2021 World Blitz Championship: Magnus loses 3 games, Aronian is a half point ahead
Day 1 of the 2021 Open World Blitz Championship is over with GM Levon Aronian leading the event (10/12), followed by Bassem Amin (9.5/12), and Parham Maghsoodloo (9/12). The big – unpleasant – surprise is Carlsen, who lost 3 games right after he passed 2900 rating blitz points.
Many GMs “visited” the first place of the 2021 Open World Blitz Championship on Day 1, among them GMs Bartosz Socko, Vladimir Fedoseev, Puranik Abhimanyu, Mamedyarov Shakhriyar. After Round 9, though, the Armenian GM Levon Aronian dominated and is entering Round 13 with a half-point lead.
For the World Champion though, who is also World rapid & Blitz Champion, the tournament hit hard. Carlsen seemed high-tempered and unconcentrated, a mental situation that we don’t see him often. After 3 lost games against Bartosz Socko, Vladimir Fedoseev, and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Carlsen needs a miracle to defend his title. It’s noticeable that the Champion lost 3 games in 12 rounds, and one loss in 42 rounds in 2018 and 2019!
After his win GM Vladimir Fedoseev said: “It’s a disappointment that we don’t play with him often because I like his method of decision-making, it’s just pure brilliance. For me games with him mean a lot.”
