At the end, Bill's 9. Nxe5 resulted in an immediate checkmate. Instead, 9. Re1 (Rook one square to the left) stops the mate since it gives white's king an escape route. In an even match, the game would be winning for white at that point because Magnus sacrificed a bishop for his now-failed attack.
Magnus screwed up big-time or was goofing around. He would still be able to beat Gates from that losing position, but I'm very surprised he let that happen.
I just watched the show on local tv and Magnus commented afterwards that he did something against his principles and gambled that he could trick Bill into it.
At the end, Bill's 9. Nxe5 resulted in an immediate checkmate. Instead, 9. Re1 (Rook one square to the left) stops the mate since it gives white's king an escape route. In an even match, the game would be winning for white at that point because Magnus sacrificed a bishop for his now-failed attack.
Magnus screwed up big-time or was goofing around. He would still be able to beat Gates from that losing position, but I'm very surprised he let that happen.