11/10/2018 – The game started with a daft joke and ended with a draw, but in between chess fans were treated to an intensely dramatic middlegame where Carlsen was on the verge of winning with black while Caruana's clock was perilously close to zero. A remarkable Game 1 which bodes well for the excitement of a hotly anticipated match that the world is watching. Star analysis by GMs YANNICK PELLETIER and JAN-KRZYSZTOF DUDA | Pictured: Actor Woody Harrelson making the first move to start in Game 1. | Photo: Nikolai Dunaevsky / World Chess
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You still have to win the game…
Garry Kasparov knows a thing or two about World Championship matches and, as luck would have it, he joined the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis' live webcast "Today in Chess" at an opportune time — just as the game was reaching its dramatic apex. As Carlsen's advantage increased, and Caruana's time pressure intensified, he interjected a bit of flesh-and-blood sanity into the discussion:
“Whatever the machine tells you, it’s still not the end of the story. You still have to win the game."
Carlsen didn't manage. A few inaccuracies from the World Champion in pursuit of Caruana's shakey king allowed the American to escape with a well-earned draw. Carlsen has never won the first game in his prior three World Championship matches (all ended in draws), and winning here, especially with Black, would have been a huge achievement. On the other hand, the psychological edge now goes to Caruana for saving a game in which he knew he was in deep trouble. Both players were clearly tired by the end of the nearly seven-hour marathon, yet in good spirits after the game.
The opening move in the first game of this championship fight was made by American actor Woody Harrelson, known for films such as "Natural Born Killers", "Zombieland", "No Country for Old Man" and many others. Woody Harrelson is an avid chess fan who has had casual contacts with members of the Carlsen entourage (although he only formally met Magnus here in London). He was invited to make the first move at a game of the 2016 New York match so he has some experience with the ceremony at the World Championship level.
Surprisingly, before executing the first move he toppled over of Caruana's king, in what some observers initially regarded as a clumsy accident, but which in fact, upon closer inspection, was clearly deliberate.
After the game, I asked Harrelson about the incident and he was quite candid about having planned it in advance as "a joke".
"I thought it would be funny if I accidentally knocked over the king, but then it turned out the joke's on me when I played d4," Harrelson explained, referring to the fact that he Caruana had whispered for him to advance e4, but was misheard. The move was retracted and 1.e4 played instead.
I don't doubt that he meant well, and merely relished the privilege of kicking off a World Championship match, but given the importance of the event, the prank could easily have proved a distraction to either player. Fortunately, it did not — both players later said they assumed it was accidental and simply laughed it off.
Respondents to our impromptu Twitter poll (as of Friday evening) were evenly split on the humour of Woody's ruse:
For the #CarlsenCaruana ceremonial first move @WoodyHarrelson began with a joke: "I thought it would be funny if I 'accidentally' knocked over the king" the actor explained afterwards. What do you think? Is it funny or not? https://t.co/LHqriUnn1y#ChessBase
Caruana's 1.e4 was met by 1...c5 from Carlsen, and as he often does Caruana after 2.Nf3 Nc6 Caruana played 3.Bb5 — the Rossolimo — most recently played against Boris Gelfand in the Batumi Olympiad, but also in a game against Carlsen himself from the 2015 Tata Steel Chess tournament. Carlsen won that game but nevertheless was the first to deviate with 7...Nd7.
In the middlegame, Caruana began to fall behind, both in the quality of his position and, equally worryingly, on the clock. Playing essentially on the 30-second increment for his last seven moves, the challenger managed to hold his position together and reach the time control only slightly worse. The game soon liquidated into an ending where Carlsen won a pawn, but Caruana was good chances to hold the draw. It was no easy matter, as Magnus attempted to "squeeze every drop of water from the stone", as he later put it, pressing on for 115 moves.
Carlsen is no stranger to long World Championship games. He played 122 moves with Viswanathan Anand in Game 7 of their 2014 match, but he said at the press conference that this one felt longer, because had been a more challenging fight before the endgame phase.
