2024 SCC: Nakamura Defeats Niemann By Double Digits In Comfort Match

GM Hikaru Nakamura completed third within the Pace Chess Championship 2024 after defeating GM Hans Niemann within the comfort match 21-9. He received all three segments, making his biggest good points within the 3+1 and 1+1 segments. Nakamura earns $13,500 for successful the match, whereas Niemann makes $1,500 by win proportion.

The title match between GM Alireza Firouzja and GM Magnus Carlsen will happen on Sunday, September 8, beginning at 12:00 p.m. ET / 18:00 CEST / 9:30 p.m. IST. 

Pace Chess Championship 2024 Bracket

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It is day two of the SCC Finals. Saturday featured the comfort match for third place, whereas Sunday’s match will decide the 2024 champion.

Hikaru Nakamura 21-9 Hans Niemann

SmarterChess predicted Nakamura’s victory with 62 % odds, a prognosis that IM Levy Rozman identified should have taken the day past under consideration. Whereas he suffered defeat by the hands of Firouzja the day past, he confirmed a vastly superior type on Saturday.

Blitz 5+1: Nakamura 5-4 Niemann

The primary phase was the closest a part of the match, although Nakamura received it by some extent. Notably, the 2 finest video games of the day had been performed on the very finish of this portion.

Carlsen joined the commentary proper in the mean time Nakamura received the primary recreation. It ended abruptly after Niemann’s 17.Qb7??. Nakamura paused, winced, and located 18.b4! to win a chunk on the finish of the road.

Within the subsequent 4 video games, Nakamura took a three-point lead, however the motion picked up within the last three video games. Niemann received two of them, shedding one, however the two finest video games of the day had been performed again to again—Nakamura successful positionally, then Niemann tactically.

First, Nakamura executed a positional masterclass within the Carlsbad construction. When the time was proper, 43.d5! was a unbelievable pawn sacrifice to neutralize Black’s play on the d-file and to open the c-file for his personal rook.

That was a contender for the Recreation of the Day, however Niemann’s victory within the subsequent recreation for positive takes the prize, even when he misplaced the match. In a blazing assault, Niemann threw the kitchen sink a flurry of sacrifices: first a chunk, then the alternate, and eventually the queen for checkmate. GM Dejan Bojkov analyzes the small print from begin to end on this relentless assault.

Seemingly energized by that convincing victory, Niemann received one other recreation with the black items to chop Nakamura’s lead down to at least one level.

Blitz 3+1: Nakamura 7.5-1.5 Niemann

The three+1 portion primarily determined the match as Nakamura received virtually each single recreation—dropping his solely loss within the final one.

Nakamura received three of the primary 4 video games, however the final two earlier than the break exemplified considered one of his idiosyncratic expertise: saving and even successful misplaced positions. In recreation three, his knight was trapped, however his Houdini-like escape that began with the otherworldly 60…Nf5!? actually left Niemann jaw-dropped.

The subsequent recreation, Niemann rushed together with his personal plan on the queenside, and after successful a chunk realized to his horror that there was no option to cease the white h-pawn. A unnecessary loss from a successful place.

The subsequent recreation, Niemann reached a widely known draw with the Philidor Protection within the rook endgame however slapped himself when blundering with what Naroditsky known as the “unacceptable” 90.Kf1?? within the pawn endgame. This was his worst loss. 

Niemann received the final recreation of the portion, however his case was removed from enviable. Nakamura lead the match 12.5-5.5, forward of bullet chess, Nakamura’s sturdy swimsuit. As an apart, Nakamura gained 47 ranking factors in Chess.com blitz from the primary two segments, capping off at 3193, whereas Niemann misplaced 47 factors.

Bullet 1+1: Nakamura 8.5-3.5 Niemann

Hikaru wins two video games in a row, and in the second he had another second than he began with!https://t.co/Dq9w8KXGBu#SpeedChessFinals pic.twitter.com/3T04ZgGVjv

— chess24 (@chess24com) September 7, 2024

Win after win, Nakamura reached a 13-point lead on the zenith of his bullet domination. Even the 2 video games they drew, he let let wins slip in each of them. The next recreation properly exhibited Nakamura’s instincts for attacking chess. Whereas 34.Bxh6 wins materials and would almost definitely win within the endgame, 34.Kh2!, performed in actually one second, introduced his intentions of successful by checkmate as an alternative.  

