Caruana: Do you want to lose?
Shirov: Sure, why not?
Caruana: Ok, let’s play the Najdorf.
Shirov: Cool, that’s where I got some new ideas.
Caruana: I bet you do…

This wasn’t the conversation before the game, but it could have been. I am kidding of course. Shirov probably wanted to prove that he can still slug it out with the big boys. What follows is the worst piece of preparation in modern history. Shirovs comes up with a super-refined moveorder, Caruana makes all the standard moves and look what happened. To his credit, Shirov almost managed to turn it around, but ultimately threw it away again.

On a sidenote: Upcoming norwegian drawmeister Christiansen managed to catch Leko in a forced draw. Very promising!

Here is what happens when you take risks and miss your chances:

Note: Keymer plays a pure strategy. Against g6 it’s always g3.