Champions Chess Tour Finals: Carlsen keeps his lead

World Champion Magnus Carlsen is the clear favourite to win the Meltwater Chess Champions Tour – in fact, even without the bonus points that gave Carlsen a 4-point lead before the first move was even played, he would have been the favourite. However, in his match against MVL Carlsen had some problems though he started with a quick, smooth win in vintage Carlsen style.

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Game 2 ended with a draw but then Carlsen lost game 3 after blundering/bringing a dubious pawn sacrifice in the opening.

Game 4 brought another draw but in the blitz-tiebreak Carlsen won without too much trouble.

Wesley So, the only player who has still chances to catch Carlsen, came to a clear win against Vladislav Artemiev and is now 5 points behind Carlsen, one point less than yesterday.

Hikaru Nakamura defeated Levon Aronian clearly 3-1, but the match Shakhriyar Mamedyarov vs Jan-Krzystztof Duda was much closer and full of exciting games with unusual positions. Duda won the first game, but in game 2 Mamedyarov bounced back. After two more draws Duda won the blitz-tiebreak. In the rapid games Anish Giri was close to losing against Teimour Radjabov but he managed to save a 2-2 and then won the blitz-tiebreak.