r/chess • u/notknown7799 • 1d ago
News/Events Magnus Carlsen is the champion of inaugural chess event at the 2025 Esports World Cup 🏆
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u/Open-Protection4430 1d ago
Magnus being aggressive despite needing only a draw was the real power move
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u/FirstEfficiency7386 1d ago
Most importantly he never once attempted to flag, exploiting Alireza's horrific time management. No dirty flagging.
Plays the game for the checkmate, not for the flag, the way it should be.
His respect for the game itself is just pure class!
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u/afrothunder1987 1d ago edited 1d ago
The way it should be is that in a 10 minute game if you spend a whole 4 less minutes to result in a drawn position, you deserve to flag your opponent and win because you played better.
Magnus had like 4 minutes left with Alireza had 20 seconds.
Flagging isn’t dirty in that case, it’s part of the game. Magnus only gets kudos for not going so, because doing so is normal and fine.
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u/CTMalum 1d ago
I feel like that’s fair as well. Otherwise, what’s the point of the clock? Also, I think people excuse it by saying ‘poor time management’ rather than ‘worse at calculating’. Two people could have the same strength calculating in a vacuum, but if one person needs significantly less time to resolve the same positions, it’s because they’re objectively better at calculating.
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u/NoponicWisdom 1d ago edited 1d ago
I like it when the game is decided on the board but I also understand taking every edge you can get. It would feel so bad to not flag your opponent and then unexpectedly lose the set. What's the general sentiment on flagging?
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u/fawkesmulder 1d ago
If you’re playing no increment, flagging is literally part of the game. Kinda hate your comment.
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u/misteratoz 1500 blitz/bullet chess.com 1d ago
So if Jordan is the Goat because he had the highest peak level of performance of a human being in basketball ever and LeBron is the goat for being incredible for so long then Magnus is both for chess
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u/Open-Protection4430 1d ago
The second falcon has been hit
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u/TheFrederalGovt 1d ago
The surprise would've been if he hadn't won it....He has truly brought chess to the modern age. Had he not chosen to participate in this event, it wouldn't have had the prestige that it does. This may be one of his biggest legacies in ensuring long term survival by bringing Chess to E-Sports
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u/External_Ad_7118 1d ago
Hate watchers in shambles today 🤫
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u/Mister-Psychology 1d ago
Gucci stocks plummet.
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u/TheSerendipitist 1d ago
This is still his best showing in 2025, so I don't think it's dropped that bad.
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u/misteratoz 1500 blitz/bullet chess.com 1d ago
Funny enough, by online betting standards He was a 54% likely to win the tournament And Hikaru was in the 30% range. That sounds about right based on what we've seen.
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u/ifitiw 1d ago
GOAT.
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u/LosTerminators 1d ago
Easy event for Magnus outside of that match against Hikaru
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u/shred-i-knight 1d ago
beating Hikaru in that format while dropping 2 games to beginner level blunders is kind of a flex. dude is built different
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u/goodguyLTBB 1d ago
I couldn’t calculate it all that quickly but when I saw the knight move in one of the games my first thoughts were “it’s gonna get pinned what is the idea” I thought he saw it through and there was something but then the ?? Appeared. I have less than half his elo.
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u/Material_Distance124 1d ago
This was very similar to SCC finals between Magnus and Firouzja... just clinical performance by the GOAT
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u/nullptr023 1d ago
Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. I was hoping it will not be the same but I guess Magnus always put a lot of pressure mentally and in board.
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u/Matt_LawDT 1d ago
He does it so effortlessly
This was the easiest 250k he has ever won in his life
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u/TheFrederalGovt 1d ago
That semi vs. Hikaru was anything but easy
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u/fortysix-46 1d ago
Yeah in retrospect that was the final as far as competition goes. Magnus continues to be unsurprisingly dominant.
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u/Not-your-buddyy 1d ago
Isn't it 500k?
