[Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "1.1"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.17"] [ECO "C55"] [WhiteElo "2755"] [BlackElo "2747"] [PlyCount "144"] [GameId "2125141917406170"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Nbd2 d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Re1 f6 9. a4 Kh8 10. h3 Bf5 11. Nh4 Be6 12. Nf1 Qd7 13. Ng3 Rad8 14. Bd2 a6 15. a5 g6 16. Nf3 Rfe8 17. Ne4 Bg8 18. Qc1 Ndb4 19. Bxg8 Kxg8 20. Be3 f5 21. Nc5 Qd5 22. Na4 Bf6 23. Nc3 Qd6 24. Ra4 Nd4 25. Bxd4 exd4 26. Ne2 c5 27. Qd2 Re7 28. Raa1 Rde8 29. Rad1 Nc6 30. Ng3 Qc7 31. Rxe7 Rxe7 32. Ra1 Kg7 33. Ne2 Re8 34. Nf4 Qd6 35. g3 Bd8 36. h4 h6 37. Kg2 g5 38. hxg5 hxg5 39. Ne2 g4 40. Nh2 Rh8 41. Nf4 Ne5 42. Qe2 Bc7 43. Rh1 Qc6+ 44. Kg1 Kf7 45. Qf1 Rxh2 46. Rxh2 Nf3+ 47. Kh1 Bxf4 48. gxf4 Nxh2+ 49. Kxh2 Qf3 50. Qg2 Qxf4+ 51. Kg1 Qc1+ 52. Kh2 Qh6+ 53. Kg1 Qc1+ 54. Kh2 Qf4+ 55. Kg1 Qc7 56. Qh1 Kg6 57. Qh8 Qf7 58. Qe5 Qf8 59. Qc7 Qe8 60. Qxb7 Qe1+ 61. Kg2 f4 62. Qd5 f3+ 63. Kg3 Qg1+ 64. Kf4 Qxf2 65. Qf5+ Kg7 66. Qxg4+ Kf7 67. Qxf3 Qxc2 68. Ke5+ Kg7 69. Qf6+ Kh7 70. Qxa6 Qxb2 71. Qc4 Qc3 72. Qf7+ Kh6 1-0 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Lazavik, Denis"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "1.1"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.17"] [ECO "E20"] [WhiteElo "2731"] [BlackElo "2578"] [PlyCount "64"] [GameId "2125141917451227"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 d5 5. a3 Be7 6. e4 dxc4 7. Be3 b5 8. Nxb5 Ba6 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Nh3 c5 11. dxc5 Qc7 12. Qc2 Bxc5 13. Bxc5 Qxc5 14. Qf2 Qa5 15. Be2 Nc6 16. O-O Rab8 17. Rab1 Rfd8 18. Rfd1 Rxd1+ 19. Nxd1 h6 20. Bf1 Nd7 21. Rc1 Nb6 22. Nf4 Ne5 23. Qe3 Rd8 24. Nc3 Nd3 25. Rd1 Qg5 26. h4 Qxh4 27. Nxd3 cxd3 28. Bxd3 Bxd3 29. Rxd3 Rxd3 30. Qxd3 Qe1+ 31. Kh2 Qh4+ 32. Kg1 Qe1+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Keymer, Vincent"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "1.1"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.17"] [ECO "A06"] [WhiteElo "2831"] [BlackElo "2733"] [PlyCount "129"] [GameId "2125141917451228"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] {[%evp 0,129,17,19,34,4,7,0,-6,-1,3,-5,0,2,-7,-7,-7,-27,-29,-29,-35,-35,-41,-29,-25,-51,-51,-50,-50,-45,-72,-40,-35,-19,-59,-51,-72,-61,-53,58,-11,-12,-39,-38,-26,-36,-33,-29,-21,-24,-22,-51,-83,-14,-17,-12,-1,-32,-74,-29,0,6,10,1,26,212,34,6,38,30,-8,30,58,33,57,55,42,24,16,22,1,24,19,1,37,34,33,21,34,19,17,-1,1,1,5,8,1,1,11,20,24,24,33,-66,26,29,16,36,1,23,69,80,1,74,95,89,147,122,145,141,128,116,234,231,182,342,200,318,379,402,445,480]} 1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. b3 c5 4. Bb2 g6 5. Bb5+ Bd7 6. Bxf6 exf6 7. Bxd7+ Qxd7 8. c3 Nc6 9. d4 cxd4 10. cxd4 Bb4+ 11. Nfd2 Rc8 12. O-O O-O 13. a3 Bd6 14. Nc3 Ne7 15. Ne2 Rc6 16. b4 Rfc8 17. Rc1 Rxc1 18. Nxc1 Qc7 19. g3 Qc2 20. Ncb3 Qd3 21. Qb1 Qa6 22. Qb2 b6 23. Rc1 Rxc1+ 24. Nxc1 h5 25. Qb3 Qc8 26. Ne2 h4 27. Nc3 Qf5 28. Qb1 Qg4 29. Kg2 hxg3 30. hxg3 Kg7 31. Qd1 Qxd1 32. Nxd1 f5 33. Nc3 Kf6 34. Nf3 g5 35. Kf1 g4 36. Ne1 Ke6 37. Nd3 Ng8 38. Ke2 Nf6 39. Kd2 Ne4+ 40. Kc2 Nf6 41. a4 Ne4 42. Kb3 Nd2+ 43. Kb2 Ne4 44. Kc2 a6 45. Ne2 Kd7 46. Nec1 Kc6 47. Nb3 Kc7 48. Nbc1 Kc6 49. Na2 Kd7 50. Nc3 Ke6 51. a5 {The game has been completely equal for a long time, but since when did that save someone against Magnus?} b5 $6 (51... bxa5 52. bxa5 Nxc3 53. Kxc3 Kd7 $11 {is one way to maintain an equal position that should be drawn. (There are other ways.)}) 52. Nd1 $14 Kd7 53. Nc5+ Bxc5 54. dxc5 {Equal again, but now there are imbalances that give White good chances, especially with time running low.} Kc7 $2 {Natural, but losing. Black's king needs to cover the e5 square more than it does the immediate advance of White's c-pawn.} (54... Ke7 $11) (54... Ke6 $11) (54... f6 $11) 55. Kd3 $18 Kc6 56. Kd4 f6 57. Nc3 Nxc3 (57... Ng5 58. Ne2 $1 ({Not} 58. Nxd5 $4 Ne6+ {and White loses.}) 58... Nf3+ 59. Kc3 Ng5 60. Nf4 Ne4+ 61. Kd4 Ng5 62. Ng6 Ne6+ 63. Kc3 $18 {and thanks to the threat of Ne7+ White will start collecting pawns.}) 58. Kxc3 Kc7 59. Kd3 ({The direct approach gets White nowhere:} 59. Kd4 Kc6) 59... Kd7 60. Ke2 Kc7 61. f3 {Black's king can't stray far from White's c-pawn, so White opens lines for his king to penetrate on the kingside.} Kd7 62. fxg4 fxg4 63. Kd3 f5 (63... Kc7 64. e4 $18) 64. Kd4 Ke6 65. c6 (65. c6 Kd6 66. c7 Kxc7 67. Kxd5 {Black will lose the f- and g-pawns, and White will queen well before Black can promote his b-pawn.}) 1-0 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "1.1"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.17"] [ECO "B90"] [WhiteElo "2763"] [BlackElo "2747"] [PlyCount "81"] [GameId "2125141917451229"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] {[%evp 0,81,18,23,16,19,13,5,16,22,26,23,16,15,16,12,17,21,37,20,40,43,36,34,-76,27,29,4,27,-3,41,35,-35,11,-10,-1,-60,7,-116,1,14,36,62,22,53,30,-61,-15,-133,-13,-151,8,-14,-42,64,94,96,151,-10,120,120,161,159,200,162,192,192,186,189,216,206,233,232,129,256,339,608,650,624,634,650,660,505,676]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bd3 e5 7. Nde2 Be7 8. O-O Be6 9. f4 exf4 10. Nxf4 Nc6 11. Be3 Ne5 12. a4 O-O 13. Qe1 Rc8 14. a5 Nfd7 15. Ncd5 Bg5 16. Bd4 Nc5 17. Qg3 Bh4 18. Qe3 Bg5 19. Qe2 Bh6 20. b4 Ncd7 21. h3 Re8 22. Rf2 Nc6 23. Bb2 Bxf4 24. Nxf4 Nxb4 25. Nxe6 Rxe6 $2 (25... fxe6 $11) 26. Bc4 d5 {Aronian may have been counting on this move, which meets a direct tactical refutation.} 27. Qf3 $1 Nf6 (27... dxc4 28. Qxf7+ Kh8 29. Bxg7#) 28. exd5 Rd6 29. Bb3 $18 Nbxd5 30. Rd1 Ne7 31. Rxd6 Qxd6 32. Qxb7 Rb8 33. Qa7 Re8 34. Rf1 Rf8 35. Qb6 Nc6 36. Qe3 {Setting up another trick.} Nxa5 37. Ba3 $1 Re8 (37... Qxa3 38. Bxf7+ Rxf7 39. Qxa3) 38. Qxe8+ $1 Nxe8 39. Bxf7+ Kh8 40. Bxd6 Nxd6 41. Bd5 1-0 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "1.2"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.17"] [ECO "A20"] [WhiteElo "2747"] [BlackElo "2755"] [PlyCount "91"] [GameId "2125141917451230"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. c4 e5 2. g3 c6 3. d4 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Bxd2+ 5. Qxd2 d6 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. e4 O-O 8. Bg2 b5 9. cxb5 cxb5 10. Nge2 b4 11. Nd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 exd4 13. O-O Ba6 14. Rfe1 Bxe2 15. Rxe2 a5 16. Qxd4 Nd7 17. Rae1 Rc8 18. h4 h6 19. Bh3 Ne5 20. Kg2 Rc4 21. Qd2 Rc5 22. b3 Qa8 23. Rd1 Rc3 24. Re3 Rxe3 25. Qxe3 Re8 26. Qb6 Qd8 27. Qxd8 Rxd8 28. f4 Nd7 29. Bxd7 Rxd7 30. Rc1 Ra7 31. Rc8+ Kh7 32. Kf3 f5 33. h5 a4 34. Rc4 axb3 35. axb3 Ra5 36. Rd4 g6 37. Rxb4 gxh5 38. Rd4 Kg6 39. Rd3 Rb5 40. Ke3 h4 41. gxh4 Kh5 42. Kd4 Kxh4 43. Kc4 Rc5+ 44. Kd4 Rb5 45. Kc4 Rc5+ 46. Kd4 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Lazavik, Denis"] [Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "1.2"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.17"] [ECO "E61"] [WhiteElo "2578"] [BlackElo "2731"] [PlyCount "199"] [GameId "2125141917451231"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. e3 O-O 5. Be2 c5 6. d5 d6 7. Nc3 e6 8. Nd2 b5 9. dxe6 Bxe6 10. cxb5 d5 11. O-O Nbd7 12. Nf3 h6 13. a4 Qc7 14. a5 Rad8 15. Ra4 Rfe8 16. Bd2 Ng4 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Rxg4 Nf6 19. Ra4 Ne4 20. Qc2 c4 21. Bxc4 Nd6 22. Bb3 Qxc2 23. Bxc2 Nxb5 24. Bc1 Rb8 25. Rd1 Be6 26. Ra1 Rec8 27. Bd3 Bb3 28. Re1 Rd8 29. Bxb5 Rxb5 30. Nd4 Rb7 31. a6 Rb6 32. Bd2 Rd7 33. Bc3 Bc4 34. Ra4 Bd3 35. Rea1 Rdd6 36. h3 Bf8 37. Nf3 Rxa6 38. Rxa6 Rxa6 39. Rxa6 Bxa6 40. Bd4 Bb7 41. Bxa7 f6 42. Bd4 Kf7 43. Nd2 Ke6 44. f3 f5 45. Kf2 Bd5 46. Nb1 Bb4 47. Nc3 Bxc3 48. Bxc3 g5 49. g4 fxg4 50. hxg4 Kf7 51. e4 Bb3 52. Ke3 Kg6 53. f4 gxf4+ 54. Kxf4 Kf7 55. Bb4 Be6 56. Bc5 Bc8 57. b4 Bd7 58. Be3 Kf6 59. Bd4+ Kf7 60. Bc3 Kg6 61. Bd2 Kf7 62. g5 hxg5+ 63. Kxg5 Ke6 64. Kf4 Kd6 65. Ke3 Bb5 66. Kd4 Bf1 67. Bf4+ Kc6 68. Ke5 Bd3 69. Bd2 Bc2 70. Kf4 Bb1 71. Ke3 Bc2 72. Kd4 Bb1 73. Bc3 Bc2 74. e5 Bf5 75. Ke3 Kd5 76. Kf4 Bd7 77. Bd2 Kd4 78. Be1 Kd5 79. Bf2 Kc4 80. Bc5 Kd5 81. Bd6 Kc6 82. Kg5 Be6 83. Kf6 Bc4 84. Ke7 Kd5 85. e6 Kc6 86. Bc5 Bb3 87. Kf6 Bc4 88. e7 Kd7 89. Ke5 Bf1 90. Kf6 Bc4 91. Bf2 Ke8 92. Bh4 Kd7 93. Ke5 Bf7 94. b5 Be8 95. Kd5 Kc7 96. Kc5 Kb7 97. b6 Kc8 98. Kd6 Ba4 99. Ke6 Kb7 100. Bf2 1-0 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Keymer, Vincent"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "1.2"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.17"] [ECO "E25"] [WhiteElo "2733"] [BlackElo "2831"] [PlyCount "87"] [GameId "2125141917455328"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. dxc5 Qa5 9. e4 Nc7 10. Be3 O-O 11. Kf2 Nc6 12. Qb3 e5 13. Bc4 Ne6 14. Ne2 Nxc5 15. Qb5 Qxb5 16. Bxb5 Nb3 17. Rab1 Be6 18. Rhd1 Rfd8 19. Rxd8+ Rxd8 20. c4 Nca5 21. Bxa7 Nd2 22. Rb4 Ra8 23. Be3 Ndxc4 24. a4 Rc8 25. Bc1 f6 26. Rb1 Nd6 27. Bd3 Bc4 28. Bxc4+ Rxc4 29. Ba3 Nc8 30. Rb4 Rc2 31. Rb5 Nc4 32. Bb4 b6 33. Rd5 Nb2 34. Kf1 Nxa4 35. Ng3 g6 36. Rd7 b5 37. Rb7 Ncb6 38. h4 Nc4 39. Kg1 Ne3 40. Kh1 Nxg2 41. Rb8+ Kf7 42. Rb7+ Kg8 43. Rb8+ Kf7 44. Rb7+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "1.2"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.17"] [ECO "C65"] [WhiteElo "2747"] [BlackElo "2763"] [PlyCount "108"] [GameId "2125141917455329"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. c3 Bd6 7. h3 h6 8. Be3 Be6 9. Nbd2 Qe7 10. Nf1 O-O-O 11. Ng3 Kb8 12. Qc2 c5 13. Nd2 g6 14. b3 Nd7 15. Ne2 f5 16. f3 f4 17. Bf2 g5 18. O-O-O h5 19. d4 cxd4 20. cxd4 exd4 21. Nxd4 Ne5 22. Kb1 Bc8 23. Nf5 Qe6 24. Bd4 b6 25. Nc4 Nxc4 26. Qxc4 Qxc4 27. bxc4 Rhf8 28. Nxd6 Rxd6 29. c5 Rc6 30. cxb6 axb6 31. Rc1 Rxc1+ 32. Rxc1 Kb7 33. Be5 Rf7 34. Kb2 Be6 35. a3 Rd7 36. Kc3 c5 37. Rc2 Kc6 38. Rd2 b5 39. Rxd7 Kxd7 40. Kd2 Bc4 41. Ke1 Ke6 42. Bc3 h4 43. Ba5 Kf7 44. Kf2 b4 45. axb4 cxb4 46. Bxb4 Kg6 47. Be7 Bb5 48. Ke1 Bc4 49. Bd8 Bb5 50. e5 Bc4 51. Kf2 Kf5 52. Bf6 Bd5 53. Be7 Bc4 54. Ke1 Bd5 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "2.1"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.17"] [ECO "B90"] [WhiteElo "2731"] [BlackElo "2747"] [PlyCount "101"] [GameId "2125141917455330"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 g6 7. g4 h6 8. Bg2 Bg7 9. O-O O-O 10. Be3 Nc6 11. Qd2 h5 12. g5 Nd7 13. f4 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 Bxd4+ 15. Qxd4 b5 16. e5 dxe5 17. fxe5 Rb8 18. Rad1 Qc7 19. Nd5 Qxe5 20. Qxe5 Nxe5 21. Nxe7+ Kg7 22. Rfe1 Nc4 23. b3 Na3 24. c3 Be6 25. Nc6 Rb6 26. Nd4 Rc8 27. Nxe6+ Rxe6 28. Rxe6 fxe6 29. Rd7+ Kf8 30. Rd6 Ke7 31. Rxa6 Nb1 32. Be4 Nxc3 33. Bxg6 Ne2+ 34. Kh2 h4 35. Be4 Ng3 36. Bd3 Rc3 37. Bxb5 Rc2+ 38. Kg1 Rc5 39. Bc4 Rxg5 40. Rxe6+ Kd7 41. Kf2 Nh1+ 42. Kf1 Ng3+ 43. Ke1 Rf5 44. Rh6 Rf4 45. a4 Ne4 46. a5 Nd6 47. Be2 Rb4 48. a6 Rxb3 49. a7 Ra3 50. Rh8 Ra1+ 51. Kf2 1-0 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "2.1"] [Result "0-1"] [Date "2024.12.17"] [ECO "A13"] [WhiteElo "2763"] [BlackElo "2747"] [PlyCount "64"] [GameId "2125141917455331"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 d4 5. O-O Nc6 6. e3 e5 7. d3 Bg4 8. h3 Bxf3 9. Bxf3 dxe3 10. Bxe3 Qd7 11. Nc3 Be7 12. Qa4 O-O 13. Kg2 Rfd8 14. Rad1 Nd4 15. Qxd7 Rxd7 16. Bxb7 Rb8 17. Be4 Rxb2 18. Rb1 Nxe4 19. dxe4 Rc2 20. Nd5 f6 21. Rb7 Rxa2 22. Rfb1 Ne6 23. Nxe7+ Rxe7 24. Rxa7 Rxa7 25. Bxa7 c5 26. Bb8 Rd7 27. Rb6 Ng5 28. Rc6 Nxe4 29. Kf3 Rd4 30. h4 h5 31. Ke3 Rxc4 32. f3 Nxg3 0-1 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "2.1"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.17"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "2831"] [BlackElo "2755"] [PlyCount "91"] [GameId "2125141917455332"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Bf4 Nd7 8. Qd2 O-O 9. O-O-O Nc5 10. h4 Re8 11. Bc4 Be6 12. Bxe6 Nxe6 13. Be3 c6 14. c4 Bf8 15. h5 a6 16. h6 g6 17. Qc3 Qe7 18. Rhe1 f5 19. Kb1 Qf7 20. Bc1 f4 21. Rh1 Be7 22. Rhe1 Bf8 23. g4 Bxh6 24. Rxd6 Bg7 25. Qa5 Nf8 26. b3 Rxe1 27. Qxe1 Re8 28. Qd2 Qe7 29. Bb2 Qe2 30. Qxf4 Qf1+ 31. Qc1 Qxf2 32. Bxg7 Kxg7 33. Qf4 Re6 34. Rd8 Qc5 35. Rb8 Qe7 36. g5 c5 37. a4 a5 38. Qd2 b6 39. Qc3+ Kg8 40. Qd2 Qc7 41. Rd8 Qf7 42. Qd5 Kg7 43. Rb8 Nd7 44. Rb7 Re7 45. Qd6 Kf8 46. Rxd7 1-0 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Lazavik, Denis"] [Black "Keymer, Vincent"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "2.1"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.17"] [ECO "A13"] [WhiteElo "2578"] [BlackElo "2733"] [PlyCount "78"] [GameId "2125141917459429"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 Bb4 3. e4 Ne7 4. Nf3 O-O 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 c5 8. a3 cxd4 9. axb4 dxc3 10. Qxd8 Rxd8 11. bxc3 b6 12. Bg5 Kf8 13. Ke2 Bb7 14. Nd2 Nbc6 15. Ba6 Bxa6+ 16. Rxa6 Rac8 17. b5 f6 18. Be3 Ne5 19. Rxa7 Rxc3 20. Bxb6 Rb8 21. Ba5 Rc2 22. Rc7 Rxc7 23. Bxc7 Rxb5 24. Bxe5 Rxe5 25. Rc1 Rb5 26. Rc2 Rb7 27. h4 Ke8 28. g3 Kd7 29. Nf3 Nc6 30. Rd2+ Ke7 31. Rc2 Rb6 32. Rc3 Ra6 33. Ke3 Kd7 34. Nd4 Nxd4 35. Kxd4 Ra4+ 36. Ke3 Ra7 37. Rd3+ Ke7 38. Rc3 Kd7 39. Rd3+ Ke7 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "2.2"] [Result "0-1"] [Date "2024.12.17"] [ECO "B52"] [WhiteElo "2747"] [BlackElo "2731"] [PlyCount "116"] [GameId "2125141917459430"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. O-O Nc6 6. c3 d5 7. e5 e6 8. d4 Nge7 9. dxc5 Ng6 10. Re1 Bxc5 11. Nbd2 O-O 12. Nb3 Bb6 13. Be3 Qc7 14. Bxb6 Qxb6 15. Qd2 f6 16. exf6 Rxf6 17. Nbd4 Re8 18. Re3 e5 19. Ne2 Rd8 20. h3 e4 21. Nh2 Nce5 22. b3 Nd3 23. Rf1 Rdf8 24. Ng4 R6f7 25. Rxd3 exd3 26. Qxd3 Rd8 27. Rd1 Nf4 28. Nxf4 Rxf4 29. Ne3 Kh8 30. Rd2 Qe6 31. Nc2 Re4 32. c4 d4 33. Ne3 Qe5 34. Nf1 Re1 35. g3 h6 36. Kg2 Qe4+ 37. Qxe4 Rxe4 38. Ne3 Rde8 39. Nf5 Re2 40. Rxd4 Rxa2 41. Rd7 Ree2 42. g4 Rxf2+ 43. Kg3 Rfb2 44. Nxg7 Rxb3+ 45. Kh4 Rh2 46. Kh5 Rhxh3+ 47. Kg6 Rb6+ 48. Kf7 Rf3+ 49. Nf5 h5 50. Rd1 Rf4 51. Rh1 Rh6 52. Ke7 Rh7+ 53. Kf6 hxg4 54. Rd1 Rc7 55. Kg5 Rxf5+ 56. Kxf5 g3 57. Rd8+ Kh7 58. Rd1 g2 0-1 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "2.2"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.17"] [ECO "A55"] [WhiteElo "2747"] [BlackElo "2763"] [PlyCount "67"] [GameId "2125141917459431"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. d4 c6 2. c4 d6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Qc7 5. e4 e5 6. Be2 Be7 7. O-O Nbd7 8. Qc2 Nf8 9. Rd1 Ng6 10. b4 O-O 11. h3 a5 12. b5 Nd7 13. Rb1 exd4 14. Nxd4 Nc5 15. Be3 Bf6 16. Nf5 Be5 17. g3 Re8 18. Bf3 f6 19. Ne2 Be6 20. bxc6 Qxc6 21. Bg2 Na4 22. Rdc1 Rec8 23. f4 Bb2 24. Rxb2 Nxb2 25. Qxb2 Qd7 26. Rd1 Qa4 27. Rxd6 Qxc4 28. Ned4 Qxa2 29. Qxb7 Bf7 30. Nc6 Re8 31. e5 Qb3 32. Qxb3 Bxb3 33. Ncd4 Ba2 34. Bxa8 1-0 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "2.2"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.17"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2755"] [BlackElo "2831"] [PlyCount "92"] [GameId "2125141917459432"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. Nc3 h6 6. Be3 Bb6 7. Bxb6 axb6 8. d4 exd4 9. Nxd4 O-O 10. Ndb5 Re8 11. O-O d6 12. Re1 Ne5 13. Bf1 Bd7 14. Qd2 Ng6 15. a4 Bxb5 16. Bxb5 c6 17. Bf1 Qc7 18. Rad1 Rad8 19. f4 Nf8 20. g3 Ne6 21. Bg2 b5 22. axb5 cxb5 23. h3 b4 24. Nd5 Nxd5 25. exd5 Qb6+ 26. Kh2 Nc5 27. b3 Nd7 28. g4 Qc5 29. Re2 Rxe2 30. Qxe2 Nf6 31. Qc4 Qxc4 32. bxc4 Rc8 33. Bf1 Ne4 34. Kg2 Kf8 35. Rb1 Nc5 36. Rxb4 Ra8 37. Bd3 Ra3 38. g5 hxg5 39. fxg5 g6 40. h4 Ra1 41. Rb2 Ke7 42. Be2 Re1 43. Kf2 Rh1 44. Kg3 Re1 45. Kf2 Rh1 46. Kg3 Re1 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Keymer, Vincent"] [Black "Lazavik, Denis"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "2.2"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.17"] [ECO "A07"] [WhiteElo "2733"] [BlackElo "2578"] [PlyCount "88"] [GameId "2125141917459433"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. d3 O-O 6. Nbd2 Nc6 7. d4 a5 8. c3 b6 