Magnus Carlsen reveals ‘psychological’ edge over Hikaru Nakamura after profitable Paris Grand Slam

After falling narrowly brief with a semi-final defeat towards the comparatively unfancied Vincent Keymer in Weissenhaus, Magnus Carlsen went the gap within the second occasion of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour in Paris. What made his triumph within the ‘Metropolis of Gentle’ much more particular was the truth that he
defeated Hikaru Nakamura in a dream showdown between two of the world’s top-ranked gamers, profitable by a 1.5-0.5 scoreline after capitalising on a blunder by the American Grandmaster within the first recreation.

Carlsen feels Nakamura not pushing as arduous towards him as towards others

In a chat with commentators David Howell, Tania Sachdev and James Patterson after his victory, which helped him pocked the
$200,000 prize cash and
transfer to the highest of the Grand Slam Tour standings, Carlsen shared his ideas on his victory within the ‘El Chessico’ last towards Nakamura and why the world No 2 struggles towards him.

“I felt that I used to be pushing the entire means yesterday, and had no issues in anyway in the present day. So it didn’t really feel that even to be trustworthy on this explicit match up. I felt that general he had some possibilities to carry, however general I managed to close him out on this match,” the Norwegian GM mentioned on the Paris last, during which he sealed his victory with a sedate draw on Monday.

“Total, Hikaru’s accomplished rather well within the Classical video games, each in Weissenhaus and right here. He’s positively been among the many finest. However I feel there’s additionally one thing psychological that occurs, that he feels that when he performs me, possibly he’s not pushing as arduous as he’s towards another folks,” Carlsen added.

Carlsen and Nakamura defeated Fabiano Caruana and Vincent Keymer respectively within the semi-finals of the Paris Grand Slam. Caruana and Keymer had confronted off within the Weissenhaus last which was gained by the latter. Caruana, nonetheless, fought again in Paris to defeat Keymer within the third-place playoff.

Nakamura had earlier defeated Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi within the quarter-finals, profitable the second recreation after enjoying out a draw within the first. Erigaisi would go on to complete fifth within the occasion after defeating Ian Nepomniachtchi and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.