The 15-year-old Russian chess player Maxim Ivannikov scored a sensational victory over the 16th world champion, Norwegian Magnus Carlsen. The historic event took place as part of the weekly online blitz tournament “Title Tuesday”.
In the third round game, the Russian, playing with white pieces, forced his famous opponent to admit defeat on the 33rd move. Despite this brilliant victory, Ivannikov took 122nd place in the tournament, while Carlsen finished in third position. The young chess player's victory looks even more impressive if we take into account the difference in status and rating. Carlsen is a multiple world champion and the leader of the world rating, while Ivannikov has the title of FIDE candidate master. The winner of the entire tournament, however, was Pranav Venkatesh from India.
While the fates of big clubs and their players are being decided in French and Russian soccer, the world of chess is experiencing its own no less high-profile sensations.