Magnus Carlsen showed a hunger for success today as he made it into the last four of his own tournament while eating a salad. The World Chess Champion weathered a fightback from Armenian opponent Levon Aronian to take the vital second set in their $220,000 Magnus Carlsen Invitational clash.
Carlsen brought out his snack in Game 2, but while tucking into a pot of salad, the champion appeared to lose focus. Carlsen and Aronian drew that game which meant the challenger needed to win both the two remaining games to stay in the match.
Aronian kicked back hard in the third suggesting Carlsen’s salad didn’t have the desired effect. Carlsen looked lost but Aronian missed a winning move and the draw took the champion through.
Carlsen will now face old foe Ian Nepomniachtchi in the semis after Russia’s top player caused a minor shock by demolishing popular US star Hikaru Nakamura 3-1.
The tour leader Wesley So, who beat Carlsen in last month’s Opera Euro Rapid, sparkled yet again as he booked his place in the semis. Having won the first set yesterday, the US Champion brushed aside teen prodigy Alireza Firouzja.
So’s second-round demolition of the 17-year-old was a classic – one of the best games seen in the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour. So then overpowered Firouzja again in the third to seal his place without losing a game in the tie.
Round 2 had been an eventful stage for all the ties. It was the moment Nepomniachtchi signaled he was in full control of his quarter-final with Nakamura. The pair had been level overnight but the Russian won the first game today and crushed his American opponent with a brutal 28-move win in the second.
Ian said afterward he will “hopefully sleep a little” before taking on Carlsen in the semi.
Round 2 was also the moment Dutch No.1 Anish Giri took the lead in his tie against the Frenchman Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. Anish and Maxime had also been level-pegging overnight but when Giri broke through there was no stopping him.
Giri, who is bang in form and must be considered a serious threat, went on to draw the third and win the fourth to go through at a canter.
For further information, please contact:
Leon Watson, PR for Champions Chess Tour
leon@chessable.com
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