Speed Chess Championship Finals: Lazavik Edges Nakamura 13.5–12.5 as Carlsen and Firouzja Set for London Title Fight

The Speed Chess Championship (SCC) is chess at its most unforgiving: no pauses, no rescue timeouts, and no room for “one bad game.” Played in continuous segments that accelerate from blitz into bullet, it rewards the rarest combination in modern chess—calculation at speed, emotional control, and the ability to convert advantages while the clock is actively trying to sabotage you. 

This year’s live finals, staged at 180 Studios in London on February 7–8, 2026, have delivered both a new headline-maker and a familiar standard-bearer: teenage GM Denis Lazavik has taken down five-time champion Hikaru Nakamura in the third-place match, while Magnus Carlsen and Alireza Firouzja have advanced to the title match. 

Lazavik defeats Nakamura in the 3rd-place match

In the consolation match, Denis Lazavik beat Hikaru Nakamura 13.5–12.5, a result confirmed by Chess.com’s official update describing it as a finish “down to the wire.” 

For Lazavik, it is more than a bronze medal moment—it is a legitimacy stamp. Beating Nakamura across the SCC’s full multi-phase grind requires more than bullet flair; it demands stamina, stability, and the ability to keep making good decisions long after fatigue sets in.

How the SCC format creates pressure like no other

Each live-finals match follows SCC’s standard three-part structure:

• 90 minutes of 5+1

• 60 minutes of 3+1

• 30 minutes of 1+1 (bullet) 

Unlike traditional tournaments where a player can “reset” overnight, SCC is a rolling contest: momentum swings are immediate, and a short blunder streak can erase an hour of excellent play.

Semifinals: Carlsen dominates Lazavik; Firouzja eliminates Nakamura in overtime drama

Saturday’s semifinals in London produced two very different storylines:

Carlsen vs Lazavik: a 17–9 statement

Carlsen advanced with a commanding 17–9 win over Lazavik, a match described in official coverage as one-sided—Carlsen imposing control early and never letting the contest become the kind of chaos where speed specialists thrive. 

Firouzja vs Nakamura: the comeback that ended a dynasty run

The second semifinal was the opposite—tight, tense, and ultimately decided beyond regulation. Firouzja forced overtime and eliminated Nakamura 15–13, a result highlighted by Chess.com as one of the most clutch comebacks in SCC history. 

The consequence is massive: Nakamura, the tournament’s most decorated modern champion, is out of the title race—and has now also lost the third-place match to Lazavik. 

Lazavik’s rise: not hype—results

Lazavik’s London run was built on wins that forced the chess world to pay attention.

• In the quarterfinals, he defeated Hans Niemann 15½–9½, progressing to face Carlsen on the live stage. 

• His emergence has been framed by analysts as part of the SCC’s shifting landscape—where younger specialists can now sustain performance across all segments, not just bullet. 

The title match: Carlsen vs Firouzja, again—legacy vs volatility

With Lazavik securing third and Nakamura eliminated, the championship now narrows to a familiar modern question: Can anyone reliably unseat Carlsen in speed chess when he’s locked in? Or will Firouzja finally turn his explosive ceiling into a championship finish?

Carlsen reached London after beating Fabiano Caruana 14.5–7.5 in the quarterfinals. 

Firouzja reached the semifinals after dismantling Ian Nepomniachtchi 19–9. 

The final is scheduled for Sunday evening (listed by ChessBase as 19:00 CET) at the same London venue, with the event framed as Carlsen attempting to defend his title against Firouzja. 

What to watch for when the clocks get brutal

• If the match stays “clean,” Carlsen’s greatest weapon is conversion—turning small edges into points over and over until an opponent breaks. 

• If it turns chaotic, Firouzja’s danger is his ability to create streaks—those five-minute bursts that flip matches and tilt even the best defenders. 

Bottom line

The SCC Finals have already delivered their clearest message: speed chess is no longer a two-man era. Nakamura’s exit from the title race and Lazavik’s wire-to-wire victory for third place signal a genuine generational shift—without diminishing the reality that Carlsen remains the format’s hardest problem to solve.