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Ian Alexandrovich Nepomniachtchi – Magnus Carlsen
5th Grand Chess Tour; 2nd stage; Zagreb, July 3, 2019
Sicilian Defence B30

Yesterday Carlsen successfully defeated his nemesis Nepomniachtchi taking also the lead of the tournament. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5. Carlsen chivalrously gives the odds of the centre light squares. 4. Bc4 g6 5. d3. Somewhat similar may be 5. h4!? h6! 6. h5 g5 7. Nh2!? Nf6 8. d3 d6 9. Nf1 Bg4 10. f3 Be6 11. Ne3 Bg7 12. Ncd5 0-0 13. c3⩲ Vachier-Lagrave – Carlsen, 6th Sinquefield Cup, Saint Louis 2018. 5. ... h6!? 6. h4 d6 7. h5 g5 8. Nh2 Bg7 9. Ng4 Nge7 10. Ne3 0-0 11. Bd2 Kh8 12. g4 Rb8 13. a4 Nd4 14. Ncd5 Nxd5 15. Nxd5 Ne6 16. f3 Nf4 17. Qb1 Be6 18. Qa2 Qd7 19. Rg1 b6 20. Bc3 Bxd5 21. Bxd5 a6 22. Bd2 Qe7 23. Rf1 b5! White has got nothing, so Carlsen takes his time now. Two thematic breaks will literally disrupt Nepomniachtchi’s nervous balance. 24. axb5 axb5 25. Kf2. A strange walk which gives sense to Black’s next ... f7-f5. 25. ... c4!? 26. Bxf4. If 26. dxc4 then 26. ... bxc4 27. Bxc4 d5! (27. ... f5!? is likewise interesting) 28. Bxd5 f5!∞ with unclear play — but certainly easier for Black. 26. ... exf4 27. Rad1 f5! That’s the point and should not be the end of White’s afternoon. After something like 28. exf5 Qe3+ 29. Kg2 Qe2+ 30. Kh3!? cxd3 31. cxd3 Rbc8!?∞ Black, in spite of his volatile initiative, may hardly hope for more than a draw.

28. gxf5?? g4!−+ 29. d4 Qh4+ 30. Ke2 Qh2+ 31. Rf2 gxf3+ 0 : 1.

“Body language after 28. ... g4 was played”. Caption and photo: Grand Chess Tour (@GrandChessTour).