Skilling Open Rapid 15min+10sec

Inquitus

$1.3m in prize money, 16 of the worlds top players.

Round robin finished with Magnus Top and the Top 8 qualified for the KO portion, 1v8, 2v7, 3v6, 4v5 play from the round robin results. KO portion is played over 2 days, with a set consisting of 4 games played per day. If the set and match score ends up tied then 2 further rapids and an Armageddon will ensue.

Day 2 of the KO's kicks off in 30 mins or so with the below pairings fighting out for SF Qualification.

EnPassant

Some links

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MmlZ0w31U4 - Peter Leko and Tania Sachdev

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAH_5oqI8AE - Chessbaseindia - will concentrate on Anish Giri / Magnus Carlsen

https://www.twitch.tv/chess24 - chess24, more beginner friendly

Inquitus

EnPassant wrote: »

Some links

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MmlZ0w31U4 - Peter Leko and Tania Sachdev

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAH_5oqI8AE - Chessbaseindia - will concentrate on Anish Giri / Magnus Carlsen

https://www.twitch.tv/chess24 - chess24, more beginner friendly

I like Peter and Tania myself, that seems to be the best commentary.

Inquitus

A lot of comebacks last night, 3 of the 4 SF Qualifiers came from behind! So tonight we have:

Magnus Carlsen v Ian Nepomniachtchi
Wesley So v Hikaru Nakimura

Last night all bar Magnus and Ian went to the Armageddon Tie Break, Magnus won in normal play by drawing his 4 games with Anish Giri after winning 2.5:1.5 on Day 1, Ian won both Rapid Playoff games against Aronian, and Wesley and Hikaru both triumphed in Armageddon where white must win and failed to do so, as the higher qualifiers they both chose black for Armageddon!

Inquitus

Magnus draws first blood with a quick win in his first game which he played as white!

Inquitus

Ian not looking great in Game 2, Magnus plays the sicilian dragon opening and Ian looks to be battling for survival with the white pieces at this point, could be an early finish in that SF if it continues down this path!

Inquitus

Inquitus wrote: »

Ian not looking great in Game 2, Magnus plays the sicilian dragon opening and Ian looks to be battling for survival with the white pieces at this point, could be an early finish in that SF if it continues down this path!

Ian had a winning position and let it go, 1.5:0.5 heading into game 3, Magnus pulls out a miraculous draw in the end.

Inquitus

Wesley and Magnus win the Day 1 sets, Hikaru and Ian need to win tomorrows 4 game set to take things to the tie breakers!

Inquitus

Decisive games in all 3 Rapid matches today so far, Magnus 2-1 Wesley, Wesley's chance with the white pieces to save this set!

RooksPawn

Wesley So has won the tournament. Both rapid days ended 2-2 and just now he won the blitz playoff 1.5-0.5.

Inquitus

RooksPawn wrote: »

Wesley So has won the tournament. Both rapid days ended 2-2 and just now he won the blitz playoff 1.5-0.5.

Aye its Magnus's 30th Birthday today as well, So just took a large dump on that one lol!