GM Alireza Firouzja (Triveni Continental Kings) beat GM Magnus Carlsen (Alpine APL Pipers) in the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League 2026 (Preliminary Stage), in 49 moves.
The game turned on 36.Rc6. Before it, Stockfish had the position as a clear advantage for Black (-1.67); one move later, winning for Black (-3.45). It was played with 0:09 left on the clock.
Stockfish wanted 36.Ra8 instead. Can you see why? And 36...Nf5, the engine's best reply, came straight back.
It began as the Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation.
Replay it move by move, then take the key position on against the engine.
- White
- GM Magnus Carlsen, 2803 · Alpine APL Pipers
- Black
- GM Alireza Firouzja, 2748 · Triveni Continental Kings
- Result
- 0–1 in 49 moves
- Opening
- Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation · D85
- Event
- Tech Mahindra Global Chess League 2026, Preliminary Stage · Bengaluru, India
- Key move: {0}
- 36.Rc6
- Engine’s choice
- 36.Ra8