GM Magnus Carlsen gained the FTX Crypto Cup on Sunday regardless of shedding his last match in a tiebreak to GM Praggnanandhaa R., who thereby secured second place within the match. GM Alireza Firouzja completed in third place.

Carlsen-Praggnanandhaa 2-4

In what was a dream finale for the match, the 2 dominating gamers had been paired in opposition to one another on the final day. Neither of them performed at their perfect, however the combat was undoubtedly entertaining.

After two attracts, Carlsen gained the third recreation, with which he clinched match victory as a result of even when he would lose his remaining video games, he would get some extent for reaching the tiebreak. And that is precisely what occurred: Pragg levelled the rating after which gained each video games within the blitz tiebreak.

Although not horrible in line with the engine, 16…b5 within the fourth fast recreation appeared too frivolous by Carlsen, who admitted missing motivation by that time. “I feel Magnus simply wished to have extra enjoyable, that is it,” stated Praggnanandhaa. “This 16…b5 is pointless.  I feel he simply wished to have enjoyable and attempt to beat me.”

Carlsen was about to power an armageddon as he acquired a totally profitable place within the second blitz recreation. But then he unexpectedly collapsed, first lacking a profitable tactic after which blundering yet another time:

Afterward, Carlsen stated: “I used to be feeling horrible immediately; I did not get sufficient sleep, I used to be simply not in good condition. I’m very joyful and relieved to have gained the match. Obviously I might have wished to have achieved higher immediately, it is actually form of embarrassing to lose the final three video games however total the feelings are clearly optimistic. I want that I might have saved my stage going proper until the very finish. I did not however nonetheless it is a fantastic outcome.”

Firouzja-Aronian 2.5-1.5

Firouzja was “better of the remaining,” the truth is by reaching the identical rating as Praggnanandhaa however getting edged out on the primary tiebreak, which was mutual rating. The French-Iranian grandmaster drew three video games with GM Levon Aronian after which gained the fourth:

Duda-Giri 2.5-0.5

GM Anish Giri once more did not have an excellent “main” and stated he wants to research why he’s performing worse on this round-robin format in comparison with the opposite one, with preliminaries adopted by a knockout.

What did not assist was that earlier than his second recreation with GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Giri acquired locked out of his resort room which prevented him from getting ready (as in, memorizing) some opening strikes. Making a reference to one of many Niemann interviews, the Dutchman commented: 

“I’m not going to say ‘I feel that is ridiculous and it should not be taking place!’ however I’m actually unsure if I might have repeated that individual line as a result of there have been a couple of different issues that he would possibly do and I do not know if I used to be within the temper to repeat numerous traces anyway, however that file was open so I might have. Anyway, I acquired a high quality place and I misplaced multiple recreation immediately so it was not the explanation for my loss. Yesterday I wasn’t locked out of my room and anyway I misplaced so it is not the explanation however nonetheless it is form of humorous that when issues are usually not going your approach, many particulars slip away like that.”

Here’s that second recreation, the place Giri misplaced rapidly:

Duda: “I feel I used to be in fairly unhealthy form so truly it is fairly good that I managed to win virtually in opposition to anybody.”

Asked if he understands Niemann’s frustrations, Giri quipped: “I feel the frustrations are primarily mine as a result of I’m not capable of crush the match and was not capable of crush the interviews. I haven’t got a area the place I can dominate anymore!”

Le-Niemann 2.5-1.5

Poor GM Hans Niemann ended up shedding all his matches. He was mildly optimistic for making it to 4 video games within the final day, saying: “I do not assume my morale is totally crushed in order that’s no less than progress.”

GM Le Quang Liem, who gained two video games, misplaced one and drew one, stated about his final match: “In actuality, immediately wasn’t so clean as a result of the primary recreation I ought to have misplaced. Also this final recreation, sooner or later I used to be worse. But it was a really attention-grabbing recreation. I suppose he ought to be capable of make a draw within the endgame however he was low on time. Very troublesome.”

Here’s recreation 4:

All video games spherical 7

FTX Crypto Cup | Final Standings

The FTX Crypto Cup, the sixth occasion within the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour, passed off August 15-21, 2022 on chess24. The format was a round-robin amongst eight gamers, who performed a match of 4 fast video games (15+10) in every spherical. The winner earned $7,500 and three factors. In the case of a tie, a two-game blitz tiebreak was performed (5+3), adopted by an armageddon recreation (5 vs. 4). In that case, the winner earned $5,000 and two factors; the loser, $2,500 and one level. The prize fund was $210,000 plus an extra $100,000 tied to the worth of Bitcoin.