Game 6 of the Carlsen–Nepomniachtchi world championship match was one for the ages. After draws in the first five games, the world champion broke the deadlock with a 136-move victory — the longest in world championship history. It lasted almost eight hours, and Nepomniachtchi made the final mistake in an endgame with a lone queen against rook, knight and two pawns.
In a balanced middlegame, ‘Nepo’ took a risky decision at move 25, offering an exchange of two rooks for Carlsen’s queen, creating winning chances for both sides.
Magnus Carlsen–Ian Nepomniachtchi
World Championship Game 6, Dubai
25… Rac8 26 Qxc8 Rxc8 27 Rxc8 Qd5 Attacking the pawn on b3. It’s important that 28 Nf4 Bxf2+ wins. 28 b4 a4 29 e3 Be5 30 h4 h5 31 Kh2 Bb2 32 Rc5 Qd6 33 Rd1 Missing an opportunity, but an extremely difficult one to spot when short of time.
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