Library / Games / Caruana, Fabiano vs Carlsen, Magnus
Clutch-ch June · Lichess.org INT · 14 June 2020

Fabiano Caruana vs Magnus Carlsen, Clutch-ch June, R3.9

Caruana, Fabiano 1–0 Carlsen, Magnus
Caruana, Fabiano vs Carlsen, Magnus
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Clutch-ch June, 14 June 2020

Game 3.9 of the June 2020 Clutch Championship (June 14) was won by Caruana as White. The day-match between Carlsen and Caruana was at this stage clearly being decided by individual game results; Caruana managed several wins across the 12 games of the day.

The opening was a Sicilian Najdorf. Caruana’s preparation produced a sharp middlegame in which Carlsen’s pieces were less well coordinated than usual. The conversion took 40 moves and exploited a pawn structure that Caruana had clearly studied at home.

The Clutch Championship’s format — with weighted clutch games and day-matches — gave decisive games more impact than in regular rapid events. A 1-0 win in the late “clutch” games of a day-match could be worth more than 1-0 wins in earlier rounds. The format encouraged sharp play in the late games and quieter play earlier.

Caruana-Carlsen in the 2020 online series produced approximately 35 games. Carlsen won approximately 20, Caruana approximately 8, with the rest drawn. The pattern reflected Carlsen’s overall online dominance but also showed that Caruana could find points against him with preparation; the lopsided overall score did not mean Caruana was unable to compete.

Game record

This game between Caruana, Fabiano and Carlsen, Magnus was played at the Clutch-ch June in Lichess.org INT in 2020. Played in round 3.9. At the time of the game, the players were rated 2835 (White) and 2863 (Black). The game lasted 57 moves, ending with White winning. It is part of the modern AI-era of elite chess.

Opening context

The opening sequence runs 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e5 4. O-O Bd6, after which the players entered the middlegame proper.

See also

For more on this game’s protagonists and theory, see Caruana, Fabiano and Carlsen, Magnus.

Match notes

This Clutch-ch June game sits in post-Carlsen and new generation era. Master-level chess of the period was published in tournament bulletins, magazine annotations, and — for the most-studied games — in published opening monographs by the participants and their successors. This game is preserved in the open historical record and can be replayed in full above.