Today and a Half

Viswanathan Anand – Magnus Carlsen
7th Sinquefield Cup; Saint Louis, August 18, 2019
Sicilian Defence B31

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5. If nothing else, this minimalist approach has the virtue of avoiding — at least illusorily — the most theorised tabiyas. 3. ... g6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 5. d4 Bg7 6. dxc5 Qa5+ 7. Nbd2 Qxc5 8. 0-0 d6 9. Re1 f6 10. a3!? A recent game ended with a pyrotechnic draw after 10. c4 Nh6 11. Qa4 Ng4 12. Re2 Bd7 13. h3 Ne5 14. Nxe5 Qxe5 15. Nf3 Qh5 16. Qb3 Kf7 17. e5 dxe5 18. g4 Bxg4 19. hxg4 Qxg4+ 20. Kf1 Qh3+ 21. Kg1 ½ : ½ Antal – Markoš, 27th Slovak Chess Extraliga, Bratislava 2019. 10. ... Nh6 11. b4 Qh5 12. c4 0-0 13. Qa4 Bd7 14. Nf1 Nf7 15. Ng3 Qg4

16. c5. This releases the tension and allows Black a comfortable equality, so 16. h3!? Qe6 17. Qb3 seemed to be at least worth considering, but then after 17. ... Nd8! Black should likewise hold without too much difficulty. 16. ... e5! 17. cxd6 c5 18. Qb3 cxb4 19. axb4 Qe6 20. Qxe6 Bxe6 21. Be3 a6 22. Rec1 Rfd8 23. Nd2 Bf8 24. Nc4 Rac8! Naturally, as after 24. ... Nxd6? 25. Nb6 Black could even risk losing the game. 25. f3 Nb5 29. Bxf8 Rxc1+ 30. Rxc1 Kxf8. Now it is an obvious draw, so no wonder that the official agreement comes within a few moves. 31. Nf1 Nd4 32. Rc4 Ke7 33. Ne3 Kd6 34. Rc5! Nc6 35. Rd5+ Ke7 36. b5 axb5 37. Rxb5 Rb8 38. Rxb8 Nxb8 39. Kf2 Ke6 40. g3 Nd7 41. Nc4 Nc5 42. Ke3 Nd7 43. Kf2 Nc5 44. Ke3 Nd7 45. Kf2 ½ : ½.