[Event "World Championship Match"]
[Site "lichess.org"]
[Date "2021.11.27"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Abasov"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[ECO "E06"]
[Opening "Catalan Opening: Closed"]
[UTCDate "2021.11.27"]
[UTCTime "21:05:35"]
[Variant "Standard"]
[WhiteElo "2855"]

{ [%evp 0,116,80,5,56,-16,-19,-4,-11,-17,3,-7,10,14,19,-13,16,-23,3,-2,-12,-34, -34,-34,-36,-61,-72,-65,-35,-35,6,6,9,-13,-2,-21,-47,-45,-50,-106,-96,-92,-92, -93,-86,-73,-46,-105,-46,-74,-7,-181,-40,-41,-41,-27,-36,-31,-30,-48,-21,-21, -41,-41,-40,-39,-29,-34,-34,-22,-10,0,0,19,18,25,44,62,65,61,110,110,114,120, 107,105,113,121,125,114,117,117,117,109,117,108,120,110,120,107,120,107,107,82, 99,104,103,94,67,73,38,38,38,31,76,31,31,29,70] } 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 { Catalan. It surprised me, I should say. Not that it's a bad opening or anything, it's just Magnus almost never plays Catalan. Following his match against Esipenko on the World Cup, I saw he entered Catalan as White. It somehow hit me then, I nearly don't recall any single game of his in Catalan. Later, checking his games on the database, I realized within the last 10 years he had only 3-4 games in Catalan (as White). } 4... Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 ( 7. Qa4 { would be the move to avoid what Nepo played in the game, however, here after } 7... a6 { White has no longer the a4 move and is forced of recapturing the pawn } 8. Qxc4 b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 { this position is considered to be harmless for Black } ) 7... b5 $5 ( 7... a6 { used to be the old main line on what White nowadays go } 8. a4 ( 8. Qxc4 b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 { is the same what we mentioned above } ) 8... Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 { and here White has to setups, first } 10. Bg5 { eventually with the idea of capturing the Knight and grabbing more space } ( 10. Bf4 { is the second concept } ) ) 8. Ne5 $5 { not the most principled continuation } ( 8. a4 { is the main move here } 8... b4 { is the move I feel Nepo would go for. In fact, this line became popular after Carlsen played it against Ding Liren, winning the game in a style. } ( 8... Bb7 $5 { became popular in 2021 and is also totally possible to play. Even yours truly have had a chance to try it once in a standard game against a strong GM! } 9. axb5 a6 10. Nc3 ( 10. bxa6 Nxa6 11. Qxc4 Bd5 { as you can tell, Black has sacrificed a pawn, however, the activity of pieces fully compensates for the material deficit. If you are up to study this variation, I'd suggest you to see the game Berkes,F - Grischuk,A } ) 10... axb5 11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12. Nxb5 Bd5 13. Bf4 c5 14. dxc5 Na6 15. Nd6 Nxc5 16. Nxc4 Be4 17. Qd1 Nd5 18. Be5 Qa8 19. Bd6 Rd8 20. Bxe7 Nxe7 21. Qc1 