Carlsen vs Nepomniachtchi | Game 8 - 2021 FIDE World Chess Championship

World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway defends his title against challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia in Game 8 of the 2021 World Chess Championship match that is being held in Dubai. It's a best of 14 games where the first player to earn 7.5 points earns the lion's share (60%) of a $2.24 million prize pool, and the title of "World Chess Champion". The Petrov’s Defense returns with play deviating from game 4 by move 3. A symmetrical position arises after 8 moves with both kings on an opened e-file. The symmetry ends after Carlsen castles kingside because if Nepomniachtchi copies, he’ll be in trouble. Nepomniachtchi’s creative 9th move ended up forcing Carlsen into about a 40-minute think! What was Carlsen’s concern?

Image of Ian Nepomniachtchi in thumbnail courtesy of Niki Riga   / riga_niki     / niki.riga  

PGN
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nxd7 Bxd7 7. Nd2 Nxd2 8. Bxd2 Bd6 9. O-O h5 10. Qe1+ Kf8 11. Bb4 Qe7 12. Bxd6 Qxd6 13. Qd2 Re8 14. Rae1 Rh6 15. Qg5 c6 16. Rxe8+ Bxe8 17. Re1 Qf6 18. Qe3 Bd7 19. h3 h4 20. c4 dxc4 21. Bxc4 b5 22. Qa3+ Kg8 23. Qxa7 Qd8 24. Bb3 Rd6 25. Re4 Be6 26. Bxe6 Rxe6 27. Rxe6 fxe6 28. Qc5 Qa5 29. Qxc6 Qe1+ 30. Kh2 Qxf2 31. Qxe6+ Kh7 32. Qe4+ Kg8 33. b3 Qxa2 34. Qe8+ Kh7 35. Qxb5 Qf2 36. Qe5 Qb2 37. Qe4+ Kg8 38. Qd3 Qf2 39. Qc3 Qf4+ 40. Kg1 Kh7 41. Qd3+ g6 42. Qd1 Qe3+ 43. Kh1 g5 44. d5 g4 45. hxg4 h3 46. Qf3

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