Chess

So strikes back to tie Carlsen in FTX Crypto Cup finals

Roy Luarca

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So strikes back to tie Carlsen in FTX Crypto Cup finals

TITLE STREAK. Beating Magnus Carlsen in the Skilling Open and Opera Euro Rapid finals, Wesley So looks to make it three wins in a row in the FTX Crypto Cup.

FIDE

Wesley So and Magnus Carlsen will face again in the second set of the FTX Crypto Cup finals, where the winner will bag the top purse of $60,000 plus bonus in bitcoin

Wesley So tasted his first loss but struck back at Magnus Carlsen to force a 2-2 standoff in the first set of the FTX Crypto Cup finals on Sunday, May 30 (Monday, May 31, Manila time),

Facing inevitable mate after underestimating Carlsen’s attack, So yielded the Italian Game opener. Handling white again in the third game, So used the same Giuoco Piano line to bring down the world chess champion, who stood to lose a rook.

Surprisingly, Carlsen opted for draws in Games 2 and 4 despite having the initiative.

As a result, the second set of four games on Monday will be a shootout for the $60,000 top purse plus bonus in bitcoin.

Though his unbeaten run of 29 games in the major event got cut, So said he was “pretty happy” with what happened.

The Filipino-born So, now a Team USA mainstay, is seeking to make it three wins in a row over Carlsen in their title tussles in the Champions Chess Tour where they are ranked No. 2 and No. 1 overall, respectively.

So trounced Carlsen in both the Skilling Open and Opera Euro Rapid finals, while the Norwegian icon prevailed in their battle for third place in the Carlsen Invitational.

According to Carlsen, he did not chase the wins with white because he was not feeling well.

So said he felt sharp, although he lamented that he only got six hours of sleep instead of the 10 he sets for himself during tournaments.

In the battle for third place, Ian Nepomniachtchi and Teimour Radjabov quickly drew their four games and headed to a similar shootout. – Rappler.com

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