In a tension-filled but ultimately straightforward affair, world number one Magnus Carlsen comfortably dispatched Hans Niemann in the live semifinals of the 2024 Speed Chess Championship.

It was their first face-to-face battle since the Norwegian lodged his cheating accusation at his young American counterpart, and while the final scoreline read 17.5-12.5, Carlsen at one point had a ten-point lead and simply cruised in the final portion of a match with many technical issues.