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Qxe4 a4 13. Re1 Na5 14. Qe2 h6 15. Bf4 Bd6 16. Be3 Bd5 17. Nd2 Be7 18. Qg4 Kh7 19. Qh5 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 c6 21. Kg1 Qd5 22. Qd1 b5 23. Bf4 Qd7 24. Qg4 Bd6 25. Bxd6 Qxd6 26. Re5 Rad8 27. Rae1 Qc7 28. Qh4 Rd5 29. g4 Kg8 30. Qg3 Nc4 31. Nxc4 bxc4 32. h4 Rb8 33. R1e2 Rbb5 34. g5 hxg5 35. hxg5 Rxe5 36. dxe5 Qd8 37. Kg2 Qd3 38. Qg4 g6 39. a3 Kf8 40. Qe4 Qd5 41. Kg3 Qd3+ 42. Kg2 Qd5 43. Kg3 Qd3+ 44. Kg2 Qd5 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Lazavik, Denis"] [Black "Keymer, Vincent"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "2.3"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.17"] [ECO "D35"] [WhiteElo "2578"] [BlackElo "2733"] [PlyCount "213"] [GameId "2125141917459434"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 O-O 8. Bd3 c6 9. Nge2 Nbd7 10. O-O Re8 11. a4 Nh5 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. a5 g6 14. Qd2 Ndf6 15. Rfe1 Ng7 16. Ng3 h5 17. e4 h4 18. exd5 Qd8 19. Nge4 Nxd5 20. h3 Bf5 21. Qh6 Bxe4 22. Bxe4 Nxc3 23. bxc3 Qf6 24. Bf3 Rad8 25. Rab1 Rxe1+ 26. Rxe1 Re8 27. Rb1 Re7 28. Qd2 Nf5 29. Qf4 Qd6 30. Qg5 Kg7 31. Bg4 Qf6 32. Qd2 Nd6 33. Qa2 Ne4 34. Qc2 Nd6 35. Qd3 Qf4 36. Bf3 a6 37. c4 Nf5 38. Rd1 Qd6 39. d5 c5 40. Be2 Nd4 41. Bf1 Qf6 42. Rb1 Qf4 43. Qa3 Ne2+ 44. Bxe2 Rxe2 45. Qxc5 Rc2 46. Qe3 Rxc4 47. Qxf4 Rxf4 48. d6 Rd4 49. Rxb7 Rxd6 50. Rb6 Rd1+ 51. Kh2 Rd2 52. f3 Ra2 53. Rxa6 Ra1 54. Ra7 g5 55. Ra8 Kh7 56. Ra6 Kg7 57. Ra8 Kh7 58. a6 Kg7 59. a7 Kh7 60. g4 hxg3+ 61. Kxg3 Ra4 62. Kf2 Kg7 63. Ke3 Ra1 64. Kd4 Ra5 65. Kc4 Ra1 66. Kc5 Ra2 67. Kb6 Rb2+ 68. Kc6 Rc2+ 69. Kd6 Ra2 70. Ke5 Ra5+ 71. Ke4 Ra4+ 72. Kf5 Ra5+ 73. Kg4 Kh7 74. Re8 Rxa7 75. Kxg5 Kg7 76. h4 Ra1 77. Re4 Ra5+ 78. Kf4 Ra1 79. Re5 Ra4+ 80. Kg3 f6 81. Rb5 Ra1 82. Kg4 Ra4+ 83. f4 Kg6 84. h5+ Kh6 85. Rb6 Kg7 86. Rb7+ Kh6 87. Rf7 Ra6 88. Kf5 Ra4 89. Rxf6+ Kxh5 90. Re6 Rb4 91. Re8 Kh6 92. Re7 Ra4 93. Ke5 Ra5+ 94. Kf6 Ra6+ 95. Re6 Ra5 96. f5 Kh7 97. Re7+ Kh6 98. Re8 Kh7 99. Re7+ Kh6 100. Ke6 Ra6+ 101. Kf7 Ra5 102. f6 Kg5 103. Kg7 Ra6 104. f7 Rg6+ 105. Kf8 Ra6 106. Rd7 Kf6 107. Kg8 1-0 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Black "Lazavik, Denis"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "3.1"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.17"] [ECO "C55"] [WhiteElo "2763"] [BlackElo "2578"] [PlyCount "167"] [GameId "2125141917463531"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Nc3 d6 7. a4 Na5 8. Ba2 Nc6 9. Re1 Be6 10. a5 Bxa2 11. Rxa2 b6 12. axb6 axb6 13. Rxa8 Qxa8 14. Bg5 h6 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Nd5 Bd8 17. Qa1 Qb7 18. Qa2 Ne7 19. Ne3 c6 20. Ra1 b5 21. Qa7 Qc8 22. c4 bxc4 23. dxc4 f5 24. c5 dxc5 25. Nxe5 fxe4 26. Nd7 Re8 27. Qa2+ Kh8 28. Qf7 Rg8 29. Rd1 Nd5 30. Nxd5 cxd5 31. Qxd5 Bg5 32. Ne5 Bf6 33. Nf7+ Kh7 34. Qxe4+ g6 35. h4 Qf5 36. Qe3 Bg7 37. Nd6 Qg4 38. Rd5 Qxh4 39. g3 Qg4 40. Ne4 Rf8 41. Rxc5 Qf3 42. Qxf3 Rxf3 43. b4 Rb3 44. b5 Bd4 45. Rd5 Bg7 46. Kg2 g5 47. g4 Bf8 48. Ng3 Kg6 49. Nf5 h5 50. Nd4 Rb1 51. gxh5+ Kxh5 52. Ne6 Be7 53. Nd4 Rb2 54. Nf5 Bf6 55. Nd6 Be7 56. Nc4 Rb4 57. Ne5 Rb2 58. Nd3 Rb1 59. Kf3 Kg6 60. Ke4 Kf6 61. Kd4 Ke6 62. Kc4 Bd6 63. Rxg5 Be7 64. Re5+ Kd6 65. Rd5+ Ke6 66. f4 Bf6 67. f5+ Ke7 68. Rc5 Bg5 69. Rc6 Bh4 70. Re6+ Kd7 71. Nc5+ Kc7 72. Rc6+ Kd8 73. b6 Rc1+ 74. Kb5 Rb1+ 75. Ka6 Ra1+ 76. Kb5 Rb1+ 77. Kc4 Rc1+ 78. Kd5 Rd1+ 79. Ke6 Re1+ 80. Kf7 Bg3 81. b7 Re7+ 82. Kg6 Re3 83. Rc8+ Ke7 84. f6+ 1-0 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Keymer, Vincent"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "3.1"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.17"] [ECO "E15"] [WhiteElo "2733"] [BlackElo "2747"] [PlyCount "152"] [GameId "2125141917463532"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b6 3. d4 e6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 d5 6. Bg2 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Bd6 8. O-O O-O 9. Nc3 Nbd7 10. e4 Nxe4 11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. Ng5 Bb7 13. Nxe4 f5 14. Ng5 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Qf6 16. Nf3 f4 17. Qe2 e5 18. dxe5 Nxe5 19. Bc3 Rae8 20. Bxe5 Bxe5 21. Rae1 fxg3 22. fxg3 Qc6 23. Qe4 Qxe4 24. Rxe4 Bf6 25. Rfe1 Rd8 26. g4 h6 27. h4 a5 28. R1e2 Rd6 29. g5 hxg5 30. hxg5 Bc3 31. Re7 Rf7 32. Kg3 g6 33. R2e6 Rxe6 34. Rxe6 Kh7 35. Nh4 Rg7 36. Kg4 Bd4 37. Nf3 Rd7 38. Nd2 Kg7 39. Ne4 Kf7 40. Rc6 Be5 41. c5 b5 42. Ra6 a4 43. bxa4 Rd4 44. Kf3 Rxa4 45. Rxa4 bxa4 46. Nd2 Bd4 47. c6 Ke6 48. Ke4 Bc5 49. Nf3 Be7 50. Ne5 Bxg5 51. Nxg6 Kd6 52. Ne5 Bf6 53. Nc4+ Kxc6 54. Kd3 Kc5 55. Nd2 Kb4 56. Kc2 c5 57. Ne4 Be5 58. Nf2 c4 59. Ne4 Bd4 60. Nd2 Bc5 61. Ne4 Be3 62. Nf6 Bd4 63. Ne4 Ka3 64. Kb1 c3 65. Ng3 Bf6 66. Ne2 Be5 67. Nc1 Bf4 68. Nd3 Be3 69. Ne5 Bd4 70. Nd3 Be3 71. Ne5 Bf4 72. Nd3 Bg3 73. Nc1 Bh4 74. Nd3 c2+ 75. Kxc2 Kxa2 76. Nc5 Be7 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "3.1"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [Result "0-1"] [Date "2024.12.17"] [ECO "A20"] [WhiteElo "2831"] [BlackElo "2747"] [PlyCount "76"] [GameId "2125141917463533"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] {[%evp 0,76,12,19,12,0,-121,11,17,4,26,36,36,34,16,12,20,15,16,-22,-11,-49,-43,-38,-37,-53,-46,-44,-70,-4,6,-99,-13,-8,-2,0,0,-7,12,4,3,-17,-37,-18,-26,-17,-20,9,-15,-13,2,-1,-13,-29,7,55,32,163,69,46,9,15,-3,-17,-23,-20,-66,-27,-1,56,-11,1,1,79,-15,-4,-41,-591,-645]} 1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c6 4. d4 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Bxd2+ 6. Qxd2 d6 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Rd1 Nbd7 9. Nf3 e4 10. Ng5 d5 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. O-O h6 13. Nh3 Re8 14. f3 exf3 15. exf3 Nf8 16. Nf4 Qd6 17. Rfe1 Bd7 18. Nd3 Ng6 19. Bf1 h5 20. Kf2 h4 21. Nc5 Bc6 22. Bh3 b6 23. Nd3 Bd7 24. Bxd7 Qxd7 25. g4 Qd6 26. Kg2 Nh7 27. f4 Nf6 28. f5 Nf8 29. Qf4 Qxf4 30. Nxf4 Nxg4 31. Ncxd5 Nh7 32. h3 Nh6 33. f6 g5 34. Ne7+ Kf8 35. Nfd5 Nxf6 36. Nc7 Rxe7 37. Nxa8 Nd5 $15 38. Re5 $4 {Even Carlsen blunders.} Rxe5 (38... Rxe5 39. dxe5 Ne3+ $19) 0-1 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "3.1"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.17"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "2731"] [BlackElo "2755"] [PlyCount "92"] [GameId "2125141917463534"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Qe2 Qe7 6. g3 Nf6 7. Qxe7+ Bxe7 8. Bg2 d5 9. O-O O-O 10. d3 Bd6 11. Re1 c6 12. a4 a5 13. b3 Na6 14. Bb2 Nd7 15. Re2 Ndc5 16. Nc3 Bg4 17. Nd1 Rfe8 18. Ne3 Bd7 19. d4 Ne4 20. c4 Nb4 21. Rd1 f6 22. Ne1 Be6 23. Nd3 Nxd3 24. Rxd3 Bf7 25. Rd1 Bb4 26. cxd5 cxd5 27. Rc1 Nd2 28. Rc7 Bh5 29. Bxd5+ Kh8 30. Rxd2 Bxd2 31. Bxb7 Ra7 32. d5 Rb8 33. Rc8+ Rxc8 34. Bxc8 Bb4 35. Kg2 Rc7 36. Be6 Bf7 37. Bxf7 Rxf7 38. Kf3 Kg8 39. Bd4 Rb7 40. Nc4 Rd7 41. Ke4 Re7+ 42. Kd3 Re1 43. Bb6 Rd1+ 44. Ke4 Re1+ 45. Kd3 Rd1+ 46. Ke4 Re1+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Lazavik, Denis"] [Black "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "3.2"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.17"] [ECO "A13"] [WhiteElo "2578"] [BlackElo "2763"] [PlyCount "109"] [GameId "2125141917463535"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. cxd5 exd5 4. g3 Nf6 5. Bg2 Bd6 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Re8 8. d3 h6 9. a3 a5 10. Qc2 Na6 11. e4 c6 12. Re1 Bg4 13. h3 Bxf3 14. Bxf3 Be5 15. Bg2 Bd4 16. Re2 Nc5 17. Bd2 Qb6 18. Rf1 Qb3 19. Qb1 dxe4 20. dxe4 Rad8 21. Be3 Bxc3 22. Bxc5 Qb5 23. Rc2 Qxc5 24. Rxc3 Qd4 25. Re1 Nd7 26. Rd3 Qb6 27. Qc2 Ne5 28. Rb3 Qa7 29. Kh2 a4 30. Rbe3 Qd4 31. f4 Nd3 32. R1e2 Qc5 33. e5 Qb6 34. h4 Qb3 35. Be4 Qxc2 36. Rxc2 Nxe5 37. fxe5 Rd4 38. Bf3 g5 39. hxg5 hxg5 40. Rce2 g4 41. Be4 Kg7 42. Bc2 Rh8+ 43. Kg2 Rhd8 44. Re4 Rxe4 45. Bxe4 Kh6 46. Kf2 Re8 47. Bc2 b5 48. Re4 Kg5 49. Bd1 Rd8 50. Bxg4 Rd2+ 51. Re2 Rd4 52. Bf3 c5 53. Rc2 c4 54. Bc6 c3 55. bxc3 1-0 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Keymer, Vincent"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "3.2"] [Result "0-1"] [Date "2024.12.17"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2747"] [BlackElo "2733"] [PlyCount "189"] [GameId "2125141917467632"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Nc3 h6 6. Be3 Bb6 7. Nd5 d6 8. Nxb6 axb6 9. a3 O-O 10. O-O Re8 11. Re1 Be6 12. Bb5 Bd7 13. Bd2 Ne7 14. Bxd7 Qxd7 15. d4 exd4 16. Nxd4 c5 17. Nb3 Ng6 18. f3 d5 19. Bc3 d4 20. Bd2 Qb5 21. Qe2 Qa4 22. Qf2 Ne5 23. Bf4 Ng6 24. Bg3 Nh5 25. Rac1 d3 26. Rcd1 Ngf4 27. Nc1 dxc2 28. Rd2 Rad8 29. Rxc2 Rd7 30. Rd2 Red8 31. Rxd7 Rxd7 32. Bxf4 Nxf4 33. Qe3 Rd1 34. g3 Ne6 35. Kf2 Qc2+ 36. Ne2 Rxe1 37. Kxe1 Qxb2 38. f4 Nd4 39. Nxd4 cxd4 40. Qd3 Qxh2 41. e5 Qb2 42. Kd1 b5 43. Qf5 Qb3+ 44. Kd2 Qc3+ 45. Ke2 Qc4+ 46. Kd2 Qc3+ 47. Ke2 g6 48. Qd7 Qxa3 49. Qxd4 Qa2+ 50. Ke1 Qc4 51. Qd8+ Kh7 52. Qe7 b6 53. f5 gxf5 54. Qd7 Qe6 55. Qxb5 f6 56. Kf2 fxe5 57. Qd3 Kg7 58. Qd8 Qf6 59. Qd7+ Qf7 60. Qd6 e4 61. Qxb6 Qe7 62. Qc6 h5 63. Qc8 Qf6 64. Qc7+ Kg6 65. Qf4 Qd4+ 66. Kg2 Qb2+ 67. Kh3 Qf6 68. Qb8 Qe6 69. Kg2 e3 70. Kf1 Qc4+ 71. Kg1 Qc1+ 72. Kg2 Qc6+ 73. Kg1 Qe6 74. Kf1 Qc4+ 75. Kg2 Qc2+ 76. Kh3 Qc6 77. Kh2 h4 78. Qg8+ Kf6 79. Qh8+ Ke7 80. Qxh4+ Qf6 81. Qb4+ Qd6 82. Qh4+ Kd7 83. Qg5 e2 84. Qg7+ Qe7 85. Qd4+ Ke8 86. Qh8+ Kd7 87. Qd4+ Qd6 88. Qg7+ Kc6 89. Qc3+ Kd7 90. Qg7+ Kc8 91. Qh8+ Qd8 92. Qc3+ Qc7 93. Qe1 Qe5 94. Kg2 Qe3 95. Kh3 0-1 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "3.2"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [Result "0-1"] [Date "2024.12.17"] [ECO "E32"] [WhiteElo "2747"] [BlackElo "2831"] [PlyCount "92"] [GameId "2125141917467633"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] {[%evp 0,92,7,23,15,12,18,14,11,7,16,27,30,20,22,28,29,31,42,44,50,50,57,50,116,148,166,199,197,166,211,147,-87,132,94,168,23,137,45,118,102,174,241,238,211,211,212,230,231,209,206,201,209,185,278,183,163,268,167,194,-1,95,76,83,62,54,51,94,91,51,45,197,78,64,100,55,55,79,71,45,87,-49,-64,1,-62,-156,-19,-322,-393,-681,-327,-29989,-29990,-29997,-29998]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. e3 b6 7. Be2 Bb7 8. O-O Bxc3 9. Qxc3 Ne4 10. Qc2 f5 11. d5 $1 $16 exd5 $2 12. Nd4 $18 {Carlsen is already lost. He was absolutely disgusted and said afterwards that if he hadn't been playing at home he might have resigned at this point. Instead, he kept playing, and eventually managed to win this game to force an Armageddon battle, which he won.} dxc4 13. Ne6 Qc8 14. f3 Ke7 15. Nxg7 Qf8 16. Nh5 Nec5 17. Qxc4 Ne5 18. Qh4+ Kd7 19. b4 Ne6 20. Bb2 Qe7 21. Qxe7+ Kxe7 22. f4 Rhg8 23. Ng3 Rxg3 24. hxg3 {White is still clearly winning, but from here So starts to wobble.} Ng4 25. Bxg4 fxg4 26. f5 $6 Ng5 27. b5 a6 28. a4 Ne4 29. a5 Nxg3 30. Rfe1 $2 (30. f6+ $1 $18) 30... bxa5 31. f6+ Ke6 32. Rxa5 axb5 33. Rxb5 Be4 34. Ra1 $2 (34. Kh2 $1 {was the only move to maintain a winning advantage.}) 34... Rc8 $2 (34... Rxa1+ 35. Bxa1 Bg6 $14) 35. Rg5 $2 (35. Kh2 $1 $16 {/+-}) 35... h5 (35... Rb8 $1 $11) 36. Rg7 $14 Nf5 37. Rh7 Rb8 $1 38. Bc3 c5 $1 39. Kh2 h4 40. Raa7 $2 h3 $1 41. Rhe7+ Kd5 42. f7 $2 Nxe7 43. Rxe7 $2 hxg2 $19 {And now it's over: Black wins. Even if both sides queen, the difference is that it's only White's king that is in danger of getting mated.} 44. Rxe4 Kxe4 45. Bg7 Kf3 $1 46. Kg1 (46. f8=Q+ Rxf8 47. Bxf8 Kf2 $19) 46... Rb1+ 0-1 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "3.2"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.17"] [ECO "B30"] [WhiteElo "2755"] [BlackElo "2731"] [PlyCount "105"] [GameId "2125141917467634"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Ng6 7. Be3 Be7 8. c3 O-O 9. Be2 Nxd4 10. cxd4 d5 11. e5 f6 12. f4 fxe5 13. fxe5 Rxf1+ 14. Bxf1 Bg5 15. Qd2 Bxe3+ 16. Qxe3 Bd7 17. Nd2 Qb6 18. Nb3 Rf8 19. Bd3 Nf4 20. Rf1 Nxd3 21. Rxf8+ Kxf8 22. Qxd3 Qb4 23. h3 Kg8 24. Kh2 b6 25. a3 Qf8 26. Qe3 h6 27. Nd2 Qf5 28. Qc3 Bb5 29. Kg1 Bd3 30. a4 Kh7 31. b4 a6 32. a5 bxa5 33. bxa5 Bb5 34. Qe3 Qc2 35. Nb3 Bd3 36. Nc5 Bf5 37. Nxa6 Qa2 38. Nc5 Qxa5 39. g4 Be4 40. Nxe4 dxe4 41. Qxe4+ Kg8 42. Qe3 Qa2 43. Qf2 Qb1+ 44. Kg2 Qe4+ 45. Kg3 Qd3+ 46. Kh2 Qe4 47. Qd2 Qf3 48. Qb2 Qf4+ 49. Kg2 Qe4+ 50. Kf2 Qf4+ 51. Kg2 Qe4+ 52. Kg1 Qe3+ 53. Kg2 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Black "Lazavik, Denis"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "3.3"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.17"] [ECO "C55"] [WhiteElo "2763"] [BlackElo "2578"] [PlyCount "178"] [GameId "2125141917467635"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. Nc3 O-O 6. a4 d6 7. Bd2 Bg4 8. h3 Bxf3 9. Qxf3 Nd4 10. Qd1 c6 11. Ba2 a6 12. O-O b5 13. Be3 Ne6 14. Qf3 Qd7 15. h4 h5 16. Ne2 Ng4 17. Bd2 g6 18. Qh3 d5 19. exd5 cxd5 20. Nc3 d4 21. Nd5 Rab8 22. axb5 Rxb5 23. Nxe7+ Qxe7 24. b4 Nf4 25. Bxf4 exf4 26. Bc4 Rxb4 27. Rxa6 Kg7 28. Qf3 Qe5 29. Bb3 Nh6 30. Qc6 Qe7 31. Rfa1 Re8 32. Rf1 Rf8 33. Qd6 Qxd6 34. Rxd6 Nf5 35. Rd7 Nxh4 36. Ra1 Nf5 37. Raa7 Nh6 38. Kf1 g5 39. Ke2 g4 40. Bc4 Rb2 41. Kd2 Rb1 42. Rxd4 Rg1 43. Bd5 h4 44. Rxf4 Kg6 45. Ra6+ f6 46. Ra5 f5 47. Rb4 Kg5 48. Rb6 Rf6 49. Rb7 Rf1 50. Ke2 Rc1 51. Rc7 Rd6 52. Kd2 Rf1 53. Ke2 Rc1 54. d4 h3 55. gxh3 gxh3 56. Rg7+ Rg6 57. Rxg6+ Kxg6 58. Ra6+ Kg5 59. f4+ Kh5 60. c4 h2 61. c5 h1=Q 62. Bxh1 Rxh1 63. Rf6 Rc1 64. Kd2 Rc4 65. Kd3 Rc1 66. c6 Ng8 67. Rxf5+ Kg6 68. Rg5+ Kf7 69. d5 Ne7 70. Kd4 Nxc6+ 71. dxc6 Rxc6 72. Ke4 Rc4+ 73. Kf3 Ra4 74. Re5 Ra3+ 75. Kg4 Ra6 76. Rb5 Rc6 77. Rb7+ Kf6 78. Rh7 Kg6 79. Rh5 Ra6 80. f5+ Kg7 81. Kg5 Rb6 82. Rh1 Rb2 83. Rg1 Kf7 84. Rg4 Rc2 85. Ra4 Rg2+ 86. Kf4 Rf2+ 87. Ke4 Re2+ 88. Kd5 Rd2+ 89. Ke5 Re2+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "3.3"] [Result "0-1"] [Date "2024.12.17"] [ECO "B41"] [WhiteElo "2747"] [BlackElo "2831"] [PlyCount "86"] [GameId "2125141917467636"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. g3 d5 6. Nb3 Nf6 7. exd5 exd5 8. Bg2 Nc6 9. O-O Be7 10. Be3 O-O 11. Nc3 Be6 12. h3 Rc8 13. a3 Re8 14. Re1 h6 15. Kh2 Bd6 16. Nd4 Nxd4 17. Bxd4 Bc5 18. Ne2 Bxd4 19. Nxd4 Qb6 20. Re3 Bd7 21. Rb3 Qa7 22. Kg1 Ne4 23. Re3 Qb6 24. Rb1 Ng5 25. Rb3 Qa7 26. h4 Ne4 27. Re3 Qb6 28. Rb3 Qa7 29. Re3 Qb6 30. c3 Nf6 31. Nc2 Bf5 32. Rf3 Be4 33. Rf4 g5 34. hxg5 hxg5 35. Rxe4 dxe4 36. Ne3 Rcd8 37. Qe2 Qb5 38. c4 Qe5 39. Re1 Rd3 40. Ng4 Nxg4 41. Qxg4 Rd4 42. Qe2 e3 43. fxe3 Qxg3 0-1 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "3.3"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.17"] [ECO "B31"] [WhiteElo "2755"] [BlackElo "2731"] [PlyCount "117"] [GameId "2125141917471733"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. Re1 e5 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. d3 Qe7 8. a4 Nf6 9. a5 O-O 10. Be3 Bg4 11. Nbd2 Nd7 12. h3 Be6 13. Ng5 b6 14. Nxe6 Qxe6 15. Ra3 Rfd8 16. axb6 axb6 17. Qa1 Qe8 18. Ra7 Bf8 19. Qa2 Rxa7 20. Qxa7 Ra8 21. Qb7 Qc8 22. Qxc8 Rxc8 23. Ra1 Bd6 24. Nc4 Bc7 25. Ra7 Kf8 26. g3 Ke7 27. Kg2 f6 28. f4 Ke6 29. Kf3 b5 30. Nd2 Bb6 31. Ra6 Rb8 32. Nb3 f5 33. exf5+ gxf5 34. fxe5 Nxe5+ 35. Ke2 Nd7 36. Nd2 Rg8 37. Bf2 Kd6 38. Nf3 Kc7 39. Nh4 Re8+ 40. Kf3 Ne5+ 41. Kg2 Ng6 42. Nxf5 Re2 43. Ne3 Kb7 44. Rxb6+ Kxb6 45. Kf1 Rxf2+ 46. Kxf2 Kc7 47. Kf3 Kd6 48. Ke4 Ke6 49. g4 Kf6 50. Nf5 Kg5 51. Kf3 h5 52. gxh5 Kxh5 53. Kg3 Kg5 54. Nd6 Kh5 55. Nf7 c4 56. dxc4 bxc4 57. c3 c5 58. Kf3 Kh4 59. Ke4 1-0 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "4.1"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.18"] [ECO "E05"] [WhiteElo "2763"] [BlackElo "2755"] [PlyCount "103"] [GameId "2125141917471734"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 dxc4 7. Na3 Bxa3 8. bxa3 Bd7 9. Ne5 Bc6 10. Nxc6 Nxc6 11. Bb2 Nd5 12. Rc1 Nb6 13. e3 Qe7 14. Rb1 Rfd8 15. Qc1 Rab8 16. Ba1 e5 17. d5 Nxd5 18. Qxc4 Nb6 19. Qc2 Rd6 20. a4 Rbd8 21. Bc3 a5 22. Be4 h6 23. Rfc1 Qe6 24. Be1 g6 25. Qb3 Qxb3 26. axb3 Nd5 27. g4 R8d7 28. Rc4 Ncb4 29. Bxd5 Rxd5 30. Bxb4 axb4 31. Rxb4 b6 32. Rb2 Rc5 33. Re4 f6 34. b4 Rc1+ 35. Kg2 