Anish Giri, Netherland’s No.1 chess player, has more title-losses than gains in his chess career. Though a former chess prodigy with a world ranking of 3 back in 2016, the brilliant player was yet to break his great title win especially in the ongoing online Meltwater Champions Chess Tour.
The Dutchman had lost to his arch-rival and reigning champion Magnus Carlsen in the first event of the series, the Skilling Open. The following Airthings Masters event wasn’t fruitful either, where he couldn't make his way out of the prelims. Giri also lost the Opera Euro Rapid to Azerbaijan’s Teimour Radjabov.
Hence it was a fresh turn for his fans and the followers of the online events to witness the finals of the Magnus Carlsen Invitational where Giri upped his game against Ian Nepomniachtchi and went to grab the title.
An explosive game for thrones
Anish Giri leaped onto the leaderboard in the Meltwater Champions Chess series with a substantial win in the Magnus Carlsen Invitational. The Dutch no.1 finally gathered all his fine tactics against the Russian Grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi.
The match was intense from both ends and went to tiebreaks. This was the much-awaited maiden tournament victory for Giri since the Champion Chess Tour series. He bagged the top prize of $60,000 in this 1.5-million-dollar tour along with his ticket to finals that are to be held in September.
Expectations were dim for chess fans as the game witnessed five consecutive draws. In the first game, Giri used his killer instinct to unleash attacks on Nepo. However, the Russian GM handled it well, leading to a fifth draw due to repetition. In the following game, Giri, who often received flaks for drawing his games, seemed charged with fresh confidence and pace.
Giri was brilliant at piling up pressure but every exciting game ended with no breakthroughs. Towards the end of the finals set, Nepo required just a single shot to turn the game to yet another tie-break.
It was then that Giri blundered and gave the right chance to Nepo with a series of slight mistakes. Nepo tightened his claws, forcing Giri - who was almost one step close to victory - to resign. The set ended in 2-2.
In the first blitz tie-breaker, Giri slipped again sacrificing his Knight for a pawn. But that set Nepo lose his cool and he blundered for the first time. Giri sailed victoriously in his first blitz game and refocused in the second game of blitz. Anish Giri fans had finally their fulfillment as the ace player - rarely a title-winner - renewed his confidence and tactics in the game to win the Magnus Carlson invitational.
Both Nepo and Giri were in tremendously good form playing the best chess of their time. The announcement of the new Julius Baer Challengers Chess Tour from the Play Magnus Group by chess legends Judit Polgar and Vladimir Kramnik was an added inspiration.
Magnus Carlsen Invitational: The final touches
Meanwhile Magnus Carlsen, after being crushed in two events by the U.S. GM Wesley So rose from his ashes in his game for third place. In his third face-off with So, Carlsen won the first set on Day 1 and the opening on Day 2. He then sealed his win with two draws leaving little hope for So to repeat his earlier victories. The current World Champion quipped that a “third place is better than the fourth.”
As for Giri, he felt great to win but still wasn’t willing to claim it as his career-defining moment. He said tongue-in-cheek that contrary to his competitor’s remarks, this isn't his first victory, siting his win at the prestigious Mr. Dodgy invitational and few others.
The Dutch lad bagged a whopping sum of $60,000 in this 1.5-million-dollar event. He has also qualified to play for the finals that are set to be held in September this year.
Winding Up
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