Caruana remained stoic as usual, despite the pressures of the biggest match of his life | Photo: Nikolai Dunaevsky / World Chess
Our first guest annotator is Jan-Krzysztof Duda, the number one player under 21 in the world who previously tied for first in the World Junior Championship. He writes of Game 1:
"A fighting, nerve-racking, and unpleasant game for both players. Fabiano Caruana didn't manage to get even the slightest of an opening initiative and quickly had to defend himself. Magnus Carlsen, on the other hand, was winning several times before the 40th move, but in time trouble he spoiled, what looked like an easy win, and had to settle for the endgame which was drawn. Still, eleven games to come, and it seems it will be an entertaining match!"
Game 1 analysis by Jan-Krzysztof Duda
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1.e4
1,182,453
54%
2421
---
1.d4
957,826
55%
2434
---
1.Nf3
285,853
56%
2441
---
1.c4
184,465
56%
2443
---
1.g3
19,863
56%
2427
---
1.b3
14,579
54%
2428
---
1.f4
5,949
48%
2377
---
1.Nc3
3,899
50%
2383
---
1.b4
1,790
48%
2378
---
1.a3
1,249
54%
2406
---
1.e3
1,080
49%
2409
---
1.d3
967
50%
2378
---
1.g4
670
46%
2361
---
1.h4
466
54%
2382
---
1.c3
439
51%
2425
---
1.h3
289
56%
2420
---
1.a4
118
60%
2461
---
1.f3
100
47%
2427
---
1.Nh3
92
67%
2511
---
1.Na3
47
62%
2476
---
Please, wait...
1.e4c5!?A minor surprise, as early as on move 1. Normally people tend to
play relatively solid openings at the beginning of the WCC matches. Magnus
decided however to play in a principled way, instead of choosing a Ruy Lopez /
Italian torture.2.Nf3Nc63.Bb5The Rossolimo Variation, a favourite of
the Challenger. Even though he lost beautiful game in the Wijk Ann Zee to
Carlsen some years ago, everyone keeps in mind many of his masterpieces
against strong opposition. And probably all kibitzers were happy - there is no
easy draw in sightg64.Bxc6dxc6Lately the favourite of Magnus5.d3Bg76.h3not allowing Bg4, which would ease Black's playNf67.Nc3Nd77...b6was played between the same opponents 3 years ago. White was probably better
after the opening, but the game became very tense, and eventually the Black
player won8.Be3e59.0-00-010.a3Qe711.Qb1Nh512.b4f513.bxc5f414.Bd2bxc515.Qb3+Be616.Qa40-1 (39) Caruana,F (2820)-Carlsen,M
(2862) Wijk aan Zee NED 20157...0-0is the most popular move8.Be3e5in a similar way played Nakamura against Caruana some years ago:8...b69.Qd2h610.0-0e511.Nh2g5∞Here Hikaru didn't allow White to go for f4.
The position becomes a pretty manoeuvre one, where a stronger player is likely
to win. Computers give modest edge for White, but Black has also an easy play
on his own: to re-route the knight and then start the pawn offensive on the
kingside: 1/2 (44) Caruana,F (2787)-Nakamura,H (2793) Saint Louis USA 20159.0-0Usually White starts with9.Qd2h6not allowing Bh6. After a sample
line:10.0-0b611.Nh2Nf812.f4exf413.Rxf4Be614.Rf2there is the
same position as in the game, but obviously both sides are flexible and can
change something basically on every move9...b69...Qe7It's a much more
common way to free the d7-knight. I am not an expert in this kind of positions,
and can hardly say which way to over-protect the c5 pawn is better.10.Qd2Nf810.Nh2Nf8A typical maneouvre started with Nd711.f4exf412.Rxf4Be6!?Interesting set-up. I thought he was going to play Ne6-Nd4 asap, but
this is even nicer, as it controls all important squares13.Rf2h614.Qd2g5!?Restraining White pieces. Honestly, I don't know what is White's best bet
here, as he lacks visible improvements. It would be lovely to get the
h2-knight to f5, but how? Also loosening Black's queenside is not at all that
easy. a4 can always be parried by a5, while it's not easy to achieve b4 in a
comfortable way. Therefore I think Magnus won the opening duel, and now the
Challenger move by move was using a large amount of time15.Raf115.Nf1Qd616.Rf3?Ng6and White is not on time with Ng3-Nf515.a4a5!?15...Ng616.a50-015.a3Qd616.Rb1Ng617.b4cxb418.axb40-0=15...Qd616.Ng4The American decides to improve his worst piece, the
