1.c4!?
[The English Opening - played in Magnus's first competition game in England. Did he play it because it was his first game here? Magnus said no, though he had thought about it later during the game, but said that Kasparov had recommended the line for psychological reason.This remark will surely send a shudder down the spines of Magnus's subsequent opponents. For the first few moves of every game, they are effectively playing a simultaneous display against the world's best ever player and his anointed successor. Scary.]
1...Nf6
2.Nc3
e5
3.Nf3
Nc6
4.g3
d5
5.cxd5
Nxd5
[This line of the English Opening is rather like a Sicilian Defence (1 e4 c5) with colours reversed. You might think it strange that White should play a Black defence rather than choosing something that promises an immediate initiative but, in the hands of an elite player like Magnus, it has the force of slow poison. And, of course, playing it with White gives him an extra move.]
6.Bg2
Nb6
7.0-0
Be7
8.a3
#[If you learnt your chess from an old chess book, you might be surprised to see some of Magnus's opening moves. He is playing a very restrained opening, not yet trying to extend himself into his opponent's position. Somechessplayers often like to use the word 'prophylaxis' to describe this sort of strategy but don't let them bamboozle you with their fancy terminology. In plain English it is "wait and see" - high-class manoeuvring, combined with a policy of restraint while trying to identify possible weaknesses in the opponent's position. Some chess positions demand that you go at your opponent from off but this is not one of them. It takes years of practice to know which is which - that, or a brain the size of a planet, which is what Magnus has, of course.]
8...0-0
9.b4
Be6
10.Rb1
f6
11.d3
a5
12.b5
Nd4
13.Nd2
Qc8
[The end of Carlsen's theoretical knowledge - so we have perhaps reached the limit of Garry Kasparov's direct influence on the game. From now on, Magnus is on his own.]
14.e3
Nf5
15.Qc2
[We are just beginning to see a glimmer of the pressure that Magnus is about to bring to bear on the c-file. It all looks very nebulous at club-player level but, at the elite level, the merest hint of a weakness can ultimately prove fatal.]
15...Rd8
16.Bb2
a4
17.Rfc1
Nd6
18.Nde4
Ne8
19.Qe2
[Note for theorists: this is where the game departs from a known path - 19 Ne2 has been played before. Note to computer engine junkies: some (not all) analysis engines may tell you that Black is better here. But don't believe it - it is not the sort of position that chess engines are particularly good at.]
19...Bf8
20.f4
exf4
["The principled move," said Carlsen. I'm never quite sure what grandmasters mean when they describe a move as "principled". I suspect it might mean something like "I could try explaining it to you but I suspect it would go way over your head and would only waste your time and mine." Incidentally, I once heard Garry Kasparov say exactly that to a questioner at a press conference. It was at least an honest answer, if a trifle tactless. Magnus prefers to use the tactful approach and it suits his style better.]
21.gxf4
Qd7
22.d4
#[Most of us ordinary mortals would have rejected this on sight as it allows the dangerous looking 22...Bc4 but Magnus has looked further.]
22...c6
[At this point in the press conference, Lawrence Trent mentioned several lines which the commentators had been looking at and admitted that 22...c6 had not been one of them. Magnus blithely responded: "c6 was my main line." This elicited some laughter from the audience and also from a rueful Lawrence. "Leading with your chin," commented Malcolm Pein, watching the press conference.] [22...Bc4
23.Qe1
Bd3
24.Nc5!
is a promising rook for bishop sacrifice for White.]
23.Nc5
Bxc5
24.dxc5
Nc4
25.Rd1
Qc7
26.Bc1
[At first sight you might think the c4 knight is "dominating" the c1 bishop but the point is that it cannot permanently establish itself on c4. Magnus knows that, sooner or later, he will shift the knight and when it goes, he might be able to take the a-pawn. General principles don't apply to chess gods. But, for any children reading this, don't try it at home - not yet, anyway.]
26...Na5
[Kramnik decides to run away before he is pushed away. "It's hard to suggest another move for Black," said Carlsen.]
27.bxc6
bxc6
28.Nxa4!
#[Despite some apparent danger of Kramnik taking over the initiative, Carlsen dares to take the pawn - a brave and correct decision.]
28...Rxd1+
["I didn't like this," said Carlsen.]
29.Qxd1
[Remember the old adage about "a knight on the rim is dim"? Notice that all three knights are on the edge of the board here. But Magnus' knight is the least 'dim' of the three, though he wasn't entirely happy to have it there.]
29...Rd8
30.Qc2
Qf7
31.Nc3
[Around here, grandmaster opinion in the press room was that Kramnik would have to do something pretty quick if he was to get any compensation for the lost pawn.]
31...Qh5
[Not best, said Carlsen, adding that Kramnik had missed something obvious. Oh... what was I saying about Magnus being tactful? Just as well that Vlad was nowhere to be seen (only winners are obliged to face the press and audience after games).]
32.Ne2!
Bf5
[You and I might be tempted to play 32...Bg4
but then 33.Nd4
consolidates White's position and cuts off the black rook's influence along the d-file.]
33.e4
Bg4
34.Ng3
Qf7
35.Bf1
#[Two bishops on their original squares! Magnus mentioned this at the press conference and thought that they were well placed there. Again, to children reading, please don't try this at home. Magnus can do it because he is Magnus.]
35...Be6
36.Qc3
Ra8
37.Rb4
[The constrictor grip tightens: Magnus deprives the knight of the c4 square.]
37...Qd7
38.f5
Bf7
39.Bf4
[Only now, 39 moves into the game, does Magnus start gaining space. Patience is one of the grandmaster's key weapons.]
39...Qd1
40.Kf2
Nb3
[Now Black loses material. 40...Qd8
was the last chance.]
41.Be2
Qb1
42.Bc4
Rxa3
43.Ne2
[After 43.Ne2
the game might go 43...h6
44.Bxf7+
Kxf7
45.Qc4+
Kf8
46.Rb7
and mate will follow. If Kramnik tries anything else with rook or queen instead of h7-h6, then he will lose the knight and it will be all over.] 1-0