After a chaotic first-round loss to Praggnanandhaa, the world number one ground down the Indian star to force tiebreaks and then reeled off five consecutive wins \u2013 including those over Arjun Erigaisi.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The clash between Carlsen and Praggnanandhaa started with an absolutely wild game. Praggnanandhaa built up a big advantage and when Carlsen missed a simple pawn push, he felt obliged to give up his queen for just two minor pieces. That shouldn\u2019t have been enough, but when the young Indian blundered a full piece, it was quite unclear again, Freestyle chess reports. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Praggnanandhaa, however, recovered well from his mishap and gradually outplayed his opponent after all in a highly complex position with a strong material imbalance.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Carlsen then won his must-win game smoothly in an endgame, in fact in similar style as how Praggnanandhaa had beaten Keymer the other day. The five-time world champion then won both 5+2 games, twice outwitting his opponent tactically in time pressure. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Carlsen later defeated another Indian Grandmaster Arjun 2-0 lower bracket semifinal. In a very quiet position in the first game, one small inaccuracy by Arjun was enough for Carlsen to get a chance, grab it, and use it to full effect. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Carlsen then won his must-win game smoothly in an endgame, in fact in similar style as how Praggnanandhaa had beaten Keymer the other day. The five-time world champion then won both 5+2 games, twice outwitting his opponent tactically in time pressure. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
The penultimate day of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Las Vegas ended with Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura set to meet in Sunday\u2019s third-place match \u2013 a repeat of their showdown in the Paris Grand Slam final, though this time with USD 160,000 and the last podium spot at stake rather than the title.<\/p>\r\n\r\n