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Good day everyone, welcome to the Chessdom live coverage of the World Cup. The huge starting field is narrowed down to 16 players, and the stakes are getting higher. Magnus Carlsen wants to crown fantastic season with success at the World Cup, while Michael Adams is reaching his top shape again. Both of them have won medals at the recently ended 2007 ETCC and we can look forward to an exciting match. Enjoy!
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 Adams is one of the biggest Nimzo Indian experts around.
4.Qc2 Magnus is repeating the same line he used against Naiditsch in the 2nd round.
4... d5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 dxc4 Rare line, most common are c5 and Ne4. It is interesting that dc4 was first used by Capablanca back in 1929!
7.Qxc4 b6 Even Garry Kasparov played b6 to beat Kramnik once.
8.Bf4 8. Nf3 is main move, white continues with development.
8... Ba6!? ( Interesting pawn sacrifice, tested by English grandmasters Short and Plaskett. Alternative is 8... Nd5)
9.Qxc7 Probably 9...Qxc7 10. Bxc7 Nc6
9... Qxc7 10.Bxc7 O-O ( Small surprise, obviously prepared by Adams. 10... Nc6 with quick development and pressure in the center was expected.)
11.Nf3 Rc8 So the idea was to take c-file first and only then develop Nb8. We can say that Adams is improving the line, of course if he does not lose :)
12.Bf4 Nbd7 Magnus is thinking for the first time. Just like in game against Naiditsch, he has to find some way to complete the development. Black pieces are all in play and Rc2 could be next. Mickey has poker face, you never know what is on his mind.
13.Nd2 Rc2 14.Rb1 (14.e4 Giving pawn back was an option 14... Bxf1 15.Rxf1 Rxb2 16.Nc4 Rc2 17.Nd6 Nh5 but it not clear if Magnus can keep the blockade on c8. Rook on the 2nd rank is also causing headache.)
14... Rac8 15.Nb3 Idea Na1 to kick the annoying intruder. 15...Nd5 16. Bd2 f5 or 15...Bc4!? 16. Na1 Ba2 17. Nxc2 Bxb1 could follow
15... Bc4!? 16.Na1 Ba2 17.Nxc2 Bxb1 18.Na1 Magnus managed to take off one pair of rooks, but his kingside pieces are still stuck. Adams will probably go with Knights' regrouping.
18... Nd5 Now Magnus has to choose. 19. Bg3 would allow Rc1 in some lines, while 19. Bd2 e5! is solid counterplay for black.
19.Bd2 e5 20.e3 Now it's time for Mickey to find concrete plan. Bishop on b1 is annoying, but Magnus is controlling all entry squares and is ready to develop light-squared bishop.
20... exd4 21.exd4 Probably N7f6 or even Nf8-Ne6!?
21... Nb8 Similar to Nf8-e6, just in this case knight goes to c6 and rook on e8. We're curious to see what Adams has planned against Bb5!? (21... N7f6 22.Ba6 (22.f3!?) 22... Re8+ 23.Kd1 Ne4) (21... Nf8 22.Bb5 Ne6)
22.f3 (22.Bb5 a6 23.O-O! Bf5 24.Be2)
22... Nc6 23.Bc4! Taking advantage of temporary closed c-file and shaky Nd5.
23... Rd8 ( Is Adams admitting failure? 23... Ncb4!? is interesting alternative 24.Bb3 (24.b3! looks better) 24... Nd3+ 25.Kf1 Nf6 26.Bc3 Re8)
24.Kf2 Bf5 25.Nb3 Carlsen has untied his pieces and enjoys clear advantage now.
25... Be6 26.Rc1! f6 Magnus will be searching on how to regroup pieces. Perhaps 27. Bc3 is a good start, with idea Nd2-Ne4
27.a4 Magnus wants to have a5 at hand if needed.
27... a5 Adams quickly blocks a5 and secures b4 outpost.