Niemann received the final recreation, however even changing two additional pawns was tremendously tough—Nakamura created goal possibilities to attract, although he did finally resign on transfer 100.

Within the post-game interview, Nakamura responded to Niemann’s trash-talking from Thursday, claiming that he supposed to show some extent on this match.

The very fact is three of 4 gamers listed below are at a sure degree. Possibly yesterday did not go my means, however I feel it confirmed that when Hans says all these items he is simply not on the identical degree. Finally, once you concentrate on the sport and get away from all of the distractions, I feel I proved some extent that I used to be clearly higher than Hans, no less than in blitz.

The very fact is three of 4 gamers listed below are at a sure degree.

—Hikaru Nakamura

Nakamura, who’s 36, alluded to his age a number of occasions within the interview and, starting with “Generally I get emotional about these items,” stated that he was glad he was capable of play in entrance of his followers “no less than one time” in particular person.

“Time is dwindling,” he stated, “for these of us who’ve been round for a very long time,” referencing Firouzja, GM Gukesh Dommaraju, and GM Arjun Erigaisi because the torchbearers of the subsequent era. However Firouzja, he added, “he’s the one with probably the most potential nonetheless.” For himself and the world number-one, he stated, “It is a bit of a shift. I feel for Magnus, he has a pair extra years; for myself, we’ll see how for much longer I am taking part in. We’ll see.”

Nakamura added that he’ll be a part of the commentary on Sunday to observe the title match. You possibly can hearken to extra of  Nakamura’s ideas in regards to the match and the video games within the recap under.

Niemann additionally gracefully joined Naroditsky for an interview after the powerful match. His tone was humble, and he stated that he did not play sufficient coaching video games on-line. “It was the dearth of type and apply.”

Though he misplaced each of his matches in Paris, he did lose them to the one two gamers to ever win the SCC in its lengthy historical past—numbers one and two on the planet. He stated that he managed the matches towards GMs Wesley So and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, however he wasn’t skilled in recovering when knocked down—a state of affairs he hadn’t but confronted, particularly towards this degree of opposition.

The 21-year-old was humble and optimistic although, realizing that point is on his aspect: “With some opening work and extra expertise and maybe the correct mindset, I do suppose that I can defeat them.”

With some opening work and extra expertise and maybe the correct mindset, I do suppose that I can defeat them.

—Hans Niemann

“Clearly, it was my first time taking part in towards them, so I did not actually know what to anticipate. So it was actually an excellent lesson.”#SpeedChessFinals pic.twitter.com/n7nHVNNSNS

— chess24 (@chess24com) September 7, 2024

He additionally prompt that he is perhaps prepared to maneuver on from the previous and to concentrate on what’s essential: taking part in higher chess.

I won’t be probably the most respectful particular person, however I’d hope that you just recognize what has been completed to me and I feel it is time to depart that previously and let the chess communicate for itself.

Naroditsky additionally requested Niemann about his relationship with GM Vladimir Kramnik, the previous world champion who has accused a number of grandmasters, together with Nakamura, of dishonest. Niemann really stated that he communicated with Kramnik throughout breaks between video games, and acquired recommendation. He acknowledged, “Since I do not need many supporters or associates and even sponsors within the chess world, it is good to have somebody with a lot expertise and such a legend of the sport to consider in you.”

Congrats to Hikaru. All I’ve ever wished is the prospect to compete towards the perfect gamers on the planet and I’m grateful for the chance. So much to be taught, I’ll be making ready your complete yr for the subsequent SCC 😀

— Hans Niemann (@HansMokeNiemann) September 7, 2024

As for Kramnik’s allegations, Niemann would not agree with all of them, however he stated that he hopes different grandmasters accusing others of dishonest with inadequate proof—naming, “with a lot respect to him,” Nakamura—must be held to the identical commonplace.

He believes that he is the fourth finest velocity chess participant on the planet but additionally that “on a greater day I may’ve crushed Alireza and Hikaru” as a result of he is crushed them a number of occasions earlier than on-line. He thinks he’ll change into the perfect velocity chess participant and that “classical is a little more complicated.” The expertise has “reaffirmed that being the perfect is feasible.”

Niemann gave Firouzja 35 to 40 % odds of successful towards Carlsen. As for subsequent yr: “I will be again a lot stronger.”