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Magnus Carlsen Invitational 2021 (Games and Results)

Magnus Carlsen Invitational 2021

The Magnus Carlsen Invitational is the second major on the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour. This online event takes place on Chess24 13th-24th March. The format has been tweaked for this major, the field has been increased from 12 to 16, in the first major 8 of the 12 players made it through to the second phase and this lead to a lot of caution being rewarded. Players: Magnus Carlsen, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Levon Aronian, Anish Giri, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Wesley So, Teimour Radjabov, Alireza Firouzja, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Sergey Karjakin, Hikaru Nakamura, Daniil Dubov, Jorden van Foreest, David Anton Plus two qualifiers Alan Pichot and Nils Grandelius.

Giri wins his first Meltwater Champions Chess Tour event (Day 9)

Anish Giri won the Magnus Carlsen Invitational by defeating Ian Nepomniachtchi in the final after a blitz tie-break. The match was extremely close with all four games being drawn on the first day and today there was a further sharp draw in game one before the deadlock was broken. Game two was a Taimanov Sicilian where Giri castled Queen side and then following 18...Nc6 (Ng6 had to be played) Giri got in 19.g6 shattering black's pawn structure in front of his King. Nepomniachtchi had to prioritise castle before it was too late but he lost material and was busted. Giri brought home the full point very securely. It was Giri's turn to have his King in trouble in game 3 but he had an exchange for his trouble and objectively he wasn't worse (the computers thought him better but it can't have been a fun position to play) and he got Queens off and into a drawn Rook endgame. Giri only needed a draw with the white pieces in the final rapid game but he didn't manage it. Giri was on the back foot almost from the start and quite lost soon after but on move 32.Qe2 would have put him right back in it. Instead he lost almost straight away. In the blitz tie-break Giri sacrificed a knight for an attack that didn't end up working. Nepomniachtchi however returned the favour - after the game he berated himself for spending time on 25...Rh7 a move he knew to be bad but which he played anyway. 25...Rg8 or 25...Qe8 were winning for him, instead he was busted. Giri also won the final tie-break game - the only game of their entire match that wasn't a Sicilian.

Finally a win in one of these events for Giri, in the first tour he lost to Carlsen in the final of the Chessable Masters and also lost a long match to Nepomniachtchi in the following Legends of Chess event. In the new Meltwater Champions Chess Tour Giri has lost to Carlsen in the first round of the Skilling Open final stages, didn't make it out of the prelims in the Airthings Masters and lost to Radjabov in the Opera Euro Rapid. With this win Giri has qualified for the tour final with this win, and now his and Nepomniachtchi's attention turns to the Candidates.

Magnus Carlsen beat Wesley So in the first game of their second set and that was enough to win the second set to add to his first win yesterday, thus Carlsen finished in third place. Wesley So still leads the tour, Carlsen has now moved into second place.

The organisers announced that there will be an online tour with Vladimir Kramnik and Judit Polgar captaining teams of young talented players and we'll see that fairly soon.

Magnus Carlsen Invitational 2021 (Day 9)

Giri managed to win a blitz tie-break to beat Nepomniachtchi in a match that could have gone either way. Photo ©

Giri managed to win a blitz tie-break to beat Nepomniachtchi in a match that could have gone either way. Photo © | https://chess24.com

Magnus Carlsen Invitational 2021 (chess24.com INT)
Sat 13th Mar 2021 - Sun 21st Mar 2021 - Official Site - Live

Magnus Carlsen Inv Prelim (16 players 15 Rds SRR Indiv TC:15m+10spm) - Games in PGN: Games Prelim

Magnus Carlsen Inv KO (8 players 3 Rds Minimatch Indiv TC:15m+10spm) - Games in PGN: Games KO

Magnus Carlsen Inv Qual (4 players 6 Rds DRR Indiv TC:10m+5spm) - Games in PGN: Games Qualifier

Magnus Carlsen Inv Prelim (16 players 15 Rds SRR Indiv TC: 15m+10spm) - Games in PGN: Games Prelim

