2013 World Chess Championship between Anand and Carlsen

[chisigma]

I remember that one year ago the World Chess Championship between Viswanathan Anand and Boris Gelfand attracted the attention of several members of MHB. Today a new Wolrd Chess Championship is started between Viswanathan Anand and the young Nowegian chess master Magnus Carlsen and I'm sure that it will be from You the same interest. This thread is open with the scope to follow togheter this very high level combat on the chessboards...

Kind regards

$\chi$ $\sigma$

 

[chisigma]

The first games has been played today and it ended to a draw after sixteen moves without particular emotions... both are studying the enemy and don't want to take risks!...

May be it is more interesting for the MHB fellows to know who is Magnus Carlsen. Of course Google today allows anybody to know all about anybody, so that I try to describe Magnus first showing his image... http://d32opxe1wdndeq.cloudfront.net/8f/5c/i79584399._szw380h285_.jpg... and then analyzing one of his games...

Magnus Carlsen vs Sipske Ernst - Wijk aam Zee 2004

1. e4 c6... this defence system intends to arrive to the move d5 with the possibility to develop the pieces in the most effective way. The idea is not bad but White can quickly take advantage in the centre and the best strategy for Black is to arrive to the final in the best possible conditions... of course if the game doesn't finish before!... 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5... the experience suggests that an advanced pown is a chance in any case... we will see how true is that! ... Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3... what is the best move for Black now?... taking into account that to arrive at a 'good final' is the best chance for it the sequence Qc7, e6, Bd6 that allows it to symplify... so that 10. ... Qc7 is the most 'logical' move... but the game proceeds in different way ... e6?! 11. Bf4! ... and Qc7 is no more possible! ... Ngf6 12. 000 Be7 13. Ne4 Qa5... so the Black Queen abandons her husband at his fate! ... 14. Kb1 00 15. Nxf6+ Nxf6... this move cedes the square e5 to White but 15 ... Bxf6 permits 16. Bd6 and 15 ... gxf6 makes the pown h6 a 'martyr' ... 16. Ne5 Rad8 17. Qe2 c5... that is a mistake but in such position any move is a mistake!... but how demonstrate that?... in this situation Magnus reveals himself! ... 18. Ng6! fxg6... 18. ... Rfe8 19. Nxe7+ Rxe7 20. dxc5 Rxd1+ 21. Rxd1 Qxc5 22. Bd6 ... 19. Qxe6+ Kh8... black now 'hopes' in the obviuos move 20. Qxe7 with good chances of survive but ... 20. hxg6! ... this is the move of a great master!... the menace on h6 cannot be parried! ... Ng8 21. Bxh6 gxh6 22. Rxh6 Nxh6 23. Qxe7 Nf7 24. gxf7 Kg7 25. Rd3... this move is posssible because the square e1 is protect... but all that has been preview by Magnus five moves before! ... Rd6 26. Rg3+ Rg6 27. Qe5+ Kxf7 28. Qf5+ Rf6 29. Qd7 #

The classical checkmate final position is known as 'mat des epaulettes'!;) ... so who is Magnus?... simply his is a killer! (Emo)...

Kind regards

$\chi$ $\sigma$

 

[chisigma]

The second game has been played yesterday and it ended with a draw after 25 moves. Magnus leads Blacks and has been able to effectively constrast the initiative of Viswanathan. The initial moves are the same we saw in previous post but leader of Blacks is Magnus and that changes strongly all!...

