Name: Francisco Vallejo Pons
Age: 36
Country: Spain
World ranking 43
Name: Viswanathan Anand
Age: 49
Country: India
World ranking: No. 7
Name: Levon Aronian
Age: 36
Counry: Armenia
World ranking: No. 12
Name: Arkadij Naiditsch
Age: 33
Country: Azerbaijan
World ranking: No. 42
Name: Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Age: 28
Country: France
World ranking: No. 7
Name: Peter Svidler
Age: 42
Country: Russia
World ranking: No. 19
Name: Magnus Carlsen
Age: 28
Country: Norway
World ranking: No. 1
Name: Georg Meier
Age: 31
Country: Germany
World ranking: No. 152
Name: Fabiano Caruana
Age: 26
Country: USA
World ranking: No. 2
Name: Vincent Keymer
Age: 14
Country: Germany
World ranking: No. 6 (U16)
A little more than an hour after the final round of the GRENKE Chess Classic had begun, it had become clear that the tournament leader, Magnus Carlsen had won his third super tournament of the year. Going into the final round, the world champion was leading by a full point and after Fabiano Caruana, the only player to have any chance at the title, drew his game, it did not matter how Carlsen would fare in the finale. Nonetheless, like a true champion, Magnus fought until the end against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and won the game as well as the title with a staggering 7½/9, one-and-a-half points ahead of his nearest rival.
Magnus Carlsen is well on his way towards repeating his glorious run in Shamkir, here at the GRENKE Chess Classic. In round 8, he scored his third straight win of the tournament over Peter Svidler. This meant that if Fabiano Caruana, the only player to have remained in contention for the title, was in a must-win situation to keep his chances of winning the tournament alive. Playing GM Georg Meier, Caruana did manage to pull out a win but catching the world champion still remains a bleak hope. If Carlsen, who is a full point ahead, wins or even draws tomorrow, he will run away with the title.
Read more: Carlsen still in the lead, Caruana still in the chase
Magnus Carlsen shines in the 8th round of the GRENKE Chess Classic against Peter Svidler. Enjoy our video with impressions from the penultimate round on Sunday.
Read more: Video Impressions | Round 8 | GRENKE Chess Classic 2019
