1.c4
Magnus is now a confirmed 'anglophile' when it comes to his choice of opening for White...
1...f5
... while Hikaru favours the Netherlands with Black. Of course it is not a true Dutch as White does not play d4 at any stage.
2.g3
Nf6
3.Bg2
d6
4.Nc3
g6
5.e3
Bg7
6.Nge2
0-0
7.0-0
e5
8.b3
Nbd7
9.d3
c6
10.Ba3
Qc7
11.Qd2
Re8
12.Rae1
Nc5
13.h3
e4
14.dxe4
[14.d4
isn't really an option because of 14...Nd3
and the knight makes a nuisance of itself.]
14...Nfxe4
15.Qc2
Nxc3
16.Nxc3
Be6
17.Rd1
Rad8
18.Bb2
Bf7
19.Rd2
a5
20.Rfd1
Be5
21.Ne2
So far, a lot of cautious jockeying for position has ensued, but now Hikaru makes a committal move.
21...a4
22.b4
Nd7
23.Bd4
[Note the immediate capture of the a-pawn with 23.Qxa4
would be a very bad idea because of 23...Nb6!
24.Qb3
Nxc4
and White is actually losing material. However, the a-pawn remains a liability in the long term as it is awkward to defend.]
23...Nb6
[23...Bxd4
is not a good idea as Black would be giving up a key defender of the d6 pawn.]
24.Bxb6!
Qxb6
25.Rb1
Qc7
26.Nd4
Rc8
27.Rc1
Qe7
28.Rd3
[The a-pawn is still indirectly defended: 28.Qxa4?
Bxg3!
is good for Black.]
28...c5
29.bxc5
Rxc5
30.Qxa4
Rec8
31.Rb1
Rxc4
32.Qd1!
White was quite brave to surrender bishop for knight on move 24 but his positional plan appears to be to target Black's loose pawns on b7 and d6.
32...b6
[After this White takes a firm grip of the position. Perhaps 32...R4c5!?
was worth a try, e.g. 33.Rxb7
R8c7
34.Rxc7
Qxc7
35.Qd2
Rc1+
36.Kh2
Bxd4
37.Rxd4
Rc2
]
33.Nb5
R4c5
[Hikaru was short of time. He looked at 33...Rd8
34.f4
Bf6
35.Nxd6
Rc3
36.Rxb6
Qc7
37.Rxc3
Qxc3
38.Qe2
Bd4!?
but didn't have time to check all the implications.]
34.Nxd6
Bxd6
35.Rxd6
Bxa2
36.Ra1
Rc1
37.Rxc1
Rxc1
38.Rxg6+
A desperado move to secure the extra pawn.
38...hxg6
39.Qxc1
Qd6
40.h4
Bf7
41.h5
Kh7
[41...gxh5
42.Qc8+
Kg7
43.Qxf5
is worse.]
42.hxg6+
Kxg6
43.Qc2
b5
44.g4
Qe5
[44...Be6?
45.gxf5+
Bxf5
46.e4!
wins a piece; but 44...b4!?
seems worth a try since it is quite hard for White to restrain the b-pawn and Black's f-pawn is lost anyway.]
45.gxf5+
Kg7
[45...Kf6
46.Qc6+!
Kxf5?
47.Bh3+
Kg5
48.f4+
wins the queen.]
46.Qe4
Qd6
The exchange of queens leads to a win for White as we shall see shortly.
47.Qh4
Bc4
48.Bf3
Qf6
49.Qxf6+
Kxf6
50.Be4
Ba2
[50...b4
51.f4
b3
52.Kf2
b2
53.Bb1
wins.]
51.f4
b4
52.Kf2
b3
53.Bd5
Kxf5
54.Kf3
Kf6
55.e4
Kg6
56.Ke3
[It's now a straightforward technical win though those of us less skilled at the game could easily mess it up. For example, 56.Kg4?
Bb1!
is a draw.]
56...Kh5
57.Kd4
Kg4
58.f5
Kg5
59.Ke5
1-0