Malcolm Pein reports on the final of the FTX Crypto Cup in today’s Daily Telegraph column. Magnus Carlsen had to come back from the brink after a very tough battle against Wesley So.
Malcolm Pein on…Coming Back From The Brink
World Champion Magnus Carlsen needed a win on demand with black to come back from the brink and win the FTX Crypto Cup on chess24 last Monday, as an Armageddon game decided the final against Wesley So.
Both sets were drawn 2-2 before overtime, with Carlsen’s attitude in set one widely derided online as he forced two quick draws with white. Carlsen had won game one with black and So levelled in game three, a one-sided encounter, given below. The second set also ended 2-2, as Carlsen again won the opener. So replied in game two. In the two-game Blitz tie-break, Carlsen blundered in game one – see below – but won the return to force Armageddon and win in style.
Carlsen’s blunder was 27.Qc2xc5?? 27.Rc3! Nd7 28.Rc7 is about equal.
Test Your Strength
Black to play and win
Carlsen’s victory avenged two defeats at So’s hands in the finals of the Skilling Open and the Opera Euro Rapid. The champion punched the air in delight and said “It’s absolutely insane. I am just so happy to have pulled through. It’s a massive, massive relief.”
The Norwegian secured the $60,000 (£43,000) first prize plus a 0.6 bitcoin bonus offered by tournament sponsor FTX from what was the largest prize pot ever offered in an elite online chess event.
A Tactical Battle
W. So – M. Carlsen
Giuoco Piano 15+10
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 d5 7.Bb5 Ne4 8.cxd4 Bb6 9.Nc3 0–0 10.Be3 Bg4 11.h3 Bh5 12.Rc1 Ba5?! (Rather odd, taking pressure off d4, 12…f6!? 13.Nxd5 Ba5+!) 13.0–0 Bxc3 14.bxc3 Na5 (14…f5!?) 15.g4 Bg6 16.Ne1! (The knight on e4 is exposed) 16…f6 17.f3 c6 18.Bd3 Ng5 (18…Ng3 stretches the bounds of credibility, even if Black can follow up with h7-h5-h4) 19.Bxg6 hxg6 20.Bxg5 fxg5 21.Qd3 (Simple stuff, Black’s position is a wreck already) 21…Nc4 (21…Kh7 22.Ng2) 22.Qxg6 Qe7 23.Rf2 c5 24.Ng2 Rac8 25.Rcf1 cxd4 26.cxd4 Rc6 27.Qd3 Ra6 (Everything has been beautifully prepared) 28.f4! Ra3 29.Qg6 Rxh3 30.f5 Kh8 31.f6 gxf6 32.exf6 Qh7
Test Your Strength
Black’s makes his first threat of the game, but it’s White to play and win
Highlight the space below this line to reveal the answers.
Answer One: 27…Rc6! was decisive in view of 28.Qxc6 Qxc6 29.Rxc6 Ra1+ and mates.
Answer Two: 33.Qg7+! 1–0 33…Qxg7 34.fxg7+ and Rxf8.
