Climb the Wind

Magnus Carlsen – Michael Adams
9th London Chess Classic; London, December 9, 2017
5R2/1k5p/8/2rN1p2/2B1pP2/7r/1P6/4K3 w - - 7 51

Position after 50. ... Kc7-b7

And finally 16th World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen won a game in one of his most uninspired Grand Chess Tour’s shows. Even today he risked to lose, but, thank to his supernatural skill as an endgame player, he somehow managed to wake up from his nightmare just in time. In the position of the diagram White cannot aim for more than a draw, but... never say never: 51. Rf7+ Kb8? His Majesty should have obviously gone to c6. 52. b3!+− Rh2 53. Nb4 Kc8 54. Na6 Rc6. After 54. ... Ra5 55. Be6+ Kd8 56. Rd7+ Kc8 (idem to say 56. ... Ke8 57. Nc7+ Kf8 58. Rf7+ Kg8 59. Rxf5+) 57. Rxh7+ (or 57. Rd5+) White wins a Rook. 55. Rf8+ Kb7 56. Bd5 Kxa6 57. Bxc6 Kb6 58. Bd7 1 : 0.