World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen won the 2023 Superbet Rapid & Blitz Poland, the second leg of the Grand Chess Tour (GCT) at the Museum of the History of Polish Jews. The Norwegian Grandmaster, the World No.1, Magnus Carlsen finished with a score of 24/36 and took home the $40,000 1st place prize. Jan-Krzyzstof Duda was placed second, the local favorite and defending champion who led until the final day and ended just a point behind with 23/36, after nearly winning a final game against Carlsen that would have forced a playoff.
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Magnus Carlsen Won 2023 Superbet Rapid and Blitz Poland: Key Points
- Carlsen’s match day started with a victory against Vachier-Lagrave, extending his win streak from the end of the previous day to seven.
- He was then held to a draw by Romanian Grandmaster Bogdon-Daniel Deac before going on to defeat Radoslaw Wojtaszek (Poland), Kirill Shevchenko (Romanian), and another Romanian Richard Rapport in consecutive rounds to overtake the lead.
- Then draws with Anish Giri (Netherlands) and Levon Aronian (America), putting Carlsen a full point ahead of the previous day’s leader, Duda.
- Going into the final round, Duda needed to defeat Carlsen with black pieces to catch up and force a playoff. Despite losing an exchange out of the opening, Duda managed to survive into the endgame and completely turn it around.
- But in the time scramble, the Pole missed a few chances and Carlsen managed to hold after 124 moves of play, clinching the title.
- The 2023 Grand Chess Tour continues with the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz in Zagreb Croatia, taking place from July 3-10, and Saint Louis in the USA (November 12 – 19).
- It will conclude with the final classical event, the Sinquefield Cup, to be held from November 19 – December 3 in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA.
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