Magnus Carlsen Upset by French Grandmaster Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Twice in One Tournament!

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, a French grandmaster, emerged victorious in the 2023 AI Cup, triumphing over the current world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in two intense matches. This remarkable achievement not only secured his championship in the AI Cup but also ensured his qualification for the forthcoming Champions Chess Tour Finals. In an impressive display of skill, Vachier-Lagrave first defeated Carlsen in a demanding four-game match, followed by another two-game "reset" victory to seal his unlikely ascent to the title.

Vachier-Lagrave, the French player, emerged victorious in the initial game of the Grand Final. Following this, the subsequent four games concluded in draws as neither competitor was able to penetrate the other's defense. This triumph in the first match compelled a "Reset" in the Grand Final, wherein Vachier-Lagrave went on to secure victories in both games of the second match as well.

Carlsen expressed his disappointment after the match, stating, "I am clearly disappointed, obviously. I had higher expectations for today's performance, but Maxime proved to be strong, and regrettably, I faltered at crucial junctures. Thus, I believe the final result is fair."

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave sealed his spot in the Champions Chess Tour Finals.

Waleed Zein/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Vachier-Lagrave's victories in both matches hinged on the outcome of the first game. In the second match, Carlsen made a daring move by sacrificing his queen, but his risky decision ultimately backfired as Vachier-Lagrave emerged victorious. Nonetheless, the second game of the second match appeared to show Carlsen's improvement and his effort to recover, until Vachier-Lagrave disrupted the game by sacrificing his bishop, completely altering its course.

According to Chess.com, he explained that he believed the action could disturb the game's progression. He observed that his opponent had a seamless series of moves, making it seem effortless. Realizing that this unfavorable situation, combined with his time disadvantage of being down 3-4 minutes, could potentially lead to prolonged pressure from his opponent, he made a deliberate choice. He considered it a practical decision, acknowledging the risk of appearing foolish if it resulted in a loss. However, the outcome turned out to be highly beneficial in the end.

His decision paid off and he sealed a comprehensive series of wins over Carlsen to win the tournament and book the last remaining spot in the Champions Chess Tour Finals in Toronto.