Let It Be

Ian Alexandrovich Nepomniachtchi – Fabiano Caruana
Candidates Tournament 2020–21; Yekaterinburg, April 23, 2021
Four Knights Game C47

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3. Nepomniachtchi immediately makes it clear to his opponent that he would be satisfied with a draw. 3. ... Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8. exd5 0-0 9. 0-0 Bg4!? Nevertheless, the “tabiya” 9. ... cxd5 10. Bg5 c6 provides a high percentage of draws. 10. f3 Bh5 11. Bg5. Another way is 11. dxc6 Qd4+ 12. Kh1 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Qxc3 14. Bf4 Qxc6 15. Qd2 Bg6 16. Rac1 Rfd8 17. Rfe1 a5 18. Be5 Nd5 19. a3 Qa4 20. Bxg6 hxg6 21. Qd3 Rd7 22. h3 Rad8 23. Qb3 Qxb3 24. cxb3 Rb8 25. Rc5 Rxb3 26. Rxa5 f6 27. Bg3 Ne3 28. Bf4 Nc2 29. Rc1 Rxa3 30. Rxa3 Nxa3 31. Rxc7 ½ : ½ 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) – Aronian, 7th Norway Chess, Stavanger 2019. 11. ... Qd6 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. dxc6!? Expectedly, Nepomniachtchi shows no interest in challenging Caruana’s mythical theoretical preparation, and keeps things as simple as possible. Known to theory was 13. Ne4 Qxb2 14. dxc6 Bg6 15. Kh1 Qd4 16. Qe2 Rfe8 17. Rad1 Qe5 18. Bc4 Rad8? (⌓ 18. ... Kh8 Δ ... f7-f5) 19. Rd7! Rxd7 20. cxd7 Rd8 21. Rd1 Kf8 22. c3 Ba3 23. Rd5 Qe7 24. Bb5 Bd6 25. c4! a6 26. Ba4 Bxe4 27. Qxe4 Qxe4 28. fxe4 f6 29. Ra5 Rb8 30. g3 1 : 0 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) – Mamedyarov, 7th Norway Chess, Stavanger 2019. 13. ... Bxc3 14. bxc3 Qxc3

15. Be4 Bg6 16. Qd7 Rad8 17. Qxc7 Qc5+ 18. Kh1 Bxe4 19. fxe4 Rc8 20. Qd7 Qxc6 21. Qxa7 Qxe4 22. Rfe1 Qxc2 23. a4 Qc5 24. Qxc5 Rxc5. Eventually an ending was reached which makes no exception at all to the old adage that “all Rook endgames are drawn”.

25. a5 Ra8 26. a6 h5 27. Reb1 Kh7 28. Rb6 Ra7 29. Kg1 Rc2 30. h3 f6 31. Ra3 Kg6 32. Kh2 h4 33. Ra1 Rc4 34. Kg1 Rc2 35. Ra4 Rd2 36. Rg4+ Kf7 37. Rxh4 Ra2 38. Rb7+ Rxb7 39. axb7 Rb2 40. Ra4 Rxb7 41. Kh2 ½ : ½.

Caruana and Nepomniachtchi, oblivious to the expectations of the public, eager for thrills and excitement, decided to let things as they were. Photo © Lennart Ootes.