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Good day everyone. Magnus Carlsen needs a win with black to stay in the race for the first place. It's always tough call against Vladimir Kramnik, particularly when he is with white pieces. Kramnik probably lost all chances to win the tournament, but he won't miss a chance to play for a full point. Standings and crosstable. See also yesterday's game Carlsen-Anand
1.Nf3 Not really a surprise as Kramnik used to start his games like this for many years. But this probably means there will be no Catalan today...
1... Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.g3 b6!? Carlsen goes for hedgehog setup, which has ultra-solid reputation.
5.Bg2 Bb7 6.O-O Be7 7.d4 cxd4 8.Qxd4 (8.Nxd4 Bxg2 9.Kxg2 Qc8 gives no advantage whatsoever)
8... d6 9.Rd1 a6 Obligatory move in this line, black shouldn't allow Nb5.
10.Ng5 Very popular lately. White is agreeing to light-squared bishops exchange, but in better conditions compared to 8. Nxd4. After Ng5, he will retreat to e4, pressing on sensible pawn d6.
10... Bxg2 11.Kxg2 Nc6 The most popular plan, with Ra7-d7 next. Mickey Adams, who is also playing at Corus and is considered to be one of the biggest experts in Hegdehog, prefers 11...0-0
12.Qf4 O-O Next 13. b3 would force Ra7-d7 after all, while on Ne4 black most likely answers with Ne8. (12... Ra7!? 13.Nge4 Rd7 14.Nxf6+ Bxf6)
13.Nce4 Kramnik burned some time on his clock for this move. It is still his preparation, of course... Carlsen can choose between Ne8, Nxe4 and Ne5
13... Ne8 14.b3 Current consensus is Ra7-d7 with Qa8 next. 14...b5 was tried in one game. Perhaps Magnus will suggest better plan.
14... Ra7 15.Bb2 Slovak GM Lubomir Ftachnik, also renowned Hedgehog expert, played 15...b5 in one of his games. In general, black will use b-pawn to remove c4, and then play d5 to get a relief from pressure on d6. Queen usually goes to a8, to increase activity on the queenside and impose threats over diagonal a8-h1.
15... Rd7 16.Rac1 Nc7 Magnus spent lots of time for this novelty. The knight will have important role in preparing b5 and/or d5. Also, pawn e6 is protected, and he can think about f5.
17.Nf3 Kramnik quickly retreated the knight as f5 was threatening...
17... f5 Carlsen plays it anyway, he wants to remove the piece that attacks d6. 18. Neg5 h6 is simply bad, therefore knight has to retreat to c3 or d2. From d2 knight does nothing to prevent d5 (b5), and on c3 it blocks Bb2, thus allowing Bf6 to black.
18.Nc3 g5! Young lions have no fear! It was slightly unexpected, but white can hardly make use of this weakening. So grabbing space on the kingside is welcome. Magnus is expanding the theory in this line, as black were mostly playing on the queenside with Qa8 and b5. After queen moves, black will play g4, pushing Nf3 back, and then Bg5 or Bf6.
19.Qd2 g4 On 20. Nd4, Carlsen can choose between Qa8 and Bg5!
20.Ne1 (20.Nd4 Bg5 21.e3 (21.Nxc6 Bxd2 22.Nxd8 Bxc1 23.Nxe6 Bxb2 24.Nxf8 Kxf8 white is piece down) 21... Ne5 22.Kg1 Qa8!)
20... Bg5! 21.e3 Carlsen is already slightly better
21... Rff7 Clearly intending to push h-pawn and ruin white's king shelter. Rook then goes behind the pawn.
22.Kg1 Clearing g2 for the knight. It might add some security to the king, but in any case, bishop would stand better there.
22... Ne8 Perhaps this knight is heading to e4 (via f6). White shouldn't exchange it because black will easily defend e4 pawn, and f-file and f3 square might be decisive factors for the final outcome.
23.Ne2 (23.Nd3!? to prevent Ne5 23... Nf6!?)
