PRESS RELEASE:
Giri fires himself into the semis as Nakamura hangs on
Anish Giri gave himself a big birthday present by ensuring a semi-final spot in the $150,000 Chessable Masters.
The Dutch star rolled over three-time World Blitz Champion Alexander Grischuk with two wins to take today’s second set 3-1 and the tie 2-0.
Giri, who turned 26, then hit back at World Champion Magnus Carlsen who has been goading him on Twitter, by declaring: “The karma is real!”
It came after Giri scored a casual bullet chess win over Carlsen while the Norwegian was streaming last night.
Asked what he got for his birthday, Giri added: “I’ve got so many gifts, my wife is like a gift pro – she’s like a professional.”
Meanwhile, fan favourite Hikaru Nakamura overcame a stunning mistake against Ding Liren to take their match to a deciding set tomorrow.
The popular American streamer, who boasts 435,000 followers on Twitch, had looked in complete control with the score at 2-1.
But on the verge of completing his comeback after losing Friday’s encounter, Nakamura collapsed in the final game of the set.
It allowed Ding, China’s top player, a chance to level the score and take it to a two-game blitz tiebreak which also finished level.
Nakamura, the noted speed specialist, finally won the rubber in an Armageddon tiebreak. With the match now squared, the pair will play a deciding set tomorrow.
The eventual winner will face a marquee match against Carlsen, the world number 1, in the last four.
The event, broadcast live on chess24, is the next stage of the Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour which carries a total prize pot of $1 million, a record for the online game.
About the tournament
The Chessable Masters, which runs until July 5, is being put on in association with Chessable and the tour’s Education Partner, leading Swiss private banking group, Julius Baer.