Chess World Championship

[Skybird]

Its the 5th match of the chess world championship between Viswanathan Anand and Swedish Wunderkind Magnus Carlson, I'm currently following the match live since it began this morning, and I think we are about to see the first victory of this championship, the first four matches all ended as draws. Carlson with white pieces leads by one pawn and now has the chance to win a second, entering a favorable end game, Anand made one, maybe even two weak moves after the time control for 40th move.

Nice way to spend the evening, since I am installing X Rebirth from DVD currently, and - see my complaint in the games forum - have to endure an endless Steam download, since the publisher decided to burn the incomplete version of the game onto DVD - knowingly and intentionally. One hour done. Another hour to follow. While I wait, I follow the match, it is a nice duel today.

[Skybird]

Yep, there goes the second pawn. End game 3 pawns + rook against pawn and rook. Anand needs a miracle or Superman powers to save himself from his first defeat.

[Aktungbby]

kp 2 e4

[Skybird]

The final decision, probably. It'S the 47th move, Carlson (White) has just moved Bh7, threatening Bg8+ and striking b3.

And in this position Anand answers with Rc1+, allowing the white King to move Kb2, covering a3. I think Carlson will win the end game, and I think this is the position that decided the match:

[Skybird]

It's over, I think. 52nd move, White now has free pawns on a- and h-line, Black cannot stop them both (I could not, at least). I think Anand just needs some more time to admit his defeat to himself.

[Skybird]

Commentator writes Carlson moves currently without spending time to think. Indicates that he has analysed all variation to the end and is sure of the outcome.

[Skybird]

Anand resigns. Carlson leads the championship 3:2, (1 victory and 4 draws).

Next match tomorrow, I think starting at 10:30 German time.

Edit: and right in the same minute the damn Steam download is completed. Off into space!

[flostt]

It's Carlsen, not Carlson...and he is from Norway, not Sweden...

[Skybird]

Ah, those Scandinavians are all the same.

[Skybird]

The 6th match is running, Anand plays White. It will be interesting to see whether he is capable to score an immediate counterstrike after Carlson's, no Carlsen's victory yesterday. They played the Ruy Lopez, a repetition of a tournament match Anand already played earlier this year. In this opening, the tactical depth and the risks for the unaware are immense, although probably no other opening has been analysed to death that much. With 10.Bg5, Anand leaves the path he followed earlier this year, and Carlsen seems to have been thrown out of his preparations:

[Skybird]

After 16. Rdf1 - look at that white king's castle! All the horses are in their stables!

The position is totally even, it seems to me. Both sides "lavieren" to consoldiate their position. Are these the last strokes of breath before the storm breaks loose?

[Skybird]

The white manouvers with the knights are anything but defensive. White wants to prepare a cavalry attack into Black's centre and flank via e3 and then f5 and/or d5.

[Skybird]

Carlsen managed to open the a line, Anand got rid of his double pawn on the b-line. I still cannot smell anything that could indicate a dangerous attack on the black castle. Anand may be able to move his knights as described - but whether that leads to anything, is a different story. The defensive position of Black looks very strong to me. And if Anand follows the plan to send the cavalry, he needs time for that, allowing Carlsen to exploit the a-line, maybe.

Edit. A quick recheck with Fritz 11 engine. Calculation depth is 21 moves, psoition rating is exactly 0.00.

[Skybird]

First major exchnage at the gates to the black castle, white loses 1 bishop and 1 knight, black 2 knights. In essence: a simplification that imo works for the benefit of Carlsen's defensive position - the tactical intricacies of multi-pieces-combinations have been reduced. By loosing pieces, White has lost options for threatening combinations to attack the black king directly. I think Carlsen feels comfortable currently.

Edit. More exchanges, Carlsen chnages bishop for knight, White earns a double pawn on the e-line but also the opening of the f-line. Maybe he can start firing at the black castle using that firing slot.

After 25.Rf1:

[Skybird]

Carlsen's infantry marching forward on the queen's wing. Ananf refuses a fight dxc4, but mvoes forward in the centre: d4, offering Black to relieve him from the double pawn . I would not take the invitation.

It all looks very blocked to me now, and I think it will become a draw. White can try to open the psoition, but only at the cost of accepting to expose his vulnerability on the e-line. Double pawns are not easy to play.