Magnus Carlsen campione del mondo di scacchi per la quarta volta
Dopo dodici patte in tutte e dodici le partite a tempo lungo della sfida, nell’ultima delle quali il campione in carica, in una posizione superiore, alla 31a mossa ha incredibilmente proposto la divisione del punto allo sfidante che l’ha immediatamente accettata, negli spareggi a tempo rapido il match mondiale di scacchi di Londra è andato a finire com’era prevedibile, e cioè con la conferma del titolo iridato da parte del norvegese Magnus Carlsen che aveva già trionfato con l’indiano Viswanathan Anand nel 2013 e nel 2014 rispettivamente in dieci e undici partite a tempo lungo, due e una d’anticipo, e che nel 2016 aveva avuto la meglio sul russo di origine ucraina Sergey Karjakin, che dopo aver resistito e pattato le prime due partite a tempo rapido si dovette arrendere nelle ultime due. Oggi Carlsen ha letteralmente surclassato Fabiano Caruana vincendo tre partite su tre ciascuna con 25 minuti a disposizione sull’orologio con l’incremento di 10 secondi a mossa per giocatore e pertanto non c’è stato bisogno della disputa dell’ultima. Dopo le precedenti partite in cui entrambi avevano brillato più col Nero che col Bianco, ma Carlsen, che tuttavia nelle ultime fasi del match era letteralmente terrorizzato di perdere, era stato particolarmente passivo, oggi si è finalmente rivisto il vero Magnus, quello che tutti ammirano in ogni cadenza di gioco, ma è chiaro che in quella delle partite di oggi sarebbe partito avvantaggiato contro chiunque al mondo, e ancor più nelle partite lampo se si fossero disputate. Fabiano ha invece profuso una quantità enorme di energie nei giorni scorsi per tenere testa al suo avversario e purtroppo oggi è crollato: nella prima partita, un’inglese simil siciliana a colori invertiti, dopo un inizio a fasi alterne, ha cominciato a sbagliare poco prima della quarantesima mossa e la sua posizione si è letteralmente sbriciolata, Fabiano ha inutilmente provato a resistere e a provare a mandare fuori tempo massimo il suo avversario ma ha dovuto alzare bandiera bianca alla 55a mossa, in un finale di torre e con due pedoni in più da parte di Carlsen che giocava col Bianco. Nella seconda partita, una siciliana variante Sveshnikov, Caruana, dopo essere stato anche in vantaggio posizionale coi pezzi bianchi, nel centropartita ha commesso un errore alla 26a mossa e uno ancora più grave alla 28a, forse il più grave del match, quando ha portato un cavallo nella casella d5 invece della regina, per poi abbandonare subito dopo la risposta dell’avversario. Infine, nella terza partita, un’altra siciliana ma con variante Paulsen-Taimanov, Carlsen col Bianco ha giocato con l’evidente intenzione di pattare e assicurarsi il mezzo punto decisivo per conservare il titolo, ma Fabiano ha nuovamente sbarellato e nel giro di meno di dieci mosse la sua posizione è andata in pezzi con Magnus che ha potuto anche promuovere un suo pedone guadagnandosi una seconda regina e il match è finito alla 51a mossa. Di seguito lo svolgimento delle ultime tre partite a tempo lungo e delle tre a tempo rapido, per le quali domani metteremo i commenti in inglese degli esperti di ChessBase, già presenti invece per la 10a, 11a e 12a partita. Foto: World Chess.
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The 10th game of the World Championship match was the most back and forth
affair of any game thus far. There were plenty of games where one side did not
make the most of their chances, but this has been the only one where I thought
both players at some point had very real winning chances.1.e4c52.Nf3Nc6Magnus stays true to his Rossolimo/Sveshnikov repertoire for the 5th time in
a row. Starting from game 5, I have expected him to pivot every single game,
and been wrong every single time. Perhaps he will just play this the whole way
through?3.d4Caruana eschews Bb5, which he chose in his first 3 White
games.cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3e56.Ndb5d67.Nd5I was a bit surprised to
see Caruana enter the same line as game 8. Even though he got an excellent
position in that game, he had to figure Magnus would have come with
improvements, and the line is supposed to be okay for Black.7.Bg5Leads
to the mainline Sveshnikov.7...Nxd58.exd5Nb89.a4Be710.Be20-011.0-0Nd712.b4!?The first major deviation. Caruana chose Bd2 in the
previous game. Still, the move does not look too impressive to me.12.Bd2
Carlsen misplayed the position and quickly ended up worse.12...a613.Na3a5!?A very commital decision, but not a bad one. Magnus forces the
queenside open right away, a fearless decision against a prepared opponent,
but he had other options.13...b6Appeals the most to me. Black tries to
keep the queenside closed and will look for his own counterplay with f7-f5. In
fact, I actually prefer Black in a practical game here.14.bxa5Rxa515.Nc4Ra816.Be3Caruana was still playing very fast. He probably was in his
preparation.f5!Black absolutely needs counterplay, and f5-f4 is coming.
