From Here to Here

Magnus Carlsen – Fabiano Caruana
World Chess Championship match game 9; London, November 21, 2018
English Opening A29

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Bc5 7. 0-0 0-0 8. d3 Re8 9. Bg5 Nxc3 10. bxc3 f6 11. Bc1 Be6 12. Bb2 Bb6 13. d4 Bd5 14. Qc2 exd4 15. cxd4 Be4 16. Qb3+ Bd5 17. Qd1 Bxf3!? This is the most difficult move of the game, as Black willingly subjects himself to a slight inferiority, but not such an one as to really fear losing the game. It’s clear that Caruana is playing for a draw, being intimately convinced that his constant proof of unbeatability may challenge Carlsen’s status of omnipotence. 18. Qb3+ Kh8 19. Bxf3 Nxd4 20. Bxd4 Qxd4 21. e3 Qe5 22. Bxb7 Rad8 23. Rad1 Qe7 24. h4 g6

25. h5. Afterwards Carlsen regretted his hastiness: “I went for a variant that I knew would not have worked out”, he told NRK. “I do not know why I did that, but I felt that if otherwise he’d have consolidated and it would have been difficult for me to make any progress”. 25. ... gxh5 26. Qc4 f5 27. Bf3 h4 28. Rxd8 Rxd8 29. gxh4 Rg8+ 30. Kh1 Qf6 31. Qf4 Bc5 32. Rg1 Rxg1+ 33. Kxg1 Bd6 34. Qa4 f4 35. Qxa7 fxe3 36. Qxe3 Qxh4 37. a4 Qf6 38. Bd1 Qe5 39. Qxe5+ Bxe5 40. a5 Kg7 41. a6 Bd4 42. Kg2 Kf6 43. f4 Bb6 44. Kf3 h6 45. Ke4 Ba7 46. Bg4 Bg1 47. Kd5 Bb6 48. Kc6 Be3 49. Kb7 Bb6 50. Bh3 Be3 51. Kc6 Bb6 52. Kd5 Ba7 53. Ke4 Bb6 54. Bf1 Ke6 55. Bc4+ Kf6 56. Bd3 Ke6 ½ : ½.

Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana agreed to a draw in the ninth game of their World Chess Championship match in London, United Kingdom. Photo: Nadia Panteleeva/World Chess.