So, W. – Caruana, F.

2757 2024 · Black wins (resignation, time or agreement)

So versus Caruana, 2024: a London System that sharpens fast, both sides castling on the same wing before the queens come off on move 18. The rook-and-knight endgame stays defensible for White for a long stretch, until 49.Ka3 swings the evaluation from −0.2 to −1.9. Two more king moves deepen the hole: 55.Ka4 goes from −2.6 to −4.2, then 63.Ra1 from −5.5 to −7.0, and Caruana brings it home 0-1. White finished at 86% accuracy, Black at 92% — the gap opened exactly where the white king had to pick squares. Club takeaway: in a barely worse endgame, one careless king step costs more than a misplaced piece ever does in the middlegame.