GM Magnus Carlsen can now say that he has won every significant chess title that he’s set his sights on. The five-time world champion won his first World Cup crown by defeating GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu 1.5-0.5 in the rapid tiebreaks of the 2023 FIDE World Cup for a match victory of 2.5-1.5. In the third-place playoffs, GM Fabiano Caruana convincingly defeated GM Nijat Abasov in both rapid tiebreaks for a 3-1 victory and third place.

It was a heartbreaking defeat for the Indian youngster, who had the initiative in the first game until Carlsen fought back and won in a tense endgame. In the second game, the world number-one allowed no chances, and Praggnanandhaa’s impressive World Cup run came to an end as hundreds of thousands of fans watched the tense battle.

This is a flash report. The full report, including photographs, videos, and game annotations will be added soon.

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Carlsen-Praggnanandhaa: 2.5-1.5

Chess? pic.twitter.com/Vm2wOtC9zn

— Magnus Carlsen (@MagnusCarlsen) August 24, 2023

Annotations by GM Rafael Leitao will be added shortly for the game that won Carlsen the match.

After that, a draw as White was all it took:

Caruana-Abasov: 3-1

Caruana showed his skill with two crushing victories:

The 2023 FIDE World Cup and Women’s World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan, are big knockout events that will determine six spots in the 2024 FIDE Candidates Tournaments. The action began July 30 and ends August 24, with a combined $2.5 million prize fund.

Previous Coverage

• • • Finals Game 2: Caruana Wins, Carlsen-Praggnanandhaa Draw: Both Matches Move To Tiebreaks
    • Finals Game 1: Abasov Beats Caruana As Carlsen Holds Off Praggnanandhaa
    • Round 7.3: Praggnanandhaa-Carlsen In Final; Goryachkina Takes Women’s Title
    • Round 7.2: Carlsen Books Spot In Final; Salimova Misses Chance To Claim Women’s Crown 
    • Round 7.1: Carlsen On The Brink Of First World Cup Final
    • Round 6.3: Praggnanandhaa Prevails In Dramatic Tiebreak; Salimova Continues Dream Run
    • Round 6.2: Abasov Continues Miracle Run On Home Soil To Join Carlsen, Caruana In Semifinals
    • Round 6.1: Carlsen, Arjun, Goryachkina Score In Day Of Big Fights And Black Wins
    • Round 5.3: Vidit Beats Nepomniachtchi As 4 Indian Players Reach World Cup Quarterfinals
    • Round 5.2: Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh, Arjun Make History For India
    • Round 5.1: Carlsen, Gukesh Strike Again; Quarterfinal Showdown Looms
    • Round 4.3: 18-Year-Old Praggnanandhaa Knocks Nakamura Out Of World Cup
    • Round 4.2: Carlsen Strikes Back, Caruana In Last 16
    • Round 4.1: Carlsen, So On Brink Of World Cup Exit
    • Round 3.3: Giri Gone, So Survives, Kosteniuk Knocked Out On Tense Day Of Tiebreaks
    • Round 3.2: MVL Exits World Cup; Close Calls For Caruana, Ju
    • Round 3.1: Svidler, Carlsen Cruise to Victory; Roebers on Perfect Score
    • Round 2.3: Grischuk, Lagno Exit World Cup As Nakamura, So Survive
    • Round 2.2: Mamedyarov, Abdusattorov, Shankland Crash Out Of World Cup
    • Round 2.1: Carlsen, Caruana Start Fast, Praggnanandhaa Plays Masterpiece
    • Round 1.3: Suleymanli Wins Epic Tiebreak As Carlsen, Nakamura Gear Up For Action
    • Round 1.2: Favorites Strike Back As 33 Tiebreaks Await
    • Round 1.1: Stunning Start By Ediz Gurel, The World Cup’s Youngest Player
    • Carlsen Goes For First World Cup Win
    • FIDE World Cup 2023: All The Information