Anand vs Carlsen - 2th game of the match

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 d x e4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 [... in the game Carlsen Ernst we analysed in the previous post has been played 7. h5 that in my opinion is better...] e6 [... this move, sooner or later, has to be played so that it is better to play it immediately...] 8. Ne5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Nd7 11. f4 Bb4+ [inviting White to push the c pown on a black square, limiting even more the range of activity of the White Bishop...] 12. c3 Be7 13. Bd2 Ngf6 14. 000 00 15. Ne4 Nxe4 16. Qxe4 Nxe5 17. fxe5 Qd5 [... in the comments of the game Carlsen Ernst we said that in this type of defence the best strategy for Black is to arrive to a 'good final'... this game confirms all that because Magnus forces the exchange of Queens and the final is very promising for him...] 18. Qxd5 cxd5 19. h5 [... essential don't permit to Black to play 19. ... h5 with great advantage. The game is now equilibrate and the draw is obtained in few moves...] b5 20. Rh3 a5 21. Rf1 Rac8 22. Rg3 Kh7 23. Rgf3 Kg8 24. Rg3 Kh7 25. Rgf3 Kg8 1/2 1/2

The next game is planned for tomorrow... see You again!...

Kind regards

$\chi$ $\sigma$

 

[chisigma]

After three games the match is again perfectly well-balanced!... the third games is one of the most 'unconventional' I ever saw and that let we hope that we will see other beaustiful games!...

Calsenh vs Anand- 3th game of the match

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. c4 dxc4 4. Qa4+ Nc6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. Nc3 e5 7. Qxc4 Nge7 8. 00 00 9. d3 h6 10. Bd2 Nd4 [... the 'conventional developement' 10. ... Be6 leads to well known schematics, so that new ways have to be tried... no matter about the risks!...] 11. Nxd4 exd4 12. Ne4 c6 [... the 'risk' in this case is the weackening of the diagonal a3-f8 and in particular of the d6 square... the following White's move is therefore absolutely understandable...] 13. Bb4 Be6 14. Qc1 [... why not 14. Qc2 leaving the square c1 for a Rock?... it is fully evident that in this game the 'conventionality' is vorbidden!...] Bd5 15. a4 b6 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. a5 Rab8 18. Re1 Rfc8 19. axb6 axb6 20. Qf4 [... the 'unconventional' sequence of moves has caused to a slight avtantage for Whites who have good opportunity to take avtantage from tha a column...] Rd8 21. h4 Kh7 22. Nd2 Be5 23. Qg4 h5 24. Qh3 Be6 25. Qh1 c5 [... it may seem that the strategy of Whites has 'thriumphed'... absolute dominion over the diagonal h1-a8 and the a column... but not all what shines is gold...] 26. Ne4 Kg7 27. Ng5 b5 28. e3 [... I have to 'confess' that if I had the Whites I would try to activate the a column with 28. Ra5 followed by 29. Rea1... this maneuver however was not adequate to contrast the advance od black powns on the Queen side... Magnus find the right way to arrive at a good endgame even if his advantage isn't enough to win...] dxe3 29. Rxe3 Bd4 30. Re2 c4 31. Nxe6 fxe6 32. Be4 cxd3 33. Td2 Qb4 34. Rad1 Bxb2 35. Qf3 Bf6 36. Rxd3 Rxd3 37. Rxd3 Rd8 38. Rxd8 Bxd8 39. Bd3 Qd4 40. Bxb5 Qf6 41. Qb7+ Be7 [... the position of Black is not very comfortable because the Bishop cannot move and the Queen is forced to defend it... now in my opinion 42. Be2... prevents 42. ... g5 and leaves Black in a difficult situation ... what a pity!(Speechless)...] 42. Kg2 g5 43. hxg5 Qxg5 44. Bc4 h4 45. Qc7 hxg3 46. Qxg3 e5 Kf3 Qxg3+ 48. fxg3... and the draw is agreed few moves later...

Kind regards

$\chi$ $\sigma$

 

[chisigma]

Another great game!... even if the result is again 1/2 1/2... Magnus opposes to the Viswanathan's Spanisg game with a very old defence scheme but with bery new ideas!...

