[Event "Clutch Chess The Champions"] [Site "https://lichess.org/broadcast/2025-clutch-chess-champions-showdown/round-2--game-2/M1WUi9ds/bF9L5dRH"] [Date "2025.10.26"] [Round "4.1"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2767"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [WhiteFideId "2020009"] [BlackElo "2808"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [BlackFideId "1503014"] [TimeControl "10+5"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C54"] [Opening "Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo"] [StudyName "Clutch Chess: Champions Showdown"] [ChapterName "Caruana, Fabiano - Carlsen, Magnus"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/QEB7F2Xl/GsCw8Ika"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%clk 0:10:08] } 1... e5 { [%clk 0:10:09] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 0:10:11] } 2... Nc6 { [%clk 0:10:13] } 3. Bc4 { [%clk 0:10:14] } 3... Nf6 { [%clk 0:10:15] } 4. d3 { [%clk 0:10:17] } 4... Bc5 { [%clk 0:10:18] } 5. c3 { [%clk 0:10:18] } 5... h6 { [%clk 0:10:14] } 6. b4 { [%clk 0:10:15] } 6... Bb6 { [%clk 0:10:18] } 7. a4 { [%clk 0:10:16] } 7... a6 { [%clk 0:10:22] } 8. O-O { [%clk 0:10:18] } 8... d6 { [%clk 0:10:23] } 9. Re1 { [%clk 0:10:07] } 9... O-O { [%clk 0:10:25] } 10. h3 { [%clk 0:10:06] } 10... Ne7 { [%clk 0:10:18] } 11. Nbd2 { [%clk 0:09:49] } 11... Ng6 { [%clk 0:10:16] } 12. Bb3 { [%clk 0:09:21] } 12... Re8 { [%clk 0:09:53] } 13. a5 { The first new move in this Italian Game. } { [%clk 0:07:47] } 13... Ba7 { [%clk 0:09:56] } 14. d4 { [%clk 0:07:48] } 14... c6 { [%clk 0:09:06] } 15. dxe5 { [%clk 0:07:43] } 15... dxe5 { [%clk 0:08:49] } 16. Nc4 { [%clk 0:07:42] } 16... Be6 { [%clk 0:08:29] } 17. Qc2 { [%clk 0:07:06] } 17... Qc7 { [%clk 0:07:32] } 18. Be3 { [%clk 0:06:50] } 18... Bxe3 { [%clk 0:07:35] } 19. Rxe3 { [%clk 0:06:47] } 19... Rad8 { [%clk 0:07:22] } 20. Nb6 { [%clk 0:06:38] } 20... Bxb3 { [%clk 0:07:12] } 21. Qxb3 { [%clk 0:06:41] } 21... Nf4 { [%clk 0:07:13] } 22. Kh2?! { [%clk 0:06:17] } 22... g5! { Well-timed, as White's pieces are not well-placed to exploit the weakened light squares near Black's king. } { [%clk 0:05:41] } 23. Qc4 { [%clk 0:02:44] } 23... g4 { [%clk 0:05:01] } 24. Nh4 { [%clk 0:02:43] } 24... Rd2 { [%clk 0:05:01] } 25. Ra2 { [%clk 0:02:18] } 25... Red8 { [%clk 0:03:31] } (25... Rd1 { was better, keeping pieces on. }) 26. Nf5 { [%clk 0:01:50] } 26... Rxa2 { [%clk 0:02:12] } 27. Qxa2 { [%clk 0:01:53] } 27... Kh7?! { With White's knight on the f5-square, and Black's active rook gone, the evaluation has totally flipped. } { [%clk 0:02:14] } (27... gxh3! { kept things complicated: } 28. gxh3 Kh7 $10 { and now there is never a g2-g3 to deflate Black's grip on the g-file. }) 28. h4! { [%clk 0:00:53] } 28... Rd1 { [%clk 0:00:53] } 29. Nc4!? { [%clk 0:00:57] } (29. g3! { would leave Black with no attack, even after } 29... Nh3 { since } 30. Qe2 Qd8 { runs into } (30... Ra1 31. Rd3 $18 { [%cal Gd3d7,Ge2g4,Gg4g7] }) 31. Nd5!) 