For five games, Ian Nepomniachtchi battled toe-to-toe with Magnus Carlsen in the 2021 World Chess Championship. But Carlsen broke through in an epic Game 6 and, after that, dominated the match to retain his title and improve his claim as the greatest chess player of all time. Carlsen won four […]
Tag: Ian Nepomniachtchi
World Chess Championship Odds: Carlsen One Point from Retaining Title with Four Games Remaining
Magnus Carlsen could finish off his latest World Chess Championship title defense as early as Friday if the reigning champion can manage to beat challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi with Black in Game 11 of their match. Carlsen holds a 6.5-3.5 lead over Nepomniachtchi after 10 games. The players enjoyed a rest […]
World Chess Championship Odds: Carlsen Closing in on Victory After Nepo Blunders Again
Ian Nepomniachtchi arrived to the board for Game 9 of the World Chess Championship with a new haircut. He started the game with a new opening, but the result was more of the same, as Magnus Carlsen picked up another point to extend his lead in the match. Nepomniachtchi blundered […]
World Chess Championship Odds: Carlsen Wins Twice, Takes Firm Control of Match
For the first five games of the 2021 World Chess Championship, fans and commentators lamented the lack of decisive results, wondering aloud whether it’s even possible to see fighting chess in a high-level match anymore. But two wins from Magnus Carlsen not only flipped that narrative, but have put challenger […]
World Chess Championship Odds: Tensions High After Match Opens with Three Draws
Despite some tense moments, neither Magnus Carlsen nor Ian Nepomniachtchi has been able to find a breakthrough in the World Chess Championship thus far, and the match remains tied at 1.5-1.5 heading into Monday’s first rest day. The two men will return to the board on Tuesday when Carlsen takes […]
World Chess Championship Odds: GOAT Carlsen Faces Tricky Challenger in Nepomniachtchi
Magnus Carlsen has held the World Chess Championship since 2013 when he first beat Viswanathan Anand for the title. Starting Friday, the Norwegian legend will attempt to make his fourth title defense when he takes on challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi in Dubai. Carlsen and Nepomniachtchi will compete in a 14-game match, […]
Norway Chess: Magnus Carlsen Leads, Three Still in Contention Heading into Final Round
Magnus Carlsen stands one round away from winning his third straight Norway Chess title, and the fourth at Stavanger overall in his career. But he’ll have to deal with Chess World Championship challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi in what promises to be a dramatic final round. Carlsen will take Black in his […]
Norway Chess Odds: Carlsen Favored, All Eyes on Championship Preview vs. Nepomniachtchi
Magnus Carlsen came into Norway Chess as the favorite to win the tournament for the third straight year, and he remains in that position after two rounds of play. But, the chess world will watch the six-player tournament with less interest in the overall result, and more attention devoted to […]
FTX Crypto Cup: Magnus Carlsen Outlasts Hikaru Nakamura in Tiebreakers to Reach Semifinals
World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen swept a pair of tiebreaker blitz games on Thursday to beat American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura and go through to the semifinals of the FTX Crypto Cup. Carlsen and Nakamura drew both of their sets 2-2, necessitating the tiebreakers. Carlsen dominates tiebreakers after tense match Nakamura […]
World’s Best Chess Players Compete for Bitcoin in FTX Crypto Cup
World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen will look to win his second straight Champions Chess Tour event – and a fair amount of Bitcoin – when the online FTX Crypto Cup begins on Sunday. The FTX Crypto Cup features a prize pool of $220,000 in cash, as well as 2.1825 Bitcoin. […]
Ian Nepomniachtchi Wins Candidates Tournament with Round to Spare, Will Challenge Carlsen for Title
Ian Nepomniachtchi drew Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in the 13th round of the Candidates Tournament on Monday, a result that was enough to clinch the tournament for the Russian grandmaster and book his place in the World Chess Championship. Anish Giri also lost with Black to Alexander Grischuk, giving Nepomniachtchi a full […]
Candidates Tournament: Giri Closes in on Nepomniachtchi with Round 11 Win
Anish Giri moved to within a half-point of the lead at the FIDE Candidates Tournament with a win over Ding Liren in Friday’s Round 11 action. The win put Giri right on the heels of leader Ian Nepomniachtchi, who scored a draw against former World Championship challenger Fabiano Caruana. Giri […]
Nepomniachtchi Wins Again, Takes Commanding Lead at Candidates Tournament
Ian Nepomniachtchi blasted Kirill Alekseenko in just 31 moves to take a full-point lead at the Candidates Tournament with just four rounds left to play. Nepomniachtchi has led, or shared the lead, since the first round. This is the second time he’s pushed his lead over the field out to […]
Candidates Tournament Odds: Nepomniachtchi Leads, but Three Within Half-Point After Round 9
Anish Giri scored the only win in Round 9 at the Candidates Tournament on Tuesday, moving himself into a tie for second, just behind leader Ian Nepomniachtchi. Nepomniachtchi leads the eight-man field with 5.5 points after nine rounds, with Giri, Fabiano Caruana, and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave chasing him on five points. […]
Magnus Carlsen Invitational: Nepomniachtchi Holds Off Carlsen, Faces Giri in Final
Magnus Carlsen will again face Wesley So at the end of a Champions Chess Tour event. But this time, the two will battle for third place while Ian Nepomniachtchi takes on Anish Giri for the title at the Magnus Carlsen Invitational. Nepomniachtchi held off a furious comeback by Carlsen to […]
Magnus Carlsen Invitational: Carlsen Crushes Aronian, Faces Nepomniachtchi in Semifinals
World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen wasted little time defeating Levon Aronian and advancing to the semifinals of his namesake tournament, the Magnus Carlsen Invitational. Carlsen finished off the two-set series without losing a single game, winning the first match 2.5-0.5, then securing victory by gaining a 2-1 lead in the […]
Skilling Open Final: Carlsen, So Battle for First Champions Chess Tour Title
Magnus Carlsen looks to continue his dominance of the online chess scene while Wesley So will attempt to put his stamp on the new Champions Chess Tour as the two world-class grandmasters face off in the final of the Skilling Open. Carlsen and So will battle in the first of […]
Skilling Open Semifinals: Carlsen Battles Nepomniachtchi, Nakamura Faces So
Hikaru Nakamura came back from down a set, and then again down a game in blitz tiebreakers to get past Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and advance to the semifinals of the Skilling Open online chess tournament. Nakamura moved on to face fellow American Wesley So, while World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen will […]