Anand vs Carlsen - 4th game of the match1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 [... this move is preferable to 5. Re1 and in any case Whites regain their pown...] Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 [... the alternative 6. ... bxc6 7. dxe5 Nb7... leaves Black in a very passive position...] 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 [... Whites have a majority of powns, four against three, on the King's side and thw intention of this move is to prepare their advance... but in that case why don't play immediately 9. g4 Nh6 10. h3!... relegating the Black Knight for a long time at the edge of the chessboard?...] Bd7 10. Rd1 Be7 [... now the Black Knight can go to h4 and 11. Ng5 Ke8 doesn't produce significative effects...] 11. Nc3 Kc8 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bxe7 Nxe7 14. Rd2 c5 15. Rad1 Be6 [... 15... Bc6 may seem better but in this case Whites play in any case 16. Ne1 ... with the prospective to arrive in d3 with a strong position...] 16. Ne1 Ng6 17. Nd3 b6 [... of course not 17. ... c4? 18. Nc5...] 18. Ne2 Bxa2?! [... an hazard that get Viswanathan into confusion... I cannot see adequate answer for Magnus if Whites play now 19. f4!... but White prefer to ear the 'siren' and his advantage vanishes...]19. b3? c4! 20. Ndc1 cxb3 21. cxb3 Bb1 22. f4 Kb7 23. Nc3 Bf5 24. g4 Bc8

… incredibly this Bishop not only ‘escaped’ but now Blacks have an ‘extrapown’!… the remaining part of this game is however so interesting that I will dedicate to it my next post!...

Kind regards

$\chi$ $\sigma$

 

[chisigma]

Anand vs Carlsen - 4th game of the match [continued]

After 24 moves Blacks has an 'extrapown' but the Rocks are 'out of game' and Whites has a great advantage of development. Let's observe the proceeding of the game...

25. Nd3 h5! [... excellent move that activate the Rock h8... now Whites have to find some plan of attack because his position on the Queen side is compromised...] 26. f5 Ne7 27. Nb5!? hxg4!? [... why not 27... a6?... an interesting question...]28. hxg4!? [... better 28. Tc1!... that forces 28. ... Nd5 because 28... Nc6 29. Rdc2 Bd7 30. Nb4!... is catastophic for Blacks. After 28. ... Nd5 29. Nc5+ bxc5 30. Rxd5 a6!... however Blacks is better...] ... Rh4 29. Nf2 [... and the 'powerful Knight' is called back in defence of the g pown!...] Nc6 30. Rc2 a5 31. Rc4 g6! [... another excellent move that disgregate the Whites powns...] 32. Rdc1 Bd7 33. e6 fxe6 34. fxe6 Be8 35. Ne4 [... the only chance for Whites at this point is to complicate the game...] Rxg4+ 36. Kf2 Rf4+ 37. Ke3 Rf8 38. Nd4 Nxd4 39. Rxc7 Ka6 40. Kxd4 Rd8+ 41. Kc3 [... better in my opinion 41. Ke3...] Rf3 + 42. Kb2 Re3 43. Rc8 Rdd3 44. Ra8+!? [... a useless move that allows to Black to gain time placing the King in a secure position and make the e6 pown a 'sentenced to death'...] Kb7 45. Rxe8 Rxe4 46. e7 Rg3 47. Rc3 Re2 48. Rc2 Ree3 49. Ka2 g5 50. Rd2 Re5 51. Rd7 Kc6 52. Red8 Rge3 53. Rd6 Kb7 54. R8d7 Ka6 55. Rd5 Re2 56. Ka3 Re6 [... last trap...]57. Rd8 [... and not 57. Rxg5?? b6!... and the White King is kapput!...] g4 58. Rg5 Rxe7 59. Ra8 Kb7 60. Rag8 a4 61. Rxg4 axb3 62. R8g7 Ka6 63. Rxe7 Rxe7 64. Kxb3 1/2 1/2

Black don't have any chance to promote his last pown... the game is down... Kind regards$\chi$ $\sigma$

 

[chisigma]

And Magnus at last grabs hold of victory!... a very fine game!...

