Game 3 was also Anti-Marshall just like Game 1, but with a different variation on Sunday. But the result, this time a draw after 41 moves, was the same.
The 14-game World Championship match between defending champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway and challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia is still tied (1.5-1.5). The fourth game will be played on Tuesday after Monday's rest day with Carlsen having the white pieces.
The third game in the Ruy Lopez opening followed the same sequence of moves (of the first game) before Nepo, playing with white pieces, chose 8.a4 instead of 8.h3. After some inviolent skirmish to get their pieces in the right positions and denying important squares to each other, there was some flurry of activity from 23 to 32 moves.
When the dust was settled, there was nothing to play for with a light-coloured bishop and five pawns each. Carlsen's king was better placed at the centre. But the position was further simplified with unconnected pawns placed in front of each other.
After Carlsen's 10th move (Re8), multiple world champion V Anand commented that the move had a lot of pedigree citing games like Topalov vs Ivanchuk, Svidler vs Ivanchuk and even Kasparov's.
"White has fared exceedingly well in this game. But this idea was off-radar post 2009," he said.
On the 21st move, Nepo consumed almost half an hour but not much explosive headway or double-edged position could be attained.
