GM Carlsen (2775) - GM Ivanchuk (2781) [D37]09.09.2008

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 0–0 6.e3 c5 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Qc2 Nc6 9.a3 Qa5 10.0–0–0 Be7 11.h4 Rd8 12.Nd2 a6 13.Be2 b5 =+ This is a dangerous position for Magnus. Black has a lot of play on the Queenside and I would estimate that Black is a little better here. Magnus must take on d5 as he will try not to open the a or b file. 14.cxd5 exd5 This is the only move. All other options would give White an edge. 15.g4 Be6 16. Nb3 Qb6 17. g5 Ne4 18. Nxe4 dxe4 19. Rxd8+ Nxd8 20. Kb1 Rc8 21. Qd1 Nc6 22.h5 =+ The main problem for Ivanchuk in this position is time. He is short on time as usual and this position requires accurate calculation.22...a5 23.g6 a4 Black completely ignores White's attack on the Kingside. If White plays 24.Nd2 Black can push f5 and he is fine.24.Nd2 b4 Once again, Black ignores the Kingside attack. A safer 24...f5 would have been good as well.25.gxf7+? I don't like this move. It takes away the tension on the Kingside for Magnus. The immediate Nc4 creates more complication which is important due to Ivanchuk's little time. 25...Bxf7 Black is in excellent shape now as White's threat fizzles. 26.Nc4 One move too late. Magnus needed to keep the pressure by not taking on f7 last move. 26...Qb7 Ivanchuk once again found the best move in time pressure. This is becoming a very dangerous position for White. Black has a strong attack on the Queenside but White has very little to play for on the Kingside. Black's pieces are also excellently placed.27.Qxa4 The only move to allow Black to maintain advantage is bxa3. Let's see if Ivanchuk can continue to find the strongest continuation. He needs to bust the Queenside open. 27...bxa3 28.Nxa3 Once again, Black has to play perfectly with 28...Bxa3 to maintain the advantage.28...Bxa3 Once again, Ivanchuk is playing his best in severe time pressure. Unless Ivanchuk blunders here, it looks like he will score his first win in Bilbao. 29.Qxa3 Nb4 -+ The threat now is Ba2+ and then Nc2+. I think the key problem was 25.gxf7. I think Magnus was rushing because of the time situation of Ivanchuk instead of calculating more deeply.30.b3 Nd3 -+ 31.Bxd3 exd3 32.Rf1 d2 -++ It's basically hopeless for White now. 0-1