h2-knight. Even though computer doesn't like it, it's still better to have a
faulty plan than any0-0-0The king is safe on the queenside for the time
being, and now Black is having all the fun on the kingside.17.Nf6Other
plans are:17.a4Nd717...a5!?18.a5Qc7even here profits are not
visible. Black intends b5, and if White opens the a-file, Black is always on
time with Kb7-Ra817.e5is an easy-to-play sacrifice for everyone but
White player. White gets some minute activity, but it may evaporate easily,
and pawn down is pawn down.Bxe517...Qc718.Ne4and White is likely to
take on e5 anyway18.b4!?18.Ne4Qc719.Nxe5Qxe518...c4locking
down the queenside18...cxb419.Ne4Qc720.Nxe5Qxe521.Qxb4Qc722.a419.Nxe5Qxe520.d4Qc7and I don't see any advantages for White
for the missing pawn17...Nd718.Nh5Not exchanging knight, which made so
many movesBe519.g4Such moves were unthinkable some 60 years ago, but now
are standard. The kingside is so far locked, and White gains space.f620.b3Bf721.Nd1I would prefer21.Ne2defending some vital squares, but it's
true that Black is in the driving seat, while White is solid but very passive
at the same timeBxh522.gxh5Kb723.Kg2Nf8and Black may go for the
h5 pawn21...Nf8Imaginative, but not neccesary. Black could part with his
light-square bishop, and try to gain the h5-pawn or break with g4. Important
note is in that case White would remain even more passive than in the game21...Kb722.c3Bxh523.gxh5Qe724.Qe2Rhg8and Black has many ideas
like Nf8-Ne622.Nxf6Ne623.Nh523.Nd7Rxd7was probably the idea23...Bf424.Nf6Bg3comps think that Black is slightly better here, but
White might try to complicate the position with some timely exchange sacriface24.Rxf7h525.Qg2and engine show its usual 0.00 but over the board Black
for sure is having fun and White is being under considerable pressure23...Bxh524.gxh5Nf425.Bxf4gxf426.Rg226.Rxf4!was a good way to cut
the gordian knot. Suprisingly it seems that Black can't stop White's d1-knight
in reaching f5-square , from where it has a dominant positionBxf427.Qxf4Qd4+28.Ne3Kb728...Rdf829.Qxf8+Rxf830.Rxf8+Kb731.Rf7+Ka632.Rf3=29.Kh1Rdf830.Nf5Qc331.Qc1!?∞26...Rhg8White's king is
open, and Black is enjoying a long-lasting initiative27.Qe2The position
is not easy to analyse, and even harder to play. Both sides have many ideas,
which sometimes are similar to each other. From now on I will focus on the
most critical positions.Rxg2+28.Qxg2Qe629.Nf2Rg830.Ng4Qe8!
Going after h5-pawn, and then kicking White's knight with h531.Qf3Qxh532.Kf2The least place where White's king is safe is kingside, so logically
Fabiano removes it to the centerBc733.Ke233.e5Kb734.Nf6Qh4+35.Ke2Rg336.Qxf4Qxh337.Rf2doesn't look any good, but in the game after a
couple of moves the a1-h8 diagonal was wide open for Black pieces33...Qg534.Nh2?!Looks strange, because White gives away the control of the big
diagonal without even gaining a tempo, Black has to spend on h5. Still there
is no good enough preparatory move, and I think Black is winning already34.Kd2h535.Nh2Qe536.Qf2Qb237.Rg1Rg3it would be very odd that White
can defend here34...h5?Why not34...Qf6with Qb2 coming,
penetrating the queenside? White would be lost in that case35.Rf2Qg1
The wrong direction!36.Nf1h4?36...Qg7!-+37.Kd2?37.e5!Rg537...Bxe538.Qxc6+Kb839.a4Paradoxically White can allow himself
luxury of playing such a slow move. But there is nothing really threatening
Black can do38.Kd2Kb739.e6Re540.Re2Qg641.Qg4and White got his
own play37...Kb7The position is still dead lost for White, because of
the threat Qg7-Qa1, there is one more, namely Rg3! It's really amazing that
Caruana survived this storm!38.c3Be538...Rg3!39.Nxg3hxg340.Rg2Qa1-+is game over. It transpires than in zeitnot, even the World Champion
plays far below his normal strength!39.Kc2Qg7?!This would be a serious
blunder, if not the fact that Black can repeat his position.39...b5!
