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Magnus Carlsen has won the first place at Foros having a 1.5 point lead before the last round. So today he'll play for his honor only without any calculation concerning the result. He is facing anoter chess prodigy at his age - the great hope of Ukraine Sergey Karjakin. Two months ago their encounter in Baku featured a highly topical line in the Sicilian Dragon. Magnus effortlessly equalized and the game was drawn after uncompromising struggle. Would he insist on reviving this once fashionable variation or prefer to deviate, evading opening discussion in favor of a more positional approach.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 O-O 10.O-O Na5 (10... cxd4 11.cxd4 Bg4 12.f3 Na5 13.Bd3 Be6 14.d5 is a line for excellent tacticians only. Detailed analysis until move 30 helps as well. Not exactly the right kind of position for a player of Carlsen's style.)
11.Bd3 b6 The opening moves were performed in blitz tempo. Seeing the Exchange Gruenfeld my initial thought was that once again there are problems with the translation and this is a game of Shirov, Eljanov, Svidler or some other of the numerous Gruenfeld devotees at this tournament. Looking at the other games it seems that everything is OK, simply both teenagers try to outwit each other with the opening choice.
12.Qd2 (12.Rc1 was played twice at Foros by van Wely. He scored only half a point.)
12... e5 13.Bh6 This is novelty. It corresponds to the spirit of the Exchange line of Gruenfeld Indian: go for the King. Trading the dark-squared Bishops debilitates Black kingside. Carlsen takes his time to look deeper into the consequences. Clock readings: 1.28 1.13.
13... exd4 The pawn sacrifice has to be accepted as otherwise White's attack will be for free.
14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.cxd4 cxd4 How should Karjakin proceed? He may try to regain the pawn with Qd2-b2 x-raying the Black King or prepare the march of the 'f' pawn.
16.Rac1 ( The direct 16.f4 is met by 16... Bg4 17.Ng3 Nc6) Now Na5 is isolated so Bb7 is forced.
16... Bb7 17.f4 This pawn is heading for 'f6' as fast as possible.
17... Rc8 The most natural move. Exchanging a couple of Rooks would allow Carlsen to decrease White attacking possibilities. In case of f4-f5-f6, with the threat Qh6, Rf3-h3, there will be a defensive resource Bb7-c8 controlling 'h3'
18.Rxc8 (18.f5 Rxc1 19.Qxc1 Nc6 20.f6+ Kh8 21.Qh6 Rg8 22.Rf3 Qf8 is premature.)
18... Qxc8 ( In case of 18... Bxc8 19.Qb2 has to be considered: 19... Nc6 20.Bb5 and the sacrificed pawn is recaptured.) The time spent by both players is already equal: 0.56 0.56.
19.f5 Karjakin has no alternatives but push this pawn.
19... Nc6 (19... Qc5 deserves attention as well, as the game move permits 20.Qg5.)
20.Rf3 (20.Qg5 /threatening Nf4/ 20... f6 (20... Nb4 21.f6+ Kh8 22.Rf3) 21.Qg3 Ne5 22.Nf4 looks promising for White.)
20... Ne5 ( In the line 20... Ne5 21.Rh3 h5 I don't see a better option for Karjakin than 22.Rxh5 gxh5 23.Qg5+ with perpetual.)
21.Rh3 Rh8 The so typical for Magnus fighting spirit. With the perpetual check evaded the game goes on. Many players would never let their Rook arrested on 'h8' for a long period.
22.f6+ Kg8 23.Qh6 Qf8 24.Qxf8+ Kxf8 25.Nxd4 Once again draw by threefold repetition is possible: (25.Nxd4 Ng4 26.Rf3 Ne5 27.Re3 Ng4 28.Rf3) though the line is not forced. (25.Nxd4 Nd7 26.Rf3 a6 is more solid approach.)
25... Ke8 Trying to solve the problem of Rh8 as quickly as possible.
26.Bb5+ Kd8 27.Rc3 (27.Ra3 Kc7 28.Rxa7 Ra8 is safe for Black.) (27.Nf3 Nxf3 28.gxf3 could be a try for advantage.)
27... a6 Magnus solved his problems and may even try to exploit White weak pawns.
28.Ba4 b5 ( There was a tricky move 28... Rf8)
29.Bb3 Re8 That is inaccurate. (29... Kd7 is about equal.)
30.Nf3 That's the reason Carlsen's move was criticized. Draw agreed. Fascinating game with interesting pawn sacrifice. Karjakin missed his chance to claim advantage going for a line with perpetual instead. Magnus did everything possible to continue fighting. That had cost him a lot of time - the position he entered was looking ready to collapse - and got into time trouble. The Ukrainian could try to capitalize on opponent's inaccuracies, but he preferred to secure half a point. Congratulations to Magnus for the convincing tournament win. He really deserves them with his extraordinary performance.
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