Carlsen, M. – Vachier Lagrave, M.

2875 2019 · White wins (resignation, time or agreement)

Classical Grünfeld, 2019: Carlsen (2875) against Vachier-Lagrave (2779). Queens come off early with 12.Qxa5, and the game turns into patient bishop-and-rook endgame work. The engine flags no turning point at all — nothing swings on a single move, with White at 100% accuracy and Black at 93%. White simply accumulates: 23.d5 gains space, then 33.d6 and 34.d7 drive the pawn to the seventh, and 37.Rc7 ends the argument. The takeaway isn’t tactical. With no clear Black mistake to punish, the win comes from sustained pressure and a passed pawn pushed all the way.