Howell (2597) – Carlsen (2801) [B22]
London Chess Classic (3), 10.12.2009
1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Be3 Be7 7. dxc5 Qxd1+ 8. Kxd1 O-O 9. Nbd2 Ng4 10. Nb3 Nxe3+ 11. fxe3 Nd7 12. c6 bxc6 13. Na5 Bc5 14. Nd4 Nf6 15. Bc4 Ng4 16. Ke2 e5 17. Nc2 Bf5 18. h3 Nf6 19. Nb4 Be4 20. Nbxc6 Rfe8 21. Rhg1 Bb6 22. b4 Rac8 23. b5 Bxa5 24. Nxa5 Rc5 25. a4 Rec8 26. Bd3 Bxd3+ 27. Kxd3 Rxc3+ 28. Ke2 Rc2+ 29. Kf3 e4+ 30. Kf4 R8c5 31. Nc6 g5+ 32. Kg3 R5c3 33. Ne7+ Kf8 34. Nf5 Nd5 35. Rge1 Nf4 36. Rg1 Ne2+ 37. Kg4 Nxg1 38. Rxg1 f6 39. h4 gxh4 40. Kxh4 Ra3
I disagree with this move. I would have played 40… Rc1 to get rid of the Rook. This would have simplified the position and cut down the drawing chances for White.
41. g4 Rxa4 42. Rd1 Raa2 43. Rd7 Rh2+ 44. Kg3 Rhg2+ 45. Kh3 Rgf2 46. Nd4 Kg8 47. Re7 Kf8 48. Rc7 Ke8 49. Kg3 Rf1 50. Rxh7 Ra3 51. Kg2 Rd1 52. Nf5 Rd7 53. Rh8+ Kf7 54. Kg3 Rb3 55. Kf4 Rb1 56. Kxe4 Rf1 57. Rh7+ Ke6 58. Rh8 Rc7 59. Nd4+ Kd6 60. Rd8+ Rd7 61. Rc8 Rg7 62. Rd8+ Rd7 63. Rc8 Re7+ 64. Kd3 Rc7 65. Rd8+ Rd7 66. Rg8 Rg1 67. Ke2 Kc5 68. Kf2 Rb1 69. Rf8 Rd6 70. Rf7 =+
Now Howell has strong drawing chances. This game was nearly in the bag for Magnus back around move 40.
70…Rb2+ 71. Kf3 Ra2 72. Ke4 Kb6 73. Rf8 Rg2 74. Kf3 Rh2 75. Rb8+ Kc7 76. Ra8 Kb7 77.
Rf8 Rh7 78. Kf4 Rh1 79. Kf3 1/2-1/2 This is a disappointing draw for Magnus. He still leads Kramnik by 1 point (7 points to 6).
Click here to replay the game up to move 70.
Any particular reason why Carlsen gets an entire post devoted to his “dominating play”, while Kramnik, who DESTROYED McShane doesn’t even get mentioned?
Well played by magasparov! hehe. Susan i need to ask u a question cuz of my rating!! Kramnik got a competitve result but doesnt that game leave one a lil “confused”? Wasnt he just champion of the top guys? hehe.
Not yet and it doesn’t seem so hopeless now! (on move 64)
resignation soon….
The game is still going on…
Susan Kramnik game is finished…
No posting till now..
Looks like a first major slip from Carlsen in a long time. He was clear exchange up but it’s going to end in a draw now probably.
Its looks drawish now
QUITE hopeless = no chance to Howell win….
drawn
Wow, Howell held it. Of course, Carlsen also was kind enough not to win it. I felt something was going astray for Carlsen when he started playing moves like Kg8 without having been forced to. I still cannot believe he did not win this though…
I have to agree with 40..Rc1 even Rc7a2 instead of Rc3a2 if 41.Rd1 Rd3 would have been better as it was the rook was able to take and control the 7th and 8th ranks and the Knight was well rooted with pawn protection exchanging rooks by 40..Rc1 would have vastly improved blacks chances of winning
Good lesson for the kid. Next time he will never underestimate the harmony between rook and knight, even when it starts with a modest rook at g1.
Next time he will choose to swap them and win rapidly.
Hey, I’ve got RYBKA too!
a lot of monday morning quarterbacks in here.
Unbelievable. I would have bet anything that Carlsen would win. And how hard is it for the world’s No. 1 player to find the elementary 40…Rc1?