28 November 2021

Ian Nepomniachtchi and Magnus Carlsen Draw Game Three in Dubai

The overall march score remains level - 1.5-1.5.

 

Sunday, November 28, game three of the Carlsen vs Nepomniachtchi World Championship Match finished in Dubai. The famous Russian tennis player Anastasia Myskina made the symbolic first move for the Russian GM playing as White. Present during this ceremony were FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich and the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the Republic of Latvia H.E. Hanan Al Aleeli.

Ian Nepomniachtchi, who had the white pieces, opened the game with by moving his king's pawn as in game one. The World Champion displayed a willingness to go into the Marshal Attack in Ruy Lopez, but the challenger again opted for one of the anti-Marshall setups — only this time instead of 8.h3 he chose another rook pawn move — 8.а4. The game was developing in a calm positional way as White maintained a slight opening pressure, and Black aimed to neutralize it by careful play.

The Norwegian GM's central break 22...d5 was timely and well-prepared as otherwise his position could have turned into a rather unpleasant one. There followed massive liquidation of material into an equal endgame: the activity of black pieces compensated minor flaws in his pawn structure. A draw was agreed on move 41, immediately after passing the first time control.

The overall march score remains level — 1.5:1.5. November 29 is a rest day. In game four scheduled on Tuesday, November 30, the white pieces are with the World Champion. By the way, Magnus Carlsen turns 31 that day.

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Pictures by Eteri Kublashvili