Superbet R&B 2023 Day 3: Duda tops Rapid, Carlsen ends win drought

by Shahid Ahmed - 24/05/2023

FIDE World Cup 2021 winner, Jan-Krzysztof Duda grabbed sole after the ninth round of rapid. Poland no.1 has scored 13/18 and he is undefeated so far. He defeated the former World Blitz champion, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in the eighth round. It was Duda's first win against him since August 2019 in a rated game, which was also a Grand Chess Tour Blitz event in Paris. The world no.24 drew against Levon Aronian in the final round of Rapid. Aronian is currently at second place 12/18, followed by Wesley So and MVL sharing third place with 11/18 each. Magnus Carlsen ended his win drought by winning against Bogdan-Daniel Deac and Kirill Shevchenko consecutively. He moved up to the fifth place 10/18. Blitz Round 1 starts today from 2 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Carlsen wins two in-a-row

The World no.1 played some online games, won a few and translated the same over the board on the third day of Superbet Rapid and Blitz 2023. He is now at fifth place scoring 10/18, three points behind Duda. 18 rounds of Blitz left to be played, nine today and the remaining nine tomorrow.

Jan-Krzysztof Duda has taken sole lead 13/18 | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Duda first after Rapid: I’m More Keen Playing Blitz | Video: Saint Louis Chess Club

Carlsen: If Duda has a great event, I don’t have a chance | Video: Saint Louis Chess Club

Magnus Carlsen scored his first win of the event against Bogdan-Daniel Deac | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Kirill - Carlsen, Round 8

Position after 37.Nf6+

GM Kirill Shevchenko (ROU) decided to give up his e7-pawn 37.Nf6+ without putting up a fight. 37.Kh2 Bd6+ 38.Kg1 Bd3 39.Nf6+ Kxe7 40.Nd5+ Kf7 41.Kf2 Bxb5 would have been better to prolong the game. 37...Kxe7 38.Nd5+ Kd6 39.c4 Bd4 40.Bf4+ Kc5 41.Bxc7 Kxc4 42.Nxb6+ Kxb5 43.Nxa4 Kxa4 and winning these endgames is a cakewalk the world no.1.

Carlsen showing Kirill what he could have done differently | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Duda - Vachier-Lagrave, Round 8

Position after 17...Nd3+

Jan-Krzysztof Duda played 15.Ra4 to be ready to sacrifice his queen. 15...Bxc3+ 16.bxc3 Nc5 17.Rb4 Nd3+ 18.Qxd3 Rxd3 19.Bxd3 White has a rook, bishop and two pawns for a queen which means enough compensation and the position is not difficult to play either.

Position after 29...Qf4

29...Qf4 was the final mistake by Black. 29...Rxb2 was a plausible exchange of rooks. 30.Rxa2 Qxd4+ 31.Kh1 h5 32.Raa1 h4 33.Rd1 Qf2 34.h3 and it's over for Black.

Jan-Krzysztof Duda scored his first rated game win over Maxime Vachier-Lagraev since August 2019 | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Photo Gallery

Magnus Carlsen scored two wins to climb to the fifth spot | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Garry Kasparov signed autographs for some kids | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Anish Giri crawled up from last position to seventh | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Round 9 in progress | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

View from the audience | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Highlights of Day 2

Replay Superbet Rapid and Blitz Day 3 Live commentary by GMs Varuzhan Akobian, Cristian Chirila, Yasser Seirawan, IM Nazi Paikidze and WGM Anastasiya Karlovich | Video: Saint Louis Chess Club

Replay Round 7-9 games

Standings after Rapid Round 9

Jan-Krzysztof Duda has taken sole lead 13/18 | Photo: Grand Chess Tour

Superbet Rapid and Blitz 2023 schedule | Photo: Grand Chess Tour

Prize

The total prize fund for each of the Rapid and Blitz event is US$ 175000 with the first prize being US$ 40000.

Prize details | Photo: Grand Chess Tour

Links

Official site

Tournament regulations

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