Skilling Open quarterfinals: Carlsen survives day of upsets

Magnus Carlsen, after escaping a seemingly lost position in the first game of the best-of-four-rapid-game set, saw off Anish Giri in two more games before winning the fourth.

Published : Nov 26, 2020 13:01 IST , New Delhi

FILE PHOTO: Magnus Carlsen beat Anish Giri 2.5-1.5
FILE PHOTO: Magnus Carlsen beat Anish Giri 2.5-1.5
lightbox-info

FILE PHOTO: Magnus Carlsen beat Anish Giri 2.5-1.5

Magnus Carlsen was the only expected winner after three other pre-match favourites – Hikaru Nakamura, Ian Nepomniachtchi and Wesley So –crashed to surprising first-set defeats in the quarterfinals of the $100,000 Skilling Open online chess tournament on Wednesday.

Carlsen, after escaping a seemingly lost position in the first game of the best-of-four-rapid-game set, saw off Anish Giri in two more games before winning the fourth. Giri, like the other three losers of the day, faces a must-win situation in the second set to stay alive in the competition.

READ |



Levon Aronian, down 0.5-1.5 to Nepomiachtchi after losing the second game, bounced right back to win the next two games.

Teimour Radjabov won the first and third games with black pieces against an off-colour So to emerge as the fastest winner of the day.

Maxime-Vachier Lagrave nailed Nakamura in the first game, defended very well to survive the second and then drew twice to stay ahead.
 

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment