Just Because

Wesley So – Magnus Carlsen

1st World Fischerandom Chess Championship; Final for First Place; match game 3; Høvikodden, November 1, 2019

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Position 729

Today’s two “slow rapid” games turned out to be quite a nightmare for Carlsen, who, however, can still hope for the best in the next rapid and blitz games — both time controls being his specialty. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. dxc5 Qxc5 5. Nb3 Qc7 6. f4 Nb6 7. Be2 Ne7 8. Nf3 Nc4 9. Bd3 Nc8 10. a4 N8b6 11. a5 Na4 12. Bxc4 Qxc4 13. Qxc4 dxc4 14. Nbd4 Be7 15. Bh4 Bxh4 16. Nxh4 0-0-0 17. Nhf3 Rd5 18. b3 cxb3 19. cxb3 Nc5 20. Kc2 Bd7 21. b4 Na6 22. Kb3 Rd8 23. Rhc1+ Kb8 24. Rc4 Be8 25. Rac1 h6 26. h4 b5? This is probably the cause of all Black’s difficulties. Correct was 26. ... b6! 27. axb6 axb6 27. R4c2 Kb7 28. Rd2 Nc7 with approximate equality. 27. R4c2 Kb7 28. Rd2 Nb8 29. Rcd1 Rc8 30. Ne2 Bc6 31. Nfd4 g5!? A desperate bid for freedom. 32. Nxc6 Rxd2 33. Rxd2 Nxc6

34. Nc3? So apparently misses a pretty win: 34. Rd7+ Rc7 (34. ... Kb8 35. Rxf7 gxh4 36. Rg7 may be a little better, but probably undefendable as well) 35. Rxc7+ Kxc7 36. fxg5 hxg5 37. h5! Nxe5 38. h6 Ng6 39. Nd4 with an easily won ending. 34. ... gxf4 35. Nxb5 Kb8 36. Rd7 a6 37. Nd6 Nd4+? But, strangely, Carlsen does not take his chance: 37. ... Nxe5 38. Rb7+ Ka8 39. Rb6 Rc6 40. Rxc6 Nxc6 41. Nxf7 h5 with a likely draw. 38. Ka4 Rg8 39. Nxf7 Nf5 40. Nd6 Nxh4? 40. ... Rxg2 41. Nxf5 exf5 42. Rf7 is probably a lost cause as well, but makes it just a little tougher for So. 41. Rb7+ Ka8 42. Rb6 Nxg2 43. Rxa6+ Kb8 44. Rb6+ Ka8 45. Ra6+ Kb8 46. Rb6+ Ka8 47. Nb5 Ne3 48. Ra6+ Kb8 49. Rb6+ Ka8 50. Nc7+ Ka7 51. Rxe6 f3 52. Rf6 Ng4 53. Nb5+ Kb8 54. Rxf3 Nxe5 55. Rf5 Rg5 56. Rf8+ Kb7 57. Nd6+ Kc6 58. Nf7 Nxf7 59. Rxf7 h5 60. b5+ Kd5 1 : 0.

Three losses in a row are quite unprecedented in 16th World Chess Champion’s experience, but So knows Carlsen is not the guy to fall for such misadventures. Photo © Lennart Ootes.