Jose Martinez Secures 1-Point Lead Over Kramnik After Day 2 of ‘Clash of Blames’
Peruvian online chess prodigy José Martínez now holds a narrow 12.5-11.5 lead over former World Chess Champion Vladimir Kramnik after an intense second day of the ‘Clash of Blames’ tournament. The gripping contest, featuring both online and over-the-board games, saw Martínez struggle early, losing 3 of the 6 online games. However, the over-the-board clashes proved more favorable for him, providing some of the day’s most dramatic moments. With five hard-fought draws, Kramnik finally succumbed to the pressure in the last game, giving Martínez a crucial edge heading into the final day of competition.
Reflecting on the day’s play, Vladimir Kramnik commented, “The last over-the-board game was totally mad. The match is very tight, and tomorrow will be decisive. But overall, I’m enjoying the event; everything is going smoothly.”
José Martínez shared his thoughts: “I’m disappointed to have lost the online games today. I’m not sure why I didn’t perform well—maybe I just wasn’t in the right mindset. In the last decisive over-the-board game, I believe I had the better position. At least I’m 1 point ahead, so tomorrow I’ll try to play like I did in the over-the-board games today, where I managed to play decent chess despite a rough start.”
The Clash of Blames has captivated audiences worldwide, with live streams available for free on the World Chess YouTube channel, as well as on popular platforms like Hikaru Nakamura’s and Levitov Chess’s channels.
The event’s final and decisive day is August 21, starting at 16:00 UK time. Like the previous days, it will feature 6 online games on FIDE Online Arena and 6 over-the-board games, all played in blitz time control (3+2). The first player to reach 18.5 points will win the tournament. The winner will claim a 12,000 EUR prize, while the runner-up will receive 8,000 EUR.
To ensure the highest standards of fair play, World Chess partnered with Pinkerton, the world’s oldest detective agency. Pinkerton detectives were present on-site, conducting thorough checks of both the players and the venue to guarantee that fair play is upheld at all times.
Don’t miss the final showdown—catch the action live on our YouTube channel.
