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 