ½-½ | 84 | B51 | Sicilian Rossolimo | |
| Giri, Anish | - Harikrishna, Pentala | 1-0 | 40 | D47 | Queens Gambit Meran | |
| Round 6 (December 27, 2020) | ||||||
| So, Wesley | - Nepomniachtchi, Ian | ½-½ | 25 | D85 | Gruenfeld Defence | |
| Radjabov, Teimour | - Nakamura, Hikaru | ½-½ | 19 | D37 | QGD 5.Bf4 | |
| Harikrishna, Pentala | - Grischuk, Alexander | ½-½ | 56 | B53 | Sicilian Hungarian | |
| Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime | - Aronian, Levon | ½-½ | 57 | A18 | English Opening | |
| Dubov, Daniil | - Giri, Anish | 1-0 | 42 | C67 | Ruy Lopez Berlin | |
| Anton Guijarro, David | - Carlsen, Magnus | ½-½ | 51 | E46 | Nimzo Indian Rubinstein | |
| Round 7 (December 27, 2020) | ||||||
| Carlsen, Magnus | - Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime | ½-½ | 41 | A15 | English counter King's Fianchetto | |
| Nakamura, Hikaru | - Harikrishna, Pentala | ½-½ | 41 | B11 | Caro Kann Two Knights | |
| Nepomniachtchi, Ian | - Radjabov, Teimour | ½-½ | 75 | B30 | Sicilian Rossolimo | |
| Aronian, Levon | - So, Wesley | ½-½ | 32 | C67 | Ruy Lopez Berlin | |
| Grischuk, Alexander | - Dubov, Daniil | ½-½ | 47 | A05 | Various | |
| Giri, Anish | - Anton Guijarro, David | ½-½ | 57 | E04 | Catalan | |
| Round 8 (December 27, 2020) | ||||||
| Carlsen, Magnus | - Giri, Anish | ½-½ | 42 | D94 | Gruenfeld Closed | |
| Radjabov, Teimour | - Aronian, Levon | ½-½ | 44 | D39 | QGD Ragozin | |
| Harikrishna, Pentala | - Nepomniachtchi, Ian | ½-½ | 37 | B53 | Sicilian Hungarian | |
| Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime | - So, Wesley | ½-½ | 34 | C88 | Ruy Lopez Closed | |
| Dubov, Daniil | - Nakamura, Hikaru | ½-½ | 22 | E06 | Catalan | |
| Anton Guijarro, David | - Grischuk, Alexander | ½-½ | 20 | C78 | Ruy Lopez Moeller Defence | |
| Round 9 (December 28, 2020) | ||||||
| So, Wesley | - Radjabov, Teimour | ½-½ | 19 | D37 | QGD 5.Bf4 | |
| Nakamura, Hikaru | - Anton Guijarro, David | 1-0 | 32 | E04 | Catalan | |
| Nepomniachtchi, Ian | - Dubov, Daniil | 1-0 | 38 | E73 | King's Indian Averbakh | |
| Aronian, Levon | - Harikrishna, Pentala | ½-½ | 82 | D20 | QGA | |
| Grischuk, Alexander | - Carlsen, Magnus | ½-½ | 114 | D38 | QGD Ragozin | |
| Giri, Anish | - Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime | 1-0 | 65 | B89 | Sicilian Sozin Attack | |
| Round 10 (December 28, 2020) | ||||||
| Carlsen, Magnus | - Nakamura, Hikaru | 1-0 | 54 | C67 | Ruy Lopez Berlin | |
| Harikrishna, Pentala | - So, Wesley | ½-½ | 44 | D41 | Semi-Tarrasch Defence | |
| Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime | - Radjabov, Teimour | ½-½ | 60 | B30 | Sicilian Rossolimo | |
| Dubov, Daniil | - Aronian, Levon | ½-½ | 42 | E10 | Blumenfeld Counter Gambit | |
| Anton Guijarro, David | - Nepomniachtchi, Ian | ½-½ | 39 | B53 | Sicilian Hungarian | |
| Giri, Anish | - Grischuk, Alexander | ½-½ | 51 | C53 | Giuoco Piano | |
| Round 11 (December 28, 2020) | ||||||
| So, Wesley | - Dubov, Daniil | 1-0 | 35 | C78 | Ruy Lopez Moeller Defence | |
| Nakamura, Hikaru | - Giri, Anish | 1-0 | 55 | A08 | Barcza System | |
| Nepomniachtchi, Ian | - Carlsen, Magnus | ½-½ | 24 | B33 | Sicilian Sveshnikov | |
| Radjabov, Teimour | - Harikrishna, Pentala | ½-½ | 42 | D44 | Anti-Meran Gambit | |
| Aronian, Levon | - Anton Guijarro, David | 0-1 | 60 | B30 | Sicilian Rossolimo | |
| Grischuk, Alexander | - Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime | 0-1 | 55 | B51 | Sicilian Rossolimo | |
Airthings Masters KO 2020 (8 players 3 Rds Minimatch Indiv TC: 15m+10spm) - Games in PGN: Games KO
vs
ChessTempo viewer
| Airthings Masters KO 2020 chess24.com INT Sat 26th Dec 2020 - Sun 3rd Jan 2021
Leading Final Round 3 Standings: |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rk | Name | 1 | 2 | Pts | TB1 |
| Finals | |||||
| 1 | Radjabov, Teimour | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 2 | Aronian, Levon | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3rd-4th | |||||
| 3 | Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime | 0.5 | 1 | 1.5 | |
| 4 | Dubov, Daniil | 0.5 | 0 | 0.5 | |
| Semi-Finals | |||||
| 1 | Radjabov, Teimour | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 2 | Dubov, Daniil | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | Aronian, Levon | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 2 | Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Quarter-Finals | |||||
| 1 | Dubov, Daniil | 0.5 | 1 | 1.5 | |
| 2 | Carlsen, Magnus | 0.5 | 0 | 0.5 | |
| 1 | Radjabov, Teimour | 0.5 | 0.5 | 2 | 1 |
| 2 | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1 | 0 |
| 1 | Aronian, Levon | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 2 | Nakamura, Hikaru | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 2 | So, Wesley | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 players | |||||