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Magnus Carlsen Inv Prelim chess24.com INT Sat 13th Mar 2021 - Sun 21st Mar 2021
Leading Final Round 15 Standings:
RkNameTiFEDRtg12345678910111213141516PtsTB1TB2TB3
1Carlsen MagnusGMNOR2847*0½½1½1½1½½1½11110.50771.75
2Giri AnishGMNED27761*1½0½½1½½½1½½11100671.25
3So WesleyGMUSA2770½0*½0½½111½½11½19.50665
4Nakamura HikaruGMUSA2736½½½*½½½1½½½½1½½190363.75
5Nepomniachtchi IanGMRUS2789011½*½10½0½1½0118.51.5660.25
6Firouzja AlirezaGMFID2759½½½½½*½½0½111½018.51460.75
7Vachier-Lagrave MaximeGMFRA27580½½½0½*½½½11½½118.50.5456.25
8Aronian LevonGMARM2781½0001½½*1½½0½11181553
9Karjakin SergeyGMRUS27570½0½½1½0*½10111½80554.5
10Dubov DaniilGMRUS2710½½0½1½½½½*0½101½7.50354.25
11Radjabov TeimourGMAZE2765½½½½½00½01*½½½1½70249.75
12Mamedyarov ShakhriyarGMAZE277000½½00011½½*110½6.50445.75
13Grandelius NilsGMSWE2670½½00½0½½00½0*11161338.75
14Van Foreest JordenGMNED27010½0½1½½001½00*1½60342.75
15Anton Guijarro DavidGMESP267300½½0100000100*140326.75
16Pichot AlanGMARG263000000000½½½½0½0*2.50017.5
Round 1 (March 13, 2021)
So, Wesley - Nepomniachtchi, Ian 0-1 58 B06 Modern Defence
Nakamura, Hikaru - Anton Guijarro, David ½-½ 37 C83 Ruy Lopez Open
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime - Firouzja, Alireza ½-½ 60 A07 Barcza System
Aronian, Levon - Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar 0-1 27 C41 Philidor's Defence
Dubov, Daniil - Grandelius, Nils 1-0 40 A37 English Symmetrical
Radjabov, Teimour - Giri, Anish ½-½ 35 D38 QGD Ragozin
Van Foreest, Jorden - Carlsen, Magnus 0-1 50 B27 Sicilian Early Fianchetto
Pichot, Alan - Karjakin, Sergey ½-½ 40 C53 Giuoco Piano
Round 2 (March 13, 2021)
Carlsen, Magnus - Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime 1-0 34 A00 Irregular Openings
Giri, Anish - Firouzja, Alireza ½-½ 66 B67 Sicilian Rauzer
Nepomniachtchi, Ian - Aronian, Levon 0-1 40 C33 Kings Bishops Gambit
Karjakin, Sergey - So, Wesley 0-1 54 C50 Giuoco Piano
Radjabov, Teimour - Pichot, Alan ½-½ 25 D37 QGD 5.Bf4
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar - Dubov, Daniil ½-½ 69 B22 Sicilian Alapin
Grandelius, Nils - Nakamura, Hikaru 0-1 58 C67 Ruy Lopez Berlin
Anton Guijarro, David - Van Foreest, Jorden 0-1 29 D32 Tarrasch Defence
Round 3 (March 13, 2021)
So, Wesley - Radjabov, Teimour ½-½ 51 C53 Giuoco Piano
Nakamura, Hikaru - Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar ½-½ 48 C41 Philidor's Defence
Firouzja, Alireza - Carlsen, Magnus ½-½ 40 D05 Colle System
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime - Anton Guijarro, David 1-0 44 A15 English counter King's Fianchetto
Aronian, Levon - Karjakin, Sergey 1-0 34 D02 Queen's Pawn Game
Dubov, Daniil - Nepomniachtchi, Ian 1-0 43 B09 Pirc Defence
Van Foreest, Jorden - Grandelius, Nils 0-1 41 B50 Sicilian Defence
Pichot, Alan - Giri, Anish 0-1 31 B96 Sicilian Najdorf
Round 4 (March 13, 2021)
Giri, Anish - Carlsen, Magnus 1-0 58 B36 Sicilian Maroczy Bind
Nepomniachtchi, Ian - Nakamura, Hikaru ½-½ 45 C67 Ruy Lopez Berlin
Karjakin, Sergey - Dubov, Daniil ½-½ 13 B60 Sicilian Rauzer
Radjabov, Teimour - Aronian, Levon ½-½ 92 D38 QGD Ragozin
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar - Van Foreest, Jorden 1-0 36 C26 Vienna Game
Grandelius, Nils - Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime ½-½ 49 B13 Caro Kann Exchange
Anton Guijarro, David - Firouzja, Alireza 1-0 52 E60 King's Indian without Nc3
Pichot, Alan - So, Wesley 0-1 37 C53 Giuoco Piano
Round 5 (March 13, 2021)
Carlsen, Magnus - Anton Guijarro, David 1-0 85 C77 Ruy Lopez Anderssen
So, Wesley - Giri, Anish 0-1 29 C53 Giuoco Piano
Nakamura, Hikaru - Karjakin, Sergey ½-½ 14 C67 Ruy Lopez Berlin
Firouzja, Alireza - Grandelius, Nils 1-0 59 A48 King's Indian Defence /c2-c4
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime - Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar 1-0 34 C41 Philidor's Defence
Aronian, Levon - Pichot, Alan 1-0 63 A18 English Opening
Dubov, Daniil - Radjabov, Teimour 0-1 70 E06 Catalan
Van Foreest, Jorden - Nepomniachtchi, Ian 1-0 57 B06 Modern Defence
Round 6 (March 14, 2021)
Giri, Anish - Anton Guijarro, David 1-0 37 C83 Ruy Lopez Open
So, Wesley - Aronian, Levon 1-0 33 E32 Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Nepomniachtchi, Ian - Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime 1-0 35 A01 Larsen Opening
Karjakin, Sergey - Van Foreest, Jorden 1-0 61 C11 French Defence
Radjabov, Teimour - Nakamura, Hikaru ½-½ 19 D37 QGD 5.Bf4
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar - Firouzja, Alireza 0-1 46 B22 Sicilian Alapin
Grandelius, Nils - Carlsen, Magnus ½-½ 60 B30 Sicilian Rossolimo
Pichot, Alan - Dubov, Daniil ½-½ 84 C53 Giuoco Piano
Round 7 (March 14, 2021)
Carlsen, Magnus - Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar 1-0 27 B40 Sicilian Classical
Nakamura, Hikaru - Pichot, Alan 1-0 44 B48 Sicilian Paulsen
Firouzja, Alireza - Nepomniachtchi, Ian ½-½ 38 A45 Trompowsky
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime - Karjakin, Sergey ½-½ 37 A45 Trompowsky
