Chessable Masters: Ding Liren topples Nakamura, to meet Carlsen in semifinal

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

The winner of the quarterfinal clash between Hikaru Nakamura and Ding Liren will face Magnus Carlsen in the semifinal.

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

Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri moved within a draw of making the semifinals of the $150,000 Chessable Masters after taking a 2-1 lead after three games of the best-of-four second set match in his quarterfinal against Alexander Grischuk on Sunday.

Having clinched the first set on Friday, an upbeat Giri drew the first game easily, won the next game and comfortably held on to a draw in the third.

The second game saw Giri, playing black, manage to establish the rook-pair on the seventh rank. With his knight joining the attack, Grischuk could not find an escape route and resigned after 46 moves.

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In the other quarterfinal, Hikaru Nakamura survived a possible defeat in the first game against Ding Liren and then won the second to raise visions of a deciding set, scheduled on Monday. The third game, where Liren played black, ended in a draw following repetition of moves.

Nakamura, playing far below the form that saw him play finals of the previous two legs of the Chess Tour, clinched the second game after gaining from Liren’s misjudgement on the 40th move. In an equal position, Liren opted to move his castled king to the queen’s side and Nakamura quickly seized the opportunity. He exchanged a couple of pieces, brought his queen into active, attacking play and eventually caught Liren’s king into a checkmating net in 56 moves.

The results Quarterfinals, Day 5: Hikaru Nakamura (USA) leads Ding Liren (CHN) 2-1; Anish Giri (NED) leads Alexander Grischuk (RUS) 2-1 Semifinal line-up Magnus Carlsen (NOR) v Winner of Ding Liren (CHN) v Hikaru Nakamura (USA) ; Ian Nepomniachtchi (RUS) v Anish Giri (NED)

Follow all the live action from Monday'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