Ra1 36. b5 Rc1 37. a5 bxa5 38. Ra4 Kf7 39. Rxa5 h5 40. b6 cxb6 41. Rxb6 Rc4 42. gxh5 Rg4+ 43. Kf3 gxh5 44. Raa6 Rg6 45. Ke4 Rg4+ 46. Kf3 Rg6 47. Ke4 Kg7 48. Kf5 Rf7 49. f4 exf4 50. exf4 h4 51. h3 Rg3 52. Rxf6 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Keymer, Vincent"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "4.1"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.18"] [ECO "E01"] [WhiteElo "2747"] [BlackElo "2733"] [PlyCount "81"] [GameId "2125141917471735"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Nd2 d5 5. Bg2 a5 6. Ngf3 dxc4 7. a3 Bxd2+ 8. Bxd2 a4 9. O-O b5 10. Ne5 Ra6 11. Bb4 Nd5 12. Bc5 Bb7 13. e4 Ne7 14. Qd2 O-O 15. Qb4 Re8 16. Qxb5 Qc8 17. Qxc4 Nd7 18. Nxd7 Qxd7 19. Rac1 h6 20. Rfd1 Nc8 21. Qd3 Ra8 22. h4 Nd6 23. Bb4 Rac8 24. Rc5 Red8 25. Rd2 Kh8 26. Kh2 Rb8 27. d5 exd5 28. exd5 Re8 29. Rdc2 Rbc8 30. Ba5 Qg4 31. Rxc7 Rxc7 32. Bxc7 Qd7 33. Bxd6 Qxd6 34. Qb5 Re7 35. Qxa4 g5 36. Qb4 Qxb4 37. axb4 gxh4 38. d6 hxg3+ 39. fxg3 Rd7 40. Bxb7 Rxb7 41. Rc7 1-0 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "4.1"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.18"] [ECO "A12"] [WhiteElo "2831"] [BlackElo "2731"] [PlyCount "101"] [GameId "2125141917471736"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. b3 g6 4. Bb2 Bg7 5. c4 c6 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O Bg4 8. h3 Bxf3 9. Bxf3 Re8 10. d4 e6 11. Nc3 a5 12. Qc2 Na6 13. Rfd1 Qe7 14. a3 Rab8 15. Rac1 b5 16. Ne2 Nd7 17. cxd5 cxd5 18. Nf4 b4 19. a4 Nb6 20. Qe2 Qa7 21. Nd3 Nd7 22. Rc6 Rec8 23. Rdc1 Rxc6 24. Rxc6 Qb7 25. Qc2 Rd8 26. Qc1 Ndb8 27. Rc2 Nd7 28. Be2 Bf8 29. Ne5 Ndb8 30. h4 Bd6 31. h5 Nc7 32. e4 Bxe5 33. dxe5 Ne8 34. Qg5 Rc8 35. Rxc8 Qxc8 36. exd5 exd5 37. Bb5 Nc6 38. h6 Qe6 39. Qc1 Na7 40. Qc5 Nc8 41. g3 g5 42. Qe3 f6 43. Qd4 Nc7 44. exf6 Nxb5 45. f7+ Kxf7 46. Qg7+ Ke8 47. Qh8+ Kd7 48. Qxh7+ Ne7 49. axb5 Qe2 50. Bf6 a4 51. Qxe7+ 1-0 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Lazavik, Denis"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "4.1"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.18"] [ECO "E48"] [WhiteElo "2578"] [BlackElo "2747"] [PlyCount "85"] [GameId "2125141917471737"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] {[%evp 0,85,17,26,25,22,13,16,11,18,9,-38,1,0,-5,-9,-15,20,0,-7,-7,4,-5,9,27,30,21,-12,43,56,219,214,326,267,343,365,369,462,371,429,470,360,375,366,369,375,389,299,372,393,385,419,413,436,377,393,488,454,540,369,302,159,237,240,247,230,252,221,227,285,280,335,340,267,455,246,246,279,325,327,360,292,406,447,445,428,425,461]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Nge2 Re8 8. O-O Bf8 9. Bd2 b6 10. Nf4 Bb7 11. Qf3 c5 12. Rfd1 cxd4 13. exd4 Ne4 14. Rac1 g6 $4 {A blunder (in terms of the damage it does), but a subtle one.} 15. Nfxd5 $3 Bxd5 16. Nxd5 Qxd5 17. Re1 $1 {This quiet move may have been what Aronian missed, if he noticed 15.Nfxd5 at all.} Qxd4 (17... f5 18. Bc4 $18 {is one problem, and}) (17... Nf6 18. Rxe8 Qxf3 19. Rxf8+ $1 {is the other.}) 18. Rxe4 Rxe4 19. Qxe4 Qxb2 20. Rd1 $18 {Black must lose a piece, and he has no real compensation for it. (In fact, it's White who has the "compensation".)} Nc6 21. Qxc6 Rd8 22. Qc2 Qa3 23. Be3 b5 24. Bxb5 Rxd1+ 25. Qxd1 Qxa2 26. g3 a5 27. Qd8 Qb1+ 28. Bf1 Qb4 29. Bh6 a4 30. Qxf8+ Qxf8 31. Bxf8 Kxf8 32. Bc4 f6 33. Kf1 Ke7 34. Ke2 Kd6 35. Kd3 Ke5 36. f3 g5 37. Ke3 a3 38. Ba2 h5 39. Bb3 Kf5 40. Kd4 h4 41. Kd5 Kg6 42. Ke6 f5 43. Ke5 1-0 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "4.2"] [Result "0-1"] [Date "2024.12.18"] [ECO "B12"] [WhiteElo "2755"] [BlackElo "2763"] [PlyCount "70"] [GameId "2125141917475834"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Nd7 6. O-O a5 7. c3 a4 8. Ne1 f6 9. Bd3 Ne7 10. exf6 Nxf6 11. Bg5 Ne4 12. Bxe4 Bxe4 13. Nd2 Bf5 14. Qh5+ Bg6 15. Qe2 Qc8 16. Nd3 Nf5 17. Rae1 Bd6 18. g4 Nh6 19. Ne5 Nf7 20. Nxg6 hxg6 21. Nf3 e5 22. Nxe5 Nxg5 23. Nc4+ Kf8 24. Nxd6 Qd7 25. f4 Nh3+ 26. Kg2 Qxd6 27. Qd3 Kg8 28. Re5 Rf8 29. Qe3 Qf6 30. g5 Nxf4+ 31. Kh1 Qf7 32. Rf3 Rh4 33. Qf2 Rh3 34. Ree3 Rxf3 35. Rxf3 Qf5 0-1 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Keymer, Vincent"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "4.2"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.18"] [ECO "A20"] [WhiteElo "2733"] [BlackElo "2747"] [PlyCount "117"] [GameId "2125141917475835"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. c4 e5 2. d3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. a3 a5 5. Nc3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. e4 Nxc3 8. bxc3 Bc5 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. g4 Bg6 13. a4 b6 14. Qb3 Kh8 15. Bb2 f6 16. Rad1 Bd6 17. Qc2 Qe8 18. Nh4 Nd8 19. Bc1 Ne6 20. Nf5 Rd8 21. Be3 Nc5 22. Ra1 Ne6 23. d4 exd4 24. cxd4 Nf4 25. Bb5 Qe6 26. Nxd6 Qxd6 27. f3 Nd5 28. Bf2 Nf4 29. Kh1 Nxh3 30. Be3 Ng5 31. Rac1 Rc8 32. Qh2 Qe7 33. Kg1 Be8 34. Ba6 Ra8 35. Rxc7 Qa3 36. Bxg5 fxg5 37. Qe5 Bf7 38. Bc4 Qe3+ 39. Kg2 Rae8 40. Rxf7 Rg8 41. Qd6 Rc8 42. Qd5 Rgd8 43. Rd7 Rg8 44. Rf2 h6 45. Qe6 Qc3 46. Bd5 Qa1 47. Qf7 Rcf8 48. Qg6 Rf6 49. Qh5 Rgf8 50. Qh3 Qxd4 51. Qg3 Qxa4 52. Ra7 Qd4 53. Rd7 a4 54. e5 Rf4 55. e6 Re8 56. Re2 a3 57. e7 Rf6 58. Rd8 Qa4 59. Qb8 1-0 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "4.2"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.18"] [ECO "C77"] [WhiteElo "2731"] [BlackElo "2831"] [PlyCount "153"] [GameId "2125141917475836"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] {[%evp 0,153,22,30,20,12,14,7,15,16,13,8,28,9,9,10,27,19,5,14,26,27,18,29,25,-1,4,-7,26,-8,0,0,0,80,13,-3,-10,-15,-26,-33,-62,-34,-167,-52,-40,-33,-171,-23,-9,-13,0,6,67,85,57,179,36,34,-41,-12,-3,-28,-14,-14,-2,-31,-44,-42,-59,-31,-45,-45,-32,99,-60,-22,-45,-65,-41,-51,-138,-56,-41,-29,-45,-100,-116,-70,-48,-61,-61,-32,-32,-1,1,99,246,94,146,111,191,117,175,228,202,144,237,225,219,224,256,129,144,276,151,141,120,120,153,221,238,86,97,72,168,226,135,242,111,326,271,271,309,238,330,320,348,362,358,334,259,266,202,234,199,287,354,453,488,512,621,621,934,29967,29989,29990]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. Nc3 d6 9. a3 Rb8 10. h3 h6 11. Be3 Re8 12. Ne2 Bf8 13. c3 d5 14. Bc2 dxe4 15. dxe4 Qxd1 16. Rfxd1 Na5 17. b3 Be6 18. Nc1 Nd7 19. Nd2 c5 20. b4 Nb7 21. Nf3 Rec8 22. Bb3 c4 23. Bc2 a5 {The position is equal, and if anyone has shown the upper hand so far it is Carlsen. From here MVL does something that happens very rarely: he outplays Carlsen, and does so in an endgame (though this should probably still be labeled a queenless middlegame).} 24. Ne2 Ra8 25. Nh4 Ra6 (25... g5 $11) 26. f4 $1 $14 {An excellent idea, which was of course the point of the previous move. White gives himself an isolated e-pawn in exchange for some breathing room for his pieces.} exf4 27. Nxf4 Ne5 28. Nf3 (28. Nf5 $142) 28... Nxf3+ 29. gxf3 $11 Rca8 30. Rac1 axb4 31. axb4 Ra3 32. Bd4 Nd8 33. e5 {The fruit of White's 25th and 26th moves is evident. Look at White's bishop on d4, knight on f4, and pawn on e5. The position is still equal according to the engine, but few people looking at this position without an engine would deny that White is at least somewhat better.} g5 34. Nh5 $1 Nc6 $1 (34... Bxh3 $2 35. Nf6+ Kh8 36. Be4 Rc8 37. Kh2 Be6 38. f4 $18 {Here White is clearly winning. A cooperative but relevant variation, just for fun:} gxf4 $2 39. Rg1 Bg7 40. Rxg7 $1 Kxg7 41. Rg1+ Kf8 42. Rg8+ Ke7 43. Re8#) 35. Be4 Nxd4 36. cxd4 (36. Bxa8 $4 Ne2+ $19) 36... Rd8 (36... Bxb4 $1 37. Rb1 Bc3 38. Bxa8 Rxa8 39. Rxb5 Ra1 40. Rxa1 Bxd4+ $1 $11 {It's not impossible that Carlsen missed this zwischenzug. (Unlikely, but not impossible.)}) 37. d5 $1 Bxh3 38. d6 (38. Nf6+ Kh8 39. Kf2 $1 Bxb4 40. Rh1 g4 41. Kg3 Bd2 42. Rc2 Bg5 43. Nxg4 f5 $1 44. exf6 Bxg4 45. Kxg4 Ra6 $1 46. f4 Bxf6 47. Rxh6+ Kg8 $11 {is still complicated and shows how many different kinds of options are available to both sides.}) 38... Bg7 39. Rd5 Bd7 $1 40. Rc5 $1 Bh8 41. Kf2 Kf8 $6 (41... Ra2+ 42. Kg3 f5 $1 43. exf6 Be8 44. Bd5+ Kf8 45. Ng7 Bxg7 46. fxg7+ Kxg7 47. Re1 $11 {is one crazy option of many. This is a very difficult ending.}) 42. Re1 $6 $11 (42. Nf6 $1 $16) 42... Ra2+ 43. Kg3 Re8 44. Nf6 Bxf6 45. exf6 {The position is engine-equal, but for a human being Black is teetering over the face of the abyss.} Re6 $2 {The right idea, but here it loses.} (45... h5 $1 {is the only good move. For a moment you might wonder what this has to do with anything, and then you see that it threatens mate in one! White has only one non-losing reply.} 46. Rxg5 {So far, so good, but *now* Carlsen can play} Re6 {without getting mated or losing a piece.} 47. Bh7 {almost wins.} (47. Bf5 $4 {doesn't work this time.} Rxe1 $19 (47... Rxd6 $4 48. Bxd7 Rxd7 49. Re8+ $1 Kxe8 50. Rg8#) 48. Bxd7 {doesn't win for White without the rook on c5. Worse, Black forces a trade of rooks and wins:} Rg1+ 49. Kf4 Rxg5 50. Kxg5 c3 51. Bf5 c2 {and wins, because he threatens to queen with check.} 52. Bxc2 (52. d7 c1=Q+ $19) 52... Rxc2 53. d7 Rd2 $19) (47. Rxh5 Rxf6 $11) 47... h4+ $1 48. Kf4 $8 Rxf6+ 49. Ke5 Re6+ 50. Kf4 $8 Rf6+ $8 $11) 46. Rc7 $2 (46. Bf5 $3 Rxe1 {is the obvious "problem" with 46.Bf5. There's no direct mate after} (46... Rxd6 47. Bxd7 Rxd7 $2 (47... Rxf6 48. Bxb5 $18) 48. Rc8+ {is a fundamental problem.} Rd8 49. Rxd8#) (46... Rxf6 47. Bxd7 Rxd6 48. Bxb5 $18) 47. Bxd7 Ra8 {, but his activity and the passed d-pawn are more than Black can handle.} 48. Bxb5 Rd8 49. d7 Ra1 50. Rxc4 Raa8 51. Bc6 Rab8 52. Kg4 $18 {White plays b5, Re4, brings the king up as far as he can, and if Black hasn't already lost something by then he'll play Re8+ to liquidate into a winning ending.}) 46... Rxd6 (46... Ke8 $1 47. Rb7 Ra8 $1 48. Rh1 Rxf6 49. Rxd7 Kxd7 50. Bxa8 Kxd6 $14 {White is running out of pawns. In practice, White still has decent winning chances.}) 47. Rh1 Rxf6 48. Rxd7 $14 {The presence of both pairs of rooks give White better winning chances than he had at the end of the last variation. The engine will draw this, but humans probably won't.} Rb2 49. Rb1 Rxb1 50. Bxb1 {Now it's essentially the same ending given in the 46...Ke8 line. The engine calls this equal, but I reiterate that it's not, for humans, especially when short of time.} Ra6 $2 {Case in point: Carlsen plays one move that doesn't blunder anything, sensibly looking to activate his rook, and it's a losing move.} ({You might be thinking, "What are you talking about? 50...Ra6 loses the b-pawn!" Yes, I know, that's how it seems. But} 50... Rb6 $2 {, saving it, is even worse according to the computer. White plays} 51. Rd5 {followed by Be4, Rc5, and Bc6 (for example) and the pawn is gone all the same.}) ({On the other hand, other moves that don't defend the b-pawn like} 50... h5) ({or} 50... Rf4 {maintain equality according to the engine. As I said, humans aren't going to hold this endgame with Black.}) 51. Rb7 $18 c3 52. Rxb5 Ra1 53. Be4 Ra4 54. Kg4 Kg7 55. Rb6 $2 {This gives Carlsen a chance to get back into the game. He takes it.} (55. Kf5 $18 {This prevents Black from consolidating to any degree on the kingside, and can even be the prelude to a mating attack with Rb7 and Bd5.}) 55... Ra2 $1 56. Rc6 Rb2 $1 57. Rc4 Kf6 $1 {Otherwise White would re-establish his bind with Kf5. Now Black is objectively okay again, though I once again caution you that this is "computer-okay", not human-okay.} 58. f4 $5 gxf4 $2 {This follows all the standard chess wisdom we learned at children (or "children", or nowadays as fetuses): when down material trade pawns, not pieces; head towards known draws (like R vs. R+B - Black can give up all his pawns as long as he gets to eliminate White's b-pawn along the way). Alas, it loses.} (58... h5+ 59. Kf3 gxf4 $11 {is a draw. Obvious, right? Only if you're slavishly looking at the engine's evaluation.}) 59. Kxf4 $18 h5 {The same position as in the last note, but now it's White to move.} 60. Bd3 $2 (60. Ke3 $1 $18 {is the only winning move. That it's the only winning move isn't obvious, but at least the idea behind it is: White wants to play Kd3xc3, so his rook is free to do more interesting things than defend the b-pawn.}) 60... h4 $11 61. b5 $1 {Instead of handing off the defensive duties for the b-pawn to the king (as in the 60.Ke3 line) White gives the job to his bishop.} h3 $2 (61... Rxb5 $4 62. Rc6+ $18) (61... Rb3 $1 $11 {is the only move to maintain equality. Black must keep his main trump as long as possible.}) 62. Rxc3 $18 h2 63. Rc6+ {Usefully pushing the king back a row.} Ke7 (63... Kg7 64. Rc1 $18) 64. Rh6 f6 65. Ke4 Ke6 66. Bc4+ Kd6 67. Kd4 Rf2 68. Bd3 Ke6 69. Be4 Rb2 70. Kc5 {The rest is simple. White's rook and bishop have Black's pawns under full control, and White's king will help shepherd his pawn up the board.} Ke5 71. Bc6 Rc2+ 72. Kb6 f5 73. Kc7 f4 74. b6 (74. Kb7 {prevents Black from (safely) playing ...f3, but MVL has accurately calculated that he doesn't need to prevent it any longer.}) 74... f3 75. b7 f2 76. b8=Q f1=Q 77. Qh8+ $1 {Cleanest. Black's king must go to the f-file (unless he prefers 77...Qf6 78.Qxf6#), whereupon White can win Black's new queen with a skewer on the f-file.} 1-0 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Lazavik, Denis"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "4.2"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.18"] [ECO "C28"] [WhiteElo "2747"] [BlackElo "2578"] [PlyCount "103"] [GameId "2125141917475837"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Nf3 d5 6. exd5 Nxd5 7. O-O Bxc3 8. bxc3 O-O 9. Bd2 Bg4 10. Rb1 Nb6 11. Bb3 Qd6 12. Qe2 Kh8 13. h3 Bh5 14. g4 Bg6 15. Nh4 Rae8 16. Rbe1 f5 17. Kh1 f4 18. Nxg6+ Qxg6 19. Qe4 Qh6 20. Kh2 Nc8 21. f3 Nd6 22. Qe2 Nd8 23. Qg2 N8f7 24. Re2 Qf6 25. Be1 Ng5 26. h4 Ne6 27. Bf2 e4 28. dxe4 Qxc3 29. Rd1 Nf7 30. Rd3 Qf6 31. Rd5 c6 32. Rf5 Qe7 33. g5 Nd6 34. Qg4 Nc7 35. Rxf4 Rxf4 36. Qxf4 Rf8 37. Qg4 Nf7 38. f4 Nb5 39. e5 Nc3 40. Re3 Nd5 41. Rf3 Nd8 42. Bg3 Nf7 43. e6 Nd6 44. f5 Rxf5 45. Bxd5 Rxd5 46. c4 Rd2+ 47. Kh3 Kg8 48. c5 Ne8 49. Qf5 Rxa2 50. Bd6 Nxd6 51. cxd6 Qe8 52. d7 1-0 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Keymer, Vincent"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "4.3"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.18"] [ECO "A13"] [WhiteElo "2747"] [BlackElo "2733"] [PlyCount "87"] [GameId "2125141917475838"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 d4 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. d3 Nc6 6. O-O Bc5 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. Nb3 Be7 9. e3 dxe3 10. Bxe3 Ng4 11. Bc5 Bxc5 12. Nxc5 b6 13. Nb3 Bb7 14. d4 Rb8 15. Qe2 Nf6 16. Rad1 Ne7 17. Rfe1 Ng6 18. h4 Qc8 19. Bh3 Qe8 20. Ng5 h6 21. h5 Ne7 22. Nf3 Nc6 23. Nh4 a5 24. Rd2 a4 25. Na1 Na5 26. b4 axb3 27. axb3 b5 28. d5 exd5 29. Qd1 Qd8 30. cxb5 Bc8 31. Bxc8 Qxc8 32. Qf3 Re8 33. Rxe8+ Qxe8 34. Re2 Qxb5 35. Nf5 Nxb3 36. Nc2 d4 37. Re7 Nd2 38. Nxh6+ Kh7 39. Qd1 Qd3 40. Nxf7 Rb1 41. Ng5+ Kh6 42. Nf7+ Kh7 43. Ng5+ Kh6 44. Nf7+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "4.3"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.18"] [ECO "C77"] [WhiteElo "2731"] [BlackElo "2831"] [PlyCount "122"] [GameId "2125141917475839"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. Nc3 d6 9. a3 Rb8 10. h3 h6 11. Ne2 Re8 12. Ng3 Bf8 13. c3 Be6 14. Bc2 d5 15. b4 dxe4 16. dxe4 Qxd1 17. Rxd1 Red8 18. Rxd8 Rxd8 19. a4 Ne8 20. axb5 axb5 21. Ra6 Bd7 22. Nf1 Nd6 23. Ne3 f6 24. Nd2 Ne7 25. Nb3 Bc6 26. Nc5 Ra8 27. Bb3+ Kh7 28. Rxa8 Bxa8 29. Ne6 Ng6 30. f3 c6 31. Nf5 Nc4 32. Nxf8+ Nxf8 33. Bxc4 bxc4 34. Nd6 Ne6 35. Be3 g5 36. Nxc4 Bb7 37. Na5 Ba8 38. Kf2 Kg6 39. Ke2 h5 40. g4 h4 41. Kd3 Kf7 42. Kc4 Ke7 43. b5 cxb5+ 44. Kxb5 Kd7 45. c4 Nd8 46. Kb6 Bc6 47. Nxc6 Nxc6 48. c5 Nd8 49. Bd2 Nc6 50. Bc3 Nd8 51. Kb5 Nc6 52. Ka6 Kc7 53. Kb5 Kd7 54. Kb6 Nd8 55. Be1 Nc6 56. Bc3 Nd8 57. f4 exf4 58. Bxf6 f3 