“I have to apologize to Magnus for semi-ruining his birthday!” said Wesley So after winning a blitz playoff to clinch 1st place and the $30,000 top prize in the Skilling Open, the first event on the $1.5 million Champions Chess Tour. The World Champion’s 30th birthday seemed to be going perfectly when he won the 1st game of the day with the black pieces, but Wesley hit back in Game 2 and survived a wild 3rd game. Magnus then repeated his World Championship match trick of taking a quick draw to reach a playoff, but for once he fell short.

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See also:

• Champions Chess Tour website
• All the Skilling Open games: Prelims | Knockout
• The King’s Gambit: Magnus Carlsen launches $1.5 million Champions Chess Tour
• What’s new in the Champions Chess Tour?
• Nakamura and Firouzja complete Skilling Open lineup
• Introducing the new Skilling Open commentary teams
• Skilling Open 1: Giri leads mouse-slipping Carlsen
• Skilling Open 2: Giri still leads after Karjakin beats Carlsen
• Skilling Open 3: Firouzja heartbreak as Carlsen wins prelims
• Skilling Open QF1: Naka, Giri, Nepo and So in danger
• Skilling Open QF2: Day of the Comebacks
• Skilling Open SF1: Carlsen and So seize the lead
• Skilling Open SF2: It’s a Carlsen vs. So final
• Skilling Open Final 1: Carlsen and So trade blows

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