1. d2d4  1... g8f6  2. c2c4  2... e7e6  3. b1c3 Of all the world champions, Carlsen is the one of with the most flexible opening repertoire. He can play anything. I wonder how his opponents prepare against him. 3... f8b4  4. g2g3 Not the most popular move against the Nimzo. 4... e8g8  5. f1g2  5... d7d5  6. a2a3  6... b4c3  7. b2c3  7... d5c4  8. g1f3  8... c7c5  9. e1g1 Carlsen uses his usual strategy of going for a sideline with not so much theory and not so much advantage either. This worked like a charm in his first-round game, but it's going to backfire in this game. I admired his cleverness when he won, and I am going to criticize the same strategy now that he lost, since, as we say jokingly, \"The same hands that clap are the ones that boo.\" 9... c5d4 9...Bd7 and 9...Nc6 are also possible. 10. d1d4 Already a new move. 10... b8c6  11. d4c4  11... e6e5 A good move, preparing to develop the bishop to an active square. 12. c1g5  12... h7h6  13. f1d1 It seems smart to play this before capturing the knight, but this move is wrong for tactical reasons. 13... c8e6 An accurate move. 14. d1d8 The best move to fight for equality. 14... e6c4  15. d8a8  15... f8a8  16. g5f6  16... g7f6 The opening phase is over, and the conclusion is clear: a sad outcome for Carlsen, who now must fight for a draw, after no more than 16 moves, without any winning chances whatsoever. This must have depressed him, as his play in this endgame is not up to his very high standards. 17. g1f1 A solid move. White can also sacrifice the e2-pawn in different ways with good drawing chances in all cases. 17... a8d8  18. f1e1  18... c6a5  19. a1d1  19... d8c8 It's necessary to keep the rooks in order to play for a win; otherwise, it will be much easier for White to protect his queenside weaknesses. 20. f3d2  20... c4e6  21. c3c4  21... e6c4  22. d2c4  22... c8c4  23. d1d8  23... g8g7  24. g2d5 Otherwise, Black closes off the bishop with e5-e4. 24... c4c7 Black is a pawn up, but with an active rook and bishop against knight, it should be possible for White to secure a draw. 25. d8a8  25... a7a6  26. a8b8  26... f6f5  27. b8e8 Carlsen provokes the advance in order to break Black's pawn structure, but this is not a good strategy. 27... e5e4  28. g3g4 It's better to break the structure with 28.f3 or wait with 28.Rd8. 28... c7c5  29. d5a2  29... a5c4  30. a3a4  30... c4d6 Niemann now uses a nice tactical idea to achieve a winning position. 31. e8e7  31... f5g4 This doesn't spoil anything, but 31...Rc2 wins immediately. 32. e7d7  32... e4e3  33. f2e3  33... d6e4  34. e1f1  34... c5c1  35. f1g2  35... c1c2  36. a2f7  36... c2e2  37. g2g1  37... e2e1  38. g1g2  38... e1e2  39. g2g1  39... g7f6 White still has drawing chances here, but it's nearly impossible to find it. 40. f7d5  40... e2d2  41. d7f7  41... f6g6  42. f7d7  42... e4g5 Now it's over. 43. d5f7  43... g6f5  44. d7d2  44... g5f3  45. g1g2  45... f3d2  46. a4a5  46... f5e5 A fine move, as the king must control the bishop's active attempts connected with Be6-c8. 47. g2g3  47... d2f1  48. g3f2  48... f1h2  49. e3e4  49... e5e4  50. f7e6  50... e4f4  51. e6c8  51... h2f3  52. c8b7  52... f3e5  53. b7a6 