1.e4
c5
2.Cf3
d6
3.d4
Cf6
4.Cc3
cxd4
5.Cxd4
g6
Sicilian Dragon fans should be very happy with this tournament.
6.Ae3
Ag7
7.f3
0-0
8.Dd2
Cc6
9.Ac4
Ad7
10.0-0-0
Tb8
Radjabov deviates from the second round Ivanchuk-Carlsen game where black played 10...Tc8. The move in this game initiates what is called the Chinese variation which is relative new and unexplored.
11.Ab3
Ca5
12.Rb1
b5
13.h4
Cc4
14.Axc4
bxc4
A very interesting position. Even if Black has a big pressure over b line, White can defend b2 pawn easily and he's depending on a long-term plan, consolidating and then starting the attack. It's noticeable that some black pieces, such as d7 bishop, cannot easily be used for attacking purposes easily.
15.Ra1
h5
16.Tb1
Da5N
17.Ah6
Axh6
18.Dxh6
Tb6
Until this moment both players had been doing tipical moves for this kind kind of position, and when it seemed that Carlsen would need a few more preparatory moves he played:
19.g4?
As he confessed in the press conference after the game, this move is just a blunder. He did not see untill after 19...hxg4 20.h5 Black has the defence 20...g5!
19...hxg4!
20.De3
Tfb8
21.h5
g5?!
This is a very normal move for a human brain, closing the position while being attacked but it seems that the brave 21...Cxh5! was the correct move. [21...Cxh5!
The following variations are good examples of Black's defensive possibilities. 22.fxg4
Axg4
23.Cd5
(23.Th4
Ad7
24.Cd5
Ta6
25.a3
c3!-/+
) 23...Ta6
24.a3
c3!
25.Cxc3??
(25.Dxc3
Dxc3
) 25...Dxa3+-+
26.bxa3
Txa3+-+
]
22.fxg4
Cxg4
23.Dd2
f6
24.Cf3
Ta6
25.Thg1
Carlsen said that he did not feel worse in this position as e4-e5 was always in the air.
25...Tb4
26.a3
Ae6?
A move that allows Carlsen to start attacking. [As Radjabov pointed out, better was 26...Ta4!
27.Cxa4
Dxd2
28.Cxd2
Txa4©
with compensation for the exchange. ]
27.e5!
dxe5
28.Cxg5!
Af5
29.Cge4
Rh7
30.De2
Ch6
31.Tg3
Ae6??
With only three minutes Radjabov did not find the only defensive move available in this position: 31...Tb8!
32.Tg6?
Carlsen also had no time and he failed in finding the winning move: 32.Dg2! Cf5 33.Tg6+-
32...Cf5?
[The only defense was 32...Af5!
33.Dg2
Axe4
34.Dxe4
and now Black has the miraculous move: 34...Dxa3+!!
35.bxa3
Txa3+
36.Ca2
Txa2+
37.Rxa2
Ta4+
38.Rb2
c3+
]
33.Dg4!
Ch4
34.Cg5+
fxg5
35.Dxg5
Cxg6
36.Dxg6+
Rh8
37.Tg1
And black resigned in this vibrant game. 1-0