Firouzja Leads By 1.5 Factors, Wesley So Scores Most Factors In Blitz

Firouzja was on fireplace on the primary day of blitz, and his stellar kind could remind chess followers of his 2022 efficiency, when he received the match with 4 rounds to spare. He broke 2900 in blitz that 12 months, and this 12 months, win after win, he climbs towards the number-one spot in blitz ranking.

He misplaced simply as soon as, in spherical two towards Aronian, however received 5 different video games to make up for it, scoring a hat-trick beginning with a victory towards GM Hikaru Nakamura. 

Firouzja admitted that loss towards Aronian was a uncommon opening catastrophe, and it resulted in simply 28 strikes with a thematic, but nonetheless pleasing, knight sacrifice. “I simply misplaced due to a silly opening,” stated Firouzja. “I do not lose usually like this, nevertheless it occurs.”

Aronian defeats Firouzja in 28 strikes! 24.Nc6! was the start of the lethal assault.https://t.co/q4UQDEAUJg#GrandChessTour pic.twitter.com/dYFxH158ws

— chess24 (@chess24com) August 15, 2024

He gave So his solely loss within the subsequent spherical; with hindsight, we all know this was an particularly important victory towards one in every of his closest rivals. So missed “a really typical tactic” (Firouzja) 16.Nxd6! however later made it again into the sport after White ignored a protection on transfer 45. Though the engine calls the place equal, Firouzja stated, “Nonetheless White has nice probabilities, particularly with not a lot on the clock,” and positive sufficient, So collapsed after an explosive alternate sacrifice:

Firouzja scored a hat-trick later, profitable towards Nakamura, GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Nepomniachtchi. Essentially the most memorable recreation, sadly for the U.S. number-one, was the latter’s blunder of mate-in-two—ready the place he had efficiently defended and was already higher.

Nakamura, who was higher, blunders a mate in two strikes!https://t.co/CkT2R7zmNU#GrandChessTour pic.twitter.com/n1AKgqfbf2

— chess24 (@chess24com) August 15, 2024

It may have been a fair greater lead for Firouzja, who had profitable positions towards GMs Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu and Fabiano Caruana and was momentarily higher towards Vachier-Lagrave within the final recreation—having probabilities in each single recreation he did not win. Nonetheless, one can’t complain with the lead he has within the match. 

Within the blitz phase alone, So had the perfect rating. His win within the final spherical on Wednesday left him in nice spirits, he stated. “The sport yesterday towards Nodirbek for positive cheered me up, it was a great bonus.” After his loss towards Firouzja, he went on to win 5 out of the following six video games left within the day.

After profitable a pleasant queen endgame towards GM Leinier Dominguez, So received a recreation he actually should not have towards Aronian, moments after Nakamura blundered that mate in two.

The carnival of tragedies continues as Aronian, taking part in for the win, blunders his queen to a skewer!https://t.co/FX221ypmRk#GrandChessTour pic.twitter.com/vRzMtksWuc

— chess24 (@chess24com) August 15, 2024

And after a draw towards Vachier-Lagrave, he scored a hat-trick to finish the day—overcoming Praggnanandhaa, Nakamura, and once more Abdusattorov. Our Recreation of the Day is the win towards Nakamura, and the decisive second got here within the endgame when Black punched 38.d4! via, a strong and momentary pawn sacrifice to breach the enemy traces. GM Rafael Leitao goes over the total recreation beneath.

Repeating the identical sentiment as each different participant within the match, So stated that the highest spot remains to be removed from determined. He added that luck is a crucial issue as nicely.

These tournaments are very unpredictable as a result of the video games occur so quick. It is all about your kind and your momentum. Clearly, I wanted a little bit of luck at the moment, like towards Levon I ought to by no means have received that, and I used to be additionally most likely dropping towards Ian within the very first recreation. When you’ve gotten slightly little bit of luck and you then begin profitable a recreation or two it may simply snowball into extra video games.

When you’ve gotten slightly little bit of luck and you then begin profitable a recreation or two it may simply snowball into extra video games.

—Wesley So

Nepomniachtchi scored +4 -3 =2 and in the end landed in the identical spot as So within the standings. After Abdusattorov’s blunder 27.Qf6??, he was given the chance to play one of many nicest cheapos of the day, immediately.

Each participant on the prime of the standings wants slightly little bit of luck. In his penultimate recreation, Nepomniachtchi bought his as Dominguez was unable to sink a free throw within the following place:

Vachier-Lagrave, a half-point behind Nepomniachtchi now, additionally served Abdusattorov a chilly bathe within the spherical earlier than, swinging round a place he ought to have misplaced. The truth is, he had been dropping the whole time till this second.

Abdusattorov had the worst efficiency within the blitz, scoring simply two factors in 9 rounds—and dropping seven video games.

Lastly, Aronian rounds out the highest half of the standings, and in the beginning of the day it seemed like he may end nearer to the highest. After dropping to Caruana, he scored a hat-trick towards Firouzja, Dominguez, after which Vachier-Lagrave. In that final recreation, he circled a mutually blunderful scramble towards Vachier-Lagrave that both participant may have received.

However the enjoyable ended there for Aronian, who misplaced three of his final 5 video games and received two. He is 2.5 factors behind the on-form Firouzja, however there are nonetheless 9 rounds of blitz to go.

It is a double round-robin match, so within the second half we are going to see the identical pairings of gamers however with reversed colours. Will Firouzja rip via the opposition like he did in 2022, or will one other participant rise to the event?