Chessable Masters quarterfinals: Carlsen, Nepomniachtchi bag 2.5 points after three rounds

Catch all the updates, highlights and more from our live coverage of Chessable Masters, the third event of the million-dollar Magnus Carlsen Chess tour.

Magnus Carlsen will clash with Fabiano Caruana in the Chessable Masters quarterfinals today.

Good evening! Hello and welcome to the highlights of Chessable Masters, the third event of the $1million Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour.

Anish Giri held on to his position at the top but overnight joint leader Maxime Vachier-Lagrave lost the last four rounds to tumble out the league phase of $150,000 Chessable Masters on Tuesday.

At the completion of 10 rounds, Giri topped the points tally with six points, including one against Ding Liren who lost his internet connection in drawn position and was later declared ‘lost on time’.

In the quarterfinals, Magnus Carlsen faces Fabiano Caruana, Liren plays Hikaru Nakamura, Vladislav Artemiev meets Ian Nepomniachtchi and Alexander Grischuk clashes with Giri.

The Chinese (5.5 points) bounced right back and took second place jointly with Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi, who lost their encounter due to a 'mouse-slip.' Fabiano Caruana made it at the expense of Vachier, the day’s favourite ‘whipping boy’.

Vachier started the day in joint lead with Giri and the two drew their day’s opening game. Thereafter, it proved a free fall for the Frenchman as he lost to Radjabov, Caruana, Liren and Ian Nepomniachtchi.

Caruana (5) took the fourth spot and made it to the quarterfinals just half-a-point ahead of Radjabov - following a final-round draw with Giri.  

The results Group B: (10th round): Anish Giri (Ned, 6) drew with Fabiano Caruana (USA, 5); Teimour Radjabov (Aze, 4.5) drew with Ding Liren (Ch, 5.5); Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (Fra, 3.5) lost to Ian Nepomniachtchi (Rus, 5.5); (ninth round): Nepomniachtchi drew with Giri; Caruana drew with Radjabov; Liren bt Vachier; (eighth round): Radjabov drew with Giri; Liren bt Nepomniachtchi; Caruana bt Lagrave; (seventh round): Giri bt Liren; Vachier lost to Radjabov; Nepomniachtchi bt Caruana. Quarterfinal line-up Magnus Carlsen (Nor) v Fabiano Caruana (USA); Ding Liren (Chn) v Hikaru Nakamura (USA); Vladislav Artemiev (Rus) v Ian Nepomniachtchi (Rus); Alexander Grischuk (Rus) v Anish Giri (Ned).

Follow all the live action from Thursday's 'Final 8' matches:

THE QUARTERFINALISTS:

Name	Country	Age	Rapid rating	World ranking	Blitz rating	World ranking	Classical rating	World ranking
GROUP A
Magnus Carlsen	Norway	29	2881	1	2887	2	2863	2
Alexander Grischuk	Russia	36	2774	7	2799	14	2777	14
Hikaru Nakamura	USA	32	2829	4	2900	1	2736	18
Vladislav Artemiev	Russia	22	2769	13	2783	12	2716	29
GROUP B
Fabiano Caruana	USA	27	2773	11	2711	35	2835	2
Ding Liren	China	27	2836	3	2788	8	2791	3
Ian Nepomniachtchi	Russia	29	2778	9	2785	10	2784	4
Anish Giri	Netherlands	25	2731	24	2752	22	2764	10