Magnus Carlsen once again proved his absolute dominance on the global stage clinching his sixth World Rapid Chess Championship title on Sunday.
Despite a rocky second day that included a rare defeat, the Norwegian grandmaster finished the 13-round tournament with a commanding 10.5 points, a full point ahead of the field.
The turning point occurred during a high-stakes Round 11 clash against American rival Hans Niemann.
Entering the final day trailing the leaders, Carlsen delivered a masterclass in positional pressure slowly dismantling Niemann in a 60-move struggle.
The victory effectively cleared Carlsen’s path to the gold, as he followed it with another win against teenage prodigy Yagiz Kaan Erogmus.
Reflecting on his approach, Carlsen noted the mental gap between him and his competitors, stating:
“I play for first place when I’m here. Most others are thinking about prizes or medals. That gives me a huge advantage.”
He also acknowledged the difficulty of the event, adding that he was “delighted to claim the title” but stressed that “the task was far from easy given the strength of the field.”
After his relentless winning streak, Carlsen secured the championship with a tactical draw against Anish Giri in the final round.
With 20 FIDE world title now to his name, Carlsen remains the man to beat as the action shifts to the World Blitz Championship. As he warned his rivals: “As long as I’m in good shape, I’ll be a dangerous man.”
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