Rapid events typically feature a lot of bad play (even if the professionals’ bad play looks pristine compared to what we’ll generate against good opposition), but on day 1 of the FTX Crypto Cup the chess was surprisingly good, especially considering the combative play and the sharp openings.
As one would hope and expect from the World Champion, Magnus Carlsen’s victory over Anish Giri was an impressive display. Game 1 was an interesting draw that stayed fairly balanced throughout. Game 2 was a wild affair. Carlsen went all-out with White, sacrificing a piece in a sharp Najdorf. To Giri’s credit, he outplayed the outgoing champ and probably should have won. Even at the end, when he allowed Carlsen to draw by repetition, Giri was still better and should have played on. (His clock situation was a bit “iffy”, though, and it may have been for that reason he decided to play it safe.)
Punishment was not long in waiting. Carlsen won with Black in game 3, outplaying Giri in a French. His advantage grew rapidly, and a tactical flurry resulted in a mate in two provoking Giri’s resignation. Giri had to take big risks with Black in game 4, and the result was a crushing loss.
I’m not sure why Hans Moke Niemann was given a wildcard for this event. Yes, he’s a talented youngster and an American (the tournament is being played in the U.S.), but he doesn’t seem ready for this level of competition - yet. (He’s getting there, and he’s only 19, so I’m bullish on his future, just not his present against a field mostly composed of 2800s past and present.) Against Jan-Krzysztof Duda the best-of-four game mini-match was finished in three games: all Duda wins.
The other U.S. representative (it seems odd to refer to him as an “American”), Levon Aronian, won a challenging match against Le Quang Liem, winning game 1 and drawing the next three. Aronian was completely lost for most of game 2, and had good winning chances in game 3. Nevertheless, those games were drawn, and Le had no real chances in game 4.
Those were matches where the favorites all won (though Aronian wasn’t a big favorite over Le). In the match between Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa and Alireza Firouzja, a (mild) upset took place as Pragg won 2.5-1.5. Game 1 was a bludgeoning by Pragg, and game 2 was also going well for the young Indian until his 33…Ba6??, allowing Firouzja to whip up a mating attack starting with 34.Ng4. Firouzja converted his advantage and equalized the scores. Game 3 was a wild affair. Firouzja was winning, then it was drawn, and then Firouzja blundered in a (non-trivially) drawn rook ending with 68…Ra1??, clearly under the impression that if it did nothing else, it prevented 69.Kb7. Of course, Pragg played 69.Kb7!, and the rest was easy. Firoujza resigned not too many moves later. Game 4 was a clean game by both sides, concluding with king vs. king, and thus Pragg won the match.
Tomorrow’s matches are Firouzja-Le, Duda-Aronian, Carlsen-Niemann, and Pragg-Giri.