[Event "Quarter-Final - Game 2: Niemann, Hans Moke - Carlsen, Magnus"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/VVBf6AIZ/PpUCwb00"] [Date "2024.12.31"] [Round "15.1"] [White "Niemann, Hans Moke"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2709"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [WhiteFideId "2093596"] [BlackElo "2890"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [BlackFideId "1503014"] [TimeControl "3+2"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/broadcast/-/-/VVBf6AIZ"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B30"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack"] [StudyName "2024 FIDE World Blitz Championship"] [ChapterName "Niemann, Hans Moke - Carlsen, Magnus"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/FASJkOFE/p9wDqQst"] [UTCDate "2024.12.31"] [UTCTime "19:34:45"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%clk 0:03:03] } 1... c5 { [%clk 0:03:04] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 0:03:04] } 2... Nc6 { [%clk 0:03:05] } 3. Bb5 { [%clk 0:03:05] } 3... e5 { [%clk 0:03:06] } 4. Nc3 { [%clk 0:03:03] } 4... d6 { [%clk 0:03:05] } 5. Bc4 { [%clk 0:03:02] } 5... Be7 { [%clk 0:03:01] } 6. d3 { [%clk 0:03:02] } 6... Nf6 { [%clk 0:03:02] } 7. h3 { [%clk 0:03:03] } 7... O-O { [%clk 0:03:00] } 8. Nh2 { [%clk 0:03:02] } 8... Be6 { [%clk 0:02:37] } 9. Ng4 { [%clk 0:03:03] } 9... Nd4 { [%clk 0:02:38] } 10. a4 { [%clk 0:02:53] } 10... a6 { [%clk 0:02:32] } 11. Nxf6+ { [%clk 0:02:29] } 11... Bxf6 { [%clk 0:02:33] } 12. Nd5 { [%clk 0:02:30] } 12... b5 { [%clk 0:02:30] } 13. axb5 { [%clk 0:02:26] } 13... Nxb5 { [%clk 0:02:01] } 14. Bd2 { [%clk 0:02:25] } 14... Bg5 { [%clk 0:01:55] } 15. Ba5 { [%clk 0:02:24] } 15... Qb8 { [%clk 0:01:50] } 16. O-O { [%clk 0:02:21] } 16... Kh8 { [%clk 0:01:44] } 17. Qh5 { [%clk 0:01:37] } 17... Bd8 { [%clk 0:01:37] } 18. Bxd8 { [%clk 0:01:23] } 18... Qxd8 { [%clk 0:01:38] } 19. f4 { [%clk 0:01:23] } 19... f6 { [%clk 0:01:02] } 20. fxe5 { [%clk 0:00:52] } 20... dxe5 { [%clk 0:00:57] } 21. Kh2 { [%clk 0:00:27] } 21... Nd6 { [%clk 0:00:55] } 22. b3 { [%clk 0:00:23] } 22... a5 { [%clk 0:00:55] } 23. Nc3 { [%clk 0:00:15] } 23... Nxc4 { [%clk 0:00:45] } 24. dxc4 { [%clk 0:00:13] } 24... Qd2 { [%clk 0:00:42] } 25. Na4 { [%clk 0:00:14] } 25... Qxc2 { [%clk 0:00:28] } 26. Nxc5 { [%clk 0:00:15] } 26... Bf7 { [%clk 0:00:30] } 27. Qd1 { [%clk 0:00:15] } 27... Qxd1 { [%clk 0:00:27] } 28. Rfxd1 { [%clk 0:00:16] } 28... Rfb8 { [%clk 0:00:19] } 29. Ra3 { [%clk 0:00:12] } 29... Rc8 { [%clk 0:00:09] } 30. Nb7 { [%clk 0:00:14] } 30... Rab8 { [%clk 0:00:11] } 31. Nd6 { [%clk 0:00:15] } 31... Rc7 { [%clk 0:00:12] } 32. Rxa5 { [%clk 0:00:15] } 32... Kg8 { [%clk 0:00:12] } 33. Rb5 { [%clk 0:00:14] } 33... Ra8 { [%clk 0:00:12] } 34. Nxf7 { [%clk 0:00:12] } 34... Kxf7 { [%clk 0:00:13] } 35. c5 { [%clk 0:00:14] } 35... Ra2 { [%clk 0:00:13] } 36. b4 { Already, this match was overshadowing the seven other quarterfinal matches sharing the stage. But, by now, murmurings that Niemann was up a clean pawn with the white pieces were getting louder, and the commentators were glued to this endgame. } { [%clk 0:00:13] } 36... Rb2?? { Each player is down to around 13 seconds, but it is still uncharacteristic to see this kind of error from Magnus. } { [%clk 0:00:14] } (36... Rc2 { is more principled, as rooks belong behind the more advanced pawn! }) 37. Rb8?! { [%clk 0:00:10] } (37. Rc1! { is simple: } 37... Rd2 (37... Rc6 38. Rb7+ Kg6 39. b5 $18 { also illustrates the power of backing up the c-pawn from behind. }) 38. c6 Rd6 39. Rbc5 $18 { and the b-pawn is free to advance. }) 37... Rxc5? { [%clk 0:00:14] } (37... Rc2 { was again better. }) 38. Rd7+ { White should enjoy the winning chances, still. } { [%clk 0:00:10] } 38... Ke6?? { Black chooses king activity, but is clearly shell-shocked by what has unfolded. } { [%clk 0:00:07] } (38... Kg6 { was correct, as even after } 39. Rbb7 Rc4 40. Rxg7+ Kh6 41. Rxh7+ Kg5 42. Rhg7+ Kf4 $16 { Black regains a pawn and has drawing chances. }) 39. Rxg7 { [%clk 0:00:11] } 39... Rc6 { [%clk 0:00:06] } 40. b5 { [%clk 0:00:12] } 40... Rd6?? { Black is lost, but here he blunders mate-in-one! } { [%clk 0:00:07] } 41. Re8# { Hans takes the lead 1½–½! } { [%clk 0:00:13] } 1-0