1. e2e4  1... e7e5  2. g1f3  2... b8c6  3. f1c4 After his sensational win against the world  champion in Wijk an Zee earlier this year, the young star of Russian chess put up a great fight against Carlsen once again. The two classical games  were drawn after a fierce battle, and after two more draws in the rapid,  Carlsen finally won a game. Esipenko needed to win on demand now to stay  in the match; therefore, the Berlin was out of the question. 3... f8c5  4. c2c3  4... g8f6  5. d2d3  5... d7d6  6. e1g1  6... h7h6  7. f1e1  7... e8g8  8. h2h3  8... c5b6 Other ways to play it  besides 8...a5 have also been tested by Carlsen: 9. b1d2 