1.e4
c5
2.Nf3
d6
3.d4
cxd4
4.Nxd4
Nf6
5.Nc3
a6
6.Be2
e5
7.Nb3
Be7
8.0-0
0-0
9.Be3
Be6
10.Qd2
Nbd7
11.a4
Nb6
12.a5
Nc4
13.Bxc4
Bxc4
14.Rfd1
Rc8
15.f3
Rc6
16.Kh1
Qc8
17.Rac1
Rd8
18.Nd5
Bxd5
19.exd5
Rc4
20.Qd3
e4
21.fxe4
Rxe4
22.c4
Re8
23.Bg1
Bf8
24.Nd4
g6
25.Rf1
Bh6
26.Qf3
Rf4
27.Qd3
Ng4
28.Nf3
Rfe4
29.Rc3
Ne3
30.Re1
Qg4
31.Re2
Qh5
32.Bxe3
Rxe3
33.Rxe3
Bxe3
34.Qe2
Qh6
35.c5
dxc5
36.d6
Re6
37.d7
Bg5
38.Qd1
Bd8
39.Rxc5
Qf8
40.Rd5
Qb4
41.b3
Re3
42.Nd2
Qc3
43.Nf3
Qb4
44.Nd2
Qf4
45.Nf3
Rc3
46.Qe2
Qe3
47.Qxe3
Rxe3
Magnus the Mighty
Very far advanced passed pawns can decide a game, in one way or another. In the present case everything depends whether the white d-pawn is strong or weak. Jakovenko could still have kept things level, but after his mistakes the young Norwegian superstar's fantastic technique finishes things off safely:
48.Rd4?
The rook is already in a good position. Jakovenko had to activate his king immediately, in order to be able to hold on to the draw thanks to his far advanced passed pawn: [48.Kg1!
Kf8?!
(48...f6
still offers certain practical chances.) 49.Kf2
Rxb3
50.Re5
Be7
51.Rd5=
(Golubev in Chess Today 3250)]
48...Kf8
49.Rb4?
Another unfortunate rook move. [49.Kg1
was still preferable, although now after 49...Ke7
50.b4
f5
it now tends to look as though there are good winning chances for Black, e.g. 51.Kf2
(51.Ng5
b6
) 51...Re4
52.Rxe4+
fxe4
53.Nd4
Kxd7
54.Ke3
Be7
55.b5
Bb4
56.bxa6
bxa6
57.Nb3
Kc6
]
49...Rd3
50.Rxb7
Rd1+
51.Ng1
Bxa5
52.g4
[Unfortunately for Jakovenko 52.b4
Bd8
53.Ra7?!
Bb6
54.d8Q+
Bxd8
55.Rxa6
Bg5!
56.Ra3
Re1-+
(Golubev) is not playable either.]
52...Ke7
53.Kg2
Rxd7
54.Rxd7+
Kxd7
In any case, in this setup with an open centre and pawns on both wings the bishop is superior to the knight, and so Carlsen was able to convert his extra pawn into a certain victory:
55.Kf3
Kd6
56.Ke4
Kc5
57.Kd3
Kd5
58.Nf3
Bd8
59.h3
h6
60.h4?!
This pawn will become a target. But after [60.Nd4
too, Black will win slowly but surely by repeatedly employing that dangerous endgame weapon - the zugzwang, e.g. 60...Bb6
61.Nf3
Bc5
62.Ne1
Ke5
63.Ng2
Ba7
64.Kd2
(64.b4
Bb6
65.Ne1
Kf4
66.Ke2
Kg3
67.Nd3
Kxh3
68.Kf3
Bd8
69.Nc5
g5
70.Nxa6
f5-+
) 64...Ke4
65.Ke2
Bd4
66.Ne1
Kf4
67.Nf3
Bb6
68.Nd2
Kg3
69.Ne4+
Kxh3
70.Kf3
Bc7
71.Nf6
(71.Nc5
a5
72.Nd7
Kh4
73.Nf6
Bd8
74.Nd5
h5-+
) 71...Kh4
72.Ne4
(72.Nd5
Be5
73.Nb4
Bd6
74.Nd5
Kg5-+
) 72...g5
73.Nf6
Bd8
74.Nd5
h5-+
]
60...h5!
Carlsen puts his finger on the sore point.
61.gxh5
gxh5
62.Ke3
Kc5
63.Kd3
[63.Ke4
Kb4
64.Ne5
Bxh4
65.Nxf7
Kxb3
66.Nd6
Bf6
67.Nb7
Kb4-+
Because the knight will not be able to sacrifice itself for the a-pawn, if Black plays carefully.]
63...Kb4
and Jakovenko resigned, because after
64.Kc2
Bf6
he will lose another pawn because of zugzwang. 0-1