Aronian, Levon - Giri, Anish 0-1 39 D97 Gruenfeld Russian
Dubov, Daniil - So, Wesley 0-1 48 E06 Catalan
Van Foreest, Jorden - Radjabov, Teimour ½-½ 56 C66 Ruy Lopez Berlin
Anton Guijarro, David - Grandelius, Nils 0-1 32 E60 King's Indian without Nc3
Round 8 (March 14, 2021)
Giri, Anish - Grandelius, Nils ½-½ 46 B90 Sicilian Najdorf Variation
So, Wesley - Nakamura, Hikaru ½-½ 14 C67 Ruy Lopez Berlin
Nepomniachtchi, Ian - Carlsen, Magnus 0-1 54 B33 Sicilian Sveshnikov
Karjakin, Sergey - Firouzja, Alireza 1-0 57 B12 Caro Kann Advanced
Aronian, Levon - Dubov, Daniil ½-½ 57 B60 Sicilian Rauzer
Radjabov, Teimour - Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime 0-1 29 A04 Dutch System
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar - Anton Guijarro, David 0-1 44 B22 Sicilian Alapin
Pichot, Alan - Van Foreest, Jorden ½-½ 56 C53 Giuoco Piano
Round 9 (March 14, 2021)
Carlsen, Magnus - Karjakin, Sergey 1-0 40 D61 Queens Gambit Main Line with 7.Qc2
Nakamura, Hikaru - Aronian, Levon 1-0 30 D78 Gruenfeld 3.g3
Firouzja, Alireza - Radjabov, Teimour 1-0 32 E98 King's Indian Classical
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime - Pichot, Alan 1-0 49 A45 Trompowsky
Dubov, Daniil - Giri, Anish ½-½ 47 D41 Semi-Tarrasch Defence
Van Foreest, Jorden - So, Wesley 0-1 55 C45 Scotch Game
Grandelius, Nils - Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar 0-1 36 B40 Sicilian Classical
Anton Guijarro, David - Nepomniachtchi, Ian 0-1 42 E60 King's Indian without Nc3
Round 10 (March 14, 2021)
Giri, Anish - Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar 1-0 47 B40 Sicilian Classical
So, Wesley - Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime ½-½ 35 D14 Slav Exchange
Nepomniachtchi, Ian - Grandelius, Nils ½-½ 44 A01 Larsen Opening
Karjakin, Sergey - Anton Guijarro, David 1-0 69 A45 Trompowsky
Aronian, Levon - Van Foreest, Jorden 1-0 66 C53 Giuoco Piano
Dubov, Daniil - Nakamura, Hikaru ½-½ 22 E06 Catalan
Radjabov, Teimour - Carlsen, Magnus ½-½ 35 D43 Anti-Meran Gambit
Pichot, Alan - Firouzja, Alireza 0-1 39 B10 Caro Kann
Round 11 (March 15, 2021)
Carlsen, Magnus - Pichot, Alan 1-0 42 B47 Sicilian Paulsen
Nakamura, Hikaru - Giri, Anish ½-½ 14 C67 Ruy Lopez Berlin
Firouzja, Alireza - So, Wesley ½-½ 34 D02 Queen's Pawn Game
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime - Aronian, Levon ½-½ 34 D02 Queen's Pawn Game
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar - Nepomniachtchi, Ian 0-1 57 B22 Sicilian Alapin
Van Foreest, Jorden - Dubov, Daniil 1-0 58 C55 Two Knights Defence
Grandelius, Nils - Karjakin, Sergey 0-1 46 C84 Ruy Lopez Centre Attack
Anton Guijarro, David - Radjabov, Teimour 0-1 24 A05 Various
Round 12 (March 15, 2021)
Giri, Anish - Nepomniachtchi, Ian 0-1 33 B46 Sicilian Paulsen
So, Wesley - Carlsen, Magnus ½-½ 43 D10 Slav Defence
Nakamura, Hikaru - Van Foreest, Jorden ½-½ 28 C65 Ruy Lopez Berlin
Karjakin, Sergey - Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar 0-1 28 B29 Sicilian Defence
Aronian, Levon - Firouzja, Alireza ½-½ 44 D02 Queen's Pawn Game
Dubov, Daniil - Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime ½-½ 48 E06 Catalan
Radjabov, Teimour - Grandelius, Nils ½-½ 101 D85 Gruenfeld Defence
Pichot, Alan - Anton Guijarro, David 0-1 43 B10 Caro Kann
Round 13 (March 15, 2021)
Carlsen, Magnus - Aronian, Levon ½-½ 65 D38 QGD Ragozin
Firouzja, Alireza - Dubov, Daniil ½-½ 29 D78 Gruenfeld 3.g3
Nepomniachtchi, Ian - Karjakin, Sergey ½-½ 14 C67 Ruy Lopez Berlin
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime - Nakamura, Hikaru ½-½ 14 C67 Ruy Lopez Berlin
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar - Radjabov, Teimour ½-½ 37 C47 Four Knights
Van Foreest, Jorden - Giri, Anish ½-½ 68 D77 Gruenfeld 3.g3
Grandelius, Nils - Pichot, Alan 1-0 43 B48 Sicilian Paulsen
Anton Guijarro, David - So, Wesley ½-½ 42 C22 Centre Gambit
Round 14 (March 15, 2021)
Giri, Anish - Karjakin, Sergey ½-½ 18 C65 Ruy Lopez Berlin
So, Wesley - Grandelius, Nils 1-0 29 D85 Gruenfeld Defence
Nakamura, Hikaru - Firouzja, Alireza ½-½ 14 C67 Ruy Lopez Berlin
Aronian, Levon - Anton Guijarro, David 1-0 44 A46 Queen's Pawn Opening
Dubov, Daniil - Carlsen, Magnus ½-½ 77 D43 Anti-Meran Gambit
Radjabov, Teimour - Nepomniachtchi, Ian ½-½ 15 D85 Gruenfeld Defence
Van Foreest, Jorden - Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime ½-½ 46 B12 Caro Kann Advanced
Pichot, Alan - Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar ½-½ 53 C53 Giuoco Piano
Round 15 (March 15, 2021)
Carlsen, Magnus - Nakamura, Hikaru ½-½ 6 C20 Unusual Moves
Firouzja, Alireza - Van Foreest, Jorden ½-½ 14 C67 Ruy Lopez Berlin
Nepomniachtchi, Ian - Pichot, Alan 1-0 27 B48 Sicilian Paulsen
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime - Giri, Anish ½-½ 44 B90 Sicilian Najdorf Variation
Karjakin, Sergey - Radjabov, Teimour 1-0 30 B30 Sicilian Rossolimo
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar - So, Wesley ½-½ 14 C67 Ruy Lopez Berlin
Grandelius, Nils - Aronian, Levon ½-½ 25 C78 Ruy Lopez Moeller Defence
Anton Guijarro, David - Dubov, Daniil 0-1 57 A05 Various

