By reaching the semifinals of the Aimchess Rapid match, GM Magnus Carlsen has secured general victory within the 2022 Meltwater Champions Chess Tour. The world champion knocked out GM Arjun Erigaisi and can face GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda subsequent. The different semifinals match shall be between GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and GM Richard Rapport, who eradicated GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov and GM Gukesh D. respectively.

Carlsen-Erigaisi 2.5-0.5

Carlsen has already sealed the general Meltwater Champions Chess Tour title, for the second 12 months operating and with an occasion to spare. This implies that the Norwegian star shall be claiming the $50,000 bonus prize on prime of his general winnings, that are $192,500 to date.

Having that powerful battle within the Julius Baer Generation Cup of final month in thoughts, this time Carlsen wanted solely three video games to remove Erigaisi. The first one was essential, with the Indian GM being up two pawns for a very long time however one way or the other he let his opponent escape, after which Carlsen gained the remaining two video games easily.

Duda-Vidit 2.5-0.5

Duda was the one participant who may nonetheless catch Carlsen within the general tour standings, however for that he wanted his rival to lose in opposition to Erigaisi (and to win the Aimchess Rapid himself). The Polish GM did his half, defeated Vidit convincingly, and can now face Carlsen subsequent.

Afterward, Duda admitted that it wasn’t really easy and certainly, within the second sport he was in a little bit of hassle:

Rapport-Gukesh 2.5-1.5

“I’m taking part in depressing chess, so I used to be actually wanting ahead to Gukesh placing me out of my distress tonight!” mentioned Rapport after eliminating the 16-year-old prodigy from India. The Hungarian GM was in hassle after drawing the primary sport after which shedding the second as White, however he pulled it off by profitable the subsequent two.

After bamboozling his opponent tactically in a King’s Indian in sport three, Rapport determined the match by profitable the notorious (and theoretically drawn) rook and bishop vs. rook endgame. It appears each nice participant ought to lose this endgame as soon as of their profession, and little question Gukesh discovered a helpful lesson.

Mamedyarov-Abdusattorov 2.5-1.5

Mamedyarov additionally efficiently defended the “outdated guard” as he knocked out one other rising star. The first sport was the one decisive sport on this mini-match and noticed an instructive second in a rook endgame:

All video games quarterfinals

The Aimchess Rapid, the seventh occasion within the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour, takes place October 14-20, 2022 on chess24. The preliminaries consisted of a round-robin amongst 16 gamers, from which the highest eight superior to the knockout stage. There, they play a match of 4 speedy video games (15+10) in every spherical and if essential, a blitz + armageddon tiebreak. The prize fund is $150,000.