GM Hikaru Nakamura and GM Liem Le emerged victorious in the April 1 edition of Titled Tuesday, with Nakamura claiming the late tournament after finishing second in the early event. Neither winner required tiebreaks to secure their victories. For Le, this marks his second Titled Tuesday win of 2024, following a perfect 11/11 performance on February 4. Nakamura’s victory represents his third of the year but first since January 21.
Early Tournament Sees Le Triumph
Participation in the early tournament rebounded to 675 players this week, as both North America and Europe have now switched to Daylight Saving Time. GM Arjun Erigaisi began with a perfect 7/7 score but lost his perfect record when facing Nakamura in the eighth round.
Following round eight, Le and GM Shant Sargsyan joined Nakamura at 7.5 points. Sargsyan unfortunately missed getting paired in the next round, while Nakamura and Le played to a draw. GMs Parham Maghsoodloo and Aleksandr Shimanov also reached the top of the leaderboard, creating a four-way tie for first place.
The tournament’s decisive moment came in round 10 when Le defeated Maghsoodloo on time in an equal position, while Nakamura and Shimanov drew their game. This propelled Le into the sole tournament lead heading into the final round.
Both Le and Nakamura finished strong with victories in round 11. Le delivered a convincing win over GM S.L. Narayanan that featured an exchange sacrifice to break through to his opponent’s king, while Nakamura defeated GM Daniel Dardha to secure second place. Five players tied with nine points below the top two finishers, with GM Harikrishna Pentala taking third place after defeating GM Andrew Tang in the final round.
Maghsoodloo and GM Amin Tabatabaei rounded out the top five, while teenage WFM Yuliya Liavonava captured the women’s prize. World Champion GM Magnus Carlsen made a brief appearance, starting with a perfect 5/5 (including a win against IM Levy Rozman) before unexpectedly withdrawing from the tournament.
Late Tournament Features Nakamura’s Return to Victory
After finishing second in the early event, Nakamura returned for the late tournament and emerged victorious. This win represents an important return to form for Nakamura, who had not claimed a Titled Tuesday victory since January 21 despite his regular participation in these events.
The late tournament continued to showcase high-level chess competition, with Nakamura demonstrating his exceptional skills in rapid chess. His win adds to an already impressive 2024 Titled Tuesday record, bringing his yearly victory count to three.
Titled Tuesday’s Continuing Importance
Titled Tuesday has established itself as one of the most prestigious weekly online chess tournaments, regularly attracting top grandmasters from around the world. The event’s format, featuring both early and late tournaments to accommodate different time zones, continues to make it accessible to elite players globally.
The April 1 edition maintained the high standard of competition that chess fans have come to expect from these events, with dramatic games and storylines developing throughout both tournaments. Le’s early tournament victory and Nakamura’s late tournament comeback provided chess enthusiasts with plenty of exciting moments to analyze.
As the 2024 Titled Tuesday series continues, both Le and Nakamura have positioned themselves among the most successful participants this year. With Nakamura’s three victories and Le’s two (including his perfect score in February), these grandmasters have established themselves as consistent performers in this challenging weekly competition.