Chessable Masters: Carlsen, Giri Start With Wins As World Champ Gifts Back Point

GM Magnus Carlsen took the lead in his Chessable Masters' semifinal with GM Ding Liren, winning just before an armageddon was needed. In the second game, he gifted his opponent a win after Ding had lost an equal endgame due to disconnection. In the other match, GM Anish Giri won convincingly vs. GM Ian Nepomniachtchi.

It was the story of the day and generally praised as a great gesture from the world champion: giving up a full point, not wishing to enjoy a match lead based on a disconnect. 

So what happened exactly? First, the moment Ding lost on time, because he couldn't reconnect to his internet before he got flagged:

To lose by disconnection is always unfortunate, but especially when it's a few moves before a draw would have been agreed, as Carlsen noted himself. About 10 minutes later, the next game started. Look what happened there.

That was probably the most absurd game ever played by a world champion of chess. When it was called his worst game ever, on Twitter, someone countered that it was also his best, from a sportsmanship point of view.

We are all learning from unusual online games situations.
I love what Magnus just did!
If anyone on this planet has a huge desire to win is MC, but fair play is a must.
This is exactly how online chess must be communicated!
Beautiful it starts from the very top!

— Sokolov Ivan (@GMSokolovIvan) June 30, 2020

You can’t spell magnanimous without Magnus.

— Seth Hanson (@sethdhanson) June 30, 2020

In the official broadcast, Carlsen commented: "I have immense respect for Ding as a chess player and as a human being and I thought against him this was the only correct way. I might have kicked myself if I had lost one of these last two games, but I think it was the right thing to do."

He added that is actually not so clear what is the right thing to do in such a situation: "I think once he disconnected in a drawn position then every outcome is going to be some kind of wrong, but I am of course grateful to get some compliments on my character and not only my play, for once [laughs], but it's OK. It’s not what I gunned for, but itis still appreciated."

Giri, who was also in the broadcast, said that many players wouldn't even come up with the idea altogether: "I think to do such a thing is very cool and it shows a lot of confidence."

The players drew their next two rapid games and also the first 5+3 blitz. Perhaps it was partly play and partly karma that Carlsen won that second blitz game, which decided this first match between the two.

Meanwhile, Giri continues to impress at this event. Having set aside GM Alexander Grischuk before, the Dutchman now beat the other Russian top GM Nepomniachtchi in the first match, over just four games.

He was briefly a pawn up in the first game, but struck in the second with a great sacrifice: 

The draw in game three is highly recommended to be played through in the game viewer below. It could easily have been the Game of the Day instead, but we chose the one that decided this match:

The second matches of the semifinals are played on Wednesday, and in case of a 1-1 tie, a third match is scheduled for Thursday.

Games SF Day 1

The Chessable Masters runs June 20-July 5 on chess24 as part of the Magnus Carlsen Tour. The prize fund is $150,000 with the first prize of $45,000. The time control is 15 minutes for all moves with a 10-second increment after each move. No draw offers are allowed before move 40.

Previous reports:

• Chessable Masters: Ding Beats Nakamura To Set Up Clash With Carlsen
• Chessable Masters: Giri In Semis, Nakamura Forces 3rd Match
• Carlsen, Nepomniachtchi In Chessable Masters Semifinals
• Chessable Masters: How To Win Without Winning?
• Chessable Masters: Nakamura Knocks Out Dubov
• Giri, Vachier-Lagrave Lead Chessable Masters B Group
• Strong Start For Artemiev At Chessable Masters