Team Liquid's Magnus Carlsen wins Chess.com Open

28 April 2026

It has already been more than two years since the International Chess Federation (FIDE) became an official member of the Global Esports Federation (GEF). It was big news at the time, back in January of 2024, as it catapulted chess into the world of international esports.

The sport has been growing as an esport ever since, especially after Team Liquid signed Norwegian Grand Master Magnus Carlsen, by many considered one of the best chess players to have ever lived. This was announced back in February of last and now, just over a year later, Carlsen has clinched the 2026 Chess.com Open Playoffs for Team Liquid. The Norwegian beat rival Grand Master Jan-Krysztof Duda in the Grand Final in the Match Reset, earning $ 50.000 in prize money in the process.

Flawless run for Carlsen

As one of the best chess players in history, Carlsen obviously started the 2026 Chess.com Open Playoffs, which were held online from Thursday, April 23rd, to Sunday, April 26th, as one of the heavy favorites. The Upper Bracket side of the Playoffs pitched him against Shant Sargsyan from Armenia and then the German Vincent Keymer, who the Norwegian both beat 2.5 – 0.5. The Norwegian then qualified for the Upper Bracket Final by overcoming Belarusian Grand Master Denis Lazavik 3 – 2.

The previously mentioned Jan-Krysztof Duda was waiting for Carlsen in that Upper Bracket Final, after dispatching of Indian Grand Master Nihal Sarin with ease in the Semifinals (3 – 0). Carlsen proved a bridge too far for him though, as the Norwegian got the upper hand and won the Upper Bracket Final 3 – 2. After games of 65, 92, 65, 71 and 53 moves respectively, Duda got another chance to qualify for the Grand Final in the Lower Bracket Final. By beating Lazavik there, the 2026 Chess.com Open Playoffs Grand Final was a rematch of the tournament’s Upper Bracket Final.

2026 Chess.com Open Playoffs Grand Final

The final showdown of the 2026 Chess.com Open Playoffs between Carlsen and Duda ended up becoming an exhilarating spectacle. It ended up being a tale of two halves with the Norwegian staying calm and eventually coming out on top. Duda got off to a furious start though, winning games two and three after the first game finished in a draw, thus making it 0.5 – 2.5 in his favor.

Instead of a fourth game, the Grand Final went to the Reset straight away and this turned out a blessing for Carlsen. Despite the momentum being on Duda’s side at that point, Carlsen’s trademark high-pressure game turned it all around and the Polish Grand Master ended up running out of time.
“I wasn't particularly worried when the Reset happened because I knew that there were always more chances...”, Carlsen commented after his victory, “I didn't like feel he was particularly crushing me either […] I didn't really plan to play this tournament until the last couple of days. I don't really have a laptop here, so I would've had to use Ella's MacBook.”