About This Game
A marathon in which Magnus Carlsen was paired against Y Pelletier at 41st Festival GM in 2008. It was played in round 1. The game dates from the modern computer-influenced era.
The game opened with Queen's Indian Defense (E15), a strategic battle of structure and activity. In these systems both sides manoeuvre carefully before committing.
At 64 moves this was a long, demanding struggle that rewarded stamina and precise endgame technique.
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.
After the contest, Magnus Carlsen won with the white pieces. 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 Y Pelletier (Black), at 41st Festival GM in 2008.
What opening was played?
The game used Queen's Indian Defense (ECO code E15). A strategic battle of structure and activity.
What was the result?
Magnus Carlsen won with the white pieces.
How long was the game?
The game lasted 64 moves (127 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 Queen's Indian Defense collection, Magnus Carlsen's complete game archive, and thousands more grandmaster games in the RamaChess archive.