About This Game
In this encounter Magnus Carlsen had the white pieces against Zhang Pengxiang at 2nd Samba Cup in 2005. It was played in round 4. The game dates from the modern computer-influenced era.
The game opened with Sicilian Defense (B48), sharp, double-edged play. These lines often lead to opposite-side castling and a race to attack.
Running to 48 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.
Working through a full game like this trains pattern recognition — the more you study, the faster you spot familiar ideas in your own play.
When the dust settled, the game was drawn between Magnus Carlsen and Zhang Pengxiang. Use the board above to replay every move, switch to the analyser for engine evaluation, or open Practice mode to test your own ideas.
Frequently asked questions
Who played this game?
This game was played between Magnus Carlsen (White) and Zhang Pengxiang (Black), at 2nd Samba Cup in 2005.
What opening was played?
The game used Sicilian Defense (ECO code B48). Sharp, double-edged play.
What was the result?
The game was drawn between Magnus Carlsen and Zhang Pengxiang.
How long was the game?
The game lasted 48 moves (95 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 Sicilian Defense collection, Magnus Carlsen's complete game archive, and thousands more grandmaster games in the RamaChess archive.