The first round of Superbet Chess Classic 2023 witnessed only one decisive game. The first official World Fischer Random champion, Wesley So defeated the current world no.4 Alireza Firouzja. He played his first rated game in almost eight months. The latter made some inaccuracy in the queen, rook and knight endgame and paid a heavy price for it. The new world champion, Ding Liren drew his first game comfortably after winning the crown against the former world blitz champion, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. The other anticipated game between Nepomniachtchi and Rapport also ended in a draw. Round 2 starts today from 3 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
So scores the sole win
Wesley So (USA) scored the sole win of the round | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
Firouzja - So: 0-1
Alireza Firouzja (FRA, 2785) has not played a rated game since September 2022. Eight months away from Classical chance is bound to create some form of rust.
Position after 37...g5
Black is making some serious threats g4, Qe4+ and capture the d4-pawn. 38.Rc3 g4 39.Ne5 Qe4+ 40.Kg1 Qxd4 41.Qxg4+ Qxg4 42.Nxg4 would have been okay for White. 38.hxg5 hxg5 39.Qd2 g4 and now White had to play 40.Ne5. The game continued 40.Nh4 Qe4+ 41.Kh2? Qxd4 42.Qg5+ Rg7 43.Qf5 Rf7 44.Qg5+ Kf845.Kh1 Qe4+ 46.Kg1 Ke8 and Black went on to win the game.
Interview with Wesley So | Video: Saints Louis Chess Club
Alireza Firouzja (FRA) - Wesley So (USA): 0-1
| Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
Ding: After the Match, I was exhausted
| Video: Saints Louis Chess Club
Ding Liren (CHN) drew his first game after becoming the world champion against former world blitz champion, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA)
| Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
Fabiano Caruana (USA) - Bogdan-Daniel Deac (ROU): 0.5-0.5
| Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
Rapport: Nepo acted ‘Peculiar’ before the game | Video: Saint Louis Chess Club
Ian Nepomniachtchi - Richard Rapport (ROU): 0.5-0.5
| Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
Giri: Excited to play Classical Chess
| Video: Saints Louis Chess Club
Jan-Krzysztof Duda (POL) - Anish Giri (NED): 0.5-0.5
| Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
Photo Gallery
The 13th world champion Garry Kasparov poses for a photo with the 17th world champion Ding Liren (CHN)
| Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
Kasparov says something to Ding...
| Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
...and they share a good laugh
| Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
Kasparov shakes hand with the former world blitz champion Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
| Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
Kasparov makes the first move on the board of world champions
| Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
Romania no.2, Bogdan-Daniel Deac poses for a photo with the young fans
| Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
Wesley So has fans all over the world
| Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
The tournament is played at Grand Hotel Bucharest in Romania
| Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
Spectators enjoying the action
| Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
Video Gallery
Kasparov: Ding still has to Digest the World Title
| Video: Saints Louis Chess Club
Vlad Ardeleanu: Grand Chess Tour is Welcomed in Romania
| Video: Saints Louis Chess Club
2023 Superbet Chess Classic: Opening Ceremony
| Video: Saints Louis Chess Club
Replay Round 1 Live Commentary and analysis by GMs Varuzhan Akobian, Cristian Chirila, Yasser Seirawan, and IM Nazi Paikidze | Video: Saint Louis Chess Club
Replay Round 1 games
Round 1 results
Only one game ended decisively in Round 1 | Photo: Grand Chess Tour
Standings after Round 1
Wesley So scored the first win of the event | Photo: Grand Chess Tour
Prize
The total prize fund for each of the classical event is US$ 350000 with the first prize being US$ 100000.
Schedule
2023 Superbet Chess Classic schedule | Photo: Grand Chess Tour
