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Magnus Carlsen Invitational 2021 (Day 3)

Carlsen tops the Magnus Carlsen Invitational Preliminaries

Daniil Dubov escaped with a draw against Magnus Carlsen but was still eliminated. Photo ©

Daniil Dubov escaped with a draw against Magnus Carlsen but was still eliminated. Photo © | https://chess24.com

Magnus Carlsen won the preliminary stages of his own invitational scoring 3/5 and this was enough after long time leader Anish Giri suffered his first defeat of the event at the hands of Ian Nepomniachtchi. Giri still finished in clear second place for comfortable and impressive progress.

The intrigue on the final day was not at the top but more over who would miss out on progress to the next phase. Levon Aronian was the final qualifier finishing in 8th place and will face Carlsen in the knockout phase. Teimour Radjabov who has done tremendously well in the tour so far (winning the first major) was eliminated as were debutants Sergey Karjakin and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, it's to be hoped these two players get another chance as they clearly found it rather tough to adjust to the format, but equally clearly have the playing strength to do well. Karjakin eventually tied for the final qualification spot but missed out because he lost his individual game against Aronian - the primary tie-break. Crowd favourite Daniil Dubov also was eliminated.

For some it was just about not messing things up for themselves on the final day having already done the hard work. Hikaru Nakamura drew some criticism for his rather minimalist approach - he drew some very quick games - but this was an undefeated qualification in fourth place - professionally achieved. There was a joke draw by repetition in the final round with Carlsen in what we now know is a Bongcloud opening.

After an uncertain first day Wesley So played some very nice chess and finished in third place. Alireza Firouzja has sometimes been unlucky in the preliminaries but he too progressed this time with five draws on the final day. Ian Nepomniachtchi was top scorer on day 3 with wins against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Giri, draws against Karjakin and Radjabov and finally a win against Alan Pichot. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave also drew all his games to qualify but he was in a lot of trouble against Jorden Van Foreest in round 14 and a loss could have put his place in the final stages at risk.

The knockout starts at 4pm on Tuesday 16th March. Round 1: Carlsen-Aronian, Nepomniachtchi-Nakamura, So-Firouzja and MVL-Giri.

Meltwater Champions Chess Tour: Magnus Carlsen Invitational. Two official Day 3 commentary streams

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 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

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