59. Bd4 Nc6 60. Be3 Ne5 61. Kb7 Nc6 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Lazavik, Denis"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "4.3"] [Result "0-1"] [Date "2024.12.18"] [ECO "A05"] [WhiteElo "2578"] [BlackElo "2747"] [PlyCount "150"] [GameId "2125141917479936"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. b3 c5 3. Bb2 Nc6 4. e3 g6 5. Bb5 Bg7 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 d6 8. d4 cxd4 9. exd4 Bg4 10. Nbd2 Rc8 11. h3 Bf5 12. a3 a6 13. Bf1 d5 14. c3 Ne4 15. Nh4 e6 16. Nxf5 exf5 17. Nf3 Qb6 18. b4 Na5 19. Rc1 Nc4 20. Bxc4 Rxc4 21. Nd2 Rc6 22. Nb3 Qc7 23. Nc5 a5 24. b5 Rd6 25. a4 Rc8 26. Nd3 Rdd8 27. f3 Nd6 28. Ra1 Bh6 29. Bc1 Bxc1 30. Rxc1 Nc4 31. Qe2 Qd6 32. Nc5 Rc7 33. Qf2 b6 34. Nd3 Re7 35. Rxe7 Qxe7 36. Re1 Qg5 37. h4 Qf6 38. Nf4 Qd6 39. g3 Qa3 40. Qc2 Kf8 41. Kf2 Qb2 42. Qe2 Rd6 43. h5 g5 44. Nd3 Qxe2+ 45. Rxe2 Re6 46. Ne5 Nxe5 47. dxe5 f4 48. gxf4 gxf4 49. c4 dxc4 50. Re4 c3 51. Ke2 f5 52. Rxf4 Rxe5+ 53. Kd3 Rc5 54. Kc2 Ke7 55. Rd4 Re5 56. Kxc3 Re3+ 57. Kc4 Rxf3 58. Kd5 Rc3 59. Ke5 Rc5+ 60. Kf4 h6 61. Rd2 Ke6 62. Rg2 Rc4+ 63. Ke3 Rg4 64. Rc2 Rxa4 65. Rc6+ Ke5 66. Rxh6 Rh4 67. Rh8 a4 68. h6 Kf6 69. Rb8 a3 70. Rxb6+ Ke5 71. Ra6 a2 72. b6 Rh3+ 73. Kd2 Kd6 74. Rxa2 Rh2+ 75. Kc3 Rxa2 0-1 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Lazavik, Denis"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "5.1"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.18"] [ECO "C55"] [WhiteElo "2755"] [BlackElo "2578"] [PlyCount "101"] [GameId "2125141917479937"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. a4 d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. h3 Kh8 9. Re1 f6 10. a5 Bf5 11. Nbd2 a6 12. Nb3 b5 13. axb6 Nxb6 14. Nfd2 Nxc4 15. Nxc4 Be6 16. Be3 Qd5 17. Nbd2 f5 18. f3 Bh4 19. Rf1 a5 20. Bf2 Bf6 21. Re1 a4 22. Nb1 Qd7 23. Nc3 e4 24. Nxa4 Bxc4 25. dxc4 Qxd1 26. Rexd1 exf3 27. c3 fxg2 28. Nc5 Rxa1 29. Rxa1 Ne5 30. Ne6 Rc8 31. c5 Kg8 32. Ra7 c6 33. Kxg2 Re8 34. Nd4 Nd3 35. b4 Re4 36. b5 cxb5 37. c6 Re8 38. Nxb5 Nxf2 39. Kxf2 Be5 40. Rd7 h5 41. c4 g5 42. c7 Bxc7 43. Nxc7 Re4 44. c5 Rc4 45. Ne6 g4 46. hxg4 hxg4 47. Kg3 Rc3+ 48. Kf4 Rf3+ 49. Ke5 g3 50. Kf6 g2 51. Rd8+ 1-0 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "5.1"] [Result "0-1"] [Date "2024.12.18"] [ECO "B51"] [WhiteElo "2747"] [BlackElo "2747"] [PlyCount "178"] [GameId "2125141917479938"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. a4 Ngf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 Qa5 7. Ba2 e6 8. Qe2 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. d4 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Nb8 12. Be3 Nc6 13. Kh1 Bd7 14. f4 Qb4 15. Qd2 Rac8 16. Rab1 Nxd4 17. Qxd4 Qxd4 18. Bxd4 b5 19. axb5 axb5 20. b4 Rc7 21. h3 Rfc8 22. Rf3 Bc6 23. Re1 g6 24. Bb3 Nd7 25. Kh2 Kf8 26. Rd3 Rb7 27. f5 exf5 28. exf5 Ne5 29. Rdd1 gxf5 30. Rf1 Bd7 31. Nd5 Bg5 32. Nb6 Rxb6 33. Bxb6 Ke7 34. Bd4 Be6 35. Ra1 Nc6 36. Bc3 d5 37. Ra6 Be3 38. Be1 d4 39. Bh4+ Kd7 40. Rb6 Nxb4 41. Rxb5 Nxc2 42. Ba4 Kd6 43. Bg3+ Ke7 44. Rb7+ Kf6 45. Bb5 Bg5 46. Bd3 Ne3 47. Ra1 Rc3 48. Be2 f4 49. Be1 Rc2 50. Bf3 Nxg2 51. Kg1 Nxe1 52. Rxe1 d3 53. Rd1 d2 54. Rb4 Rc3 55. Kg2 Rd3 56. Rb2 Bd5 57. Bxd5 Rxd5 58. Kf2 f3 59. Kxf3 Rd3+ 60. Kg2 Rd4 61. Kf3 Kg6 62. Ke2 f6 63. Rf1 Rh4 64. Rb3 Rc4 65. Rg3 Kh5 66. Rgf3 Rc1 67. Rd1 Rc5 68. Rxd2 Re5+ 69. Kd1 Bxd2 70. Kxd2 f5 71. Kd3 Kg5 72. Kd4 Re4+ 73. Kd3 Re1 74. Rg3+ Kf4 75. Rg7 Re3+ 76. Kd2 h5 77. h4 Rg3 78. Rf7 Rh3 79. Ke2 Rxh4 80. Kf2 Rg4 81. Ra7 h4 82. Ra4+ Kg5 83. Ra8 h3 84. Rh8 Rh4 85. Rg8+ Kf4 86. Rg1 h2 87. Rh1 Rh8 88. Kg2 Kg4 89. Kf2 Kh3 0-1 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "5.1"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.18"] [ECO "C55"] [WhiteElo "2763"] [BlackElo "2831"] [PlyCount "108"] [GameId "2125141917479939"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Nc3 d6 7. a4 a5 8. Re1 h6 9. h3 Re8 10. Ne2 Bf8 11. Ng3 Be6 12. Bb5 Bd7 13. c3 Ne7 14. d4 Bxb5 15. axb5 exd4 16. Nxd4 Ng6 17. c4 c6 18. bxc6 bxc6 19. Nxc6 Qc7 20. Qa4 d5 21. cxd5 Nxd5 22. Bd2 Ndf4 23. Qb5 Nxg2 24. Kxg2 Qd7 25. Be3 Nh4+ 26. Kf1 Rab8 27. Qd5 Qxh3+ 28. Ke2 Rxb2+ 29. Kd3 Ng2 30. Re2 Rb7 31. Qf5 Qh4 32. Rh1 Nxe3 33. Rxe3 Qg5 34. Qxg5 hxg5 35. Nxa5 Rd8+ 36. Ke2 Rb2+ 37. Kf3 Bc5 38. Nc4 Rc2 39. Ne5 Bxe3 40. fxe3 f6 41. Ng4 Kf7 42. e5 Ke6 43. exf6 gxf6 44. Rh6 Rf8 45. Ne4 Ke7 46. Rxf6 Rxf6+ 47. Nexf6 Ke6 48. Ne4 Ra2 49. Ngf2 g4+ 50. Kxg4 Ra3 51. Nd3 Rxd3 52. Nc5+ Ke5 53. Nxd3+ Ke4 54. Nf2+ Kxe3 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Keymer, Vincent"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "5.1"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.18"] [ECO "C49"] [WhiteElo "2731"] [BlackElo "2733"] [PlyCount "121"] [GameId "2125141917479940"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bb4 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 Bxc3 7. bxc3 d6 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 a6 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. Rb1 c5 12. c4 Bg4 13. h3 Bxf3 14. Qxf3 g5 15. Bg3 Kg7 16. Rb3 Qd7 17. Rfb1 Ng8 18. c3 Ne7 19. d4 cxd4 20. cxd4 exd4 21. e5 dxe5 22. Bxe5+ f6 23. Bxf6+ Kg6 24. Qe4+ Qf5 25. Qxe7 Rxf6 26. Rf1 d3 27. Qxc7 Re8 28. Rb7 Rf7 29. Qc6+ Re6 30. Qc8 Rxb7 31. Qxb7 Rd6 32. Qb8 Qe6 33. c5 Rd7 34. Rd1 d2 35. Qb6 Kf7 36. Qxe6+ Kxe6 37. Kf1 Rd5 38. Ke2 Rxc5 39. Rxd2 Ra5 40. Kd3 h5 41. Kc4 g4 42. hxg4 hxg4 43. Re2+ Kf6 44. g3 Rf5 45. a4 Kf7 46. Re4 Rxf2 47. Rxg4 Rc2+ 48. Kb4 Rc6 49. Ka5 Ke7 50. Rg7+ Kf6 51. Rb7 Rc3 52. g4 Rg3 53. Rb4 Ke6 54. Kxa6 Kf7 55. a5 Kg7 56. Kb7 Re3 57. a6 Re7+ 58. Kb6 Re6+ 59. Ka5 Re5+ 60. Rb5 Re1 61. a7 1-0 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Lazavik, Denis"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "5.2"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.18"] [ECO "A06"] [WhiteElo "2578"] [BlackElo "2755"] [PlyCount "97"] [GameId "2125141917484037"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. b3 Nf6 3. Bb2 e6 4. e3 Be7 5. g4 O-O 6. g5 Ne4 7. h4 c5 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. dxc3 Nc6 10. c4 Qa5+ 11. Qd2 Qxd2+ 12. Nxd2 d4 13. exd4 cxd4 14. O-O-O e5 15. Bg2 f6 16. gxf6 Rxf6 17. Bd5+ Kh8 18. Rde1 Bd7 19. Ne4 Rf4 20. Kb1 Raf8 21. h5 h6 22. Bc1 R4f5 23. a3 Be8 24. b4 Rxh5 25. Rxh5 Bxh5 26. b5 Nd8 27. c5 Bf7 28. Bxf7 Nxf7 29. Bd2 Rc8 30. Bb4 Kg8 31. Kb2 a5 32. bxa6 bxa6 33. Kb3 Nd8 34. Kc4 Nc6 35. Kd5 Kf7 36. Bd2 Ke8 37. Rg1 Bf8 38. Nd6+ Bxd6 39. cxd6 g5 40. Rh1 Nd8 41. Rxh6 Rxc2 42. Rh8+ Kd7 43. Rh7+ Kc8 44. Bxg5 d3 45. Rh8 d2 46. Rxd8+ Kb7 47. Bxd2 Rxd2+ 48. Ke6 Rxf2 49. d7 1-0 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "5.2"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.18"] [ECO "B08"] [WhiteElo "2747"] [BlackElo "2747"] [PlyCount "39"] [GameId "2125141917484038"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] {[%evp 0,39,28,6,23,-12,28,21,43,37,40,40,39,37,41,49,37,22,24,52,54,38,67,38,50,71,80,46,56,83,83,99,64,136,277,267,325,330,328,246,436,328] This is what "tilt" looks like, and not even super-GMs are immune.} 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Be2 O-O 6. O-O c6 7. a4 Qc7 8. Be3 e5 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. Bc4 Nbd7 $6 (10... Qe7 $142 $14) 11. h3 $1 $16 a5 12. Qd2 Re8 $6 13. Rad1 $2 {Aronian misses it the first time, but he gets a second chance.} (13. Ng5 $1) 13... Bf8 $4 (13... Nf8 $16) 14. Ng5 Re7 15. f4 $18 {It's already over. White will pile up on the f-file and quickly cash in.} exf4 16. Bxf4 Ne5 17. Qf2 Kg7 18. Nxf7 Rxf7 19. Bxf7 Kxf7 20. Bg5 1-0 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "5.2"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.18"] [ECO "A34"] [WhiteElo "2831"] [BlackElo "2763"] [PlyCount "76"] [GameId "2125141917484039"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Nc3 g6 7. h4 h6 8. O-O Bg7 9. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nxd4 11. Nxd5 Bh3 12. Bxh3 Qxd5 13. e3 Nf3+ 14. Kh1 Qxd1 15. Rxd1 O-O 16. Kg2 Ne5 17. b3 Nd3 18. Rb1 Rfd8 19. Ba3 e6 20. Kf1 Rac8 21. Bg2 b5 22. Be7 Rd7 23. Bb4 Bc3 24. Bxc3 Rxc3 25. Be4 b4 26. Bxd3 Rdxd3 27. Rxd3 Rxd3 28. Rb2 Rc3 29. Rd2 a5 30. Rd8+ Kg7 31. Ra8 Rc5 32. Ra7 g5 33. hxg5 hxg5 34. g4 Kg6 35. Ra6 Kf6 36. Kg2 Ke5 37. Kf3 Kf6 38. Kg3 Kg6 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Keymer, Vincent"] [Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "5.2"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.18"] [ECO "A30"] [WhiteElo "2733"] [BlackElo "2731"] [PlyCount "116"] [GameId "2125141917484040"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. b3 g6 4. Bb2 Bg7 5. g3 b6 6. Bg2 Bb7 7. O-O O-O 8. d4 cxd4 9. Qxd4 d6 10. Rd1 Nbd7 11. Nc3 Ne4 12. Qe3 Nxc3 13. Bxc3 Bxc3 14. Qxc3 Rc8 15. Qe3 Rc5 16. Rd4 Nf6 17. Rad1 b5 18. cxb5 Rxb5 19. Ra4 a5 20. Nd4 Re5 21. Qd3 Bxg2 22. Kxg2 Qa8+ 23. Qf3 Qxf3+ 24. Nxf3 Rc5 25. Ne1 Rfc8 26. Rdd4 d5 27. f3 e5 28. Rd2 e4 29. Kf2 Re8 30. Rc2 Rec8 31. Rxc5 Rxc5 32. Ke3 g5 33. Kd2 Kf8 34. Ng2 Ke7 35. Ne3 h5 36. Nf5+ Kd7 37. Nd4 Ne8 38. Nf5 Nf6 39. h3 g4 40. fxg4 hxg4 41. h4 Nh5 42. e3 Kc7 43. Rd4 Kd7 44. Ra4 Kc7 45. b4 axb4 46. Ra7+ Kd8 47. Rxf7 Ra5 48. Rh7 Rxa2+ 49. Kc1 Nf6 50. Rh6 Nd7 51. h5 Rh2 52. Rh8+ Kc7 53. h6 Nc5 54. Nd4 b3 55. Kb1 Rh1+ 56. Kb2 Rh2+ 57. Kb1 Rh1+ 58. Kb2 Rh2+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Lazavik, Denis"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "5.3"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.18"] [ECO "B30"] [WhiteElo "2755"] [BlackElo "2578"] [PlyCount "91"] [GameId "2125141917484041"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. Re1 b6 6. c3 a6 7. Bf1 d5 8. e5 d4 9. Na3 Bb7 10. Nc4 Nd5 11. a4 Be7 12. Bd3 O-O 13. Be4 b5 14. Na3 Qb6 15. Qc2 h6 16. d3 Rfd8 17. Bd2 Rac8 18. Qc1 Bf8 19. c4 bxc4 20. Nxc4 Qc7 21. a5 Ncb4 22. Ra3 Rb8 23. h4 Ne7 24. h5 Bxe4 25. Rxe4 Qc6 26. Rg4 Nf5 27. Bxh6 Kh8 28. Bg5 Rd7 29. h6 Nxh6 30. Bxh6 gxh6 31. Qf4 Bg7 32. Nd6 Rf8 33. Ne4 Nd5 34. Qg3 f5 35. exf6 Nxf6 36. Ne5 Nxe4 37. dxe4 Qc7 38. Ng6+ Kg8 39. Qh4 d3 40. Nxf8 d2 41. Rxg7+ Rxg7 42. Rd3 Qxa5 43. Nxe6 Qa1+ 44. Kh2 Qf1 45. Rd8+ Kh7 46. Nxg7 1-0 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "5.3"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.18"] [ECO "A08"] [WhiteElo "2831"] [BlackElo "2763"] [PlyCount "116"] [GameId "2125141917484042"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c5 4. O-O Nc6 5. d3 g6 6. Bf4 Nh5 7. Bd2 Bg7 8. Qc1 O-O 9. Nc3 Nf6 10. e4 dxe4 11. dxe4 Bg4 12. h3 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 Nd7 14. Bg2 Nde5 15. Bh6 Nd4 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. f4 Nec6 18. Rf2 c4 19. Nd5 Qd6 20. c3 Ne6 21. e5 Qc5 22. b4 cxb3 23. axb3 a5 24. Qe1 Rfd8 25. Rd1 Rd7 26. Kh2 Rad8 27. Rfd2 b5 28. Rd3 Qa7 29. b4 axb4 30. cxb4 Ncd4 31. Ra1 Nc2 32. Rxa7 Nxe1 33. Rxd7 Rxd7 34. Rd1 Nxg2 35. Kxg2 Nc7 36. Nc3 Rxd1 37. Nxd1 Nd5 38. Kf3 e6 39. Ke4 h5 40. h4 Nxb4 41. Nc3 Nc6 42. Nxb5 Ne7 43. Nd6 Nf5 44. Kf3 Kf8 45. Ne4 Kg7 46. Ng5 Kf8 47. Ne4 Kg7 48. g4 hxg4+ 49. Kxg4 Nh6+ 50. Kg5 Nf5 51. Nf6 Nd4 52. Kg4 Nf5 53. Kg5 Nd4 54. h5 gxh5 55. Nxh5+ Kf8 56. Kf6 Ne2 57. Kg5 Nd4 58. Ng3 Kg7 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "6.1"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.18"] [ECO "A09"] [WhiteElo "2763"] [BlackElo "2731"] [PlyCount "43"] [GameId "2125141917488139"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. b4 {There were a lot of Retis and even more games with 1.Nf3 that turned into other things like the Zukertort System. Just as with Kramnik's Berlin after his 2000 match with Kasparov, the prominence and success of the Reti in the World Championship has spawned massive interest from the rest of the super-GM crowd. But now it's MVL who shows something remarkable.} g5 $5 {What? It turns out that this isn't brand new, and there are more than 300 games in the database with this wild move. It is comparatively rare, though.} 4. h3 (4. Nxg5 $6 e5 $15 {regains the pawn thanks to the double attack (...Qxg5 and ...Bxb4), and leaves Black with the advantage thanks to his nice pawn center.}) 4... h6 5. d3 Bg7 6. g3 e5 7. Bg2 Ne7 {There are still 20 games in the database, a good number of which involve GMs.} 8. Nbd2 O-O 9. Qb3 $146 Be6 10. Ne4 Nd7 11. g4 Ng6 (11... f5 $142 $15) 12. h4 $1 gxh4 $2 (12... Nxh4 $1 13. Nxh4 gxh4 14. g5 $1 f5 $1 15. gxh6 fxe4 16. hxg7 Rf7 17. Bxe4 h3 $11 {would have been some good, crazy fun.}) 13. g5 $1 $16 f5 14. gxh6 fxe4 15. Ng5 $1 $18 e3 16. Nxe6 Qf6 17. c5 $5 (17. Bf3) 17... Qxf2+ 18. Kd1 Bxh6 $2 (18... Kh7 {was better, not that Black is especially happy after} 19. hxg7 Qxg2 20. Nxf8+ $1 Kxg7 $1 (20... Rxf8 $2 21. gxf8=N+ $1 Ndxf8 22. Qf7+ Kh6 23. Qf3 $18) 21. Ne6+ $1 Kf6 22. Re1 $18) 19. Nxf8+ Kxf8 20. Rf1 {Winning the queen, and the game.} Qxf1+ 21. Bxf1 Ke7 22. Bh3 1-0 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Keymer, Vincent"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "6.1"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.18"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2755"] [BlackElo "2733"] [PlyCount "127"] [GameId "2125141917488140"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Nc3 h6 6. a3 d6 7. Na4 Bb6 8. O-O O-O 9. h3 Re8 10. Re1 Nd4 11. Nxd4 Bxd4 12. c3 Bb6 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. Bb3 Be6 15. Bc2 d5 16. Qf3 dxe4 17. dxe4 Nd7 18. Qg3 Qf6 19. f4 Nc5 20. fxe5 Qg6 21. Qxg6 fxg6 22. Be3 Bb3 23. Bxb3+ Nxb3 24. Rad1 Rxe5 25. Rd7 Rxe4 26. Bf2 Rxe1+ 27. Bxe1 Rc8 28. Bg3 Nc5 29. Re7 Kf8 30. Rxc7 Rxc7 31. Bxc7 Nd3 32. b3 b5 33. Kf1 Ke7 34. Bb6 g5 35. Be3 Ke6 36. Ke2 Nf4+ 37. Kf3 Nd5 38. Bd4 g6 39. g3 Ne7 40. Ke4 Nc6 41. Bg7 h5 42. Bh6 g4 43. hxg4 hxg4 44. a4 bxa4 45. bxa4 Ne5 46. Bf4 Nc6 47. Be3 Ne7 48. c4 Nc6 49. Bf4 Na5 50. Kd4 Nb3+ 51. Kc3 Nc5 52. a5 g5 53. Bb8 Na6 54. Ba7 Nc7 55. Kd4 Ne8 56. Bb8 Ng7 57. Kc5 Kd7 58. Be5 Nf5 59. Kb6 Kc8 60. c5 Ne7 61. c6 Nxc6 62. a6 bxa6 63. Kxc6 a5 64. Kb5 1-0 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "6.1"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.18"] [ECO "B92"] [WhiteElo "2831"] [BlackElo "2747"] [PlyCount "133"] [GameId "2125141917488141"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Bg5 Be6 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. Qd3 O-O 11. O-O-O Be7 12. Nd5 Bxd5 13. Qxd5 Qb6 14. Rhf1 Nd7 15. Nd2 Bg5 16. Kb1 Nf6 17. Qb3 Qc7 18. Nc4 b5 19. Nxd6 Rad8 20. Qa3 Qc6 21. f3 g6 22. c4 b4 23. Qxb4 Be3 24. Nb7 Rb8 25. Na5 Qc7 26. Qa4 Rb6 27. Nb3 Bc5 28. Nxc5 Qxc5 29. Rd2 Rfb8 30. Rfd1 Kg7 31. Rc2 a5 32. a3 h5 33. h4 Rb3 34. Ka2 Qb6 35. Rdd2 Nd7 36. Qxd7 Rxa3+ 37. Kb1 Qb3 38. Rd3 Qa2+ 39. Kc1 Qa1+ 40. Kd2 Ra2 41. b3 a4 42. Rxa2 Qxa2+ 43. Ke3 axb3 44. Qc7 b2 45. Qxe5+ Kh7 46. Rd7 Rf8 47. Bd3 b1=Q 48. Bxb1 Qxb1 49. Kf2 Qc2+ 50. Kg3 Qxc4 51. Qd5 Qxd5 52. exd5 Kg7 53. Kf4 Re8 54. Ra7 Re2 55. g4 hxg4 56. fxg4 Kf8 57. d6 Ke8 58. Kg5 Re4 59. Ra8+ Kd7 60. Rf8 f5 61. gxf5 gxf5 62. h5 Kxd6 63. h6 Rg4+ 64. Kh5 Rg2 65. h7 Rh2+ 66. Kg6 f4 67. h8=Q 1-0 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Lazavik, Denis"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "6.1"] [Result "0-1"] [Date "2024.12.18"] [ECO "B33"] [WhiteElo "2747"] [BlackElo "2578"] [PlyCount "96"] [GameId "2125141917488142"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Nd5 Nxd5 8. exd5 Nb8 9. Qf3 a6 10. Qa3 Be7 11. Bd2 O-O 12. Bb4 axb5 13. Qxa8 Na6 14. Bd2 Bg5 15. Bxg5 Qxg5 16. Bxb5 Qxg2 17. O-O-O Qxf2 18. Rd2 Qf4 19. Rf1 Qh6 20. Bxa6 bxa6 21. Qa7 f5 22. Rg1 f4 23. Kb1 e4 24. Rd4 Bf5 25. Rb4 e3 26. Rb7 g6 27. Re7 Qxh2 28. Rc1 Qh6 29. a4 g5 30. Qxa6 Qf6 31. Qa7 g4 32. Rf1 Bg6 33. Rxe3 f3 34. Rg1 f2 35. Rf1 Rf7 36. Qb6 Kg7 37. a5 Qf4 38. Qb3 h5 39. Qc3+ Kh6 40. Re6 g3 41. Qh8+ Kg5 42. Qd8+ Rf6 43. Rd1 f1=R 44. Rxf1 Qxf1+ 45. Ka2 g2 46. Qxd6 Rxe6 47. dxe6 g1=Q 48. Qe5+ Qf5 0-1 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "6.2"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.18"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "2731"] [BlackElo "2763"] [PlyCount "143"] [GameId "2125141917488143"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Be7 7. O-O Bf5 8. c4 Nc6 9. Nc3 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 dxc4 12. Qxc4 O-O 13. Rb1 Bd6 14. Qd3 b6 15. Ng5 g6 16. Qh3 h5 17. g4 Be7 18. Rb5 Qd7 19. gxh5 Qxh3 20. Nxh3 a6 21. Rd5 Rad8 22. Rxd8 Rxd8 23. hxg6 fxg6 24. Re1 Kf7 25. Nf4 Bd6 26. Ne6 Rh8 27. Bf4 Bxf4 28. Nxf4 Nd8 29. Kg2 g5 30. Nd3 Kf6 31. f4 Ne6 32. fxg5+ Nxg5 33. Re3 Ne6 34. d5 Ng7 35. Re4 Nf5 36. Re6+ Kg5 37. Ne5 Ne3+ 38. Kf3 Nxd5 39. Nf7+ Kf5 40. Re5+ Kf6 41. Rxd5 Kxf7 42. Kg3 Ke6 43. Rd4 c5 44. Ra4 Rg8+ 45. Kf3 Rh8 46. h4 a5 47. Re4+ Kf5 48. a4 Rd8 49. Rf4+ Kg6 50. Kg4 Rd6 51. Re4 Kh6 52. Kf5 Rd3 53. Rc4 Kh5 54. Ke4 Rd1 55. Ke3 Rd8 56. Rf4 Rd6 57. Ke4 Rd1 58. Ke5 Rd2 59. Rf6 Rb2 60. Kd5 Kxh4 61. Kc4 Kg5 62. Rf1 Kg4 63. Kd5 Rb3 64. Rc1 Kf4 65. Kc4 Rb2 66. Re1 Kf5 67. Kd5 Rb3 68. c4 Rb4 69. Rf1+ Kg5 70. Kc6 Rxa4 71. Kxb6 Rxc4 72. Kxa5 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Keymer, Vincent"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "6.2"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.18"] [ECO "A20"] [WhiteElo "2733"] [BlackElo "2755"] [PlyCount "71"] [GameId "2125141917492240"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] {[%evp 0,71,24,17,1,3,31,0,-42,27,22,22,23,19,10,12,20,23,29,30,21,37,45,57,64,61,66,73,-26,74,95,46,83,110,106,89,35,61,0,143,127,-1,174,253,231,264,225,347,361,285,97,280,299,242,268,226,357,319,372,323,181,311,320,353,375,364,392,421,416,448,527,467,725,814]} 1. c4 e5 2. g3 c6 3. d4 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Bxd2+ 5. Qxd2 d6 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. O-O-O e4 $146 8. f3 Qe7 9. Qf4 exf3 $6 10. Nxf3 $16 d5 $6 11. e4 $1 dxe4 12. Re1 O-O 13. Nxe4 Nxe4 14. Rxe4 Qb4 $2 {The queen ends is too far from the kingside. White has a free hand, and goes on to win an impressive, one-sided game.