There is only one word that comes to mind after watching Magnus Carlsen’s gameplay in round 9 of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2022 currently happening in Wijk aan Zee, “Magnificent”. Fans are calling him ‘Thanos’ of chess as one could almost visualize Carlsen snapping against GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and saying “I am inevitable”. 

Magnus opens with d4, c4, and immediately goes for Catalan, sacrificing his c4 pawn. Mamedyarov played a strong counter opening, throwing a bishop b4 check on move 5 and it seemed he had a pretty solid position; but for Magnus, everything was going according to the plan. The real trouble began for Mamedyarov when Magnus slowly advanced his e pawn.

In the middle game, he sacrificed the rook for the bishop pair, but there was no way he could tackle Carlsen’s super engine moves. Mamedyarov might have felt he was playing against a supercomputer or, in this case, ‘Thanos’. Sadly, Mamedyarov resigned on move 27, as there was nothing he could’ve done to avoid his defeat.   

Magnus Carlsen Ripped His Shirt in Anger After Losing in 8 Moves!

After the match, Carlsen said, “The exchange sacrifice was quite expected; it was also his style 100 percent, but maybe in hindsight there were other options there,“. He further added, “It was very understandable that he chose to sort of be on the active side there, sacrificing material, but he probably went wrong pretty early.”

Magnus Carlsen is Thanos with Catalan

Carlsen has played Catalan/Queen’s Gambit variation on a couple of occasions in the tournament now, and he is getting a lot of profit from his World Championship preparation. Although in this case, it looked like he already could foretell Mamedyarov’s every move. Watching him play Catalan to this perfection is quite unbelievable. Fans couldn’t be more true about calling him ‘Thanos’, because Magnus Carlsen playing Catalan is like Thanos picking up infinity stones and making his opening look ridiculously simple and easy in the end. 

Watch This Story- Who is The Richest Chess Player in The World? NOT Magnus Carlsen

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With 6.5 points, the world champion is currently leading the Tata Steel Chess Tournament. In the second position is the home GM Anish Giri with 6 points, who also won his match against the US GM Samuel Shankland yesterday. As per the standings and rounds played so far, Giri is the chief rival for Carlsen and we might see them both competing in the finals.