Carlsen Secures Victory, Naka and Arjun Play Rollercoaster Game Ending in Draw

Carlsen secures victory, Naka and Arjun play thrilling draw in Paris Freestyle Chess Grand Slam quarterfinals

The Paris Freestyle Chess Grand Slam quarterfinals kicked off with a bang on Wednesday, as the top eight players from the round-robin phase battled it out in four intense classical games. While Magnus Carlsen emerged victorious with a win over Nodirbek Abdusattorov, the highlight of the day was the rollercoaster game between Hikaru Nakamura and Arjun Erigaisi that ended in a draw.

Carlsen’s win came from a strategically sound game that saw him gradually outmaneuver Abdusattorov to secure a crucial victory. With this win, Carlsen now holds the advantage going into the next game, putting pressure on Abdusattorov to bounce back.

On the other hand, Nakamura and Arjun engaged in a thrilling battle that saw Nakamura opt for the “Nepo Gambit” early on. Despite facing difficulties in the middle game, Nakamura’s defensive skills shone through as he managed to complicate matters and salvage a draw in the end.

The remaining two games of the quarterfinals ended in draws, setting the stage for an exciting second round of games on Thursday.

In the matches for 9th-12th places, Richard Rapport and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu started strong with wins over Gukesh Dommaraju and Vidit Gujrathi, respectively, showcasing their tactical prowess in the initial games.

As the competition heats up, chess enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the next round of games to see who will advance to the semifinals of the Paris Freestyle Chess Grand Slam.