Freestyle Chess Paris: Carlsen beats Nodirbek, Erigaisi holds Nakamura; check out the quarterfinal results

Day 1 of the quarterfinals at the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Paris saw Magnus Carlsen securing a victory, while the matches between Arjun Erigaisi and Hikaru Nakamura, as well as the other pairings, ended in draws. Rapport and Praggnanandhaa impressed in the playoffs, setting the stage for an exciting Day 2.

The
quarterfinals of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Paris kicked off with intense and gripping encounters on Wednesday, 9 April. Former world champion Magnus Carlsen was the sole winner among the quarterfinalists, while the other three games ended in draws, leaving plenty of drama for Day 2.

Carlsen displayed exceptional endgame technique to defeat Nodirbek Abdusattorov. Carlsen gradually built his advantage through accurate play, eventually forcing Abdusattorov into a difficult queen-and-pawn endgame, which Carlsen navigated flawlessly to secure the full point.

Arjun Erigaisi and Hikaru Nakamura battled in a topsy-turvy game full of twists and turns. Erigaisi, playing White, initially established a significant advantage, but inaccuracies allowed Nakamura to make a comeback into the game. The match concluded with a stalemate after 77 moves, resulting in a hard-fought draw.

Continue Reading on FIRSTPOST