About This Game
In this encounter I Sokolov had the white pieces against Magnus Carlsen at XLVIII TCh-ESP in 2004. It was played in round 2. The game dates from the modern computer-influenced era.
The game opened with Grünfeld Defense (D83), a fight over the centre. Here the struggle often turns on the central pawns and minor-piece play.
Running to 46 moves, the game moved through a full middlegame into an endgame, showing how an advantage is carried between phases.
Magnus Carlsen is one of the grandmasters featured in the RamaChess archive, where you can browse their complete game collection, favourite openings and notable wins.
Replaying a complete grandmaster game shows not just the moves, but the order in which plans appear and where the balance finally tips.
When the dust settled, I Sokolov won with the white pieces. Step through the moves on the interactive board above and try the position trainer to sharpen your own play.
Frequently asked questions
Who played this game?
This game was played between I Sokolov (White) and Magnus Carlsen (Black), at XLVIII TCh-ESP in 2004.
What opening was played?
The game used Grünfeld Defense (ECO code D83). A fight over the centre.
What was the result?
I Sokolov won with the white pieces.
How long was the game?
The game lasted 46 moves (91 plies).
Can I replay this game move by move?
Yes. Use the interactive board on this page to step through every move, or open the analyser and Practice mode.
Where can I find more games like this?
Browse the full Grünfeld Defense collection, Magnus Carlsen's complete game archive, and thousands more grandmaster games in the RamaChess archive.