This is a match of missed opportunities for Leko and the ability of Carlsen to hold difficult positions. Leko has missed at least 2 wins so far and his final blunder on move 42 sealed his fate.
GM Leko (2741) – GM Carlsen (2765) [D12]
01.06.2008 – Game 7
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 Bg6 7.Nxg6 hxg6 8.Bd2 Nbd7 9.Qc2 Be7 10.Be2 dxc4 11.Bxc4 0–0 12.0–0 c5 13.dxc5 Nxc5 14.Rfd1 Rc8 15.Be1 Qc7 16.Be2 Nce4 17.Qa4 Nxc3 18.Bxc3 Nd5 19.Bd4 a6 20.Bf3 Rfd8 21.Qb3 Bf6 22.g3 b6 23.Be2 Bxd4 24.Rxd4 a5 25.Ba6 Rb8 26.Be2 Rbc8 27.Rc4 Qb8 28.Rac1 Rxc4 29.Qxc4 Ne7 30.Qb5 Kf8 31.b4 Rd5 32.Qa4 axb4 33.Qxb4 Qd6 34.Qb3 Qd8 35.Rb1 Rd6 36.h4 Kg8 37.Bf3 Nf5 38.Rc1 Ne7 39.Kg2 Rd2 40.Rc4 Nf5 41.Kg1 Qf6 42.Qxb6?? (42.Qc3 =) Qa1+ 43.Kg2 Qe1 44.Rc8+ Kh7 45.Qb8 Rxf2+ 46.Kh3 Qf1+ 47.Kg4 Nh6+ 48.Kf4 Rxf3+ 49.Ke4 f5+ 50.Ke5 Rxe3+ 51.Kd6 Qa6+ 52.Ke7 Qa3+ 53.Kd7 Rd3+ Black wins 0–1
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Carlsen might already be the world’s leading expert in endgames, his technique has been astonishing the whole year and has saved him a lot of games.
His father should hire him a second to work on the openings though, then he will have excellent chances becoming world champion in 2011.
Is it true that Carlsen managed to get a big leap from the 2700s to >2750 after training sessions with Kasparov?
No, Kasparov had some sessions with Magnus several years ago, they never met again. (As far as I know.)
Magnus was very impressed by Kasparovs understanding and knowledge.
However, Kasparov has been following Magnus’ progress and believes that Magnus is the only one of nowadays chess prodigies who has the talent to become World Champion within the next years.
Probably Kasparov might coach / second Magnus in preparation for a WC-match, you never know…