Magnus Carlsen won two games with black pieces and shut out Ding Liren 2.5-0.5 for a straight-set victory on the way to the final of the $150,000 Chessable Masters on Wednesday.
Having won the first set 3.5-2.5 by virtue of claiming the second blitz game late on Tuesday, Carlsen now awaits the winner of the Anish Giri-Ian Nepomniachtchi match.
In the second set, Carlsen faced early trouble in the first game but broke free by sacrificing a queenside pawn to gain space. He gained equality on the board, ignored a draw-offer two moves before Liren blundered a rook and suffered a painful loss.
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The second game, uneventful as compared to the other two games, ended with Liren forcing a draw by perpetual checks. In the third, Carlsen stayed in control while a desperate Liren lost his way in just 29 moves.
In the other semifinal, where Giri was ahead after winning the first set, Nepomniachtchi raised visions of forcing a decider after going ahead by winning the second game on Wednesday. After three games, the Russian led 2-1 and needed only a draw in the fourth to force the deciding set on today.
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THE SEMIFINALISTS:
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