Sunflower Galaxy

Magnus Carlsen – 李超 (Lǐ Chāo)
2nd Qatar Masters Open; Doha, December 24, 2015
Grünfeld Defence D70

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nb6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Be3 0-0 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. 0-0-0 f5 10. e5 Nb4 11. Nh3 Qe8? A fairly uninspired novelty. For 11. ... a5 12. a3 N4d5 see Lê Quang Liêm – 李超 (Lǐ Chāo), 5th HD Bank Cup, Hồ Chí Minh City 2015. 12. Kb1 a5 13. Be2 c6 14. Rc1 Kh8

15. Ka1!! A stunning concept which synthesizes “computer-like-human” as anti-stereotyped prophylaxis. 15. ... Be6 16. Nf4 Qf7 17. h4! Bad news for 李超 (Lǐ Chāo): Magnus launches the attack against the enemy King! 17. ... Bxa2 18. h5 Kg8. It takes so much imagination for believing that after 18. ... gxh5 19. Rxh5 Black can survive White’s attack 19. hxg6 hxg6 20. g4! Carlsen keeps hitting his opponent hard. 20. ... Bb3 21. Bd1! Inhuman accuracy. 21. ... a4 22. Qh2 Rfd8 23. Qh7+ Kf8 24. d5! A pretty interference! 24. ... Nc4! Very clever. The deadly threat is ... a4-a3. Black’s desperate counter-attack is reminiscent of the vintage classic de la Bourdonnais – McDonnell, London 1834, match game 21. 25. Nxg6+ Ke8 26. e6 a3. 李超 (Lǐ Chāo) sets up one last trap to “get” Magnus. If, instead, 26. ... Qf6 then 27. Qg8+ Bf8 28. Rh8 and mate in three moves. 27. exf7+ Kd7 28. Ne5+! Of course, Carlsen doesn’t rise to the bait: 28. f8=N+?? Ke8! and White could resign. 28. ... Bxe5 29. Qxf5+ Kc7 30. Qxe5+! Clearly not 30. bxa3?? on account of 30. ... Rxa3+ 31. Kb1 Ba2+! 32. Nxa2 Rb3+!! 33. Bxb3 Na3 mate. 30. ... Nxe5 31. Bxb3 axb2+ 32. Kxb2 Nbd3+ 33. Kb1 Nxc1 34. Rxc1 Kc8 35. dxc6 bxc6 36. f4 1 : 0. What a wonderful game!

Magnus Carlsen
Photo: Alla Oborina