Magnus Carlsen, the world No 1, maintained his outstanding record in the online Champions Tour this week with a victory in the Chessable Masters. The Norwegian, 33, has now won 14 of the 17 Tour finals he has contested. However, it was not an easy passage.
Carlsen lost to Alireza Firouzja 1.5‑2.5 in the Chessable Masters final, but under the rules he had the right to a return match, which he won 2-0. The pair were evenly matched, with Carlsen’s strategic depth offset by the 20-year-old Frenchman’s ferocious tactical skills, and its high class level was a reminder that Carlsen would not have retired as classical world champion had Firouzja won the 2022 Candidates.
