Speed King Hikaru Nakamura becomes World Fischer Random Champion
The Speed King has finally done it. He earned the ever-alluring World title. If anyone in the current day top player who has not a won world title yet, deserves one, Hikaru Nakamura's name will be the first one in the list. The man who had to prove himself by qualifying through hours of grueling battle on lichess, defeated the hand-picked Wildcard Ian Nepomniachtchi in the Finals. He won the Armageddon to become the World Fischer Random champion. 50 years later after the Fischer-Spassky match, history repeated as an American defeated a Russian to become a World Champion for the very first time at the same place - Reykjavik, Iceland. Photo: Lennart Ootes
History repeats itself after 50 years
Hikaru Nakamura is not only a fantastic player, a great ambassador of the sport too. A fearless player on the board, a great entertainer who has spread the game among the masses by streaming on his channel. He became a top chess streamer on his own accord, landed several deals including a cameo as himself in the critically acclaimed, award winning show 'Billions'. After Wesley So, once again the new World Fischer Random champion is also an American.
Finals: Nakamura - Nepomniachtchi: 3*-2
Hikaru Nakamura (USA) employed his sharp tactical skills in an already advantageous position against Ian Nepomniachtchi in the first game.
Nepomniachthi - Nakamura, Game 1
White was already reeling. 29.Rfd1 did not help his case. Nakamura struck 29...Rxe4 30.fxe4 Bxc1 31.Rxd8 Qg5+ and went on to win the game comfortably.
Nakamura - Nepomniachtchi, Game 2
White could have opted for 40.Kg2 Qxd5+ 41.Qe4 Rc2+ 42.Kg1 Rc1+ 43.Kf2 and Black is almost forced to exchange the queens. The resultant rook endgame would be winning for White. However, Nakamura decided against it and played it safe by allowing a perpetual check to maintain his lead 1.5-0.5.
Nakamura - Nepomniachtchi, Game 3
Nakamura's vulnerable king made it quite difficult for him to defend. 37.Rd2 did not help his case Qc5 38.Ke2 Rc3 39.Rd3 now Rc2+ would have finished things a bit faster, however he opted for 39...Qc4 and delayed the inevitable. Nepomniachtchi leveled the score 1.5-1.5. The fourth game was a quick 15-move draw. Thus, the score tied at 2-2. Nakamura got the
Nakamura - Nepomniachtchi, Armageddon
White had a completely dominating position after 26.Rbe1. With the threat of Nxg4 looming large, Nepomniachtchi made a desperate sacrifice Rxe5 27.Rxe5 and Nakamura went on to win the Armageddon comfortably. It also earned him his first World title.
Nepomniachtchi tweeted on the Armageddon in the Finals
Hikaru Nakamura retweeted his community moderator Aneet's tweet
* - Nakamura won the Armageddon
Replay Finals and Playoff games
Prize
The semifinals and finals will be elimination matches, and the final day will also see duels involving all the players to determine each of the prize spots, depending on where they placed earlier. Besides the FIDE world title at stake, the players will be competing for a purse of USD 400,000 and a hefty first prize of $150,000.
Schedule
Links
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World Fischer Random 2022 SF: Nakamura to face Nepomniachtchi in the Finals, Carlsen crashes out
@ 30/10/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en) |
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World Fischer Random 2022 R5-6: Carlsen, Nakamura and Nepo join Abdusattorov in the Semifinals
@ 28/10/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en) |
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World Fischer Random 2022 R3-4: Abdusattorov storms into Semifinals
@ 27/10/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en) |
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World Fischer Random 2022 R1-2: Abdusattorov shines against Nepomniachtchi and So
@ 26/10/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en) |
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World Fischer Random Championship 2022 starts today in Reykjavik, Iceland
@ 25/10/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en) |
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Wesley So to defend his FIDE World Fischer Random title
@ 20/08/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en) |