Magnus Carlsen vs Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, CCT Final Playoff 2023

English Opening (A14) · 1-0 (Magnus Carlsen won) · 23 moves · Round 6.1 · 11 December 2023

♔
White
Magnus Carlsen
1 – 0
Black
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
♚
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Moves
0 / 45

About This Game

Game summary

  • WhiteMagnus Carlsen
  • BlackMaxime Vachier-Lagrave
  • Result1-0 · Magnus Carlsen won
  • EventCCT Final Playoff 2023
  • Round6.1
  • Date11 December 2023
  • OpeningEnglish Opening (A14)
  • Length23 moves
  • Type of eventRapid

This is game 177 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: Carlsen vs Vachier-Lagrave, ½-½ (38th ECC Open 2023, 2023).

Next game: Vachier-Lagrave vs Carlsen, ½-½ (CCT Final Playoff 2023, 2023).

Carlsen vs Vachier-Lagrave: all 208 gamesAll Carlsen games at CCT Final Playoff 2023Carlsen in the English OpeningCarlsen games of 2023Maxime Vachier-Lagrave profile

The moves of Magnus Carlsen vs Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, CCT Final Playoff 2023

1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Be7 5.O-O O-O 6.b3 d4 7.e3 Nc6 8.exd4 Nxd4 9.Bb2 Bc5 10.Nc3 Re8 11.Ne5 Bd6 12.f4 Bc5 13.Kh1 Qe7 14.g4 Rd8 15.g5 Nd7 16.Ne4 Nf8 17.Qh5 Ng6 18.Ng4 Ba3 19.Ngf6+ gxf6 20.gxf6 Qb4 21.Ng5 Kf8 22.Qxh7 Rd7 23.Bxd4 1-0

This middlegame battle sees Magnus Carlsen take on Maxime Vachier-Lagrave at CCT Final Playoff 2023 in 2023. The game dates from the contemporary engine era.

Play followed English Opening (A14) — a flexible, manoeuvring struggle. Openings in this group reward patient build-up and a feel for pawn structure.

Lasting 23 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.

Games like this are useful at every level: opening principles for beginners, middlegame plans for club players, fine technique for experts.

In the end, 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

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 177 of 208.

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

At the CCT Final Playoff 2023, round 6.1, on 11 December 2023.

Who played this game?

This game was played between Magnus Carlsen (White) and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (Black), at CCT Final Playoff 2023 in 2023.

What opening was played?

The game used English Opening (ECO code A14). A flexible, manoeuvring struggle.

What was the result?

Magnus Carlsen won with the white pieces.

How long was the game?

The game lasted 23 moves (45 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 English Opening collection, Magnus Carlsen's complete game archive, and thousands more grandmaster games in the RamaChess archive.

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