Nb3 22. Qe3 Qb7 23. Qb6 Qxb6 24. Nxb6 f6 25. Nc4 Nf5 26. Re1 h5 27. Nh4 Bxg2 28. Nxf5 Bb7 29. Nfe3 Ba6 30. f3 Rd4 31. Na3 Rd2 32. Nac4 Rd4 33. Na3 Rd2 34. Nac4 Bxc4 35. Nxc4 Rc2 36. Na3 { 1/2-1/2 (36) Roiz,M (2580)-Abasov, N (2652) Struga 2021 } ) 9. Nfd2 Nd5 10. Nxc4 c5 11. dxc5 Ba6 12. Ne3 Nd7 13. Nxd5 exd5 14. c6 Rc8 15. Bf4 Nc5 16. c7 ( 16. Rd1 { is the main move nowadays } 16... d4 $13 ) 16... Qd7 $36 17. Nd2 g5 18. Be5 f6 19. Bd4 Rxc7 20. Qd1 Ne6 21. Nb3 Bc4 22. Na5 Nxd4 23. Qxd4 Kg7 24. Rfc1 Bxe2 25. Rxc7 Qxc7 26. Re1 Bc5 27. Qxd5 Re8 28. Qb7 Qxb7 29. Nxb7 Bf8 30. Bc6 Re7 31. f3 Bc4 32. Rxe7+ Bxe7 33. Kf2 f5 34. Ke3 Bg8 35. Kd3 g4 36. Na5 Bc5 37. Nc4 Bg1 38. Ne3 Be6 39. fxg4 fxg4 40. Ke2 h5 41. Bd5 Bd7 42. Bb3 Bxh2 43. Kf2 h4 44. gxh4 Be5 45. Nc4 g3+ 46. Kg1 Bf4 47. Bd1 Bc6 48. b3 Kh6 49. a5 Be4 50. Kf1 Kg7 51. Kg1 Kf6 52. Kf1 Ke6 53. h5 Kd5 54. a6 Kd4 55. Bg4 Kc3 56. Be6 Bc2 57. Na5 Bc7 58. Nb7 Bd3+ 59. Kg1 Bxa6 { 0-1 (59) Ding,L (2805)-Carlsen,M  (2875) Zagreb 2019 CBM 191 [Nielsen,Peter Heine] } ) 8... c6 { was played after 10 minutes of thinking. Not that Nepo didn't know the move 8.Ne5, but he was trying to recall how to handle it } ( 8... Nd5 { was another way of defending a8-Rook } ) ( 8... Qxd4 { can be met by } 9. Qc3 $5 $146 ( 9. Bxa8 Qxe5 { leads to complications } ) 9... Qxc3 10. Nxc3 c6 11. Nxc6 Nxc6 12. Bxc6 Bd7 ( 12... Rb8 13. Bxb5 $14 ) 13. Bxa8 Rxa8 $44 { and Black's Bishop pair and activity should compensate the material advantage of White } ) 9. a4 ( 9. Nxc6 $6 Nxc6 10. Bxc6 Rb8 { doesn't really look convincing for White. They are behind in the development and Black is keen to trade off the light-squared Bishops with ...-Bb7 after what White's King will also be weak [%csl Gd4][%cal Gd8d4] } ) 9... Nd5 10. Nc3 { Surprisingly, for the second game in a row, we see Magnus sacrifices pawn for long-term compensation. Coincidence? No, Strategy. } 10... f6 { Black needs to defend the -b5 pawn. He wants to defend it with ...-Qd7, to do so, first Knight from -e5 should be driven away. } 11. Nf3 Qd7 12. e4 Nb4 13. Qe2 Nd3 { The last moves were more or less natural from both sides. Now Magnus takes the action in the center! } 14. e5 Bb7 ( 14... f5 { could be an option, trying to keep the center closed and play on the side where Black has an extra pawn. } 15. axb5 cxb5 16. d5 $1 ( 16. Ne1 { immediate Ne1 is not as effective } 16... Bb7 17. Bxb7 Qxb7 18. Nxd3 Nc6 $3 { key move after what Black maintains equality } ( 18... cxd3 { leads to much better position for White after } 19. Qxd3 a6 20. d5 $16 ) 19. d5 Nd4 { and the Queen has no square to retreat with the attack on the Knight } 20. Qe3 $2 ( 20. Qd1 cxd3 21. Qxd3 Nb3 22. Ra2 b4 23. d6 bxc3 24. dxe7 Rfc8 $10 { should end with some drawish endgame } ) 20... Nc2 $19 { simply wins the game for Black } ) 16... exd5 17. Ne1 Nxc1 18. Rxc1 ( 18. Bxd5+ $4 Qxd5 19. Nxd5 