with b4 next would create too many holes in White's position40.Nh240.Qh5Ka6!it's very important to avoid eventual checks on f741.Qe2b542.a440...Bxc3??Actually this move let all the advantage go. Black still could
win by means of40...Qg1!41.Nf1b5!-+with transposition to the
position, which is mentioned in the earlier comment41.Qxf4Bd4Now by
force White can save himself in an rook endgame with pawn down. Other
alternatives also failed to win:41...Ka642.Nf3Ba143.e5=42.Qf7+Ka643.Qxg7Rxg744.Re2Rg345.Ng4Rxh346.e5Rf347.e6Rf848.e7Re849.Nh6h350.Nf5Bf6Initially when I first saw this position, I thought Black
has nearly 50/50 chances, but on the closer inspection I understood that White
is going to play either d4 or b4, and 2 vs 3 pawn on the queenside is draw51.a3b5Being on Magnus' place I would have tried to play with the pawn on b6,
but still this should be an easy draw51...Bxe752.Nxe7h253.Rxh2Rxe754.Rh552.b4cxb453.axb4Bxe7Otherwise Black runs out of moves54.Nxe7h255.Rxh2Rxe756.Rh6Kb657.Kc3Rd758.Rg6=The endgame is a draw,
although White needs to be a bit careful not to allow Black to get two rolling
pawns. Magnus tries to win for another 60 moves, but the draw is trivialKc759.Rh6Rd660.Rh8Rg661.Ra8Kb762.Rh8Rg563.Rh7+Kb664.Rh6Rg165.Kc2Rf166.Rg6Rh167.Rf6Rh868.Kc3Ra869.d4Rd870.Rh6Rd771.Rg6Kc772.Rg5Rd673.Rg8Rh674.Ra8Rh3+75.Kc2Ra375...Kd676.Rxa7Kd577.Rc7=76.Kb2Ra477.Kc3a678.Rh8Ra3+79.Kb2Rg380.Kc2Rg581.Rh6Rd582.Kc3Rd683.Rh8Rg684.Kc2Kb785.Kc3Rg3+86.Kc2Rg187.Rh5Rg2+88.Kc3Rg3+89.Kc2Rg490.Kc3Kb691.Rh6Rg592.Rf6Rh593.Rg6Rh3+94.Kc2Rh595.Kc3Rd596.Rh6Kc797.Rh7+Rd798.Rh5Rd699.Rh8Rg6100.Rf8Rg3+101.Kc2Ra3102.Rf7+Kd6103.Ra7One of possible defensive set-ups
for WhiteKd5104.Kb2Rd3104...Ra4105.Kc3Ra1106.Rd7+Ke6107.Ra7=105.Rxa6Rxd4106.Kb3Re4107.Kc3Rc4+108.Kb3Kd4109.Rb6Kd3110.Ra6Rc2111.Rb6Rc3+112.Kb2Rc4113.Kb3Kd4114.Ra6Kd5115.Ra8A fighting,
nerve-racking, and unpleasant game for both players. Fabiano Caruana didn't
manage to get even the slightest of an opening initiative, and quickly had to
defend himself. Magnus Carlsen on the other hand was winning several times
before the 40th move, but in time trouble he spoiled, what looked like an easy
win, and had to settle for the endgame which was drawn. Still 11 games to come,
and it seems it will be entertaining match!½–½
The Rossolimo Variation 3.Bb5 is considered to be one of the strongest replies to 2…Nc6 in the Sicilian Defence. The fact that the move has been played by practically all the top players proves its popularity and strength. But the most interesting aspect of playing 3.Bb5 is that we force sharp, attacking players who love to have the initiative to forget about the Open Sicilian and to adjust themselves to a new world, one full of positional ideas, manoeuvres and nuances.
