[Event "Clutch Chess The Champions"] [Site "https://lichess.org/broadcast/2025-clutch-chess-champions-showdown/round-5--game-2/8CUive9b/l1yrzz41"] [Date "2025.10.28"] [Round "10.2"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2808"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [WhiteFideId "1503014"] [BlackElo "2767"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [BlackFideId "2020009"] [TimeControl "10+5"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D23"] [Opening "Queen's Gambit Accepted: Mannheim Variation"] [StudyName "Clutch Chess: Champions Showdown"] [ChapterName "Carlsen, Magnus - Caruana, Fabiano"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/QEB7F2Xl/Nde0heyj"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] 1. d4 { [%clk 0:10:08] } 1... d5 { [%clk 0:10:08] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 0:10:09] } 2... Nf6 { [%clk 0:09:49] } 3. c4 { [%clk 0:10:13] } 3... dxc4 { [%clk 0:09:51] } 4. Qa4+ { [%clk 0:10:02] } 4... Nbd7 { [%clk 0:09:19] } 5. Nc3 { [%clk 0:08:17] } 5... a6 { [%clk 0:08:59] } 6. Bf4 { [%clk 0:06:45] } 6... e6 { [%clk 0:07:26] } 7. e4 { [%clk 0:06:11] } 7... b5 { [%clk 0:03:16] } 8. Nxb5 { [%clk 0:06:14] } 8... axb5 { [%clk 0:03:20] } 9. Qxa8 { [%clk 0:06:18] } 9... Bb4+ { How would you respond to this check? } { [%clk 0:03:24] } 10. Ke2?? { This is asking a lot of the position! } { [%clk 0:04:54] } 10... e5 { [%clk 0:02:27] } 11. dxe5 { [%clk 0:02:31] } 11... Nxe5 { [%clk 0:02:24] } 12. Rd1 { [%clk 0:01:33] } 12... Nd3 { [%clk 0:02:25] } 13. Qc6+ { [%clk 0:01:37] } 13... Bd7 { [%clk 0:02:29] } 14. Qxc7 { [%clk 0:01:40] } 14... Qa8 { [%clk 0:01:19] } 15. Qb8+ { [%clk 0:01:44] } 15... Ke7 { [%clk 0:01:17] } 16. Qxa8 { [%clk 0:01:36] } 16... Nxf4+ { [%clk 0:01:20] } 17. Ke3 { [%clk 0:01:40] } 17... Rxa8 { [%clk 0:01:22] } 18. Kxf4 { [%clk 0:01:12] } 18... Rxa2 { [%clk 0:01:26] } 19. Rb1?? { Black had been pushing with more than enough compensation for the Exchange due to White's weak king and undeveloped kingside pieces. But now White's king is in danger of being mated. } { [%clk 0:00:18] } 19... g5+ { [%clk 0:00:46] } 20. Kxg5 { [%clk 0:00:12] } 20... Nxe4+ { [%clk 0:00:50] } 21. Kf4 { [%clk 0:00:15] } 21... Nxf2 { [%clk 0:00:52] } 22. Rg1 { [%clk 0:00:19] } 22... Bd6+ { [%clk 0:00:47] } 23. Kg5 { [%clk 0:00:19] } 23... Ne4+ { [%clk 0:00:26] } 24. Kh4 { [%clk 0:00:21] } 24... Bc5 { [%clk 0:00:20] } 25. Rh1?? { This allows a forced mate. Can you find it? } { [%clk 0:00:12] } 25... Bf5?? { Not like this! Check out next week's Wednesday Workout for the solution. Still, Black should be winning easily. } { [%clk 0:00:23] } 26. g4 { [%clk 0:00:11] } 26... Be6 { [%clk 0:00:20] } 27. Bh3 { [%clk 0:00:08] } 27... b4 { [%clk 0:00:11] } 28. Rhf1 { [%clk 0:00:10] } 28... b3 { [%clk 0:00:13] } 29. g5 { [%clk 0:00:13] } 29... Bf2+ { [%clk 0:00:12] } 30. Rxf2 { [%clk 0:00:17] } 30... Nxf2 { [%clk 0:00:16] } 31. Bf1 { [%clk 0:00:14] } 31... Kd6 { [%clk 0:00:14] } 32. Kg3 { [%clk 0:00:17] } 32... Ne4+ { [%clk 0:00:16] } 33. Kf4 { [%clk 0:00:21] } 33... Nc5? { From here, White gets back into the game in a mutual time scramble. } { [%clk 0:00:11] } 34. Ke3?? { [%clk 0:00:22] } (34. Nd4 { was most stubborn. } 34... Na4 35. Ke3 Nxb2 36. Nxe6 Kxe6 37. Kd4 { comes close to equalizing, but } 37... Kf5 $19 { switches pressure to the opposite flank, winning. }) 34... Na4 { [%clk 0:00:14] } 35. Nd2 { [%clk 0:00:25] } 35... Nxb2 { [%clk 0:00:12] } 36. Kd4 { [%clk 0:00:29] } 36... Ke7 { [%clk 0:00:11] } 37. h4 { [%clk 0:00:31] } 37... f6?? { [%clk 0:00:12] } (37... Na4 { was cleanest. }) 38. Ne4 { [%clk 0:00:25] } 38... fxg5?! { [%clk 0:00:13] } 39. hxg5?? { [%clk 0:00:28] } (39. Nc3 { was more urgent. }) 39... Bf5 { [%clk 0:00:12] } 40. Re1 { [%clk 0:00:32] } 40... Bxe4?? { [%clk 0:00:15] } (40... Kd8 { was best, apparently. }) 41. Rxe4+ { [%clk 0:00:36] } 41... Kf7 { [%clk 0:00:12] } 42. Kc3?? { This gives Black a forced win. } { [%clk 0:00:34] } 42... Nd1+ { [%clk 0:00:14] } 43. Kb4 { [%clk 0:00:30] } 43... Rc2 { [%clk 0:00:12] } 44. Re1 { [%clk 0:00:29] } 44... Nb2 { [%clk 0:00:11] } 45. Bh3 { [%clk 0:00:24] } 45... Nd3+ { [%clk 0:00:14] } 0-1