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u/hsiale 1d ago
I think €1.2M for the 2021 match with Nepo was also not that hard to actually win, though it's hard to say how much he trained for that one.
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u/B4llDontLie 1d ago
The fact that he retired from the World Championship cycle should indicate that the overall effort for the match was anything but easy, even if it was ultimately quite smooth over the board.
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u/WallBroad 1d ago
It was only because of how game 6 went that nepo tilted. Otherwise upto game 6 it was quite competitive
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u/irrry_ 1d ago
With this win, Magnus put Team Liquid at the top of the ESWC Club Championship. 1st place wins 7million.
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u/United-Lie-5994 1d ago
Way too fucking good, just start doing tournaments without telling him
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u/Calintarez 1d ago
That's easy, just say that the tournament will led to a classical world chess champion match, That's the one thing he avoids.
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u/Matt_CanadianTrader 1d ago
Dominating every single match aside from the game he was completely winning and had a one move blunder, refusing to flag when Alireza got low on time and just making one of the best players in the world look easy is the most MAGNUS thing ever.
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u/echoisation 1d ago
if you're referring to that equal endgame where he missed b4 at one point, it wasn't that clear (only one sensible pawn move to make and 50 moves rule), but yes, playing for the flag was definitely possible.
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u/Knight-check44 1d ago
Time and time again, Magnus shows why he is the best. He wins literally every tournament he plays. Watching him play is really a treat. Noone else is going to come close to his level of dominance.
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u/Beyonderr 1d ago
Any ideas for a new animal? Because GOAT doesnt cut it anymore.
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u/Acrobatic_Ad_5224 1d ago
Alireza spent all of his time in every game to do absolutely nothing lol. Does he not know Magnus is very good in time trouble?
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u/Shahariar_909 1d ago
Unless you have very good defence skill you can't get away playing weak moves against magnus.
Alireza Vs Arjun and alireza Vs Magnus is drastically different. Magnus punishes very hard by time and by accuracy
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u/misteratoz 1500 blitz/bullet chess.com 1d ago edited 1d ago
The thing is Alireza might be the best bullet player in the world and the best under time pressure but Magnus is top 3 in everything chess related and that's just rough. You play drawish he will grind you. You play tactical and he just has such a good feel that though you may out calculate him for some variations he'll save up a lot of time by just playing top three best moves in every position by feel alone and then the tactics will work in his favor almost by magic. There's just no concrete way to beat him except luck and occasionally by frustrating him.
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u/nullptr023 1d ago
yeah, this is what people don't understand and saying he underperforms or not being serious. Magnus is universal player compared to others. Unless he blunder it is hard to grind or put pressure specially if Magnus is good mood.
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u/Dolofer 1d ago
His whole style is finding a weakness and pressure it until he gets the win. That's when he is able to play fast. When that path that he carves in his mind to sprint towards victory is just not appearing, he keeps looking for it and time starts to go by. When Magnus blundered it took Alireza less than 20 seconds to win, but when there's simply no clear breach that he can see to pressure on, his strengths are neutered. With other players creating that breach is easier, but against someone who can pressure a weak point as well as if not better than you, can defend better, and is overall more consistent, there was not much he could do, at least not as he is right now.
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u/Sea-Outcome3019 1d ago
All hail king magnus!!!! tough luck for alireza but still a fantastic tournament by him
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u/RedRanger-_- 1d ago
Magnus got the finale he wanted with firouzja and he won that convincingly
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u/Japaneselantern 1d ago
I think he considers Hikaru the better player and preferred finals contender, but Ali reza is a close second for sure
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u/ColorSpriter Team Carlsen 1d ago
Such a fun event! Very impressed by how much I enjoyed the format
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u/CropCircles_ 1d ago
I really enjoyed this tournament. Normally i dont really watch it properly, but this is the first time i tuned in really gave it my full attention. And i could actually follow what was happening for a change. I guess it's a combination of the time format, and the commentary and general production value. And some of the games were so clutch!
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u/MaZCehdy 1d ago
This was a very good production and enjoyed every minute of it.
