– In a dead end – VG

The Norwegian world champion “bowed” and lost after only three games on Wednesday’s second match against the young Muscovite at the “Airthings Masters”, which is organized by the Play Magnus group.

– People can have good and bad days against me, and I against them, but after another collapse, the bottom line is that I am at a dead end and it is really frustrating, writes Carlsen. Twitter After the match.

Half an hour later, Carlsen followed up with a new message, in which he wrote that Dubov had contacted him.

– He was sorry he celebrated. I said I didn’t see it, and it would bother me more when people don’t rejoice after hitting me. Kudos to a very worthy competitor and a brilliant guy, writes Carlsen.

Dubov was the worst of the eight to advance to the quarterfinals, while Carlsen was the best. The Russian said in advance that it was an honor to meet the world champion.

– It’s very special to beat Magnus. I’m ashamed to be so excited, but sometimes we are, Dubov tells NRK after showing his joy at the victory.

– It is more important to beat Magnus than to win the entire tournament.

Daniil Dubov was in Carlsen’s “team” before the last World Cup game, against Fabiano Caruana, so they know each other well.

Game 1: Dubov-Carlsen 1-0: It was apparently even when Magnus Carlsen suddenly shook his head in despair and curse. The young Russian – with white – played brilliantly and forced the Norwegian to kneel in a dramatic ending, which you can study here (external link).

The world champion sat for a long time on the screen and twisted his face in anger that Dubov had played it.

Game 2 Carlsen-Dubov 1 / 2–1 / 2: With white pieces, it was natural for Magnus Carlsen to seek victory, if it was a semi-final. Dubov defended well and was apparently on his way to a draw, but against move 50, Carlsen managed solid control, while Dubov struggled with time problems.

Eventually, the supercomputer came to the conclusion that it was a theoretical draw and despite Carlsen’s good attempts, Dubov kept his tongue straight in his mouth and saved a draw.

Game 3: Dubov-Carlsen 1–0: It was a long time before Dubov made a mega error on move 27 with the c5 springer. Carlsen stared in amazement and wondered why in the world someone had given him a gift after Christmas.

But Carlsen also made a big mistake; queen e7. So suddenly it was Dubov who took the driver’s seat and won the game. And the match, after Tuesday’s duel between them, ended 2-2. That means Dubov is in the semi-finals.

The semifinals will thus be Dubov against Teimur Radjabov and Levon Aronian against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. Three of the favorites are out: Carlsen, Nakamura and So.

– It will be a strange new year. Here in Russia, the New Year is the great celebration, not Christmas, like you. All Russians are drunk on New Years Eve. But I will play chess, Daniil Dubov tells NRK.

– And here we say that the year will be how you enter it. So there will be a lot of chess games in 2021!

PS: For NRK, the loss of Carlsen is extremely bad news. Statskanalen has wallpaper the program form with chess until Sunday.