Magnus Carlsen Inv KO (8 players 3 Rds Minimatch Indiv TC: 15m+10spm) - Games in PGN: Games KO

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Magnus Carlsen Inv KO chess24.com INT Sat 13th Mar 2021 - Sun 21st Mar 2021
Leading Final Round 3 Standings:
RkName123Pts
Final
1Giri, Anish0.50.512
2Nepomniachtchi, Ian0.50.501
3rd-4th
1Carlsen, Magnus112
2So, Wesley000
Semi-final
1Giri, Anish112
2So, Wesley000
1Nepomniachtchi, Ian1012
2Carlsen, Magnus0101
Quarter-final
1Giri, Anish0.511.5
2Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime0.500.5
1So, Wesley112
2Firouzja, Alireza000
1Carlsen, Magnus112
2Aronian, Levon000
1Nepomniachtchi, Ian0.511.5
2Nakamura, Hikaru0.500.5
8 players

Magnus Carlsen Inv Qual (4 players 6 Rds DRR Indiv TC: 10m+5spm) - Games in PGN: Games Qualifier

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Magnus Carlsen Inv Qual chess24.com INT Sat 13th Mar 2021 - Sun 21st Mar 2021
Leading Final Round 6 Standings:
RkNameRtgPts
1Pichot, Alan26304
2Grandelius, Nils26703.5
3Tari, Aryan26393
4Warmerdam, Max25351.5
4 players

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