12 December 2023 at 20:30 Carlsen beat Firouzja in Toronto: – Horrible playoff technique Magnus Carlsen ended the opening rounds of the Champions Chess Tour playoffs with a victory over Alireza Firouzja in armageddon. It was already clear before the last round that Carlsen and American Wesley So will go directly to the semi-finals. The next four after seven rounds will play for the last two places later on Tuesday. Carlsen met the Iranian-born Frenchman Firouzja in the seventh and final round. There, the Norwegian lost the first game with white pieces. Carlsen went for an unfavorable trade and lost the rook. – It was a complete head mist in the end there, Carlsen told TV 2. Carlsen thus had to win with black pieces to send the match to armageddon. He built up a solid advantage towards the end of the game, but a misplay sent Firouzja back into the game. Then it was Firouzja’s turn to blunder out, and Carlsen won. – Firouzja has horrible playoff technique, said TV 2 expert Jon Ludvig Hammer. – Something strange is happening in this tournament. People collapse with little time, and so do I. This is a playoff he should hold, Carlsen said of Firouzja. Thus the battle had to be decided in armageddon. Carlsen played there with white pieces and outplayed the competitor. The semi-finals are played on Thursday and Friday, where it is the best of three games of four games. It is not clear who Carlsen will meet yet. (NTB)
ttn-69
United out – FC Copenhagen further – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
