source: chess.com
Hello to all chess fans! Magnus Carlsen adds another title to his belt as he won the 2025 FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship. He scored 10.5 out of 13. There was a bit of drama in round 7 when he lost badly to Vladislav Artimiev of Russia. Magnus, seemingly upset was leaving and followed by a camera man who went to close. Magnus shoved the poor guy that was caught on camera. After that, Magnus came back with a vengeance and won the next five games in a row.
I picked up one of Magnus's game to feature against GM Shant Sargsyan.
The game started with the Italian Opening. It has a reputation of being a quiet opening but as I have posted before, there are attacking chances for both colors. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. Nc3 d6 6. a3 O-O 7. h3 Be6 8. Nd5 Qd7 9. O-O Bd8 10. Re1 h6 11. Bb3 Bxd5 12. exd5 Ne7
After twelve moves, the game is out of book. Black is exchange his Bishop for Knight which is generally favorable for White due to Bishops having longer range. 13. d4 e4 14. Nd2 Nexd5 15. Nxe4 Re8 16. Ng3 Rxe1+ 17. Qxe1 c6 18. Qd1 Qe6
The common theme for the Italian is to generate a King side attack by placing the Knight on f5, Queen on f3 while the Bishops also have eyes on the King side. 19. Bf4 Bc7 20. Qf3 Re8 21. Bd2 Bd8 22. c4 Nc7 23. d5 cxd5 24. cxd5 Qd7 25. Bc3 Qb5 26. Qd1 Qd7 27. Qf3 Nb5 28. Ba4 a6 29. Nf5 Kh7 30. Rd1 g6
Black is already in time trouble and lost a pawn 31. Nxh6 Kxh6 32. Bxf6 Bxf6 33. Qxf6 Qe7 34. Qf4+ Kg7 35. Bxb5 axb5 36. Qb4 Qe2 37. Rc1 Re4 38. Qc3+ Kg8 39. Qf6 Rc4
Magnus made a mistake and this is position is drawish according to engine analysis. But with thirteen seconds left in the clock, it's not easy to play accurately. 40. Rf1 Qe5?
Black's last move was a blunder. It allowed Carlsen's Rook to be active while retaining his extra pawn. I also commit this mistake in Hivechess tournaments. I'm to eager to draw or win in endgames that I exchange pieces without much thought. 41. Qxe5 dxe5 42. Rd1 Kf8 43. d6 Ke8 44. Rd5 e4 45. Rxb5 Rd4 46. Kf1 Rxd6 47. Re5+
White has a two versus one pawn majority on the Queen side. It's a winning endgame for Magnus. It's in this position that Shant Sargsyan resigned.
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