Magnus Carlsen vs Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, chess.com Speed 2020

Sicilian Defense (B90) · 1-0 (Magnus Carlsen won) · 53 moves · Round 3.35 · 12 December 2020

♔
White
Magnus Carlsen
1 – 0
Black
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
♚
Analyse This Game Practice
Moves
0 / 105

About This Game

Game summary

  • WhiteMagnus Carlsen
  • BlackMaxime Vachier-Lagrave
  • Result1-0 · Magnus Carlsen won
  • Eventchess.com Speed 2020
  • Round3.35
  • Date12 December 2020
  • OpeningSicilian Defense (B90)
  • Length53 moves
  • Type of eventBlitz and bullet

This is game 81 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 (chess.com Speed 2020, 2020).

Next game: Carlsen vs Vachier-Lagrave, 1-0 (chess.com Speed 2020, 2020).

Carlsen vs Vachier-Lagrave: all 208 gamesAll Carlsen games at chess.com Speed 2020Carlsen in the Sicilian DefenseCarlsen games of 2020Maxime Vachier-Lagrave profile

The moves of Magnus Carlsen vs Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, chess.com Speed 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 Ng4 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 Bg7 10.Qd2 Nc6 11.Nb3 b5 12.h4 gxh4 13.Bxh4 Be6 14.O-O-O Nce5 15.f3 Nf6 16.Nd4 Rc8 17.Kb1 Bc4 18.Nf5 Kf8 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 20.Rxh6 Ng6 21.Rxh8+ Bxh8 22.Qh6+ Ke8 23.Bxc4 bxc4 24.Nd5 Rb8 25.Nfxe7 Bxb2 26.c3 Bxc3+ 27.Kc2 Qa5 28.Nxc3 Kxe7 29.Qd2 Qc5 30.Nd5+ Ke8 31.Qc3 Ne5 32.f4 Qf2+ 33.Qd2 Nd3 34.Qxf2 Nxf2 35.Rd4 Nd3 36.Rxc4 Ne1+ 37.Kd2 Nxg2 38.Ra4 Rb2+ 39.Kc3 Rf2 40.f5 Nf4 41.Nxf4 Rxf4 42.Kd4 Ke7 43.Rxa6 Rf2 44.a4 Rd2+ 45.Kc4 Rc2+ 46.Kd3 Ra2 47.a5 Ra4 48.Ke3 Kd7 49.Ra7+ Ke8 50.f6 Ra1 51.a6 Ra5 52.Re7+ Kf8 53.a7 1-0

Magnus Carlsen and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave met over the board in this full-length game at chess.com Speed 2020 in 2020. The game dates from the contemporary engine era.

The game opened with Sicilian Defense (B90), sharp, double-edged play. These lines often lead to opposite-side castling and a race to attack.

Running to 53 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.

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

After the contest, Magnus Carlsen 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

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 81 of 208.

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

At the chess.com Speed 2020, round 3.35, on 12 December 2020.

Who played this game?

This game was played between Magnus Carlsen (White) and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (Black), at chess.com Speed 2020 in 2020.

What opening was played?

The game used Sicilian Defense (ECO code B90). Sharp, double-edged play.

What was the result?

Magnus Carlsen won with the white pieces.

How long was the game?

The game lasted 53 moves (105 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.

More chess on YouTube: Stockfish100 Best Chess Channel
, 250)); })();