28.Bc3 Bf7 29.Nd2 Nde7 30.Bf1?! Magnus wants to save pair of bishops, but what if black simply takes on d4? 30...Nxd4 31. Nc4 Nb3 32. Re1 Nd5 looking equal (30.Re1! is possible because Ne7 would be hanging)
30... Nxd4 31.Re1 Ndc6 is perfectly safe
31... Ndc6! 32.Nc4 Nd5 33.Rb1 Kf8 34.Be1 Magnus kept pair of bishops, but Mickey's knights are wonderfully placed and position is equal.
34... Ke7 maybe this king walk is premature, Be6 or Bg6 looked okay
35.Kg1! Superb reaction! Magnus is moving his king away from the center and cleans f2 square for bishop.
35... Nb8 prepares 36. Bf2 Nd7, but Magnus already regained some of the advantage.
36.Bf2 Nd7 37.Re1+! Kf8 and king is bounced back...
38.Rd1 Ke7 39.Re1+ Kf8 40.Nd6 40. g3 with idea f4-Bg2 deserved attention
40... Ne5 41.Nxf7 Kxf7 42. Rd1 with pin is looking good
42.Rd1 Ke7 Now Adams might end all tied up if only those bishops find good diagonals. Magnus will improve his pieces first, then advance kingside pawns to create another weakness.
43.f4 Ng4 44.Re1+! Kf8 45.Bd4 Magnus is offering trade - f4 pawn for b6. Of course, Adams will try to keep the things as they are, without allowing passed pawn.
45... Rd6 46.h3 Nh6 (46... Nxf4 47.Re4! Ne6 (47... Ne5 48.Rxf4 Ng6 49.Rg4 f5 50.Rxg6) 48.Rxe6 Rxe6 49.hxg4)
47.Rd1 Nf5 48.Bf2 Ke7?! g3 and Bg2 finally?
49.g4! silicon monster likes this move very much, probably because it wins tempo compared to g3.
49... Nh6 Now f5 with idea Bg2 and pawn b6 is shaking (49... Nfe3? 50.Re1!)
50.f5 Nf7 51.Bg2 Nf4 52.Rxd6 Nxd6 53.Bxb6 Carlsen again has an extra pawn, but this time in much better situation. Passer supported with bishops should win the game.
53... Nc4 54.Bc5+ ( but not 54.Bd4 Ne2+)
54... Kd7 55. b4 or 55. b3
55.Bf1 55. b3 was probably better, but it looks like Magnus is going after pawns on dark squares
55... Nxb2 56.Bb5+ Kd8 this is simply losing a5 (56... Kc7 57.Bf8 Nxh3+ (57... g6 58.Bg7 Nd5 59.g5!) 58.Kh2 Nf2 59.g5 possible thanks to knight on b2 59... fxg5 60.Bxg7)
57.Bb6+ Ke7 58.Kh2 a5 won't run away
58... Nd5 59.Bxa5 Kd6 60.Bd2 Kc5 61.Kg3 Nc7 62.Be3+ Kb4 63.Bd2+ Kc5 64.Bc1 It is time to trade one pair of pieces, Bishop is still stronger than Knight.
64... Nc4 65.Bxc4 Kxc4 66.Bd2 (66.Ba3!? Kb3 67.Bf8 g6 68.g5!)
66... Na6 67.a5 Kb5 68.Kf3 Nc5 69.Bc3 preparing g5, maybe Adams can play h6? That would make too many pawns on dark squares though...
69... h6 70.Ke3 Kc4 71.Bd4! Excellent move! Bishop goes to b6-d8-e7-f8 when possible.
71... Na6 72.Ke4 Nb4 73.h4! time to break on the kingside
73... Kb5 74.Bc3 (74.g5! also possible)
74... Na6 (74... Kxa5 75.Bxb4+ Kxb4 76.Kd5 winning pawn endgame)
75.Kd5 Nc5 76.Bd4! Nd3 77.Ke6 Black can't stop white king from collecting the pawns and Michael Adams resigned. Excellent achievement by Magnus Carlsen, join us tomorrow at 11 CET/5 am EDT for the live coverage of the return game. Have a nice day all.
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