Topalov, V. – Carlsen, M.

2740 2019 · Black wins (resignation, time or agreement)

A classical Sveshnikov from 2019: Topalov (2740) against Carlsen (2861). White comes out of the book cleanly — 86% at least good moves against 79% — and pushes in the centre with 20.f4 and 21.Qxf3. The game turns on two moves. At move 26, 26.Ne6 is a missed opportunity, swinging the evaluation from −0.2 to +3.4: the position flips, though not in the direction the accuracy counter suggests. Two moves later 28.Qxf5 gives away still more, from +3.5 to +15.0, and Black answers 28...Rxg3+. The club lesson: a high overall accuracy never protects you from the one or two moves that decide everything. Calculate the critical positions, not the quiet ones.