World Championship (Game Six)

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 {This opening is so uncommon it does not have a name. It's often just called a Queens Pawn game.} 3... e6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. b3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. c4 dxc4 9. Qc2 Qe7 10. Nbd2 {Yet again Magnus in this match tries to a gambit a pawn.} 10... Nc6 {Nepo refuses as Magnus was still in his prep and Nepo was down on his clock.} 11. Nxc4 b5 12. Nce5 Nb4 {I now wanted Qb1 with Ng5 and Ng4 ideas.} 13. Qb2 {That looks so odd, a fianchettoed Queen,} 13... Bb7 14. a3 Nc6 {Was now expecting a whole chunk of exchanges but Magnus decided 'not yet.'} 15. Nd3 Bb6 16. Bg5 Rfd8 17. Bxf6 {I never understood that one. You only do these unforced captures if you have a good plan.} 17... gxf6 18. Rac1 Nd4 {Now exchanges are about to happen.} 19. Nxd4 Bxd4 20. Qa2 Bxg2 21. Kxg2 {Four minor pieces off the board. Looks level.} 21... Qb7+ 22. Kg1 Qe4 23. Qc2 a5 {Nepo has an edge and we could see a Queen v two Rooks game.} 24. Rfd1 Kg7 {I spotted that one. Black does want White to take back on c8 with a check.} 25. Rd2 Rac8 26. Qxc8 Rxc8 27. Rxc8 Qd5 {With the extra tempo gained by 24...Kg7 Black gets first hit on a weakness.} 28. b4 a4 {The a-pawn is now the target.} 29. e3 Be5 30. h4 h5 {Not sure if the h-pawn needed blocked.} 31. Kh2 {White gets away from back rank checks which can screw up calculations.} 31... Bb2 {Nepo is going for the pawn. I thought Rxb2 Qxd3, Ra2 and Rcc2 was an obvious draw.} 32. Rc5 Qd6 33. Rd1 {I was still expecting Rxb2 and a draw.} 33... Bxa3 34. Rxb5 Qd7 35. Rc5 {Nepo should now take on b4.} 35... e5 {Played to hold the h5 pawn, getting as much as he can from this position.} 36. Rc2 {Now Bxb4 a good passed pawn to give Black good winning chances.} 36... Qd5 {Nepo is playing against Carlsen's clock hoping for 37. Nb2 Qb3 and that is 0-1.} 37. Rdd2 {The drama has passed Carlsen can get out this mess now.} 37... Qb3 38. Ra2 e4 39. Nc5 {Possible missed by Nepo when playing 36...Qd5. Carlsen found this with seconds to spare.} 39... Qxb4 40. Nxe4 Qb3 41. Rac2 Bf8 {Putting the Bishop on a protected square. This is a lesson in avoiding unprotected pieces.} 42. Nc5 Qb5 {This Knight is headed for f4.} 43. Nd3 a3 44. Nf4 Qa5 45. Ra2 Bb4 {With possible Bc3 and Bb2 ideas.} 46. Rd3 Kh6 {To hold that h5 pawn. (which perhaps should never have gone to h5)} 47. Rd1 Qa4 48. Rda1 {This stops the Bc3-b2 idea.} 48... Bd6 49. Kg1 {If Black goes into a pure Q v RR ending then White has all the winning chances.} 49... Qb3 50. Ne2 {The Knight is off to a central outpost on d4.} 50... Qd3 51. Nd4 {The King now gets a way from a possible Nf5+} 51... Kh7 52. Kh2 Qe4 {Black is going to give up the a-pawn for the h4 pawn.} 53. Rxa3 {White is happy going in this ending, he cannot lose.} 53... Qxh4+ 54. Kg1 Qe4 {Black will be thinking a later h5-h4 will open up the White King. Chances are level.} 55. Ra4 Be5 56. Ne2 Qc2 57. R1a2 Qb3 58. Kg2 Qd5+ 59. f3 {e3 on a black square will now need watching but it appears to be the only winning try.