World #6 Junior Triumphs in Knockout and Swiss

Niemann vs. Rasulov started with highly tactical game that ended in a perpetual check draw.

In the blitz playoff, the players fought until king vs. king, drawing again. The match culminated in a thrilling bullet tiebreaker. In a crazed time scramble, Niemann blundered his rook yet continued to play unfazed, winning Rasulov’s rook right back in a couple of moves.

Nakamura had an extra pawn in the ending, but Sevian’s bishop pair provided sufficient compensation. They drew their rapid game when they reached an equal opposite-color bishop endgame. In the blitz tiebreaker, Nakamura discovered a clever king maneuver to unsettle Sevian’s pieces and soon obtain an unstoppable passed pawn. 

Xiong conjured up a vicious attack out of the opening against Fedoseev.

Le defended solidly on the kingside for a while but then blundered a pawn. Alekseenko traded into a knight ending and converted cleanly.

The semifinals kicked off with a closely-fought rapid game between Nakamura vs. Niemann that eventually traded into a drawish ending. In the blitz playoff, Nakamura made an error by playing 23.Qb4, putting his queen on an undefended square. Niemann immediately capitalized tactically, defeating the seven-time Rapid Chess knockout winner in 25 moves.

Xiong built up significant queenside pressure against Alekseenko, breaking through with his queen to win his opponent’s weak d6-pawn.

In the final, Niemann established a potent knight on the d4-outpost, pressing on Xiong’s backward c6-pawn. He broke through with his queen to win this pawn, gaining his own powerful passed pawn. 

Niemann’s resourcefulness and focus regardless of the circumstances on the board and clock were the keys to his immense success this week. 

In the post-tournament interview, Niemann shared about his progress in Rapid Chess events throughout this season: “The last three weeks, I’ve made the knockout, so it seems like I’ve figured it out. For a long time, I would play in the RCC and do absolutely terribly. The time control was so foreign to me. It took me so long to adjust to the 10+0. I’ve never played anything like it. Obviously, it’s nice to beat Hikaru and Jeffery, especially after Jeffery beat me last week. It’s obviously nice, but it’s just a normal Sunday.”

Obviously, it’s nice to beat Hikaru and Jeffery… but it’s just a normal Sunday.

-Niemann

The winner of both the Swiss and knockout tournaments is Niemann. Below are the full standings and prizes of the knockout:

Sunday Knockout | Final Standings