Magnus Carlsen wins New in Chess Classic for 1st Tour title
Magnus Carlsen is the New in Chess Classic champion after finally winning an event on the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour at his 5th attempt. Hikaru Nakamura landed the first blow with a win in Game 1 but lived to regret taking a draw in a promising position in Game 2. Magnus struck back brilliantly in Game 3, leaving Hikaru needing to win on demand with the black pieces. Instead he was losing when he offered a draw that conceded match defeat. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov beat Levon Aronian in the battle for 3rd place in an amazing match where Black won all but one of the games.
Polgar Challenge winner
Anish Giri, Ian Nepomniachtchi and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave are playing in the Candidates Tournament and therefore couldn’t accept their automatic qualifying spots for those in the top 8 of the tour standings, but Wesley So, Magnus Carlsen, Teimour Radjabov, Levon Aronian and Hikaru Nakamura all play.
17-year-old superstar Alireza Firouzja was voted back in by chess24 premium members, who also voted for Daniil Dubov, but the Russian was unable to play as he’s commentating on the Candidates from Yekaterinburg.
15-year-old Praggnanandhaa now has the chance to face off against the very best in the world after dominating the first event on the Julius Baer Challengers Chess Tour. He’s going to have some help preparing from the very best.
€29.90
New tables, new opportunities
Jesús Medina Molina initiated a national program in the Netherlands which promotes the placement of public chess tables in open spaces. Medina has succeeded in getting his initiative approved in 21 Dutch cities so far, with the first three public tables inaugurated in Máxima Park in Utrecht back in 2018.
Not only has Medina worked in IT and tourism, but he also holds a Bachelor’s degree in education. Fluent in Dutch, Spanish, English and Italian, he learned to play chess when his daughter was struggling in school he thought that chess might help her to strengthen her calculation skills.
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What Is the Bongcloud Opening? Magnus Carlsen Plays Meme Chess Move Against Hikaru Nakamura
On 3/16/21 at 7:10 AM EDT
An unorthodox chess move known as the Bongcloud has surged in popularity after reigning world chess champion Magnus Carlsen used it in a competitive match on March 15, amusing spectators and his opponent.
The match in question featured Carlsen versus American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura as part of the 2021 Magnus Carlsen Invitational tournament. Nakamura has played a part in popularizing the move himself and has also used it in professional games.
The Bongcloud has become known as something of a meme in chess circles because it immediately places the player who uses it at a disadvantage from the beginning. It is known as an opening because it is the first move a player makes.