Nxe2+ $19 { Black remains with extra Rook and a Bishop } ) 18... Bb7 19. e6 $36 { White seems to have better chances [%cal Gc3b5,Gc3d5] } ) 15. exf6 Bxf6 16. Ne4 Na6 17. Ne5 $6 ( 17. Be3 Nab4 18. Ne5 Bxe5 19. dxe5 c5 20. axb5 Bd5 21. Bxc5 Nxc5 22. Nxc5 Qxb5 23. Bxd5 exd5 24. Ne6 Rf7 25. Nd4 Qb6 $132 ) ( 17. Nxf6+ { was leading to complications } 17... gxf6 ( 17... Rxf6 $6 18. Ne5 $16 ) 18. Bh6 Rf7 19. Rfd1 ( 19. Ne1 Nab4 20. Nxd3 ) 19... Nab4 20. Ne1 Qxd4 21. Nxd3 cxd3 22. Qxe6 { incredibly difficult to assess such positions correctly OTB! } ) 17... Bxe5 18. dxe5 Nac5 { is what Magnus underestimated, I believe, playing 17.Ne5 } 19. Nd6 Nb3 20. Rb1 ( 20. Be3 { was a version of sacrificing the exchange, according to Stockfish. However, I understand the option of Magnus. He didn't want Black to remain with the Knight on d3. } 20... Nxa1 21. Rxa1 Nxe5 ( 21... a6 22. Be4 Nxe5 23. Qh5 Ng6 24. Rd1 $13 ) 22. Bc5 ( 22. Nxb7 Qxb7 23. axb5 ( 23. Bc5 Qc7 24. Bxf8 Rxf8 $17 ) 23... Qxb5 24. Bd4 Nf7 25. Qxe6 $13 ) 22... Nd3 23. Nxb7 Qxb7 24. Bxf8 Rxf8 25. axb5 Qxb5 26. Qxe6+ Kh8 27. Rxa7 Qxb2 28. Rf7 Rb8 ) 20... Nbxc1 21. Rbxc1 Nxc1 22. Rxc1 { I'd like to stop in this position for a moment and analyze what is going on on the board. To begin with, Black is an exchange and a pawn up. On the other hand, White has a powerful outpost on -d6, where, the Knight has already landed. Bishop on g2 is better than its rival on the long diagonal. Additionally, White Rook is more mobile and can lift via d1-d4 all the way to the kingside. Black, on the other hand, should try to activate the -a8 Rook, most likely with opening the b-file. An extremely difficult position to evaluate correctly and play OTB! } 22... Rab8 { Nepo defends b7 Bishop and eventually prepares Bishop retreat on -a8 after what he is ready to open the b-file. } 23. Rd1 Ba8 24. Be4 { Now Carlen prepares tactics on -h7 square } ( 24. Nxb5 { is what White could have played also } 24... Qb7 { is in fact not a problem, as the Queen is still pinned } 25. Rd2 { protects b2 and next Nd6 will follow } ( 25. Qxc4 $4 { is a "just not" move } 25... cxb5 { now White's Queen is also under attack [%csl Gc4,Gb7][%cal Gg2b7,Gb5c4] } 26. Qxe6+ Qf7 $19 ) ) 24... c3 $5 { the idea of this move is to open up the b-file. } ( 24... bxa4 { Carlsen would go for } 25. Bxh7+ Kxh7 26. Qh5+ Kg8 27. Rd4 { After lifting the Rook into the attack Black's King seems vulnerable } 27... Qe7 { Black has to take radical measures to prevent the checkmate } ( 27... Rxb2 $4 28. Rh4 Rb1+ 29. Kg2 c5+ 30. Kh3 $18 { is hopeless for Black } ) 28. Rh4 Qxh4 29. Qxh4 Rxb2 { at the moment Black has got 2 Rooks and 2 pawns for the Queen. Normally it would be enough material advantage to win the game, but poorly placed Bishop on -a8 and weak pawns of Black give White hopes for a draw } 30. Qxc4 Rb1+ 31. Kg2 c5+ 32. Kh3 Bd5 { Black manages to