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Today in Chess
The 13th World Champions Garry Kasparov discusses the climax of Game 1:
"Today in Chess"
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Macauley PetersonMacauley served as the Editor in Chief of ChessBase News from July 2017 to March 2020. He is the producer of The Full English Breakfast chess podcast, and was an Associate Producer of the 2016 feature documentary, Magnus.
@Aighearach You apparently missed the first half of the game. The position at move 38 is as lost as positions ever get in chess.
Raymond Labelle 11/10/2018 03:41
Daniel King explains in his post-game excellent resume, and it is also mentioned in the analysis above, that if Magnus had played 38... Rg3, it was game over. It is sacking a R for N, but White’s remaining pieces would have been confined to blockade the passed Black pawns on the K side which would give liberty for Black to mop out the pawns on the Queen side and then advance his own pawns. Despite the fact that Magnus did not play this, the position was still difficult for White who was in defense and requested high precision in high time pressure. So, yes, Fabiano did dodge a bullet.
marek1969 11/10/2018 02:35
Great game thank you Jan Krzysztof Duda for analizys.
KevinC 11/10/2018 01:52
That one game was more exciting than the whole Carlsen-Karjakin WC match in 2016.
KevinC 11/10/2018 01:50
@Aighearach, he did dodge a major bullet. Instead of 34...h5, 34...Qf6 was -3.36 per Stockfish 9 at a depth of 27.
Daniel Miller 11/10/2018 01:39
Jan says above that iIt appears that in zeitnot, even the World Champion plays below his strength. This is misleading. For those of us who watched the game, Carlsen was not in time pressure. It seems that lately, the World Champion is good at getting won positions. He just is not good at winning them.
FabriceWantiez 11/10/2018 01:32
It seems Duda has never see any game from 60 years ago... What else do you want to play apart from 19.g4 ? It was a classic move for Botvinnik and even for Steinitz. Some of today's players do not have a clue of how strong the players of the past were.
RaoulBertorello 11/10/2018 11:47
@Aighearach: 'Caruana dodges a bullet'. I think Duda was referring up to move 40, that is till Stockfish assessment of white position was pretty negative. Then, yes, sure, from move 41 onward, including therefore from black move 45 (or, more clearly, 55) on, that you are referring to, with that upper pawn which is in fact leftmost sided, the engine evaluates rightly black advantage as half a point and implies a plain draw.
Stupido 11/10/2018 11:25
So these are the days kibbitzers are supposed to cheer about a Rossolimo rather than a true Sicilian game like the Dragon, the poisoned pawn or the Polu variations?
graand 11/10/2018 09:32
Jan-Krzysztof Duda - thanks for superb analysis.
fons3 11/10/2018 05:59
Carlsen was not a Natural Born Killer in this game. Both players will be in Zombieland after this marathon game. This match is No Country for Old Men.
PS: why are we supposed to obsess over these ridiculous celebrities? I'd rather see some chess playing kid make the first move, or a past champion like Judit Polgár (who is doing commentary).
BTW Woody Harrelson's father was a hitman convicted for killing a judge and alleged to be involved in the killing of John F. Kennedy. Hollywood's a creepy scene.
Aighearach 11/10/2018 03:47
Woody Harrelson loves chess, when he's in my town sometimes he puts on a disguise and plays at the local coffee shop. The chess players know who he is, but the disguise prevents a distracting scene.
So great to see him included in the WCC!
Aighearach 11/10/2018 03:44
When you're down a pawn and the computer analysis says you're down by half a pawn, and you're in rook and pawn endgame, the implication is that the position is drawn.
Dodging a bullet would be if he had a losing position, but his op made a mistake and let him draw.
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