GM Magnus Carlsen received Division I of the 2024 Julius Baer Technology Cup after defeating GM Alireza Firouzja 2.5-1.5 within the Grand Remaining. After three hard-fought attracts, the world number-one discovered an excellent option to break via (40.e6!!) within the fourth and remaining recreation.
There was no reset in any of the three matches because the Winners Bracket victors received within the different divisions as properly. GM Wesley So received Division II, after a white win in armageddon vs. GM Denis Lazavik, and GM Fabiano Caruana received Division III with a recreation to spare, 2.5-0.5 in opposition to GM Vincent Keymer.
Division I Remaining Bracket
Division I: Carlsen Wins What He Calls His Finest Match
Three out of the 4 CCT occasions this yr have featured Firouzja vs. Carlsen. If together with the Grand Remaining Resets, Firouzja had received three earlier matches and Carlsen one. It was an in depth and extremely correct match, and Carlsen solely took it within the final recreation.
Curiously, all three attracts had been bishop endgames, opposite-color within the first one and same-color within the second and third. Carlsen later stated that the primary recreation set the tone for a high-quality wrestle in the remainder of the day.Â
Magnus sacs his queen, however he wins it again on the g2 sq. in a couple of strikes!
The sport ends in an opposite-color bishop endgame draw, 99% accuracy by either side.https://t.co/SOmXj8mXiS#ChessChamps pic.twitter.com/epISdIujVJ
— chess24 (@chess24com) October 1, 2024
In recreation two, Carlsen saved a troublesome—that’s, misplaced—endgame with the white items by sacrificing his bishop and reaching a fortress.
Carlsen traded the items into one more bishop endgame of their third draw, and Sport Evaluation charges the accuracy as 99 p.c for both sides.
All of it got here all the way down to the final recreation, the place Carlsen grinded a small benefit however appeared to lose management after 33.Qe3?! d5!, when immediately Firouzja initiated fireworks. They traded right into a heavy-piece endgame the place, given one likelihood after 39.Qxg4?, Carlsen discovered what GM David Howell known as an “virtually superhuman” transfer, 40.e6!! after which 41.f5!!. GM Rafael Leitao explains the ins and outs of the Sport of the Day beneath.
Carlsen was happy with the excessive qualify of the match, calling it his finest one but:
I felt like I used to be hardly ever in a variety of hazard at this time, regardless that I suppose I used to be misplaced within the second recreation, however I do not assume any of us really realized that. I felt like this was my finest match to this point and it feels actually good to complete off with that.
I felt like this was my finest match to this point and it feels actually good to complete off with that.
—Magnus Carlsen
He additionally revealed that he is wanting ahead to taking his good type to the following occasion that begins on Thursday, the International Chess League, after which the Champions Chess Tour Finals in December: “For the remainder of the yr I’ll solely be taking part in fast and blitz, so it is good to see that I am taking part in myself into form. The Finals are going to be superior, good subject and a uncommon likelihood to play a match in Oslo!”
He earns $30,000 on this final CCT occasion, whereas Firouzja closes out with $20,000 as runner-up. Each gamers will meet once more, nevertheless, in Oslo on the finish of this yr.
The highest eight gamers on the leaderboard advance to the Finals. Although Firouzja finishes on the high, it is Carlsen who’s earned simply $3,000 greater than him to this point.
Division II: So Blunders/Mouse Slips, However Wins In Armageddon
So’s match with Lazavik was topsy-turvy from the second recreation onward. So received from a worse place in recreation two, after which was strikes away from clinching it in recreation three however then blundered and misplaced. In the end, he received Division II two video games later, with White within the armageddon tiebreak.
Sport one was a peaceable draw within the Italian, however within the second Lazavik was successful with a knight in opposition to bishop. As clocks ran low, nevertheless, it was a complete meltdown and it was So who took the primary full level.
Lazavik outplayed So within the endgame, however collapsed when he dropped below 5 seconds! So takes the lead 1.5-0.5.https://t.co/2zo96AL69P#ChessChamps pic.twitter.com/b84FCnDzjl
— chess24 (@chess24com) October 1, 2024
However the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune did not finish there. So was about to win the match with a recreation to spare within the subsequent recreation—when he both blundered or mouse-slipped immediately right into a mate-in-one.
Wesley was successful and about to shut out the match, however a blunder (mouse slip?) allowed a mate in a single! The match is tied going into the final recreation.https://t.co/EFY6lzT8IH#ChessChamps pic.twitter.com/zMHwtOFUel
— chess24 (@chess24com) October 1, 2024
A draw within the fourth recreation meant that the match could be determined by armageddon. Given a single likelihood, So received it in fashion with the one successful transfer 17.Bxh6!!, sacrificing a bit to open up the enemy king. Although Lazavik had one likelihood to save lots of the sport on transfer 21, the assault finally crashed via.
So earns $15,000 and Lazavik $10,000. Each gamers will likely be on the CCT Finals as properly.Â
Division II Bracket
Division III: Caruana Dominates
Caruana received the primary two video games in opposition to Keymer, then drew the third, to win the match with out taking part in a fourth. He had a tough begin to the ultimate CCT occasion when he suffered 4 losses within the Play-in, however he dominated the third division.
Caruana managed the sport in each video games he received. Within the first, with the black items, he gained an area benefit. Keymer superior his h-pawn ahead, however it solely grew to become a weak point. After successful a pawn, Caruana transformed flawlessly.
Within the second recreation, Caruana’s area benefit within the Maroczy Bind remodeled right into a lethal handed b-pawn. He made it look straightforward:
Caruana earns $7,500 and Keymer $6,000. It was the very best ending for the American GM contemplating his begin to the occasion.Â
Division III Bracket
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The 2024 Julius Baer Technology Cup is the final of the Champions Chess Tour’s 4 occasions and determines one of many gamers who’ll make it to the in-person CCT Finals. The occasion begins on September 25 at 11 a.m. ET / 17:00 CEST / 8:30 p.m. IST and incorporates a $300,000 prize fund.
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