Both Hikaru Nakamura and Nodirbek Abdusattorov have been gamers awarded wildcards from co-organisers; Nakamura’s from the Charlotte Chess Center and North American Corporate Chess League and Abdusattorov’s wildcard was from Offerspill Sjakklubb.

Try our customized puzzle set produced from the later video games of the event:
https://lichess.org/examine/XGCz40gk

As the seeding for the knockout levels have been immediately affected by their leads to the earlier Swiss stage, each tournaments had some fiery match-ups within the last 16. Anish Giri overpowered Richard Rapport in quick trend, a feat echoed by Nodirbek Abdusattorov in his video games in opposition to Le Quang Liem. Giri was compelled to blitz tiebreaks by Eric Hansen, earlier than persevering with easily in opposition to Georg Meier to make it to the ultimate. Meanwhile, Abdusattorov dispatched Johan-Sebastian Christiansen earlier than having his first wobble in opposition to Nijat Abasov. Forced to the blitz tiebreak for the primary time, Abdusattorov bested a tilted Abasov to make it to the ultimate. 

With a Giri versus Abdusattorov last, Lichess commentators FM Gauri Shankar and WGM Sabina Foisor polled customers to find out who the group thought could be the finalist. With greater than 70% voting for Giri, the group’s prediction was clear. But Abdusattorov compelled Giri onto the again foot from the primary fast sport of 4, but this wasn’t Giri’s first rodeo and he stopped the bleeding and stabilised with two attracts. Going into the fourth fast sport, Giri wanted a win on demand to remain in competition — and obtained it!

https://lichess.org/examine/embed/a4FOM1iM/AQoVW5Kc#0

With each gamers on 2 factors out of 4, the knockout went to blitz tiebreaks. Abdusattorov, seemingly in unstoppable kind within the blitz levels — having solely received each blitz tiebreak sport within the knockout stage — repeated this in opposition to Giri, defeating him 2–0 within the blitz portion.

At 18 years previous, Abdusattorov is among the most promising kids of the subsequent technology. At 17 years previous, he received the World Rapid Chess Championship 2021, defeating Magnus Carlsen on the best way. This achievement made him the youngest World Champion in Rapid, and in any of the three FIDE recognised time controls. Most lately, the world quantity 30 performed board 1 for Uzbekistan on the forty fourth Chess Olympiad in Chennai, the place he halted a seemingly unstoppable run by Gukesh D. This effort propelled Uzbekistan to workforce gold, however Abdusattorov additionally took a person silver for his outcomes on board 1 (+7 -1 =3) and a efficiency ranking of 2803. By a number of years, Abdusattorov would be the youngest participant within the discipline at Reykjavik.

Abdusattorov in 2019 (photograph: Wikipedia)

Georg Meier received in straight units in opposition to Abasov to take third place. Meier’s achievement is very notable as he got here the furthest in the complete competitors with none wildcard, and in addition balancing a full time profession out of chess. The Offerspill Qualifier additionally hosted an untitled novice participant, Vignesh B — who made it the furthest of any participant with no title (though with a 2382 FIDE ranking he’s eligible to be titled), earlier than being eradicated by GM Guillermo Vazquez. Vignesh B shared with Lichess that:

“The Swiss Phase 2 especially was a great experience for me, getting to play against some top GMs like Moussard, Zhamsaran, etc, and various other strong players. I was elated that I had somehow managed to squeeze into the top 15. The knockouts were interesting, but the first game was extremely poor from me (maybe a bit overwhelmed by the big stage), and I couldn’t convert a better position in the second game. Though unhappy with my performance in the Knockouts, I was happy for the opportunity on the whole.

I’d like to thank Lichess for giving numerous opportunities for players like me to face some of the most renowned players of the world, through tournaments like this. And I look forward to taking part in more of these events. Also, this whole event has made me love the 960 format a lot more, I’d certainly love to play more 960 events too.”

Meanwhile, the Charlotte Chess Center and North American Corporate Chess League was nearly totally dominated by US gamers, with 1st, third and 4th place all going to these beneath the US flag. 

The FIDE-flagged Andrey Esipenko bested the beloved king of extremely quick time controls, Andrew Tang (aka, penguingm1). No slouch in fast and blitz chess himself (the jury is out on bullet and ultrabullet), Esipenko had loads of time within the fast levels, successful each video games. Doing so, Esipenko confronted charismatic compatriot Alexander Grischuk (who had defeated Jeffery Xiong). Overcoming Grischuk within the blitz tiebreaks, Esipenko then met Gata Kamsky (who had defeated the NYT chess columnist and well-known commentator, Daniel Naroditsky). Winning one fast sport every, after which one blitz sport every, the one Armageddon sport of both knockout event was seen — with Esipenko getting the purpose and changing into the finalist to satisfy Hikaru Nakamura.