Carlsen vs Anand – 5-th game of the match

1.c4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 c6 4. e4 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Bb4+ 6. Nc3 [... more common, and therefore more known, is 6. Bd2... which implies the sacrifice of a pown after 6. ... Qxd4 7. Bxb4 Qxe4+...] c5 7. a3 Ba5 8. Nf3 Nf6 9. Be3 Nc6 10. Qd3 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Ng4 12. O-O-O Nxe3 13. fxe3 Bc7 14. Nxc6 bxc6 15. Qxd8+ Bxd8 [... both have an isolated pown, e3 for Whites and c6 for Blacks... Black has two bishops but in this position, mainly for the Bishop c8, they can't explain great activity... the situation at this point is slightly favourable to Whites, but Magnus with a masterfull sequence of moves increases exponentially his advantage...] 16. Be2 Ke7 17. Bf3 Bd7 18. Ne4! [... very simple and strong move!... the necessity to avoid 19. Nc5... forces Black to weackening drammatically their position... ] 18. ... Bb6 19. c5 f5 20. cxb6 fxe4 21. b7! [... another excellent move!... now the game of Blacks is seriously compromised...] 21. ... Rab8 22. Bxe4 Rxb7 [... three isolated powns, a7 c6 e6, absolute control of Whites of the open colums d and f, a 'dominant' Bishop in e4 for Whites and a 'prisonier' Bishop in d7 for Blacks... the victory of Whites requires only to be precise and Magnus in that is simply superior...] 23. Rhf1 Rb5 24. Rf4 g5 25. Rf3 h5 [... the advance of these powns will cause their death... but in a hopeless position all moves are bad...] 26. Rdf1 Be8 27. Bc2 Rc5 28. Rf6 [... the Blacks menace of course 28... Bg6, and Magnus prefers an active move instead of the passive 28. Kb1...] ... h4 29. e4 a5 30. Kd2 Rb5 31. b3 Bh5 32. Kc3 Rc5+ 33. Kb2 Rd8 34. R1f2 Rd4 35. Rh6 Bd1 36. Bb1 Rb5 37. Kc3 c5 38. Rb2 e5 39. Rg6 a4 40. Rxg5 Rxb3+ 41. Rxb3 Bxb3 42. Rxe5+ Kd6 43. Rh5 Rd1 44. e5+ Kd5 45. Bh7 Rc1+ 46. Kb2 Rg1 47. Bg8+ Kc6 48. Rh6+ Kd7 49. Bxb3 axb3 50. Kxb3 Rxg2 51. Rxh4 Ke6 52. a4 Kxe5 53. a5 Kd6 54. Rh7! [... the White Rock defends the a White pown from the Black King and the h White pown from thr Black Rock... excellent!...] Kd5 55. a6 c4+ 56. Kc3 Ra2 57. a7 Kc5 58. h4 1-0

Kind regards $\chi$ $\sigma$

 

[chisigma]

And Magnus replicates!... one of the most incredible games I ever saw!...

