1.c4
Nf6
2.Nc3
e5
3.Nf3
Nc6
4.g3
Bc5
[4...Bb4
and 4...d5 are more frequently seen but this is respectable.]
5.Bg2
d6
6.0-0
0-0
7.d3
a6
[7...h6
, to prevent the pin of the f6 knight, is by far the commonest move here.]
8.a3
Ba7
9.b4
Be6
[Yasser Seirawan, in his video commentary on the Internet Chess Club, thought 9...Bf5
was a useful alternative, with a view to getting in e5-e4 for Black and, if 10.e4
to prevent it, then 10...Bg4
and Black will have a good home for his c6 knight on d4.]
10.Nd2
Rb8
[Yasser Seirawan preferred the more direct 10...d5
here, but the choice is not critical. This line of the English is quiet and strategic, contrasting with the ultra-sharp Short-McShane game going on alongside.]
11.Rb1
Ne7
12.a4
Qd7
13.b5
Bh3
14.Ba3
h6
15.e3
Bxg2
16.Kxg2
16...Bc5
[Very committal, but still not really classifiable as an error. 16...axb5
17.axb5
Bc5
would ensure that the resultant doubled pawn on c5 could be defended by the move b7-b6.]
17.Bxc5
dxc5
18.Nf3
Qe6
Black threatens to undermine White's pawns with e5-e4 so Magnus decides he has to stop that happening with...
19.e4
c6
20.Qb3
Rbd8
[Superficially, 20...cxb5
looks attractive, to undouble the pawns, but 21.cxb5
Qxb3
22.Rxb3
Ng6
23.Rc1
would leave Black's queenside pawns a little vulnerable to White's rooks. A player of Magnus's stratospheric ability would be quite capable of capitalising on such a small edge in the long run.]
21.bxa6
bxa6
22.Qc2
Black's c5 pawn is now a long-term weakness but White's backward d3 pawn is a compensatory factor from Black's point of view.
22...Ng6
With the immediate threat of ...Nf4+! but White can easily stop this.
23.Ng1
In a sharp, tactical struggle this sort of retreat would be costly in terms of time but in this quiet, manoeuvring game it does not count as a concession.
23...Rb8
24.a5
Nd7
25.Na4
Qd6
26.Ne2
Qc7
27.Qc3
White has to defend a second pawn weakness.
27...Rfd8
28.Rxb8
Rxb8
29.f4
29...exf4!?
[Yasser Seirawan considered this the critical point of the whole game. He thought the text move was an error of judgement, preferring the idea 29...Rb7!?
with the idea of Qb8 and an invasion along the b-file. But some analysis engines favour Adams's plan.]
30.gxf4
Qd6
31.Kh1
Rb4
32.Qc2
Nh4
[Another turning point. Black could try 32...Qc7
here, with the simple threat of taking the a5 pawn, but perhaps he was afraid of a white kingside attack should he concentrate his major pieces on the queen's flank.]
33.Nac3
Qg6
34.Ng3
34...Nf6?
[Perhaps this is the true turning point of the game. The text move allows White to play e4-e5 with tempo and establish a knight on e4. But it looks better to leave the knight where it is, defending the c-pawn, and play 34...Qe6!
instead. Black seems quite handily placed then, with useful replies to pawn pushes, e.g. 35.f5?
Qd6!
when White's progress stymied and Black is significantly better.]
35.e5
Nh5?!
[Black could admit his previous mistake and play 35...Nd7
when he is not worse.]
36.Nxh5
Qxh5
37.Ne4
Kh8?
[This is probably the fatal error. Black needs to play 37...Qf5
when 38.Qf2
Qh3
39.Re1
Rb3!
seems to hold things together, e.g. 40.Nxc5
Rb2!
41.Qxb2
Qf3+
42.Kg1
Qg4+
43.Kf1
Qh3+
with perpetual check.]
38.Qf2
Nf5
39.Nxc5
[Not 39.Qxc5??
Qh3!
and White suddenly has insoluble problems.]
39...Qh3
40.Re1
Nh4
This makes things relatively easy for White but Black was probably losing anyway.
41.Qg3
Qxg3
42.hxg3
Nf3
43.Rf1
[Black's forlorn hope is 43.Ra1??
Rb2!
- a sneaky mating configuration beloved of all competition chessplayers.]
43...Nd4
44.Kg2
Magnus's king is on its way to e4 where it will be safe and ready to support pawn advances.
44...Ne6
45.Nxa6
Ra4
46.f5
Ng5
[There is no time for 46...Rxa5
because of 47.fxe6
Rxa6
48.exf7
and the pawn queens.]
47.Nc7
Kg8
[Black would like to play 47...Rxa5
but 48.e6!
fxe6
49.fxe6
Re5
50.d4!
and White will soon have two united passed pawns on their way to promotion.]
48.a6
Kf8
49.Kf2
[49.Kf2
Ke7
50.Rb1
Kd7
51.Rb7
Kc8
52.e6
soon decides.] 1-0