1. e2e4  1... c7c5 Magnus didn't seem to be affected by the changed match situation. He sticks to his Sicilian, rather than run to the safety of the Ruy Lopez. 2. g1f3  2... e7e6  3. d2d4  3... c5d4  4. f3d4  4... b8c6  5. b1c3  5... d8c7  6. c1e3  6... a7a6  7. g2g4 The English Attack is a perfect fit to Ian's style (and to this particular must-win situation). This move was already played in Grandelius-Carlsen, Tata Steel 2022. 7... c6d4  8. d1d4  8... b7b5  9. e1c1  9... c8b7  10. c1b1 Nepo doesn't mind spending a tempo on a useful king move. The thing with the English Attack is not its speed, but rather its inevitability. Sooner or later the white kingside battering ram will get going. 10... g8f6  11. f2f3 Again, patience is key. 11... a8c8  12. g4g5  12... f6h5  13. d4d2  13... f8e7  14. f1h3  14... b5b4  15. c3e2  15... d7d5  16. h3g4  16... g7g6  17. g4h5  17... g6h5  18. e2f4  18... d5e4  19. f4h5  19... e4f3 19 moves into the game, and Black is totally busted. Are those classic Sicilians even playable anymore $2 The world champion spent 10 minutes of his time to get here, while his former challenger needed only the additional 10 seconds per each move. 20. e3f4 Ian begins to go wrong. 20... c7d8  21. d2e3  21... b7d5 White is no longer winning by force, but his advantage is still significant, 22. h5f6 This error sinks White's ship. 22... e7f6  23. g5f6  23... h8g8 No matter how bad those Sicilians may look under the cold eye of engines, in a practical game there are chances. Here Carlsen's rook quickly gets to hit the c2-pawn, and it changes the evaluation of the position heavily in Black's favor. 24. h1e1  24... g8g2  25. e3a7  25... d8d7  26. a7d4  26... c8c2  27. f4c1  27... c2c1  28. b1c1 