Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen secured another victory at the SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia tournament, remarking afterward that his “B-game” was sufficient for the win due to other players also not performing at their peak.
A Champion’s Modest Take
Carlsen, known for his candid assessments, shared his thoughts on X (formerly Twitter) following his triumph. He posted, “When nobody else has a great performance, my B-game is usually enough. Always striving for more though!” This statement perfectly encapsulated his feeling about the event.
Despite his humble comments, Carlsen demonstrated impressive resilience. He was trailing by four points after the rapid section, initially behind tournament leader D Gukesh. However, a strong performance in the 18 blitz games over the weekend propelled him to a 2.5-point lead by the tournament’s end.
“Survival Chess” and Consistency
Carlsen described his play throughout the tournament as “survival” chess, even referring to it as an “old man’s chess” approach. This strategy proved highly effective, earning him his 10th Grand Chess Tour Rapid and Blitz title in only 12 appearances.
He admitted to struggling with his “flow” for much of the event. Carlsen acknowledged the strength of this year’s field, noting that it was tough to predict who would falter and who would excel. “It felt like, especially in rapid, chances were kind of hard to come by,” he explained.
His consistency, however, was undeniable. Despite feeling off his best game, Carlsen only lost one rapid game (to Gukesh) and one blitz game (to Nodirbek Abdusattorov) across 27 total matches.
Reflecting on the Competition
Carlsen reiterated that the field was exceptionally strong, with very few weaker players. This created an evenly matched tournament where no one player could truly pull away from the pack. He felt that his victory didn’t come from a standout performance but rather from being consistently “alright” when others weren’t.
“It speaks to the fact that it was a fairly even tournament overall. Nobody could really break away from the pack. It doesn’t feel like I won. It feels like I just came here and played alright. Nobody really did anything special in the end. Then I usually end up winning,” he concluded, highlighting his unique ability to win even when not at his peak.
Key Takeaways from Carlsen’s Win:
- Magnus Carlsen won the SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia despite feeling he played at his “B-game” level.
- He attributed his win to the overall even performance of a strong field, where no single player dominated.
- Carlsen described his strategy as “survival chess,” indicating a focus on consistent play rather than brilliant attacks.
- Despite his self-assessment, he only lost two games out of 27 throughout the tournament.
Carlsen’s latest victory reinforces his reputation as one of chess’s most formidable competitors, capable of winning even on days he considers less than stellar.