Anand vs Carlsen 6-th game of the match

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 [... in the previous Spanish game Magnus not only gained parity but hi arrived near the victory, so that Viswanathan changes line...] Bc5 5. c3 [... 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nxe5 Qd4...] 00 6. 00 Re8 7. Re1 a6 8. Ba4 b5 9. Bb3 d6 10. Bg5 [... this move seems to create problem to Blacks because the King Black Bishop is outside the pown barrier... this game illustrates the correct strategy for Blacks in cases like this...] Be6 11. Nbd2 h6 12. Bh4 Bxb3 13. axb3 Nb8 [... with the prospective to arrive in d7 making sure the position...] 14. h3 [... what the best plane for Whites in this position?... the alternative is an action along the a column playing 14. b4 Bb6 15. Ra3 ... but Blacks can neutralize all that playing 15. ... a5, that happens also in this game...] Nbd7 15. Nh2 Qe716. Ndf1 Bb6 17. Ne3 Qe6 18. b4 a5 19. bxa5 Bxa5 20.Nhg4 Bb6 [... the attack of Whites 'first world war style' finished ammunition... what to do now?... Viswanathan simplifies...] 21. Bxf6 Nxf6 22. Nxf6+ Qxf6 23. Qg4 [... unfortunately for Whites 23. Nd5 ... doesn't work because it follows 23. ... Qxf2+...] ... Bxe3 [... good move!... the f colum is not very useful for Whites and the weackness of the powns will create problems...] 24. fxe3 Qe7 25. Rf1 c5 26. Kh2 c4 [... another good move that devides the mass of White powns...] 27. d4 Rxa1 28. Rxa1 Qb7 [... and not 28... exd4 29. exd4 Qxe4 30. Qxe4 Rxe4 31. Ra8+ Kh7 32. Rb8 and Whites solves all his problems...] 29. Rd1 [... no better moves...] Qc6 30. Qf5 exd4 31. Rxd4 Re5 32. Qf3 Qc7 33. Kh1 Qe7 34. Qg4 Kh7 35. Qf4 g6 36. Kh2 Kg7 37. Qf3 Re6 [... all these moves can be explained with the fact that both have to do 40 moves in two hours... and we are at the move 37...] 38. Qg3 [... Whites decide to sacrify a pown arriving in an endgame of Rocks with good chances of draw... but why don't wait for the move 40?...] ... Rxe4 39. Qxd6 Rxe3 40. Qxe7 Rxe7 41. Rd5 Rb7 [... at this point the general opinion of the masters was that Whites have excellent chances of a draw... and that makes very incredible what You will see now!...] 42. Rd6 f6 43. h4 [... a poor chess player like I am at this point would have replay 'automatically' with 43... h5... but not Magnus...] Kf7 44. h5 [... this move opens the way to the Black King even if his phalanx is digregarded...] gxh5 45. Rd5 Kg6 46. Kg3 Rb6 47. Rc5 f5 48. Kh4 [... it seems that Blacks have lost all their chances... what to do?... ] ... Re6! [... may be that this move doesn't gain... in any case it is incredible!...] 49. Rxb5 Re4+ 50. Kh3 Kg5 51. Rb8 h4 52. Rg8 Kh5 53. Rf8 Rf4 54. Rc8 Rg4 55. Rf8 Rg3+ 56. Kh2 Kg5 57. Rg8+? [... and Blacks is free to access to the square f4 preparing the coffin to the White King!... 57. Rc8 ... would have been the right move...] ... Kf4 58. Rc8 Ke3 59. Rxc4 f4 60. Ra4 [... this move is bad... but at this point what move is good?...] ... h3! [... the winning move!... Whites are kapput...] 61. gxh3 Rg6 62. c4 f3 63. Ra3+ Ke2 64. b4 f2 65. Ra2+ Kf3 66. Ra3+ Kf4 67. Ra8 [... if 67. Ra1 Re6...] ... Rg1 0-1

No more comments!...

Kind regards

$\chi$ $\sigma$

 

[chisigma]

Another interesting game where Magnus opposes effectively the Spanish game of Viswanathan...

Anand vs Carlsen 7-th game of the match

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 [... this defensive scheme was very popular in the XIX century but later was abandoned because 'statistically' the result were in favor of Whites. I remember to have used it only two times in tournament games and the results were a victory and a draw. Now in XXI century Magnus recovers this 'old' defensive scheme and till now the results are quite good...] 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 [... Viswanathan changes the attack line respect to the previous games. From the 'theoretical' point of view the move is the best because Balcks have to play carefully avoiding an unfavourable end game...] ... dxc6 6. Nbd2 Bg4 7. h3 Bh5 8. Nf1 Nd7 9. Ng3 Bxf3 [... Blacks renounces to the two Bishops... in my opinion a better alternative was 9. ... Bg6 'paralysing' the White pown chain c2 d3 e4...] 10. Qxf3 g6 [... absolutely necessary is to take away the White Knigth from the square f5...] 11. Be3 Qe7 12.000 000 13. Ne2 [... Whites have had the opportunity to play 13. d4 realizing superiority in the pown structure but after 13. ... exd4 14. Bxd4 Bxd4 15. Rxd4 Ne5 16. Qe3 Rxd4 17. Qxd4 c5 18. Qe3 Rd8 Black has a dangerous initiative...] ... Rhe8 [... and d4 is no more possible...] 14. Kb1 b6 15. h4 Kb7 16. h5 Bxe3 17. Qxe3 Nc5 18. hxg6 hxg6 19. g3 [... although in slightly advantage Whites don't have pratical chances. Blacks is able to opposes in any case a valid defence...] ... a5 20. Rh7 Rh8 21. Rdh1 Rxh7 22. Rxh7 Qf6 23. f4 Rh8 24. Rxh8 Qxh8 25. fxe5 Qxe5 26. Qf3 [... of course not 26. d4? Qxe4...] ... f5 [... again a good move!...] 27. exf5 gxf5 28. c3 Ne6 29. Kc2 Ng5 30. Qf2 Ne6 31. Qf3 Ng5 32. Qf2 Ne6 ½ ½