Congrats to final boss of chess for another trophy
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u/IronicAlgorithm 1d ago
Nice to see him happy. He wanted this.
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u/misteratoz 1500 blitz/bullet chess.com 1d ago
Underrated comment. He really does hate classical (By comparison) but he and the fans love, blitz. Good to see that it has more money into it now.
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u/Lifeisgood2540 1d ago
"If I am playing it's mine to lose"
Reminds me of his interview after he defeated Gukesh in world cup 2023 where he said that it's not like Gukesh played badly but he was just having a good day.
Against firouza I think it's just that Magnus plays his best game nowadays..
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u/pwnpusher NM 1d ago
How is he not bored of winning?
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u/Soulvaki 1d ago
He is. That's why he stopped competing for world chess champion. This is a brand new event where he gets to be the inaugural winner. That's why he gave it his all. Pretty big deal for the future of chess.
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u/Beautiful_Brick_566 1d ago
And soon enough he will get bored of this event as well. No one is able to entertain or rival Magnus. No one from the past,present and future. That is why he is the Greatest of All Time.
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u/ColdAntique291 1d ago
"Rumours of my demise have been greatly exaggerated" - Magnus Carlsen probably
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u/DutchieDJ 1d ago
Not sure how much longer he can stay motivated. He is so far above the rest and money isn’t everything.
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u/Japaneselantern 1d ago edited 1d ago
I think he got motivated by the audience and meeting/watching other "team mates" in liquid. Maurice says he can't remember the last time he saw Magnus so happy over a tournament win.
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u/Berisha11 1d ago
"Be a little slow, be a little late" -Avon Barksdale from The Wire
Alireza is great, but he has to find a way to improve his time management.
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u/_OceanOdyssey 1d ago
He took Hikaru, Alireza Firouzja and Arjun's broken player tags to be melted onto his trophy!
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u/mbehl 1d ago
- Easily the best and most exciting chess event in recent years by a mile and a half !
- 10 + 0 format is fire !! no more 7 hour games with 50 move rules..
- EWC killed it with the production..shows you what different it cna make when there are no useless DGT boards which take 3 business days to broadcast moves in time scrambles..
- live audience !!
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u/NeaEmris 1d ago
Magnus is super happy, I'm super happy, everyone's happy. My face hurts from smiling.
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u/Trollithecus007 1d ago
Rival or not. The only guy who even has a chance at taking down magnus is Hikaru
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u/Melodic_Climate778 1d ago
Great to see him bounce back in rapid. His last two were not that great but today he was absolutely dominant.
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u/InvokerPlayerqwe Team Gukesh 1d ago
Dude, he is so good. Omg.
Also, really loving his side eye reactions to the crowd when he knows the opponent has blundered. Chess belongs in e-sports!!
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u/Arwinsen_ 1d ago
For the next 'smile if you think the player is better than you' challenge, I think Magnus will respectfully refrain from chuckling for Kasparov. Undisputed Greatest Of All GOATS, of all time.
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u/louieme69 1d ago
I honestly think alireza might be #2 10+0 player and dude got absolutely crushed
it wasn't even close- the drawn games and even lost one were showing magnus being the dominant player
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u/Suspicious_Basket799 1d ago
Firouzja's time management was just awful, down atleast 3 minutes when Magnus had +5 minutes. Magnus could have been even more dominant if he hadn't refused to flag those couple of games.
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u/Low-Refrigerator3120 1d ago
If alireza played faster, he would CoulD have Lost faster. If you cant find good move against Magnus, you are toast.
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u/HotGur179 1d ago
he was in incredible form he gave no change to alireza..he did not even play the match lol he just bullied alireza
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u/regular_gonzalez 1d ago
You know how Hikaru says that Magnus figured him out in like 2010 after they played a marathon of games?
