Vachier-Lagrave Reaches Div I Grand Last As Carlsen, Nepomniachtch Set Up Repeat Conflict

GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave received the Division I Winners Bracket and certified for the CrunchLabs Masters 2024 Grand Last due to beating his compatriot GM Alireza Firouzja 2.5-1.5 on Sunday. Vachier-Lagrave might face Firouzja once more, for the reason that winner of GM Magnus Carlsen vs. GM Ian Nepomniachtchi (their second assembly this match) will play Firouzja within the Losers Last after they eradicated GMs Wesley So and Jan-Krzysztof Duda, respectively.

The ultimate of the Winner’s Bracket in Division II shall be performed between GMs Alexander Grischuk and Vidit Gujrathi whereas the Losers Bracket should see the “attention-grabbing” conflict between GMs Hikaru Nakamura and Vladimir Kramnik. In Division III, the ultimate shall be performed between GMs Arjun Erigaisi and Evgeny Alekseev.

Division play continues on Monday, July 22, beginning at 11 a.m. ET / 17:00 CEST / 8:30 p.m. IST.

Division I Bracket

Division I: Vachier-Lagrave Reigns Supreme; Carlsen Beats So In Armageddon; Nepomniachtchi Escapes, Then Beats Duda

The second recreation was fairly a wild affair, notably within the opening section and on the very finish, when Firouzja bought low on time. Though it was the one draw on this match, it was nonetheless a fairly good candidate for Sport of the Day, annotated by GM Rafael Leitao:

MVL takes a 1.5-0.5 lead after Firouzja misses a transparent win in a loopy recreation! #ChessChamps pic.twitter.com/0z29cGUVJd

— chess24 (@chess24com) July 21, 2024

“One way or the other I felt Alireza was at all times taking part in preventing chess however a bit too gradual,” was one other remark from Vachier-Lagrave, who admitted that Firouzja had possibilities to return again on this second recreation however merely lacked the time. Requested what made the distinction as we speak, the winner mentioned: “Time administration, for certain.”

MVL on what he did higher than Firouzja as we speak: “Time administration, for certain!” #ChessChamps pic.twitter.com/PvWYSEm84s

— chess24 (@chess24com) July 21, 2024

Losers Bracket: Carlsen 2-1 So

Taking part in on a touchscreen in opposition to So, Carlsen bought in bother within the first recreation however finally escaped with a draw (whereas even having a received place for one transfer). After an uneventful draw within the second recreation, the gamers went straight to armageddon the place So received the bid to play with the black items and seven minutes and 19 seconds on the clock, vs. Carlsen’s 10. The time distinction did not matter a lot because the world number-one received a lovely positional recreation:

With a clean Armageddon win, @MagnusCarlsen knocks Wesley So out of the Crunchlabs Masters! #ChessChamps pic.twitter.com/AOD0GXhQsg

— chess24 (@chess24com) July 21, 2024

Losers Bracket: Nepomniachtchi 1.5-0.5 Duda

Duda bought eradicated over two video games, but it surely might simply have gone the opposite means. The Polish GM reached a profitable endgame in recreation one, however then spoiled it to a draw:

Duda put up nice resistance, however Nepomniachtchi finds a pleasant end to clinch a 1.5-0.5 victory! #ChessChamps pic.twitter.com/I7r9beIPrg

— chess24 (@chess24com) July 21, 2024

Division II: Grischuk, Vidit In Winners Last, Nakamura, Kramnik Would possibly Meet In Losers Bracket

Grischuk and Vidit shall be taking part in the Winner’s Bracket Last. The Russian GM despatched GM Jules Moussard to the Losers Bracket, whereas the Indian participant did the identical to GM Vladimir Fedoseev. 

Grischuk began with a draw and a win, however Moussard then leveled the rating. The extra skilled participant prevailed by profitable the fourth recreation:

Within the different semifinal, it was the primary recreation that finally determined the end result. Earlier than three attracts, Vidit opened the rating as he succeeded in one thing that is critically onerous to do as of late: profitable in opposition to the Petroff.

We’ll have the matchups Moussard-Nakamura and Fedoseev-Kramnik arising, with the doable “attention-grabbing” conflict between Nakamura and Kramnik to observe. The latter received his matches in opposition to GMs Levon Aronian and Karthikeyan Murali as we speak. 

Here is how Kramnik ousted Aronian, with a win within the armageddon after two attracts. Black’s twenty third transfer was puzzling, to say the least, although not as puzzling as his forty second, lacking mate-in-three:

Good dealing with the opponent you’re certain about 🙂 Mad encounter with Levon, ought to have completed the match in recreation 2 however someway managed to overlook win his queen with checks 🙂 However after Levon have missed mate in three with checks within the tiebreak 😁. Certified someplace, for tomorrow

— Vladimir Kramnik (@VBkramnik) July 21, 2024

Nakamura first beat GM Maxim Matlakov earlier than defeating GM Vasif Durarbayli. He received each video games in opposition to the latter and analyzed the second in as we speak’s recap video on his YouTube channel. It begins on the 14:30 time stamp, whereas Nakamura additionally seems at a recreation between Aronian and Kramnik and the armageddon recreation between Carlsen and So.

Division II Bracket

Division III: Arjun, Alekseev Go To Winners Last

Arjun began with a loss in his match with GM Daniil Dubov however instantly bounced again earlier than drawing the third recreation. The world number-four then additionally received recreation 4 in a match with three victories for the black items.

GM David Anton was near reaching the Winners Last in Division III, since he was 2-1 up in opposition to Alekseev after three video games. Nevertheless, the 38-year-old former prime grandmaster from Russia confirmed that he can nonetheless be a tricky opponent as he received recreation 4 after which additionally the armageddon, which is given beneath:

Division III Bracket