Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen displayed his exceptional skills to secure victory in Division I of the 2024 Champions Chess Tour Chessable Masters. Despite facing tough competition from GM Alireza Firouzja, Carlsen made a remarkable comeback in the second set, winning the match reset with a 2-0 sweep. This marked Carlsen’s 14th triumph in 17 CCT finals, earning him $30,000, 100 tour points, and direct entry into Division I of the next event and the live Finals later in the year.
The world number-one, Carlsen, emerged as the favorite against Firouzja, who is 13 years his junior. Firouzja had previously faced Carlsen in the 2023 Julius Baer Generation Cup Grand Final, which Carlsen won. Although Firouzja took the first set in the Chessable Masters, Carlsen’s resilience and strategic prowess led to a convincing victory in the reset match.
In the first set, Firouzja showcased impressive play, securing two consecutive wins and putting Carlsen on the defensive. The highlight was Firouzja’s sacrificial play, leading to a near-perfect game that ended with Carlsen’s king becoming untouchable. Firouzja continued to dominate in the endgame of the second game, surprising both commentators and fans.
Carlsen acknowledged Firouzja’s superior performance, stating, “He outplayed me completely.” Despite Carlsen’s win in the third game using the London System, he offered a draw in the fourth after realizing his winning chances were limited.
The reset match witnessed Magnus Carlsen resurgence, demonstrating his Hydra-like ability to bounce back. In the first game, a dynamic, opposite-sides castling position emerged from the Trompowsky Opening, culminating in Carlsen’s exceptional endgame conversion. The second game saw Firouzja with a significant advantage, but Carlsen’s strategic trades and endgame mastery led to Firouzja’s fatal mistake.
Magnus Carlsen, reflecting on the victory, admitted it was not a “sparkling event” for him but expressed joy in securing the win. Firouzja earned $20,000, 80 tour points, and direct entry into Division I of the next event. With just three more CCT events before the live Finals, Carlsen continues to dominate the chess scene, leaving competitors with limited time to challenge his supremacy.
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