I was conned by a street shark who sold me a ticket for game one starting
on Wednesday 24th November. That was the date of the opening ceremony
for the important FIDE people to make speeches and everyone applauded.
The draw for colours was made by the players popping balloons.
Carlsen chose a balloon and popped it. Out came black confetti.
Nepomniachtchi popped his balloon and Out came white confetti.
So Nepomniachtchi was white for game one.
As well as the title and loads of euros the winner will also receive this.
It is made of 925 sterling silver with 999 gold plating, dolerite, and obsidian.
(dolerite, and obsidian? That sound like names a scientist would call their cats.)
It is set with 39 pearls and a diamond and weighs in at more than 5 kilograms.
So how did Ian Nepomniachtchi end up as the challenger. Due to Covid,
it started on the 17th Match 2020 and finished on the 27th April 2021.
Game One, Dubai, 26th november 2021
Ian Nepomniachtchi - M. Carlsen. World Championship 2021
1. e4 e5 {A Kings Gambit...a Danish Gambit...} 2. Nf3 {A Latvian Gambit...} 2... Nc6 3. Bb5 {Oh. No! not a Berlin} 3... a6 {Good we going into normal Lopez lines.} 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O {8.c3 and a 8...d5 a Marshall Gambit. Yes please.} 8. h3 {One of the many anti Marshall moves.} 8... Na5 {Black gives up a pawn stating the two Bishops will give him counterplay.} 9. Nxe5 Nxb3 10. axb3 Bb7 11. d3 d5 12. exd5 Qxd5 {The game is showing Marshall like symptoms ( a Black kingside attack.)} 13. Qf3 {Looks best. White now sets a wee trap.} 13... Bd6 {If now 14.Nc3 than 14...Qxe5 wins. (Of course Black saw that.)} 14. Kf1 {White sets a possible counter trap (see next game.)} 14... Rfb8 {Black is again threatening Qxe5.} 15. Qxd5 {The tricks discovered in preparation are over. Now the real chess begins.} 15... Nxd5 16. Bd2 c5 17. Nf3 Rd8 {Though a pawn down Black has loads of activity. But is it enough?} 18. Nc3 Nb4 {Which Rook defends c2. Give up the e-file or pressure off the backward a6 pawns.} 19. Rec1 {Gives up the e-file but with the King on f1 it's OK.} 19... Rac8 20. Ne2 Nc6 {I thought the Knight was OK there. It is now off to find Kingside squares.} 21. Be3 Ne7 22. Bf4 {This encourages a few exchanges bringing the e2 Knight into the game.} 22... Bxf3 23. gxf3 {The weakened pawn structure will give the Black knight targets.} 23... Bxf4 24. Nxf4 Rc6 {That a6 pawn will need watching} 25. Re1 Nf5 {Heading for d4.} 26. c3 {Stops Nd4 but now d3 is weak,} 26... Nh4 {26....g5 27.Nh5 Rxd3 28.Re8 mate.} 27. Re3 {For the past few moves the weak Black back rank has held things up so....} 27... Kf8 {...no more distractions.} 28. Ng2 {The e3 Rook is covering two pawns. This moves releases some of the pressure.} 28... Nf5 29. Re5 g6 30. Ne1 {The Knight takes over pawn defending. Very solid play.} 30... Ng7 {Another Knight re-route. if allowed then g7-e6- f4} 31. Re4 {Nepo sees it coming and stops covers f4.} 31... f5 32. Re3 {The Rook is back defending those weak pawns again.} 32... Ne6 33. Ng2 {White cannot allow that Knight to get to f4.} 33... b4 {A clear winning attempt by Carlsen. Nepo now has to play very carefully.} 34. Ke2 {The King is going to cover the weak spots.} 34... Rb8 {25.Rb1 will save the extra pawn but White would be very passive.} 35. Kd2 bxc3+ 36. bxc3 Rxb3 {Black finally wins back the move 9 gambit pawn.} 37. Kc2 Rb7 38. h4 {Now 38...Nd4+ 39.cxd4 cxd4+ is 0-1 but 39.Kd1 and White is OK.} 38... Kf7 {Holds the e6 Knight and activates the King.} 39. Ree1 {Good move. e3 is free for the g2 Knight to enter the game.} 39... Kf6 40. Ne3 Rd7 41. Nc4 {Threat - Ne5 forking the Rooks.} 41... Re7 42. Ne5 Rd6 43. Nc4 Rc6 44. Ne5 {Both sides settle for a three fold rep. Game drawn.} 44... Rd6 45. Nc4
There was a moment of tactical interest which was side-stepped. Team Carlsen
will be looking at the position after 14.Kf1 or maybe not as they might not be
playing this variation again and have pulled a tooth from team Nepo’s prep.
After 14 Kf1 things could have gone something like this.
FEN
r4rk1/1bp2ppp/p2b1n2/1p1qN3/8/1P1P1Q1P/1PP2PP1/RNB1R1K1 w - - 0 14
[FEN "r4rk1/1bp2ppp/p2b1n2/1p1qN3/8/1P1P1Q1P/1PP2PP1/RNB1R1K1 w - - 0 14"] 14. Kf1 {Played to hold the e1 Rook and invite Black to attack.} 14... Qxe5 {Playing this instead of 14...Rfb8.} 15. Qxb7 {Best} 15... Qh2 16. Nc3 {Probably 16 Qf3 like in the game is better but I'm off on a fantasy trip.} 16... c6 {To bring the a8 Rook to c8 with tempo.} 17. Qxc6 Rac8 18. Qf3 b4 19. Ne4 Nxe4 {If now 20.Rxe4 Qh1+ wins.} 20. dxe4 Rxc2 21. g4 {To stop Qh1+ and hold the h3 pawn.} 21... Rfc8 {It would have gone something like that but with 16.Qf3 instead of 16.Nc3. Pity we never saw any of it} *