23... Nf6 Maybe 24. Bxf6 is forced. Kramnik could also try 24. Nf4 and 24. Qc3 e5
24.Nf4 (24.Bxf6 Qxf6 25.Nd3 h5 and h4)
24... Qe8 (24... Ne4! 25.Nxe6 Qe8 (25... Qe7? 26.Qd5) 26.Nxg5 (26.Qd5 Nb4 (no more check on a8) and black wins) 26... Nxd2 27.Nxf7 Nf3+ 28.Nxf3 Qxf7)
25.Qc3 Mate threat on h8 prevents Nf6 to move for the time of being...
25... Rg7 26.b4 ( Perhaps better was 26.Qd3 and knight is still pinned)
26... Ne4 27.Qb3 (27.Qa3! both Rg7 and a6 are attacked)
27... Rge7 28.Qa4 28...Qa8 looks good...
28... Ne5! A very strong move, facing Kramnik with tough decision.
29.Qxa6 (29.Bxe5 dxe5 30.Nfd3 Nxf2!? (30... Bf6 is safer) 31.Nxf2 Bxe3 with more than sufficient compensation)
29... Ra7 Only move is 30. Qb5 Qxb5 31. cxb5 Rxa2 and black keeps the advantage. 30. Qxb6?? Reb7 31. Qd4 Bf6!! loses queen because there is no escape from Nf3+
30.Qb5 Qxb5 31.cxb5 Rxa2 Kramnik will have lots of problems with the 2nd rank and f2 pawn.32. Bxe5 dxe5 33. Nfd3 Rd7!
32.Rc8+ Kf7 33.Nfd3?! This allows Carlsen to keep his pawn structure intact after 33...Nxd3 34. Nxd3 Bf6!, while Kramnik still suffers on f2 (33.Bxe5 dxe5 34.Nfd3 was still holding. Black might have problems with b6 pawn....)
33... Bf6 34.Nxe5+ dxe5 35.Rc2 Rea7 36.Kg2 Ng5! 37.Rd6 e4! Both players are in severe time trouble and Magnus is still finding the best moves! Weak white king is giving decisive advantage to black.
38.Bxf6 Kxf6 The main problem for Kramnik is that black is threatening both Nh3 (should white trade rooks on 2nd rank) and Nf3 with Ra1 if he plays Rd6-d2.
39.Kf1 39....Ra1 with Rb1-Raa1 game over
39... Ra1! 40.Ke2 Rb1! If 41. Rd1 Carlsen can simply take on b4 and b5. 41. Kd2 loses knight after 41....Raa1
41.Rd1 Around 6000 viewers joined us for today's broadcast. Thank you! (41.Rxb6 Rd7! 42.Ng2 Nf3 and Rd7-d1-e1 checkmate)
41... Rxb4 42.Ng2 Rxb5 43.Nf4 Rc5 44.Rb2 Of course, Kramnik is not happy with rooks swap. He wants to keep as many pieces as possible.
44... b5 45.Kf1 Rac7 46.Rbb1 Rb7 47.Rb4 Rc4 48.Rb2 Time to push that pawn...
48... b4 49.Rdb1 Nf3! 50.Kg2 Mate threat on g1 will hang like a sword above Kramnik's head. Good start is 50...Rd7, but also 50...b3 or 50...Ne5 and Nd3 looks promising....
50... Rd7! Idea is Rd2 and then: a) either white allows Rxb2 Rxb2 Rc1 Ne2 Re1 with zugzwang to follow soon, or b) white takes on d2 and after Nxd2 black forces b-pawn promotion
51.h3 e5 52.Ne2 Rd2! 53.hxg4 fxg4 54.Rxd2 Nxd2 55.Rb2 Nf3 56.Kf1 b3! 57.Kg2 (57.Rxb3? Nd2+ wins rook)
57... Rc2! and Kramnik finally resigned!! He is losing Ne2 or goes into zugzwang after Rxc2 bxc2, when Carlsen will simply bring his king to b2. Amazing comeback for Magnus Carlsen, beating Kramnik with black is fantastic achievement! If Aronian draws as expected, the two will be joint leaders before the last round. Thank you everyone for following this live coverage, join us again tomorrow at 12:30 CET when GM Vladimir Dimitrov will comment on Magnus Carlsen - Teimour Radjabov.
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