The match for the title of world champion began quite cautiously and peacefully.
The first four games in Dubai ended in a draw, and the fans were eager to exacerbate the situation from one of the chess players.
On Wednesday, Ian Nepomniachtchi had an excellent opportunity for this, who was to act with white pieces.
Moreover, in previous meetings, even playing black, he had a chance to get ahead, but did not realize the gained advantage.
One did not have to be surprised at the excessive peacefulness.
For example, in 2016 Magnus Carlsen and Sergey Karjakin managed to determine the strongest only in the eighth game.
In the tenth, the Norwegian bounced back and eventually defended the title in a tie-break.
And two years later, Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana drew all 12 games, and the winner of the crown was determined only in a tie-break.
This time, the opponents again chose the so-called Spanish game for their opening.
The challenger, as in the two previous cases, having an advantage, moved the pawn to e4 as the first move.
Further, the opponents brought the knights and bishops forward, and also castled.
Nevertheless, the Russian managed to achieve a rather comfortable superiority.
He acted aggressively and bravely, while the champion seemed to be out of place after his birthday celebrated the night before.
The Norwegian thought about each move for a long time, rubbed his eyes and feverishly drank water.
Nepomniachtchi, on the contrary, looked confident and collected, and at the first opportunity he went to the recreation room, so that there, looking at the location of the figures on the screen, he could think over the best options.
On the ninth move, the grandmasters exchanged pawns, and soon they repeated this trick.
On the whole, the fans witnessed a rather closed “Spanish flu”, during which the athletes slowly “developed” their pieces, and the position of the pawns in the center could decide a lot.
However, soon the fateful segment of the meeting began.
It began with the fact that Jan, having taken five minutes to think, pushed the queen to c2.
Then he sent the knight to g3, repeating the standard Spanish route.
Finally, the Russian moved his bishop to e3.
The challenger could immediately develop it with an attacking pawn move to c4.
In this case, he got the opportunity to organize an offensive on the left flank with the help of the bishop, as well as send a knight to f5.
Carlsen would be guaranteed a hard time.
It is difficult to say what Nepomniachtchi was thinking, but he did not dare to aggravate the situation, but only made a couple of careful moves, in particular, the rook on d1 and the bishop on a4.
Magnus, who until recently looked completely lost and feverishly pondered over every action, instantly came to his senses.
He managed to avoid getting into an extremely unpleasant situation, and the game began to lean towards a fifth draw in a row, which was completely in the hands of the champion.
Queens and rooks were soon exchanged.
After that, the situation on the board was seriously discharged.
Unfortunately, now it was not easy for the domestic athlete to count on victory.
He was aiming at the dark-squared bishop on d6, but the Scandinavian defended it with his knights.
For every attempt by Nepomniachtchi to develop an offensive, the opponent responded with competent and accurate actions that provided him with an ideal defense.
At the end of the 40th control move, the game dragged on for a very short time.
The opponents dispersed for the fifth draw in a row.
The score in the decisive confrontation is still equal - 2.5: 2.5.
Taking into account the previous meetings for the world chess crown, this peaceful outcome was the 19th in a row in regulation time.
Moreover, Nepomniachtchi again had a great opportunity, finally, to win and come out ahead, securing the most important psychological advantage, but did not realize the advantage.
At the end of the game, everything was written on the Russian's face.
He covered it with his hands, sometimes shaking his head in annoyance.
It was extremely curious what the domestic grandmaster would say at the press conference, and he, as expected, complained about his own excessive caution.
“Did you think about c4 in order to play more aggressively?
Of course, but I thought everything was fine.
It was hard to choose exactly how to go - knight, bishop.
I thought c4 could be played a little later.
In the endgame Black seemed to have an unpleasant position, but Magnus plays very well.
The question was not whether he defended well, but how I used my opportunities.
In general, when you have a chance and you don't take it, you feel frustrated.
I had to try to play sharper.
I'm upset, "Nepomniachtchi did not restrain his emotions.
And according to Carlsen, he experienced serious relief when he saw the opponent move his rook to d1 instead of moving his pawn to c4.
“It was the strongest move.
It seemed that the situation would definitely get worse.
But I didn't think my position would be terrible.
I hoped I could gradually improve it.
When I saw the rook move to d1, I realized that the worst was over.
Apart from the move of the rook to a1 at the end of the game, I myself did not make a single active move, so the result is good.
Perhaps he could have changed the rook in the endgame, but I had a good position.
I didn’t want to risk it, ”the champion admitted.
Nevertheless, Nepomniachtchi can be pleased with himself.
He again brought serious trouble to his opponent and was even closer to victory.
It remains to be hoped that Jan will draw conclusions and will present the champion with an unpleasant surprise after a day of rest on Friday.