[Event "FIDE World Cup 2023"] [Site "Baku"] [Date "2023.08.19"] [Round "7.1"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Abasov, Nijat"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2835"] [BlackElo "2646"] [Annotator "Lang, JJ"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B30"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/QLPThvQV/jvsy3Nun"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 5. b3 d6 6. e5 dxe5 7. d3 $146 { Magnus revives a mostly forgotten position from a decade ago with a new idea of not regaining the e-pawn. } (7. Nxe5 { was tried a few times, including last year but most noticeably in a few high profile games in 2012 and 2013. } 7... Qd5 8. Nf3 Qe4+ 9. Kf1 Qf5 10. Na3 Ba6+ 11. d3 Bd6 12. h3 Ne7 13. Qe1 e5 14. Nd2 O-O 15. Nac4 Bxc4 16. Nxc4 Qe6 17. Bb2 f6 18. Qe4 { earned White a small advantage in Nepomniachtchi – Moiseenko, Biel, 2013. }) 7... f6 8. Nbd2 Nh6 9. Rg1!? { This is the point: by delaying the recapture on e5, White provoked ... f7-f6, turning the f-pawn into a "hook" that can be attacked with g2-g4-g5. White's king should be fine in the center staring at not one but two black e-pawns in the way of Black's long-range pieces. } 9... Ba6? (9... Qa5! 10. g4? c4! 11. bxc4 (11. dxc4? e4 12. g5 (12. Nd4? Qc3 $19) 12... Nf5 $17) 11... e4! 12. g5 (12. dxe4 Rb8 $15 { and suddenly White's king looks far sillier in the center of the board. }) 12... Nf7 13. dxe4 Rb8 14. gxf6 Qc3! 15. fxg7 Bxg7 16. Rxg7 Qxg7 17. Ba3 Qc3 18. Bc5 e5 $15) 10. g4 $16 { Now, White holds onto a modest but firm advantage in the form of space on the kingside, increased flexibility, and dynamic possibilities in the center. But Abasov holds on admirably, allowing the board to open in a way that his remaining pieces can take advantage of to avoid being wiped off the board. Eventually, he equalizes! } 10... Nf7 11. Qe2 Be7 12. Bb2 Qa5 13. c4 g5 14. h4 h6 15. Rh1 O-O-O 16. O-O-O Qc7 17. Ne4 gxh4 18. Nxh4 Rhg8 19. f4 exf4 20. Nxf6 Bxf6 21. Qxe6+ Kb8 22. Qxf6 Bc8 23. Rde1 Rd6 24. Qxf4 Rxg4 25. Qe3 Re6 26. Qd2 Ne5 27. Kc2 Kb7 28. Re3 Qe7 29. Nf5 Qg5 30. Bxe5 Rg2 31. Re2 Rxe2 32. Qxe2 Qxf5 33. Rh5 Qf7 { By now, White has no discernable advantage. Black's pawns are disgusting, granted, but White has no way to expand and Black has too much potential on the light squares for White to get a meaningful attack going against the pawns. But the position is wide open, and both sides are about to scramble for their lives. } 34. Qh2? { It's rare to see Carlsen make a "game-losing" blunder. But this is, to put it mildly, not obvious. } 34... Rg6? { Missed win (2.7) } (34... Qf1!! { Let's see why White is dead in the water here. } 35. a3 { If White "passes" (which is not advised, but is illustrative), Black can play } (35. Qd2 { is likely White's best bet, clearing the h2-square for the rook to guard against Black's pending infiltration. } 35... Rg6 36. Rh2 Rg1 { but Black has too many avenues! }) 35... Rg6 { threatening ... Rg6-g2+, to which there is no defense. } 36. Bg3? (36. Kc3 Rg2 37. Qh1 Rg1 38. Qh2 Bg4 { with a crushing attack. }) 36... Rxg3 37. Qxg3 Qe2+!) 35. Bf4 Rf6 36. Be3 Bf5 37. Bxc5 Qg6 38. Kc3 Re6? 39. Rh4?! { Missed win (1. 7) } (39. Bxa7! $18 Kxa7 40. Qc7+ Ka6 (40... Ka8 41. Qa5+ $18) 41. c5! $18) 39... Bg4 $16 40. Bxa7? { At the time control, both players err. } 40... Qf6+?? { The wrong check! } (40... Qg7+! 41. Kb4 Kxa7 { as White has nothing better than regaining the piece with } 42. Qg1+ Kb7 43. Rxg4 c5+! 44. Kxc5 Qe5+ 45. Kb4 Rb6+ { when, to avoid mate, White must go } 46. Qxb6+ Kxb6 47. Rg6+ Kb7 48. Rxh6 { and apparently this is drawn. }) 41. Kb4! $18 Re5 (41... Kxa7 { does not work here, as Black's queen does not guard c7 anymore. } 42. Qc7+ Ka6 43. Rxg4 { when Black's king is doomed. }) 42. d4 Qe7+ 43. c5 { and Black resigned. } 1-0