Nakamura needed to knock out a number of of his compatriots in his path to the ultimate. First got here IM Andy Woodward — at 12 years previous, the youngest of all gamers inside the last 16. Woodward was form sufficient to share a short event report for us, which is given in full on the finish of this text. He describes the match-up as a “David and Goliath story”:

“Right earlier than the knockout video games began, my opponent was modified to Hikaru (the highest one seed). I began being nervous at first. Then I knew I did not have a lot probability. I made a decision to neglect concerning the outcomes. Just play for expertise. The first sport was up and down. I used to be higher however blundered away in time bother. I type of bluffed within the second sport as a result of I wanted a win to have an opportunity. I had a bonus at one level however wasn’t capable of hold it. 

Overall, it was an amazing, enjoyable expertise! I actually respect the organizer for giving me this chance to play in opposition to many robust and skilled gamers!’

Nakamura had this remark to say of his expertise in opposition to Woodward:

“I was impressed by the play of the young Andy Woodward who at the age of 12 is exhibiting some signs of a player who has a very bright future ahead of him.”

Nakamura went on to defeat one other compatriot and prodigy, Awonder Liang, repeating this feat in opposition to one other compatriot and prodigy — Sam Sevian. Looking unstoppable, Nakamura breezed to the finals, successful in opposition to Esipenko 2.5 / 4 with a sport to spare.

https://lichess.org/examine/embed/8WZ7Y6K7/kQlEdUE9#0

Nakamura was the one participant to play 4 knockout rounds, with out going to a single blitz tiebreak. Meanwhile, in third place, Gata Kamsky defeated compatriot Sam Sevian. 

At 34 years previous, Hikaru Nakamura would be the oldest participant within the discipline at Reykjavik. Currently the world quantity 6, Nakamura’s accomplishments inside chess and corollary to it are well-known. First breaking into the highest 10 in 2010, he had a peak ranking of 2816 in 2015 and was the world quantity 2. Holding 5 US Championship titles, a participant in two Candidates Tournaments (most lately in Madrid 2022), and two bronze medals in Rapid World Championships, Nakamura will definitely be one of many favourites. Off the board, he’s well-known as a social media influencer and chess persona, with practically 1.5m followers on Twitch, and over 1.3m followers on YouTube. 

Nakamura in 2016 (photograph: Wikipedia)

IM Andy Woodward’s occasion report

I obtained the invitation to play within the FIDE CCC & NACCL on-line qualifier second stage event proper earlier than I left for a norm event in Seattle. I used to be very excited however did not have time to consider it till I got here dwelling every week later. I did not have expertise taking part in the chess960 video games. So I began wanting up positions and briefly went by Wesley So’s Chessable course on chess960 (Thanks to a buddy). I solely had time to take a look at round 250 positions. But I discovered myself liking chess960 video games rather a lot (perhaps as a result of it does not require a lot opening preparations?)

I did not have any expectations after I performed within the qualification stage as a result of there have been so many high Grandmasters. I used to be very fortunate that my opponent made a mistake within the final spherical and shortly misplaced. I noticed that I had an opportunity though fairly just a few video games have been nonetheless occurring. I mentioned a fast prayer and left the remainder to God. I could not imagine that I used to be positioned fifteenth place and made it to the knockout stage in the long run!

I used to be simply so grateful to have the chance to play in opposition to the highest gamers. I used to be additionally nervous. My mother jogged my memory of the David and Goliath story. I used to be able to apply extra and do my finest. But proper earlier than the knockout video games began, my opponent was modified to Hikaru (the highest one seed). I began being nervous at first. Then I knew I did not have a lot of an opportunity. I made a decision to neglect concerning the outcomes. Just play for expertise. The first sport was up and down. I used to be higher however blundered away in time bother. I type of bluffed within the second sport as a result of I wanted a win to have an opportunity. I had a bonus at one level however wasn’t capable of hold it. 

Overall, it was an amazing, enjoyable expertise! I actually respect the organizer for giving me this chance to play in opposition to many robust and skilled gamers! I seldom participated within the on-line tournaments or the chess960 tournaments up to now as a result of my mother and father not often paid consideration to them. This expertise was past my expectations, each in clean group and within the robust discipline. I must brush up my chess960 expertise and hopefully get higher subsequent 12 months! Thank you once more for organizing this and for introducing Chess960 to me!

– Andy