VIncent Keymer beats Magnus Carlsen at the FIDE World Cup
Author: Maria Fragaki
GM Magnus Carlsen’s position in the 2023 FIDE World Cup is now precarious after Game 1 of Round 4, as he faces potential elimination following an opportunistic move by 18-year-old GΜ Vincent Keymer, resulting in Keymer’s inaugural victory over the reigning world number-one.
The World Cup is renowned for its intense competition, characterized by a progressive elimination process every three days, leaving even the most eminent players vulnerable to setbacks. Prior to the commencement of the fourth round, several prominent contenders, including Nodirbek Abdisattorov, Anish Giri, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, who were among the top 20 seeds, had already been eliminated.
Carlsen has previously experienced the unforgiving nature of this tournament. In 2017, during the same last-32 stage, he faced a similar scenario when he suffered an initial loss to Chinese GM Bu Xiangzhi and was unable to stage a recovery in the subsequent match. Now, six years later, he finds himself in a comparable situation, having lost to GM Vincent Keymer in the first game of Round 4, and now must fight to win in the second game, playing with the white pieces.
The game
Carlsen displayed early preparedness, swiftly unveiling a novel concept, leading many to believe that he might seize control and secure victory with the black pieces. However, Keymer astutely identified a strategic maneuver with 26.Nxd5! that restored balance to the game. Keymer later shared his thoughts, stating, “I came across the Nxd5 idea, and I believed it would at least ensure a stable position, though I was uncertain about my prospects of winning.”
The dynamics remained unchanged until Keymer was left with approximately five minutes on the clock, while Carlsen retained over 40 minutes. It was at this critical juncture that Carlsen made the pivotal mistake with the move 36...Nc7?, effectively determining the outcome of the game.
Keymer faced an array of possibilities and the pressure of limited time, yet he navigated the situation flawlessly, ultimately achieving the most significant triumph of his career.
