Carlsen decodes Indian prodigy

Azerbaijan World number one Magnus Carlsen beat 17-year-old talent Gukesh Dommaraju in the first standard game of the Chess World Cup quarter-finals.

Gukesh played white and moved quickly in the opening, while Carlsen was unprepared for the variation his opponent chose. However, the world number eight was forced to exchange queens early in a forced line, sending the game into an early endgame. Carlsen is highly regarded in the endgame and he used this ability well to turn a draw into a win. The Norwegian stacked his rook to capture White's isolated pawn, winning in 48 moves.

Carlsen (right) in a match with Gukesh at the quarter-finals of the Chess World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan on August 15, 2023. Photo: FIDE — Carlsen (right) in a match with Gukesh at the quarter-finals of the Chess World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan on August 15, 2023. Photo: *FIDE*

Carlsen will play Gukesh again in the second game from 6pm today, August 16, Hanoi time, but the 33-year-old player has the advantage of holding the white pieces and only needs a draw. Meanwhile, the Indian prodigy must win to bring the match to a tie-break.

After winning the game on August 15, Carlsen said he had a good mentality before entering the competition. When asked about the secret to playing the endgame, the number one player said: "It's mainly talent and hard work. When I was younger, I wasn't as good at endgames as I am now, but I practiced a lot of practical and theoretical endgames."

Gukesh suffered his first loss at the Chess World Cup, after a 10-game unbeaten run. The 17-year-old fell one place to eighth in the world, but remains India's top player. He has been on a rise over the past few years, breaking into the world's top 100 just over a year ago, but is now in the top 10.

The World Cup quarter-finals also had another decisive game on August 15, when Erigaisi Arjun defeated another Indian prodigy, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu. "Pragg" still has a chance to advance if he beats Erigaisi in the second game today.

The Chess World Cup, held every two years, is the largest individual tournament. This year's tournament took place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from July 30 to August 24, with 206 players in the Open division and 103 in the Women's division. The players competed in a knockout tournament, with the top three players from each group qualifying for the Candidates. But if Carlsen wins a place in the Candidates, he will still leave the possibility of participating open because he is not interested in playing standard chess.

Xuan Binh

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