Interview with Magnus Carlsen

GM Carlsen (2775) – GM Topalov (2777) [D58]
04.09.2008, Bilbao Grand Slam

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 0–0 7.e3 b6 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.0–0 Nbd7 10.Bg3 c5 11.cxd5 Nxd5 12.Nxd5 Bxd5 13.e4 Bb7 14.Rc1 a6 15.b4 cxb4 16.Bc7 Qe8 17.Qe2 b5 18.Ba5 Rc8 19.Qb2 Nf6 20.Rxc8 Qxc8 21.Nd2 Qc3 22.Qxc3 bxc3 23.Bxc3 Rc8 24.Ba5 Bd8 25.Bxd8 Rxd8 26.Rd1 Rxd4 27.Nb3 Rd8 28.f3 Kf8 29.Kf2 Nd7 30.Be2 Ke7 31.Na5 Ba8 32.Rc1 Kd6 33.Ke3 Nb6 34.f4 Rc8 35.Rxc8 Nxc8 36.Kd4 Ne7 37.Bf3 Kc7 38.Nb3 Kb6 39.Ke5 Ng6+ 40.Kd6 Nxf4 41.Nc5 b4 42.h4 a5 43.g3 Nh3 44.Nd7+ Ka7 45.Kc5 f5 46.Kb5 fxe4 47.Bh5 e3 48.Kxa5 g6 49.Bg4 h5 50.Be2 Ng1 51.Bf1 e2 52.Bxe2 Nxe2 53.Nf8 Be4 54.Nxe6 Nxg3 55.Nf4 Kb7 56.Kxb4 Kc6 Black wins 0–1

Click here to replay the game.

When asked what was the key point of the game?

Magnus said the pawn sac was sound enough, but he spent too much time and and addition, he did not want to over commit to the position and chose to play safe. Then he blundered by overlooking the move Bxd8 and technically was lost.

When asked if he considered 16.Rc7 instead of Bc7, he said yes of course but it was unclear, that is why he chose Bc7 which may not be as ambitious but also not so dangerous for White.

He said that he went with the game continuation because he wanted to play safe.