1.e4
e5
Everybody still remembers the King's Gambit game that Carlsen won, and I think there is no doubt Magnus wants to keep his 100% score there, so...
2.Nf3!
Nf6
Wang has a very solid repertoire and Petroff is an essential part of it.
3.d4
Nxe4
4.Bd3
d5
5.Nxe5
Nd7
6.Nxd7
Bxd7
7.0-0
Bd6
[7...Qh4!?
has lost its popularity nowadays, though my Dutch teammate Jan Smeets (I am still in Olympiad mode...) tried it against Tiviakov in Corus 2010.]
8.Qh5!?
interesting try, that took the Chinese super-GM by surprise. Strangely, though, since the move is relatively well known... [Statistically the main move 8.c4
is normally chosen in order to force a draw]
8...Nf6
The d-pawn was attacked, but now
9.Re1+
The point. Now Black has a choice
9...Kf8
Strange looking, but main. Black trusts his better development and hopes it will compensate for the uncomfortable position of the king. After this game though, I think this trust may be weakened. [9...Be7
is more solid, but still, life is not so easy after let's say 10.Qe2
Be6
11.Nd2
0-0
12.Nf3
Re8
13.Ne5
Nd7
14.f4
Nxe5
15.dxe5
and Tiviakov got some (practical) advantage against Socko this year. In the game Black managed to escape.]
10.Qe2!
[10.Qh4
is played more often, but Black has a simple way to equalize: 10...Ng4!
and white has to change the queens. The arising endgame is deadly equal.]
10...Ng4
perhaps this logical move, which was also considered to be main, is a bit over-optimistic after all.. [The solid 10...c6!?
deserves attention and should be studied by those who are interested. Still after the critical 11.Nd2
Qc7
12.Nf3
Bg4
13.Qe3!
Bxf3
14.Qxf3
Bxh2+
15.Kf1
Bd6
16.Bg5
played twice by Sutovsky – maybe not without reason... Life isn't that simple.]
11.h3
Qh4
12.Qf3
Bh2+
[12...Nf6
is main and more solid, but I believe after 13.Nc3
c6
14.Ne2
Black has no attack, but a little bit uncomfortable king, so White should be slightly better with no risk.]
13.Kf1
Nxf2
The whole operation is conducted in the spirit of position, with the white queenside still undevelopped, but in fact the black pieces are also not perfect with the rook on h8 and the king on f8, eager to swap places.
14.Qxf2
Bg3
15.Qd2
Qf6+
16.Kg1
Bxe1
17.Qxe1
Qxd4+
18.Kh2
Re8
19.Qg3
Qe5
Leads to a lost endgame, which though at first sight seems interesting for Black. However there was already no way back, because if White develops, the position is just lost for Black.
20.Qxe5
Rxe5
21.Bf4!
I was about to write "fearless Magnus", but I think "well prepared Magnus" is more appropriate here.
21...Re1
22.Bxc7
Here I first thought that the computer doesn't understand that his queenside is stuck, but then I realized that in fact the threat is Ba5-d2 followed by Be2 kicking out or winning the rook.
22...a6
Only try. Black wants to change the potentially dangerous d3 bishop, but White has a logical antidote:
23.Ba5
Rd1
24.a4!
Now there is nothing Black can do against Bd2, followed by Be2, or
24...Ke7
25.Bd2
Rc8
26.c3!
with idea Bc2! Now Black is clearly lost and the rest is easy.
26...d4
27.c4
g6
28.Be2
Bxa4
29.Bb4+
Ke6
30.Bxd1
Bxd1
31.Nd2
Be2
32.b3
f5
33.Kg3
Rd8
34.Kf2
d3
35.Bc3
Kf7
36.Nf3
f4
37.Ng5+
Kg8
38.Ne6
1-0