Chessable Masters: Carlsen races past Liren to reach final

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 Chessable Masters.

In the finals, Carlsen will now take on the winner of the Anish Giri-Ian Nepomniachtchi match.

 

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, Carlsen clinched the best-of-three set encounter 2-0. He now awaits the winner of the Anish Giri-Ian Nepomniachtchi deciding set on Thursday. They were locked 1-1 after two sets. following Nepomniachtchi's 2.5-1.5 victory.

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, then saw past a draw-offer before Liren blundered a rook on his way to a painful loss.

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.

Semifinals results:

Second set (Rapid, Game One): Ding Liren (Chn) lost to Magnus Carlsen (Nor); Anish Giri (Ned) drew with Ian Nepomniachtchi (Rus); (Game Two): Carlsen drew with Liren; Nepomniachtchi bt Giri; (Game Three): Liren lost to Carlsen; Giri drew with Nepomniachtchi; (Game Four): Nepomniachtchi drew with Giri.