The world champion’s 19 straight online match wins follow 121 games without defeat before the
Coronavirus pandemic
Another week, another new record opportunity for Magnus Carlsen. Last Tuesday the world champion won the $150,000 Legends of Chess final, stretched his current winning run to 19 online mini-matches, then took a few days off to prepare for the online Tour semi-finals and final which start next Sunday afternoon.
Pairings for this concluding event have been kind to the Norwegian, who takes on three rivals qualified from previous Tour contests. Russia’s Daniil Dubov, the only player apart from Carlsen to win a final, meets the reigning US champion and online speed specialist, Hikaru Nakamura, in one semi-final, while in the other Carlsen, seeded No 1, plays China’s Ding Liren, who is world No 3 but seeded No 4.