[Event "Clutch Chess The Champions"] [Site "https://lichess.org/broadcast/2025-clutch-chess-champions-showdown/round-7--game-1/KVNMxizj/WPRStMX4"] [Date "2025.10.29"] [Round "13.2"] [White "Gukesh D"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2693"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [WhiteFideId "46616543"] [BlackElo "2808"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [BlackFideId "1503014"] [TimeControl "10+5"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C90"] [Opening "Ruy Lopez: Closed, Pilnik Variation"] [StudyName "Clutch Chess: Champions Showdown"] [ChapterName "Gukesh D - Carlsen, Magnus"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/QEB7F2Xl/ycYziIPH"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%clk 0:10:08] } 1... e5 { [%clk 0:09:48] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 0:10:12] } 2... Nc6 { [%clk 0:09:52] } 3. Bb5 { [%clk 0:10:15] } 3... a6 { [%clk 0:09:55] } 4. Ba4 { [%clk 0:10:18] } 4... Nf6 { [%clk 0:09:47] } 5. O-O { [%clk 0:10:21] } 5... Be7 { [%clk 0:09:50] } 6. d3 { [%clk 0:10:20] } 6... b5 { [%clk 0:09:52] } 7. Bb3 { [%clk 0:10:24] } 7... O-O { [%clk 0:09:53] } 8. Re1 { [%clk 0:10:24] } 8... d6 { [%clk 0:09:31] } 9. c3 { [%clk 0:10:27] } 9... Bb7 { [%clk 0:09:21] } 10. Nbd2 { [%clk 0:10:22] } 10... h6 { [%clk 0:09:01] } 11. Nf1 { [%clk 0:10:18] } 11... Re8 { [%clk 0:09:03] } 12. Ng3 { [%clk 0:10:16] } 12... Bf8 { [%clk 0:08:12] } 13. d4 { [%clk 0:10:19] } 13... Na5 { [%clk 0:08:14] } 14. Bc2 { [%clk 0:10:21] } 14... Nc4 { [%clk 0:08:17] } 15. b3 { [%clk 0:10:03] } 15... Nb6 { [%clk 0:08:21] } 16. a4 { [%clk 0:10:03] } 16... bxa4 { [%clk 0:08:23] } 17. bxa4 { [%clk 0:10:06] } 17... a5 { [%clk 0:08:08] } 18. Bd3 { [%clk 0:09:58] } 18... Qc8 { [%clk 0:07:33] } 19. d5 { Gukesh's first think of the game, which only entered new territory after Carlsen's 16. ... bxa4. But, with the c-pawn still on its starting square, this seems a bit rushed. } { [%clk 0:09:25] } (19. Ba3 { or }) (19. Be3 { were both more flexible. }) 19... c6 { [%clk 0:07:02] } 20. Be3? { Gukesh's plan was to bait ... c7-c6 as to develop his bishop with tempo. } { [%clk 0:08:25] } 20... Nbd7? { But, as it turns out, the threat could have been ignored! } { [%clk 0:06:44] } (20... cxd5!! 21. Bxb6 dxe4 { Black has gained two pawns for the piece, and after } 22. Bxe4 Bxe4 23. Nxe4 Nxe4 24. Rxe4 { , the loose b6-bishop drops off thanks to } 24... Qc6 $19 { or } (24... Qb7 $19 { , both comfortably winning for Black. })) 21. c4 { [%clk 0:08:25] } 21... Ba6 { [%clk 0:06:48] } 22. h3 { [%clk 0:07:53] } 22... Rb8 { [%clk 0:06:50] } 23. Qe2 { [%clk 0:07:16] } 23... Nc5 { White's large, fixed center is coming under fire, while Black's pieces do not seem bothered by the relative lack of available squares. } { [%clk 0:06:30] } 24. Bxc5 { [%clk 0:07:03] } 24... dxc5 { [%clk 0:06:34] } 25. Qc2 { [%clk 0:06:21] } 25... Rb4 { The static pawns continue to be the story of the game. } { [%clk 0:06:34] } 26. Bf1 { [%clk 0:06:11] } 26... g6 { [%clk 0:06:20] } 27. Red1 { [%clk 0:05:55] } 27... Qc7 { [%clk 0:04:59] } 28. Rd2 { [%clk 0:05:29] } 28... cxd5! { [%clk 0:04:55] } 29. cxd5 { [%clk 0:05:29] } (29. exd5?? e4 30. Ne1 e3 $19) 29... c4 { Suddenly, Black's pieces have all the space in the world on the queenside, while White's pieces are struggling to find entry points on the kingside. } { [%clk 0:04:56] } 30. Qc1 { [%clk 0:04:30] } 30... Rc8 { [%clk 0:04:16] } 31. Rc2 { [%clk 0:04:31] } 31... Bg7 { [%clk 0:04:14] } 32. h4 { [%clk 0:03:18] } 32... h5 { [%clk 0:04:16] } 33. Ra3 { [%clk 0:02:42] } 33... Ng4 { [%clk 0:03:48] } 34. Rac3 { [%clk 0:02:27] } 34... Qb6 { The attack feels like it is playing itself. } { [%clk 0:03:45] } 35. Qd2 { [%clk 0:01:36] } 35... Bh6 { [%clk 0:03:31] } 36. Qe2 { [%clk 0:01:27] } 36... Bf4 { Going after the loose g3-knight, as the f2-pawn is pinned. } { [%clk 0:03:16] } 37. Nh1 { [%clk 0:00:53] } 37... Rb3 { [%clk 0:03:11] } 38. g3 { [%clk 0:00:50] } 38... Bh6 { [%clk 0:03:11] } 39. Bh3 { [%clk 0:00:43] } 39... Qb4 { White resigned, as 40. Rxb3 cxb3! 41. Rxc8+ Bxc8 forces 42. Qb2 to blockade the b-pawn, meaning that White's position is collapsing. } { [%clk 0:03:06] } 0-1