GMs Magnus Carlsen and GM Praggnanandhaa R. are in a tie for first place on the FTX Crypto Cup with the utmost rating of six factors after two days of play. GM Levon Aronian is in second place with 5 factors, forward of GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda with 4.
Carlsen-Niemann 3-1
Carlsen’s match with GM Hans Niemann really began with a crushing victory for the younger American participant. After this glorious first win, Niemann stopped briefly for the interviewer exterior the taking part in corridor, saying: “The chess speaks for itself!” He then walked away whereas the follow-up query was being requested.
On Tuesday, Niemann had given a livid interview utilizing the f-word a number of occasions dwell on digicam following the laptop computer debacle with Duda. One viewer within the official broadcast described Niemann as “the Nick Kyrgios of chess.”
Carlsen levelled the rating instantly with a effective, technical win however within the third recreation he once more did not get place out of the opening, the place he used 1.a3. He gained anyway:
Carlsen additionally gained the fourth recreation, and mentioned: “I did not play so nice, however I’m very pleased with the very fact I got here again.”
Praggnanandhaa-Giri 2.5-1.5
Praggnanandhaa adopted go well with as the one different participant to win each of his first two matches with no need a tiebreak. The 17-year-old GM from Chennai drew his first three video games with GM Anish Giri after which scored a decisive win.
Like Carlsen, Pragg was self-critical, saying: “I feel I did not play so effectively on this match. I’d similar to to play higher chess.”
Although his chess was nonetheless adequate to beat one other high grandmaster, in response to Pragg he was not doing effectively within the first recreation and missed a win within the third, when Giri blundered within the final one:
Aronian-Duda 3.5-2.5
Aronian is in second place on 5 factors as a result of he defeated Duda”solely” within the blitz tiebreak, which yields two match factors as a substitute of three. Aronian gained the second blitz recreation:
Firouzja-Le 2.5-0.5
After a draw of their first recreation, GM Alireza Firouzja defeated GM Le Quang Liem twice in a row, and that meant the match was already over. Game two was a remarkably brief affair and White, who is meant to be barely higher within the endgame, was in hassle after an early mistake:
All video games spherical 2
FTX Crypto Cup | Round 2 Standings
| # | Fed | Name | Rtg | Pts |
| 1-2 | Magnus Carlsen | 2822 | 6 | |
| 1-2 | Praggnanandhaa R. | 2751 | 6 | |
| 3 | Levon Aronian | 2793 | 5 | |
| 4 | Jan-Krzyztof Duda | 2792 | 4 | |
| 5 | Alireza Firouzja | 2793 | 3 | |
| 6-8 | Le Quang Liem | 2775 | 0 | |
| 6-8 | Anish Giri | 2783 | 0 | |
| 6-8 | Hans Niemann | 2615 | 0 |
The FTX Crypto Cup, the sixth occasion within the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour, takes place August 15-21, 2022 on chess24. The format is a round-robin amongst eight gamers, who play a match of 4 fast video games (15+10) in every spherical. The winner earns $7,500 and three factors. In the case of a tie, a two-game blitz tiebreak is performed (5+3), adopted by an armageddon recreation (5 vs. 4). In that case, the winner earns $5,000 and two factors; the loser, $2,500 and one level. The prize fund is $210,000 plus a further $100,000 tied to the worth of Bitcoin.
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