Dubov versus Carlsen : Brilliant win by Magnus ! Chessable tournament

Black to play

Can you guess what Magnus played ?

here's the animated version of the game

Animated Game

Magnus achieved total domination and eventually Dubov was more or loss in zugwang towards the end. His pieces were stuck

here's the analysis and Magnus must have been happy to score in style after losing his last 3 games to Daniil in recent online events.

Snapshot before the game 

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Why is 22...Qxb3 called removing a defender when the rook on b3 is attacking the bishop on c3. Isn't it removing an attacker?

Rb3 protects Bb4. So By taking on b3, Black wins Bb4 as well, and wins because Re2,Qe1 cannot move withouot losing another piece.

Why do we see the position from the point of view that white is the defender and black is the attacker? That is what I am getting at. Why aren't we viewing the position as "There is a threat of Rxc3 or Bxc3"? and that one of them at least is an attacker?

I am not saying you are wrong, and I am trying to find reasons why we should look at it the way you are describing it. Let's say you didn't see this Qxb3 removing the defender. You set your sights on the other rook. You play a6 to attack the b5 pawn. This also gives the same idea of taking the rook on b3 if white plays a4 to protect the b5 pawn.

So, white instead takes on a6 and black plays Bxa6. In this case white's only good move is Bxc3. If the rook were the attacker then black could play Qb5. I don't know if I am just trying to justify labeling the rook as a defender or if this illustrates why we call the rook a defender and not an attacker. The role it is playing is not to attack.

Qxr is not especially hard to spot.  The Magnus magic was earlier I'm sure.  

19Ba3? : it was all downhill after that as Rfd8 is logical and strong-> pin on d-file

Magnus increased the pressure with Bb4!(Pin)  Qd3!(domination)  before Dubov's largest mistake 19Ba3? White had to exchange bishops and follow by either Qb3 or Rc1 trying to untangle pieces from the first rank.

@Gambitshift, I see your point, White was attacking stuff as well.

but 22..a6 White would proceed with 23 Bxc3!.  It is definitely a critical moment of the game with lots of stuff attacked by both players.  I guess Carlsen's move is elegant and keeps the bind.

I agree with @ArtNJ , and not only because I am currently in the Garden State as well: the queen sacrifice is not super hard to find. 

At the end, White is in quasi-zugwang. if Queen moves away, the Knight on d2 can be taken. If White plays h3,Kh2 and waits, Black can double his rooks on d-file and capture the knight on d2.

It wasn't early resignation but 24..a5 and 25..h6 show total domination by Magnus !

I should have highlighted that as well in my game comments.