Each movement seems to contain more implications than before. It is analyzed with a magnifying glass and has its message. In the middle of the chess fire, with the billionaire (400 million!) Hans Niemann's lawsuit to Magnus Carlsen for the accusations of cheating from the second to the first, the figure of the number one of the ranking is increasing. This Wednesday, the Norwegian has been proclaimed world champion of fast games, in Almaty (Kazakhstan). His fourth title in the modality, another blow on top of the board. One that, in that game that is played outside of them, resonates even more strongly. Niemann, always far from the podium, closed the event in 100th position (out of 178 participants). There was no direct duel between the two, as it could (and was expected, even wished) to happen, but it was not necessary. The difference in the final standings is glorious enough for one and painful for the other.
At the Baluan Sholak Sport Palace, where the Aisulu Almaty ice hockey team plays, Carlsen, in front of 5,000 spectators, has risen victorious with his omnipotent talent, but also with cold blood. From the dominance, shown from the first day, to a tense final wait, with his triumph in someone else's hands. The Nordic mastermind was the leader on the last day, one point ahead of his immediate pursuers, and in it, after an improper error with more than 10 minutes on the clock, he was engulfed by a triple tie at the beginning of the decisive round. He, Vladislav Artemiev and Vincent Keymer. Finally, he would be joined on the podium, with 9.5 points, by Keymer himself (2nd) and Caruana (3rd), with the best Spaniard, David Antón Guijarro, 31st with 8 credits.
Three men and a destiny that Carlsen began to undertake with his first victory of the day, against Keymer himself. Then, before Artemiev, with the tie in his hand, he placed the aforementioned stones on the road. A few boards with Fabiano Caruana, before a last victory against Parham Maghsoodloo, drew the (excessively) tense scenario, with the current pushing in his favor. With White pieces and artfully sacrificing the bishop, the world number one closed his tournament tally on 10 points out of 13 possible, ensuring, at least, a tiebreaker situation. It wouldn't be necessary. Artemiev and Keymer, with black, stumbled in the pursuit. The first, after quickly ceding the initiative to Caruana; the second, letting slip a great start to the game against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. Carlsen, who will be looking to continue the streak in the lightning World Championship (tomorrow and Friday), was crowned for the fourth time with a Niemann, something strange at this time, away from all the spotlight.
This report was published via Actifit app (Android | iOS). Check out the original version here on actifit.io
