The Grenke Chess Classic 2024 concluded yesterday in Karlsruhe, Germany, and Magnus Carlsen emerged as the winner of the event.
The five-time World Chess Champion finished the round-robin part of the event on the first position and played against second-placed Richard Rapport in the final two-game match for the overall tournament victory. Carlsen won the first game in a very dynamical French. Sacrificing a whole piece, Magnus went into a much better endgame and successfully turned the advantage into a full point.
Needing a draw in the second game, Magnus Carlsen had a weird opening choice going for a very dangerous variation of Italian. Rapport used his chances and built up a decisive advantage, but Carlsen kept defending. And when it seemed that we will have another playoff for the first place, Richard Rapport made a crucial mistake, Magnus equalized, and a draw was confirmed after the threefold repetition.
With the final 1.5-0.5 result, Magnus Carlsen won the 2024 Grenke Chess Classic, and Richard Rapport finished the event in the second place.
