Former World Champion Magnus Carlsen has accomplished a significant milestone in his illustrious chess career by capturing his inaugural World Cup title, the only tournament that was missing from his immense collection of victories
All three top-placed players have qualified for the 2024 Candidates tournament which is due to take place next April in Canada. If Carlsen officially declines to take part – he has hinted in the interviews that he might not be interested in playing in the event – then Nijat Abasov, who finished fourth, will replace him.
After a quiet draw in the second game of the finals, Carlsen – who is recovering from food poisoning – defeated the 18-year-old Indian prodigy R Praggnanandhaa in the tiebreaks. It took just two tiebreak games and about one and a half hours.
Crucial was the first rapid tiebreaker which Carlsen won with black pieces. The two sides were evenly matched in the Giuoco Piano. Prag organised an attack on the black king but misplayed in the process. Still, the position was even. In an open and sharp endgame, where both sides had to calculate very carefully, Prag landed in time trouble and blundered with move 42.a6. While Carlsen did not respond in the best fashion, Prag continued to err in the next two moves and after his 44th move, White was completely lost. On move 47, Prag resigned.
Game two was much quieter with Carlsen (playing as White) forcing exchanges in a better position. A draw was agreed as early as move 22, securing first place for the Norwegian.
The World Cup is the only major event that Magnus Carlsen hadn’t won in his career. The closest he came was in 2021 when he finished third. Now, with this feather added to his cap, the world’s highest-rated player proved that he is the ultimate force majeure of chess.
Photo by Stev Bonhage
https://worldcup2023.fide.com/en/news/84-magnus-carlsen-secures-first-world-cup-victory
