Very energetical play!
1. d2d4  1... g8f6  2. g1f3  2... d7d5  3. c2c4  3... e7e6  4. g2g3 Carlsen keeps milking his amazing Catalan WCC preparation. 4... d5c4  5. f1g2  5... f8b4 Mamedyarov chooses a line that was tested by Topalov in both his WCC matches against Kramnik and Anand—and which was also often a choice of Carlsen himself. 6. c1d2  6... a7a5  7. e1g1  7... e8g8  8. e2e3 A very fresh line. 8... a8a6 Sensibly clearing the long diagonal, as the Catalan bishop is always a pain. Up to here, Mamedyarov was practically blitzing. 9. d1c2  9... b7b5  10. a2a4  10... c7c6  11. b1c3  11... a6b6  12. e3e4 Carlsen is happy with the compensation for the pawn. He intends to gain more space in the center and gradually shift his pieces toward the enemy kingside. 12... b4e7 And Mamedyarov offers, in return, the pawn back. 13. e4e5 Not taking it. 13... f6d5  14. a4b5  14... c6b5 And Black does not stop with a pawn sacrifice only. \"I think the exchange sacrifice was quite expected. It was also his style, one hundred percent, but maybe in hindsight, there were other options there.\" (Carlsen) 15. c3d5  15... e6d5  16. d2a5  16... b8c6  17. a5b6  17... d8b6 \"I think he had reasonable compensation.\" (Carlsen) 18. a1a8  18... h7h6 Played without much thought. The air is useful for the black king, but this allows White a valuable tempo to co-ordinate his major pieces. 19. f1a1  19... c8e6 A move too late, and that's all the world champion needs! 20. c2d1 White is perfectly coordinated and ready to improve the remainder of his army. 20... b5b4 And this activity only makes things worse. 21. b2b3  21... c4c3 \"Capitulation, but did not see what he could do there.\" (Carlsen) 22. a8a6  22... b6c7  23. f3e1 A star maneuver! The knight opens the road for the bishop and the white kingside pawns, and it is also ready to block the enemy passer. 23... f7f6 A desperate try, but Carlsen is in control.