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Chess.com Global Championship Semi-finals Recap, 2022 Speed Chess Championship Announced
Anish Giri vs. Nihal Sarin
This match was extremely fun. In game 1, Anish was able to defeat Nihal with white. He went far out with his queen to h5 early in the game, and shortly thereafter pushed his f pawn all the way up to f5. The ensuing attack eventually converted to an endgame in which Anish was up a bishop, and he simplified down to a completely winning endgame.
Now it’s Nihal’s turn. Anish made a comment at one point before the match that Nihal was a fortunate pairing, given the other two potential opponents in the field (Hikaru and Wesley So). Nihal wanted to prove him wrong. He played a strange queen’s pawn opening where he fianchettoed his bishop on b2 and played c4. He had very regal knights on d4 and c4, and was eventually able to positionally squeeze Anish into a position where he had many weaknesses in the form of backwards pawns. Eventually, his pawns were scattered to the a, e, and h files, and Nihal Sarin swept them off the board and actually ended the game up 3 full pawns.
The next two games were drawn, but nevertheless eventful. Nihal played better chess within these two games, and three times was completely winning. One of those times was when he had a basic forking tactic that even a 1500 could spot, but obviously the nerves of such a giant tournament are sure to rattle any player.
Yeah, he certainly isn’t happy about missing that. Due to Nihal’s missed opportunities, many of the commentators including Daniel Naroditsky and Youtube legend Gothamchess concluded that Anish will have the psychological edge tomorrow. This is because they imagine Nihal will be upset with himself for missing out on such an elementary winning pattern.
I personally think that while Anish may have a slight psychological edge, it’s not really gonna matter all that much. At the end of the day, he was outplayed across the match, and he too will have that psychological weight to carry into tomorrow’s games. But as of now, the score is 2–2. Anybody’s game.
Hikaru Nakamura vs. Wesley So
This match was slightly less eventful than the one between Giri and Sarin, as all four games were drawn. However, it featured some very impressive saves by Hikaru.
The first game began with a Berlin defense, to which Hikaru replied with an anti-Berlin, probably using his old candidates prep. Complicated and tense development followed, and Wesley actually had a slight advantage with the black pieces, but the game inevitably simmered down into a sterile position in which the players repeated moves.
In game 2, another anti-Berlin was played with the colors reversed, and development continued very similarly to the last game. The queenside pawn structure was resolved into a fairly simple affair, and Hikaru offered a draw, which was accepted.
In game 3, Hikaru played a Ruy Lopez once again, but a different line this time in which Wesley’s queen came out very early. Once again, Wesley had a slight advantage out of the opening with black. He did end up getting good pressure in a rooks and knights endgame, but the rooks were traded. Hikaru was able to regain a slight advantage, and played on for many moves with a marginally better pawn structure. But as you all already know, the game ended up being drawn after over 130(!) moves.
Game 4. This time, Wesley opts for an Italian game rather than a Ruy Lopez. He expanded heavily on the queenside, and Hikaru met Wesley equally in the center. The queenside and center both got closed, and Wesley was able to lash out on the kingside with a sudden f4. A very complicated dance between the two ensued. Wesley won an exchange, but Hikaru later uncorked a very brilliant move to simplify the position in his favor (A move that I was actually able to spot before the commentators. Now my chess luck for the next ten years is gone).
Yeah, crazy stuff. He hangs his knight in 3 different ways, but his attack on Wesley’s queen on b2 takes precedent. The game continued with Qxe5, Nxe5, and Hikaru was able to miraculously defend his worse position into a draw. The score is 2–2, and once again, anybody’s game. We’re in for a very exciting CGC recap tomorrow.
Speed Chess Championship Announced
Chess.com has announced that their annual Speed Chess Championship will be starting on November the 21st. As implied in the graphic, the great Magnus Carlsen will be returning, as well as Hikaru. Hikaru is a four-time(!!) Speed Chess Champion, and actually defeated Wesley So last year in dominant fashion to win.
The current pool of confirmed players is nothing short of spectacular, and you will see who they are in the photo below because I don’t feel like typing all their names! Sorry not sorry.
Yeah, that’s some starpower. The two “question marks” will be decided in qualifier tournaments which will take place in the week leading up to the SCC. Tune in tomorrow for another recap and other news in the chess world!