} 59... Qd1 60. f4 Bc7 61. Kf2 {Both players now on a 15 minute allegro with 30 second increment.} 61... Bb6 62. Ra1 Qb3 63. Re4 Kg7 64. Re8 f5 {If White can double Rooks on the 8th rank then this flight square f6 will come in handy.} 65. Raa8 {See previous note!} 65... Qb4 66. Rac8 Ba5 {67...Qe1+ is a threat, it has to be stopped.} 67. Rc1 Bb6 68. Re5 Qb3 {Back to hitting e3 and threatening f6 and Kf7} 69. Re8 Qd5 70. Rcc8 Qh1 {White cannot allow the Black Queen to stay there.} 71. Rc1 Qd5 72. Rb1 Ba7 {A slack move giving White tactical winning chances.} 73. Re7 {With Rbb7 in the air.} 73... Bc5 {Hits the e7 Rook but White has a good reply.} 74. Re5 Qd3 75. Rb7 Qc2 76. Rb5 Ba7 77. Ra5 {White is setting Black up for double pawn steal.} 77... Bb6 78. Rab5 Ba7 79. Rxf5 {There goes the first pawn.} 79... Qd3 {Hitting e3 again but this time...} 80. Rxf7+ {A wonderful move by Carlsen who now has excellent OTB winning chances.} 80... Kxf7 81. Rb7+ Kg6 82. Rxa7 Qd5 83. Ra6+ Kh7 84. Ra1 Kg6 {There now follows some jiggling as white gets into what he considers is his best position.} 85. Nd4 Qb7 86. Ra2 Qh1 87. Ra6+ Kf7 88. Nf3 Qb1 89. Rd6 Kg7 90. Rd5 Qa2+ 91. Rd2 Qb1 92. Re2 {White wants to and needs to push the pawn up the board.} 92... Qb6 {Pins the pawn.} 93. Rc2 Qb1 94. Nd4 Qh1 95. Rc7+ Kf6 96. Rc6+ Kf7 97. Nf3 {This Knight back on f3 stops Qh2+} 97... Qb1 {Carlsen has to be careful about 3 fold rep and the 50 move rule.} 98. Ng5+ Kg7 99. Ne6+ Kf7 100. Nd4 Qh1 101. Rc7+ Kf6 102. Nf3 Qb1 103. Rd7 Qb2+ 104. Rd2 Qb1 105. Ng1 {Carlsen tries another set up to win} 105... Qb4 106. Rd1 Qb3 107. Rd6+ Kg7 108. Rd4 Qb2+ 109. Ne2 {Carlsen has to try another way the 50 rule was creeping closer.} 109... Qb1 110. e4 {Stops the 50 move rule (no capture or pawn move after 50 moves then a draw can claimed.)} 110... Qh1 111. Rd7+ Kg8 112. Rd4 {Carlsen has figured the only way to win, if indeed it is, is to allow Kingside checks.} 112... Qh2+ 113. Ke3 h4 {This opens up more space for Queen checks and swaps off a weak pawn.} 114. gxh4 Qh3+ 115. Kd2 Qxh4 116. Rd3 Kf8 117. Rf3 {We now witness Carlsen setting up his ideal formation to go for a win.} 117... Qd8+ {It allows a batch of checks but Carlsen has seen a pattern he is aiming for,} 118. Ke3 Qa5 119. Kf2 Qa7+ 120. Re3 Qd7 121. Ng3 Qd2+ 122. Kf3 Qd1+ 123. Re2 Qb3+ 124. Kg2 Qb7 {No more checks Black so pins the e-pawn.} 125. Rd2 Qb3 126. Rd5 Ke7 127. Re5+ Kf7 128. Rf5+ {This the set up Carlsen’s wanted. Knight holds the Rook, the Rook holds the f-pawn.} 128... Ke8 129. e5 {The pawn advances and now definite winning chances are on the board.} 129... Qa2+ 130. Kh3 Qe6 131. Kh4 Qh6+ 132. Nh5 Qh7 133. e6 {Getting close to a win, basic two move tricks are appearing. 133...Qxf5 Ng7+} 133... Qg6 134. Rf7 Kd8 135. f5 Qg1 136. Ng7 {Nepomniachtchi resigned. One way to win is...} 136... Qh2+ 137. Kg5 Qg3+ 138. Kh6 {The King will hide on g8.} 138... Qh4+ 139. Kg6 Qg4+ 140. Kh7 Qh4+ 141. Kg8 {The is no way to stop e7+ and e8=Q. A great win by Carlsen.}