Magnus Carlsen vs Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Meltwater Tour Final 2021

Sicilian Defense (B23) · 0-1 (Maxime Vachier-Lagrave won) · 39 moves · Round 3.3 · 27 September 2021

♔
White
Magnus Carlsen
0 – 1
Black
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
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Moves
0 / 78

About This Game

Game summary

  • WhiteMagnus Carlsen
  • BlackMaxime Vachier-Lagrave
  • Result0-1 · Maxime Vachier-Lagrave won
  • EventMeltwater Tour Final 2021
  • Round3.3
  • Date27 September 2021
  • OpeningSicilian Defense (B23)
  • Length39 moves
  • Type of eventRapid

This is game 123 of 208 between Magnus Carlsen and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in the Rama Chess database (2005–2025). In all their games Carlsen leads 78–44 with 86 draws.

Previous game: Vachier-Lagrave vs Carlsen, ½-½ (Meltwater Tour Final 2021, 2021).

Next game: Vachier-Lagrave vs Carlsen, 1-0 (World Blitz 2021, 2021).

Carlsen vs Vachier-Lagrave: all 208 gamesAll Carlsen games at Meltwater Tour Final 2021Carlsen in the Sicilian DefenseCarlsen games of 2021Maxime Vachier-Lagrave profile

The moves of Magnus Carlsen vs Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Meltwater Tour Final 2021

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.d4 cxd4 7.Nxd4 g6 8.b3 d5 9.e5 Qc7 10.Nce2 Qxe5 11.Bf4 Qh5 12.f3 Bh6 13.g4 Qh3 14.Qd2 Bxf4 15.Nxf4 Qh4+ 16.Kd1 Nc6 17.Ng2 Qh3 18.Nf4 Qh6 19.h4 Qg7 20.c3 O-O 21.g5 Nh5 22.Nxh5 gxh5 23.Re1 e6 24.f4 Rac8 25.Rc1 Rfe8 26.Qd3 Qg6 27.Kd2 Nxd4 28.Qxg6+ hxg6 29.cxd4 Kf8 30.Rxc8 Rxc8 31.Rc1 Rxc1 32.Kxc1 f6 33.Kd2 Kf7 34.Ke3 e5 35.fxe5 fxe5 36.dxe5 Ke6 37.Kd4 b6 38.b4 b5 39.a3 a6 0-1

Magnus Carlsen and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave met over the board in this middlegame battle at Meltwater Tour Final 2021 in 2021. The game dates from the contemporary engine era.

Play followed Sicilian Defense (B23) — sharp, double-edged play. These lines often lead to opposite-side castling and a race to attack.

Lasting 39 moves, the game was settled in the middlegame, where piece activity, pawn breaks and king safety all collide.

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.

In the end, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave won with the black 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

What is the head-to-head record of Magnus Carlsen and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave?

In the 208 games between them in our database (2005 to 2025) Carlsen leads 78–44 with 86 draws. This game is number 123 of 208.

Where and when was Magnus Carlsen vs Maxime Vachier-Lagrave played?

At the Meltwater Tour Final 2021, round 3.3, on 27 September 2021.

Who played this game?

This game was played between Magnus Carlsen (White) and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (Black), at Meltwater Tour Final 2021 in 2021.

What opening was played?

The game used Sicilian Defense (ECO code B23). Sharp, double-edged play.

What was the result?

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave won with the black pieces.

How long was the game?

The game lasted 39 moves (78 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.

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