BENGALURU: Grandmaster Alireza Firouzja crashed through the defences of World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen with the black pieces in 49 moves, as the French GM ensured Carlsen’s first defeat in this season’s Global Chess League on Saturday.It appeared Carlsen, playing for Alpine APL Pipers, would have his way, as in all the previous games here, but Firouzja came out firing on all cylinders by playing an aggressive line from the start. Carlsen led on the clock until around the 14th move but he missed a plot after that. Firouzja slowly tightened the screws as he ensured former champions Triveni Kings went out on a high. Magnus was two pawns down before he got into further trouble after Alireza exchanged the rooks. It was Alireza’s first win of the tournament and a first defeat for Carlsen.“It was a very sharp game, and I played, I think, not a bad game, and I put pressure on him, and then we went into trouble,” Alireza said.
Pipers vs Ganges in final
With Carlsen losing on the icon board and both their women Divya Desmukh and Koneru Humpy settling for draws, Alpine Pipers lost 6-11 to Triveni Kings, who were powered by Alireza and Aravindh Chithambaram who knocked down in-form player Vidit Gujrathi.Pipers were now in danger of missing a place in the final, with American Gambits breathing down their neck. But Gambits lost 6-11 to Mumba Masters.Candidates champion Javokhir Sindarov led the charge defeating Maxime Vachier-Lagrave with black pieces. But defeats to Nihal Sarin, Sara Khadem and Marc’Andria Maurizzi crushed their hopes, leaving the team with a dejected look in the dugout.