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GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave overcame GM Wesley So within the 2022 Speed Chess Championship on Wednesday. Early within the match, Vachier-Lagrave gained as excessive as a four-point lead, however So fought again to even the rating within the bullet phase. With simply 12 minutes left on the match clock, the French grandmaster entered a brand new gear, profitable 4 video games in a row to seal victory.
GMs Hikaru Nakamura and Nihal Sarin will face off within the first semifinals match on December 15 at 6 a.m. PT / 15:00 CET.
How to look at?
You can watch the 2022 Speed Chess Championship on Chess.com/TV. You may benefit from the present on our Twitch channel and catch all our reside broadcasts on YouTube.com/ChesscomLive. The video games can be adopted from our Events Page. Live broadcast of the match, hosted by GMs Daniel Naroditsky and Robert Hess.
Blitz 5|1: Vachier-Lagrave-So 6-3
So scored the primary level with an impeccable win towards Vachier-Lagrave’s trademark Najdorf.
“Seamless calculation by Wesley” (🎙️ @GmNaroditsky) results in a convincing victory for the American GM within the first sport of the match. #speedchess pic.twitter.com/dj8xjP8T93
— ChesscomLive (@ChesscomLive) December 14, 2022
Vachier-Lagrave struck again with two wins in a row, creating tactical play within the endgame with intelligent minor piece maneuvers in sport three.
Game eight was absolute insanity the place each side promoted to 2 queens every within the time scramble, however Vachier-Lagrave had a ladder mate ready for the tip―extending his result in 4 factors. This wild conflict is our Game of the Day, annotated by GM Rafael Leitao.
So closed out the five-minute blitz with an explosive attacking victory.
So wins the final sport of the 5+1 phase with a surprising knight sacrifice! 💥#speedchess pic.twitter.com/MtDHzuY3ws
— ChesscomLive (@ChesscomLive) December 14, 2022
Blitz 3|1: Vachier-Lagrave-So 4-5
After a attract sport one, So received once more in a fancy queen and knight vs. two rooks and bishop ending.
In sport 4, Vachier-Lagrave infiltrated on So’s weakened darkish squares to win a Maroczy Bind miniature.
One essential factor to Vachier-Lagrave’s success was a extra assorted opening repertoire. Commentator Hess famous that the world blitz champion was “as various as he is ever seen,” and Vachier-Lagrave confirmed this after the match: “It was the plan to experiment with openings, particularly with black.”
Nearing the tip of the 3-1, So managed to chop Vachier-Lagrave’s lead in half to 2 factors with insightful play in a greater bishop vs. knight ending.
It got here right down to the bullet portion between these two top-notch grandmasters. Would So’s comeback proceed? Or would Vachier-Lagrave carry his result in victory?
Bullet 1|1: Vachier-Lagrave-So 6.5-4.5
Out of the gates in sport two, So introduced this thrilling match to a one-point distinction with exact play in an advantageous rook ending.
So practically tied the match the next sport, however Vachier-Lagrave’s superb defensive skills held regardless of being beneath appreciable strain for a lot of strikes.
However, within the very subsequent sport, So conjured an assault that chased his opponent’s king out of the kingside, by the middle, to the queenside, after which―all the best way again to the kingside for the ultimate checkmate.
The newly tied rating appeared to enliven Vachier-Lagrave who instantly reclaimed his lead with tactical play in an advanced queenless middlegame.
This kickstarted a four-game profitable streak, convincingly sealing the match victory.
In the post-match interview, Vachier-Lagrave shared his method on fashionable opening preparation: “Most of the time within the opening, you are probably not on the lookout for a bonus. So, my pondering is ‘which line ought to I play towards which opponent?’ …Choices range relying in your opponent at this degree as a result of we nonetheless have particular strengths… large strengths that we’re making an attempt to make use of.”
The reigning world blitz champion will face GM Magnus Carlsen within the semifinals. Vachier-Lagrave candidly shared his ideas on his possibilities towards the world champion: “No matter which type of Magnus comes up on Friday, I will probably be prepared for an enormous combat.”
No matter which Magnus comes up on Friday, I will probably be prepared for an enormous combat.
-Vachier-Lagrave
Vachier-Lagrave received $4,706.90 whereas So earned $1,293.10 for his efforts.
Final Score
| Player | Flag | 5+1 | 3+1 | 1+1 | Total |
| Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 6 | 4 | 6.5 | 16.5 | |
| Wesley So | 3 | 5 | 4.5 | 12.5 |
All Games – Quarterfinal
Speed Chess Championship 2022 Bracket
The 2022 Speed Chess Championships Main Event began on November 23 and can conclude on December 16. Top speed-chess gamers are competing at three totally different time controls in a 16-player knockout as they vie for a share of the $100,000 prize fund together with probably the most prestigious title in on-line chess.
The likes of GMs Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Ding Liren, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and lots of extra battle it out to find out the 2022 pace chess champion.
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