Aronian beats Duda in tie-breaks
The second round of FTX Crypto Cup witnessed 17 games in total. Ten of them were decisive and seven draws. Carlsen-Niemann had all four decisive games. Duda-Aronian went to the tie-breaks where the first game ended in a draw. Aronian won the second one to win the match.
Praggnanandhaa - Giri: 2.5-1.5
The first two games ended in draws with no real chances for either side. Praggnanandhaa got a winning opportunity in the rook ending of the third game.
Praggnanandhaa - Giri, Game 3
Having only a little over a minute left on the clock, Black blundered 39...Ke5 40.Rb5+ Ke6. Instead of taking the h5-pawn, White gave another check 41.Rb6+. 14-moves later White got a few more opportunities, however, Black managed to escape by the skin of his teeth. The score remained level 1.5-1.5.
Praggnanandhaa is someone who just does not let the opportunities slip by. When Giri made a tiny positional inaccuracy in the fourth game, he just pounced on it.
Giri - Praggnanandhaa, Game 4
21.Rd3 was the inaccuracy. 21.Rb1 or Ba1 is recommended by the computer to prevent Rc2 invasion. 22.Ba3 was forced Rxe2 23.Bxb4 Rxe1+ 24.Bxe1 Nxe4 25.d5 Ndc5 26.Ra3 and we get the following position.
Position after 26.Ra3
It was not easy to keep the d5-pawn protected. It was a lost cause anyway. 26...exd5 the new isolated passed pawn eventually became a deciding factor in White losing the game and the match too.
USA's top junior, GM Hans Niemann surprised the world champion, Magnus Carlsen in the very first game.
Carlsen - Niemann, Game 1
Black's position looks quite pleasant. Find out the best way for Black to proceed.
Hans Niemann in a post-game interview said, "Chess speaks for itself" before walking away nonchalantly.
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