Because the 2021 Bullet Chess Champion with a peak ranking of 3521, Firouzja was the heavy favourite in opposition to his youthful opponent. Early within the match, he started to run away with the lead, gaining a commanding lead that grew repeatedly. Recreation 15 was an instance of the high-quality tactical consciousness Firouzja is able to regardless of the lightning-fast time management. 

Even with Caruana’s many accolades in classical chess, speedy, and blitz, Bortnyk was the bullet favourite, because of his huge expertise. His energy within the quicker time management confirmed within the nature of the video games. Caruana typically performed effectively on the board, however the intense time strain within the essential positions led to uncharacteristic blunders and time losses. 

After a premove blunder within the first recreation, Bortnyk recovered with 4 wins in a row. Caruana countered along with his personal profitable streak, tying the rating at 4-4. As quickly as he discovered himself again on stable floor, Caruana faltered, dropping to a gap lure within the Jobava London within the essential ninth recreation. 

With Caruana unsettled, Bortnyk launched right into a 10-game sweep, together with a ruthless king hunt within the middle of the board.

Place after 21.Qxc7+

Carlsen and Hansen performed their match in an uncommon, impromptu hybrid model. Hansen has been on a European tour with the Chessbrahs since early July, and Carlsen has joined them for his or her closing cease in Barcelona. This meant that the 2 of them have been in the identical room whereas competing in opposition to one another on-line. They even toasted with matching mocktails ready by the Chessbrah staff in the course of the video games. 

Regardless of the jovial off-board comradery, Carlsen was vicious on the board, beginning the match 4-0. Nevertheless, Hansen’s fast wit helped him mar Carlsen’s good rating. In recreation six as Carlsen tried to search out his opponent’s king, the Chessbrah snuck in a checkmate first.

This second of glory was short-lived, although. Carlsen didn’t let him win once more for the remainder of the match. In reality, the Norwegian grandmaster quickly replied in form. Ready the place Hansen believed that he had a attract hand any time he needed, Carlsen slipped in an surprising checkmate with amusing and jolly slip from his martini glass.

The world number-one completed the match with an 11-game profitable streak. Afterward, Carlsen revealed his true hope for this matchup: “My solely remorse was that I hoped to get a clear sweep.”

My solely remorse was that I hoped to get a clear sweep.

-Magnus Carlsen

Unsurprisingly, Nakamura gained his match by the best margin. The gamers started with an in depth 2.5-1.5 rating in Nakamura’s slight favor. Then, the reigning champion gained the following 20 video games straight―a terrifying preview for his future opponents.  

In recreation 13, Nakamura had Ohanyan’s kingside so paralyzed that the 17-year-old worldwide grasp resigned in 22 strikes, although he was forward a pawn. 

Martinez vs. Giri was the closest matchup. With two Bullet Brawl crowns to his identify, Martinez was the favourite, but Giri proved to be surprisingly fast: an underdog in a position to sustain on the clock. At occasions, he was in a position to outplay and outpace his extra skilled rival. Giri confirmed his bullet savvy when he caught Martinez in a sequence of premoves within the middlegame, snatching a free knight as his opponent tried to stockpile nanoseconds. 

All tied up after the match clock elapsed, these closely-matched rivals went into extra time and the scoreboard continued to rock forwards and backwards, repeatedly touchdown again at lifeless even.