Shakhriyar Mamedyarov wins Superbet Chess Classic 2021

by Shahid Ahmed - 15/06/2021

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov won the Superbet Chess Classic 2021 with a score of 6.0/9. He remained undefeated and finished a full point ahead of the competition. He also became the first player from Azerbaijan to win a leg of the Grand Chess Tour. Since all games ended up in a draw on the final day, the final standings remain unchanged since the penultimate round. Aronian, So and Grischuk shared the second place 5.0/9. The find of the tournament is definitely Romania no.2 GM Bogdan-Daniel Deac. If India has Gukesh, Pragg, Nihal, Leon, Raunak, Iniyan, Arjuns and more, Romania has Deac who can hold his own against the best in the world. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Aronian, So and Grischuk share second place

Mamedyarov's hat-trick from round 5 to 7 gave us all an inkling about his desire to cross the finish line first. That is exactly what he achieved. He finished a full point ahead of the competition and became the first player from his country Azerbaijan to win a leg in the Grand Chess Tour.

Mamedyarov deservedly wins Superbet Chess Classic 2021 | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

"Of course it is very important for Azerbaijan chess fans and chess lovers. It is very good result for me to win a super tournament like Superbet Chess Classic of Grand Chess Tour." - Mamedyarov on being the first Azerbaijan chess player to win a leg in Grand Chess Tour, before he thanked all the sponsors and organizers for a wonderful event in a beautiful city. He hopes to be back again.

Lupulescu - So: 0.5-0.5

Lupulescu had a quiet draw with So.

Interview with Lupulescu | Video: Saint Louis Chess Club

Lupulescu-So get the all good thumbs up sign from the guest | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Arbiter we made a threefold repetition. Can we go now please? | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Caruana - Deac: 0.5-0.5

Caruana and Deac had the longest game of the round. It went for a little over five hours and finally ended up in a draw.

Deac continued his impressive performance till the final round | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Giri - Grischuk: 0.5-0.5

Giri and Grischuk had a solid draw.

Interview with Alexander Grischuk | Video: Saint Louis Chess Club

Grischuk finished shared second 5.0/9, Giri shared fifth position with Radjabov 4.5/9 | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Saint Louis Chess Club

Vachier-Lagrave - Mamedyarov: 0.5-0.5

Mamedyarov understandably made a solid draw with Vachier-Lagrave to win the event.

A contrast in the final round: One would like to forget this event and for the other it is a memory | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Saint Louis Chess Club

Photo Gallery

The (in)famous Berlin draw | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

First move 1.e4 is being made on Lupulescu-So's board | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

First move 1.e4 also being made on Vachier-Lagrave - Mamedyarov's board | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

The classy Giri | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

Grischuk made a good start at the Grand Chess Tour 2021 season | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

That is mine | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour

L to R: Michael Khodarkovsky, Executive Director of Grand Chess Tour, Augusta Dragic, President of the Superbet Chess Foundation, Mamedyarov and GM Cristian Chirila | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour