Shortly before the end of this game, there were moments when many thought that Carlsen has thrown away the Corus title. Kramnik drew early so he has 8 points. Shirov had a winning position and if he had converted it, he would have had 8.5 points. At the same time, Carlsen had a horrendous endgame against Caruana and could have possibly lost. But Shirov agreed to a draw so Carlsen secured at least a tie for the Corus title. Then he went on to hold his own game against Caruana to edge out Kramnik and Shirov by 1/2 point.
Carlsen, M (2810) – Caruana, F (2675) [C77]
Corus A (13), 31.01.2010
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.c3 g6 7.Nbd2 Bg7 8.Nf1 0–0 9.Bg5 d5 10.Qe2 Qd6 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.Ne3 Ne7 13.Bb3 c6 14.h4 Be6 15.Ng5 Bd7 16.Rd1 Rad8 17.Qf3 h6 18.Nc4 dxc4 19.dxc4 Nd5 20.Nh3 h5 21.Qg3 Bg4 22.Rd2 Bxh4 23.Qxh4 Qf6 24.Qxf6 Nxf6 25.Ng5 c5 26.f3 Bc8 27.Ba4 Kg7 28.Rxd8 Rxd8 29.b4 Rd3 30.bxc5 Rxc3 31.Kd2 Rxc4 32.Bb3 Rxc5 33.Nxf7 a5 34.Rc1 Rxc1 35.Kxc1 a4 36.Bc4 b5 37.Nd6 bxc4 38.Nxc8 h4 39.Nb6 Nh5 40.Nxc4 Kf6 41.Kd2 Nf4 42.Ke3 Nxg2+ 43.Kf2 Nf4 44.Nb2 a3 45.Nc4 Nd3+ 46.Kg2 Kg5 47.Nxa3 Kf4 48.Nc2 Nb2 49.Nb4 h3+ 50.Kxh3 Kxf3 51.Kh4 Kf4 52.Nd5+ Kxe4 53.Ne7 Kf3 54.Nxg6 e4 55.Ne5+ Kf4 56.Ng4 Na4 ½–½
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The endgame was actually draw, BUT white needed to find the key move 42.Ke3. Magnus did find this move and the rest was easy for Magnus.
However, Magnus played b4 and probably underestimated the consequences of black’s Rd3 (Nd7 would’ve been even better, but both players overlooked it). So he had to fight for the draw instead of going for a win.
Apart from this move, it was an even game. Magnus didn’t win in easy fashion as some of us had hoped for, though.
Boy what a crappy opening Carlsen played.
Looks like he needs more sessions with Kasparov.
Carauna’s Bh4 was nice, but it sure looked like he would have had more winning chances keeping the two bishops.
wow
very disappointing ending to a good tournament. it’s fair to say disheartening
on the flip side, caruana’s play was a lot of fun.
I found Carlsens game today quite entertaining. He didnt go for the draw like many others would have done in his place. He tried and nearly failed, but was saved by his accurate endgame.
This Italian will be a name for the future. Well played!
“very disappointing ending to a good tournament. it’s fair to say disheartening”
Disappointing and disheartening? Magnus won the tournament, as many had expected.
Or did you expect that Magnus would lose against Caruana? That would indeed have been disappointing. Magnus didn’t need more than a draw anyway to win the tournament.
I think Magnus’s strategy was to play something slightly odd, in order to make Carauna use time. And then use the time advantage to win the middle game.
Problem was that Carauna found the right responses to the “odd” moves, and without using up all his time.
So, plan A went down the drains, and he was left with an end game where he had to fight for a draw…
I think in most cases, against an opponent like Carauna, Magnus’s strategy would have paid off. Today it didn’t …
Where did Caruana go wrong? Was going for the end-game the correct strategy?
aside: someone has taken away my “aam” handle on icc 🙁 — handn’t renewed, trying to beat the chess addiction.
Mmm won China, won London, and now wins Corus, when does the lad get a crack at the world title – he deserves it!
Money.
Magnus needs a few million dollars to get a match. Fide is all about MONEY.
Otherwise Fide will have to recycle Topalov then Kramnik and Anand etc before they can find a game for Magnus.
11:24
i didn’t mean it was disappointing that carlsen won.
Magnus is the best chessplayer in the world, and Kramnik is the one closest to him. I don´t understand why Topalov and Anand are playing for the WC-title?
Because they both are the world champions? Remember we’re still dealing with a history of two chess organisations.
And Carlsen – Anand overall is something like 1-13, so if Carlsen really is the best player is at least a bit doubtfull!
1/2 point or 1000 points, no matter!
King Magnus rules!
Hail Prince Caruana, chess prodigy of the Polgar School of Chess !