---
title: Nepomniachtchi vs Carlsen, Game 1 | 2021 FIDE World Chess Championship
description: 3-time defending champion Magnus Carlsen plays black in game 1 against Ian Nepomniachtchi
image: https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=png&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=chess-network:ublog:5mTXdiYC:NlXgla9D.png&w=880&sig=84652d04a80019431a8d5089311f2551d6da0f68
---

Featured is my video review of game 1 of the 2021 FIDE World Chess Championship match between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Magnus Carlsen. A Ruy Lopez surfaces with Nepomniachtchi avoiding the Marshall Attack. Carlsen opts early for a line that strikes imbalances with white having an extra pawn, and black having the bishop pair. An important part of this game involves 2 knights jockeying for position, with a fight over outpost squares. This best of 14 games match is being held in Dubai. The first player to earn 7.5 points earns the lion's share (60%) of about a $2.24 million prize pool, and the most prestigious title in chess, "World Chess Champion".

## Ian Nepomniachtchi vs Magnus Carlsen, Game 1

https://lichess.org/Au1LTFvR

https://youtu.be/eNsrJXfth4o

## Tale of the tape \| Ian Nepomniachtchi vs Magnus Carlsen\, Game 1

Game 1 brought out excellent engine-like play by both players, with each registering a single-digit Average centipawn loss. The evaluation was always between +0.9 and -0.7 throughout.

![image](https://i.postimg.cc/4xf1TxJ2/gr.png)

## Closing words

I thank you in advance for any likes and/or follows you may give. If you have any questions or comments about game 1 between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Magnus Carlsen, I would prefer they be directed to the [video's](https://www.youtube.com/watch?noembed&v=eNsrJXfth4o) comments section on YouTube. All games of this match can be found in this [playlist](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQsLDm9Rq9bEu31nvBO2zxWTY67hdGJYi).

I hope you have, in some way, benefited from this post. Thank you for taking the time to read.
Be well... -Jerry