} (14... Qd8 $16) 15. Bd3 Nd7 16. a3 Qa4 17. Qh4 h6 18. g4 Nf6 19. Rf4 Qb3 20. Rd1 Nxg4 21. Rxg4 Bxg4 22. Qxg4 f5 23. Qg3 Rae8 24. Ne5 Rf6 25. c5 Kh8 26. Rg1 Re7 27. h4 b5 28. h5 Kg8 29. Bc2 Qxg3 30. Rxg3 g5 31. hxg6 Kg7 32. Rf3 f4 33. Be4 h5 34. Kd2 Kh6 35. Kd3 h4 36. Ng4+ 1-0 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "6.2"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.18"] [ECO "B40"] [WhiteElo "2747"] [BlackElo "2831"] [PlyCount "116"] [GameId "2125141917492241"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg5 f6 6. Be3 d5 7. exd5 exd5 8. d4 c4 9. Bg2 Bd6 10. O-O Nge7 11. Bh6 Nf5 12. Re1+ Kf7 13. Bd2 h5 14. Nc3 Nce7 15. b3 cxb3 16. axb3 Bd7 17. Qe2 a6 18. Na4 Rc8 19. c4 Re8 20. c5 Bc7 21. Nc3 Nc6 22. Qd3 Nb4 23. Rxe8 Qxe8 24. Qb1 Ne7 25. Nh4 Be6 26. Ne2 Nbc6 27. b4 Qd7 28. Be3 Rh8 29. Nc3 Bh3 30. Bxd5+ Kg7 31. Be4 Nxd4 32. Bxb7 Rb8 33. Be4 Be5 34. Bxg6 Ndc6 35. Ra3 Rxb4 36. Qd3 Rxh4 37. Qxd7 Bxd7 38. gxh4 Kxg6 39. Ne4 a5 40. Bd2 Bd4 41. Bxa5 Nxa5 42. Rxa5 Nc6 43. Ra6 Kf5 44. Ng3+ Kg6 45. Ne2 Bxc5 46. Nf4+ Kh6 47. Kg2 Bd6 48. Nd5 Kg6 49. f3 Kf7 50. Nb6 Be8 51. Nc4 Bf4 52. Ra3 Nd4 53. Ra5 Bc6 54. Kf2 Bxf3 55. Ne3 Bxe3+ 56. Kxe3 Nc6 57. Rc5 Ne5 58. Rc3 Bd5 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Lazavik, Denis"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "6.2"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.18"] [ECO "D63"] [WhiteElo "2578"] [BlackElo "2747"] [PlyCount "72"] [GameId "2125141917492242"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] {[%evp 0,72,5,6,10,20,-13,23,13,16,19,6,15,26,32,23,33,22,31,35,24,25,29,22,29,16,102,139,136,178,142,150,145,131,131,116,138,138,139,136,140,147,-31,132,71,112,135,122,24,102,-14,84,4,39,48,49,45,14,-26,33,30,-1,87,28,97,-3,88,-1,1,-1,-1,-1,-1,1,-1]} 1. d4 (1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Rc1 c6 8. Bd3 a6 9. cxd5 exd5 10. O-O Re8 11. Qb3 h6 12. Bf4 Nh5 $4 {This was the first time Rubinstein fell for this sort of trap. He's not the first person to fall for this *type* of trap, however, or even to fall for it in this exact position. The same error occurred 15 years earlier in a game between Frank Marshall and Norman Tweed Whitaker.} 13. Nxd5 Nxf4 14. Nxf4 Bd6 15. Ne2 Qb6 16. Nd2 Qxb3 17. Nxb3 Nf6 18. Nc5 Nd7 19. Ne4 Bf8 20. N2g3 g6 21. Rc2 Rd8 22. Bc4 Nb6 23. Bb3 a5 24. a3 a4 25. Ba2 Kg7 26. Rfc1 Nd5 27. Nc5 Nb6 28. Nd3 Bd7 29. h4 h5 30. Ne5 Be8 31. Ne4 f6 32. Nd3 Bf7 33. Bxf7 Kxf7 34. Nec5 Ra7 35. Rb1 Nd7 36. Rc4 Nxc5 37. Nxc5 Bxc5 38. Rxc5 Ke6 39. Rbc1 Rd5 40. Rxd5 Kxd5 41. Rc5+ Kd6 42. Kf1 Ra6 43. Ke2 Rb6 44. Rc2 Rb3 45. Kd2 Ke6 46. Kc1 Kf5 47. Rc4 g5 48. hxg5 fxg5 49. Rxa4 Rb5 50. Rb4 Ra5 51. Rxb7 h4 52. Kd2 g4 53. Ke2 c5 54. Rh7 Kg5 55. f4+ {1-0 Euwe,M-Rubinstein,A Bad Kissingen International Masters 1928 (5)}) 1... Nf6 (1... d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Rc1 Re8 8. Qc2 a6 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Bd3 c6 11. O-O Ne4 12. Bf4 f5 $4 {Rubinstein falls for it a second time. As was the case the first time he fell for this trick, so too here: he was not the first player to make this error in this exact position; it also occurred in a 1925 game between Piccardt and Schouten.} 13. Nxd5 $1 Bd6 (13... cxd5 $2 14. Bc7 $18) 14. Bxd6 Nxd6 15. Nf4 $18 Nf6 16. Qb3+ Kh8 17. Rfd1 Qe7 18. Ne5 Be6 19. Bc4 Bxc4 20. Rxc4 Qc7 21. Rc2 Re7 22. Rdc1 Rae8 23. h3 g5 24. Nd5 Nxd5 25. Qxd5 Qd8 26. Nxc6 bxc6 27. Rxc6 Ne4 28. Qxf5 Rf8 29. Rc8 Rxf5 30. Rxd8+ Kg7 31. f3 Nf6 32. e4 Ra5 33. a3 Rb5 34. b4 a5 35. Rc5 Reb7 36. bxa5 Rxc5 37. dxc5 Rc7 38. a6 Kf7 39. Rb8 Ke6 40. Rb6+ Ke5 41. Rb7 Rc6 42. a7 Ra6 43. c6 Ne8 44. Re7+ Kf4 45. Rxe8 Rxa7 46. Kf2 {1-0 Alekhine,A-Rubinstein,A San Remo 1930 (14)}) 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 Be7 7. e3 O-O 8. Rc1 a6 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Bd3 Re8 11. O-O c6 12. Bg3 {More tilt for Wesley So, who now promptly falls into a very well known kind of trap, one which the great Akiba Rubinstein fell into - twice!} Nh5 $4 13. Nxd5 $1 Nxg3 (13... cxd5 14. Bc7 $18 {is the basic idea.}) 14. Nxe7+ Qxe7 15. hxg3 {White is up a beautiful central pawn for nothing. Amazingly though, So manages to save the game!} Nf6 16. Qc2 Be6 17. Bc4 Nd5 18. a3 Rad8 19. Rfe1 Nc7 20. Bxe6 Nxe6 21. Rcd1 Ng5 22. Nxg5 hxg5 23. Qb3 Rd7 24. d5 cxd5 25. Rxd5 Qe6 26. Rd3 Qxb3 27. Rxb3 Rc8 28. Rc3 Rxc3 29. bxc3 Kf8 30. a4 Ke7 31. Kf1 Rc7 32. Rb1 Ke8 33. Ke2 Rxc3 34. Rxb7 Rc4 35. Rb8+ Ke7 36. Rb7+ Ke8 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Keymer, Vincent"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "6.3"] [Result "0-1"] [Date "2024.12.18"] [ECO "D05"] [WhiteElo "2733"] [BlackElo "2755"] [PlyCount "66"] [GameId "2125141917492243"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 e6 4. Nbd2 b6 5. b3 Bb7 6. Bb2 Be7 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O Nbd7 9. a4 c5 10. Qe2 Ne4 11. Rfd1 Rc8 12. c4 cxd4 13. exd4 Nxd2 14. Rxd2 Qc7 15. Qe3 Rfd8 16. Rc2 Qb8 17. h3 Bf6 18. a5 dxc4 19. bxc4 Nf8 20. Ng5 Ng6 21. axb6 axb6 22. Ne4 Bxe4 23. Bxe4 Qd6 24. Rd1 Qb4 25. Bd3 Ne7 26. Bc3 Qa4 27. g4 Rxc4 28. Qe4 Rxc3 29. Qxh7+ Kf8 30. Rxc3 Qxd1+ 31. Kg2 Qd2 32. Rc7 Qh6 33. Qe4 Nd5 0-1 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Black "Keymer, Vincent"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "7.1"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.19"] [ECO "A07"] [WhiteElo "2763"] [BlackElo "2733"] [PlyCount "190"] [GameId "2125141917492244"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. b3 Nf6 3. Bb2 Bf5 4. g3 e6 5. Bg2 h6 6. O-O Be7 7. d3 O-O 8. Nbd2 c6 9. Re1 Bh7 10. e4 a5 11. a4 Nbd7 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Nc4 Bb4 14. Nfd2 Qc7 15. Qc1 Nc3 16. Ne3 Rae8 17. Nd1 Nd5 18. Re2 e5 19. Nc4 f5 20. Ba3 f4 21. Bxb4 axb4 22. Re1 N7f6 23. Nd2 Qb6 24. a5 Qc5 25. Ne4 Bxe4 26. dxe4 Nc3 27. Nxc3 Qxc3 28. gxf4 exf4 29. Qxf4 Qxc2 30. Qe3 Nd5 31. Qe2 Qxb3 32. Rab1 Qc3 33. Qa2 Rf7 34. Rec1 b3 35. Qxb3 Qxb3 36. Rxb3 Nf4 37. Re1 Re5 38. Bf1 Kh7 39. a6 bxa6 40. Bxa6 Rf6 41. Bf1 Ne6 42. Kg2 Nf4+ 43. Kg1 Ne6 44. Kg2 Nd4 45. Rc3 c5 46. f3 Ne6 47. Kf2 Nf4 48. Rec1 Rc6 49. Kg3 g5 50. h4 Kg7 51. hxg5 hxg5 52. Rd1 Rc7 53. Rc2 Kf6 54. Bc4 Rh7 55. Rcd2 Rh3+ 56. Kg4 Rh4+ 57. Kg3 Rh3+ 58. Kf2 Rh2+ 59. Ke3 Rxd2 60. Rxd2 Ke7 61. Ra2 Kf6 62. Ra6+ Ke7 63. Kf2 Kf8 64. Kg3 Kg7 65. Kg4 Ng2 66. Ra3 Nf4 67. Ra7+ Kg6 68. Ra6+ Kg7 69. Ra2 Kg6 70. Rd2 Kg7 71. Bb5 Kf6 72. Rd6+ Kg7 73. Rc6 Ne6 74. Bc4 Nf4 75. Ba6 Ne6 76. Bc8 Nd4 77. Rd6 Ne2 78. Bf5 Nd4 79. Kxg5 Nxf5 80. exf5 Kf7 81. Rd7+ Re7 82. Rd6 Rc7 83. Rh6 Kg8 84. Rg6+ Kf8 85. Rf6+ Kg8 86. Rd6 c4 87. f6 Kf7 88. Rd2 c3 89. Rc2 Rc5+ 90. Kf4 Kxf6 91. Ke3 Kf5 92. Kd3 Rc7 93. Rxc3 Rxc3+ 94. Kxc3 Kf4 95. Kd3 Kxf3 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "7.1"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.19"] [ECO "C55"] [WhiteElo "2755"] [BlackElo "2747"] [PlyCount "84"] [GameId "2125141917496341"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Nbd2 d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. h3 Nb6 9. Bb3 Kh8 10. a4 a5 11. Re1 f6 12. Nf1 Bf5 13. Nh4 Bd7 14. c3 f5 15. Nf3 Bf6 16. Ng3 Qe8 17. Bf4 Qg6 18. Bxe5 Nxe5 19. Nxe5 Bxe5 20. Rxe5 f4 21. Ne4 f3 22. Rg5 Qh6 23. Rg3 fxg2 24. Ng5 Bc6 25. Qg4 Nd5 26. Re1 Nf4 27. Re7 Rae8 28. Rxe8 Bxe8 29. Rf3 Qf6 30. Nf7+ Bxf7 31. Rxf4 Bxb3 32. Rxf6 gxf6 33. Qd4 Rg8 34. Qxf6+ Rg7 35. Qd8+ Bg8 36. Qf6 h5 37. Qh6+ Bh7 38. Qxh5 Rg6 39. Qxa5 Kg7 40. Qxc7+ Kh6 41. Qxb7 Rg5 42. Qf3 Bg8 1-0 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Lazavik, Denis"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "7.1"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.19"] [ECO "B30"] [WhiteElo "2831"] [BlackElo "2578"] [PlyCount "111"] [GameId "2125141917496342"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] {[%evp 0,111,18,37,27,16,21,15,28,-4,10,7,14,16,28,13,25,7,14,16,24,43,37,32,23,22,22,30,27,24,20,16,56,15,38,97,29,16,34,56,50,98,98,67,62,156,55,-20,49,34,42,13,196,1,1,1,46,7,33,-1,1,-1,-1,-1,1,1,1,1,1,-143,-20,-7,0,17,1,1,-6,-6,1,0,31,69,51,64,121,123,106,112,127,122,130,83,113,131,67,110,104,133,152,144,152,140,158,151,164,172,302,315,324,340,382,384,373,387]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 5. b3 f6 6. O-O Nh6 7. c3 Nf7 8. d4 cxd4 9. cxd4 c5 10. d5 Bd6 11. Na3 Ba6 12. Nc4 Bxc4 13. bxc4 O-O 14. Rb1 Qc7 15. Be3 Rab8 16. Qd3 Rxb1 17. Rxb1 Rb8 18. Rb3 Rb6 19. g3 Ne5 20. Nxe5 Bxe5 21. Kg2 Rxb3 22. axb3 h6 23. f4 Bd6 24. dxe6 dxe6 25. f5 exf5 26. Qd5+ Kh8 27. exf5 Bf8 28. Kh3 Qe7 29. Bf4 Qe2 30. Qe6 Qh5+ 31. Kg2 Qd1 32. Qf7 Qe2+ 33. Kh3 Be7 34. Qe6 Qxe6 35. fxe6 Kh7 36. g4 g5 37. Bb8 Kg6 38. Kg2 f5 39. h3 fxg4 40. hxg4 Kf6 41. Bxa7 Kxe6 {Another "drawn" ending won by Carlsen:} 42. Kf3 Ke5 43. Ke3 Bd6 44. Bb6 Ke6 $6 {No need to volunteer this.} 45. Ke4 Be7 46. Ba5 Bf6 47. Bd2 Bg7 $2 (47... Be7 $11) 48. b4 {It's still drawn (barely!), but even so there was no need for Black to allow this.} cxb4 49. Bxb4 Be5 $2 ({The counterintuitive} 49... Kf7 $1 {had to be played, so White can't play Bf8 when Black's bishop leaves the corner.} 50. c5 Bf6 51. Kf5 Bd8 $11) 50. Bf8 $18 Bf4 51. Bxh6 Kd6 52. Bf8+ Kc6 53. Kf5 Be3 54. Be7 Bd2 55. Bxg5 Bb4 56. Be3 1-0 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "7.1"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.19"] [ECO "C84"] [WhiteElo "2731"] [BlackElo "2747"] [PlyCount "72"] [GameId "2125141917496343"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 d6 5. O-O Be7 6. c3 O-O 7. Re1 a6 8. Ba4 b5 9. Bc2 d5 10. Nbd2 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. dxe4 Be6 13. Be3 Qxd1 14. Rexd1 f6 15. Ne1 Na5 16. Nd3 Rfd8 17. Nc5 Bxc5 18. Bxc5 Kf7 19. Kf1 Nb7 20. Be3 Na5 21. Rxd8 Rxd8 22. b3 g5 23. Ke2 h5 24. f3 h4 25. Kf2 c5 26. Ke2 Nb7 27. a4 b4 28. cxb4 cxb4 29. a5 Rc8 30. Bd3 Rc6 31. Ra4 Bxb3 32. Rxb4 Nxa5 33. Bb6 Nc4 34. Bf2 Ba2 35. Ra4 Bb3 36. Rb4 Ba2 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Keymer, Vincent"] [Black "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "7.2"] [Result "0-1"] [Date "2024.12.19"] [ECO "A62"] [WhiteElo "2733"] [BlackElo "2763"] [PlyCount "162"] [GameId "2125141917496344"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. c4 O-O 5. Nc3 d6 6. d4 c5 7. d5 e6 8. O-O exd5 9. cxd5 Re8 10. Re1 Na6 11. h3 Nc7 12. e4 Nd7 13. Bf4 Ne5 14. Nxe5 Bxe5 15. Bxe5 dxe5 16. d6 Ne6 17. Nd5 Kg7 18. b4 b6 19. bxc5 bxc5 20. f4 Rb8 21. fxe5 Qg5 22. Qf3 Qxe5 23. Rf1 Rf8 24. Qf6+ Qxf6 25. Nxf6 Rd8 26. e5 Nd4 27. Ne4 Bf5 28. Nxc5 Rb5 29. Nb7 Rd7 30. Rfd1 Ne2+ 31. Kf2 Nc3 32. Rd4 Rb2+ 33. Kf1 Rbxb7 34. Bxb7 Rxb7 35. g4 Be6 36. Rc1 Nd5 37. a4 Nb6 38. Rc7 Rb8 39. Rb4 Ra8 40. Rd4 Nd7 41. Re4 a5 42. Kf2 g5 43. Re3 Rb8 44. Ra7 Rb2+ 45. Ke1 Rb1+ 46. Kd2 Nb6 47. Kc2 Ra1 48. Ra6 Nc4 49. Re4 Ra2+ 50. Kc3 Ra3+ 51. Kd4 Nd2 52. Re2 Rxa4+ 53. Kc5 Nb3+ 54. Kb6 Rb4+ 55. Kc7 Nd4 56. Rd2 Rc4+ 57. Kb6 Nf3 58. d7 Bxd7 59. Rxd7 Nxe5 60. Rd5 Re4 61. Kxa5 h6 62. Ra7 Nc6+ 63. Kb6 Nxa7 64. Kxa7 Re3 65. h4 gxh4 66. Rh5 h3 67. Kb6 f6 68. Kc6 Kg6 69. Kd6 Rg3 70. Kd5 Rxg4 71. Rxh3 h5 72. Ra3 h4 73. Ra8 Kf5 74. Rh8 Kf4 75. Ke6 f5 76. Rh5 Kg3 77. Rxf5 h3 78. Ra5 h2 79. Ra3+ Kh4 80. Ra8 Rg1 81. Rh8+ Kg3 0-1 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "7.2"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.19"] [ECO "C24"] [WhiteElo "2747"] [BlackElo "2755"] [PlyCount "126"] [GameId "2125141917496345"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 c6 4. Nf3 d5 5. Bb3 a5 6. a4 Bb4+ 7. c3 Bd6 8. exd5 cxd5 9. Bg5 Be6 10. Na3 Nbd7 11. Nb5 Bb8 12. d4 e4 13. Nd2 h6 14. Bh4 Nf8 15. f3 Ng6 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. g3 exf3 18. Qxf3 Qxf3 19. Nxf3 Kd7 20. O-O Bd6 21. Rf2 Rae8 22. Bc2 Ne7 23. Nh4 Bb8 24. Raf1 Ref8 25. Kg2 h5 26. Nf3 f6 27. Nh4 Re8 28. Re1 Bf7 29. Rfe2 g5 30. Nf5 Nxf5 31. Bxf5+ Kd8 32. Be6 Bxe6 33. Rxe6 Kd7 34. Rxe8 Rxe8 35. Rxe8 Kxe8 36. b3 Kd7 37. c4 Ke6 38. Nc3 dxc4 39. bxc4 f5 40. c5 Bc7 41. Kf3 Bd8 42. Ke3 Bf6 43. Kd3 Bg7 44. Nb5 h4 45. gxh4 gxh4 46. h3 Bf8 47. Nc7+ Kd7 48. Nd5 Ke6 49. Nf4+ Kf6 50. Ng2 Kg5 51. Kc4 f4 52. Ne1 Kf5 53. Kd3 Be7 54. Nf3 Bd8 55. d5 Bf6 56. c6 bxc6 57. dxc6 Ke6 58. Kc4 Kd6 59. Kb5 Bd8 60. Nd2 Kd5 61. Nf3 Kd6 62. Ne1 Kd5 63. Nf3 Kd6 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "Lazavik, Denis"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "7.2"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.19"] [ECO "A30"] [WhiteElo "2578"] [BlackElo "2831"] [PlyCount "86"] [GameId "2125141917496346"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. b3 g6 3. Bb2 Bg7 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O O-O 7. c4 e6 8. e3 c5 9. d4 Na6 10. Qe2 d5 11. Rd1 Qe7 12. Nc3 Rfd8 13. cxd5 exd5 14. Rac1 Rac8 15. Bh3 Ra8 16. Nb5 Nb4 17. a3 Na2 18. Ra1 a6 19. Nc3 Nxc3 20. Bxc3 c4 21. Bb4 Qe8 22. a4 a5 23. Be1 cxb3 24. Qb2 b5 25. Qxb3 b4 26. Rdc1 Bc8 27. Bg2 Ba6 28. Ne5 Rac8 29. Bh3 Rxc1 30. Rxc1 Ne4 31. Nc6 Bc4 32. Rxc4 dxc4 33. Qxc4 Ra8 34. Bg2 Kh8 35. Qd5 f5 36. Nxa5 Rc8 37. Bxe4 fxe4 38. Bxb4 Qxa4 39. Qb7 Qd1+ 40. Kg2 Qf3+ 41. Kh3 Qh5+ 42. Kg2 Qf3+ 43. Kh3 Qh5+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final RR 2024"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "7.2"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.19"] [ECO "D80"] [WhiteElo "2747"] [BlackElo "2731"] [PlyCount "103"] [GameId "2125141917500443"] [EventDate "2024.12.17"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Ne4 5. Bh4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 dxc4 7. e3 Be6 8. Nf3 Nd7 9. Be2 Nb6 10. a4 a5 11. O-O Bg7 12. Qc2 O-O 13. Rfb1 Qd7 14. Bg3 Bd5 15. e4 Bc6 16. Rxb6 cxb6 17. d5 Bxa4 18. Rxa4 b5 19. Ra2 b4 20. cxb4 axb4 21. Bxc4 Ra3 22. Ne5 Qc8 23. Rxa3 bxa3 24. Qa2 Qc5 25. Nd7 Qb4 26. Nxf8 b5 27. Bd3 Bxf8 28. h4 Qe1+ 