Q&A

Wesley So – Magnus Carlsen

Champions Chess Tour 2021; 1st stage; Skilling Open; Final match game 7; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com, November 30, 2020

r3brk1/pp1qn1pp/4Rbn1/3p4/1P6/P1NB1N1Q/1BP2PPP/R5K1 w - - 1 18

Position after 17. ... Nc6-e7

As they (should) say, before the tie-break blitz the gods still placed two rapid games. And, not surprisingly, both games ended as a draw, with a thrill of suspense only in the seventh one. In the position of the diagram, White is on the verge of winning, but... 18. Bb5? But here So misses 18. Rae1! — a move which Morphy would have played without hesitation — with a dominant position and an avalanche of threats; for instance: 18. ... Bf7 19. Rxf6! Qxh3 20. Rxg6! Qxf3 21. Rxg7+! Kxg7 22. Nxd5+ Kh6 23. Nxe7 winning by force.

18. ... Qc8? In turn, Carlsen does not notice 18. ... Nf4! 19. Bxd7 Nxh3+ 20. gxh3 Bxd7 winning decisive material. 19. Rxf6! Rxf6 20. Qxc8 Rxc8 21. Bd3 Nf4 22. Ne2 Nxe2+ 23. Bxe2 Re6 24. Bd3 Bg6 25. Nd4 Rb6 26. Re1 Kf7. If nothing else, 26. ... Bxd3 27. Rxe7 (27. cxd3 Nc6) 27. ... Kf8 would have shown more pugnacity. 27. Be2 Bxc2 28. Bg4 Rc4 29. Be2 Rc8 30. Bg4 Rc4 31. Be2 Rc8 ½ : ½.