In a surprising turn of events, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave emerged victorious over Magnus Carlsen in the final of the AI Cup. Despite Carlsen’s advantage from the winners’ bracket, Vachier-Lagrave bounced back with consecutive wins to secure the title.
Vachier-Lagrave, currently ranked 21st in the world with an Elo rating of 2727, has been struggling recently, falling out of the top ten and missing out on the previous Candidates tournament. However, he showcased his improving form with impressive victories over the usually unbeatable Carlsen.
The final was a battle between two exhausted but determined chess titans. Both players pushed themselves to the limit, but fatigue led to small mistakes creeping into their games. In the first game, Carlsen squandered a significant advantage in the endgame, ultimately losing a drawn position.
The first four-game mini-match concluded with three hard-fought draws, highlighting the high stakes of each move. Carlsen had the upper bracket advantage, giving him an extra series to rely on in this scenario.
The second grand final began with Carlsen making a bold queen sacrifice straight from the opening. Although unfamiliar to Vachier-Lagrave, both players quickly played their moves up to move 21. Here, Vachier-Lagrave made a mistake, but Carlsen failed to capitalize, once again succumbing to defeat in the endgame.
Needing a win to stay in the match, Carlsen opted for the Sicilian Defense and gained a promising position with the Black pieces. However, Vachier-Lagrave surprised everyone by sacrificing his bishop for a risky counterplay. While the computer offered a refutation for the ensuing attack, at a human level, it proved to be enough for Vachier-Lagrave to secure a memorable victory.
This unexpected and impressive win allowed Vachier-Lagrave to surpass his competitors in the race for a spot at the offline finals. He narrowly edged out Vladimir Fedoseev in the final standings. Both Vachier-Lagrave and Carlsen have already secured their spots in the offline finals, along with Nakamura, Abdusattorov, Caruana, So, Lazavik, and Firouzja.
The intense competition continues as both players will soon participate in the 2023 European Chess Club Cup in Durres, Albania.
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Source: DOTESPORTS
