“GM Magnus Carlsen Leads 2024 Champions Chess Tour Finals Round-Robin with 5/6 Despite Loss”
The 2024 Champions Chess Tour Finals are heating up as GM Magnus Carlsen leads the Round-Robin stage with an impressive 5/6 score, despite suffering a loss to Alireza Firouzja. Three players are hot on his heels with just one point behind: GMs Firouzja, Denis Lazavik, and Ian Nepomniachtchi.
As the competition intensifies, all eyes are on the upcoming round seven and the Survival Stage on Thursday, December 19. The stakes are high as the bottom two players on the scoreboard will be eliminated, while the top two will advance without having to go through the Survival Stage.
In a festive twist, Chess.com hosted a “white elephant” exchange with the grandmasters, adding a touch of holiday spirit to the intense competition. Players had the chance to pick or steal gifts from each other, including unique items like pillows with GM faces, boards, cookies, and even a one-time pass to tweet from the Chess.com Twitter account.
Despite the holiday cheer, the players remain focused on the games ahead. GM Wesley So, with only one match point after two days, faces elimination, while the battle for the top spots continues to unfold.
In round four, Carlsen showcased his dominance with a perfect 4/4 score, while Aronian secured his first win of the event. Round five saw Firouzja ending Carlsen’s winning streak, while Aronian continued his impressive run with a second consecutive victory.
Round six saw Firouzja, Lazavik, and Nepomniachtchi keeping pace with Carlsen by securing wins in their matches. Carlsen, true to form, maintained his winning ways and extended his lead in the tournament.
As the competition reaches its climax, the final matches of the Round-Robin stage promise to be intense. With Vachier-Lagrave, Keymer, and Aronian fighting for survival, the pressure is on for all players to secure their spots in the next stage of the tournament.
With a prize fund of $500,000 and $200,000 going to the winner, the 2024 Champions Chess Tour Finals in Oslo, Norway are shaping up to be a thrilling conclusion to a year of intense competition. Stay tuned for more updates and watch the action unfold as the world’s top grandmasters battle it out on the chessboard.