Wesley So, Magnus Carlsen boost quarterfinal drive

World champion Magnus Carlsen and United States champion Wesley So took the shortcut toward the first set of quarterfinal matches with Alireza Firouzja and Levon Aronian, respectively, on Wednesday, March 17.

Both So and Carlsen won the first two games and then settled for draws in the third for lopsided 2.5-0.5 victories that push them closer toward the semifinals.

All they need is to draw the second set of four-game matches on Thursday to advance.

In contrast, the other quarterfinal matches between Hikaru Nakamura and Ian Nepomniachtchi, and Anish Giri and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave ended up tied at 2-2, putting them all in must-win situations.

Nakamura took game 1 but Nepomniachtchi countered in game 2 before they settled for draws in games 3 and 4.

It was the same situation in the other pairing with Vachier-Lagrave taking the opener and Giri retaliating in the second game. The third and fourth games were likewise drawn.

If the top-seeded Carlsen completes his dominance of Aronian he will advance against either Nakamura or Nepomniachtchi.

If the Filipino-born So disposes of Alireza, the world’s top junior, he will meet the victor between Giri and Vachier-Lagrave.

Carlsen is raring to rule the tournament bearing his name and join So and the eliminated Teimour Radjabov as leg winners in the $1.5 million (P72 million) Champions Chess Tour.

So topped the first (Skilling Open) and third legs (Opera Euro Rapid), both over Carlsen, to emerge overall tour leader. Radjabov prevailed in the second leg (Airthings Masters). – Rappler.com