Two of the crown princes of modern chess are Timur Radjabov of Azerbaijan and Magnus Carlsen of Norway. In the last round of the just-concluded Biel tournament in Switzerland, they faced each other in the final round. Radjabov went into the encounter a half point ahead of Carlsen. If he won the game, he would become thesolewinnerofthetournament. In the event of a draw, he would share first place with Alexander Onischuk of the USA. Carlsen was in a more desperate position. He needed a victory just to tie for first. The competitive situation guaranteed maximum tension on the board. The guarantee was honored.

CARLSEN VS. RADJABOV
(white) (black)

Pirc Defense

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nge2

The usual 4. Nf3 would have transposed the game into the old Philidor defense where new ideas for black were recently found. Instead Carlsen tries to transpose the game into one of the variations of Pirc defense. 4… Nbd7 5.g3 c6

6. Bg2 b5!

7.a3 Be7!?

The immediate 7…g6 permits the unpleasant 8.d5!; but 7…a6!? 8.0-0 g6 permits black to transpose the game into a Pirc. Radjabov instead chooses an unusual and very intriguing plan.

8.0-0 0-0

9.h3 a5!?

10.g4! Ba6!

11. Ng3 b4

12. Nce2 bxa3?!

Radjabov has played the opening strongly and now after 12…d5! could obtain an excellent position. He tries to carry out the same idea, but also wants to win a tempo. But this permits white to mobilize the a1 rook, and opening the center now, when white has an advantage in development, is in white’s favor.

13. Rxa3 d5

14. Re3! dxe4

15. Re1! Qc7?!

It was better to mobilize reserves by playing 15…Re8 16. Nf5 Bf8 with an unclear position.

16. Nf5 Bd8?

Now the black pieces fatally lose coordination. Preferable for black was 16…Rfe8 17. Nxe7+ Rxe7 18. Ng3 and the position is still unclear. Probably Radjabov hoped to create counterplay on the king side by opening the f-file. But first he will be crushed in the center. 17.g5 Nd5 18. Rxe4 f6 After the next move, the white bishop on a6 will be a useless piece, shooting along an empty diagonal. But to exchange it via 18… Bxe2 19.R4xe2 Nf4 20. Bxf4 exf4 21.d5! cxd5 22. Qd4 f6 23. Qxd5+ would lose on the spot. 19. Neg3! g6 20. Nh6+ Kg7 21. dxe5 fxg5 The alternative 21…fxe5 22.c4 N5b6 23.b3 a4 24. Bb2! would leave black defenseless in the face of the threaten 25. Rxe5! Now the white e-pawn plays the role of a battering-ram and destroys black’s position. 22.e6! Kxh6

(See diagram)

23.e7!! Qb6 Black would be mated after 23… Bxe7 24. Rxe7! Nxe7 25. Rxe7 Rad8 26. Qd4. 24. exf8Q+ Nxf8 25.c4 Nf4 26. Qd6! Kg7 27. Bxf4 gxf4 28. Re7+ 1-0