The Grand Final of the Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour is all set for the ultimate challenge.
Two more sets have been played since our last report and the score now stands at three sets all.
The danger with having a ‘best of seven’ contest is that it could finish early. The form of World Champion Magnus Carlsen has been outstanding during the Chess Tour and his ruthless efficiency and highly competitive nature can easily combine to to win matches without having to go the distance.
However, Hikaru Nakamura is also on excellent form and is matching the champion, blow for blow.
Indeed, Carlsen has repeatedly been in the unusual position of falling behind in one set and then having to catch up in the next.
As they work through the sets, it is clear he has to find a way to change the pattern of the results.
Set Five
Set five exploded into action during the Blitz games. The Rapidplay games all ended in draws but when Carlsen won the first Blitz encounter he was definitely in the driving seat.
Nakamura had to ‘win to order’ as Black in the second Blitz game – and he did!
This set up the Armageddon game. Carlsen, with White, had to win…but Nakamura emerged victorious after a nervy encounter.
The American now held a 3-2 advantage in sets, putting Carlsen in real trouble.
Set Six
One more set victory for Nakamura and he would be the champion. Carlsen had to dig deep – and he was more than equal to the task.
Set six had three full-bloodied games and another tame 17-move draw by repetition in the Berlin Defense.
Apart from the Berlin draw, the games were messy and unclear. Carlsen just seemed to have something extra in the tank but the final score of 3-1 is perhaps a shade on the flattering side.
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter. The only important factor is that the match score is level once more.
The penultimate version of the tournament bracket brings home just how exciting the Grand Final is.
There is just one set left!
Who will emerge as victor from the Ultimate Challenge?
Nakamura ‘just’ needs to keep the establish pattern going. It is, after all, his turn to win a set.
Carlsen needs to ‘break the serve’ of his opponent.
It could go either way.
The battle lines are drawn.
Follow the Grand Final: Ultimate challenge over at chess24.
