[Sport] Carlsen sweeps Kramnik and will face Svidler in the semifinals

[#Steeven.™]

Russian Vladimir Kramnik, 45, semi-retired in Switzerland, a player who has lost very few games in his career thanks to his rocky style and refined technique, and who has won the title from the mythical Gary Kasparov in 2000 , was run over today by Norwegian Magnus Carlsen on the ninth and final day of the first phase of Chess24.com Chess Legends.

Fortune, if that word exists in chess, prevented the 0-4 against, and finally had to settle for an unfavorable 1-3. Carlsen will face Russian Peter Svidler in seminars on Friday, while Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi will play against Dutchman Anish Giri. The games can be followed on the MARCA channel on YouTube from 16 hours.

A meeting of those who motivate the world champion. Kramnik was about to prevent him from winning and attacking the title in the 2013 Candidates Tournament. Tied on points, the 22-year-old Carlsen's victory was decided by the second tiebreaker.

Months later, the Norwegian would win the crown after defeating the Indian Viswanathan Anand. But that is already chess history. And with that indomitable spirit of victory, Carlsen began his duel with Kramnik.

The world champion had a decisive advantage in the first and in the second game; however, his demerit, merit of the rival or both, missed the victorious positions. A setback, even though he had already qualified for the semifinals for two rounds.

In the third there were no more concessions and in the fourth, Kramnik, with the white pieces, who needed the tie at all costs to maintain his options, risked as in his youth years, playing a 'wild' line against the Sicilian defense, with piece sacrifice included. Carlsen's pulse did not tremble in defense, he kept his blood cold, and achieved victory in just 24 moves.

This result removed any significance to the Svidler-Giri confrontation, resolved by the minimum in favor of the Dutch (1.5-2.5).

The semifinals are played to the best of 2 matches of 4 games (2 additional lightning games in case of 2-2), in the modality of 15 minutes plus 10 additional seconds per movement. Finishing 1-1, an additional duel will be played on August 2.

The tournament can be followed on the MARCA channel on YouTube from 4:00 p.m. with images from Chess24.com and comments by the great masters José Cuenca, Eduardo Iturrizaga, Miguel Santos and David Lariño and the international master David Martínez.

Round 9 Results: Carlsen-Kramnik, 3-1; Ivanchuk-Anand, 3-2; Svidler-Giri, 1.5-2.5; Gelfand-Nepomniachtchi, 3-2; Ding-Leko, 2.5-1.5.

Classification after the ninth and last day of the first phase: 1st Carlsen (Norway), 25; 2nd, Nepomniachtchi (Russia), 20; 3rd, Giri (Netherlands), 18; 4th, Svidler (Russia), 14; 5th, Ivanchuk (Ukraine), 13; 6th, Kramnik (Russia), 12; 7º, Gelfand (Israel), 11; 8th, Ding (China), 9th; Anand (India), 7; 10th, Leko (Hungary), 6.

Edited July 30, 2020 by Dr.Drako
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