Today Magnus leads Whites and I'm sure that we will see another interesting game... Kind regards $\chi$ $\sigma$

 

[chisigma]

The 8-th game has been quite surprising : Carlsen plays Spanish and Viswanathan replies to with the Berliner defence, that also in this case works very good. A perfect swapping of roles!...

Carlsen vs Anand – 8-th game of the match

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. 00 Nxe4 5. Re1 [... the more 'spontaneous' move, even if the advantage for Whites is minimal...] ... Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5 8. Rxe5 00 9. d4 Bf6 10. Re1 Re8 11. c3 Rxe1 12. Qxe1 Ne8 13. Bf4 d5 14. Bd3 g6 15. Nd2 Ng7 16. Qe2 [... whites have a strong pressure on the e column but Blacks, playing carefully, can neutralize it...] c6 17. Re1 Bf5 18. Bxf5 Nxf5 19. Nf3 Ng7 20. Be5 Ne6 21. Bxf6 Qf6 22. Ne5 Re8 23. Ng4 Qd8 [... and not 23. ... Qg5? 24. f4! that wins...] 24. Qe5 Ng7 [... this move save all and Whites have nothing better than what follows...] 25. Qxe8+ Nxe8 26. Rxe8+ Qxe8 27. Nf6+ Kf8 28. Nxe8 Kxe8...

... and draw is unavoidable...

Kind regards

$\chi$ $\sigma$

 

[chisigma]

And Magnus grabs his third victory in a dramatic game!... the complete analysis of the game probably will requires years!... Anand vs Carlsen 9-th game of the match

1.d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 [... more common 4. Qc2..., 4. e3 ..., 4. a3 or even 4. Bg5... the move 4. f3 was discovered in the past century by the German master Saemish and conducts to a sharp battle... Viswanathan doesn't have alternatives : victory or death!...] d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. cxd5 exd5 8. e3 c4 [... a double edge move... Blacks has the superiority of powns in the Queen side but Whites can start a dangerous attack on the center and the King side starting with e4...] 9. Ne2 Nc6 10. g4 [... an interesting idea that provides the development of the King Bishop in g2 and the general advance of the powns...] ... O-O 11. Bg2 Na5 12. O-O Nb3 13. Ra2 b5 14. Ng3 a5 15. g5 Ne8 16. e4 Nxc1 17. Qxc1 Ra6 18. e5 Nc7 [... this Knight till seven move will be forced to tourn back on the e8 square for defending his King... however the successive moves will justify this paradox!...] 19. f4 b4 20. axb4 axb4 21. Rxa6 [... 21. Raf2 is probably better but who can foresee that White's attack won't succed?...] ... Nxa6 [ ... after 21. ... Bxa6 the Bishop doesn't control any more the vital diagonal c8-h3...] 22. f5 b3 23. Qf4 [... or 23. f6 g6 with similar proceeding...] Nc7 24. f6 g6 25. Qh4 Ne8 26. Qh6 b2 27. Rf4 [... of course a mistake!... but what is the right move?...] b1=Q+ 28. Nf1 [... 28. Bf1 Qd1 29. Rh4 Qh5 30. Nxh5 gxh5 31. Rxh5 Bf5 ...] Qe1 0-1

The Black Queen controls the square h4 and checkmate is impossible... only half point in the last three games and Magnus is World Champion!... Kind regards $\chi$ $\sigma$

 

[chisigma]

And Magnus is the new Chess World Champion!... also this game has been extremely sharp and the result is correct...