However, unlike game 8, here White cannot comfortabll play f2-f4 himself to
keep his kingside secure.17.a517.f4Black is absolutely fine afterexf418.Bxf4Nb618...g5!?If Black is in a feisty mood17...f4!18.Bb6Qe8The battle lines are drawn. White clearly has an edge on the queenside,
Black's pieces (particularly the c8-bishop and d7-knight) look a little clumsy,
and the b6 square could prove to be a problem. But Black's kingside pawn mass
promises him decent counterplay.19.Ra3A not so mysterious rook move. It
looks pointless now but Black's plan is clearly to launch a kingside attack,
and the rook will be a good defender laterally along the third rank.19.Re1This is the computer's recommendation by a wide margin, but I don't really
understand the move? I guess it just serves as some vague prophylaxis against
e5-e4. It claims white is better but I am unconvinced because afterRf6!
Black is ready to challenge the b6-bishop via Be7-d8.19...Qg620.Bc7e4!Carlsen is in burn the bridges mode. His pawns are vulnerable and could
quickly fall if the center were to open at an inopportune moment, but he is
looking for direct counterplay against White's king, truly in the style of the
Sveshnikov.20...Ra6A quiet defensive move like this one was surely fine,
but I think the World Champion was right to go for it.20...b5!?It was
also possible to play in the same manner as the game, only without committing
to e5-e4. This could make some sense as the central pawns proved weak.21.Nb621.axb6?It's possible this move annoyed Magnus since e5-e4 no longer
works, but it is also insufficient.Rxa322.Nxa3The problem is here Black
needs a new attacking plan since e5-e4 fails to bring its desired returns.Nc5!The b-pawn is well under control, and most importantly, White's pieces are
totally unprepared to defend his king. How will the c7-bishop ever contribute
to a proper defense? Rf6-h6 is coming and Black should win.22...e423.Bh5!Qg524.Qg4!White is doing well. Getting his queen to g4 will really
lesse any attacking chances Black can hope for21...Nxb622.Bxb6This
leads to a similar position to the game, but Black does not need to play e5-e4
if he so desires. For instance, he seems to have a good position afterb423.Rb3Bf5!When it is clear there are reasons the pawn is good on e5 as well.21.Kh1b5!?A very commital move, but not a bad one.21...Qh6The
machines prefer a slower buildup with something like this. Black certainly
will have attacking chances by lifting the f8-rook, but I don't mind Magnus's
decision either.22.Nb6!22.axb6?This would be asking for trouble.
I find it unlikely White will survive after the energeticRxa323.Nxa3f3!24.gxf3Ne5!Black's attack looks devastating.22...Nxb623.Bxb6Qg5?!Technically, this move loses the game against best play, but it comes with a
very nasty idea of playing Rf6-h6 and delivering mate on the h-file. A machine
with its nerves of steel would have no trouble grabbing h5, but for a human,
it looks absurdly dangerous.24.g3Caruana's move makes a lot of sense.
