Carlsen gets his Armageddon revenge in the end

Carlsen started the final day of Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Finals with a win. The second game of the day had a well contested prolonged draw. Nakamura bounced back in the third game and equalized the score with a victory. Fourth game was another hard fought draw. Nakamura won the fifth game putting the World champion in a must-win situation. Carlsen managed to win the sixth and final blitz game forcing the finals to go to Armageddon. In a battle of equals, the game ended up in a draw as Carlsen held an impenetrable fortress. However, as per Armageddon rules, Carlsen won the Armageddon, set and finals. Thus becoming the champion in what will go down in history as one of the most epic finals in online chess and arguably overall chess history too.

Carlsen wins the final set in a nail-biter photo finish | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Carlsen - Nakamura 3.5*-3.5

In the first game of the day, Nakamura lost a couple of pawns in the middle game. He sacrificed a knight in an already difficult position which didn't help the situation and eventually lost the game in another 15 moves.

Nakamura - Carlsen, Game 32

Position after 22...Qc5

The game continued with 23.Qf2 and black picked up the pawn with 23...Rxd4 24.Nxd4 Bxa2. What was the better continuation for white instead?

Position after 27...Bxb3

Nakamura sacrificed his knight with 27.Nxg7, unlike Carlsen's sacrifice of Nxg7 on the previous day's first game, this time it didn't work.

The second game of the day seemed equal throughout the game but Carlsen kept pushing for a win but in the end draw was the only obvious result.

Carlsen - Nakamura, Game 33

Position after 33.Kg3

White could have played 33.Rba5 instead but it wouldn't have changed the outcome of the game.

Nakamura was determined to win the third game of the day and he deviated from the first game in Berlin and went with 9.g4.

Nakamura - Carlsen, Game 34

Position after 9.g4

It is evident that Nakamura does not to want to go for anything less than a win.

Position after 17...c4

Carlsen played a strange move 17...c4 which allowed white to launch an attack. Find out what black should have played instead.

Position after 23...Qc2

The game continued with 24.Ng7 but what was the better continuation for white here?

The fourth game of the day was also another hard fought draw. Neither player could create enough trouble for their opponent. Nakamura scored a fantastic victory in the fifth game, putting Carlsen in a must-win situation to force Armageddon.

Nakamura - Carlsen, Game 36

Position after 34.Rc8

White had no difficulty converting his advantage into a win.

Carlsen scored a win on demand in the final blitz game to force Armageddon against Nakamura.

Carlsen - Nakamura, Game 37

Position after 34.Bxe5

The game continued with 34...Rdxf3 and black made another mistake in the next move. But before that, things were not bad for black. In fact, black can still make sure that things don't go out of hand. Find out black's best response to 34.Bxe5

Carlsen opted for the black pieces and drew the Armageddon to win Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Finals. The entire finals and the tour has been extraordinary. These are some of the tweets chess universe made about the finals and the entire tour.

This is what Carlsen tweeted after winning the tour

Nakamura analyzed his final day games on his twitch channel and also tweeted this, congratulating the World champion

Carlsen replied with very nice things to say about him

Carlsen shared this photo on instagram mentioning Game, set and😉 | Photo: Carlsen's ig

The caption was an ode to the scoring system used in the finals which is similar to a tennis match scoring system.

Nakamura shared this photo on his twitter and ig with the caption: Time to relax | Photo: Nakamura's twitter

Replay all Nakamura-Carlsen Final Set 7 games

Replay the live stream by IM Sagar Shah

Nakamura's unbelievable win! Nakamura vs Carlsen Rapid Game 3 | Video: Sagar Shah
That's why Carlsen is the World Champion | Blitz game 2 and Armageddon! | Nakamura vs Carlsen | Video: Sagar Shah

Replay the live stream

Live commentary by GM Yasser Seirawan, GM Peter Leko & IM Tania Sachdev | Video: Chess24

Day 7 results

The finals have been nothing short of epic | Photo: chess24

Scores

Carlsen wins the seventh set and finals | Photo: chess24

Kiva

Kiva is a partner of Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Finals | Photo: chess24

Broadcaster chess24 has pledged 50 per cent of new Premium memberships bought during its Tour Final to Kiva’s Global COVID-19 Response fund that aims to raise at least $50 million for entrepreneurs and small businesses impacted by COVID‑19.

Prizes

Total $300000 Prize fund is up for grabs | Photo: chess24

Tournament format and schedule

The Semi-Finals will be played in a Best of five sets (mini-matches). A player winning three sets will allow him to advance to the final.

• Each set consists of four rapid games with a time control of 15 mins + 10 seconds increment.

• In case of a tie, two blitz tiebreakers with a time control of 5 mins + 3 seconds increment.

• In case of a tie after blitz, an Armageddon game will be played where White gets 5 minutes, Black gets 4 minutes, but a draw gives Black overall victory.

• The winners move on to the final, which will be played in a Best of 7 sets.

 

There are no scheduled rest days. The Semi-Finals will take place from 9th-13th August and the Finals will take place on 14th-20th August 2020.

Links

Tournament site

 

*Carlsen won the Armageddon