When You Come At The King, You Better Not Miss...
Hello, my dear, sweet Chess.companions -
In my first "blitz review" from the 2019 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz, I covered GM Anish Giri's game vs. GM Alireza Firouzja, and for blog #2, we have GM Maxim Matlakov vs. GM Magnus Carlsen.
As the title suggests: It was a close call for the world champion! It was an interesting game where Matlakov gained a large advantage out of the opening, with Magnus playing into a variation of the Cambridge Springs that he probably should have avoided. However, Carlsen's tricky defense put Maxim in a "must find" position that he did not deliver on a crucial, albeit super difficult to see bishop retreat!
So in the end, Magnus works his magic again and ultimately converts with his practical and brilliantly timed exchange sacrifice. I hope you enjoy the video and the written analysis (thanks to NM Jeremy Kane again for the support):
Peace, peeps!
Danny Rensch is an international master and Chief Chess Officer at Chess.com. After a successful scholastic chess career, Danny joined Chess.com as a co-founder in 2009. He directs the company's content, media partnerships, and professional chess events. Danny is an accomplished commentator and broadcaster, which he used to establish Chess.com's streaming and creator programs. He has channeled his lifelong passion for playing and teaching chess to advance Chess.com's mission of growing the game and helping people enjoy their lives through chess. With over 200 million registered users, Chess.com is the leading platform for playing and learning chess.
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Read “Dark Squares,” Danny’s Highly Anticipated Memoir
Danny Rensch has released his highly anticipated memoir on September 16, 2025. Described as Educated meets The Queen’s Gambit, this powerful and deeply personal book dives into his upbringing in an abusive cult and how chess ended up saving his life.
