The Week in Chess

Ian Nepomniachtchi overcame the frustrations of losing the second set yesterday to beat Anish Giri 1.5-0.5 in the blitz and qualify for the final of Chess24's Legends of chess by 2 sets to 1. They had earlier drawn all their rapid games, all of which were hard fights.

The match was incredibly tense - if perhaps not the greatest chess - as Nepomniachtchi pointed out that by this stage of the event the players are very tired. Carlsen in finishing his match so quickly that he made himself an extra rest day today. Nepomniachtchi's only chance to reach the final four of the tour is to beat Carlsen which is a tough ask.

The key moment in game one was the shocking 22...Rd1 which perhaps wasn't objectively the best but it allowed Nepomniachtchi to equalise pretty much on the spot - the sequence 23.Rcxd1 Qxd1 24.Qe3 leaves white pushing for a win. Game two was drawn in 64 moves, Giri won a pawn but it was probably still a drawn endgame. In game three Giri was definitely pushing for a win but he didn't miss any clear chances. Game four was also drawn with Giri pushing a bit with black. Nepomniachtchi thought he was favourite once they reached the blitz, he has more experience and a far higher rating, In the first blitz game Giri was pressing until he played 26.Qc2?! which Nxf3+ picking up some material and an attack but it wasn't easy and the game burned out a few moves later. In the second blitz game Nepomniachtchi played the Scotch and got a big advantage out of the opening 16...f6 left white hugely better and won the game and match in 45 moves.

The final Carlsen vs Nepomniachtchi starts tomorrow - Monday 3rd August - and is again over three sets.