1.e4e52.Nf3Nf63.Nxe5d64.Nd3!?...A weird move which has only recently
been revived and will now be buried:)4....Nxe45.Qe2Qe76.Nf4Nc6!7.Nd5Nd4NThis trick, though not previously played, was already well known by many
top players so it is inconceivable that Carlsen and his team were not aware of
the idea. More likely he fancied his chances in the very slightly superior
endgame which ensues.8.Nxe7Nxe29.Nd5Nd410.Na3Ne611.f3N4c512.d4Nd713.c3c614.Nf4Nb615.Bd3d5This position strongly resembles an
Exchange French, a variation that no one believes is a good method of playing
for a win, except for some strange residents of London...16.Nc2Bd617.Nxe6Bxe618.Kf2h519.h4Nc820.Ne3Ne721.g3c5!As Carlsen admitted, from
here to the first time control White starts drifting and is comprehensively
outplayed.22.Bc2O-O23.Rd1Rfd824.Ng2cxd425.cxd4Rac826.Bb3Nc627.Bf4Na528.Rdc1Bb4"The position was so sterile, I really shouldn't
have got anything," said Caruana.29.Bd1?!...A move heavily criticised by
Carlsen, who later felt that he should grovel for a draw with29.Bc7!Nxb330.axb3Re831.Bf4, though(31.Rxa7!?Re732.Rxb7Ba533.Bxa5might be a safer way to reach equality.)29....Nc430.b3Na331.Rxc8Rxc832.Rc1Nb533.Rxc8+Bxc834.Ne3Nc335.Bc2Ba336.Bb8a637.f4Bd738.f5Bc639.Bd1Bb240.Bxh5Ne4+A tough decision with little time on the clock.40...Nxa241.Ba7Nc3!was also very promising for Black.41.Kg2Bxd442.Bf4Bc543.Bf3Nd244.Bxd5...Sacrificing a piece. "I didn't feel
great about it," said Carlsen, "but I don't know what I should have done.44.Nd1might hold but in practice Black's bishops and d pawn will provide plenty
of chances.44....Bxe345.Bxc6Bxf446.Bxb7Bd647.Bxa6Ne448.g4Ba349.Bc4Nc350.g5Kf851.b4Bxb452.Kf3Na4The supercomputer Leela claimed a
win after52...f653.Ke3Bc5+54.Kf4Ke755.Kg4Bf2but as usual it is
difficult to understand why this should be so much better than the game, with
similar fortress possibilities.53.Bb5Nc554.a4f655.Kg4Ne456.Kh5Be157.Bd3Nd658.a5Bxa559.gxf6gxf660.Kg6Bd861.Kh7Nf762.Bc4Ne563.Bd5Ba564.h5Bd265.Ba2Nf366.Bd5Nd467.Kg6?!...Inaccuracy. Best move was Be4.67.Be4Bg568.Bd3Bh469.Kh8Nf370.Kh7Ng5+71.Kh8Be172.Be2Bd273.Bc4Nf7+67....Bg568.Bc4Nf3?!The computers claim a forced mate after68...Bh4!69.Bd5(69.Bd3Kg8!and once the Black king is in the corner the White king can be pushed out.)Ne2!70.Bf3Ng1!and now 71.Bg4 Kg8 is the computer main line and
White eventually runs out of moves. However the many humans analysing the
position at the venue, including Judit Polgar, could not work out why71.Bd5!?Nh372.Kh7should be a forced win. In any case "At some point I had
pretty much given up [hope]," said Caruana. "I thought it was a fortress."69.Kh7Ne570.Bb3Ng471.Bc4Ne372.Bd3Ng473.Bc4Nh674.Kg6Ke775.Bb3Kd676.Bc2Ke577.Bd3Kf478.Bc2Ng479.Bb3Ne3?!Inaccuracy. Best move was Nh6.79...Nh680.Bc2Ke581.Bd3Kd582.Bb1Kd683.Bc2Kd784.Kg7Ke885.Be4Ke786.Bc280.h6Bxh61/2-1/2 The game is a draw.1/2-1/2