1.e4
e5
2.Nf3
Nc6
3.Bb5
Nf6
4.d3
[Not allowing the dreadful Berlin endgame after 4.0-0
Nxe4
5.d4
Nd6
6.Bxc6
dxc6
7.dxe5
Nf5
8.Qxd8+
Kxd8
]
4...Bc5
5.Be3
Qe7
6.Bxc6
bxc6
7.Bxc5
Qxc5
8.Nc3
By exchanging both bishops, Ivanchuk attained a simple position in which he can play fast. No fancy moves, just speed seems to be his strategy.
8...0-0
9.0-0
Rb8
10.Qd2
Qe7
11.b3
c5
Stopping any central play with the d-pawn. Both sides would like to open the game with the f-pawn, but who comes first?
12.h3
d6
13.Nh2
Nh5
14.Nd5
Qd8
15.Rae1
[After 15.Qd1
g6
16.Nf3
f5
black comes first on the kingside.; And 15.f4?
c6
loses a pawn.]
15...Be6
[15...c6
16.Ne3
f5
]
16.Nc3
f5
Black is first.
17.exf5
Bxf5
18.f3?!
[Threatening to win a piece with g2-g4, but it weakens the dark squares. The immediate 18.g4?
loses to 18...Nf4
19.gxf5
Qg5+
20.Ng4
Nxh3+
winning the queen.]
18...Bg6
19.Rf2
Qh4
Black controls the dark squares and the open f-file helps him to increase the pressure on white's position.
20.Nd5
Rf7
21.Qc3
c6
22.Ne3
Nf4
23.Qd2
Rbf8
Aiming all pieces at the white king. Ivanchuk can only wait and see what Carlsen can come up with.
24.Nd1
h5
25.Nc3
Bf5
26.Ne2
Ne6
27.Qe3
Rf6?!
Carlsen would like to switch the rook on the g-file, but the rook move is blocking the escape route for the black queen.
28.Kh1?!
Ivanchuk is still waiting, but he could have jumped out of the box with [28.f4!?
-threatening 29.Nf3- 28...exf4
(28...Nxf4
29.Nxf4
Bc8
30.g3
exf4
31.gxh4
fxe3
32.Rxf6
Rxf6
33.Rxe3=
; 28...Bh7?
29.Nf3+-
) 29.Nxf4=
]
28...Rg6
[28...Nd4
29.Nxd4
cxd4
30.Qd2
c5
would increase the space advantage, but Carlsen does not want to reduce his forces and may think the knight is important enough to be kept on the board.]
29.Rg1
Nc7
30.Rgf1
Nd5
31.Qd2
Rgf6?!
Carlsen gives Ivanchuk another chance to run for freedom and blocks his queen again.
32.Nc3?!
[Ivanchuk misses 32.f4!
e4
(32...Nxf4?
33.Nf3
wins the queen.) 33.dxe4
Bxe4
34.Nf3
Bxf3
35.Rxf3
with equal chances.]
32...Nf4
33.Ne4
Rg6
34.Rg1
Qd8
35.Nf1
Qe7
[Carlsen prepares to push away the knight on e4. He could have done it right away: 35...d5
36.Nxc5
Qg5
threatening to take on h3. But in a blitz game your plans are often realized slowly.]
36.Nfg3
d5
[Carlsen could have won also with 36...Bxh3
37.gxh3
Nxh3
38.Rgf1
Nxf2+
39.Qxf2
d5
40.Nxc5
Rf4+-
]
37.Nxf5
Rxf5
38.Nc3
Qh4!
Threatening to win with either 39...Nxh3 or with 39...Rfg5.
39.Kh2
[Ivanchuk blunders with 93 seconds on his clock, but he had no good defense anyway. 39.a3
Nxh3
40.gxh3
Qxh3+
41.Rh2
Qxf3+
42.Rhg2
Qh3+
43.Rh2
Rxg1+
44.Kxg1
Rf1#
; White cannot challenge the black knight: 39.Ne2
Qxf2
wins.]
39...Qg3+
[39...Qg3+
40.Kh1
Nxh3
41.Rff1
Rf4
42.gxh3
Qxh3+
43.Qh2
Qxh2+
44.Kxh2
Rh4#
] 0-1