Hikaru Nakamura - Magnus Carlsen 0-1: Python explodes after eating alligator at Zurich Chess 2014

MANIMAL MAGNUS: World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen and US #1 Hikaru Nakamura before their blood-spilling, gut-wrenching showdown. Who could guess? The Norwegian would be outplayed, smothered and destroyed…, but live to have the last laugh!Photo: Maria Emelianova

Zurich Chess Challenge 2014: A National Geographic report dated 2006 states South Florida wildlife researchers found a dead python that had burst after eating a 6-foot-long American alligator. Saturday night no wildlife researchers were available at Savoy Hotel Baur en Ville Zurich, but the news report was essentially the same.

US #1 Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura chewed the World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen move by move. Black was toast.

26. … Bxb2

Carlsen said he did not realise he was going down until Nakamura played 24.Qg4 (24. …Nb6 25.Be2 Nd6 26. Rdh1) 26…Bxb2 (diagram above). He was “completely desperate but I thought it was my only chance,” Carlsen said in the post-game conference. “That’s what it’s about, keeping the game one move longer”.

The game proceeded. Ten moves later, Black is still worth a sumptuous dinner.

36. … Qg6

Nakamura has obtained a big attack in this animal versus animal battle. “There must be so many ways to win,” confessed Magnus Carlsen himself.

But the American python had gobbled enough and couldn’t digest it. He exploded with 37.d6?! when he could have jolly well tried 37.Qf1 b5 38.Rxh7!! going for the throat with mating combinations.

37. d6

“I played pretty badly. I sort of underestimated his attack. The whole setup is a little bit risky,” said the World Champion, but he added, “It’s a bit of a freak occurence that he doesn’t win.”

Nakamura skipped the post-game press conference. Understandably so.