29... g3+? { [%clk 0:00:15] } (29... Qd7 { was more patient. Now, } 30. g3?? { loses instantly to } 30... Rh1+ 31. Kxh1 Qd1+ 32. Kh2 Nh3! $19) 30. Rxg3 { [%clk 0:00:59] } 30... N4h5 { [%clk 0:00:18] } 31. Qe2 { [%clk 0:00:38] } 31... Nxg3 { [%clk 0:00:08] } 32. Qxd1 { [%clk 0:00:37] } 32... Ngxe4? { [%clk 0:00:09] } (32... Nxf5 { was best, relatively speaking. } 33. exf5 Qc8 34. g4 $16) 33. Qc2?? { This position was covered in yesterday's Wednesday Workout. } { [%clk 0:00:38] } 33... Qd7?? { [%clk 0:00:06] } 34. Ng3 { [%clk 0:00:23] } 34... Qg4 { [%clk 0:00:09] } 35. Nxe5?? { The wrong idea. Either } { [%clk 0:00:25] } (35. Nd6 { or }) (35. Nd2 { kept the winning edge. }) 35... Qxh4+ { [%clk 0:00:13] } (35... Qf4 { would hold, too. }) 36. Kg1 { [%clk 0:00:29] } 36... Kg8 { [%clk 0:00:15] } 37. Nf3 { [%clk 0:00:13] } 37... Qg4 { Now, things are roughly level, but, with 13 seconds apiece, anything can happen. } { [%clk 0:00:13] } 38. Nf1 { [%clk 0:00:15] } 38... Nd5 { [%clk 0:00:15] } 39. c4 { [%clk 0:00:09] } 39... Nf4?! { Overestimating the attack. } { [%clk 0:00:14] } (39... Nxb4!) 40. Ne3 { [%clk 0:00:12] } 40... Qg6 { [%clk 0:00:10] } 41. Ne5! { [%clk 0:00:14] } 41... Qh7 { [%clk 0:00:09] } 42. Qd1 { [%clk 0:00:17] } 42... Qg7 { [%clk 0:00:09] } 43. Nf3? { [%clk 0:00:07] } (43. N5g4 { was better, intercepting the intended ... Nf4-h3+. } 43... Qg6 44. Qd7 $16) 43... Nh3+ { [%clk 0:00:11] } 44. Kh2?! { [%clk 0:00:10] } (44. Kf1 { was better: } 44... Nhxf2 45. Qd8+ Kh7 46. Qe7 $10 { keeping the knights tethered. }) 44... Nhxf2 { [%clk 0:00:14] } 45. Qd8+ { [%clk 0:00:14] } 45... Kh7 { [%clk 0:00:18] } 46. Qh4? { [%clk 0:00:12] } 46... Qa1! { Now Black is playing for a win! } { [%clk 0:00:07] } 47. Ng5+ { [%clk 0:00:07] } 47... Kg6 { [%clk 0:00:11] } 48. Nxe4 { [%clk 0:00:09] } 48... Qh1+ { [%clk 0:00:15] } 49. Kg3 { [%clk 0:00:13] } 49... Qxh4+ { [%clk 0:00:19] } 50. Kxh4 { [%clk 0:00:17] } 50... Nxe4 { [%clk 0:00:23] } 51. g4? { [%clk 0:00:15] } 51... c5?! { Rushed. } { [%clk 0:00:20] } 52. b5 { [%clk 0:00:14] } 52... Nd6 { [%clk 0:00:24] } 53. b6?? { [%clk 0:00:08] } (53. bxa6! { The way to draw! } 53... bxa6 54. Nd5! Nxc4 55. Nf4+! Kf6 56. Nd3 $10) 53... f6 $19 { [%clk 0:00:26] } 54. Kg3 { [%clk 0:00:11] } 54... Kg5 { [%clk 0:00:29] } 55. Kf3 { [%clk 0:00:16] } 55... f5 { [%clk 0:00:33] } 56. gxf5 { [%clk 0:00:19] } 56... Nxf5 { [%clk 0:00:37] } 57. Nc2 { [%clk 0:00:07] } 57... Nd6 { [%clk 0:00:39] } 58. Ne3 { [%clk 0:00:11] } 58... h5 { [%clk 0:00:43] } 59. Kg3 { [%clk 0:00:15] } 59... h4+ { [%clk 0:00:45] } 60. Kh3 { [%clk 0:00:17] } 60... Kf4 { [%clk 0:00:48] } 61. Nd5+ { [%clk 0:00:21] } 61... Ke5 { [%clk 0:00:49] } 62. Nc7 { [%clk 0:00:24] } 62... Kd4 { [%clk 0:00:44] } 63. Kxh4 { [%clk 0:00:28] } 63... Kxc4 { [%clk 0:00:48] } 64. Kg4 { [%clk 0:00:28] } 64... Kb4 { [%clk 0:00:52] } 65. Kf4 { [%clk 0:00:29] } 65... Kxa5 { [%clk 0:00:53] } 66. Ke5 { [%clk 0:00:33] } 66... Nc4+ { [%clk 0:00:45] } 67. Kd5 { [%clk 0:00:37] } 67... Kxb6 { [%clk 0:00:48] } 0-1