The following game shows that nowadays being a top player is all about winning with white. With black it’s simply impossible to beat a Drawmeister, at least in forced variations like the Sveshnikov, the Bg5-Najdorf or the Marshall Attack. Actually I am quite puzzled that Carlsen didn’t go for his usual strategy of playing second rate openings where he gives his opponent something like + 0.30 for free in order to get him out of book. On the other hand, the path of freedom in the opening (and everything else for that matter) becomes narrower every day. Maybe Carlsen was hoping for 7. Nd5.

Playing the Sveshnikov is basically a draw offer these days.