GMs Wesley So and Leinier Dominguez won their round of 32 matches in the Chess.com Global Chess Championship on Thursday, defeating the legendary GM Vasyl Ivanchuk and the popular streamer GM Eric Hansen respectively.

The round of 32 continues on Friday, September 21, starting at 9 a.m. PT / 18:00 CET.

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Although So won all three games vs. Ivanchuk, it was a much closer match competitively than the final score indicates. After losing a close first game on time, Ivanchuk found himself in a tricky position out of the opening in game two and discovered a remarkable way to solve his development problems with 13. Bd3!? 

Ever-creative, Ivanchuk finds a brilliant move to solve his problems with development!

🎙️ @GM_Hess and @LawrenceTrentIM point out some pretty lines ⬇️. #ChesscomGlobal pic.twitter.com/ZekTrYJVJb

— ChesscomLive (@ChesscomLive) September 22, 2022

So kept the pressure on in the complex queen and bishop ending. As Ivanchuk’s clock ticked under five seconds, he blundered. Although he tried to save the game by perpetual check, So guided his king to a safe square with precision.

So wins the second consecutive game, finding a clever way to avoid perpetual check (while Ivanchuk’s clock drives @GM_Hess crazy 🤪). #ChesscomGlobal pic.twitter.com/0sRYVNREs4

— ChesscomLive (@ChesscomLive) September 22, 2022

In the third game, in a must-win position, Ivanchuk played actively and ambitiously, winning a pawn and supporting it as a protected passer. Despite his substantial advantage, once again, Ivanchuk’s time trouble played a role. 

The match between Dominguez and Hansen started with two draws. In the third game, Dominguez broke through on the queenside and soon utilized his forces to press on Hansen’s kingside for a decisive attack.

This put Hansen in a must-win position heading into game four, which is our Game of the Day. 

The 2022 Chess.com Global Championship (CGC) is the first Chess.com global championship cycle open to all Chess.com verified players. Players compete in official Chess.com verified events for their share of the $1,100,000 prize fund and the Chess.com Global Champion title.

Chess legends, such as GMs Viswanathan Anand, Vasyl Ivanchuk, Vladimir Kramnik, and Veselin Topalov, compete against today’s best (online) players, including GMs Hikaru Nakamura, Ding Liren, Levon Aronian, and Jan-Krzysztof Duda, and more. 

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