Taking on f4 and bringing the rook to g3 should dispel any mating dreams.24.Bxb5!White could have gotten away with this.Rf6Extreme precision is
needed to beat back the attack, but it is possible.25.Re1!An important
move. White hits the e4-pawn while simultaneously clearing f1 for the bishop.Bf525...Rh626.Rxe425...Rg626.Bf1Bf526...Ba627.Rxe4!+-27.a6Rh628.a7Qh429.h3f3This loks absolutely terrifying for a human, but
apparently White wins with another only move:30.Qd4!+-The point is to
defend against the threat of Bxh3 followed by Qg4.Bxh331.gxh3Qg432.Rxf3!No more exf3 thanks to the pin exerted by the queen being on d4. AfterQxf3+33.Bg2The a-pawn will carry the day. One certainly cannot fault
Caruana for not seeing all of this.26.f3!e327.a6Rh628.Re2‼
An incredibly difficult only move that would have to have been prepared in
advance. White is ready to play Qg1 and hold the position together. Even then,
the variation continues.Qh529.Qg1Bh430.g4!fxg331.Raxe3!White
wins. But this is really just a machine line, and outside of human capability.24...b425.Rb325.gxf4I would have been tempted to clear the 3rd rank
for defensive purposes, and this probably is an easier route to equality.
Still, while Caruana's choice gives him some only moves to find, he did find
the moves and he objectively was not worse.25...Bh326.Rg1!The rook
is needed for defensive purposes.26.Re1Bf6!Moves like Bc3 or Be5
could come next. White is in trouble.26...f3White is under a lot of
pressure. Around here I thought Caruana might crack and give Magnus the first
decisive result, but he defended very well.27.Bf1!This is a tough move.
I would have been tempted to just let the bishop stay on h3, since White can
always sacrifice an exchange on g2 very happily and otherwise it's not clear
what active role the bishop plays. But it was absolutely critical to play Bf1.27.Bb5?A move like this looks sensible...Rf6!Until you realize
White will simply be mated on the h-file! Rh6 and Qh5 is coming, and there is
nothing to be done.27...Bxf1!27...Qh5Caveman play does not work
here since White is in better shape to keep the h-file under control. The
queen coming to f1 is very important, for instance after28.Rxb4Rf629.Bxh3Qxh330.Be3!Black will not get Rh6 very easily, and e4 is hanging to boot.
White should win.28.Qxf1!Another important decision. White cannot
allow a disaster on the h-file. His position looks awful with the queen and
the rook so passively placed and the d5-pawn falling, but he remains solid and
can rely on the a5-pawn for counterplay.28.Rxf1?Keeping active pieces
comes at a heavy price. AfterQg4!29.Rxb4Rf5!White will promptly be
mated by Rh5 and Qh3.28...Qxd529.Rxb4Qe630.Rb5=The position is
dynamically balanced, but White has to be more careful than Black. He managed
without a ton of trouble.Bd831.Qe1!The queen returns to life.Bxb632.axb6Rab833.Qe3Qc434.Rb2Rb735.Rd1Qe2!Setting a devilish trap,
though it is not enough to claim an advantage.36.Re1!Far from the only
holding move, but I am awarding an exclamation point for not falling for
Black's idea.36.Qb3+?Kh837.c4Looks like it traps Black's queen. But
the nasty responseRxb6!-+Would promptly turn the tables!36...Qxe337.Rxe3d5The position is balanced as neither side can easily mobilize
their pawn majority. Black's center looks impressive, but he can't do anything
with it so long as he is left with a passive rook on b7.38.h4Rc839.Ra3Kf740.Kh2Ke641.g4Rc642.Ra6Ke543.Kg3h644.h5The position is some
kind of mutual stalemate where neither side can do anything. Magnus tried to
make something happen withKd4?But only made trouble for himself after
the strong response45.Rb5!When Black has to be somewhat accurate to not
get into trouble. Still, he has more than one route to a draw, and Magnus
found a very easy one.Rd6!Overprotecting the d5-pawn White was planning
to harass with Raa5.46.Ra4+Ke547.Rab4Ke6Nice and easy. White has no
good way to challenge Black's central pawn mass without allowing liquidation.48.c4dxc449.Rxc4Rdxb650.Rxe4+Kf751.Rf5+Rf6Black loses a pawn but
simplifies into an easily drawn 3 vs 2 on the kingside. Caruana did not even
bother trying. His winning chances are approximately zero.52.Rxf6+Kxf653.Kxf3Kf754.Kg3With only 2 games to go, each player has only one game to
try with White. Carlsen gets to go first, and I'll be interested to see what
first move he chooses, as well as if we will see a 6th 2.Nf3 Nc6 Sicilian in
the final game.½–½
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