29. Kh2 b4 30. Bc4 Qxe4 31. Bb3 Qd3 32. d6 e6 33. Bxe6 Bxd6 34. Bxf7+ Kg7 35. Bxd6 Qxd6+ 36. g3 Qf6 37. Bd5 Qd4 38. Kg2 h6 39. Bb3 Qe4+ 40. Kh2 Qf3 41. Kg1 Qc3 42. Qb1 Kf6 43. Qd1 Ke7 44. Qd5 h5 45. Kg2 Ke8 46. Qe6+ Kd8 47. Qd6+ Kc8 48. Be6+ Kb7 49. Bd5+ Ka7 50. Qxg6 Qc5 51. Qxh5 Kb6 52. Qf7 1-0 [Event "CCT Final Survival W 2024"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Lazavik, Denis"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "1.1"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.19"] [ECO "B30"] [WhiteElo "2755"] [BlackElo "2578"] [PlyCount "89"] [GameId "2125141949724452"] [EventDate "2024.12.19"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Ng6 7. Be3 Be7 8. Be2 O-O 9. c4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 b6 11. Nc3 Bb7 12. Rad1 Bc6 13. Qd2 Bb4 14. f3 Qf6 15. Rc1 Rfd8 16. a3 Bc5 17. b4 Bxe3+ 18. Qxe3 Qf4 19. Qxf4 Nxf4 20. Rfd1 Kf8 21. Bf1 g5 22. Kf2 Ke7 23. Ke3 Ng6 24. Ne2 Rac8 25. Nd4 h5 26. Rd3 Ne5 27. Rdc3 d6 28. g3 Nd7 29. Be2 Bb7 30. Nb3 Rc7 31. a4 h4 32. a5 hxg3 33. hxg3 Rh8 34. axb6 axb6 35. Nd4 Nf6 36. c5 bxc5 37. bxc5 dxc5 38. Rxc5 Rxc5 39. Rxc5 Rc8 40. Rxg5 Rc3+ 41. Kd2 Ra3 42. Rb5 Bxe4 43. fxe4 Nxe4+ 44. Kc2 Rxg3 45. Rb3 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final Survival W 2024"] [White "Lazavik, Denis"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "1.2"] [Result "0-1"] [Date "2024.12.19"] [ECO "D03"] [WhiteElo "2578"] [BlackElo "2755"] [PlyCount "66"] [GameId "2125141949732645"] [EventDate "2024.12.19"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 e6 3. Nd2 d5 4. e3 c5 5. c3 Be7 6. Bd3 b6 7. Ngf3 O-O 8. Ne5 Nfd7 9. Qh5 f5 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. g4 cxd4 13. cxd4 g6 14. Qh3 fxg4 15. Qxg4 e5 16. Qg2 Nf6 17. O-O-O Bg4 18. f3 e4 19. fxg4 exd3 20. Kb1 Rac8 21. Rhf1 Rc2 22. Qf3 Ne4 23. Qxf8+ Qxf8 24. Rxf8+ Kxf8 25. Nf3 Rf2 26. Ne5 d2 27. h4 Re2 28. Kc2 Rxe3 29. Rf1+ Ke7 30. Nf3 Re2 31. Rd1 Rg2 32. g5 Ke6 33. Nxd2 Kf5 0-1 [Event "CCT Final Survival L 2024"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Keymer, Vincent"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "1.1"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.19"] [ECO "C87"] [WhiteElo "2731"] [BlackElo "2733"] [PlyCount "117"] [GameId "2125141949732646"] [EventDate "2024.12.19"] [EventType "k.o."] {[%evp 0,117,9,-6,21,5,6,18,24,15,6,18,13,24,58,65,67,73,78,83,-1,72,50,64,65,8,37,-6,10,38,19,23,-181,13,8,57,5,144,8,-5,-5,15,-62,20,41,37,-26,28,35,-129,23,-48,2,29,21,38,38,-29,60,-19,64,59,48,72,64,42,42,37,-57,56,55,75,108,119,156,168,-1,144,170,176,104,208,76,222,172,253,270,123,305,170,307,266,284,131,327,102,364,235,172,123,216,76,144,273,240,294,242,315,218,438,219,532,568,639,540,831,836,1000,837,1050]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 O-O 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. Nxe5 Bb7 9. Nc3 Re8 10. Nf3 c5 11. d3 d5 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bh4 dxe4 14. dxe4 Nxe4 15. Qxd8 Bxd8 16. Nxe4 Bxe4 17. Nd2 Bc6 18. Rxe8+ Bxe8 19. Bxd8 Rxd8 20. Nc4 f6 21. Ne3 Rd2 22. Rd1 Rxd1+ 23. Nxd1 {If either of Black's c-pawns were on b6, he'd have the slightly better chances; here, at least in a game between humans, it's White and his knight that offer him the edge. (The engine says "0.00", naturally.)} Kf7 24. f3 Ke6 25. Kf2 g5 26. Ke3 Bg6 27. c4 $1 {Putting a pawn on a light square isn't always ideal, but it's important to keep Black's king restricted.} Be8 28. g3 Bc6 {I'm not sure this is the best diagonal.} 29. Nf2 h5 $6 {This is definitely wrong. Black does not want to have his pawns fixed on light squares.} 30. Nd3 (30. h4 $16) 30... Kd6 31. f4 $6 (31. Nf2 {followed by h4 was still best.}) 31... h4 $6 (31... g4 $1 $11 {was a better way to prevent h2-h4, even though it fixes a second pawn on the light squares. White's problem is that he doesn't have enough room to break through on the kingside.}) 32. gxh4 gxh4 33. f5 $1 {White's king will go to f4, and then the knight can hop around, chasing any and all of Black's five(!) isolated pawns.} a5 34. Kf4 Bg2 35. Nf2 Ke7 36. b3 Bf1 $2 (36... h3 $8 37. Kg3 Kd6 38. Nxh3 Bxh3 $1 39. Kxh3 Ke7 $1 $11 {is a dead draw, amazingly enough. White's king can't get in via d5, as Black will play ...c6, and going around to the a-file will lose as Black will have won the f5-pawn and promoted his f-pawn in the meantime. As for the h-file, Black's king can keep White's monarch at bay.}) 37. Ne4 $18 {Winning. Of course the players were short of time here, so the rest was largely intuition rather than calculation.} Bd3 38. Nxc5 Bb1 39. a3 Ba2 40. Kg4 a4 $5 41. b4 $1 Bxc4 42. Nxa4 Kd6 43. Kf4 $1 {Better safe than sorry.} Kd5 44. Nc3+ Kd6 (44... Kd4 45. Ne4 $18) 45. Ne4+ Ke7 46. a4 Bb3 47. a5 Bc4 48. Nd2 Bd3 49. Nf3 h3 50. Nd2 Bb5 51. Ne4 Bc4 52. Nf2 Kd6 (52... Bf1 {should have been tried. As noted above, the players were very short of time.}) 53. Nxh3 Kc6 54. Nf2 Kb5 55. h4 Kxb4 56. h5 Kxa5 57. h6 Bg8 58. Ne4 c5 59. Nxc5 {A good practical move. The idea of Ne4 (or Nd7) followed by Nxf6 isn't going anywhere.} 1-0 [Event "CCT Final Survival L 2024"] [White "Keymer, Vincent"] [Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "1.2"] [Result "0-1"] [Date "2024.12.19"] [ECO "A29"] [WhiteElo "2733"] [BlackElo "2731"] [PlyCount "122"] [GameId "2125141949732647"] [EventDate "2024.12.19"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. c4 Nf6 2. g3 e5 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nc3 Nb6 6. a3 Be7 7. Nf3 Nc6 8. b4 Be6 9. O-O O-O 10. d3 f6 11. Bb2 Qd7 12. Rc1 Rad8 13. Ne4 Bd5 14. Qc2 a6 15. Rfd1 Qe6 16. Ned2 Qf7 17. Rb1 Ba2 18. Ra1 Be6 19. Rdc1 Rfe8 20. Bc3 Nd5 21. Ne4 Nxc3 22. Qxc3 Bd5 23. e3 h6 24. Rab1 f5 25. Nc5 Bxc5 26. bxc5 e4 27. dxe4 fxe4 28. Ne1 Ne5 29. Rb4 Bc6 30. Rd4 Rxd4 31. Qxd4 Ng4 32. Rc2 Rf8 33. Qd2 Qf6 34. h3 Rd8 35. Qb4 Ne5 36. Rd2 Rxd2 37. Qxd2 Qe7 38. Qd4 Nd7 39. Nc2 Qxc5 40. Nb4 Qxd4 41. exd4 Nf6 42. Nxc6 bxc6 43. Bf1 a5 44. Ba6 Kf7 45. Bb7 c5 46. dxc5 Ke6 47. Kf1 Ke5 48. Ke2 Kd4 49. c6 Nd5 50. Ba6 Nc3+ 51. Kd2 Nb1+ 52. Kc2 Nxa3+ 53. Kb3 Nb1 54. Kc2 Nc3 55. Kb3 Nd1 56. Ka4 Nxf2 57. Be2 Kc5 58. Kxa5 Kxc6 59. Kb4 Kd5 60. Kc3 Ke5 61. h4 Nh1 0-1 [Event "CCT Final Survival L 2024"] [White "Lazavik, Denis"] [Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "2.1"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.19"] [ECO "D85"] [WhiteElo "2578"] [BlackElo "2731"] [PlyCount "63"] [GameId "2125141949732648"] [EventDate "2024.12.19"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bd2 Bg7 6. e4 Nxc3 7. Bxc3 O-O 8. Qd2 c5 9. d5 e6 10. Ne2 exd5 11. exd5 Nd7 12. Bxg7 Kxg7 13. O-O-O b5 14. Nc3 b4 15. Ne4 Nf6 16. Nxf6 Qxf6 17. Bb5 Rb8 18. Bc4 Ba6 19. Bxa6 Qxa6 20. Kb1 Rfd8 21. Rc1 Qd6 22. Rhd1 Re8 23. g3 Re5 24. Qc2 Rxd5 25. Rxd5 Qxd5 26. Qxc5 Qe4+ 27. Qc2 Re8 28. Qxe4 Rxe4 29. Rc2 Re1+ 30. Rc1 Re2 31. Rc2 Re1+ 32. Rc1 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final Survival L 2024"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Lazavik, Denis"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "2.2"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.19"] [ECO "B35"] [WhiteElo "2731"] [BlackElo "2578"] [PlyCount "165"] [GameId "2125141949736745"] [EventDate "2024.12.19"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O 8. Bb3 Re8 9. O-O d6 10. h3 Na5 11. Qe2 b6 12. Rfd1 Nxb3 13. axb3 Bb7 14. Qd3 Qc8 15. Nde2 Nd7 16. Bd4 Bxd4 17. Nxd4 Qc5 18. Nf3 a6 19. Nd5 Bxd5 20. exd5 b5 21. Re1 a5 22. Re4 Nf6 23. Rd4 b4 24. Nd2 Rec8 25. Nc4 Qb5 26. Ne3 Qxd3 27. Rxd3 Rc5 28. Rd4 Rb8 29. Kf1 Rbb5 30. Rad1 h5 31. g4 hxg4 32. hxg4 Kg7 33. f4 Rb8 34. Kg2 Nd7 35. Re4 Re8 36. g5 f5 37. gxf6+ Nxf6 38. Rc4 Rec8 39. Ra1 Kf7 40. Kf3 R8c7 41. Ke2 Ne8 42. Kd3 e6 43. dxe6+ Kxe6 44. Re4+ Kf7 45. Nc4 d5 46. Ne5+ Kf6 47. Re2 Nd6 48. Rg1 Rg7 49. Rxg6+ Rxg6 50. Nd7+ Kf5 51. Nxc5 Kxf4 52. Ne6+ Kf5 53. Nc7 Rg3+ 54. Kd4 Ne4 55. Nxd5 Ng5 56. Re5+ Kg6 57. Nf4+ Kf7 58. Rxa5 Rg4 59. Rf5+ Ke7 60. Kd3 Nf7 61. Nd5+ Ke6 62. Rf6+ Kxd5 63. Rxf7 Rg3+ 64. Ke2 Ke4 65. Re7+ Kd4 66. Kd2 Rg2+ 67. Re2 Rg3 68. Rh2 Rg4 69. c3+ Kc5 70. Rh5+ Kc6 71. Kd3 Rg3+ 72. Kc2 Rg2+ 73. Kb1 Rg3 74. Rh4 bxc3 75. Rc4+ Kb5 76. bxc3 Rg1+ 77. Kb2 Rg2+ 78. Ka3 Rc2 79. Rb4+ Kc5 80. c4 Kd4 81. Rb8 Kc3 82. Rh8 Rc1 83. Rh3+ 1-0 [Event "CCT Final KO 2024"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "1.1"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.20"] [ECO "A36"] [WhiteElo "2831"] [BlackElo "2731"] [PlyCount "97"] [GameId "2125141989321667"] [EventDate "2024.12.20"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. c4 g6 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Nh3 Nc6 6. Nf4 d6 7. b3 O-O 8. O-O Rb8 9. Bb2 a6 10. d3 Bd7 11. Qd2 b5 12. Ncd5 e6 13. Nxf6+ Bxf6 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. e3 Rfd8 16. Rac1 bxc4 17. dxc4 Ne5 18. Rfd1 Bc6 19. Bxc6 Nxc6 20. Nd3 a5 21. h4 a4 22. Rb1 axb3 23. axb3 Ra8 24. Kg2 h5 25. Qe2 Rdb8 26. Nf4 Rd8 27. Rd2 Kf8 28. Rbd1 Ke7 29. Qf3 Ra6 {MVL has played very well so far, and despite the slight weakness of his d6-pawn enjoys an equal position. HIs decision to bring the king to the center creates a little opportunity for White, however, and Carlsen finds a brilliant tactical idea.} 30. Rd5 $5 {If you've done many tactics in your life, this move will have popped into your mind. But for most of us we'll chuckle, dismiss it as hope chess, and look for another idea. But Carlsen has a deeper idea in mind, and it worked.} (30. Qe4 {might also come to mind, threatening Nd5+. This is adequately met by} Qe5 {, and this is the move Carlsen's 30.Rd5 was meant to prevent.}) 30... Rd7 (30... Rb6 $1 {Threatening b3, but also and more importantly keeping White's queen off of b7 (see the game).} 31. Qe4 Ne5 32. Qc2 Kf8 33. R5d2 Kg7 {and Black has a healthy edge. This would have been a difficult line for Vachier-Lagrave to play, though, especially since it was just a few moves ago that he brought his king from the g-file to e7.}) 31. Qe4 {Now Nd5 ideas are in the air - Rxc5 or Rxh5 will pick up a pawn. Black prevents it - or so he thinks.} Ne5 32. Rxc5 $1 {An unpleasant surprise, I'm sure! Black is still okay, but it's hard to keep one's bearings after such a shock, and MVL didn't manage to do it this time.} dxc5 (32... Ra2 $1 33. Rcd5 Qf5 $1 34. Qxf5 gxf5 35. R5d2 Rxd2 36. Rxd2 Rb7 37. Nxh5 Rxb3 38. Rc2 Nd3 $44 {gives Black full compensation for the pawn.}) 33. Rxd7+ Kxd7 $2 (33... Nxd7 $4 34. Nd5+ $18) (33... Kf8 $1 $14 {still isn't that bad for Black. He just needs to get his king out of the center.}) 34. Qb7+ Ke8 $2 (34... Kd8 $142 35. Qxa6 Qf5 36. Qb6+ Ke8 37. Qb7 $16) 35. Qxa6 $18 Qf5 $2 {another error, though it would have been fine with the king on d8 (as per the last note).} (35... Qd8 $142) 36. Qc8+ Ke7 37. Qxc5+ Ke8 38. Qd4 Ng4 39. e4 Qa5 40. Nh3 Qb4 41. Ng5 Qe1 (41... Qxb3 42. Qg7 $18 Qb7 $2 43. Qg8+ $18) 42. c5 e5 43. Qa4+ Kf8 44. Qa2 f6 45. Qa8+ $1 {Going for mate. Short of time, it's very impressive for him to realize that what would otherwise be a harmless queen + knight duo (given the imminent threat of ...Qxf2+) will lead to mate thanks to the pawns on c5, e4, and f6.} Ke7 46. Qb7+ Kd8 47. Ne6+ Ke8 48. Qc8+ Ke7 49. Qd8+ (49. Qd8+ Kf7 (49... Kxe6 50. Qe8#) 50. Qf8+ Kxe6 51. Qe8#) 1-0 [Event "CCT Final KO 2024"] [White "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "1.1"] [Result "0-1"] [Date "2024.12.20"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "2763"] [BlackElo "2755"] [PlyCount "116"] [GameId "2125141989333956"] [EventDate "2024.12.20"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 Nd7 8. Qd2 O-O 9. O-O-O Nf6 10. Bd3 Re8 11. Rhe1 Bg4 12. c4 g6 13. Kb1 Qd7 14. Bd4 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Nh5 16. Be4 c6 17. f4 Qg4 18. f5 Bf6 19. f3 Qh4 20. Bf2 Qxh2 21. Rh1 Qf4 22. Qxf4 Nxf4 23. Rxd6 Kg7 24. Bc5 Nh5 25. Rg1 Red8 26. Rxd8 Bxd8 27. Rd1 Bb6 28. Bb4 Rd8 29. Bc3+ Kg8 30. Bd3 Nf4 31. fxg6 fxg6 32. c5 Bxc5 33. Bc4+ Nd5 34. Be5 Kf7 35. f4 Ke6 36. Rh1 h5 37. Bd3 Bd6 38. Bxd6 Rxd6 39. f5+ gxf5 40. Rxh5 Ne7 41. Kc1 Rd4 42. Kd2 Rg4 43. Rh6+ Rg6 44. Rh7 a5 45. a4 Rf6 46. Ke3 b6 47. Bc4+ Kd6 48. Kf4 Nd5+ 49. Kg5 Rf8 50. Rh6+ Kc5 51. Bd3 f4 52. Rh2 Kd4 53. Re2 f3 54. Re4+ Kc5 55. Rc4+ Kd6 56. Re4 f2 57. Bf1 Rg8+ 58. Kf5 Rg1 0-1 [Event "CCT Final KO 2024"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "1.2"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.20"] [ECO "B27"] [WhiteElo "2731"] [BlackElo "2831"] [PlyCount "113"] [GameId "2125141989333957"] [EventDate "2024.12.20"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. c3 d5 4. e5 a6 5. h3 Nc6 6. d4 Bg7 7. g3 Bf5 8. Bg2 e6 9. O-O Nge7 10. Be3 Qb6 11. g4 Be4 12. Qb3 Qxb3 13. axb3 cxd4 14. cxd4 Bxf3 15. Bxf3 f6 16. exf6 Bxf6 17. Rd1 Nb4 18. Rd2 Nec6 19. Nc3 Rf8 20. Kg2 Kd7 21. Na4 Rae8 22. Nc5+ Kc7 23. g5 Bg7 24. Bg4 e5 25. dxe5 Bxe5 26. Re2 d4 27. Bd2 d3 28. Re4 Bxb2 29. Rae1 Rxe4 30. Rxe4 Kd6 31. Bxb4 Nxb4 32. Nxb7+ Kd5 33. Rxb4 d2 34. Na5 Bd4 35. Nc4 Rxf2+ 36. Kg3 Rf8 37. Nxd2 Bf2+ 38. Kg2 Bc5 39. Rb7 Rf2+ 40. Kg3 Rxd2 41. Rxh7 Bd6+ 42. Kf3 Rd3+ 43. Ke2 Rxb3 44. Rg7 Ke4 45. Rxg6 Rb2+ 46. Kd1 Bf4 47. Re6+ Kd3 48. Bf5+ Kc3 49. g6 Bh6 50. Rxa6 Kd4 51. Re6 Rf2 52. Bg4 Kd5 53. Re7 Rf6 54. g7 Rg6 55. Re6 Rxg4 56. hxg4 Bxg7 57. Re8 1-0 [Event "CCT Final KO 2024"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "1.2"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.20"] [ECO "B48"] [WhiteElo "2755"] [BlackElo "2763"] [PlyCount "123"] [GameId "2125141989333958"] [EventDate "2024.12.20"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. a3 b5 8. Nxc6 Qxc6 9. Qd4 Qd6 10. O-O-O Qxd4 11. Bxd4 Bb7 12. f3 Ne7 13. a4 b4 14. Na2 Nc6 15. Bf2 Be7 16. Kb1 d6 17. Nc1 O-O 18. Nb3 Rfc8 19. Bg3 Bf8 20. Be2 e5 21. Rd2 a5 22. Bf2 Ba6 23. Bxa6 Rxa6 24. Rhd1 f6 25. Rd5 Kf7 26. Rb5 Ke6 27. Rdd5 Rca8 28. Rb6 Be7 29. Rb7 f5 30. Nd2 fxe4 31. fxe4 Rc8 32. Be3 Nd8 33. Rb6 Raa8 34. b3 Nf7 35. Nc4 Bd8 36. Rb7 Bc7 37. Rbb5 Nd8 38. Bb6 Ra6 39. Bxc7 Rxc7 40. Nxa5 Nf7 41. Rxb4 Ng5 42. Rdb5 Rc5 43. Nb7 Rc7 44. h4 Nf7 45. Na5 g5 46. h5 g4 47. Nc4 Ng5 48. Rb7 Rxb7 49. Rxb7 Nxe4 50. Rxh7 Kf5 51. h6 d5 52. Ne3+ Ke6 53. Rg7 Ra8 54. Nxg4 d4 55. h7 Rh8 56. a5 Nd6 57. a6 Nf5 58. Rb7 Nd6 59. Rg7 Nf5 60. Rg6+ Ke7 61. a7 e4 62. Rg8 1-0 [Event "CCT Final KO 2024"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "1.3"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.20"] [ECO "D78"] [WhiteElo "2831"] [BlackElo "2731"] [PlyCount "89"] [GameId "2125141989333959"] [EventDate "2024.12.20"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 c6 4. Bg2 d5 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 dxc4 8. e4 b5 9. a4 a5 10. axb5 cxb5 11. Nc3 Bb7 12. d5 b4 13. Na4 Nbd7 14. e5 Nxd5 15. e6 N7b6 16. exf7+ Rxf7 17. Ng5 Rf5 18. g4 Rf6 19. Nc5 Bc6 20. Nce6 Qd7 21. Nxg7 Kxg7 22. Ne4 Nf4 23. Qxd7 Nxd7 24. Nxf6 Nxg2 25. Re6 Nxf6 26. Rxc6 Ne1 27. Rxc4 Nd3 28. g5 Nd7 29. Rc7 N7e5 30. Rxe7+ Kg8 31. Be3 a4 32. Kg2 a3 33. bxa3 b3 34. Bd4 Nf4+ 35. Kf1 Nf3 36. Bf6 Nxh2+ 37. Kg1 Nf3+ 38. Kh1 Nd3 39. Re3 Nfe1 40. Raxe1 Nxe1 41. Rxe1 Rxa3 42. Re8+ Kf7 43. Re7+ Kf8 44. Rxh7 Ra2 45. Kg2 1-0 [Event "CCT Final KO 2024"] [White "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "1.3"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.20"] [ECO "A07"] [WhiteElo "2763"] [BlackElo "2755"] [PlyCount "119"] [GameId "2125141989333960"] [EventDate "2024.12.20"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. Nf3 d5 2. b3 Bf5 3. Bb2 e6 4. g3 Nf6 5. Bg2 h6 6. O-O Be7 7. d3 O-O 8. Nbd2 a5 9. a3 Bh7 10. Re1 c6 11. e4 Re8 12. Qe2 Bf8 13. h3 Qc7 14. e5 Nfd7 15. g4 c5 16. g5 a4 17. gxh6 gxh6 18. Nh2 Nc6 19. Ng4 Nd4 20. Bxd4 cxd4 21. Nf3 axb3 22. cxb3 Qc3 23. Bf1 Rec8 24. Rec1 Qxb3 25. Rab1 Qa4 26. Rxc8 Rxc8 27. Rxb7 Bg7 28. Qd2 Qc6 29. Ra7 Ra8 30. Nxd4 Qc8 31. Nxh6+ Bxh6 