That is it then, it’s all over. Magnus retains his world title 4-0 with 7 draws.
Nepomniachtchi took a big gamble and played 23.g3 when a draw with
sensible risk free play was on the table. A draw of course was no good
as that would leave Carlsen just needing a draw with the white pieces in
the next round and winning the next three games to just tie the match did
not appeal to Nepomniachtchi so he rolled the dice and the throw was bad.
I. Nepomniachtchi - M. Carlsen, Game 11, World Championship 2021
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 {A Two Knights maybe we will see 4.Ng5 Bc5 a Traxler or will it go into a Giuoco Piano.} 4. d3 {The so called quiet variation of the Two Knights.} 4... Bc5 {And we have a Giuoco Piano.} 5. c3 d6 6. O-O a5 {preventing b4 and giving the Bishop a bolt hole.} 7. Re1 Ba7 {Getting out the way so as not give d4 a tempo on the Bishop.} 8. Na3 {I like this, N-c2-e3 idea.} 8... h6 {Playing for time, hinting at g7-g5 ideas also not wanting to 0-0 and face Bg5.} 9. Nc2 O-O {The play will all take play the centre, Black gets the big boy out the way and castles.} 10. Be3 Bxe3 11. Nxe3 Re8 12. a4 {Grabbing space, there now follows some shuffling before the centre breaks open.} 12... Be6 13. Bxe6 Rxe6 {In game 4 all four Knights came off the board, this time all the Bishops have gone.} 14. Qb3 b6 15. Rad1 Ne7 16. h3 Qd7 {I always feel uncomfortable when a Rook X-Rays my Queen, but Magnus allows it.} 17. Nh2 {Sizing up a Knight exchange, a break in the centre must come soon.} 17... Rd8 18. Nhg4 Nxg4 19. hxg4 {The Knight exchange has weakened the d5 square, but apparently, not enough.} 19... d5 {This encourage a ton of exchanges and Carlsen being 3-0 up will not mind that.} 20. d4 {Trying to put some fire into the position. Carlsen needs to play accurately.} 20... exd4 21. exd5 Re4 {The only move to keep it even but a good one.} 22. Qc2 Rf4 {Again the only move. Nepo should now play 23. Rxd4 with a draw the most likely result.} 23. g3 {This invites an exchange sac from Carlsen leading to a great position for Black.} 23... dxe3 24. gxf4 Qxg4+ 25. Kf1 Qh3+ 26. Kg1 {Here I thought 26...exf2+ just won easily. (see next game.)} 26... Nf5 {With this, probably the best practical move, Black stays in control.} 27. d6 {White is doing his best complicate things.} 27... Nh4 28. fxe3 Qg3+ 29. Kf1 Nf3 30. Qf2 Qh3+ 31. Qg2 {Black wins back the exchange and....} 31... Qxg2+ 32. Kxg2 Nxe1+ 33. Rxe1 Rxd6 {...white is facing a totally lost ending.} 34. Kf3 Rd2 35. Rb1 g6 {The ace is the passed h-pawn. White cannot stop that and cover all his weak pawns,} 36. b4 axb4 37. Rxb4 Ra2 38. Ke4 h5 39. Kd5 Rc2 40. Rb3 h4 {The h-pawn runs home aided by a deflecting trick from the Black Rook.} 41. Kc6 h3 42. Kxc7 h2 43. Rb1 Rxc3+ 44. Kxb6 {White has to go this way, King to the d-file or b7 is an easy Black win.} 44... Rb3+ {and the h-pawn promotes.} 45. Rxb3 h1=Q 46. a5 Qe4 {The easily Queen stops the a-pawn, just one last trap to be aware off.} 47. Ka7 Qe7+ 48. Ka8 {48.Qd8+ winning the a-pawn. No 49.Rb1 is 1-0.} 48... Kg7 49. Rb6 Qc5 {White resigned and the game and match is over.}
A brief look at the ‘easy win’ Carlsen rejected.
FEN
3r2k1/2p1npp1/1p5p/p2P4/P4P2/2P1p2q/1PQ2P2/3RRK2 w - - 0 26
[FEN "3r2k1/2p1npp1/1p5p/p2P4/P4P2/2P1p2q/1PQ2P2/3RRK2 w - - 0 26"]
26. Kg1 {Now I think everyone saw and wanted.} 26... exf2+ {Kxf2 and Qh2+ skewers the White Queen.} 27. Qxf2 Rd6 {With Rg6 coming.} 28. Qf1 {Giving the White King some running room.} 28... Rg6+ 29. Kf2 Qh2+ {I got as far as here when looking exf2+ and thought White was getting mated.} 30. Ke3 Nf5+ 31. Kd3 {When exf2+ was not played I looked deeper.} 31... Rg3+ {There is no mate and White has checks and things on the board.} 32. Kc4 {32...Qxb2 wins, but you had to see that 6-7 moves ago. Carlsen took the best way.}
