Carlsen marches to the grand final, can anyone stop him?

The World's Top Rapid and Blitz Player Proves His Class in a Thrilling Double-Elimination Showdown

Magnus Carlsen has once again demonstrated why he stands at the pinnacle of rapid and blitz chess, advancing to the Grand Final of the 2026 Chess.com Open Playoffs after defeating GMs Denis Lazavik and Jan-Krzysztof Duda, both by a narrow 3-2 margin.

What made Carlsen's run particularly remarkable was his resilience. He dropped the opening game in both matches, yet fought back with precision and composure to claim victory each time. Against Lazavik, the contest went all the way to an Armageddon tiebreak, where Carlsen, playing with the Black pieces in a Sicilian Defense, delivered a masterclass in controlled aggression. Against Duda, he shifted gears dramatically in the final two games, outplaying his opponent twice with the Black pieces in what analysts described as a display of elite-level endgame technique.

Meanwhile, the Losers Bracket remains fiercely competitive. GMs Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Sina Movahed survived back-to-back elimination matches to keep their Grand Final hopes alive, joining Lazavik and Nihal Sarin in the Losers Quarterfinals on April 25.

The tournament follows a double-elimination format with rapid time controls of 10 minutes and Armageddon tiebreaks. Up to three qualification spots for the 2026 Esports World Cup are on the line, adding enormous stakes to every game.

The Grand Final is scheduled for April 26, where Carlsen will enter with two lives remaining.