solve the problem with the Bishop, however, they had to return 2 pawns for achieving that } 33. Qxc5 ( 33. Qxa4 { is not accurate } 33... Rxf2 34. Qe8+ Rf8 35. Qg6 { attacking the Rook on b1 } 35... Rbb8 $1 { otherwise Ne8 was coming, with the threats of checkmating from g7 or giving Nf6 check } ( 35... Rb2 36. Ne8 Rf7 37. Nf6+ Kf8 38. Nh7+ Ke7 39. Ng5 Rff2 40. Qxg7+ Kd8 $132 ) 36. Ne4 Bxe4 37. Qxe4 Rf5 { with chances for a win } ) 33... a3 34. Qxa3 Rxf2 35. Qxa7 Rxh2+ 36. Kg4 Rh6 ( 36... Rb4+ 37. Kg5 { King is totally fine on g5 } ) 37. Qf7+ Kh7 38. Kg5 Rb3 39. Nf5 exf5 40. Qxd5 Rxg3+ 41. Kxf5 { and this endgame should end in a draw } ) ( 24... g6 $5 { is always a responsible move, as it always runs under h4-h5 AlphaZero pawn marches, however, this time, with concrete play Black seemed to be better } 25. h4 bxa4 26. h5 gxh5 { It's hard to count how many pawn islands Black has got! It equals the number of pawns on the board! Yet, Black seems to be better, sd their Rook has been activated and they are ready to play ...-c5 any time soon. } ) 25. Qc2 ( 25. Bxh7+ { fails to work due to the c3-pawn } 25... Kxh7 26. Qh5+ Kg8 27. Rd4 cxb2 28. Rh4 b1=Q+ 29. Kg2 c5+ 30. Kh3 Qf1+ $19 ) ( 25. bxc3 { would be a better move order, I assume. } 25... bxa4 26. Qc2 ( 26. Bxh7+ { doesn't work this time due to simple tactical trick } 26... Kxh7 27. Qh5+ Kg8 28. Rd4 Rb1+ 29. Kg2 c5+ { now we see why 24...-c3 was played } ) 26... g6 { transposes back to the game, but Black hadn't had a chance of playing ...-Qg7 } ) 25... g6 26. bxc3 bxa4 ( 26... Qg7 { had Nepo played it } 27. f4 g5 { the game would get even crazier! I assume Magnus would feel some discomfort here. } ) 27. Qxa4 { Now, Black is the side to be careful not to get into trouble. } 27... Rfd8 { preparing ...-c5 } 28. Ra1 c5 29. Qc4 Bxe4 30. Nxe4 { threatening a royal fork [%cal Ge4f6] } 30... Kh8 31. Nd6 { Knight returns to the place where it belongs! } ( 31. Nf6 Qc6 32. Qh4 Rb7 33. Nxh7 ) 31... Rb6 32. Qxc5 Rdb8 { preparing ...-Rb1 [%cal Gb6b1] } 33. Kg2 a6 ( 33... Qc6+ $6 { is not good } 34. Qxc6 Rxc6 35. Rxa7 Rxc3 36. Nf7+ ( 36. Ne4 Rcb3 37. Nf6 R3b7 $10 ) ( 36. f4 $5 ) 36... Kg8 37. Ng5 Rc2 38. Nxh7 Rbb2 39. Nf6+ Kf8 40. Ng4 $36 ) 34. Kh3 { was played in order to avoid the Queen trades } 34... Rc6 35. Qd4 Kg8 36. c4 Qc7 37. Qg4 Rxd6 { with returning extra material Nepo simplifies the position. } ( 37... Qd7 38. Rd1 ) 38. exd6 Qxd6 39. c5 Qxc5 40. Qxe6+ Kg7 41. Rxa6 Rf8 { and now with the Queens off the board we get theoretically well known drawish endgame. } 42. f4 Qf5+ 43. Qxf5 Rxf5 44. Ra7+ Kg8 45. Kg4 Rb5 46. Re7 Ra5 47. Re5 Ra7 48. h4 Kg7 49. h5 Kh6 50. Kh4 Ra1 51. g4 Rh1+ 52. Kg3 gxh5 53. Re6+ Kg7 54. g5 Rg1+ 55. Kf2 Ra1 56. Rh6 Ra4 57. Kf3 Ra3+ 58. Kf2 Ra4 { Another fighting draw! After only 2 games being played, we can already claim - this match ain't gonna be boring! } 1/2-1/2