2020 Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Finals

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Chris Rice
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Re: 2020 Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Finals

Post by Chris Rice » Sun Aug 16, 2020 6:20 pm

Game 5 sees Carlsen fall into a known opening trap which I guess he must have just forgotten about. 11...Ne6? is the mistake as after 12 Nxe5 the intended 12...Nd4 fails to 13 Nxf7.

Nakamura, Hikaru (USA) - Carlsen, Magnus (NOR)
1-0
Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Kiva Finals 2020 round 36


Chris Rice
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Re: 2020 Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Finals

Post by Chris Rice » Sun Aug 16, 2020 6:34 pm

Game 6 sees a draw and Nakamura's strategy becomes clear. He wants to go 2-2 in the first four rapid games and then he believes he is the best blitz player in the world. Least that's how Seirawan sees it. Nakamura now leads 2 sets to 1.

Tim Harding
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Re: 2020 Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Finals

Post by Tim Harding » Mon Aug 17, 2020 3:01 pm

And they're off. Magnus, needing to win today's set, opens 1 c4 e5 2 g3...

LATER: Game 1 Drawn. Carlsen seems to have blown a big advantage somewhere. This is not the player who was so dominant for most of the Magnus tour. Will he stick with the Berlin now?
Last edited by Tim Harding on Mon Aug 17, 2020 3:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Tim Harding
Historian and FIDE Arbiter

Author of 'Steinitz in London,' British Chess Literature to 1914', 'Joseph Henry Blackburne: A Chess Biography', and 'Eminent Victorian Chess Players'
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Chris Rice
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Re: 2020 Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Finals

Post by Chris Rice » Mon Aug 17, 2020 3:51 pm

Game 1 was an epic, Carlsen looked like he was going to slaughter Nakamura with the lightning strike 23 Bxb6 but Nakamura conducted another unbelievable defensive effort to get the draw.

Carlsen, Magnus (NOR) - Nakamura, Hikaru (USA)
½-½
Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Kiva Finals 2020 round 38


Chris Rice
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Re: 2020 Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Finals

Post by Chris Rice » Mon Aug 17, 2020 5:18 pm

Game 2 was also a draw and Game 3 saw Nakamura miscalculate in a complex position with the natural 26...Qxf2+ rather than 26...Rxe5. Nakamura will now have to win Game 4 on demand.

Carlsen, Magnus (NOR) - Nakamura, Hikaru (USA)
1-0
Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Kiva Finals 2020 round 40


Chris Rice
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Re: 2020 Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Finals

Post by Chris Rice » Mon Aug 17, 2020 5:57 pm

Nakamura didn't even get close to pushing for a win and eventually it was a perp. 2 sets all.

LawrenceCooper
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Re: 2020 Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Finals

Post by LawrenceCooper » Tue Aug 18, 2020 7:15 pm

After four draws today Carlsen won game 5 with the Alekhine before losing game 6 as white in a Kings Indian. Needing to win the armageddon game he then lost against the Nimzo.

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Matt Mackenzie
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Re: 2020 Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Finals

Post by Matt Mackenzie » Tue Aug 18, 2020 10:15 pm

Carlsen edged ahead in the whole thing for the first time, only to immediately mess it up?

He won't like that.
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)

Mick Norris
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Re: 2020 Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Finals

Post by Mick Norris » Wed Aug 19, 2020 9:30 am

TWIC report on set 5

Nakamura, Hikaru vs Carlsen, Magnus game 5



Carlsen, Magnus vs Nakamura, Hikaru game 6

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LawrenceCooper
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Re: 2020 Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Finals

Post by LawrenceCooper » Wed Aug 19, 2020 9:39 am

"In the Armageddon Carlsen chose white - a little surprisingly perhaps -"

Chris Rice
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Re: 2020 Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Finals

Post by Chris Rice » Wed Aug 19, 2020 6:44 pm

Carlsen wins the sixth set 3-1 so its 3 sets all and all on the very last seventh set.

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Matt Mackenzie
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Re: 2020 Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Finals

Post by Matt Mackenzie » Wed Aug 19, 2020 7:06 pm

I can hear the mutterings of "fix" already ;)
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)

Chris Rice
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Re: 2020 Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Finals

Post by Chris Rice » Wed Aug 19, 2020 7:23 pm

Matt Mackenzie wrote:
Wed Aug 19, 2020 7:06 pm
I can hear the mutterings of "fix" already ;)
I did wonder about that myself but when you look at the state of Carlsen today he really seems under pressure. Nakamura has been so resilient, a real test for Carlsen.

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Matt Mackenzie
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Re: 2020 Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Finals

Post by Matt Mackenzie » Thu Aug 20, 2020 12:08 am

Carlsen apparently hurt his back recently, that probably can't be helping.
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)

Mick Norris
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Re: 2020 Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Finals

Post by Mick Norris » Thu Aug 20, 2020 8:45 am

TWIC set 6 report
Carlsen injured himself exercising just half an hour before play and was low down on the screen as he clearly struggled to get comfortable. Whether this helped or hindered Carlsen I'm not sure, it might well have taken his mind off the must win situation he was in
Carlsen, Magnus vs Nakamura, Hikaru Game 1


Nakamura, Hikaru vs Carlsen, Magnus Game 4
Any postings on here represent my personal views