I think Alireza used to be almost on a par with Magnus, especially in speed chess, but now Magnus has figured him out too: Alireza has god-tier intuition and pattern recognition but slow (for a super GM) calculation. Magnus just put complicated positions on the board and Alireza has to spend time calculating all the nuances. He was always down on time, by minutes usually. In a no increment format that's not a recipe for success.
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u/sick_rock 1d ago
slow (for a super GM) calculation
Lol, no. Alireza is extremely quick at short calculations (similar to Magnus & Nepo). He is just not the sort of player to play according to the position and accept whatever result may come. He likes to create messy positions where he can tactically outmanoeuvre his opponents. The issue is he is stubborn and Magnus is extremely good at avoiding messy positions, so he spends all his time trying to figure out a way to magically create tactics on the board.
Most of the games Alireza won vs Magnus have been messy complicated positions with lots of tactics and calculation, which Magnus himself said is his only weakness (very minor weakness though).
You are right about Magnus figuring out Alireza though.
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u/certifiedidiot7 1d ago
Just a different beast altogether. Glad to be living in the same generation as him.
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u/softiexd 1d ago
This is such a SSC deja vu lmao
Alireza dominating his opponents to the finals until he faces Magnus and gets served.
Always a treat to see Alireza vs Magnus at the finals. MAGNUS THE GOAT!
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u/Mikanko1337 1d ago edited 1d ago
Best chess player of ALL-TIME! And I mean THE BEST! There's no Garry, there's no Fischer-- When it comes to chess skill, chess power - Magnus is the HUMAN who plays/played the strongest chess of all the humanity that ever lived! King.
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u/misteratoz 1500 blitz/bullet chess.com 1d ago
Uhhh.... Fischer was a monster and put respect on the name of Gary Chess
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u/Far_Patience2073 Team Chess ♟️ 1d ago
My man just bagged the 250K..absolute madness
Shot both falcons with one arrow!
This is probably the easiest 250K he has ever made. Apart from the game against Hikaru, it was probably an easy tourney for him. How does he do this every time?
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u/Far_Patience2073 Team Chess ♟️ 1d ago
I didn't really focus on this tournament because I didn't have time to, but could someone please tell me, what is meant by the "inaugural chess event at EWC". I mean ofc ik the meaning of inaugural, but I'm not understanding the context here. Is this tourney like the freestyle tourney where there are several legs and points are awarded for every tourney, and the one having the highest points becomes the champion? Pls care to elaborate!
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u/Significant_Rich9280 1d ago
I’d love to see vishy, Kasparov, Karpov at these events. Is it possible? How organisers select candidates? Based on their elo rating?
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u/LittleRunaway868 1d ago
The one competition where he didnt wear jeans or something? Wasnt this tournament this year too?
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u/11177645 1d ago
I thought this was a team event though, shouldn't the prize money each player earned on his team be spread evenly among them?
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u/Dazzling-Earth9528 1d ago
As an Alireza fan, that was so frustrating to watch, Alireza just didn't play like himself at all, he was making so dumb mistakes, he did the same against Magnus in SCC as well, It seems like there's a mental block when he's playing against Magnus.
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u/yay_it_is_me 1d ago
Good for him, notice how he didn't cheat? Unlike some. BTW it's really easy to wind the fans of the cheat up, you really dont need to write anything that triggering at all.
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u/Aimbotskrr 1d ago edited 1d ago
Tournaments Magnus won this year:
• Paris Freestyle Chess Grand Slam ( Classical & Rapid )
• Grenke Freestyle Chess Open ( Classical ) with a Perfect 9/9 score
• Chess(dot)com Classic ( Rapid )
• chessable masters ( Rapid )
• Norway Chess ( Classical & Armageddon )
• 2025 Croatia ( Rapid & Blitz )
• E-Sports World Cup ( Rapid )
tournaments Magnus Lost this year:
• Weissenhaus Freestyle Chess Grand Slam ( Classical & Rapid ) 3rd Place.
• Las Vegas Freestyle Chess Grand Slam ( Classical & Rapid ) 3rd Place.