Much Ado About Nothing

Fabiano Caruana – Magnus Carlsen
World Chess Championship match game 3; London, November 12, 2018
Sicilian Defence B31

Since the third game was also a draw, the attention of the critics turned to Magnus Carlsen’s 18th move, when he would have first touched his Knight — apparently without saying “j’adoube” — and then moved a Pawn (18. ... b7-b5). At the very least, however, the gossip may well have been hyped, as his opponent, Fabiano Caruana, didn’t complain about anything. Carlsen himself rejected any charges of unfair (chess) etiquette: “I understand you want stories. Furthermore, not only one but two referees are in the play hall. We’re televised. I do not understand the fuss”, Carlsen said in the press conference post-game. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bg7 6. 0-0 Qc7 7. Re1 e5 8. a3 Nf6 9. b4 0-0 10. Nbd2 Bg4 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Nxf3 cxb4 13. axb4 a5 14. bxa5 Rxa5

15. Bd2 Raa8 16. Qb1 Nd7 17. Qb4 Rfe8 18. Bc3 b5 19. Rxa8 Rxa8 20. Ra1 Rxa1+ 21. Bxa1 Qa7 22. Bc3 Qa2 23. Qb2 Qxb2 24. Bxb2 f6 25. Kf1 Kf7 26. Ke2 Nc5 27. Bc3 Ne6 28. g3 Bf8 29. Nd2 Ng5 30. h4 Ne6 31. Nb3 h5 32. Bd2 Bd6 33. c3 c5 34. Be3 Ke7 35. Kd1 Kd7 36. Kc2 f5 37. Kd1 fxe4 38. dxe4 c4 39. Nd2 Nc5 40. Bxc5 Bxc5 41. Ke2 Kc6 42. Nf1 b4 43. cxb4 Bxb4 44. Ne3 Kc5 45. f4 exf4 46. gxf4 Ba5 47. f5 gxf5 48. Nxc4 Kxc4 49. exf5 ½ : ½.

Magnus Carlsen (right) and Fabiano Caruana (left) played to another draw in Monday’s game 3 of their best-of-12-games World Chess Championship match in London, United Kingdom. Photo: Matt Dunham/AP.