Carlsen, world champion of rapid chess and path of legend

Magnus Carlsen is determined to leave the doubt in the air of who is the best player of all time. Lasker, Kasparov, Fischer…mythical names that the Norwegian grandmaster wants to emulate and overcome in the history books of the ancient game. Today he has taken another step on his path towards legend with the conquest of a new world title, that of Partidas. Quick (15 minutes plus 10 additional seconds per movement) which concluded today in In Samarkand (Uzbekistan). He already achieved it last year, but to revalidate this crown-quinta time he achieves it and the 16th of his career if we also count the classic and lightning modalities -, leading the test against 202 participants from the first to the thirteenth round and without losing a gameis only within the reach of legends.

World’s number one or chess, amuses playing, but he was not willing to spend months of preparation and psychological suffering that require the defense of the classical chess title. That stress He has passed it to the current champion Ding Liren -absent from competitions for many months-, and that is why Carlsen, 33 years old, I quit last spring to the crown he achieved in 2013, investing himself in chess competitions fast y flash of lightning in person and online. A decision that has not affected the quality of his game and that has allowed him to live in a more relaxed way and enjoy some time for other hobbies (football, basketball, poker…) and advertising commitments (Puma).

Today the day began (10th-13th round) with a decisive victory against the Russian Vladimir Fedoseev, second classified, with the black pieces. An elegant game of maneuvers with the center closed with the defense Nimzoindia. He then beat the Iranian Pouya Identitywho despite achieving a slight advantage consumed many minutes, while in the next game against the Uzbek Nodirbek Abdusattórov, champion of this modality in 2022, did not take any risks and after several simplifications signed the tables in just 22 moves. In the last game, against the Indian talent R Praggnanandhaasigned a quick draw in 23 moves.

“I think that I have played pretty well and I have not had problems in any game. Today, the key has been in my victory against Fedoseev”Carlsen declared. Curiously, the Norwegian, after beating Fedoseevhad to pass a control antitrampas and declared to the Norwegian television network NRK: “I think it is positive That they have chosen me means that I have played a good game! Who no has had a good performance in Samarkand has been the American Hans Niemannwith whom Carlsen had a controversy with suggestions of cheating that ended up in court, which before the closing round was not among the Top 50 classified.

FEDOSEEV-CARLSEN (World Rapids. 10th round)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Ab4 4.Nf3 Axc3+ 5.bxc3 d6 6.Dc2 De7 7.a4 c5 8.e4 e5 9.d5 Cbd7 10.h4 h6 11.Ae2 Rd8 12.Cd2 Rc7 13. Nf1 g6 14.g4 a5 15.h5 gxh5 16.gxh5 Cb6 17.Cg3 Ad7 18.Db3 Ce8 19.Ae3 Cg7 20.Rd2 f5 21.exf5 Cxf5 22.Tab1 Ta6 23.Cxf5 Axf5 24.Tb2 Dg7 25.Dd1 Tg8 26.Rc1 Dh7 27.Ta2 Cd7 28.Tb2 Nf6 29.Tg1 Txg1 30.Dxg1 Ta8 31.f4 Rg8 32.Dh2 e4 33.Tb1 Dd7 34.Ad1 Ag4 35.Ac2 Df5 36.Rb2 Axh5 37.Te1 b6 38. Rb3 Rg6 39.Dh1 Tg3 40.Dh4 Th3 41.Df2 Af3 42.Tg1 Cg4 43.De1 h5 44.Ac1 Th2 45.Dg3 Ae2 46.Te1 Axc4+ 47.Rxc4 Txc2 48.Dh4 Rd7 49.Ae3 Tg2 50.Dh1 Tg3 51.Ac1 Nf6 52.Td1 Td3 53.Txd3 exd3 54.Rb5 Qxd5 55.Dh3+ Rc7 56.c4 Qc6+ 57.Ra6 b5+, y White abandoned after not being able to avoid mate. (0-1).