Carlsen Wins Opener

Well, sort of. Before the actual hostilities with his fellow super grandmasters, GM Magnus Carlsen sat down to a friendly with a local English player, Stephen Moss. This game was played just prior to the opening day's press conference.

My thanks to John Saunders, chief press officer of the LCC, for sending me this along with a bunch of photos (one of which can be seen below).

Moss, Stephen
Carlsen, Magnus
B22

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 d6 7. Bb5+ Bd7 8. Bxd7+ Qxd7 9. O-O Nc6 10. Nc3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Rc8 12. Ba3 dxe5 13. Bxf8 Rxf8 14. Qb1 "Imaginative", according to John's annotations and for which Magnus was apparently complementary. 14...exd4 15. cxd4 g6 16. d5 exd5 17. Qb2 f6 18. Rfe1+ Kf7 19. Nd4 Rfe8 20. Qd2 Nxd4 21. Qxd4 b6 22. Red1 Rc5 23. Rd3 Qc7 24. Rad1 Re4 25. Qa1 Qe5 26. Qxe5 fxe5 27 Rxd5 Rxd5 28. Rxd5 0-1 Saunders: "I think Stephen may have actually resigned some time after the rook left d1 and arrived on d5, as he suddenly noticed the 'down train' which is on its way to the 'terminus' on e1."

Moss - Carlsen, 0-1