Times Two

Fabiano Caruana – Anish Giri
Candidates Tournament 2020–21; Yekaterinburg, April 24, 2021
4q1k1/Q4pp1/3p4/3P2p1/r4n2/P4B2/6PP/5R1K w - - 1 36

Position after 35. ... Rc4-a4

Caruana, who today could neither afford to lose nor to draw, showed little or nothing against Giri’s Sicilian Defence, and, after 35 moves, he felt like it was time that he let the Champ know who is and who isn’t challenging the throne. 36. Qf2? Just one word, like “no”. Otherwise, White would have played, somehow for something, 36. Qc7! Rxa3 37. h4! (in which case 37. ... Ng6 38. hxg5 Ra4 is okay for Black). 36. ... Rxa3 37. h4 Qe5! Of course, with the White Queen on c7, this move would not be so strong because of Qc7-d8+ followed by Qd8xg5. 38. hxg5 Qxg5 39. Re1 Ra8 40. Be4

40. ... Ra2. 40. ... f5! transposes to the game. 41. Rb1 (41. Bb1 Qh5+ 42. Kg1 Ne2+−+) 41. ... Ra8 42. Re1 f5! 43. Bb1 Kf7 44. Re3 Rh8+ 45. Kg1 Nxg2! 0 : 1.

“Given that he was in a must-win situation, it was a big letdown for him. It’s hard when you play a position where you have to defend and you are in a must-win. You don’t have any enthusiasm whatsoever”, Giri eventually said. Photo © Lennart Ootes.