So scores the sole win
Wesley So (USA) scored the sole win of the round | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
Firouzja - So: 0-1
Alireza Firouzja (FRA, 2785) has not played a rated game since September 2022. Eight months away from Classical chance is bound to create some form of rust.
Position after 37...g5
Black is making some serious threats g4, Qe4+ and capture the d4-pawn. 38.Rc3 g4 39.Ne5 Qe4+ 40.Kg1 Qxd4 41.Qxg4+ Qxg4 42.Nxg4 would have been okay for White. 38.hxg5 hxg5 39.Qd2 g4 and now White had to play 40.Ne5. The game continued 40.Nh4 Qe4+ 41.Kh2? Qxd4 42.Qg5+ Rg7 43.Qf5 Rf7 44.Qg5+ Kf8 45.Kh1 Qe4+ 46.Kg1 Ke8 and Black went on to win the game.
Interview with Wesley So | Video: Saints Louis Chess Club
Alireza Firouzja (FRA) - Wesley So (USA): 0-1
| Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
Ding: After the Match, I was exhausted
| Video: Saints Louis Chess Club
Ding Liren (CHN) drew his first game after becoming the world champion against former world blitz champion, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA)
| Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
Fabiano Caruana (USA) - Bogdan-Daniel Deac (ROU): 0.5-0.5
| Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
Rapport: Nepo acted ‘Peculiar’ before the game | Video: Saint Louis Chess Club
Ian Nepomniachtchi - Richard Rapport (ROU): 0.5-0.5
| Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
Giri: Excited to play Classical Chess
| Video: Saints Louis Chess Club
Jan-Krzysztof Duda (POL) - Anish Giri (NED): 0.5-0.5
| Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
Photo Gallery
The 13th world champion Garry Kasparov poses for a photo with the 17th world champion Ding Liren (CHN)
| Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
Kasparov says something to Ding...
| Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
...and they share a good laugh
| Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
Kasparov shakes hand with the former world blitz champion Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
| Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
Kasparov makes the first move on the board of world champions
| Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
Romania no.2, Bogdan-Daniel Deac poses for a photo with the young fans
| Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
Wesley So has fans all over the world
| Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
The tournament is played at Grand Hotel Bucharest in Romania
| Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
Spectators enjoying the action
| Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
Video Gallery
Kasparov: Ding still has to Digest the World Title
| Video: Saints Louis Chess Club
Vlad Ardeleanu: Grand Chess Tour is Welcomed in Romania
| Video: Saints Louis Chess Club
2023 Superbet Chess Classic: Opening Ceremony
| Video: Saints Louis Chess Club
Replay Round 1 Live Commentary and analysis by GMs Varuzhan Akobian, Cristian Chirila, Yasser Seirawan, and IM Nazi Paikidze | Video: Saint Louis Chess Club
Replay Round 1 games
Round 1 results
Only one game ended decisively in Round 1 | Photo: Grand Chess Tour
Standings after Round 1
Wesley So scored the first win of the event | Photo: Grand Chess Tour
Prize
The total prize fund for each of the classical event is US$ 350000 with the first prize being US$ 100000.
Schedule
2023 Superbet Chess Classic schedule | Photo: Grand Chess Tour
