Carlsen leaves no room for error on the road to the Grand Final
On the second day of the Chess.com Open playoffs, Magnus Carlsen advanced through the winners bracket and secured his place in the Grand Final. The Norwegian super-grandmaster first defeated Denis Lazavik and then Jan-Krzysztof Duda, winning both matches by the identical score of 3-2. Although the final scores looked the same, both encounters were shaped by high tension, sharp tactical play and severe time pressure. At this stage of the event, even the smallest mistake can decide a match, and Carlsen’s composure once again proved decisive.
The semifinal against Lazavik was especially hard fought. The fact that all five games ended in decisive results showed just how sharp the chess was. Carlsen paid for an early miscalculation in game one and fell behind, but then found his rhythm and claimed the next two games. In that stretch, his endgame technique and his ability to convert small advantages stood out. Lazavik restored equality in game four by punishing Carlsen after the world number one moved away from a solid defensive setup. The match eventually went to Armageddon, where Carlsen, playing with the black pieces, successfully neutralized White’s initiative before converting his advantage with near-flawless technique.
The day’s other notable clash was far more one-sided. Duda produced a commanding display against Nihal Sarin, winning the match 3-0 without the need for a fourth game. The Polish star not only reached the Winners Final but also secured one of the three qualification spots available for the 2026 Esports World Cup. His performance was about more than just the scoreline: he equalized comfortably out of the opening, found the right plans in the middlegame and took tactical chances without hesitation. Although he later fell short against Carlsen and missed out on the Grand Final, the run once again underlined his consistency in fast and online formats.
In the losers bracket, the race remained intense. Sina Movahed and Nodirbek Abdusattorov both won their two matches of the day to stay alive. As a result, Movahed is set to face Denis Lazavik, who dropped into the lower bracket on Friday, while Abdusattorov will meet another dangerous opponent in Nihal Sarin. This bracket also shows that the tournament is not solely a Carlsen-centered story. Representatives of the younger generation are delivering top-level battles in fast time controls, where preparation, reflexes and psychological resilience all matter enormously.
The Chess.com Open has also become a reflection of the broader direction of elite modern chess: online competition is now not only a matter of prestige, but also a direct pathway to major global events. Carlsen lived up to his status as the favorite by surviving the key moments and reaching the Grand Final, while Duda, despite missing the final itself, still ended the day with a major reward by booking his Esports World Cup ticket. From here on, attention will focus both on Carlsen’s title charge and on whether the players emerging from the losers bracket can create the next big twist in the tournament.