32. Rxa8 Qxa8 33. Qxh6 Nxe5 34. Qg5+ Ng6 35. h4 Qa4 36. Nf3 Qf4 37. Qxf4 Nxf4 38. a4 Nxd3 39. a5 Nc5 40. a6 Nxa6 41. Bxa6 Kg7 42. Kh2 f6 43. Bb7 Kf7 44. Kg3 Ke7 45. h5 Kd6 46. h6 Ke7 47. Nh4 d4 48. f4 Kf7 49. Bf3 Bc2 50. Bg4 e5 51. f5 Kg8 52. Nf3 Kh7 53. Ne1 Be4 54. Kh4 Kxh6 55. Nf3 Bc2 56. Kg3 Be4 57. Nd2 Bc2 58. Nf3 Be4 59. Nd2 Bc2 60. Nf3 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final KO 2024"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "1.4"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.20"] [ECO "C88"] [WhiteElo "2731"] [BlackElo "2831"] [PlyCount "108"] [GameId "2125141989333961"] [EventDate "2024.12.20"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4 Rb8 9. axb5 axb5 10. h3 d6 11. c3 b4 12. d3 bxc3 13. bxc3 h6 14. Nbd2 Bd7 15. Nf1 Ra8 16. Rb1 Re8 17. g4 Be6 18. Ba4 Bd7 19. Ne3 Nd4 20. Bxd7 Nxf3+ 21. Qxf3 Nxd7 22. Nf5 Bg5 23. Bxg5 hxg5 24. Kg2 g6 25. Ne3 Nf8 26. Nd5 Kg7 27. Rb7 Ne6 28. Reb1 Rf8 29. Kg1 Rc8 30. Ra7 f6 31. Rbb7 Rf7 32. Qd1 Nc5 33. Rb1 Rb8 34. Kh2 c6 35. Rxf7+ Kxf7 36. Ne3 Rxb1 37. Qxb1 Qc7 38. Kg3 Kg7 39. h4 gxh4+ 40. Kxh4 Ne6 41. Ng2 d5 42. Kg3 dxe4 43. dxe4 Qd7 44. f3 Qd2 45. Qb7+ Kh6 46. Qc8 Nd8 47. Qc7 Ne6 48. Qc8 Nd8 49. c4 Kg7 50. Qc7+ Kf8 51. Nh4 Qe1+ 52. Kg2 Qe2+ 53. Kg3 Qe1+ 54. Kg2 Qe2+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final KO 2024"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "1.4"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.20"] [ECO "B92"] [WhiteElo "2755"] [BlackElo "2763"] [PlyCount "93"] [GameId "2125141989338058"] [EventDate "2024.12.20"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Qd3 Be6 10. Rd1 a5 11. Be3 Nc6 12. a3 Nd7 13. Nd5 a4 14. Nd2 Bg5 15. Bxg5 Qxg5 16. Nc7 Nc5 17. Qxd6 Rad8 18. Qxc5 Rxd2 19. Rxd2 Qxd2 20. Bf1 Nd4 21. Bd3 Qg5 22. Kh1 h5 23. Rf1 Qf4 24. f3 h4 25. c3 h3 26. cxd4 Qd2 27. gxh3 Qxd3 28. Rf2 Bxh3 29. Qc2 Qxd4 30. Nd5 b6 31. Rd2 Qc5 32. Qxc5 bxc5 33. Kg1 Be6 34. Nc3 Ra8 35. Kf2 g6 36. Rd6 Kg7 37. Rc6 Rb8 38. Nxa4 Bd7 39. Rb6 Rc8 40. Nc3 Rh8 41. Kg3 Be6 42. a4 Rd8 43. a5 Ra8 44. Rb5 Rc8 45. a6 Bc4 46. Ra5 f5 47. a7 1-0 [Event "CCT Final KO 2024"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "1.5"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.20"] [ECO "B22"] [WhiteElo "2831"] [BlackElo "2731"] [PlyCount "115"] [GameId "2125141989338059"] [EventDate "2024.12.20"] [EventType "k.o."] {[%evp 0,115,19,20,-1,9,5,15,16,14,24,14,17,20,18,25,21,19,-10,33,33,29,20,36,25,22,22,55,25,65,36,21,3,13,32,29,42,18,55,-1,46,66,61,-6,76,133,93,49,96,82,60,59,73,63,45,67,642,76,71,60,60,76,62,71,71,47,89,68,87,86,88,77,94,1,76,32,68,143,124,137,112,123,138,-1,170,164,180,196,203,11,120,-1,198,253,61,233,102,182,90,156,193,133,184,235,207,253,251,246,1,239,286,277,1,321,43,319,439,250]} 1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Be2 e6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4 Qd8 9. dxc5 O-O 10. Nc3 Bxc5 11. a3 a5 12. Na4 Ba7 13. Bf4 Bd7 14. Nc3 Bb8 15. Qc1 Bxf4 16. Qxf4 Qb8 17. Qe3 a4 18. Rad1 Ne7 19. Bd3 Bc6 20. Ne5 Ra5 21. Rfe1 h6 22. Bc2 Nf5 23. Qe2 Qa7 24. Bxf5 exf5 25. Nxc6 bxc6 26. h3 Qc5 27. Qe7 {There are interesting things to say about the play up to this point, but let's start from here. White's position is more comfortable, but there's no real advantage to speak of - not yet.} Qxc4 $4 {After considerable thought, MVL produces a howler.} (27... Qxe7 28. Rxe7 Rb8 29. Rd2 Rc5 30. Nxa4 Rxc4 31. Nc3 Kf8 {is equal, and the game goes on.}) 28. Rd8 $4 $16 {And, unbelievably, Carlsen takes him at his word.} (28. Qxf8+ {is a free rook or mate in two more moves. Either way, the game (and the match) is over.} Kxf8 29. Rd8+ Ne8 30. Rexe8#) 28... Nh7 29. Red1 (29. Rxf8+ $142 Nxf8 30. Qd8 Qc5 31. Re8 Ra7 32. Qb8 Rd7 $8 33. Nxa4 Qd6 34. Nb6 Qxb8 35. Rxb8 $16) 29... Qe6 30. Qxe6 fxe6 31. R8d6 Rb8 $11 {/? White's advantage is objectively minimal, but with Black having weaknesses on c6, e6, and a4 MVL's task won't be an easy one as the seconds slip away.} 32. R1d2 e5 (32... Nf6 $142 33. Rxe6 (33. Rxc6 Nd5 $1 $11) 33... Rc5 $11 {/?}) 33. Rxc6 $14 Nf6 34. Rc4 Rba8 35. f3 (35. g3 $142) 35... R8a7 36. Kf2 Kh7 37. Rd6 e4 $2 {Black jettisons a pawn to open lines for counterplay. The problem with this move is that it jettisons the wrong pawn.} (37... f4 $1 $11 {isn't obvious as Black stymies his own pawn majority. What's right about it is that it restricts White's king, and that's more important at the moment.}) 38. fxe4 $2 (38. Rdd4 $1 $18 {wins the a-pawn now and the ending later, as Karsten Müller likes to say.}) 38... Rb7 $2 (38... Nxe4+ 39. Nxe4 fxe4 $11 {was both better and more consistent with his 37th move. Here Black should save the game.}) 39. Rb4 $1 Re7 40. Rdd4 $1 fxe4 41. Rxa4 e3+ 42. Ke2 Rae5 43. g4 $18 {Not allowing Black to create counterplay with ...Nh5-g3+ followed by ...e2. White is winning and, just as importantly, in control.} h5 44. Rac4 $1 {To play b4 without shutting the rook out of the action.} Kg6 45. b4 Kg5 46. a4 Kh4 47. g5+ $1 {Killing Black's counterplay.} Kxg5 48. a5 (48. b5 $142) 48... Rf5 49. Ne4+ {Again preventing Black from generating counterplay. White will always win a race between his queenside passers and Black's kingside majority, so as long as he doesn't allow Black to create chaos he's going to win.} Kg6 (49... Kh6 {was better, staying out of the g-pawn's way.}) 50. Kxe3 Rf1 51. Kd2 Rh1 52. Nxf6 gxf6 53. Rd3 {Not only defending the d-pawn, but shielding the king and giving it an escape route up the board (c3-d4-c5 etc.).} Ra1 54. Kc2 $1 Re2+ 55. Kb3 Raa2 56. Rf4 {Again opening a door for the king. Carlsen's play in this ending is remarkably good given the time situation.} Reb2+ 57. Kc4 Kg5 58. Rdf3 {Black is worse everywhere. The queenside pawns will eventually promote, and on the kingside he's faced with the threat of h4+ followed by Rxf6+. MVL resigned, losing the game and the match.} 1-0 [Event "CCT Final KO 2024"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "1.1"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.20"] [ECO "A36"] [WhiteElo "2831"] [BlackElo "2731"] [PlyCount "97"] [GameId "2125339647265316"] [EventDate "2024.12.20"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. c4 g6 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Nh3 Nc6 6. Nf4 d6 7. b3 O-O 8. O-O Rb8 9. Bb2 a6 10. d3 Bd7 11. Qd2 b5 12. Ncd5 e6 13. Nxf6+ Bxf6 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. e3 Rfd8 16. Rac1 bxc4 17. dxc4 Ne5 18. Rfd1 Bc6 19. Bxc6 Nxc6 20. Nd3 a5 21. h4 a4 22. Rb1 axb3 23. axb3 Ra8 24. Kg2 h5 25. Qe2 Rdb8 26. Nf4 Rd8 27. Rd2 Kf8 28. Rbd1 Ke7 29. Qf3 Ra6 30. Rd5 Rd7 31. Qe4 Ne5 32. Rxc5 dxc5 33. Rxd7+ Kxd7 34. Qb7+ Ke8 35. Qxa6 Qf5 36. Qc8+ Ke7 37. Qxc5+ Ke8 38. Qd4 Ng4 39. e4 Qa5 40. Nh3 Qb4 41. Ng5 Qe1 42. c5 e5 43. Qa4+ Kf8 44. Qa2 f6 45. Qa8+ Ke7 46. Qb7+ Kd8 47. Ne6+ Ke8 48. Qc8+ Ke7 49. Qd8+ 1-0 [Event "CCT Final KO 2024"] [White "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "1.1"] [Result "0-1"] [Date "2024.12.20"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "2763"] [BlackElo "2755"] [PlyCount "116"] [GameId "2125339647269413"] [EventDate "2024.12.20"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 Nd7 8. Qd2 O-O 9. O-O-O Nf6 10. Bd3 Re8 11. Rhe1 Bg4 12. c4 g6 13. Kb1 Qd7 14. Bd4 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Nh5 16. Be4 c6 17. f4 Qg4 18. f5 Bf6 19. f3 Qh4 20. Bf2 Qxh2 21. Rh1 Qf4 22. Qxf4 Nxf4 23. Rxd6 Kg7 24. Bc5 Nh5 25. Rg1 Red8 26. Rxd8 Bxd8 27. Rd1 Bb6 28. Bb4 Rd8 29. Bc3+ Kg8 30. Bd3 Nf4 31. fxg6 fxg6 32. c5 Bxc5 33. Bc4+ Nd5 34. Be5 Kf7 35. f4 Ke6 36. Rh1 h5 37. Bd3 Bd6 38. Bxd6 Rxd6 39. f5+ gxf5 40. Rxh5 Ne7 41. Kc1 Rd4 42. Kd2 Rg4 43. Rh6+ Rg6 44. Rh7 a5 45. a4 Rf6 46. Ke3 b6 47. Bc4+ Kd6 48. Kf4 Nd5+ 49. Kg5 Rf8 50. Rh6+ Kc5 51. Bd3 f4 52. Rh2 Kd4 53. Re2 f3 54. Re4+ Kc5 55. Rc4+ Kd6 56. Re4 f2 57. Bf1 Rg8+ 58. Kf5 Rg1 0-1 [Event "CCT Final KO 2024"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "1.2"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.20"] [ECO "B27"] [WhiteElo "2731"] [BlackElo "2831"] [PlyCount "113"] [GameId "2125339647269414"] [EventDate "2024.12.20"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. c3 d5 4. e5 a6 5. h3 Nc6 6. d4 Bg7 7. g3 Bf5 8. Bg2 e6 9. O-O Nge7 10. Be3 Qb6 11. g4 Be4 12. Qb3 Qxb3 13. axb3 cxd4 14. cxd4 Bxf3 15. Bxf3 f6 16. exf6 Bxf6 17. Rd1 Nb4 18. Rd2 Nec6 19. Nc3 Rf8 20. Kg2 Kd7 21. Na4 Rae8 22. Nc5+ Kc7 23. g5 Bg7 24. Bg4 e5 25. dxe5 Bxe5 26. Re2 d4 27. Bd2 d3 28. Re4 Bxb2 29. Rae1 Rxe4 30. Rxe4 Kd6 31. Bxb4 Nxb4 32. Nxb7+ Kd5 33. Rxb4 d2 34. Na5 Bd4 35. Nc4 Rxf2+ 36. Kg3 Rf8 37. Nxd2 Bf2+ 38. Kg2 Bc5 39. Rb7 Rf2+ 40. Kg3 Rxd2 41. Rxh7 Bd6+ 42. Kf3 Rd3+ 43. Ke2 Rxb3 44. Rg7 Ke4 45. Rxg6 Rb2+ 46. Kd1 Bf4 47. Re6+ Kd3 48. Bf5+ Kc3 49. g6 Bh6 50. Rxa6 Kd4 51. Re6 Rf2 52. Bg4 Kd5 53. Re7 Rf6 54. g7 Rg6 55. Re6 Rxg4 56. hxg4 Bxg7 57. Re8 1-0 [Event "CCT Final KO 2024"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "1.2"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.20"] [ECO "B48"] [WhiteElo "2755"] [BlackElo "2763"] [PlyCount "123"] [GameId "2125339647269415"] [EventDate "2024.12.20"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. a3 b5 8. Nxc6 Qxc6 9. Qd4 Qd6 10. O-O-O Qxd4 11. Bxd4 Bb7 12. f3 Ne7 13. a4 b4 14. Na2 Nc6 15. Bf2 Be7 16. Kb1 d6 17. Nc1 O-O 18. Nb3 Rfc8 19. Bg3 Bf8 20. Be2 e5 21. Rd2 a5 22. Bf2 Ba6 23. Bxa6 Rxa6 24. Rhd1 f6 25. Rd5 Kf7 26. Rb5 Ke6 27. Rdd5 Rca8 28. Rb6 Be7 29. Rb7 f5 30. Nd2 fxe4 31. fxe4 Rc8 32. Be3 Nd8 33. Rb6 Raa8 34. b3 Nf7 35. Nc4 Bd8 36. Rb7 Bc7 37. Rbb5 Nd8 38. Bb6 Ra6 39. Bxc7 Rxc7 40. Nxa5 Nf7 41. Rxb4 Ng5 42. Rdb5 Rc5 43. Nb7 Rc7 44. h4 Nf7 45. Na5 g5 46. h5 g4 47. Nc4 Ng5 48. Rb7 Rxb7 49. Rxb7 Nxe4 50. Rxh7 Kf5 51. h6 d5 52. Ne3+ Ke6 53. Rg7 Ra8 54. Nxg4 d4 55. h7 Rh8 56. a5 Nd6 57. a6 Nf5 58. Rb7 Nd6 59. Rg7 Nf5 60. Rg6+ Ke7 61. a7 e4 62. Rg8 1-0 [Event "CCT Final KO 2024"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "1.3"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.20"] [ECO "D78"] [WhiteElo "2831"] [BlackElo "2731"] [PlyCount "89"] [GameId "2125339647277608"] [EventDate "2024.12.20"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 c6 4. Bg2 d5 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 dxc4 8. e4 b5 9. a4 a5 10. axb5 cxb5 11. Nc3 Bb7 12. d5 b4 13. Na4 Nbd7 14. e5 Nxd5 15. e6 N7b6 16. exf7+ Rxf7 17. Ng5 Rf5 18. g4 Rf6 19. Nc5 Bc6 20. Nce6 Qd7 21. Nxg7 Kxg7 22. Ne4 Nf4 23. Qxd7 Nxd7 24. Nxf6 Nxg2 25. Re6 Nxf6 26. Rxc6 Ne1 27. Rxc4 Nd3 28. g5 Nd7 29. Rc7 N7e5 30. Rxe7+ Kg8 31. Be3 a4 32. Kg2 a3 33. bxa3 b3 34. Bd4 Nf4+ 35. Kf1 Nf3 36. Bf6 Nxh2+ 37. Kg1 Nf3+ 38. Kh1 Nd3 39. Re3 Nfe1 40. Raxe1 Nxe1 41. Rxe1 Rxa3 42. Re8+ Kf7 43. Re7+ Kf8 44. Rxh7 Ra2 45. Kg2 1-0 [Event "CCT Final KO 2024"] [White "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "1.3"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.20"] [ECO "A07"] [WhiteElo "2763"] [BlackElo "2755"] [PlyCount "119"] [GameId "2125339647277609"] [EventDate "2024.12.20"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. Nf3 d5 2. b3 Bf5 3. Bb2 e6 4. g3 Nf6 5. Bg2 h6 6. O-O Be7 7. d3 O-O 8. Nbd2 a5 9. a3 Bh7 10. Re1 c6 11. e4 Re8 12. Qe2 Bf8 13. h3 Qc7 14. e5 Nfd7 15. g4 c5 16. g5 a4 17. gxh6 gxh6 18. Nh2 Nc6 19. Ng4 Nd4 20. Bxd4 cxd4 21. Nf3 axb3 22. cxb3 Qc3 23. Bf1 Rec8 24. Rec1 Qxb3 25. Rab1 Qa4 26. Rxc8 Rxc8 27. Rxb7 Bg7 28. Qd2 Qc6 29. Ra7 Ra8 30. Nxd4 Qc8 31. Nxh6+ Bxh6 32. Rxa8 Qxa8 33. Qxh6 Nxe5 34. Qg5+ Ng6 35. h4 Qa4 36. Nf3 Qf4 37. Qxf4 Nxf4 38. a4 Nxd3 39. a5 Nc5 40. a6 Nxa6 41. Bxa6 Kg7 42. Kh2 f6 43. Bb7 Kf7 44. Kg3 Ke7 45. h5 Kd6 46. h6 Ke7 47. Nh4 d4 48. f4 Kf7 49. Bf3 Bc2 50. Bg4 e5 51. f5 Kg8 52. Nf3 Kh7 53. Ne1 Be4 54. Kh4 Kxh6 55. Nf3 Bc2 56. Kg3 Be4 57. Nd2 Bc2 58. Nf3 Be4 59. Nd2 Bc2 60. Nf3 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final KO 2024"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "1.4"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.20"] [ECO "C88"] [WhiteElo "2731"] [BlackElo "2831"] [PlyCount "108"] [GameId "2125339647277610"] [EventDate "2024.12.20"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4 Rb8 9. axb5 axb5 10. h3 d6 11. c3 b4 12. d3 bxc3 13. bxc3 h6 14. Nbd2 Bd7 15. Nf1 Ra8 16. Rb1 Re8 17. g4 Be6 18. Ba4 Bd7 19. Ne3 Nd4 20. Bxd7 Nxf3+ 21. Qxf3 Nxd7 22. Nf5 Bg5 23. Bxg5 hxg5 24. Kg2 g6 25. Ne3 Nf8 26. Nd5 Kg7 27. Rb7 Ne6 28. Reb1 Rf8 29. Kg1 Rc8 30. Ra7 f6 31. Rbb7 Rf7 32. Qd1 Nc5 33. Rb1 Rb8 34. Kh2 c6 35. Rxf7+ Kxf7 36. Ne3 Rxb1 37. Qxb1 Qc7 38. Kg3 Kg7 39. h4 gxh4+ 40. Kxh4 Ne6 41. Ng2 d5 42. Kg3 dxe4 43. dxe4 Qd7 44. f3 Qd2 45. Qb7+ Kh6 46. Qc8 Nd8 47. Qc7 Ne6 48. Qc8 Nd8 49. c4 Kg7 50. Qc7+ Kf8 51. Nh4 Qe1+ 52. Kg2 Qe2+ 53. Kg3 Qe1+ 54. Kg2 Qe2+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final KO 2024"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "1.4"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.20"] [ECO "B92"] [WhiteElo "2755"] [BlackElo "2763"] [PlyCount "93"] [GameId "2125339647281707"] [EventDate "2024.12.20"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Qd3 Be6 10. Rd1 a5 11. Be3 Nc6 12. a3 Nd7 13. Nd5 a4 14. Nd2 Bg5 15. Bxg5 Qxg5 16. Nc7 Nc5 17. Qxd6 Rad8 18. Qxc5 Rxd2 19. Rxd2 Qxd2 20. Bf1 Nd4 21. Bd3 Qg5 22. Kh1 h5 23. Rf1 Qf4 24. f3 h4 25. c3 h3 26. cxd4 Qd2 27. gxh3 Qxd3 28. Rf2 Bxh3 29. Qc2 Qxd4 30. Nd5 b6 31. Rd2 Qc5 32. Qxc5 bxc5 33. Kg1 Be6 34. Nc3 Ra8 35. Kf2 g6 36. Rd6 Kg7 37. Rc6 Rb8 38. Nxa4 Bd7 39. Rb6 Rc8 40. Nc3 Rh8 41. Kg3 Be6 42. a4 Rd8 43. a5 Ra8 44. Rb5 Rc8 45. a6 Bc4 46. Ra5 f5 47. a7 1-0 [Event "CCT Final KO 2024"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "1.5"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.20"] [ECO "B22"] [WhiteElo "2831"] [BlackElo "2731"] [PlyCount "115"] [GameId "2125339647281708"] [EventDate "2024.12.20"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Be2 e6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4 Qd8 9. dxc5 O-O 10. Nc3 Bxc5 11. a3 a5 12. Na4 Ba7 13. Bf4 Bd7 14. Nc3 Bb8 15. Qc1 Bxf4 16. Qxf4 Qb8 17. Qe3 a4 18. Rad1 Ne7 19. Bd3 Bc6 20. Ne5 Ra5 21. Rfe1 h6 22. Bc2 Nf5 23. Qe2 Qa7 24. Bxf5 exf5 25. Nxc6 bxc6 26. h3 Qc5 27. Qe7 Qxc4 28. Rd8 Nh7 29. Red1 Qe6 30. Qxe6 fxe6 31. R8d6 Rb8 32. R1d2 e5 33. Rxc6 Nf6 34. Rc4 Rba8 35. f3 R8a7 36. Kf2 Kh7 37. Rd6 e4 38. fxe4 Rb7 39. Rb4 Re7 40. Rdd4 fxe4 41. Rxa4 e3+ 42. Ke2 Rae5 43. g4 h5 44. Rac4 Kg6 45. b4 Kg5 46. a4 Kh4 47. g5+ Kxg5 48. a5 Rf5 49. Ne4+ Kg6 50. Kxe3 Rf1 51. Kd2 Rh1 52. Nxf6 gxf6 53. Rd3 Ra1 54. Kc2 Re2+ 55. Kb3 Raa2 56. Rf4 Reb2+ 57. Kc4 Kg5 58. Rdf3 1-0 [Event "CCT Final KO 2024"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "2.1"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.21"] [ECO "D50"] [WhiteElo "2831"] [BlackElo "2755"] [PlyCount "155"] [GameId "2125414618634635"] [EventDate "2024.12.20"] [EventType "k.o."] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 cxd4 {There's the Dubov Tarrasch, and this is the So Semi-Tarrasch. It proved a very effective drawing weapon in his hands a year or two ago; let's see what new wrinkle Carlsen has in mind to keep the game from petering out too quickly.} 6. Qxd4 exd5 7. Bg5 (7. e4 {used to be automatic, but it was shown that it's shockingly hard to get anything in the endings resulting from} dxe4 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Ng5 Be6 10. Nxe6+ fxe6 $11 {despite Black's gruesome pawn structure, his king's inability to castle and White's bishop pair.}) 7... Be7 8. e3 O-O 9. Be2 h6 (9... Nc6 10. Qd3 (10. Qd2 Be6 11. O-O Ne4 {seems an even more effective equalizer.}) 10... h6 {is more common, and now White does not take on f6 (ok, it happened once - out of 51 games) but retreats to h4.} 11. Bh4 Qb6 12. O-O Rd8 $11) 10. Bxf6 (10. Bh4 Nc6 11. Qd3 {transposes to the 9...Nc6 line.}) 10... Bxf6 11. Qd2 {The queen seems better here than on d3. So why does Black play 9...h6?