Chessable Masters SF2: Phenomenal Liem will face So in the Finals

by Shahid Ahmed - 07/08/2021

Former world blitz champion and the current Vietnam no.1 Liem Quang Le is playing phenomenal chess at Meltwater Champions Chess Tour Chessable Masters. He beat Aronian in the Armageddon after the Armenian forced tie-breaks by winning the third and fourth rapid games consecutively. Artemiev staged his comeback by starting the day with a victory over So but the American immediately bounced back and levelled the score before making two draws to tie the set and advance to the Finals. So will face Liem in the Finals starting today at 8:30 p.m. IST. Artemiev and Aronian will play the 3rd-4th place match. Photo: Niklesh Jain

Armageddon claims Aronian

Liem was cruising towards securing his place in the Finals as he needed just a draw in either game three or four. Unfortunately for him, he lost both. When the Blitz tie-breaks also did not yield a result, Armageddon was enforced. The Vietnam no.1 prevailed the Armenian and set up a clash with So in the Finals.

Liem reached his first Meltwater Champions Chess Tour event finals | Photo: Niklesh Jain

So - Artemiev: 2-2

The first game of the second set was cruising towards a draw, until So blundered in the endgame.

Artemiev - So, Game 1

Position after 47...f5

47...fxe6 48.Rxe6 would have been fine for Black, but 47...f5 just made things worse. Find out the winning continuation for White.

Just like the Quarterfinals, So immediately struck back in the second game to level the score 1-1.

So - Artemiev, Game 2

Position after 22...Qa3+

Black overstretched the counterplay 22...Qa3+ 23.Ka1 Nc3 24.Bxc3 Qxc3+ 25.Kb1 and White is the one who is out of the woods. So won the game and levelled the score 1-1.

Both the third and fourth game ended in draws, which means the second set got tied at 2-2. Thus, So advanced to the Finals, as he won the first set on the previous day.

Wesley So: "I was just trying to survive today!" | Video: chess24

Liem - Aronian: 3.5*-3.5

The first game was the only draw in the second set of rapid games. Liem scored the first victory of the second set in the second game.

Aronian - Liem, Game 2

Position after 21.f4

21.f4 is a very humane move. However, computer suggests 21.dxe5 f4 22.exd6 to be a better continuation for White. Liem won the game eventually and gained a 1.5-0.5 lead.

The third game was an exciting encounter which was won by Aronian. Thus, the score got level 1.5-1.5

Aronian scored a fantastic victory in the fourth game to win the second set 1.5-2.5 and force tie-breaks.

Aronian - Liem, Game 4

Position after 45.f5

The above position should give you a clue that Aronian turned things around to win two consecutive games and win the second set.

Aronian was completely winning the first blitz tie-break game.

Aronian - Liem, Blitz 1

Position after 48...Kf5

White is completely winning here, find out how. White blundered 49.g4+ and the game entered into a draw.

The second blitz game was a hard-fought draw. Thus, Armageddon was enforced. Liem won an absolutely topsy-turvy Armageddon on time, while in the game, both players had their fair share of chances.