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Opera Euro Rapid 2021 (Day 5)

Carlsen and So win the first sets of their semifinals of the Opera Euro Rapid

Carlsen beat MVL in the first set of their semifinal. Photo ©

Carlsen beat MVL in the first set of their semifinal. Photo © | https://chess24.com

Magnus Carlsen was a comfortable winner in set one of his Opera Euro Rapid match against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. Carlsen's choice of an old variation of the Gruenfeld caused MVL all sorts of trouble and after 30.Nd5+! he smoothly converted his endgame advantage. Game two was a sharp Sicilian where MVL had his chances but he eventually slipped into trouble, MVL was probably drawing anyway but Carlsen blundered away the exchange and a draw was immediately agreed, this was the first of two very bad oversights from Carlsen. In the third game Carlsen took Queen's off almost straight away and by move 20 he was much better - after 31...Bb2 had a forced win with 32.e6, but then missed checkmate with 34.Bd4+?? (34.Rc8 and it's mate) a trivial tactic that no one at this level should miss. Carlsen did pull himself together (he immediately realised what he had done) and pressed again with the small advantage he still had and eventually again got a winning position - but even here it took two tries (48.Be4? - 48.Rd8+ is winning) - and after 48...Rc7? (48.Rb4=) Carlsen didn't need another invitation. A comfortable 2.5-0.5 win for Carlsen - some parts of his game are working well but he's missing tactical details all over the place.

Carlsen: "Today was a lot better. Neither of us played perfectly, especially in the second game... In general, I have to be happy." MVL: "I certainly didn't play to my best but Magnus was very close to his best.

Wesley So against Teimour Radjabov was expected to be a cagey battle with very few decisive games, instead it we saw them trade three decisive games in a row. So won the first game in a King's Indian where black became extremely passively placed, game two Radjabov found an old line in the Queen's Gambit to surprise So and converted the advantage he got to a win, game three was a Sicilian where So gradually got the upper hand - Radjabov decided to give up a piece for some play, but it was never enough. It took a while but So converted in the end. The final game of the day saw Radjabov obtain some small chances with white but this time So held on for a draw and a win in the first set.

Day 2 Semifinals Friday 12th Feb 2021.

Meltwater Champions Chess Tour: Opera Euro Rapid. Two official commentary streams for semifinals day 1

Opera Euro Rapid KO 2021 chess24.com INT Sat 6th Feb 2021 - Sun 14th Feb 2021
Leading Round 2 (of 3) Standings:
RkName123Pts
Semifinals
1Carlsen, Magnus11
2Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime00
1So, Wesley11
2Radjabov, Teimour00
Quarterfinals
1Carlsen, Magnus1012
2Dubov, Daniil0101
1Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime112
2Aronian, Levon000
1So, Wesley112
2Duda, Jan-Krzysztof000
1Radjabov, Teimour0.50.512
2Giri, Anish0.50.501
8 players

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