} Be6 12. O-O Qd7 $146 (12... Nc6) 13. Rfd1 (13. Rad1 $142 Rd8 14. Nd4 Nc6 15. Nxe6 fxe6 16. Ne4 Bd4 17. Bd3 Bb6 18. Bb1 $11 {/? is the subtle reason to prefer 13.Rad1: we're not locking in the rook.}) 13... Rd8 14. Nd4 Nc6 15. Nxe6 fxe6 16. Ne4 Qe7 (16... Bd4 $1 $11) 17. Nxf6+ Qxf6 18. Rac1 $14 Rac8 19. h3 a6 20. b4 (20. Rc5 $142 Rf8 21. Bf1 $14) 20... Ne5 $11 21. Qd4 Nd7 (21... b5 {is also good, followed soon by ...Nc4.}) 22. Bg4 Ne5 23. Be2 Nd7 24. Qd2 Ne5 25. b5 axb5 (25... Nc4 $1 {is better, but it requires spotting the same tactic Nepo missed in the game.} 26. Bxc4 dxc4 27. Rxc4 $1 Qxf2+ $3 28. Kxf2 (28. Qxf2 Rxd1+ 29. Kh2 Rxc4 $11) 28... Rxd2+ 29. Rxd2 Rxc4 30. bxa6 bxa6 31. Rd6 Ra4 $11) 26. Bxb5 $14 Nc4 27. Bxc4 (27. Qe2 $142 $14) (27. Qb4 $142 $14) 27... dxc4 28. Rxc4 $1 Ra8 $2 (28... Rxc4 29. Qxd8+ Qxd8 30. Rxd8+ $16) (28... Qxf2+ $3 29. Kxf2 (29. Qxf2 Rxd1+ 30. Kh2 Rxc4 $11) 29... Rxd2+ 30. Rxd2 Rxc4 $11) 29. Ra4 $2 (29. Qe2 $1 Rxd1+ 30. Qxd1 Rxa2 31. Rc8+ Kf7 (31... Kh7 $4 32. Qb1+ $18) 32. Kh2 $3 Ra5 (32... Qxf2 $2 33. Qd7+ Kg6 34. Qxe6+ Kh7 35. Qe4+ g6 36. Qxb7+ Qf7 37. Qxf7#) (32... Rxf2 $2 33. Qh5+ $1 Ke7 (33... g6 34. Qxh6 $18) 34. Qc5+ Kf7 (34... Kd7 35. Qc7#) 35. Rf8+ $18) 33. Qc2 $1 Rd5 34. Rc7+ Kg8 35. f4 $1 $18 {Black's king is chronically weak, and he's also likely to lose either the b- or the e-pawn.}) 29... Rxa4 30. Qxd8+ Qxd8 31. Rxd8+ Kf7 32. Rd7+ Kf6 33. Rxb7 Rxa2 {Win or draw? The engine chuckles at us humans and says it's simply drawn - everything is 0.00 - while the main commentator, the very strong GM David Howell, took it as almost a given that White would win this. They're both right. With ideal defense it's a draw, but for human beings the weakness of the e6-pawn makes defense approximating that ideal almost impossible, especially given the time control.} 34. Rb5 g5 $2 {Surprisingly, this space grab may already be the decisive error.} (34... g6 {is the engine's preference, to play ...h5 if possible and ...g5 instead only in response to g4.}) 35. g4 $2 {As you will gather from the previous comment, the engine also hates this move, which is - again - entirely normal for humans.} ({The following analysis is anything but exhaustive, but will give you an idea of how White makes progress if Black tries to wait.} 35. Kf1 Rc2 36. Rb4 Ra2 37. h4 Kg6 (37... Rc2 38. h5) 38. g3 Rc2 39. Kg2 Ra2 40. Kf3 Rc2 41. Rb6 Kf6 42. h5 Rc7 (42... Ra2 43. Rb7 $18) 43. Rb8 Kg7 44. g4 Rf7+ 45. Kg3 Ra7 46. f4 gxf4+ (46... Rc7 47. Rb6 gxf4+ 48. Kxf4 $1 Kf6 49. Rb8 Kg7 50. Ke5 $18) 47. Kxf4 $1 Ra4+ 48. e4 Kf6 (48... Ra5 49. Rb7+ Kg8 50. Re7 Ra6 51. Ke5 $18) 49. Rg8 e5+ 50. Kf3 $18) 35... Ra1+ 36. Kg2 Ra2 $2 (36... Kg7 $1 {Is it obvious that this keeps a draw while the text doesn't? Not exactly.} 37. h4 $6 gxh4 38. Rh5 Kg6 39. Rxh4 Kg5 $1 {and here White doesn't have 40.Kg3, so Black will be able to swap his sickly h-pawn for White's healthy g-pawn and make a draw.} 40. Rh5+ (40. Kg3 Rg1+ 41. Kh2 Kxh4 42. Kxg1 Kxg4 43. Kg2 $11) 40... Kxg4 41. Rxh6 e5 $11) 37. h4 $1 $18 gxh4 38. Rh5 Kg6 39. Rxh4 Ra4 (39... Kg5 40. Kg3 $1 $18) 40. Kg3 Rb4 41. Rh5 Ra4 42. Rb5 Kf6 43. f4 Ra6 44. Kf3 Rc6 45. Rh5 Kg6 46. Ke4 Rc3 47. Ra5 Kf6 48. Ra6 {Threatening 49.f5.} Rc4+ 49. Kf3 Kf7 50. f5 h5 ({After} 50... exf5 51. gxf5 Kg7 52. e4 $18 {White's connected passers will win with ease.}) 51. fxe6+ (51. Rxe6 {might be simpler.}) 51... Ke7 52. gxh5 Rh4 53. Ra5 Kxe6 54. e4 Rh3+ 55. Kg4 Re3 56. Kf4 Rh3 57. Ra6+ Ke7 58. h6 Kf7 59. e5 Rh5 60. h7 Kg7 (60... Rxh7 61. Ra7+ Kg6 62. Rxh7 Kxh7 63. e6 Kg7 (63... Kg6 64. Ke5 $18) 64. Ke5 Kf8 65. Kd6 Ke8 66. e7 Kf7 67. Kd7 $18) 61. Ra7+ Kg6 (61... Kh8 {might seem the better try, going for stalemate tricks. White has a good, simple solution: jettison the h-pawn and promote the e-pawn.} 62. Ra8+ $1 Kxh7 63. e6 Rh4+ 64. Ke5 Rh5+ 65. Kf6 Rh6+ 66. Kf7 Rh1 67. e7 Rf1+ 68. Ke6 Re1+ 69. Kf6 Rf1+ 70. Kg5 $18 {and the king will zigzag along the f- and g-files towards the rook if Black keeps checking; otherwise, White promotes.}) 62. e6 Kf6 63. e7 Rh4+ 64. Kf3 Rxh7 65. e8=Q Rxa7 {Nepo has done well to reach this ending - one that he apparently failed to win once against Carlsen. (I can do Carlsen one better: I had the king and rook against king and queen once in a tournament, and *won*. My 2100+ rated opponent was living off the five-second time delay and got frustrated that he couldn't break down my third-rank defense - one of the defender's main tools, and one which Nepo is unable to achieve here - and halfway to the 50-move rule he thought a little too long and lost on time. Actually, at one point in this ending Carlsen nearly followed in my opponent's footsteps, making a move with just one second on his clock.)} 66. Qc6+ Kg7 67. Kg4 {If Black could get his rook to f6 he could put up meaningful resistance. If he can't, then the win is generally pretty easy.} Re7 68. Kf5 Kf8 69. Qd6 Ke8 70. Qc6+ ({One of the standard tricks for the defender lets him avoid an immediate loss to the attractive-looking} 70. Kf6 {, to wit:} Rf7+ 71. Ke6 $4 Rf6+ $1 72. Kxf6 $11) 70... Kf8 71. Qc4 Kg7 72. Qb3 Rf7+ 73. Ke6 Rf6+ 74. Ke7 Rg6 ({Black can't maintain a sideways version of the third-rank defense, as} 74... Rf5 {is met by} 75. Qe6 {when the rook can't safely remain on the f-file. For example:} Rf1 76. Qg4+ Kh6 77. Qh3+ $18) 75. Qc3+ Kg8 76. Qe5 Rh6 77. Qg5+ Kh7 78. Kf7 1-0 [Event "CCT Final KO 2024"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "2.2"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [Result "0-1"] [Date "2024.12.21"] [ECO "C54"] [WhiteElo "2755"] [BlackElo "2831"] [PlyCount "80"] [GameId "2125414618638732"] [EventDate "2024.12.20"] [EventType "k.o."] {[%evp 0,80,11,12,-1,9,6,-4,21,30,8,12,13,-3,-37,-13,0,-5,0,-12,8,-7,-1,11,12,0,16,11,24,-3,29,5,14,6,8,13,-49,6,9,3,5,-7,-2,-9,-12,-45,-60,-139,-112,-187,-108,-4,-93,-108,94,-45,-111,-246,-207,-235,-251,-333,-220,-447,-359,-405,-301,-458,-197,-265,-304,-112,-316,-286,-271,-609,-618,-935,-984,-1118,-1369,-1245,-1749]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 Qe7 ({Black generally plays} 7... a6) ({or} 7... a5 {, followed in either case by ...Ba7.}) 8. b4 (8. O-O) 8... Bb6 9. a4 $2 a5 $17 10. b5 Nd8 11. Nbd2 Ne6 {White's queenside advance hasn't achieved anything except to increase Black's control over the a7-g1 diagonal.} 12. O-O Nf4 13. d4 Bg4 14. Qb3 O-O-O {Why not? Now Black is ready to go full-blast with his kingside attack.} 15. Rfe1 g5 16. Bg3 Bh5 17. Bf1 Kb8 18. Rad1 Rhe8 19. Nc4 Bxf3 20. gxf3 Qe6 (20... h5 $19) 21. Qc2 (21. dxe5 dxe5 22. Rxd8+ Rxd8 23. Rd1 {is probably best, trying desperately to exchange as many pieces as possible and to give his pieces a little scope. Even so, he's probably still lost.}) 21... h5 $19 22. Ne3 $6 exd4 $1 23. Nf5 $2 dxc3 $6 {A missed opportunity, but Carlsen is still very much winning.} (23... d3 $1 24. Bxd3 $2 {Losing material, but the alternatives are miserable.} Nxd3 25. Qxd3 h4 $19) 24. Qxc3 Nd7 (24... h4 $142) 25. h4 Qe5 26. Qd2 f6 27. Kh2 Qc5 28. Rc1 (28. Re3 $142) 28... Ne5 $1 29. Bg2 Qa3 ({The flashy} 29... Nxg2 {is a nice alternative:} 30. Rxc5 $2 Nxe1 $1 {Black already has enough for the queen - a rook, knight, and pawn - and will now either win White's queen or at least the rook.}) 30. Qd1 d5 31. exd5 (31. Ra1 $142) 31... Rxd5 {Now all of Black's pieces are in the action. The end is near.} 32. Qc2 Red8 33. Rxe5 Rxe5 34. Ne3 Rxe3 35. fxe3 Qxe3 {Threatening ...Rd2.} 36. Re1 Qd4 37. hxg5 h4 $1 38. Bxf4 (38. Bxh4 Rh8 39. Kg3 Ne2+ 40. Qxe2 Qxh4#) 38... Qxf4+ 39. Kh1 h3 $1 40. Bxh3 Qg3 0-1 [Event "CCT Final KO 2024"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "2.3"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.21"] [ECO "B22"] [WhiteElo "2831"] [BlackElo "2755"] [PlyCount "173"] [GameId "2125414618638733"] [EventDate "2024.12.20"] [EventType "k.o."] {[%evp 0,173,20,22,21,26,1,-5,2,-28,13,4,14,13,11,24,41,32,13,14,13,9,17,2,-24,-38,3,-37,-132,-33,-15,-3,-27,-9,-18,-15,-9,71,-22,-23,31,-7,5,-34,30,14,53,-33,-32,-106,-114,-128,-70,-94,-109,-124,-135,-144,-62,-168,-142,-33,-140,-85,-132,-146,-58,-95,62,-20,-27,-30,32,-45,4,-53,-25,-118,-124,-131,-274,-328,-112,-112,-93,-92,-6,14,-1,1,19,28,31,18,17,-1,8,0,18,-33,51,65,53,81,41,61,147,147,207,117,103,119,99,19,4,6,-15,-2,1,-12,16,-1,1,-9,-15,30,-6,-1,-1,-1,-1,-26,-1,-34,-1,-24,-6,-57,-27,-65,23,0,65,0,0,0,100,-7,-36,-24,6,-36,-27,-1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]} 1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. d4 cxd4 6. Bc4 Nb6 7. Bb3 g6 8. cxd4 Bg7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. O-O d6 11. exd6 Qxd6 12. d5 Na5 13. Re1 Nxb3 14. Qxb3 Bg4 15. Bg5 Rfe8 16. Rad1 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Qd7 18. Ne4 h6 19. Be3 Qh3 20. Bf4 Nd7 21. d6 Ne5 22. Bg3 Rad8 23. f4 Nc6 24. Qxb7 Nd4 25. Kh1 exd6 26. Qd5 Nf5 27. b4 Re6 28. Nc5 Rxe1+ 29. Rxe1 Kh7 30. Ne4 Re8 31. Kg1 Re6 32. Rd1 Qh5 33. Rd2 Qg4 34. f3 Qh3 35. Bf2 Ne7 36. Qd3 Qf5 37. Nxd6 Qxf4 38. Bg3 $2 (38. b5 $11) 38... Qxb4 $17 39. Nxf7 $2 Nf5 $19 40. Kg2 Qe7 $2 (40... Re3 $1 41. Qd8 (41. Qd5 Re7 $1 {Threatening both ...Rxf7, exploiting the overloaded White queen, and ...Ne3+. This wins.}) 41... Qc4 42. Rd7 Qc2+ 43. Kh3 Qe2 $19) 41. Nd6 Re3 42. Qc4 Nxg3 $2 (42... Rxf3 $1 43. Kxf3 Qe3+ 44. Kg4 h5+ 45. Kh3 Qxd2 46. Nxf5 gxf5 $19) 43. hxg3 $11 Rc3 44. Qe4 Qd7 45. Qe2 Rc6 46. Ne4 Qe7 47. Qb5 Rc7 48. Qd5 Rb7 49. a4 Rb2 50. Rxb2 Bxb2 51. a5 Bg7 52. a6 Qc7 53. Qb7 Be5 $4 54. Nf6+ $2 $11 (54. f4 Qxb7 55. axb7 Bb8 56. Kf3 {White can always play Nc5-d7, but first he gets in the square of the pawn.} a5 57. Nf6+ Kg7 58. Nd7 Bc7 59. Ke4 $1 $18) 54... Kh8 55. Qa8+ Qb8 56. Qxb8+ Bxb8 57. f4 Kg7 58. Nd5 Kf7 59. Kf3 Ke6 60. Ke4 Bd6 61. Nc3 Bc5 62. Nb5 h5 63. Nc3 Bf2 64. Kf3 Bd4 65. Ne4 Kd5 66. Ng5 Bf6 67. Ne4 Be7 68. Ke3 Kc6 69. Kd4 Kb6 70. Ke5 h4 71. gxh4 Bxh4 72. Ke6 Kxa6 73. Kf7 Kb5 74. Kxg6 a5 75. f5 Bd8 76. f6 Bxf6 77. Kxf6 Kb4 78. Nd2 Kc3 79. Nb1+ Kc2 80. Na3+ Kb3 81. Nb1 Kb2 82. Nd2 a4 83. Ke5 Kc3 84. Kd5 Kxd2 85. Kc4 Ke1 86. Kb4 Kf1 87. Kxa4 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final KO 2024"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "2.4"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2024.12.21"] [ECO "E42"] [WhiteElo "2755"] [BlackElo "2831"] [PlyCount "103"] [GameId "2125414618638734"] [EventDate "2024.12.20"] [EventType "k.o."] {[%evp 0,103,5,39,7,20,20,17,12,11,11,20,25,27,51,17,17,-4,21,17,36,32,19,24,24,18,13,46,18,5,13,28,25,4,-56,16,-106,39,32,73,51,41,49,91,55,101,38,51,80,113,71,62,57,52,82,65,22,31,21,31,28,56,109,74,84,103,99,103,85,74,123,100,97,123,112,95,95,125,132,97,117,126,124,126,151,141,142,125,137,109,166,42,146,34,40,2,12,9,24,7,2,3,1,1,1,6]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Nge2 d5 6. a3 Ba5 7. dxc5 dxc4 8. Bd2 Nbd7 9. Ng3 Nxc5 10. Bxc4 Bc7 11. O-O O-O 12. Qe2 Bd7 13. Rfd1 Qe7 14. Nb5 Be5 15. Bb4 a6 16. Nd4 a5 17. Bc3 Rfd8 18. Nc6 Bxc6 19. Bxe5 Ba4 20. Rxd8+ Rxd8 21. h3 h6 22. Rc1 Bc6 23. Bb5 Bxb5 24. Qxb5 Nd3 25. Rc7 Qe8 26. Rxb7 Qxb5 27. Rxb5 Nxe5 28. Rxe5 Rd1+ 29. Nf1 a4 30. g4 Nd5 31. Re4 Rb1 32. Rxa4 Rxb2 33. Ng3 Nc3 34. Rc4 Ne2+ 35. Kg2 Nxg3 36. Kxg3 Ra2 37. Rc8+ Kh7 38. Ra8 g5 39. a4 Kg7 40. a5 Ra4 41. a6 Ra2 42. a7 {This came as a surprise to the commentators, as it seems to be an all-or-nothing move. White cannot win by bringing his king to the a-pawn, as Black's rook will just chase it away. Therefore, if there is a win to be had, it will somehow involve making progress on the kingside.} Kf6 43. h4 Ra3 44. Kg2 $6 (44. h5 {needs to be played, and now Black must be careful.} Kg7 $1 (44... Ra4 $2 {seems like a perfectly normal move, but it loses:} 45. f4 $1 gxf4+ 46. exf4 Kg7 47. g5 $1 {This must be played before Black can get in ...f6.} hxg5 (47... Ra3+ 48. Kf2 $1 (48. Kg4 $2 Kh7 $1 {White's king is stuck.} 49. gxh6 {unsticks it, but now Black can create a fortress with a quick ...f6.} Ra4 50. Kg5 (50. Kf3 f6 51. Ke3 Ra5 52. Kd3 (52. Kd4 e5+ $11) 52... Ra3+ 53. Kc4 Ra4+ 54. Kc5 Ra1 55. Kd6 e5 $8 $11) 50... f6+ 51. Kxf6 Rxf4+ 52. Kxe6 Ra4 $11)) 48. h6+ Kh7 49. fxg5 e5 (49... Ra6 50. Kf4 Ra5 51. Ke4 $18 {is zugzwang: moving the rook off the a-file allows White to do the same and then promote; playing 51...Kg6 allows 52.Rg8+ and 53.a8Q; pushing 51...e5 allows 52.Kf5 with another zugzwang; finally, moving the rook along the a-file allows 52.Ke5 followed by Kf6, taking on f6, and playing g6+.}) 50. Kf3 Rf4+ 51. Ke3 Ra4 52. Kd3 e4+ (52... Ra1 53. Ke4 Ra5 54. Kf5 Ra6 55. Kxe5 Ra1 56. Kf6 Rf1+ 57. Ke7 Re1+ 58. Kxf7 {and once Black stops giving checks and puts his rook back on the a-file, White plays g6+, then gives a rook check, and then promotes.}) 53. Ke3 $18 {wins the e-pawn with zugzwang.}) 45. Kh3 Ra2 46. f4 gxf4 47. exf4 f6 $11) 44... Kg7 $6 (44... gxh4 $1) 45. f4 $6 (45. h5) 45... gxh4 $1 46. e4 e5 47. fxe5 Rg3+ 48. Kh1 Rh3+ 49. Kg2 Rg3+ 50. Kh2 Ra3 51. Kg2 Rg3+ 52. Kh2 1/2-1/2 [Event "CCT Final KO 2024"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Site "Oslo NOR"] [Round "2.5"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.12.21"] [ECO "C11"] [WhiteElo "2831"] [BlackElo "2755"] [PlyCount "45"] [GameId "2125414618638735"] [EventDate "2024.12.20"] [EventType "k.o."] {[%evp 0,45,13,23,24,20,24,22,-61,5,2,2,-16,14,-36,13,3,15,2,16,-13,14,-15,29,15,7,21,21,53,-1,63,4,105,1,107,130,-7,196,91,91,158,133,448,273,543,432,414,451]} 1. d4 e6 2. e4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Nce2 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. a3 {A la Gukesh, who got a great position with this move in game 13 against Ding.} a5 (7... Be7 8. Be3 Nb6 9. Nf4 cxd4 10. cxd4 Nc4 11. Bxc4 dxc4 {½-½ Gukesh,D (2783)-Ding,L (2728) World-ch Ding-Gukesh Singapore 2024 (13)} 12. Qg4 $1 $16) 8. Nf3 a4 9. h4 Qa5 $1 {Threatening to take on d4 and then e5.} 10. Bd2 (10. Bf4 $146 {might be best, overprotecting e5 rather than breaking the pin. It's at least worth considering.}) 10... Qb6 11. Rb1 (11. Qc2 $146) (11. h5 $5 $146) (11. Rh3 $5 $146) 11... Be7 (11... cxd4 12. cxd4 f6 13. exf6 Nxf6 14. Nc3 Nxd4 15. Nxd4 Qxd4 16. Bb5+ Kf7 17. Qe2 e5 18. Bg5 Qb6 19. Bxf6 gxf6 20. Nxd5 Qa5+ 21. Nc3 Bh6 22. Rd1 Kg7 23. O-O Rf8 24. Bd7 Kh8 25. Rd5 Qa6 26. Qh5 Bg7 27. Rfd1 f5 28. Bxc8 Raxc8 29. Rd7 Qc4 30. Rxb7 Rc6 31. Rb4 Qg8 32. Rd7 e4 33. Rbb7 Rh6 34. Qd1 Bf6 35. Qd6 Bg5 36. Qc5 Bxh4 37. Nd5 Bf6 38. Nxf6 Rhxf6 39. Qc7 Rh6 40. Rg7 {1-0 Nigmatov,O (2447)-Sankalp,G (2539) Tashkent President op 3rd 2024 (8)}) ({The thematic break} 11... f6 {may be best, and I'm not saying it because of the result.} 12. Nf4 cxd4 13. Nxe6 Ndxe5 14. Nfxd4 Nxd4 15. Nxd4 Bc5 16. Be3 Bg4 17. f3 Bd7 18. Be2 O-O 19. O-O Rfe8 20. Bf2 Qd6 21. Nb5 Bxb5 22. Bxb5 Red8 23. Bxa4 Rxa4 24. Qxa4 Nxf3+ 25. gxf3 Qg3+ 26. Kh1 Qxf3+ 27. Kg1 Qg3+ 28. Kh1 Qh3+ 29. Kg1 Bd6 {0-1 Blohberger,F (2490)-Bartel,M (2627) EU-ch Rapid Katowice 2022 (10)}) 12. Be3 O-O $4 {This won't turn out well: White's attack will get off the ground in a hurry, and Black has practically nothing near his king to help defend.} ({Black should troll White with} 12... Qa5 {, requesting a repetition. At least that's what he should do in many cases. Here Nepo loses the match with a draw, so he has to try almost anything else.} 13. Qd2 (13. Bd2 Qb6 $11) 13... b5 $11 {So what should Black do? I don't think there is a great solution for Black at this point, so for those of you who play the French finding yourself in a must-win situation, vary on move 11 (if not sooner).}) 13. Nf4 $18 Qb3 14. Qc1 cxd4 15. cxd4 Na5 16. Bd3 h6 17. Rh3 Nc4 18. Bc2 Qb5 19. Nh5 {Black could resign here. The immediate threat is Bxh6, and Rg3 isn't a bad secondary threat.} Nxe3 20. Qxe3 {There's already no sensible answer to the coming Rg3.} f5 21. Rg3 Rf7 22. Qxh6 Bf8 23. Qg6 {Next up, Ng5.} 1-0