LogFAQs > #968182043

This is true more so for classical games as opposed to the time control they were playing(was it blitz)? See Magnus' classical games and you'll see more often that not he plays the reputable lines, his rapid and blitz games he plays sidelines because he knows even though hes not going to get true positional advantage as you said, he knows theres simply not enough time for a human player to come up with the best opening moves consistently if they're already playing the opening outside of their theoretical knowledge