Thursday, August 5, 2021

Behind the Throne

Magnus Carlsen – Vladimir Vasilyevich Fedoseev
9th Chess World Cup; match game 2; Krasnaya Polyana, August 5, 2021
3q2kr/1p1r1pp1/pb1Pp2p/2p1P2P/2B3Q1/PP6/3B2P1/5RK1 w - - 0 36

Position after 35. ... a7-a6

Fedoseev, still shocked with his game yesterday, forgot today to jump his Rook over the King, and Carlsen, of course, did not let slip the chance to take advantage of such a lead in development: 36. Rxf7! Kxf7 (36. ... Rxf7 37. Qxe6 Qf8 38. d7+−) 37. Qxe6+ Kf8 38. Qf5+ Ke8 39. Qg6+ Kf8 40. Qf5+ Ke8 41. Qg6+ Kf8 42. e6 Qf6 43. exd7 Qxg6 44. hxg6 Bd8 45. Be6! As Grandmaster Jonathan Speelman says, “[Carlsen] especially likes playing with the two Bishops”. 45. ... h5 46. Kf2 h4 47. Bg4 b5 48. Kf3 b4 49. axb4 cxb4 50. Ke4 1 : 0.

Probably Carlsen had dreamed higher goals, but, as he said, “I am nevertheless happy with my progress in the tournament, and also getting great practice for later this year”. Photo © David Llada.

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