World Cup 2023

Three hundred nine of the strongest chess players in the world are gathering in the splendid city of Baku, Azerbaijan.

The World Cup 2023, with 206 men and 103 women, is the largest high-level tournament of the year. It takes place from July 30 to August 24.

At stake, besides the important money prizes, there is a spot to play in the Candidates 2024 for the first three.
The tournament is an 8-round single-elimination, like a tennis event.

Being not 206 nor 103 a power of 2, the organizers decided to give the first 50 seeded a bye in the first round (the top 25 in the Women’s World Cup).
Each round consists of two classical games in the first two days and tiebreaks on the third day if needed.

The time control of the games is as follows:

• Two classical time limit games: 90 minutes, plus a 30-minute increment on move 40, plus a 30-second increment per move from move 1, per player.
• If the match is tied after the classical games, players will play two rapid chess games, with 25 minutes plus a 10-second increment per move per player.
• If the match is still tied, players will then play two more rapid chess games, with 10 minutes plus a 10-second increment per move per player.
• If the match is still tied, players then will play two blitz games, with 5 minutes plus a 3-second increment per move, per player.
• If the match is still tied, a single blitz game, with 3 minutes plus a 2-second increment per move, will be played to decide the match. A drawing of lots will determine which player plays white. If drawn, the players will switch colors and play again until a decisive result is obtained.

Schedule:
Each round will last three days: two for classical time control games and a third, if necessary, for tie-breaks. Rounds 1 to 3 will run from July 30 to August 7; August 8 will be a rest day; Rounds 4 to 6 will run from August 9 to 17; August 18 will be a rest day; and the last two rounds will run from August 19 to 24.

Pairings:
You can consult the pairings tree HERE
 

In the second round, all the 50 top-seeded were at the board, and most of them won their match without particular problems.

The world Numero Uno Magnus Carlsen won his encounter with Pantsulaia Levan 2.0-0.0 and will face his fellow countryman Aryan Tari in the 1/32 (round 3).
One of the few upsets that made clamor was the young super-strong Abdusattarow, who lost to Vahap Sanal.

Ivanchuk, after all the trouble he had to get permission to participate, won the second round against Henriquez Villagra in a very tense match, which was decided after five games!

The 1/32 round reserved more than one surprise.
The two favorites went on to the 1/16, with Magnus defeating Tari and Nakamura winning his match against Giedura.
In the next round, Hikaru will face one of the most promising young players, Praggnanandaha, and Magnus will cross the bishops with the strong young German GM Vincent Keymer.

The old guard did pretty well in the third round, with Peter Svidler and Vassily Ivanchuk landing to round four. Bravo!

Now, let's take a look at the surprises.
Giri, MVL, Dubov, Yu, Van Foreest, and Wei Yi got eliminated!

The 1/16 round will see the first all-american encounter, with Caruana vs. Robson.

GM Ronen Har-Zvi recapped for us the last three days of play in the World Cup. ICC members can watch the video HERE.

The 1/16 round at the World Cup 2023 reserved a big upset: Hikaru Nakamura, number-two-seeded, lost to the Indian sensation Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa.
Magnus Carlsen, top-seeded, needed five games to enter the last 16 round by defeating Vincent Keymer. The former World Champion lost the first classical game and was lucky his 18-yo opponent didn't see a winning tactic in game two, allowing Carlsen to come out of a must-win situation.

Magnus, after the second classical game, said: ”Progressing in the World Cup is one thing... but honestly, since day one, I was wondering what am I doing here, why am I spending all this time playing classical chess which I just find stressful and boring. But it's also not a good state of mind. First of all, you should try to do well. But these were my thoughts. If I'd lose, that's gonna be another humiliation in the World Cup.”

In the all-American clash, Caruana prevailed over Robson.
Wesley So, another favorite, lost to Alexey Sarana.
Ivanchuk continues his run, and tomorrow will face the Numero Uno!

Here are the pairings for the 1/8 round:




In Round 1/8, another of the favorites was thrown out of competition: Ian Nepomniachtchi lost to Vidit.

In the last eight players, we have FOUR Indians! 
Praggnanandhaa won his match with Berkes; Erigaisi defeated Grandelius; Gukesh won with Wang Hao.
In the last-eight round, there will be two derbies: one is the Americans Caruana and Dominguez, and the other is the Indians Erigais and Praggnanandhaa.

Here are the pairings for the quarter-finals:


Our GM Ronen just published a video commenting on the latest World Cup rounds!
ICC members can watch it HERE

The quarter-finals saw Magnus advancing without too many problems, eliminating the Indian Numero Uno Gukesh 1.5-0.5.
Despite his zinger about "what I am doing here," the undisputed world Number One is playing well and trying to win the only trophy missing from his super-crowded showcase.
Carlsen made it clear that he won't participate in the Candidates; therefore, everyone else in the semis is already qualified.

The all-Indian derby was the only match that needed tie-breaks after Erigaisi defeated Pragg in the first game, and the 18-year-old talent came back in game 2. Pragg won the sudden-death blitz and is in the semis.

Fabi Caruana disposed of his strong compatriot, Domingues Perez, to advance in the best four.



Local hero Nijat Abasov defeated Vidit to become the lowest-ever prated player to enter the semis in a World Cup!
Here is his amazing run so far:
1/128: Rodwell Makoto 2-0
1/64: Laurent Fressinet 2½-1½ (tb)
1/32: Anish Giri 4½-3½ (tb)
1/16: Peter Svidler 2½-1½ (tb)
1/8: Salem Saleh 2-0
Quarterfinals: Vidit Gujrathi 1½-½
Now the Azeri GM faces Carlsen in the semis.

Here are the semis pairings: 

In the first game of the semis, Magnus Carlsen defeated the revelation of the tournament, and local hero, Nijat Abasov. Listening to Carlsen's comments during the press conference was very interesting. The undisputed Numero Uno was so down-to-earth and humble!



In the other semifinal, Fabi Caruana drew the first game with the young Indian sensation Praggnanandhaa.

The second day of the semis saw Magnus Carlsen defeat the local her and revelation of the tournament Abasov to move on to the Finals.
Pragg and Fabi drew the second game and went on to the third day to decide who had the seat in the final.

The tiebreaks to decide the second semifinal took four games. Caruana and Pragg drew the first two games, and then the young Indian sensation won the first of the two 10+10 games.
Pragg was able to hold Fabi to a draw in the second 10+10 game and won the match!
After his victorious encounter with the super-strong American GM, Pragg said,

I didn't expect to play Magnus in this tournament at all because the only way I could play him was in the final, and I didn't expect to be in the final… I will just try to give my best and see how it goes!

Here is his post-game interview:



The 18-year-old Indian GM is not going to battle one of the strongest players ever in the finals!

GM Ronen Har-Zvi just published a video on the semis, don't miss it! ICC members can watch the video HERE

MAGNUS DID IT!

And the Numero Uno did it in great style, defeating his much younger rival in the first game of the tiebreaks, maneuvering two Knights like an armada against the White king.
The World Cup was the ONLY trophy Carlsen was missing, and now, he's won everything a chess player can win.
Honor to Pragg, who, at 18, played a fantastic tournament! On his way to the finals, Pragg beat world # Nakamura and world #3 Caruana. Not bad! He's part of the elite now and a possible contender for the World Championship match, as he gained a set in the next Candidates' tournament. Congratulations, Pragg!

Fabiano Caruana defeated local hero Abasov in the 3rd-4th final to grab bronze.

CONGRATULATIONS to GM Magnus Carlsen!