Carlsen shows clutch moves
Norwegian Magnus Carlsen easily dismissed Armenian Levon Aronian in the semifinal to move closer to the $265,000 Online Clutch Champions Showdown title.
Carlsen, the reigning world champion, made all the big wins look easy in beating Aronian, 10.0-4.0. He advanced to the finals against American Fabiano Caruana, who came from behind to edge compatriot Wesley So, 9.08.0. Down 2.0-6.0, Caruana posted back-to-back victories at the start of set two to mount an astounding comeback.
This weekend’s 12-game online clash marked the first grand final between the two since the November 2018 World Championattack ship match. All games can be watched live with commentaries at various chess websites. * * * The following game is another example of Carlsen’s pile-up technique, launching an all out against a weak c Pawn. Clutch Chess International Semifinal W) M. Carlsen (Norway) B) L. Aronian (Armenia) English Opening 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. g3 Bb4 4. e4 O-O After 4 .... Bxc3 5. dxc3 Nxe4 6. Qd5, White regains the Pawn with a slight advantage. 5. Nge2 .... The seventh world champion, Vasily Smyslov (Russia), popularized this line sixty years ago. 5 .... d6 6. h3 Nc6 7. Bg2 a6 8. O-O b5 Black undertakes instant action on the Q-side. 9. d3 .... It is well known that Black obtains counterplay after 9. cxb5 axb5 10. Nxb5 Ba6, etc. 9 .... bxc4 10. dxc4 Bc5 11. Kh2 Rb8 12. b3 a5 13. Nd5 a4 A promising alternative for Black is 13 .... Nxd5 14. exd5 Nd4. 14. Be3 axb3 15. axb3 Bxe3 Not a good choice as it deny the Black Knight the important d4 square, and also concedes the half-open f file to White’s major pieces. Better is 15 .... h6, according to the engine.. 16. fxe3 Nd7 17. Nec3 Nc5 18. Nb5 Ne6 19. h4! .... There’s something wrong with Black’s deployment as this move reveals. 19 .... Bd7 20. Bh3 Rb7 Here Black is almost out of playable moves. 21. b4 Ne7 22. Ra2 Nc8? In a difficult position, a blunder comes easily, and this one is fatal. 23. Ra8! .... Intensifying the pressure on Black’s pieces, which are all pinned. 23 .... Kh8 24. Qh5 Qe8 25. Bf5 h6 26. Bh3! .... Paving the way for White’s army to deliver a series of hammer blows.The immediate threat is 27. Rf6 followed by 28. Rxh6ch. 26 .... c6 27. Nxd6 Nxd6 This ends the story as White’s material advantage will be decisive. The rest needs no comment. 28. Rxe8 Rxe8 29. Nf6 Re7 30. c5 Nc4 31. Nxd7 Rbxd7 32. Rxf7 Rxf7 33. Bxe6 Rf2ch 34. Kh3 1-0