Carlsen vs Anand – 10-th game of the match

1.e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. d4 cxd4 5. Qxd4 a6 6. Bxd7+ Bxd7 7. c4 Nf6 8. Bg5 e6 9. Nc3 Be7 10. O-O Bc6 11. Qd3 O-O 12. Nd4 Rc8 13. b3 Qc7 14. Nxc6 Qxc6 15. Rac1 h6 16. Be3 Nd7 17. Bd4 Rfd8 18. h3 Qc7 19. Rfd1 Qa5 20. Qd2 Kf8 21. Qb2 Kg8 22. a4 Qh5 23. Ne2 Bf6 24. Rc3 [... an interesting attempt to gain initiative that forces Blacks to play with great precision...] Bxd4 25. Rxd4 Qe5 26. Qd2 Nf6 27. Re3 [... it is remarkable the strong pressure of Whites in the center...] ... Rd7 28. a5 Qg5 [... the correct way to escape from the 'strangulation' even if the position of Blacks remains difficult...] 29. e5 Ne8 30. exd6 [... for Magnus a draw is enough so that he disregards the complicated 30. Rg4 Qd8 31. Reg3 Rh7...] ... Rc6 31. f4 Qd8 32. Red3 Rcxd6 33. Rxd6 Rxd6 34. Rxd6 Qxd6 35. Qxd6 Nxd6 36. Kf2 [... the King tends to arrive as fast as possible to thye square c5...] Kf8 37. Ke3 Ke7 38. Kd4 Kd7 39. Kc5 Kc7 40. Nc3 Nf5 41. Ne4 [... the menace of intruding in d6 forces Black to find the only appropriate defence...] Ne3 42. g3 f5 43. Nd6 g5 44. Ne8+ Kd7 45. Nf6+ [... the White Knight will be lost but the Black King is defenetely separated from the Queen side...] ... Ke7 46. Ng8+ Kf8 47. Nxh6 gxf4 48. gxf4 Kg7 49. Nxf5+ exf5 50. Kb6 Ng2 51. Kxb7 Nxf4 52. Kxa6 Ne6 53. Kb6 f4 54. a6 f3 55. a7 f2 56. a8=Q f1=Q [... and the game proceeds toward the draw, which is the right result..] 57. Qd5 Qe1 58. Qd6 Qe3+ 59. Ka6 Nc5+ 60. Kb5 Nxb3 61. Qc7+ Kh6 62. Qb6+ Qxb6+ 63. Kxb6 Kh5 64. h4 Kxh4 65. c5 Nxc5 1/2-1/2

In next post I intend to do some personal consideration about this match and the figure of Magnus...

Kind regards

$\chi$ $\sigma$

 

[Jameson]

Thank you for your commentary chisigma! :) I have been reading along and following the matches but haven't been able to dive into any games very deeply. If you were to choose one game from these to analyze closely, which would it be? Game 6?

 

[chisigma]

Thank you for your commentary chisigma! :) I have been reading along and following the matches but haven't been able to dive into any games very deeply. If you were to choose one game from these to analyze closely, which would it be? Game 6?

All the games of the match do contain formidable material for analysis... but game 6 is surely the most beautiful because is equally instructive for the opening, the center of game and [of course...] the final so that I'll try to do a complete analysis of this game... You have only to take into account that in the field of Chess absolutely I'm not at the level of Magnus and Viswanathan in the same way that in the field of Math absolutely I'm not at the level of Euler and Riemann...

Kind regards

$\chi$ $\sigma$